International Sustainability Resources & Technology Conference Agenda

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Lovato is a seasoned industry expert in the power utilty space with focus on Independent Power, Desalination and Hydrogen Projects, preferably developed, financed constructed and operated through concession or utility outsourcing contract models.

In ACWA Power since 2009, Dr. Lovato has contributed to the impressive growth of the company leading the development of several IPPs in the region and various global landmark projects, escpecially in the renwable and hydrogen sectors. Among those one of the largest utilty scale green hydrogen production projects in the world, which lead the way for the sector into the development of such mega-projects accelrating the enegy transition.

He is leading the Green Hydrogen funcition at ACWA Power.

Dr. Lovato recevied a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen, and a M.Sc. in Engineering at the Univesity of Pauda.

He has been based in Gulf region since 2005.

BIOGRAPHY

Rajat Seksaria, Chief Executive Officer of ACME Group, has made theorganization the powerhouse of young and talented professionals.One of the youngest non-promoter Chief Executives in the country,dynamism is his forte. An IIM Calcutta alumnus, an electrical engineerfrom Gujarat University, he possesses rich experience of over 17 years.Rajat is steering the ACME Group into becoming futuristic, nimblefooted and yet structured organization and enabled the organizationto play a vital role in rapid energy transition, which will throw upunique opportunities and challenges. Under his leadership, ACMEGroup has successfully streamlined the organizational processes forthe execution and timely delivery of projects and other strategicfinancial transactions. Rajat has played a key role in strategic deals forthe company including the issuance of offshore green bonds,partnerships with global firms like SCATEC, UNOPS S3i, IFU &Brookfield Renewables and divestment of assets to Petronas andActis. Rajat is also at the forefront of ACME’s move into setting up apioneering global green hydrogen business. With earlier stints withShell (earlier BG India Ltd), Punj Lloyd and India Power CorporationLimited (IPCL), he has also handled international project developmentin renewables and infrastructure in Africa, Asia and Europe.

BIOGRAPHY

Engineer / Abdulaziz Al Shidhani has more than 19 years of technical and leadership experience, most of which are in the energy and water sectors. He is currently the Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals since March 2022. During the past one year, hee led the efforts to craft Oman green Hydrogen Strategy including chairing the Renewable energy and green hydrogen efforts unification committee and setting up Hydrogen Oman as a green hydrogen orchestrator.

In addition Abdulaziz is a deputy Chairman of the Environmental Services Oman Holding Company, and before that he was a deputy Chairman of the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company. On a national level he contributed to the formulation of Oman vision 2040 through the Committee for Strategies alignment and national priorities, the Joint Technical Committee for Urban Planning and the Sectoral Committee for Omanization in Electricity and Water Sector, and a member of the follow-up team for the Unified Gulf Water Strategy Project

In the water sector Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Shidhani held a Chief of Water Operations , General Manager of Planning and Asset Management, and Senior Manager of Privatization and Restructuring during the period from June 2013 to March 2022. He participated in various discussions on policies of the electricity and water sector, and strategic projects such as the water restructuring project and the privatization of electricity companies . Eng. Abdulaziz worked for Mazoon Electricity Company in different positions, the last of which was the Director of Planning and Regulatory Affairs. In addition to the above, Eng. Abdulaziz held several positions previously, Including membership in the Board of Directors of the Society of Omani Engineers during the period between 2014-2016

Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Shaithani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration from Sultan Qaboos University, he completed Leadership Programs at IMD and completed the National Leadership and Competitiveness Program for leaders in the government sector, organized and supervised by the Diwan of Royal Court represented by the Competency Development Institute.

BIOGRAPHY

On January 1, 2020, Mr. Bin Hadi was appointed Managing Director of Siemens Energy Oman. He is also the Head of Government Affairs in the UAE and Middle Eastsince 2015. Siemens Energy is world leading energy technology company with broad expertise across almost the entire energy value chain, committed to making sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy accessible globally. Siemens Energy is focused on energizing society, accelerating decarbonization and leading the energy transformation.Mr. Bin Hadi is an experienced energy professional with significant experience across the energy sector. Prior to his current role, Mr. Bin Hadi headed the Oil and Gas business for Siemens Gas & Power in the Middle East from April 2019. Previously he was the head of the Oil, Gas & Petrochemical solution Business for process industries & drive Division in Siemens UAE & Middle East from November 2017 till March 2019. Mr. Bin Hadi joined Siemens in July 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Prior to Siemens, Mr. Bin Hadi was Vice President of Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals for ABB UAE. He also held a series of senior management positions for ABB in the oil and gas sector, including as a planning engineer, in project management, market development, account management. Mr. Bin Hadi’s international experience includes a year in a senior market development position in Norway. Mr. Bin Hadi holds an MBA and a BSc Hons. in management. He has also completed executive education in management & leadership at INSEAD France

BIOGRAPHY

Alicia Eastman is the President of InterContinental Energy, a green fuels developer/owner focused on 25GW+ integrated upstream wind and solar, midstream hydrogen, and downstream ammonia projects located in coastal deserts of Australia and the Middle East.Before co-founding ICE in 2014; Alicia led investment and strategy in global markets for 20 years, managing private equity funds, market entry and finance for multinational companies and institutional investors across Australasia including the Middle East.She has focused on infrastructure, project finance, renewable energy, specialty chemicals/pharma, technology, and telecom. She was a founding partner of multiple growth private equity funds and a project finance advisor in the Persian Gulf. Alicia led international strategy and acquisitions at Elan Biopharmaceuticals and was Vice President of Prudential Asia Infrastructure Mezzanine Capital Fund. Alicia holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Alicia currently sits on the Steering Committee of Hydrogen Council, the Advisory Board of SEC Hydrogen, the Board of Directors for the Ammonia Energy Association and represents ICE as member of Dii Desertec and Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition. She is also a Board Director of multiple charities focused on poverty and education for children in developing or war torn countries and is a frequent speaker and moderator at clean hydrogen, ammonia, and sustainability events.

BIOGRAPHY

Graduated with PhD from Sheffield University, UK in 2000. A professor at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman, Prof. Al-Jabri served as a member of the State Council of Oman from 2011 to 2015. He was ranked in the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists and researchers in the field of construction and buildings, published by Stanford University, in 2020, 2021 and 2022. He was also conferred with “The Order of Royal Commendation (2nd class)” by His Majesty, Sultan of Oman in 2022 for his outstanding achievements in Scientific Research.

In 2015, Prof. Al-Jabri received the ‘Best Researcher Award’ from SQU, and ‘Pioneer Engineer Award’ from the Gulf Union of Engineers in the year 2017. He was elected as a fellow of reputed professional organizations like Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), UK in 2015, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the USA in 2018 and Oman Society of Engineers. He is serving on the Board of Trustees of the Arab Commission for Accreditation of Engineering and Technology as well as Chairman of the Education Committee in the Federation of Arab Engineers.

His research interests focus on three areas:(1) Studying the behavior of materials and structures at elevated temperatures, (2) Investigating the potential use of waste materials and industrial by-products in civil engineering applications, and (3) Earthquake Engineering and assessing seismic hazards in Oman.

Prof. Al-Jabri has published more than 200 articles in refereed journals of high repute, conferences, and technical reports. He served as principal investigator and researcher for more than 31 research grants and consultancy projects. He has also served as chair and member in many committees at the university, national and regional levels.

BIOGRAPHY

Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Ali Tabouk is Director of Design & Construction of Roads with the Ministry of Transport, Communications & IT in the Sultanate of Oman

He has been also a part-time lecturer at Dhofar University, since 2016.

Eng Tabouk was previously Director of Maintenance. His academic qualifications include a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Coventry University (UK).

BIOGRAPHY

Ivonne Bojoh (1974) offers almost three decades of leadership experience in tech-centric and user-focused start-up/scale-ups in Europe and Asia. Adept at building and growing start-up businesses. She possesses vast experience in developing product platforms that leverage fit-for-purpose technology, aimed at providing the best user experience.

At Circle Economy Foundation, as COO & Director Digital, Ivonne leads the operations and digital innovation. The foundation’s digital strategy leverages technology to deliver over 11 years of circular economy research to accelerate its envisioned impact: doubling global circularity by 2032.

In 2022, Circle Economy launched Circularity Academy, a gamified e-learning platform and Ganbatte.world, an open-access platform delivering data insights, circular solutions, and case studies to 6,000 cities around the world. In addition, together with be’ah (Oman), Circular Norway, ARA (Austria), and Zero Waste Scotland, Circle Economy co-developed the first version of an in-depth dashboard enabling changemakers with data and tools to accelerate the adoption of circular strategies by businesses and governments.

Ivonne is passionate about leaving behind a positive footprint, and contributing her knowledge and experience to leverage technology to avoid climate breakdown. She is married to Patrick and lives in Haarlem, the Netherlands with their two cats.

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

Faisal has over 15 years' experience in property. He currently leads the Knight Frank research function across the Middle East. His previous role was Head of London Commercial Research for Knight Frank, where he and his team provided consultancy and strategic advisory services to a range of global clientele, including investors, landlords, developers, HNWI, banks and institutions.  His knowledge and experience spans all real estate sectors and includes markets across the UK, Middle East and Africa.  His work in the Middle East is focussed on the impact of Vision 2030 on Saudi Arabia’s real estate landscape as well the rebounding of Dubai’s ultra-prime residential market and the growing importance of ESG considerations.

BIOGRAPHY

Faiza AL Harthi “Head of Energy, Environment & Natural Resources” at Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, had over 18 years of experience, prior to following through with her role at Oman Vision 2040's Implementation Follow-up Unit, in 2020. She joined Petroleum Development Oman in 2007, and worked in several departments within the energy sector, overlooking planning, support, maintenance, and projects. Moreover, before joining PDO she’s had substantial professional experience working at Oman Telecommunication Company for Four years as Senior Intelligent Network System Planning Engineer, alongside being an active member of several national committees - where their primary focus is environmental sustainability.