2025 Speakers

Mr. Aftab Ahmed is Chief Advisor, Automotive Sector, National Industrial Development Center (NIDC), under the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Eng. Mr. Aftab Ahmed joined the National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) in July 2019 after more than 30 years of #Automotive Experience in Engineering, Finance and Purchasing & Supply Chain at General Motors and Ford Motor Company, Detroit, USA. He is leading the Automotive Cluster team with other members as Chief Advisor.

Eng. Mr. Aftab Ahmed started his career at Ford Motor Company, Detroit, USA as Senior Product Engineer in 1989. He joined General Motors in 1993 as an engineer and worked in several disciplines of Engineering as Manager Product Engineering. In 1998, he moved to Brazil to lead a joint venture Pickup Truck project between GM & Isuzu in the Engineering Department. He moved back to the USA in 2001 and launched the Midsize Pickup Truck Program.
 
Eng. Mr. Aftab’s focus at Industrial Cluster has been on the business development and negotiation of several projects with global automotive OEM and suppliers for local manufacturing in KSA.

Eng. Mr. Aftab holds MBA degree in Finance & Management from University of Detroit, Detroit, USA and Masters of Mechanical Engineering degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.

Ahmed is a seasoned professional in the sustainability and clean energy industry, currently serving as the Sustainability Market Leader for the Middle East Region at Bureau Veritas, Managing Director for the MENA Region at CharIN and Advisor at the A2Z Coalition. He is a trusted advisor to clients across the region, helping them to establish and achieve their net-zero goals. Ahmed has a deep understanding of the clean energy and sustainable mobility sectors, having served as the Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Lead at the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, where he promoted and advocated for the ZEV Declaration launched at COP26 in Glasgow. The Declaration aims to accelerate the transition to ZEVs by 2035 in leading markets and 2040 in emerging markets. He also served as the Managing Director of the MENA Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting clean energy and clean technologies and solutions in the MENA region. At CEBC he launched several initiatives and working groups and co-authored multiple research pieces and white papers around Climate Finance, Venture Capital in Climate Tech, Electric Mobility, Energy Efficiency and others.

With an MBA in Sustainable Mobility Management from the Technical University of Berlin, Ahmed's research interests lie at the intersection of policy, technology, and consumer behavior, and how they can be leveraged to accelerate the transition to clean energy and sustainable mobility sectors. He is committed to helping businesses and organizations achieve their sustainability goals, and drive the global transition to a more sustainable future.

Eng. Mohammed Al Ta'ani is the Secretary General of Arab Renewable Energy Commission (AREC)and the Vice Chairman of Jordanian Renewable Energy Society (JRES) & general manager. He is the founder of both JRES & AREC. He was working in the field of Renewable Energy since 1988 (Solar PV & Green Building) as Project manager and researcher and publish more than 25 papers. From 1999-2007 he was the project manager for the Renewable energy in King Abdullah the Second Design& Development Bureau (KADDB). In 2002 he was the Project manager for the Jordanian Solar Car & Zero fossil Fuel House (Eco House for KADDB) Project manager. He was the Vice Director of Energy Center in Jordan University from 2007 until 2008 where he was working as the founder of this center. He was the founder of the Global Net for Renewable Energy in the Desert regions (GNREADER). Also was the Chairman of Renewable energy committee in Jordan Institution for Standards & Metrology , Ambassador of the DONG energy solar challenge events in the middle-east countries (World Cup for Solar Powered Boats). Member in the board of directors of renewable energy center in Philadephia university.

Gary is an influential, successful leader with inexhaustible drive and unquenchable thirst to succeed having served in senior executive roles (CEO, President & MD) with over two decades of international automotive, transportation, sustainable mobility and renewable energy experience in U.S, Europe, & the Middle East. A decorated U.S Marine and philanthropist, Board member, and relentless passionate innovator. Expert at technology implementation and applied empirical solutions to achieve profitable results - successfully commercilaised CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage System). Avant-garde advocate, backer and enabler of early EV and ULEV mobility transformation for large private and government fleets in U.S. and KSA. Authority at transitioning fleets to sustainable platforms utilizing EV and FCEV technology with intelligent management, specialized financing for “green” projects and asset management. Pioneer in developing business solutions for carbon neutral and carbon negative bio-fuels (SAF) and liquid energy carriers from biogenic waste.

Gary is the recipient of numerous industry awards including two Ford Motor Company's prestigious President's Awards, four-time recipient of 100 Leaders Awards, Global Recognition Award for Business Excellence(2024) and Westford Award for Innovation in Logistics(2024). He was bestowed the honor of being selected to serve on the U.S. National Congressional Committee’s Business Advisory Council. Gary also served on the Advisory Board of Directors of the New York Metropolitan Opera and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the American International School of Jeddah.

Presently Gary is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Transportation Solutions Company (NTSC) a transformative technology company specializing in advanced Fleet Management and Multi-Modal Mobility through zero-emissions platforms. NTSC was founded in June of 2021 and quickly became the leading cutting- edge technology company and innovator in the MENA Region offering unique Mobility solutions including Electric Commercial Vehicles, Buses and heavy, long-haul Hydrogen transportation. In less than three years, under Gary’s leadership NTSC established itself as the absolute leader in Fleet Management in the Middle East having gained 336 B2B and B2G clients with 775,182 vehicles under management which represents a 35% market share of the entire Saudi Fleet UIO. With its unique products such as the revolutionary DarbConnect technology platform, and services, such as the first-of-its-kind Decarbonization Roadmap, NTSC is a vector for large scale sustainable mobility which will, in keeping with the Vision 2030,reshape logistics, transportation and public transportation sectors in the KSA and MENA from the perspective of industrial diversification, progressive environmental responsibility and embetterment of our planet.

In previous years, Flom served as the President & CEO of Ford Motor Company's Flagship Mobility & Innovation Center in New York, United States. In a short period of time, Gary completely transformed the company and turned it around from losing millions to generating revenues of more than $1 Billion with high-margin earnings. During his 15-year tenure Gary became the first experimental EV distributor in U.S., testing early adaptation with various governmental fleets. He successfully negotiatedcomplex regulatory requirements and OEM manufacturing challengesto implement utilization of early Electric and Hybrid Vehicles for high-intensity government, emergency services and large private FHV fleets which transformed the national mobility landscape and brought the environmental sustainability to the forefront of critical decision in fleet management andmobility. For his achievements, Gary wastwice awarded Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award – the highest recognition the Company can bestow, and he is a four-time recipient of Ford Motor Company's 100 Leaders Award for his innovation. Gary's actions resulted in Ford Motor Company becoming the leader in this field in the U.S for 15 consecutive years.

Gary grew up in Brooklyn and served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps where he was recognized through two meritorious promotion and an award of the Navy Achievement Medal, the highest peacetime decoration. While serving in the Marines, he graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Business Management.

Alexander heads the Infrastructure Projects and Energy practice in the Middle East and is one of the founding partners of our Riyadh office. Alexander advises on large scale energy and infrastructure (social infrastructure, transportation, smart cities, and other) projects. He regularly works a legal lead in consortia of technical, financial and legal advisors on these projects and developments. His clients include sovereigns, utilities, financial institutions, industry, regional and international development banks, specialised funds, sponsors and project developers.

Alexander is a lawyer trained and qualified in Germany (Rechtsanwalt), who is also admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. He holds a Masters in Law in International and European Business Law (summa cum laude). Alexander has served as a member of the Advisory Council of the US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation, and is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance as well as the Dii – Desertec renewable energy initiative in North Africa and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Alexander headed the Africa and Middle East energy and infrastructure practice for US-headquartered international law firm and prior to that was responsible for the East Africa business of one of the world's largest international law firms. Alexander lived in Germany, the US, The UK, Tanzania and the U.A.E (Dubai) before he moved to Riyadh in 2023.

Samer Aljabari is a Sr. Executive leader with 32+ years of global aviation experience (US & ME). He is Subject matter expert on aerospace engines technology with six patents and prestigious recognition awards. He is a respected leader directing global organizations across engineering, commercial, and services with accountability for multi-billion-dollar P&L. While working for GE for 14 years, he Spearheaded a global team on the conceptual design of a Guinness world record for the most efficient gas turbine in the world (HA). Established the Advanced Technology Center for GE Aerospace in Dubai from white space with focus on service contracts profitability resolving customer impact due to Hot and Harsh environment and Led the M&A of Alstom engineering by GE. He is currently, leading the KSA Aerospace Industrial Strategy activation with a pipeline of $12.5bn flagship investment projects on materials, AAM, MRO, and components manufacturing. He completed all his education at Arizona State University in Aeronautical engineering and is an FAA certified private pilot.

Roger brings over 30 years of leadership experience leading and supporting EV Start-ups, Product and Vehicle Development, Vehicle, Assembly and Component production processes, M&A, Vehicle and Program Launch Management, and Asia- Pacific focused Business Development.

Roger is a trusted advisor to Top Tier Consulting firms enabling Asia Pacific industrialization, quality deployment and product development. In addition, he advises OEM clients with respect to vehicle development, vehicle systems engineering, and has deep expertise in Electric Vehicles and propulsion systems integration. Roger as a member of the founding team of Automotive Start up Qoros has written, led and guided development roadmaps and go to market strategies for EV & ICE vehicles and propulsion systems.

Prior to operating at the vehicle level, Roger began as a Journeyman Toolmaker & Patternmaker, was proud to serve as a Sargent in the USAF, and then took on engineering roles with ASC, and Toyota in Japan where he was certified in the Toyota Production System. Roger became a VP for Lear, managing the Asian region including establishing the Philippine, India, Korean & China Engineering Centers for Interiors, Seats, Wiring & Electronics, as well as various operational and plant management roles. Roger has also managed 7 mergers and acquisitions throughout Asia and Europe during his career.

Roger holds a BSME from the University of Maryland (CCAF), ME with Computer Controls from Henry Ford Community College, Unix & C++ Programming Certificate from University of Michigan and is a Journeyman Toolmaker.

H.E Pascal H. Grégoire is the current Belgian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Between the year 2018 and 2022 he served as an Ambassador to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. He has also served as the Deputy Head of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassador in Afghanistan, Head of Mission of the Belgian Diplomatic Office in Kosovo, First Secretary of the Belgian Embassy in UK, Board Member of Belgium's National Geographic Institute, Advisor to two Minister's of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Aid. He has served as an Alternate Executive Director for Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

As the Ambassador at the Embassy of Hungary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Republic of Yemen, I represent Hungary's interests and values in a strategic and dynamic region. I have been serving in this role since November 2019, after being promoted from Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Hungary in Rome and previously at our Embassy in Riyadh.

I feel fortunate because between 2014 and 2018, during my first mission in Riyadh, I could witness the initial phase of those impressive changes which have led to the KSA we see nowadays, putting this country to the forefront of green and sustainable solutions in the region.

Jeffrey Beyer is the Founder and Managing Director of Zest Associates, a UAE-based sustainability consultancy focused on business and government strategy, cleantech innovation, and green finance. He is also the United Nations Development Programme's Chief Technical Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Energy, delivering a $16 million program on clean energy. Jeffrey specializes in forming new programs and initiatives to accelerate solutions like hydrogen, energy efficiency, renewable energy and breakthrough low carbon technologies. He also leads Zest Cleantech, the innovation arm of Zest Associates that connects exceptional innovators with clients, investors and joint venture partners in the Middle East. He is also the Founder and CEO of Terra Power, a UK-based technology start-up developing nature-based solution that couples land remediation and biogas production. Jeffrey has worked in over 20 countries, launching innovation programs for utilities and multilateral banks and establishing national Centres of Excellence for renewables and energy efficiency. He has authored landmark studies on accelerating the clean hydrogen industry in the UAE and financing a green transition in the Middle East, and was instrumental in founding the UK's first cleantech Venture Capital fund as public-private partnership, now capitalized with £100 million. He holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Psychology, and a Masters in Environmental Change & Management from Oxford University.

Noor has a diversified management experience and exposure with extended learning curve. He possesses wide knowledge and practice in the areas of Strategic Planning, Business Development, Project Management, Renewable Energy Management and Sustainability solutions. He has developed high-toned skills and in-depth technical know-how through establishing and developing various projects and businesses in multiple industries both locally and internationally.

Carl-Magnus Norden is Founder of Volta Truck and Decade Energy. Volta Trucks is an electric truck OEM that he started investigating in 2016 and founded in 2019. Decade Energy is helping fleet depot operators to implement electric fleet in their operations, covering the whole ecosystem from Truck-to-Grid, including charging infrastructure, PV/solar, storage batteries and smart grid integration (balancing, load shifting, etc) and a software layer integrating data from all these sources. 

He has over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience with a proven history of starting and scaling businesses in multinational settings, having lived in six European countries, and started business in most of them in industry’s as diverse as real estate, private equity, internet services, crowdfunding and now electrification of transport. He has extensive experience in Business and Technology Development, and Venture Capital markets. Carl-Magnus is a Swedish national who graduated from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and until 2020, was the Chairman of the Board of its Swedish Alumni Association.

Dr. Ali Alshehri, holding a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a background in computer and embedded systems, joined King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in 2003. His work in developing control and navigation systems for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) propelled him to lead the National Center for Aeronautical Technology. Currently, Dr. Ali Alshehri leads the Future Mobility Institute, where he guides a team of researchers focused on developing cutting-edge solutions in autonomous systems and advanced mobility technologies. These advancements directly contribute to the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) strategy outlined in Vision 2030. Dr. Ali Alshehri's leadership is instrumental in driving the institute's success, fostering a collaborative environment that translates innovative ideas into tangible solutions.

Damien Duhamel is a highly regarded corporate strategy consultant with over 30 years of experience, specializing in Saudi Arabia, the broader Middle East, and Asia. Holding an MBA from Chicago Booth, Damien has been instrumental in advising government entities and leading corporations across the region, particularly in the rapidly evolving mobility and transportation sectors. His expertise spans electric vehicles, smart mobility infrastructure, and sustainable transport solutions, aligning closely with the transformative objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Damien has collaborated extensively with Fortune 500 companies and major Saudi conglomerates, guiding them through complex company transformations, growth strategies, and disruptive innovations in the Middle East. His strategic insights have played a pivotal role in driving initiatives that foster economic diversification and position the region as a global leader in sustainable mobility.

As a champion of connecting the Middle East to global markets, Damien has been actively involved in revitalizing the modern Silk Road, enabling trade and innovation partnerships between Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and Asia. Widely recognized as a thought leader in corporate strategy, Damien continues to lead impactful projects that place Saudi Arabia and the Middle East at the forefront of the global mobility "e-volution".

With over 23 years of experience in IT, Dr Salim currently serves as the Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Projects Unit. Dr Salim holds a PhD in ICT, specializing in Technology Adoption, AI, and Digital Transformation, and am a Certified Chief AI Officer. Dr Salim's contributions extend to academia as a Member of the Board of Trustees at Gulf College and advisory boards at SQU, AOU, and Sohar University. He is also recognized as a judging member for GCC AI projects and global awards. His accolades include being nominated as CIO of the Year 2023, winning the Digital Transformation Inspiring Award at the Global CIO Summit in Thailand (2022), and the Impact Trailblazer Award at the Global CIO Summit in Azerbaijan (2023). Throughout Dr Salim's career, I have led numerous projects across sectors such as e-Government, digital transformation, AI, and the 4th Industrial Revolution, with applications in mining, smart cities, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, logistics, transportation, risk and crisis management, and media. Dr Salim actively participated in international and local conferences, summits, and workshops, and contribute as an author to research, books, and magazines, furthering knowledge in these domains.

Aadil currently serves as a Associate Director in the Advisory Practice of Frost & Sullivan (MEA) Mobility Practice. 

Aadil Rashid Khan has been a key member of the Frost & Sullivan Middle East Mobility Team for the past 14 years, with a cumulative mobility industry experience of over 18 years. He is a Saudi Arabia expert, who has supported different mobility industry stakeholders in their growth journeys in the country. His expertise ranges from greenfield project planning to feasibility planning, revenue optimization, network efficiency management, corporate strategy and change management. He has participated in multiple private and government ventures in achieving the Vision 2030 targets, advising clients on the most optimized growth strategies and route to market strategies. With hands-on experience in setting up manufacturing units globally and launching mobility products in different geographies, Aadil is positioned perfectly to stimulate innovative thinking and drive product penetration in upcoming manufacturing hubs like Saudi Arabia. 

Media Contribution: 

Aadil’s views are regularly sought, and he has been quoted in industry and business magazines/newspapers like Forbes Middle East, Consultancy ME, EV Auto Show, Automechanika, etc. 

Speaking Engagement: 

He also been invited as a panel member and industry thought leader at various conferences in different countries of the Middle East. The latest of these was in Automechanika Riyadh, held in 2024.

Mohammed AlMarwani brings a wealth of international experience to his role as Chief Commercial Officer at BARQ, a leading logistics company in Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining BARQ, Mohammed honed his skills in a dynamic, global environment, achieving success across public relations, brand management, marketing, and commercial deal-making.

His career path has taken him across continents, where he consistently developed and executed strategic initiatives to build brand awareness, drive market share growth, and secure lucrative partnerships. This diverse background allows Mohammed to approach challenges with a unique perspective, leveraging his expertise in crafting compelling narratives, building strong brand identities, and negotiating win-win commercial agreements.
BARQ: A Logistics Leader Embraces Sustainable Solutions
BARQ, a leading logistics company in Saudi Arabia, is taking a pioneering step towards a more sustainable future. Recognizing the environmental impact of traditional delivery fleets, BARQ is actively exploring the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). This ambitious initiative positions BARQ as a frontrunner in the region's logistics sector, demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility.
Their strategy focuses on a multi-pronged approach, evaluating both electric bikes and solar-powered EVs for integration into their fleet. This thoughtful strategy ensures they can adapt their approach to efficiently serve all areas within their network. Partnering with multiple EV vendors allows BARQ to leverage diverse technologies and expertise, accelerating the implementation process while fostering innovation within the EV industry.
Through this forward-thinking approach, BARQ is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also setting a positive example for the logistics industry as a whole.

Fathi Tlatli is the President of DHL’s Global Auto-Mobility Sector, responsible for the integrated strategy, the global EV development and global customer management for DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation.

Fathi has held several international positions.

He has been with DHL for over 20 years. He has been Vice President for the EMEA Engineering & Manufacturing Sector. Then received additional responsibility for the Global Aerospace Sector, before taking global responsibility for the Auto-Mobility sector.

Fathi is the author of books on Time Management and Marketing in Emerging Markets, as well as articles in the international management and global supply chain management fields. He is also a professor at the ICHEC Brussels Management School.

A Visionary leader with 20+ years of continuous development of core competencies and overcoming challenges. Recognised for performance, resilience, and ambition, with responsibility for numerous tasks within wholesale, retail and manufacturer management, channel development and strategy development. One of Mr. Mark’s key strengths is distinct communication skills that enables him to adapt to various situations and diverse personalities, including demanding interlocutors. Mr. Mark has an open mind to new ideas and opportunities, while approaching challenges with flexibility and a structured working method. 

As the Chief Innovation Officer at Petromin in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) & Head of Electromin, which is a leading Saudi multinational eco system for advanced mobility and automotive services and solutions, Mr. Marks main responsibility is to focus on newness, improvement, and spread of ideas or technologies across the company’s business verticals.

Hashim Alfatayerji is a venture builder and corporate innovation leader with a proven track record of launching and scaling new businesses in collaboration with industry partners. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Cararak Ventures, he leads the firm’s mission to create the companies of tomorrow by combining bold ideas, strategic capital, and deep industry insight.

With over 25 years of experience working across strategy, operations, and commercial leadership, Hashim brings a unique operator’s mindset to venture building. At Cararak, he focuses on helping corporates unlock new growth through startup creation, open innovation, and venture investing

Prior to founding Cararak Ventures, Hashim led large commercial and strategic transformation initiatives across corporate environments, where he specialized in building new revenue lines, launching innovative business units, and scaling operational models from the ground up. His experience blends entrepreneurial thinking with hands-on leadership, giving him a unique ability to identify opportunity gaps and turn them into executable ventures with measurable impact.

Through Cararak, Hashim partners with corporations, founders, and investors to drive growth through venture creation, startup investment, and open innovation. He is passionate about accelerating innovation by bridging the gap between traditional industries and emerging venture ecosystems, and is a frequent contributor on topics related to entrepreneurship, strategic innovation, and venture trends.