Eng. Hossam Sadek is a distinguished executive, strategist, and public-private policy leader with more than three decades of experience spanning information technology, healthcare financing, insurance, financial services, and asset management. Throughout his career, Eng. Sadek has operated at the intersection of technology, healthcare, finance, and public policy, leading complex transformations and building innovative institutions capable of operating at a national scale. His expertise encompasses digital transformation, enterprise technology, healthcare systems, regulatory and compliance frameworks, institutional governance, and strategic public-private partnerships. Eng. Sadek served as Chief Executive Officer of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA) from January 2020 to December 2022, playing a pivotal role in the establishment and implementation of Egypt’s landmark Universal Health Insurance programme. During this formative period, he contributed to developing the technological infrastructure, operational frameworks, governance mechanisms, and institutional capabilities underpinning one of the country’s most significant healthcare reforms. Following his tenure at UHIA, he continued to provide strategic leadership across the private sector and regional healthcare consulting, advising on healthcare transformation, organisational development, technology, and public-private collaboration. Eng. Sadek subsequently returned to the public sector to resume his leadership of UHIA, supporting the continued expansion, institutional maturity, and operational governance of Egypt’s national universal health insurance system. His career is distinguished by a rare ability to translate ambitious national strategies into scalable, technology-enabled institutions while aligning government priorities, private-sector expertise, and sustainable models of service delivery.

Ziad Ashraf is a Product Manager and Solution Architect at Robusta Technology Group, leading product across e-commerce, fintech, and PropTech engagements. His background bridges finance and product: he owned P&Ls and led FinOps at Talabeyah (Acquired by MNT-Halan) before moving into product, where he now builds both products and AI agents using AI-native tooling. Outside of work, Ziad is an avid sportsman who plays almost every sport he can get his hands on. His current focus is kitesurfing, after years of rowing and padel.

Zoë Harries is the Founder of Impact Zones FDI Advisory, specializing in foreign direct investment, special economic zones, investment attraction, location strategy, and the activation of new innovation and startup ecosystems. She advises governments, investment promotion agencies, economic zones, and developers on how to build competitive investment destinations, activate new ecosystems from the ground up, and attract the international businesses, talent, and capital they need to take hold and grow. A former Chief Investment Officer for a PIF backed special economic zone project in Jeddah, Zoë brings senior international experience across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and global markets, including establishing investment attraction functions for greenfield economic zones from their earliest stages. Her work sits at the intersection of capital, talent, and place, exploring why investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses choose one market over another, what it takes to activate a startup or investment ecosystem where none existed before, and how locations create the conditions for businesses and investment to establish, scale, and grow.

Current Position As A Chairman: • April 2022 – Present o Credit Agricole Bank - Egypt  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board) • April 2019 – Present o SODIC (Sixth of October Development and Investment Company)  Vice Chairman (continuing) - April 2019 – Present  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board) - April 2019 – January 2022 • January 2016 – Present o Abu Soma Touristic Development Company  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board) • January 2015 – Present o Ayady Investment and Development  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board)  And its affiliated companies:  Ayady for Urban Development  Papyrus Company  Ergo Company • December 2014 – December 2017 And from 2020 - Present o Egyptian Investment Company  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board) As A Board Member: • March 2024 – Present o Cairo International Stadium Authority  Board Member • 2017 – Present o NI Capital Bank  Board Member • 2015 – Present o National Investment Bank  Board Member Previous Experiences • November 2014 – March 2015 o Arab Investment Company  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board) • August 2005 – September 2009 o Delta International Bank  (Board Member)  Roles include:  Member of the General Assembly of the Holding Company for Insurance.  Member of the Board of Trustees at the Institute of Finance at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology.  Member of the Board of Trustees at the Institute of Finance at Ahram Canadian University. • May 1981 – 1982 o Arthur Young, Mohamed Abdullah Zarouk & Co.  Progressed from Auditor to Audit Team Leader. Key responsibilities included auditing banks such as the National Bank of Egypt and American Express Bank. • October 1982 – March 1991 o National Bank of Abu Dhabi - Egypt  Progressed over nine years from an Operations Employee (1 year) to Credit Administration and eventually promoted to Credit and Marketing Manager. • April 1991 – July 2005 o American Express Bank Limited, Egypt  Chief Executive Officer – Egypt  Advanced from General Manager and Deputy Regional Manager for the Middle East, with responsibilities covering marketing, credit, and investment, to becoming the CEO of the bank in June 2002. Other Roles • 2008 – 2020 o Visiting Professor of Finance  American University in Cairo

Suzanne El Akabaoui Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Personal Data Protection Center | Advisor to the ICT Minister for Data Governance Suzanne El Akabaoui is a leading expert in data governance, privacy regulations, and digital policy. As Acting CEO of the Personal Data Protection Center and, Advisor to Egypt’s ICT Minister for Data Governance, she spearheads the development of national regulatory frameworks for personal data protection and privacy in alignment with Egypt’s 2030 Vision. A highly accomplished attorney, Suzanne brings extensive experience in commercial, corporate, technology, and data privacy law. She has advised multinational clients on GDPR compliance, Egyptian data protection laws, Data Sharing Agreements, and agreements for cybersecurity services. Her academic credentials include: • Law Degree, Sorbonne Paris University • Master’s Degree in Business Law • Bachelor’s Degree in Economics & Statistics, Cairo University • Certificate in Economics, Georgetown University • Certificate in Data: Law, Policy, and Regulation, London School of Economics • Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) • Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)

Mohamed Kassem is the General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, where he leads the company’s strategic efforts to accelerate the nation’s digital transformation and drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth. In his role, Kassem partners closely with government entities, enterprises, and organizations across sectors to unlock innovation and empower people, businesses, and communities with trusted technology solutions.   With nearly 20 years of experience at Microsoft, Kassem brings deep industry expertise and a strong track record of leadership supporting customers to advance their digital capabilities across cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Prior to his current role, he served as Public Sector Lead for Microsoft Egypt, where he guided national digital transformation efforts and supported public sector innovation through secure, AI-powered solutions.   As General Manager of Microsoft Egypt, Kassem leads the company’s strategy and operations in the Egyptian market, strengthening Microsoft’s commitment to local leadership and lasting positive impact. He prioritizes building strategic partnerships, encouraging the responsible adoption of technology, and empowering organizations of all sizes to leverage digital tools that drive prosperity and enhance economic competitiveness. Kassem’s dedication to innovation, inclusive growth, and talent development continues to inform his work at Microsoft and support Egypt’s broader digital ambitions. 

Mohamed El Araby has been appointed as Managing Director of L'Oréal Egypt, effective April 2025. He brings over 2 decades of dynamic leadership in the beauty industry to this role, with extensive experience across diverse markets in the Middle East & globally. His proven ability to drive growth, lead & nurture diverse teams and cultivate iconic brands makes him ideally suited to lead L'Oréal Egypt into its next chapter. As General Manager for L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty (LDB) in the GCC region, El Araby for the past 5 years based in Dubai, He spearheaded a period of significant expansion in GCC & Levant countries with his diverse team representing 32 countries, strategically positioning the region as a key contributor to the division's global growth El Araby solidified his expertise in the dynamic Egyptian market during his three-year tenure (2017-2020) as LDB General Manager in Egypt. He skillfully navigated a competitive landscape to establish La Roche-Posay & Vichy as leading dermo-cosmetic brands, showcasing his keen understanding of brand building and market positioning while establishing lasting partnerships with Health Care professionals. His contributions also included the successful launch of Maybelline New York in Egypt and the strategic strengthening of Garnier's market presence in the country. Expanding his global perspective, El Araby served as Zone Marketing Manager L’Oréal Paris within L'Oréal's Consumer Products Division (CPD) in Paris. This role provided invaluable exposure to diverse markets across MENA and Africa, deepening his understanding of L'Oréal Group operations and honing his expertise in navigating varied cultural and consumer contexts. Prior to L'Oréal, El Araby honed his marketing and business acumen in leading FMCG & Telecom Companies in Egypt, gaining experience in a fast-paced, competitive environment. He holds an MBA in Marketing & International Business and a BSc in Business Administration from The American University in Cairo. El Araby’s strategic vision, proven leadership, dedication to sustainability, embrace of beauty tech & digital evolution, and his commitment to talent development make him exceptionally well-equipped to lead L'Oréal Egypt to continued success.

Sherif is a senior pharmaceutical commercial leader with over 20 years of experience across Egypt, the Gulf, North Africa, and the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region, with deep expertise in oncology and specialty care. He began his career at AstraZeneca and later spent nearly two decades at Novartis, where he held a range of senior leadership roles spanning commercial strategy, market access, and organizational transformation. In February 2026, Sherif was appointed Country President for Egypt. He re‑joined AstraZeneca in February 2025 as Egypt Oncology Business Unit Director, where he led a broad transformation of the oncology organization. Under his leadership, the business strengthened its market position, accelerated sustainable growth, and fostered a culture of openness, empowerment, and high performance. Earlier in his career, Sherif held regional and country leadership roles focused on business excellence and next‑generation customer engagement, contributing to the advancement of data‑informed, patient‑centric approaches across multiple markets. His work has been recognized for elevating customer experience, enabling agile execution, and building future‑ready capabilities. Sherif holds a Pharmacy degree from Alexandria University. He is deeply committed to developing high‑trust, high‑performing teams and to positioning Egypt as a benchmark market for equitable access to innovative, digitally enabled healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the right therapies at the right time, with meaningful impact on outcomes and experience.

Stefano Mazzone General Manager of Roche Egypt, Pharma organization. Stefano Mazzone is the General Manager of Roche Egypt, Pharma organization. He brings international leadership experience across Roche Italy, the EEMEA region, Pharma International headquarters, and the Middle East, with a strong track record across commercial leadership, market access, business transformation, and ecosystem collaboration. Throughout his career, Stefano has worked across mature and emerging healthcare systems, supporting scalable solutions in environments where healthcare needs are complex and resources are often under pressure. His leadership is shaped by a belief that meaningful healthcare progress happens when people, partners, and ecosystems work together around what matters most. Stefano holds a Master’s in Healthcare Management and Policy from Bocconi University, as well as degrees in Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Milan.

Dr. Sameh Elsayed Ibrahim is a senior executive with over 32 years of experience across the construction and real estate sectors. He currently serves as CEO of Misr Elgdida for Housing and Development, where he leads strategic growth initiatives, develops partnerships with major real estate companies, oversees the development of New Heliopolis City, and drives the company’s long-term sustainability and expansion strategy. Throughout his career, Sameh has held senior leadership positions including CEO of El Nasr General Contracting – Hassan Mohamed Allam, CEO of ECD/EPMC, COO of Dar for Construction and Development, COO of Rooya Development, and CEO and Board Member of DETAC Group. During his tenure at DETAC, he led the company to Class 1 classification and oversaw the delivery of 50 residential, commercial, and industrial projects valued at more than EGP 3 billion. A civil engineer by training, Sameh holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Ain Shams University, an MBA from Port Said University, and a DBA from Ain Shams University, in addition to a Leadership Diploma and professional certifications in planning, cost control, contracts, bids, FIDIC, and quality and environmental management. His expertise spans corporate strategy, business development, large-scale project management, organizational transformation, financial planning, talent development, and stakeholder management, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams and translating strategic objectives into sustainable business growth.

Aladdin Shalaby joined InDrive in December 2025 as Country Manager for Egypt, where he leads the company’s growth, marketplace development, and operational strategy in one of the region’s most dynamic mobility markets. He brings more than 12 years of experience across high-growth technology companies and entrepreneurial ventures in the Middle East. Prior to InDrive, Aladdin played a key role in launching and scaling products across Egypt and Dubai at Careem, driving market expansion and product localization initiatives. He later served as Growth Manager at Kitopi, contributing to the rapid scaling of one of the region’s leading food-tech platforms. In addition to his corporate leadership experience, Aladdin is a three-time entrepreneur, having founded and operated ventures in electric mobility, manufacturing and export, and online grocery delivery.

Moataz El-Toukhy is a purpose-driven commercial leader with almost 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, spanning both B2C and B2B sectors. Recognized as one of the Global 200 Power Leaders in Marketing & Communications in 2023, he brings a strong track record of delivering market growth, innovation, and customer excellence. He currently serves as the B2B Commercial Director at e& Egypt, where he leads revenue management, propositions, account management, digital channels, customer experience, go-to-market strategy, and brand development. Prior to this, Moataz held several strategic roles that consistently delivered impactful business outcomes. He holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD and a Bachelor's in Business Administration (Finance) with a minor in Economics from The American University in Cairo.

Bako Ambianda is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, author, and global speaker dedicated to driving Africa’s economic transformation through strategic enterprise and capital allocation.As the Chairman of Bako Group Holdings and CEO of Backbone Capital, Bako orchestrates investments and builds high-growth companies across strategic sectors—including energy, mobility, technology, real estate, and media. His expertise spans private equity, venture building, and high-level strategic advisory, helping global institutions and private investors navigate and unlock Africa's most promising markets.A passionate advocate for ecosystem building, Bako is also the founder of Capital Allocators 100, a premier initiative highlighting the influential investors actively shaping the continent’s financial landscape. Beyond the boardroom, he is an accomplished author of multiple books and a highly sought-after global speaker, delivering actionable insights on entrepreneurship, investment, leadership, and Africa’s economic future.

Radwan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, with a minor in Computer Science, from the American University in Cairo 1997. He has an extensive professional expertise in the fields of asset management, investment, and risk management. He started his career at EFG Hermes Holding, advancing to leading positions within the groups, eventually serving as the Managing Director of the Egyptian Fund Management group on 2002. His last title was Chief Executive Officer of Wealth Management at Beltone Holding since June 2025. He also held the role of Group Chief Risk Officer at CI Capital Holding from October 2022 to March 2024. He also held leadership positions in the investment subsidiaries of Banque Misr from 2018 to 2024, contributing to the development of asset management and investment activities through the launch of digital initiatives and the expansion of investment funds distribution channels. His career also includes experience at several large financial institutions including HC Securities & Investment, Arab Finance, Arab Bank (in the U.A.E), reflecting a broad background in regional capital markets. On the academic level, Radwan is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and a Financial Risk Manager (FRM), along with postgraduate diploma in digital transformation from ESLSCA Business School in France.

Partner at A15, General Partner at BitRoot Ventures

Maxime Bayen is a Partner at Catalyst Fund, where he supports early-stage climate tech startups across Africa with strategy, fundraising, and growth. He is also the co-founder of Africa: The Big Deal, the leading platform tracking startup funding on the continent, and has invested in, accelerated, or advised more than 100 startups across Africa over the past decade.

Margaret brings 30 years of global experience as an institutional and angel investor, technology entrepreneur, M&A strategist, MasterCard International executive, public policy manager, and innovation ecosystem builder. Her portfolio career includes: • Chairman of Launch Africa, an institutional Venture Capital fund that has invested in 180 companies across 25 African markets and 3 GCC markets in 15 tech verticals. Pioneer of secondary exits on the continent. 7% DPI in Year 6 on Vintage 2020 Seed Fund 1. She led Egypt-Sub-Sahara bridge building in early 2020s. • Non-Executive Director and RemCom Chair of a FTSE 250 investment trust (LON: CHRY) that backs UK/EU fintechs such as Starling, Klarna, SMART and Wise on their private-IPO transition. Visa acquired Featurespace a developer of real-time AI payments from Chrysalis last year. • Investment Committee of a pan-African gender lens fund, Five35 Ventures. Mastercard Foundation is anchor investor. • London Business School Private Equity MasterClass guest lecturer • Director of Autonomi Capital, an advisory firm the provides high quality independent advice to the energy, infrastructure, and resources sectors in Africa. Margaret moved to the UAE to help GCC and Africa fintechs architect their global expansion, accelerate M&A; and support government’s visionary plans for digital assets. Between 2003-2020, Margaret lived in Johannesburg and worked across the Big 4 African tech markets, advising listed financial institutions on digital transformation strategies, the establishment of Corporate Venture Capital vehicles, and connected them to fintech startups to support product and process innovation. She also served as a mentor to Endeavor Africa finechs such as Entesekt and agritech, Aerobotics, on their Africa, APAC, the UK, and US growth strategies. She also freelanced for The FT—the world’s global business newspaper. Margaret’s tech operating experience as a New York-based, Silicon Valley VC-funded entrepreneur who grew a B2B tech company globally before a successful trade sale, and as founding member of the MasterCard Asia Pacific team in Singapore and Global New Technology team in New York informs her investor and advisor roles today. She spends considerable time every year in Cairo, Cape Town, London, Berlin, Zurich, and New York engaging with stakeholders and shareholders. She’s an active member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network. A sought-after speaker, panel moderator, and workshop leader, Margaret’s recent thought leadership activities have included: • Money 20/20 Middle East, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia • GITEX in Dubai, United Arab Emirates • Milken Middle East & Africa Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE • Counder, Cape Town, South Africa • AFSIC, London, UK • Super Return Africa in Cape Town, South Africa • Super Return Emerging Markets in Amsterdam, Netherlands • African Venture Capital Association in Cairo, Egypt • HTG Investor Spotlight in Berlin, Germany • London Business School Private Equity MasterClass in the United Kingdom Margaret earned her BA from Rutgers University and studied International Relations at Princeton University before moving to Seoul, Korea to work for the Korean Ministry of Finance. She is married and has two GenZ children currently living in the United Kingdom.

Tamara Al Amad is an EMEA Business Marketing Education Trainer at Meta, delivering Meta Blueprint business education programs in Arabic and English. With over 14 years of experience across Meta, Snap Inc., and Careem, she has built and led marketing, events, and communications strategies for the region.

I have M.Sc.(Robotics) and B.Sc. degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, then obtained MBA in the UK, and am PMP certified. Before, I worked at international companies (Siemens, Nokia, Thuraya) on Sales/Business Development/Project Management in C-level roles. My experience covers; Technology, Innovation, Business on ICT, Energy, Mobility across EU, C.Asia, M.East, Africa, APAC, LATAM, US, TR, as well coaching, mentoring, advising technology startups and SMEs under global organizations on R&D&I. I have a startup background, the Partner/Managing Director, of an Estonian startup on Data Traffic Optimization, SaaS in Cloud, onboard passenger transportation vehicles. In addition, I'm the Senior Industrial Advisor for Business Development at European Bank of Reconstruction and Development(EBRD). Previously, my role at the European Technology Chamber(EUTECH) as the Director of Mobility and Academy Council; was to bring innovative Tech-related businesses, policy and decision makers together through better networking and collaboration opportunities providing Advocates with the flexibility to engage with specific enterprises according to their requirements. This allows businesses to customize interactions with other companies and industry experts, making it easier to collaborate and achieve common goals. Currently, I’m the Director of Strategy & Reporting, and Sales & Marketing, at The Scientific And Technological Research Council(TÜBİTAK, Türkiye) for Business Development (Informatics&Information Security Center), and Financial performance(tech/innovation centers). My focus is on; Strategy Director-level strategy and reporting experience at multiple organizations (TUBITAK, EUTECH, EBRD etc.) with proven ability to develop business strategy and financial/performance frameworks. Startup Growth/Investment Readiness 10+ years coaching/mentoring startups and entrepreneurs through accelerators and innovation networks (EIC, Seedstars, SDG Impact etc.) with deep expertise in investor storytelling and business case development. Business Development Extensive experience across emerging markets and multiple sectors (Nokia, RebelRoam, Thuraya etc.) with strong P&L ownership and revenue growth track record, currently focused more on strategic advising.

Said Baaghil is one of the Middle East’s most recognized brand strategists, a global keynote speaker across 60+ stages, and the author of five books endorsed by global leaders.

Galliam is the founder and CEO of Revvo, an Ivory Coast based startup building local capacity in electronics repair and refurbishment while providing Ivorian consumers with certified, warranty-backed smartphones and laptops at a fraction of retail price. A strategy and operations consultant for over a decade, Galliam served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company and at EY-Parthenon, advising companies and investment funds across Europe and Latin America.

Tando Matanda is the CEO of Musa, an intelligent SME capital-orchestration platform. Musa is the coordination layer for financiers deploying into emerging market SMEs. Musa organizes catalytic, debt, equity, and guarantee capital around an anchor into a single funding stack, so financiers deploy together, share the diligence and the risk, and the business is funded once, in full, rather than in fragments over months. Backed by J.P. Morgan and Techstars, Musa is live across four countries and works with more than 20 financier partners representing billions in potential capital. Previously, Tando led Australia’s first mobility-focused corporate venture fund ($10M) at Car Group (ASX:CAR), becoming the first Afro-Australian woman to run a multi-million-dollar CVC program. Cambridge educated, she began her career at BCG Digital Ventures. Tando is recognised as a Women Leading Tech Innovator (B&T x Atlassian) and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year (Women Changing the World Awards), she focuses on re-architecting capital flow so SMEs can grow and financiers deploy more effectively.

Omar Gharbo is a senior shipping and logistics executive with over 30 years of experience across global and regional markets. He has held senior leadership positions with leading industry players including DB Schenker, Agility, and Maersk, where he most recently served as Managing Director for Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Lebanon. Omar currently serves as Managing Director of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Egypt, where he leads the company’s growth and transformation agenda across the Egyptian market. Known for his strategic leadership, operational excellence, and ability to drive transformation in complex markets, Omar has built a strong track record of delivering sustainable growth, developing high-performing organizations, and creating innovative logistics solutions for customers.

Sarah Ariyan Sakha is the AI Policy Manager for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkiye at Meta. In this role, she drives AI product and policy strategy across the region to ensure Meta’s AI can serve communities inclusively and responsibly across the region. Her work at Meta has focused on the impact of AI for local communities, as well as on engagement with civil society and international organisations such as the UN on digital policy issues. Prior to joining Meta, she worked on humanitarian policy reforms at the International Rescue Committee, and open data policies and “data for good” initiatives at the Rockefeller Foundation. She holds a Master’s degree in Technology and Human Rights Policy from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. She lives in London, where she loves cooking Iranian food for others and cycling (a freshly acquired skill).

A Saudi Unicorn(s) builder, a winner of self-made entrepreneur of the year 2021 prize in Saudi Arabia, with more than 25 years of experience in information technology, research and innovation, and digital transformation. Built himself a unicorn that's the MENA region's leading e-commerce platform "Salla", and an Angel Investor in 5 more MENA Unicorn(s). Focusing on changing the way knowledge economy interacts with entrepreneurial ecosystem by his new venture KnowledgeX.sa

Heba is a seasoned executive director over 20 years of consulting and management experience in both local and international firms. Heba has been selected as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Egypt for the year 2022. She is currently leading the hospitality design portfolio of International & local hotels at Mountain View Developments as ‘Hospitality Innovation Director’ and previously from 2023-2026 she was heading the Hospitality Development team at City Edge Developments- with Ministry of Housing & Urban Development in Egypt with the most diverse portfolio of international chains of hospitality projects across Egypt’s 2030 new investment destinations. For 16 years, Heba had also been heading the Interior Design department at EMAAR MISR -a well-known real estate developer in the Middle East and North Africa- Led & supervised the development of several luxury lifestyle communities across residential, commercial & hospitality products

Walid Hassouna is the Chief Executive Officer of Valu, Egypt’s leading universal financial technology powerhouse. In his role, he leads the company’s continued growth as it expands its comprehensive suite of convenient financial solutions for customers and businesses across multiple markets and use cases. Valu, legally known as U Consumer Finance S.A.E. and listed on the Egyptian Exchange under the ticker EGX: VALU.CA, is the first fintech company in Egypt providing consumer finance to become publicly listed on the EGX. This milestone, together with Amazon’s direct stake in the company, reflects Valu’s dynamic business model and ongoing growth journey. Under its expanding product universe, Valu pioneered Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) solutions in the MENA region through U, offering customizable financing plans of up to 60 months across more than 9,000 stores and online platforms. Its network spans a diverse range of categories, including home appliances, electronics, home finishing, furniture, residential solar solutions, healthcare, education, travel, fashion, and more. Valu’s ecosystem also includes investment products through Valu Invest with the AZ Valu Fund and EFG Hermes ONE, an instant cash redemption program through Sha2labaz, a high-end financing program through Ulter to facilitate the purchase of luxury big-ticket items up to EGP 60 million, and its marketplace through Shop’IT. In addition, Valu offers business-to-business solutions through Valu Business. Further expanding its payment solutions, Valu introduced its prepaid card and co-branded credit card in collaboration with Visa, strengthening its ability to provide customers with versatile, convenient, and comprehensive payment options. As an award-winning fintech player in the MENA region, Valu embraces a progressive business approach, driven by an agile team committed to architecting innovative financial solutions that meet customers’ evolving needs. Most recently, Valu launched its services in Jordan in May 2026 under a Specialized Finance license, following final approval from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), offering consumers convenient financing solutions in the market. Walid currently sits on the board of KarmSolar and previously served on the board of Bedaya for Mortgage Finance. He also previously served as Chairman of PayTabs Egypt and Vice Chairman of EFG EV Fintech. Over more than five years, Walid’s leadership of the NBFI platform at EFG Holding saw the platform grow multiple businesses and launch innovative brands. Prior to joining EFG Holding in 2016, he built a successful 17-year career in banking. He served as General Manager and Head of Structured Finance and Investment Banking at Bank Audi, where he closed structured and project finance transactions exceeding USD 15 billion. He began his career at Misr International Bank, structuring and executing several award-winning project finance and M&A transactions in Egypt and the GCC. He also served as Head of Structured Finance and Syndication at Banque Misr, where he successfully led the bank to top the MENA region’s syndicated loans league table. Walid holds a B.B.A. with highest honors from Cairo University, an MBA from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, and an Islamic Finance Qualification from CISI, UK.

Omar El-Shenety is a Managing Partner at Zilla Capital, a leading investment bank in the MENA region. With 20 years of experience in investment banking and strategy consulting, he leads a team of seasoned bankers to deliver value-added solutions to clients across various sectors and markets. He holds a Global Executive MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School, a Master of Laws from King's College London and a Bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University in Cairo. El-Shenety is an Adjunct Faculty at the American University in Cairo, where he teaches finance and economics. He is also a Research Consultant at the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, where he focuses on the connection between economic developments and financial markets. He is passionate about analyzing and addressing the key economic issues facing the Middle East region and regularly publishes articles and reports in various media outlets and platforms. His mission is to leverage his expertise and network to support the development and growth of the region and its people.

Paula Tavangar is an investor and entrepreneur with a background in financial engineering. She is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital. Paula previously was a partner at Genesis Capital LATAM, where she oversaw the Quant Arbitrage Fund, delivering consistent alpha. In the Islamic FinTech space, Paula co-founded Wethaq in 2016 (exited). Beyond that, Paula serves as a mentor at the Harvard Blockchain Accelerator and has previously served on the World Business Angels Forum Global Startup Committee. She holds a B.A. in International Finance and an MSc in Financial Engineering, specializing in Automated Trading Systems.

Barbara Adolehoume is Climate Acceleration Program Manager at I&P, where she supports the growth and financing of climate ventures across West and Central Africa, including the CATAL1.5°T ("Catalist") program. Based in Abidjan, she brings a combined background in carbon finance and development economics to the question of how early-stage climate businesses access the right capital and partnerships to scale. Before joining I&P, she spent four years as Carbon Finance Project Manager at Entrepreneurs du Monde, working across Togo, Burkina Faso, Haiti and Côte d'Ivoire. She holds a Master's in Development Economics from Paris-Dauphine and a degree in Economics and Geography from Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I).

Mr. Morsy currently oversees the operations of Finance in Motion (“FiM”) in Egypt and Yemen. FiM is an asset management company based in Frankfurt and is the Advisor for the SANAD and the Green for Growth Fund that both provide financing to financial institutions and corporates in order to facilitate access of finance to SMEs and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Mr. Morsy has been working for FiM for more almost 11 years. Mr. Morsy has extensive experience in the areas of investment banking, credit risk management and corporate lending, both locally and regionally. Before joining FiM in 2012, he was an investment banking manager at Prime Capital (2011-2012). Mr. Morsy also led the corporate lending activities for the Cairo area at Egypt’s second largest private bank - Arab African International Bank ‘’AAIB’’ (2005-2010). During his tenure at AAIB, he led several syndicated loans in tourism steel, telecom, cement and petrochemicals. Mr. Morsy holds a Masters in Investment Banking and Islamic finance from Henley Business School (UK) and an MBA from the University of New Brunswick (Canada). Mr. Morsy is a also a visiting fellow at the MBA program of at the Maastricht school of business and has delivered numerous academic and executives courses in credit risk management, bank management, corporate finance, Islamic finance, financial planning, business administration, human resources, and economics, both inside and outside Egypt

Prof. Hesham Farouk is an Advisor for Technology Development at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Since March 2023. Dr. Farouk was the Assistant Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Digital Transformation from 2020 to 2023 Dr. Farouk is a Prof. at the Electronics Research Institute (ERI), Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Dr. Farouk participated in some strategic studies, such as Mobile for Development, National Cloud Computing, Arabic eContent, Government Mobility, and ERI 2030 Roadmap. Dr. Farouk is a consultant at the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)

Mohammed leads Orange Egypt’s digital healthcare vision in Egypt and Africa, by becoming a trusted partner to our customers focusing on digital health solutions backed by a solid backbone in telecommunications and ICT products and services worldwide. Mohammed comes with a wealth of experience in the healthcare space, with over 15 years of global experience working for Cerner (Currently Oracle Health) in several positions across Egypt, Middle East and Australia before moving to Vodafone Egypt to lead their Digital Health Strategy and Product development. A journey where he continues to drive digital transformation programs in complex engineering and consulting environments.

Carolyne Kirabo is the founder of M-Kyala Ventures, M-Kyala Capital and the Gender Action Collective. She has 15+ years’ experience working in the gender inclusion, impact investing, management consulting, SME strategy and operational advisory support where she champions the use of gender inclusive approaches to building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. She has championed increased economic inclusion for women entrepreneurs that has seen her work impact over 500 women in Africa. Carolyne’s work aims at increasing access to finance for underserved and undervalued women entrepreneurs. She supports investors, INGOs, Foundations and entrepreneurs to develop inclusive strategies across their work while also investing capital directly to women owned and led SMEs in East Africa. Carolyne is actively involved in several gender equality initiatives across Africa and recently launched the Gender Action Collective, a community intended to amplify the voice and work of female entrepreneurs and drive the relevant resources and support needed to strengthen the ecosystem that serves them. She holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and sits on the board of AFARA Accelerator and the Investment Committee of SHONA Capital. Carolyne is a key figure in the ecosystem known for her passion for and work in advancing women entrepreneurship.

Hilda Louca is Managing Director of Converted, a next-generation AdTech and marketing automation platform helping businesses grow through AI-driven advertising and data intelligence. Converted is building the digital commerce infrastructure of the MENA region, serving over 5,000 businesses across Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and expanding regionally through its Pay, Orders and Leads product lines. Prior to Converted, Hilda founded MITCHA, Egypt's leading multi-brand fashion marketplace, which was acquired by Converted. She has been recognized by Forbes Middle East among the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen for two consecutive years (2023, 2024), and a Shark on the first season of Shark Tank Egypt.

Founder of ALMANAC, building the programs and partnerships that help corporates and governments move faster on industrial sustainability across EMEA. She is also a Venture Partner at BetterWay Ventures.

Salah Abo El-Magd | CEO - ACTA | International Sales Trainer & Leadership Coach With over 15 years of experience in training, behavioral transformation, and performance development, Mr. Salah Abo El-Magd is widely recognized as one of the most influential Arabic-speaking trainers in the Middle East. What sets Mr. Salah apart is not only his expertise, but also his rare ability to create genuine demand for learning in environments where engagement is typically passive. Mr. Salah has trained and inspired over 50,000 professionals across the Middle East, working with leading organizations such as ADNOC, Orascom, Saudi National Bank (SNB), and Chanel.

Ayman Bazaraa is a serial entrepreneur passionate about unleashing human potential through technology. As the CEO of Sprints, he leads a revolutionary AI platform that personalize and gamify learning. He also co-founded HiRemoters, connecting global companies with top remote talent; MicroDoers, an augmented reality solutions company; and Avelabs, a leading deep tech for autonomous driving software. Avelabs, was acquired by Fortune 500 company Arrow. 
Ayman's leadership journey includes roles at Orange, IBM, and Valeo.

Samhaa R. El-Beltagy is the Chief AI Officer at Nawy, where she leads the company's AI strategy and innovation agenda, driving advanced AI solutions that transform real estate technology and customer experience. She is also a Professor of Computer Science and the Founding Dean of the School of Information Technology at Newgiza University (NGU). Her career spans academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, with a consistent focus on bridging research and practice: she co-founded AIM Technologies, a Middle East–based startup specializing in NLP and advanced analytics, and previously served as Head of Research and Development at Optomatica, a company focused on AI solutions for real-world complex problems.Dr. El-Beltagy has played a pivotal role in national AI initiatives and is a member of the technical committee of the Egyptian National Council for AI, as well as the advisory committee of the ACL Special Interest Group on Arabic NLP (SIGARAB). She was named one of the Top 30 AI Leaders in the Middle East by MIT Technology Review (2022) and has been featured in Stanford University's global list of the top 2% of scientists (2019, 2021). She has authored over 90 international publications and served in senior roles at leading conferences, including Tutorial Chair at EMNLP 2022,  Program Chair at ArabicNLP 2026(co-located with EMNLP 2026)   and Program Chair at ArabicNLP 2023 (co-located with EMNLP 2023). She is a long-standing jury member for the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program, and co-founder and organizer of the International ACLing Conference Series (initiated in 2015, published by Elsevier). Her research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, and Arabic NLP.

Samah Anwar is one of Egypt's most enduring and versatile screen presences, an actress, director, and producer whose career spans more than four decades of Arabic cinema, television, and theatre. She grew up surrounded by the arts: her father was the acclaimed writer Anwar Abdullah, and her mother the beloved actress Souad Hussein. Art was never a choice for Samah Anwar; it was an inheritance. Before the camera found her, sport did first. Samah Anwar won the Egyptian national swimming championship at El Zamalek Sports Club, an athletic foundation that would later prove indispensable when she became the rare Egyptian actress cast in demanding physical action roles. She pursued French Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, and later deepened her craft through theatre training at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the Hollywood Film Institute. Her screen debut came with the 1981 film Secret Visit (الزيارة السرية). Over the following decade she built an unmistakable body of work in Egyptian action cinema, most memorably in Haalat Talaboss (حالة تلبس, 1988), Emraa Waheda La Takfi (امرأة واحدة لا تكفي, 1990), Al-Sajeenataan (السجينتان), and Bint Mushaghiba Jiddan (بنت مشاغبة جداً). At a time when Egyptian cinema rarely cast women in high-octane roles, Samah Anwar leapt through glass on motorcycles and commanded the screen with the ease of someone who had spent years in the water. On television, she became a household name across the Arab world through landmark series including Raafat Al Haggan (رأفت الهجان, 1990–1992), Ze'ab Al-Gabal / Wolves of the Mountain (ذئاب الجبل, 1993), El Hesab (الحساب), Sonbol Baad Al Million (سنبل بعد المليون), and Zizinia (زيزينيا, 1997). On stage, she was equally commanding, notably in Rakesa Qetaa Aam (راقصة قطاع عام, 1985). A severe car accident brought an extended pause, one she navigated with the same resilience that defined her work on screen. She returned in 2002 through the satellite programme My Experience (تجربتي), and gradually reclaimed not only her presence as a performer but expanded it to direction and production. Her directorial credits include the Nagwa Karam video clip Atchana (عطشانة), the TV film Piano, and the 2011 Kuwaiti drama Baqaya Gurooh. Her most recent chapter has been nothing short of a full reinvention. She delivered one of the most talked-about performances in the 2022 series Al Layla Wa Elly Feeha (الليلة وإللي فيها). She then starred in the Egyptian Netflix original Catalog (كتالوج, 2025), a family dramedy that topped Netflix and Google Trends across the Arab world upon its July 2025 premiere. In Ramadan 2026, she appeared on two fronts simultaneously: Aard W Talab (عرض وطلب) and Hekayet Narges (حكاية نرجس). Beyond the screen, Samah Anwar is Founder and CEO of TellAVision.io, an AI-powered content creation platform for MENA creators, and hosts the Arabic-language AI podcast "AI بالعربي." She is a committed advocate for making artificial intelligence accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences.

Moataz Darwish is associate professor of practice, strategy and entrepreneurship, and associate chair at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, where he also serves as the associate chair of the Heikal Management Department. A former senior executive with Shell Plc., Professor Darwish bridges the gap between practice and academic excellence, bringing more than 25 years of experience in energy management, strategic thinking and executive training to the Onsi Sawiris School of Business.

Professor Darwish holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of Bradford School of Management (UK), where he was awarded a partial scholarship for his research into the intersection of managerial mindsets and strategic management in uncertain conditions. He also earned an MBA from Edinburgh Business School (UK) and has completed advanced executive programs at Oxford, Harvard and INSEAD business schools, and Shell Open University.

For the past 15 years, he has been active in executive and MBA education, instructing at The American University in Cairo School of Business ExecEd and the Edinburgh Business School MBA programs. His teaching focus centers on leadership excellence, strategic management, scenario thinking and the entrepreneurial mindset.

Prior to his full-time academic appointment, Professor Darwish spent 16 years in senior leadership roles at Shell Plc, most recently serving as the deputy country chair for Shell Companies in Egypt. His distinguished corporate career also includes his tenure as the commercial manager for the UK North Sea at NAM—a Shell/ExxonMobil joint venture in the Netherlands—as well as his roles as country commercial director, executive team member of Shell Egypt, chief of staff and company spokesperson. Furthermore, he served as a board director for the NATGAS and Nubariya companies.

A recognized authority in commercial negotiations, business development, strategy and corporate affairs, Professor Darwish is a recipient of Shell’s prestigious UI Impact Award. His influence on the business ecosystem extends well beyond practice and academia; he is a seasoned angel investor and an entrepreneurship judge and mentor. Additionally, he actively contributes to the industry policy landscape through his long-tenured membership in the AmCham Egypt Oil and Gas and Trade and Industry Committees.

Mohamed Derbala Managing Partner, North Africa & Francophone Africa, Moharram & Partners (M&P) | Board Member, Forset Haya Association for Rare Diseases Mohamed Derbala serves as Managing Partner for North Africa and Francophone Africa, where he leads the Africa Hub, bringing more than 25 years of experience in government affairs and public policy across the Middle East and Africa. Derbala specializes in strategic advisory for investors, multinational corporations and major regional institutions, particularly on market-entry strategies, alignment with regulatory frameworks, and effective participation in policy development—helping enable sustainable growth in complex and continuously evolving economic environments. Through close engagement with senior decision-makers, Mr. Derbala supports investment facilitation and strategic policy direction, helping clients build trusted, long-term relationships with governments, regulators and key economic stakeholders. His professional strength lies in translating public-sector priorities into practical, actionable business strategies that serve private-sector interests and expansion ambitions. Mr. Derbala has built his extensive expertise through a distinguished career, including serving as a liaison between the Egyptian Government and the U.S. Department of State, contributing to regional policy coordination and strategic stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, he held senior advisory positions within Egypt’s Ministry of Interior, developing a deep understanding of public-sector decision-making and regulatory institutions. This background continues to strengthen his ability to engage effectively with policymakers, with a sustained focus on advancing investment, reform and economic impact. Under his leadership, Mr. Derbala has provided critical support to major global companies, including Coca-Cola, Meta, TikTok, Kaspersky, Illumina, and Johnson & Johnson, enabling successful market entry and expansion in Algeria. These efforts were supported by a strong local presence and a series of high-level meetings with ministers and government officials, aimed at strengthening the investment environment and facilitating business establishment in Algeria.

Karim Gabriel is an entrepreneur, health & wellness advocate, and founder of KG Workouts, Keep Going, and KleanSource. After spending 16 years in the corporate world leading one of the biggest global sports nutrition brands, Karim left the corporate path to build businesses focused on helping people live healthier, stronger, and more active lives. Known for combining business expertise with a genuine passion for fitness and wellness, Karim has built a strong community-driven presence across Egypt and the GCC. Through KG Workouts, he has helped thousands of people transform their health through online coaching, education, and sustainable lifestyle habits. Through Keep Going, he aims to make high-quality sports nutrition and wellness products more accessible to the region while maintaining international standards, innovation, and value. Through KleanSource, Karim is building a trusted health & wellness marketplace that brings together premium supplements, vitamins, healthy foods, and wellness products in one reliable destination. Karim is also a speaker, content creator, and father who is passionate about inspiring busy professionals and entrepreneurs to prioritize their health while building meaningful careers and lives.

Project Manager at Sevi Innovation with three years of experience in client relationship management and customer experience. Currently leading a high-impact, one-year technology driven financial inclusion project in Kakuma, focused on expanding access to digital financial services, empowering refugees and host communities and creating sustainable economic opportunities. She coordinates diverse teams, understand customer needs, engage stakeholders, drive innovative technology-enabled initiatives and monitor project performance to ensure effective and measurable results. passionate about leveraging technology and innovation to strengthen livelihoods, promote financial empowerment and deliver meaningful lasting impact.

Ehab Darwish is the Founder of iSkala and a Go To Market strategist, outbound expert, and lead generation consultant. He has helped 300+ brands build scalable growth engines, including Fawry, Swvl, ZenHR, Bayzat, Bayt.com and ElCoach among many more. Ehab has also trained more than 2,000 professionals across 12 countries on modern sales, AI, automation, and Go-To-Market engineering.

Sally Elakkad is the CEO of Abjjad, the leading Arabic digital reading and audiobook platform, where she is driving the company’s transformation from a digital library into a global Arabic content and technology platform. With more than 20 years of experience across multinational organizations, entrepreneurship, marketing, e-commerce, and digital transformation, Sally’s career has centered on building businesses, leading teams through change, and turning emerging technologies into practical business value. Alongside her executive role, Sally has spent more than 17 years teaching and training business professionals and future leaders. She is also a DBA researcher, exploring the cognitive consequences of Generative AI reliance and its impact on managerial decision-making, an area that reflects her broader interest in the intersection of technology, leadership, and human judgment. Across her work as a CEO, educator, researcher, and speaker, Sally focuses on one central question: as technology becomes more capable, how do we ensure that people and organizations become more capable with it, rather than simply more dependent on it?

Dr. Amr Alashkar is a senior digital transformation and information technology leader with over 25 years of experience driving measurable business impact through technology. He is recognized for aligning IT strategy with organizational objectives, delivering scalable, secure, and compliant digital ecosystems. His expertise spans healthcare transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, AI, and automation. As CIO of Cleopatra Hospitals Group, he led enterprise-wide digital initiatives that enhanced patient experience, operational efficiency, and clinical quality, while achieving prestigious local and international accreditations. Dr. Alashkar is a respected thought leader, frequent conference speaker, and contributor to national and regional digital health transformation agendas.

Hisham Akram is a pioneer in Egypt’s financial sector with over 30 years of experience in building and scaling leading institutions. He is the Founder and CEO of GRANITE Financial Holding, where he leads the company’s mission to redefine asset management through introducing innovative and secure, client-centric solutions that disrupt conventional business offerings. He played a pioneering role in launching Egypt’s and the Region’s first investment funds and worked closely with regulators to develop the country’s capital markets. Hisham was a founding partner of Beltone Financial and held senior leadership positions at EFG Hermes and was the CEO of Madinet Nasr. He currently serves on the boards of several institutions, including Misr Real Estate Assets Management and the Investment Committee of the Endowments Authority.

Ahmed is passionate about shaping the future of manufacturing through AI, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation. He helps industrial organizations build intelligent factory solutions that turn innovation into measurable business impact, bridging emerging technologies with real-world manufacturing challenges.

Shereen Eletreby is a seasoned Talent Development leader with over 20 years of hands-on experience in designing and managing strategic learning solutions. As Head of Talent Development at Orascom Construction, she partners with senior leadership to build future business capabilities, address organizational gaps, and drive a sustainable learning culture across the enterprise. In addition to her corporate role, Shereen is the founder of Chefs’ Studios—a long envisioned F&B consulting firm launched in 2021—and co-founder of Three Diner, a retro-American restaurant brand. Her entrepreneurial ventures reflect her passion for innovation, experience design, and building thriving teams and businesses from the ground up. Shereen also works as a Career Development and Transition Facilitator, empowering individuals to explore their core career drivers, build clear action plans, and pursue purposeful professional journeys. Her earlier career includes a decade at Vodafone International Services, where she led corporate academy development, trainer performance, and knowledge management initiatives. She also held key leadership roles such as Head of HR at Akam Developments, HR Director at Iwan Developments, and Talent Development Consultant with AB & Associates. Shereen holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management with a minor in Management Information Systems from the University of the District of Columbia, graduating with honors in 2000.

I am a researcher, consultant, and educator specializing in Islamic Finance, Zakat Accounting, and Shariah Audit. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Al-Azhar University and hold two master's degrees in Islamic Finance and Accounting, in addition to several internationally recognized professional certifications from the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI).Over the years, I have worked in education, financial consulting, entrepreneurship, and investment across multiple sectors before dedicating my career to Zakat Accounting and Shariah Audit. I am the host of the TV program Zakaty, creator of the Shariah Audit podcast, and author of Zakat for Individuals and Companies and the Contemporary Financial Transactions book series.My work focuses on Zakat accounting, Shariah governance, Islamic financial systems, and helping organizations build Shariah-compliant business models. I am particularly passionate about advancing Islamic fintech, strengthening internal Shariah audit practices, and developing practical solutions that bridge Islamic principles with modern business and finance.

Dr. Khaled Elgeneidy is an Assistant Professor in Robotics leading the Innovation Hub at The Knowledge Hub Universities (TKH). He holds a PhD in Robotics from Loughborough University, UK, and is recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), bringing over a decade of academic experience from British universities in both the UK and Egypt. His research focuses on developing intelligent robotics systems to address grasping and manipulation challenges in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Dr. Elgeneidy has led and collaborated on several funded research projects with academic and industrial partners at national and international levels, resulting in over 20 peer-reviewed publications, 900+ citations, and a US patent for a mushroom picking device. Translating research into commercial impact, he co-founded Agaricus Robotics Ltd in the UK, a spin-off company commercialising an autonomous harvesting system following successfully funded research projects from Innovate UK and Ceres Agri-Tech.

With over 20 years of experience in data engineering, science and analysis, Dr Ismail Anwar has helped clients in both the public and private sector address hard challenges when it comes to deriving insights from complex data assets. With a proven record for understanding complex analytical data needs and articulating them to sustainable analytical architectures, Ismail has helped clients of various sizes in building analytical pipelines for the ingestion, storage, transformation, enrichment and presentation of data for analytical consumption and decision making. He also consulted clients on building achievable data and AI strategies to address their current and future needs. On the academic side, Ismail has an interest in the use of Computational Intelligence and AI for addressing hard problems in data science and decision making in complex, multiobjective scenarios. Ismail holds a PhD from the University of Kent.

Tarek Taha is a serial tech entrepreneur, operator, and Co-Founder & CPTO of Amtaar—an FRA-licensed fractional real estate investment platform—as well as the Founder of ERPn'Box. A veteran technology leader with over two decades of experience spanning fintech, proptech, software architecture, and real estate operations, Tarek previously served as the Fintech & Innovation Hub Director at the Central Bank of Egypt and led global real estate operations at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, Tarek holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and an Executive MBA from the University of Cambridge.

Anne Lawi – Managing Director; Impact Gateway Africa is a Venture support studio and early-stage investment fund dedicated to handholding high-impact enterprises across Africa. By providing early-stage seed capital, tailored support and strategic market access, we scale impactful solutions and create massive jobs across Africa Anne Lawi is a seasoned expert with 18 plus years of experience in strategic leadership, particularly in investment, funds design and startup deal flow management and entrepreneurship ecosystem building across Africa. Anne is coach and mentor with the Seedstar SANAD program. Her expertise in venture building, acceleration, and incubation has been pivotal in driving the growth and success of thousands of startups on the continent. Has Extensive expertise on: - Startup impact investment - Fund design - Startup investment dealflow management - Due Diligence - Innovation ecosystem building in Africa - Organization Development, Business Strategy Development and Implementation, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship Development - Facilitated investment of 100 Africa impact driven startups - Facilitated investment impact investment to a tune of $20M

In 2016, I founded Tactful in Cairo with Mohammad Fouad Hassan, while still at ARM. Over the next six years we built a CX infrastructure platform from scratch: 60+ engineers, $5M+ in R&D, enterprise customers across MENA including Elaraby Group, valU, Fairmont, and Address Hotels. We didn't build a chatbot. We built the five-layer stack beneath every customer interaction. The sale (2022 – 2024) Destiny (later rebranded Dstny), a European business communications group, acquired Tactful. The partnership brought European distribution, enterprise credibility, and a perspective I could not have gained from the inside. By the end of it, I knew what Tactful's next chapter needed: full founder autonomy to pursue the agentic CX vision. Coming back (early 2024 – present) In early 2024, Mohammad and I reacquired full ownership. In February 2026, we closed a $1M Pre-Series A. The platform is seeing 100x growth. We are building with the clarity that only comes from having done it once before. “I bought my company back because the best version of it hadn't been built yet.”

Benjamin Meier works with GIZ’s CATAL1.5°T initiative, supporting climate-tech ventures across West Africa to access capital and scale. His work focuses on helping companies scale, investment readiness and innovative financing approaches, including Capital Stacking and repayable grants. He works closely with entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem partners to bridge financing gaps and mobilise private capital for African climate ventures. Based in Dakar, he supports CATAL1.5°T’s activities across Francophone West Africa.

Mohamed Elmenoufy is the visionary founder of Infinity Technology and a highly respected lecturer in the fields of programming and web development. Having trained more than 5,000 professionals, authored three foundational books, and produced comprehensive courses across major digital platforms, he is a driving force in technical education. His work focuses on simplifying complex coding concepts and equipping students with the practical skills needed to thrive in the modern IT landscape.

Mohamed Elsabban Chief Innovation & Strategic Ventures Officer, Banque Misr Mohamed Elsabban is a senior executive with over 33 years of diverse experience across leading local and international banks and companies. He currently serves as the Chief Innovation and Strategic Ventures Officer at Banque Misr, where he leads the bank’s transformation into a future-ready financial ecosystem. In this role, Mohamed is driving a comprehensive innovation agenda that aligns with the bank’s 2030 North Star vision. His leadership focuses on open innovation, ecosystem orchestration, venture investment, and the incubation of new business models. Key initiatives under his mandate include the co-creation of Egypt’s first corporate venture platform, a captive insurance model, and an embedded finance framework for SMEs—developed in close collaboration with relevant business sectors across the bank. These efforts aim to position Banque Misr as the country’s most innovation-driven and ecosystem-oriented financial institution. Mohamed has also led the launch of flagship programs such as TEQDAR, one of Egypt’s most impactful corporate accelerators, and BMV Studio, a venture-building platform empowering both startups and internal talent to co-create transformative solutions. His work is helping Banque Misr unlock new revenue streams, serve evolving customer needs, and build strategic partnerships across banking and beyond.

Co-founder & Vice President of United group for Engineering & Investment ( UGEI ) which is an Egyptian group working in different construction sectors & Global trading with 25 years of experience in the construction, fit out & facility management industry with both governmental and multinational firms. His role includes also establishing good corporate governance practices and procedures also promotes the highest standards of integrity, probity, and corporate governance throughout the Group and particularly at Board level.

El-Shawarby, Attorneys-at-Law. Practicing in the areas of general corporate and commercial; start-up structuring, governance, pre-growth and growth venture finance; venture capital funds; law and technology; joint venture agreements; international business transactions; international project finance, infrastructure projects, public private partnerships, special economic zones, offtake supply agreements; international trade agreements – antidumping, subsidies, safeguards and countervailing measures; and competition laws. Angel Investor – Solo; Co-founder, Alexandria Angels Network; Co-founder, Mediterranean Angels. Additional personal expertise include business and social entrepreneurship, science and technology research and investing. Member of the Advisory Committee on Entrepreneurship and Digital Economy, Office of the Prime Minister of Egypt – 2025 to present; Member of the Board of Directors – Egypt Ventures – 2024 to present.

Ahmed ElSherbini is a Project Management leader with over 19 years of experience delivering major real estate, hospitality and corporate projects across Egypt, He is currently the Head of Building and Projects Consultancy at Savills Egypt, leading a team of 45 professional and managing a portfolio of projects exceeding 5 billion EGP. annually Previously, Ahmed held a senior role, where he managed high-profile fit-out and renovation projects for global clients such as Sheraton, Hilton and Mars, His earlier experience with Mountain View and Etisalat strengthened his expertise in construction management, design management and multi-stakeholders' coordination. Ahmed holds a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering and multiple professional certificates including PMP and PRMG, known for his leadership, technical depth and commitment to excellence, he consistently delivers a complex projects on time, on budget and up to the highest standards.