Azam Soukar is an internationally experienced senior professional with more than 27 years of experience delivering strategic and operational solutions in relation to the effective management of health, safety, environmental, and quality solutions cross a diverse range of markets and businesses. He applies his core capabilities in organising, planning, and implementing effective controls to create and sustain a positive HSE culture across the organisation.

Having worked at senior-level positions in various companies in the field of real estate, construction, facility management, leisure and entertainment, asset management, airfield, and oilfield, Azam has excelled in all strategic and operational objectives with a passion to implement control measures in order to achieve zero harm or property damage to the organisations.

Ronald Otte has written and published seven scientific articles published in international journals. While working for BHP he won the environmental and safety awards for best environmental project and safety performance, and he drove the health and safety performance to international benchmark levels.

Currently, he is the director of safety and occupational health and hygiene at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). He has been in this role since January 2020. EGA consists of two aluminium smelters, an alumina refinery, and a bauxite mine.

He has worked in several roles at EGA since October 2005.  He started at the then Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL), heading the EHS and technical laboratory till 2013. From 2014-16, he was the leader of the HSE and fire and security department at Dubai Aluminium. In 2016 he became the safety director for EGA and thereafter, for two years, he also headed the fire and security department till early 2020.

From 1994-05 he worked for BHP at the Hillside aluminium smelter in various roles: laboratory and environment, process control, and HSEQ. From 1992 till early 1994, he was a research chemist at South Africa Paper and Pulp Industry in the R&D department. In 1991 he graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a PhD in chemistry.

Sultan Karrani graduated from UAE University in the summer of 2000 (bachelor’s degree in science with a focus in geology). He worked at ADNOC Onshore in exploring and developing the oil fields. He has seven years of experience with geology and subsurface, and in 2007 he completed a master’s degree in environmental science. In 2008, he started to work in the drilling department at ADNOC Onshore as an HSE engineer. In 2013, he moved to the site of the operations, and he was promoted to work as HSE team leader in an Onshore oil field. By the beginning of 2022, he had been transferred to headquarters, working with the corporate HSE department as a senior engineer.

He has done many papers and exhibition presentations, such as participating and presenting at the ADIPEC international conference and winning the silver prize for the 2013 Stevie Award. He has successfully planned and implemented many projects related to the oil industry, such as the safe startup of new rigs. He has done periodic audits of different companies (either internal or contractors). He was a key person in developing and training the newcomers in the divisions. Overall, he has gained experience in subsurface knowledge, drilling operations, and HSE knowledge through the last 23 years.

Mark Kenyon is an experienced health and safety engineer and practitioner with more than 40 years of industrial experience in both electrical engineering and as a health and safety professional. Mark is a hardworking and dedicated professional who enjoys leading and mentoring a successful and productive team.

Presently, Mark is the managing director of LM Management Consultancy Ltd and executive director of HSE - Abu Dhabi for iFluids. Mark possesses exemplary experience developing and implementing health and safety management systems, he’s quick to grasp new ideas and concepts, and develops innovative and creative solutions to problems.

He’s had a progressive career developed and driven through international HSE expertise and corporate management skills combined with a diligent electrical engineering background. He takes a strategic and innovative approach to improving operational compliance, overcoming complex business and construction challenges, and ensuring best practices through the design and implementation of robust QHSE management systems that ensure more than just regulatory compliance. Mark enjoys engaging and promoting a positive HSEMS culture with multicultural executive management and providing inspirational leadership to businesses/asset management/audit teams – encouraging individual ownership to ensure safe, efficient, and high-integrity environments. Mark is a people developer and enjoys building teams, and developing individuals, and businesses.

Dr. Rahaf Ajaj is the chapter leader for the UAE chapter of Women in Renewable Energy Canada. She is also the head of the climate change and public health cluster. Rahaf is currently an assistant professor in the college of health sciences at Abu Dhabi University. She finished her dissertation in the area of environmental radiation.

She holds a bachelor of science and a master of science in radiation physics. Her study focusses on radiation protection, safety, and regulations associated with climate change, renewable energy, and occupational and environmental health and safety. She has co-written publications for journals with peer review and taught numerous EHS courses. She has presented several invited or plenary speeches at international conferences. Rahaj has over 10 years of professional experience working for a nuclear authority and a petroleum council. She has extensive experience in inspection, regulation, and the administration of environmental, health, and safety issues.

Dr. Eng. Hani Hossni is the HSE and BCM director at Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company - Tadweer, and has been acting as a member of the senior management team since 2012. Previously he was appointed HSEQ manager of Abu Dhabi Distribution Company. He led the company team to win the Shaikh Khalifa Excellence Award for the 8th Cycle in 2007, and the Golden Category for the same award in the 10th cycle in 2010 in the services sector, as well as the five-star certificate for the health and safety management system by the British Safety Council.

Hani received a doctorate in business administration from Aston University (England) and a master’s degree in quality management from the University of Wollongong (Australia). He also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering management from HCT (UAE), and he is a quality and HSE certified lead auditor from IRCA. He is also an EFQM excellence assessor. He is a member of several national and international associations, such as Dubai Quality Group (member of board, director, and general secretary 2010-12), British Safety Council, and UAE Society of Engineers.

Hani was recognized by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for the young national leader in the field of excellence business at the Share Best Practice Conference in June 2009, and he won the “Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Scientific Outstanding” at the 20th edition, 2008.

Saleh Ali Albalushi has over 22 years of work experience in the oil and gas, aircraft, energy, Shipyards, and real estate industries. He has held senior management positions in reputed organisations where he has played a leadership role by developing and implementing a group-wide corporate health, safety, environment, and business continuity management strategy and worked alongside the executive leadership team to provide strategic advice across a range of different critical areas.

Saleh is an HSE division director at Drydocks World, a DP World company. He oversees the HSE function that includes health, safety and fire defense, environment, and medical departments. Previously, he held the position of corporate HSE director at TECOM Group and Dubai Holding Asset Management operations.

As the former head of quality, HSSE at Dolphin Energy, Saleh supported complex midstream and downstream gas energy projects and operations. He also spent time as an HSE department manager at Nakheel, a Dubai World company where he established the HSE department from the scratch for all Jumeirah family of brands verticals.

Saleh worked for Schlumberger onshore and offshore upstream oilfield projects as an oilfield engineer and subsequently as corporate HSE advisor for all onshore and offshore operations.

Saleh is committed to endeavor towards establishing comprehensive environmental, health, and safety protocols and best international practices and technologies; to advance UAE’s international competitiveness and strategic innovation-based economy.

Over the course of the past 20 years, Yasir Wafi has consistently enhanced operational productivity by challenging existing practices and driving change through coaching and engaging multi-disciplinary teams. With increasing levels of responsibility and accountability in an international context, he has shown an exemplary track record in providing inspiring management by fusing technical and operational methods into a cohesive and focussed direction.

Serving as an engineer from the onset of his career with reputable global organisations and under the guidance of experienced industry veterans, Yasir has gained exposure across Europe, Middle East, and Asia regions. His experience and skills in the area of environmental, green energy, and governance have garnered his passion and interest further to contribute to the private and public sectors.

Yasir has developed strategies through roadmaps for the current and previous organisations (in UAE and Oman) introducing lean initiatives resulting in sustainable outcomes. The subject of green energy solutions and sustainability is a personal commitment that he has enacted within his own work culture and, thus, continues to drive innovative solutions.

Motilal Chaturvedi is recognised as one of the global thought leaders and subject matter experts in the HSE and security domain. He leverages the latest technology to create innovative solutions for overcoming the accelerating challenges of safety and security risk, especially in the financial sector. Over his 23 years of a successful career, Motilal has successfully progressed up to the ranks in leading roles from executive manager to CSO/head of HSES. Currently, as a vice president of one of the leading financial institutions of ME, Motilal is responsible for establishing HSE and security risk, governance, and compliance framework globally including setting in place a cohesive strategy to mitigate or reduce these risks. He is a recognised member of some of the leading standard-setting institutions of international repute and holds some of the sought-after qualifications and designations such as lead auditor for management systems such as ISO 45001, 14001, 22301, 50001, CRisP, and MSyl.

Vito Saluto is the head of ESG at AMEA Power. Vito is an ESG and sustainability professional specialised in leading diverse teams in environmental, social, and governance development, strategy design, and program execution. He has 18-plus years of experience in international development and management of environmental and social performances of private equity projects in the renewable energy sector across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Vito currently leads the ESG team of AMEA Power in developing, building, and operating a project portfolio having a total capacity of up to 6GW. Projects include large-scale solar and wind farms, battery energy storage, and green hydrogen systems.

He also manages AMEA Power’s sustainability agenda including the community investment and development programs, the company’s voluntary commitment initiatives, and partnerships for sustainable development.

Before joining Ajman University, Maya Haddad was based in Abu Dhabi as a logistics and administration manager of the largest indoor caviar farm in the world, Emirates Aquatech, where she prepared and implemented all manuals, policies, and procedures for environment, occupational health and safety, HR, procurement, IT, food production/processing/safety, and logistics.

During her time with Emirates Aquatech, she managed to secure a Grade A rating for the facility two years in a row from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Additionally, they achieved the status of a model facility, where other institutions were referred to by the regulatory authorities to follow their lead in EHS related standards and practices.

Maya is an internationally certified auditor for five ISO standards, specifically food safety, HACCP, quality management, occupational health, and environmental management systems. She is an active member of the Global Ambassadors for Sustainability, and has successfully enrolled Ajman University in global networks such as the United Nations’ Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, Race to Zero, and the Nature Positive Pledge for biodiversity along with Oxford University. At Ajman University, she manages the office of sustainability and has successfully implemented a series of initiatives and campaigns related to climate change, environmental sustainability, zero waste initiatives, emergency preparedness, food safety and security, first aid and fire safety, UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), and carbon neutrality.

Maya is currently pursuing her MBA in health and safety leadership as well as a NEBOSH international diploma for occupational health and safety management professionals.

Raji Hattar joined Aramex in 1991 as a corporate IT officer. In 2006, he took on the role of chief projects officer and helped in establishing the sustainability team. He also led the team that developed Aramex’s first sustainability report (2006), the first of its kind in the entire region. In 2010, he spearheaded the team responsible for issuing Aramex’s first carbon footprint report. In 2008, Raji was named Aramex’s chief sustainability officer, and since then he has led the company’s ambitious sustainability strategy.

He is a board member of Ruwwad - Entrepreneurs for Development, a regional CSR initiative(www.ruwwad.net). He was also a member of the UNGC Human Rights working group, the UNGC 10 Principle working group, the Steering Committee of the Caring for Climate and the GRI Smart Resource Group, a member of the GRI Corporate Leadership Group on integrated reporting, chairman of the Jordan UNGC local network board, chairman of the Jordan Green Building Council, chairman of the advisory board of the MENA Green Building Council, and a member of the Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group. He was also an observer on “The Paris Agreement”.

Raji leads Aramex’s strategy to convert its entire fleet to electric vehicles, and he also led the successful solar farm project for Amman operations and the two rooftop solar farms project on Aramex’s Dubai logistics city facilities. He is also working on expanding the implementation of the renewable energy strategy across the Aramex network.

He holds an MBA in finance and sustainability from the University of Cumbria, UK.

An expert in occupational health and safety, Peter Michael Hamel has significant experience in the development and execution of occupational health, safety, and environmental protection policies with over 25 years of experience in the energy industry (nuclear, oil and gas, mining, and waste management). Peter has operational experience in the field of third-party maintenance inspection programs on behalf of ministries, OHSE in workover hoist services and drilling services, contract management in oil and gas service contracts with a value of more than $500 million, and occupational health and safety in waste management.

As part of his assignments as a consultant, he has developed and participated in the implementation of HSE and IMS systems in several national and international companies and developed HSE training programs for various companies in the MENA region. Peter has engaged himself in the development of national occupational standards with the Ministry of Labour in the Sultanate of Oman and has initiated and participated in the development of several OPAL (Oman Society for Energy) standards. Peter served as an OPAL board director from 2019-21. He has given lectures at several universities and is an active speaker at conferences.