2023 featured speakers:

• 

  H.E. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

  Minister of state for foreign trade, UAE

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  H.E. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

  Minister of state for foreign trade, UAE

  H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, a position he has held since July 2020. His primary responsibility is to oversee the development of non-oil foreign trade, the expansion of global trade partnerships and the increase of UAE exports.

  His Excellency is currently presiding over the nation’s efforts to secure Comprehensive Economic Partnerships, Agreements with strategic allies around the world, a key part of the UAE’s efforts to boost exports by at least 50 percent by 2030. In May 2022, the first of these CEPAs, and the first ever bilateral deal signed by the UAE, was concluded with long-standing trade and investment partner India.

  His Excellency also leads the efforts to enhance the UAE’s investment climate and strengthen its position as a prime destination for business and investments at both regional and global levels. is includes his portfolio as Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, in which he ensures the best global talents have the pathways, incentives and opportunities to contribute to the UAE’s long-term economic objectives.

  Dr ani serves as Vice Chairman of the Industry Development Council and Chairman of the Council’s Executive Committee, as well as Deputy Chairman of Etihad Credit Insurance’s Board of Directors. His Excellency is also a member of the Supreme Committee for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

  Prior to his appointment as the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, H.E. held the position of Minister of Climate Change and Environment and supervised the implementation of the country’s strategies on climate action, agricultural
  development, animal husbandry and fisheries, in addition to combating desertification and preserving biodiversity. He led efforts to enhance the sustainability of natural systems, food diversity and the transition to a green economy.

  His Excellency led the UAE’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change, and protect the country’s natural ecosystem by developing and implementing a set of effective policies and initiatives to achieve sustainable development at both regional and international levels. is was achieved by forging and strengthening partnerships with government and private sector entities, ensuring food security and biosafety in the country as well as increasing the quality of national agricultural production.

  H.E. has also served as the Director of the Department of Energy and Climate Change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and was appointed as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as extraordinary Ambassador.

  Minister Al Zeyoudi started his career as an oil engineer at the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), and then moved to Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), where he worked on the development of renewable and clean energy technologies and solutions. He also played a key role in the success of the UAE’s 2009 campaign to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi.

  In 2020, H.E. was chosen by the Davos World Economic Forum to become a member of the Young Global Leadership Council, recognizing his outstanding international efforts in the field of environment and climate. In 2015, Dr. Al Zeyoudi received the first award for Excellence from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in recognition of his
  pioneering efforts in the field of renewable energy.

  H.E Dr. ani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, an MBA in Project Management from the British University in Dubai, and a PhD in Strategy, Program and Project Management from Skema Business School in France.

• 

  Mourad Tamoud

  Executive vice president, global supply chain, Schneider Electric

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  Mourad Tamoud

  Executive vice president, global supply chain, Schneider Electric

  Mourad Tamoud joined Schneider Electric in 1997 as Supply Chain & Logistic Manager. In 2012 he became Senior VP of Global Supply Chain China, post in which he had oversight of manufacturing and distribution operations for the region, and was responsible for safety, quality, customer satisfaction, procurement and supply chain.

  Having been with Schneider Electric for over 20 years, Mourad has held positions in Low Voltage and Medium Voltage Industrial Operations, Industrial Strategy, Manufacturing Logistics, Production & Logistics, Procurement, and ERP Information Systems.

  In June 2016 he was appointed as Executive Vice President of the Global Supply Chain Operations for Schneider Electric. As of February 2019, Mourad has joined the Executive Committee as the Chief Supply Chain Officer overseeing the Operations, Transformation, Logistics, Network Design and Strategic Agenda for the entire Supply Chain organization.

  Mourad holds a degree from Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (France).

• 

  Sophie Öhrström

  Executive vice-president, global planning, merchandising and logistics, Gant

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  Sophie Öhrström

  Executive vice-president, global planning, merchandising and logistics, Gant

  Sophie Öhrström is Executive Vice President for Global Planning, Merchandising and Logistics at GANT, a brand with global presence in over 70 markets selling online, in stores and through wholesale. Sophie has during her four years at GANT defined the global strategic framework, developed and implemented the future global supply chain infrastructure and has managed the organization through the fast changing retail landscape. Prior to joining GANT, Sophie worked at H&M with Supply Chain strategy and business development and started her career as management consultant at Accenture with experience from the telecom industry. Sophie also holds two board of directors positions for Orio AB and Link Logistics, two logistics companies focusing on expansion in the fast emerging transportation and warehousing market. Sophie is a well known speaker at various Supply Chain events and often interviewed in her area of expertise, e.g. the Times special edition about Supply Chain innovation.

• 

  Ralph Ossa

  Chief economist and director, WTO

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  Ralph Ossa

  Chief economist and director, WTO

  Ralph Ossa is Chief Economist and Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division at the World Trade Organization. He joined the World Trade Organization after a distinguished career in academia with appointments at Princeton University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Zurich.

  Prof Ossa’s research focuses on international economics with a particular emphasis on questions of policy relevance. For example, he has explored the economics of trade wars and trade talks and estimated how much countries gain from international trade.

   

  He holds a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics.

• 

  Leila Afas

  Director, global public policy, TOYOTA

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  Leila Afas

  Director, global public policy, TOYOTA

  Ms. Afas is responsible for developing and executing strategies to further Toyota‘s global business goals. She coordinates cross-functional and cross-cultural teams to understand, anticipate and navigate the ever-evolving policy environment and successfully advocate Toyota’s position. She also provides insight on geopolitical trends and macroeconomic developments to Toyota’s senior leadership.

  Previously, Ms. Afas was appointed by President Obama to support the goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years and creating five million manufacturing jobs following the 2008 financial crisis. As the Director for Export Promotion at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, she collaborated closely with the private and public sectors at home and abroad to develop sustainable infrastructure projects in emerging economies by deploying U.S technologies and services.

  In a prior role with USTDA, Ms. Afas managed a multimillion-dollar portfolio of grant funds for critical infrastructure projects throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Her career has spanned the public and private sectors including positions in the U.K. House of Commons, U.S. Trust Company in New York, Grant Thornton LLP and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

  Ms. Afas was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to a District Export Council. She also serves on the Executive Committee for the Meridian International Center’s Corporate Council and is on the Board of Directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. She is a member of Washington’s Trade Policy Forum and is a proud Trade Experette. Ms. Afas earned a master’s in international economics from Columbia University, where she was awarded a program assistant fellowship, and a B.A. (Hons) in English and Political Science from James Madison University.

• 

  Assel Zhanassova

  CEO, Kazpost, former vice-minister of trade and integration, Republic of Kazakhstan

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  Assel Zhanassova

  CEO, Kazpost, former vice-minister of trade and integration, Republic of Kazakhstan

  From October 2022 Assel Zhanassova was Vice Minister of Trade and Integration and was responsible for digitalisation of trade, development of payment systems and digital banking.

  Assel Zhanassova has more than 10 years of experience in implementation of local and international IT projects.

  In 2010, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the
  University of Cambridge under the Bolashak International Presidential
  Scholarship. In 2014, she got her Master’s degree in Computer Science
  from the University of Cambridge. In the same year, she graduated from
  the Moscow State Lomonossov University under Executive Management
  program.

  In 2010-2014, Assel Zhanassova was the Director of the IT Security
  Department at the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation PLC in
  London. She was responsible for implementing large strategic projects in
  Kazakhstan, Africa, Europe, China and Russia.

  In 2014-2016, she was Advisor to the Director of the Bank Service
  Bureau of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, Deputy Director of the
  Digital Technologies Department of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.
  In 2016-2017, she was CEO of Zerde National Holding JSC.

  From 2017 to 2018, she was Advisor to the Governor of Astana
  International Financial Center. Prior to the appointment as Vice Minister
  of Trade and Integration, from 2018 to 2020 she was AIFC Chief Digital
  Officer