Conference Programmes

Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO, Tadweer Group
 

The circular economy needs tangible targets. Any plan needs agreement around the baseline measurement, to create indicators for the business to understand whether or not it is making progress and to understand the impact it is having on business performance overall. The decisions made in the early stages will contribute to reduced emissions, greater reuse and lower waste levels. This opening panel will ask how organisations set metrics and measurements when developing a plan.

Raya Makawi, Regional Leader, Middle East & Africa - Sustainability,
Global Social Responsibility, 3M
 

Dina Epifanova, Global Head of Sustainability, IFFCO Group
 

Mohab Ali Talib Al-Hinai, Vice President - Sustainability and Circular Economy, Oman Environmental Services Holding Co (Be'ah)
 

Maher Al Kaabi, Advisor to Group Chairman and Independent Board Member, Alserkal Group of Companies and UAE Circular Economy Council Member
 

How can we move beyond siloed approaches to adopt a whole-economy solution for circularity? Often, the most basic ideas - which don't cost much - have the highest impact on sustainability. These presentations will provide success stories within the circular economy, looking at how companies and people were incentivised to embrace and contribute to a plan, including financially, and how this resulted in measurable benefits. 

11:20 Talk 1
Turning agriculture waste into sustainable fashion materials 
Shikha Shah, Founder and CEO, AltMat

11:35 Talk 2
Accelerating the circular economy for construction waste 
Ayad Khalil Chammas, Partner, Nirman Ventures

11:50 Talk 3
Eng. Majed Al Marzouqi, Acting Project & Facilities Director, Tadweer Group
 

It’s essential to distinguish between the circular economy and recycling. While many people equate the circular economy with recycling, this is a misconception. Recycling should be considered a last resort. The primary focus of the circular economy is on reducing waste and reusing materials. This discussion will focus on approaches to prioritise reduction and reuse, to create more sustainable and efficient systems that minimise environmental impact and conserve resources. 

Led by: Viridiana Bello Huitle, Project Manager, VestinGrow
 

Mukul Anand, CEO, R3 Factory
 

Ahmed Taher, EcoWaste Management Expert 
 

What are the types of waste that, whilst not a huge problem in terms of volume today, are going to become a major waste management challenge in the near future. For instance, what will happen with end-of-life solar materials, or batteries from electric vehicles? How will we these be viewed - an opportunity for reuse or recycling, or a waste material that needs to be managed sustainably? This session will identify the upcoming waste material challenges, and discuss ways these can be dealt with that brings benefit for all.

Led by: Keerthana Rajamanickam, Editor, Waste & Recycling
 

Daker El Rabaya, CEO - Waste Processing & Treatment, Beeah
 

Richard Davidson, Middle East Director - Waste, Ricardo
 

Ronald Richa, Project Director, Veolia Near & Middle East
 

Madhumohan Sreeram, Director - ESG Solutions, Trans Euro Group
 

Zero waste principles focus on waste prevention. They do this by redesigning resource life cycles, so that products are repurposed or reused. The goal is to avoid sending waste to landfill or a waste-to-energy plant. If this approach to dealing with waste is to succeed what policies and practices need to be place? Are classifications around waste types clear enough. Zero waste could be a critical pillar in government efforts to reduce waste; this panel will discuss who needs to support it, and how.

While circularity initiatives often emphasise changing consumer behaviour and reducing household waste, the larger challenge lies in diverting substantial volumes of industry waste from landfills. Industrial sectors generate significant waste, offering greater potential for reuse and emission reductions. Effective strategies and policies must be implemented to address this issue, focusing on robust industrial waste management, incentivising recycling and reuse, and enforcing stricter regulations on waste disposal. By targeting both consumer and industrial waste, can we achieve a more comprehensive approach to landfill diversion and climate change mitigation? 

Tim Clarke, CEO, Warsan Waste Management Company
 

Vicky Bradley, Principal Consultant, Ricardo
 

Like other sectors, the waste management industry is trying to decarbonise. It is taking different approaches - for instance embracing circular economy approaches to how it deals with waste. But what about within the organisations themselves? What are they doing to decarbonise their businesses? These presentations outline some of the current efforts and ideas. 

11:45 Talk 1
Ayoola Brimmo, Co-Founder and COO, Cycled Technologies
 

12:00 Talk 2
Dr. Haythem Riahi, Founder and CEO, Circa Biotech 
 

12:15 Talk 3
Rabih El Chaar, Managing Partner, Smarkk and CEO, Nadeera
 

Organisations are trying to commercialise different parts of the waste cycle and circular economy. Where money can be made, investment can be attracted, and new ideas fostered and scaled. This discussion will focus on projects that use biogenic feedstock to create sustainable products such as aviation fuel from waste, asking what the challenges are, can these projects move from interesting pilot to commercial scale products, if there are the volumes of feedstock required and more.

Mohamed Faheem Khan, Project Manager, Tadweer Group
 

A challenge for growing the circular economy is the cost of recycling, which includes collecting and cleaning waste versus the cost of manufacturing a virgin product or material. How does the waste sector make money from the circular economy, and at what point is reuse or recycling no longer economically viable?

Led by: Meghna Talreja, Founder, One Modern World 
 

Riad Bestani, Founder & CEO, ECOsquare
 

Ayoola Brimmo, Co-Founder and COO, Cycled Technologies
 

Emma Barber, Managing Director, DGrade
 

Waste to energy is the end point in any reuse, recycle strategy within the circular economy. It can also be an important part of landfill diversion plans, and help divert potential future methane buildup that is subsequently released into the atmosphere. But given that it is an endpoint in a material's lifecycle, it is also argued that W2E discourages circular economy initiatives. This update will look at how W2E initiatives fit within a country's circular economy plans, progress of plants, their impact on circular economy growth, and challenges that still need to be tackled, such as waste segregation.

Eng. Majed Al Marzouqi, Acting Project & Facilities Director, Tadweer Group
 

Nouf Wazir, Lead Engineer, Beeah
 

Roni Araiji, Managing Director Middle East, Hitachi Zosen Inova