Conference Programmes

Private finance will play a major role in funding decarbonisation and net zero projects around the world. But that funding is skewed towards more developed countries. If we are to ensure a just transition as countries seek to meet UNFCCC targets, how do we open the flow of capital to those nations? This panel will discuss the types of finance that will be needed to ensure countries can meet their decarbonisation ambitions, how to make it affordable to all countries and showcase approaches to overcome today’s barriers.  

Moderator: Paul Lund, Senior Director, Head of Corporate Ratings,
Middle East and Africa, Fitch Ratings 
 

Bruce Johnson, Director, Corporate Finance and Treasury, Masdar
 

Zoë Knight, Group Head, Centre of Sustainable Finance and Head of Climate Change MENAT, HSBC Middle East
 

Ahmed Y. Bahei-Eldin, Managing Director, Commercial Leader, Europe,
Middle East & Africa, GE Vernova 
 

Kenny Kitamura, Chief Representative for the Middle East,
Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
 

A one size fits all approach to financing will not work. The alternative is to adopt regional approaches that are fit for individual countries - how do regulators and policymakers address this? And where green financing is the wrong approach, such as where a country or community has little chance of repaying a loan, that financing needs to become climate funding or climate charity. This panel discusses finance options and how to successfully manage them. 

Moderator: Rawan Oueidat, Director, Corporate Ratings, S&P Global Ratings 
 

Shargiil Bashir, Chief Sustainability Officer, First Abu Dhabi Bank 
 

Lina Osman, MD and Head - Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered Bank UAE 
 

Fawaz Sabri, Chief Technical Advisor, Private Sector Development & Banking, United Nations Development Programme 
 

Dr. Miray Zaki, Managing Director - Head of Sustainability Investments, Gulf Capital 
 

Jean Morcos, Senior Investment Officer and Regional Sustainable
and Climate Finance Lead, IFC  
 

In this fireside chat, experts will share key findings of the newly published UICCA-Convergence-HSBC research report. The latest trends and cases related to the application of blended finance mechanisms in the region as well as recommendations for regional stakeholders on enabling aspects for the successful design and implementation of blended finance portfolios and leverage of private capital will be discussed. 

Moderator: David Ramos, Head of Sustainability, MENAT, HSBC 
 

Dr Soundouss Bouhia, Director of Policy & Finance,
UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators 
 

An overview of a private equity fund that will be launched later this year by the Pakistan Private Sector Energy Project, supported by USAID and implemented by PFAN, UNIDO and REEEP. The primary focus of the fund’s investments will be in Pakistan and preference will be given to early stage, high impact Investments. The investment objective aligns with the dual purpose of achieving financial success while delivering a positive impact on the environment, society, and gender diversity within the spectrum of low carbon projects. 

Marko Van Waveren Hogervorst, PFAN Programme Manager, United Nations Industrial Development Organization 
 

Banks globally have largely supported the green transition on a voluntary basis, rather than waiting for government regulations to be put in place. But, there is a need for climate finance regulation, and this panel will gather experts to discuss what is required to take green financing to the next level.  

Moderator: Prof. Charilaos Mertzanis, Professor of Finance, Abu Dhabi University 

Dusko Stjepanovic, Head of Green Banking, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership

Karim Arslan, Executive Director, Green & Sustainable Finance Originator, Green & Sustainable Hub, Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking

Declan Hegarty, Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director, Global Corporate Bank, JP Morgan Middle East

Aymen Koubaa, Regional Head - Energy and Infrastructure, Societe Generale Middle East

Howard Lambert, Head of Corporate Sector Coverage, Middle East, ING 

A carbon price can encourage companies to invest in decarbonisation. Through cap-and-trade schemes governments can limit emissions in selected sectors and establish marketplaces through which regulated entities trade emissions permits meet regulatory targets and, in the process, establish a carbon price. Is this policy feasible in the UAE? 

Eva Ramos Perez Torreblanca, Division Director - Environmental Policy Analysis and Economics, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi 
 

Is there a disconnect between scaling climate- or clean-focused technology in a market and securing the finance necessary – particularly green finance. While venture capitalists may invest in early-stage companies, what about for those that are more established? This panel will discuss opportunities for entrepreneurs, in particular green finance, what's missing today and what makes an attractive investment. 

Moderator: Tadhg O'Donovan, Chief Scientist, Heriot Watt University Dubai
 

Jana Elkova, Strategy & Entrepreneurship Expert, Ministry of Economy, UAE 
 

Elias El Mrabet, Finance & Technology - Partnerships, COP28 UAE 
 

David Auriau, CEO, Positive Zero 
 

Daniela Schoeppner, SVP Finance, Middle East and UAE, Siemens Energy
 

Prakash Somosundaram, Co-founder and CEO, AYA
 

We hear from entrepreneurs who now advise and invest in companies, with insights into how company leaders should present themselves, key sectors they are investing in and what makes an attractive investment.

15.40: Bruce Gurfein, CEO, Connect Group 
 

15.55: Kevin Holliday, Managing Director, C3 (Companies Creating Change) 

Moderator: Umera Ali, Partner, Banking & Finance - Head of Banking, Saudi Arabia, Dentons
 

Mohamed Damak, Managing Director & Sector Lead Financial Institutions & Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global
 

Oliver Phillips, Regional Head of Sustainable Finance, Barclays CIB 
 

Oussama Kaissi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit