Conference Programmes

This discussion explores the transformative impact female leadership and entrepreneurship are having in the decarbonisation of energy systems. It will spotlight trailblazing leaders who are reshaping the energy landscape through strategic investments, innovation, sustainability initiatives, and leadership. Our panellists will share their experiences, challenges and successes, offering invaluable insights into driving progress and new approaches in a traditionally male-dominated field. Key topics will include:

• Navigating career paths and overcoming industry-specific challenges
• Insights on creating new businesses that decarbonise the energy sector
• The role of mentorship and support networks
• Innovative strategies and projects led by women that are revolutionising the energy landscape
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in promoting sustainable energy solutions

Led by: Isabel O'Brien, Editor, Privitas 
 

Alicia Eastman, Managing Director, APC Investors 
 

Beena Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder, CCU International 
 

Nawel Mahmoudi, Co-Founder and CEO, ValueGrid 
 

Christine Kampinga, Managing Director, Quantum Impact Investing 
 

Shashi Prakash, Head, Regulation, Policy and Certification, Masdar 
 

Fazil Abdul Rahiman, Vice President, Sustainability and Climate Change, TAQA
 

Sam Shin, Senior Manager, Research & Policy, UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators 
 

The global carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) market is worth approximately $3bn today. While storage is the primary focus, use offers a significant, underexplored revenue stream. Figures vary, but less than 10% of captured carbon is used, mostly in enhanced oil recovery or fertiliser production, plus in industries such as FMCG as a component of their products. However, the cost of using captured carbon remains higher than from other sources. This talk will explore strategies to reduce these costs, expand its use in new products, and address challenges and barriers, ultimately tackling the question of if it is possible to develop a viable, profitable, subsidy-free market for carbon use. 

Beena Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder, CCU International
 

Nature-based solutions are a vital part of a carbon capture strategy on the journey to net-zero. Mangroves, which sequester five to 10 times more carbon than rainforests, have the potential to be climate action heroes. But they're at risk. Technology is often seen as a threat to natural ecosystems, such as mangroves, but when used thoughtfully, can be one of their greatest allies. This talk will explore current barriers to mangrove restoration and how AI and robotics offer solutions.

Jennifer Simonjan, Director of Research, Nabat
 

What will the upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) updates in 2025 mean for public and private sector organisations? Will they accelerate the path to a low carbon future and place new expectations and challenge on public sector and private organisations? As NDCs are updated, what learnings can companies take from previous rounds and apply to the new NDCs. What hasn't worked in the past that could provide valuable lessons? Our keynote panel will look at the likely impact of the updated NDCs in the pathway to 1.5C. 

Led by: Dr. Fauzia Jabeen, Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Futures,
Abu Dhabi University
 

Nadia Rouchdy, Head of Climate, Emirates Nature – WWF
 

Ghiwa Nakat, Executive Director, Greenpeace
 

Marc Tijhuis, Managing Director, International Solid Waste Association 
 

Jamila Elmir, Senior Advisor to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP28, The Private Office of H.E. Razan Al Mubara
 

ESG disclosures are an x-ray view of the inside of a corporation. They highlight the work a company is doing to decarbonise, offer learnings for other organisations and bring to light additional work required. This session will explore the rise of ESG reporting and the benefits this brings. It also asks whether the reporting frameworks are sophisticated enough to meet reporting requirements, and if they can capture progress and changes by an organisation as they increasingly monitor and report their emissions. 

Led by: Charlene Nawar, Sustainability & Impact Consultant, Unwrapped
 

Adele Guidot, Program Lead, Global Compact Network UAE
 

Yuhan Zeng, Director of Carbon Emission, Tongwei 
 

Avinash Kumar, President-ESG, Earthood Services 
 

Stephanie Asgill, Head of Sustainability, Dubai Holding
 

Komal Sharma, Head- Strategy & Governance, Group ESG, Emirates NBD 
 

This discussion will explore the types of policies that can empower society, governments, and businesses to make significant strides towards a low-carbon or net zero future. We will examine where the focus should be, how these policies can benefit organisations, and strategies to ensure they do not become barriers to progress.

Led by: Katarzyna Waker, General Manager, Earthood 
 

Jane Boyle, Head of Sustainability, Abu Dhabi Airports 
 

Charlene Nawar, Sustainability & Impact Consultant, Unwrapped
 

Vash Singh, Sustainability Director, KEO
 

Jesus Gutierrez, General Manager, X-Noor 
 

MC: Mahesh S. Multani, CEO, MSM Excellence 
 

For many organisations, a significant portion of their greenhouse gas emissions - in some cases up to 85-90% - originates from Scope 3 sources. These emissions are indirect and stem from activities within the supply chain, such as production, transportation, and waste management. How can companies effectively collaborate with their supply chain partners to reduce these emissions, particularly if they are not a large-scale buyer? What successful strategies and examples can they draw inspiration and learn from? 

Led by: Mahesh S. Multani, CEO, MSM Excellence 
 

Florence Bulté, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chalhoub Group
 

Jessica Scopacasa, Co-Founder, Olive Gaea 
 

Leena Al Olaimy, Founder & CEO, Symbaiosys 
 

Nahla Nabil, Author and Sustainability Strategist
 

Daxita Rajcoomar, Chief Sustainability Officer - Africa, Middle East and Asia, Engie 
 

This talk will look in detail at the outcomes from the UAE Alliance for Climate Action’s (UACA) flagship report, titled “Navigating Decarbonisation”. UACA launched a survey to assess the progress, challenges and opportunities that organisation’s in the UAE are facing on their journey towards a net-zero future. UACA partnered with more than five domestic networks and alliances and engaged with over 350 organisations for the survey. 

Nicketan Velani, Lead - UAE Alliance for Climate Action, Emirates Nature-WWF
 

Ziad Al-Sati, Vice President Controls & Digitalization Middle East, Siemens Energy
 

How can AI partner with other climate-focused technologies to achieve the emissions reductions that society needs? These presentations will outline how current AI is being used and lays out ideas of how its use could evolve in future to make a true impact on tackling climate change. 

11:45 Talk 1:
Dr. Diana Francis, Climate Scientist and ENGEOS Lab Head, Khalifa University
 

12:00 Talk 2:
Jay Sadiq, Founder & CEO, FortyGuard 
 

Climate technology plays an important role in achieving net-zero and decarbonisation goals. However, success depends on building a collaborative ecosystem that connects innovators, investors, and industry leaders. The UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators’ (UICCA) Launchpad acts as a catalyst, driving the development and implementation of transformative climate innovations. The presentation will focus on the Carbon Solutions cycle of the UICCA Launchpad, highlighting its role in advancing impactful solutions.

Humza Sheikh, Manager, Launchpad, UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators
 

ClimateTech can take many, diverse forms - ranging from cutting-edge, advanced AIbased systems to practical low-tech opportunities such as passive cooling. Equally, technologies focused on adaptation and resilience are becoming more important. These presentations will look at different ClimateTech ideas, the difference they are making and how they are being scaled. 

12:25 Talk 1:
Lola Fernandez, Principal, VentureSouq Management 
 

12:40 Talk 2:
Swethal Narayanan, Managing Director, The Catalyst
 

How do we grow a carbon market with integrity, ensuring participants can engage confidently without the fear of greenwashing? Carbon markets allow companies to buy carbon credits to offset their emissions, and these are often linked with naturebased projects, although not necessarily in the country of origin. This panel will explore the potential and limitations of regional carbon markets and credits as a financial mechanism to support and scale nature-based solutions, look at their measurement and verification, and ask if there is a mismatch between the value of financing and carbon removal. 

Led by: Nisreen Shadad, CEO & Co-Founder, NetGreen
 

Dr. Loubna Zaitouni, Senior Legal Affairs Specialist, New Economy Department,
Ministry of Economy, UAE 
 

Abdulrahman Alfayyadh, Chief of Staff, Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company,
Saudi Arabia
 

Ivan Mozharov, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Offset8 Capital 
 

Neelesh Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Calculus Carbon 
 

Kevin Iwanaga, CEO, Esyasoft Climate Technologies 
 

The climate-related youth and young entrepreneur's voice is becoming ever more powerful, and one that forward-thinking companies are increasingly embracing. They can bring behavioural change at board level, influencing corporate decisions from the inside that can flow downstream to nudge consumer behaviour. Here we speak with companies actively engaging with younger visionaries and look at the benefits they are bringing. 

Led by: Marian Fletcher, Founder, The Climate Consultancy
 

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

Yasmin Adel AlShaikh, Learning and Development Specialist - Group HR
Emiratisation, Al Futtaim 
 

Rather than focus on the barriers to climate action, this discussion will focus on the enablers of mitigation and adaptation. It will look at financing, the fostering of novel or new ideas, new technologies and the incentives and structures that would help adaptation enablers to function better. How will adaptation enablers consolidate climate resilience - this session will explain.

Led by: Antonios Vouloudis, Senior Director of Sustainability, New York University Abu Dhabi
 

Amy Lehoczky, Director - Environmental, Social and Governance, G42
 

Suparna Mathur, Founder & CEO, Parna Impact Advisory
 

Rana Hajirasouli, Founder, The Surpluss & PhD researcher/Industrial fellow,
University of Cambridge 
 

David Ramos, Senior Manager, Sustainability – MENAT, HSBC 
 

Marian Fletcher, Founder, The Climate Consultancy