The Middle east’s most powerful aI event

Omran AlShamsi is the Chief AI Officer at the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, leading the integration of artificial intelligence into national labour systems. With 14 years of experience spanning public sector innovation, digital transformation, and data strategy, he has driven major initiatives in workforce planning, data governance, and systems development. He is focused on harnessing AI to enhance efficiency, support evidence-based policymaking, and advance more resilient and future-ready government systems.

Joseph Nadi is a senior technology leader specializing in large-scale transformation through Data and AI. He is currently the Chief AI & Technology Officer at TAMM, leading the evolution of Abu Dhabi’s government services platform into an AI-native, agentic ecosystem that is redefining how citizens, residents, and businesses interact with government services.

He has held senior leadership roles across government and industry, including at Core42 as Chief Delivery Officer, and previously as Chief Data Architect for the Abu Dhabi Government. Earlier in his career, Joseph held senior roles at Microsoft, Oracle, Avanade (Accenture), and KPMG, and he holds an MBA with honors from IE Business School.

Dr Abdalla Sulaiman Alhammadi is the Chief Executive Officer for Innovation at the UAE Ministry of Justice. He leads national initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence, data and advanced technologies to enhance judicial services, improve access to justice, and support evidence-based decision-making. He also oversees the implementation of the Ministry’s transformational programmes and innovative projects, drawing on more than 23 years of experience in government excellence, strategy and organisational innovation, during which he has led major government projects and large-scale transformation initiatives.

Pujya Brahmavihari Swami (Swami Brahmaviharidas) leads the BAPS Hindu Mandir project in Abu Dhabi, the first traditional stone temple in the Middle East, serving as a powerful symbol of cultural harmony and interfaith collaboration. He is also responsible for international relations at BAPS, steering the organization’s global outreach through its devotional, humanitarian, and spiritual initiatives.

Under his guidance, the temple has become a beacon of peace and unity, frequented by leaders and dignitaries from both the UAE and India. Notably, Swami Brahmaviharidas has held bilateral conversations with key figures such as Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, emphasizing shared values of coexistence and dialogue

The mandir’s inauguration itself was a landmark diplomatic moment: it was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and was further endorsed with land granted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, underscoring the high-level support for the temple’s mission.

Alex Shchepetilnikov is the Chief Technology Officer at Tabby, one of the MENA region’s largest fintech platforms. He has led Tabby’s technology from the earliest idea to a company valued at billions of dollars, building the engineering organization and infrastructure behind the platform. Before Tabby, Alex was CTO at Robot Vera, an HR-automation company, and held engineering and leadership roles at Lamoda, IPONWEB, and Tvigle Media. He holds a degree in Computer Science, and has spent more than a decade building and scaling high-performing engineering teams.

Alex Aliper, PhD, is the President of Insilico Medicine. He pioneered the application of AI in multi-omics data for drug discovery and drug repurposing, generative chemistry and generative biology and put an AI-designed drug into human clinical trials. He built a team of over 100 AI engineers that developed state-of-the-art software products for target discovery, small molecule generation and clinical trial outcome prediction, and he has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications. He was recognised as “Top 100 AI Leaders in Drug Discovery and Advanced Healthcare” by Deep Knowledge Analytics. In 2020, Endpoint News selected Alex Aliper as the top 20 under 40 biotechnology executives globally.

Dr. Bishoy Sawiris is a results-driven Chief Data Officer with over 15 years of experience leading transformative data initiatives across technology, AI, and business strategy. With a PhD and DBA in Big Data and AI, he seamlessly blends strategic leadership with technical expertise to foster innovation and deliver measurable business value.

He has successfully guided organizations in leveraging advanced data and AI technologies to optimize operations, enhance business models, and drive sustainable growth. His approach centers on aligning data and AI strategies with business objectives, promoting change, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement.

As a passionate leader, Dr. Sawiris is dedicated to building high-performance teams that harness data as a strategic asset to tackle complex challenges. He believes in creating scalable solutions that not only meet current needs but also position organizations for long-term success and competitive advantage.

In addition to his leadership role, he teaches at the university level, shaping the next generation of data professionals and demonstrating how AI can transform various industries.

A digital native with over 20 years’ experience in digital disruption and transformations. With executive education from MIT coupled with Silicon Valley experience; Shumon brings a different mindset to delivering value having led global projects across Europe, US and the MENA region and is currently leading Ali & Sons digital transformation journey in Abu Dhabi

Mario Foster is a veteran IT executive with over 30 years of experience, including 15 years serving as Group CIO for leading conglomerates across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As the Group Chief Information Officer at Al Ghurair Group, he is responsible for overseeing the Group’s digital strategy and IT governance across a wide-ranging portfolio that includes manufacturing, real estate, and investment sectors.

Mario has led numerous enterprise transformation programmes, including ERP implementations, AI-driven automation, and the deployment of comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks. His leadership style balances strategic foresight with practical execution, empowering individual business units to operate with autonomy while maintaining alignment with Group-level standards and risk controls.

Before joining Al Ghurair, Mario held Group CIO positions at Al Naboodah Group, Pan Gulf Holding, and Rawabi Holding. Earlier in his career, he worked with global technology leaders including Microsoft in Canada and RSA Security in Boston, USA — experiences that helped shape his international outlook and innovation-first mindset.

Mario is widely respected for his ability to align technology with business objectives, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation across complex, decentralised environments.