Andrew Stotter-Brooks is an HR professional with more than 30 years of senior human resources management practice in retail, hospitality, leisure, and aviation.

Prior to Abu Dhabi and Etihad Aviation Group, he worked for seven years with Alshaya Group as head of learning supporting the career development of more than 90,000 team members in 19 countries.  Before joining Alshaya Group, Andrew worked with Peninsula and Orient (P&O) in the South Pacific supporting their international cruise fleet and Hilton International Group as the people and development director responsible for HR delivery and management training within Europe supporting over 500 hotels.

In addition to his professional development work with Alshaya, Hilton, YUM, and P&O, he has been an executive industry coach for American University Dubai, Greenwich and Nottingham Universities, Rolls Royce, and Bass.

People development is his passion, helping others to overcome real and imagined obstacles to achievement, whilst creating an environment of trust and the ability to avoid ambiguity.

Dr. Ebrahim Al Khajeh, an accomplished HR leader from the Middle East, has been honoured with the prestigious HR ICONS Award 2023 by The Economic Times - ETHR World for his unparalleled contribution to the field of human capital. With a PhD in management, a master’s of human resources management, a bachelor of science in business administration (accounting), and a technical diploma in electronic engineering, Ebrahim has over 23 years of experience and is a prolific author of the book "How to Hack Your Mind."

Currently serving as the division director of human capital and a member of the strategic

transformation committee at Abu Dhabi Customs, he is responsible for leading a team of 2,000 employees across 16 locations. One of his most significant accomplishments was spearheading a complete HR transformation within two years by integrating AI, cloud services, and several other business tools, resulting in increased productivity and reduced workloads. These achievements have been recognised globally, with Oracle awarding him for his exceptional contribution to HR.

Ebrahim has been recognised with numerous accolades, including the 2022 Gold Stevie Awards for Great Employer in the category of Employer of the Year - Government Organizations, 18 international Stevie Awards, 17 ISO standards, the Certified Great Place To Work Award, Oracle Heroes Award, and the Gold UAE Innovation Award. He has also achieved first place among all government entities in Abu Dhabi in HR maturity with a staggering 97.5%.

Apart from being an accomplished HR leader, Ebrahim is also a certified mountaineer who loves to explore new challenges and seek adventures. His constant objective is to think about the next challenge that will propel his organisation to new heights.

As group chief human capital officer (GCHCO), Najib Makarem leads the overall human resource strategy at BEEAH Group. He leverages his wealth of experience in consulting, strategic relationship building, and people management to foster the BEEAH Group organisational culture while building on workforce potential and workplace resilience. Najib was appointed as GCHCO in June 2022, bringing over 20 years of experience in the HR field to BEEAH Group. In this new role, Najib oversees all core HR functions with a focus on driving business results for the Group across its businesses, geographies, and organisational levels. By collaborating with the vice chairman and Group CEO, as well as stakeholders across the Group businesses, Najib consults on organisational design, leadership assessment and development, team performance management, rewards strategies, manpower planning, and rationalisation.

While developing employee-focused strategies, he works towards aligning people with business goals to deliver tangible results. Najib is also a seasoned planner, equipped to support HR requirements for large organisational projects and initiatives, from defining scope and requirements and analysis to financial forecasting and quality reviews. With BEEAH Group businesses growing into new geographies, forging new partnerships, and breaking ground on new projects, Najib implements change management strategies while recruiting and hiring personnel to fulfill business objectives effectively. He also formulates employee-focussed policies to develop and retain existing talent within BEEAH Group, including succession planning, management, and development of organisational competency, particularly for high-potential employees.

Najib is also responsible for implementing compensation and benefits plans, aiming to support employee performance across the organisation. Prior to joining BEEAH Group, Najib held various executive positions over the last two decades. Most recently, he served as partner and market leader of advisory services at Korn Ferry Advisory. Previously, he also worked at Arabtec Holding PJSC, Willis Towers Watson, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young, and Arthur Anderson. Najib holds a bachelor's in business administration from The American University of Beirut, where he focussed on organisational behaviour and strategy.

Ghenwa Habbal is the co-author of the book “Shaken, Stirred but Not Deterred”, majoring today in the field of MSc Business Psychology with Coaching and a renowned global HR/talent leader with almost two decades of experience. She is passionate about bringing the optimum potential out of a person. She offers consultancy advice and delivers keynote addresses to organisations and conferences. She extensively speaks about technology disruption, leadership development, innovative learning and talent retention strategies, women in leadership, inclusive cultures, and workforce transformation.

Working cross-continent for almost two decades across various industries such as environmental services, information technology, F&B, and automotive, she has provided her expertise in strategising, designing, leading, and delivering large-scale operational and talent initiatives.

A futuristic and deliberative strategic HR professional focussed on trends that impact the future of how we work, she helps enable organisations and teams to work confidently and competitively while striving to minimise risks as well as drive organisational resilience and innovation with diversity, equity, and inclusion at heart. She is a multiple award winner in the areas of organisational excellence, bureaucracy buster, women skilling, and leadership programs from Ford Global D&I Awards division and is listed as an industry best practice in the DEI space. She enjoys the diversity of thoughts and adopts new ideas and transforms them into new solutions while keeping self-energised and driven by culture, art, human resources, social, and business disciplines.

Gautam Duggal is an accomplished professional passionate about helping others grow and develop their careers. Currently serving as director of global talent and learning at Mastercard, he is responsible for driving performance management, career development, talent assessment, high potential programs, learning and development across leadership development, management and professional development, culture, and employee engagement initiatives for about 5,000 employees across 52 countries.

Through almost two decades of experience, he has managed APAC regional teams and administered more than 75 talent development interventions across all regions. Throughout his career, Gautam has facilitated leadership and professional development programs such as manager development workshops on building talent pipeline for an audience across global markets such as the US, UK, Argentina, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, China, the Philippines, and India. As a certified Korn Ferry 360 and leadership assessments coach, Gautam has done over 300 hours of coaching across various business units and leadership levels.

Gautam's ability to develop deep, effective relationships with key stakeholders across business and people functions has been his forte. This has allowed him to build for scale, deploy across global regions, and add value to the company. His career has been defined by a deep commitment to helping others succeed. Through his work at Mastercard and beyond, he has proven time and time again that he is a true leader in the world of talent management and learning.

Mustafa El-Rafey is the founder and managing director of TransformHCM, an HR advisory practice focussed on elevating human capital management effectiveness and impact.

Mustafa has over 33 years of experience in sales, marketing, general management, strategic and operational HR, and organisation transformation gained in regional and global leadership roles with world-class consumer goods, retail, and ecommerce companies (Mars Incorporated, Starbucks, QVC, and Majid AL Futtaim - Retail). He has partnered with boards and senior executives to develop and deploy impactful business strategies, organisation transformations, and human capital solutions that maximise workforce engagement and performance. Over the course of his career, Mustafa has led significant initiatives in organisation, culture and HR transformation, talent management, business growth, and optimisation.

Most recently, Mustafa was chief human capital officer for Majid Al Futtaim - Retail (Carrefour), overseeing 38,000 employees across 17 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Shivani Kaushal, an accomplished HR professional with a diverse background, including experience at IBM, is an inspiring and laudatory speaker. With a proven track record of driving organisational growth and employee satisfaction, she brings a wealth of expertise to the table.

As the associate VP and head of HR business partner at Emirates NBD - Tanfeeth, she has successfully implemented a people vision that aligns with the ambitious business strategy. Shivani's career highlights include optimising organisational structures, achieving Emiratisation targets, and spearheading initiatives that yield significant cost savings and improved governance. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered outstanding results, excelling in HR expertise. Notable achievements include driving successful initiatives to enhance employee satisfaction and retention, leading projects resulting in substantial cost savings, and implementing policies promoting flexibility and remote work for business continuity.

Her ability to conduct employee surveys and implement action plans significantly increases engagement and retention rates. Shivani's role in setting up the learning and development function for Tanfeeth at Emirates NBD while at IBM earned her the prestigious Brandon Hall Gold Award for the project. She actively promotes a culture of continuous learning and development, fostering personalised development plans and engaging activities to enhance employee knowledge and skills. With strong skills in organisational structure, talent development, and creating an exceptional employee experience, Shivani consistently contributes to organisational success. She is dedicated to driving HR excellence and making a positive impact on both individuals and the organisation as a whole.

Sabine Karunanithy has a bachelor’s degree in international business and management, a master’s degree in human resource management, and she completed a master’s program for change management and business coaching. Furthermore, she completed NLP training and emotional intelligence certifications.

Sabine has 11 years of experience working in the field of human resources. She has been based in Gibraltar and Berlin, with studies in South Korea and China. Her focus areas are organisational structures in the early stages and the development of leadership and staff. She is a business coach and a master NLP practitioner. 

Sabine built up HR processes and structures in four startups in Berlin. Starting from scratch, she shaped all relevant HR processes, policies, and internal communication guidelines. 

Sabine led teams across countries up to sizes of 20 people. Throughout her career, she worked closely with C-level members, founders, and other senior management, and she was a member of the management team in each company.

Now with TransformHCM, Sabine specialises in team structuring, internal communications, and development programs.

Hannah Haikal is a chartered business psychologist, and team and executive coach with almost two decades of experience leading lifecycle talent management and HR strategy as a consultant and in-house leader. Hannah works with individuals, teams, and organisations to embed progressive people strategies that cultivate inclusive and high-performing cultures. Her approach is centred on great colleague experience and next-generation technologies to power business transformation, through people. Hannah’s experience spans a range of complex environments, from high-growth tech scale-ups to public sector transformations and Fortune 100 organisations in the UK, MENA, US, and Asia-pacific regions.

Hannah is a doctor of organisational psychology and chartered psychologist, as well as a team and executive coach. She has worked in over 10 countries and six industry sectors. She has a diverse range of talents that comprises being a master scuba diver and a certified yoga instructor.

Faten Kalloub is a seasoned HR professional with over 17 years of experience, spanning various industries such as Engineering Consultancy, Hospitality, Real Estate, Investment, FMCG, Constructions, Architecture, and Higher Education. She holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Human Resources Management from a prestigious university in Dubai, and her practical experience equips her with expertise in HR operations, strategic development, organizational partnership, performance management, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, and more. Faten's dedication to HR excellence has earned her recognition, including the Best HR Director Award in the Middle East, and she is a sought-after panelist and speaker at industry summits.

Emma Davies is chief culture and people excellence officer at Masafi LLC. Emma is an experienced, hands-on leader providing day-to-day advice and guidance on employment legislation, best practices, policies, and procedures along with all training and development programs. Emma has a successful track record of accomplishing major projects, transforming cultures, facilitating business units’ integration, HR system implementation, people skills development, and behavioral change management. After years of experience, Emma has been credited for retaining a 97% employee satisfaction rate by fostering a culture that promotes people and well-being, talent management, diversity equity and

Inclusion, and safety of staff members.

As chief culture and people excellence officer, Emma plays a fundamental role in her company developing the people and culture component of the corporate long-term strategy and business plan for 1,500-plus employees across Masafi Water and NED Investments’ education and health care sectors, reporting directly to the CEO. Emma is responsible for developing and implementing the HR transformation strategy and policies to drive cultural and people management. She also plays a lead role in driving organisational development by overseeing succession planning, employee retention, and change management. During her years working in the Middle East, Emma has led several culture transformations within the companies she has worked with.

Dr. Adwaita Govind Menon works as a senior specialist for human resources at Dubai Water & Electricity Authority (DEWA), a leading global sustainable innovative corporation. He also champions the DEWA – UC Berkeley partnership in technical education.

He has worked in the industry for over a decade across respected organisations such as KPMG, Mercer, and International Data Corporation. Prior to his role at DEWA, he held senior leadership positions within KPMG and Mercer, successfully leading HR consulting practices across geographies such as the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa with P&L responsibilities. Adwaita spearheaded International Data Corporation’s India research team as well.

He has a PhD in strategy and his interests include learning design, career architecture, block chain, and dynamic capabilities in organisations. He is an early-stage investor for startups and an award-winning professional recognised by DDI, People Matters, IIM-B, AIMA, Accenture, and NHRDN.

Manish Mohan Misra is an accomplished HR transformation and FOW expert with over 25 years of progressive experience. He is a Forbes Human Resources Council member and has been recognised as one of the Top 50 "Most Influential HR Leaders from the Middle East."

Manish is currently working as group head – HR transformation, digital, and analytics at Emirates National Oil Company in Dubai.

He has led transformational projects in over 75 organisations across the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia, unlocking new levels of growth and value, which uniquely positions Manish to help organisations navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

He has an MBA in human resource development from Symbiosis Center for Management and Human Resource Development (Pune, India), and a post-graduate degree in digital transformation from Purdue University. Manish is a transformational leader who believes organisations must learn to adapt to continuous disruption and architect a new HR framework.

His views and opinions on emerging topics such as “new work and HR architecture,” “next-generation talent operating model for the gig economy,” and “reskilling HR professionals” are regularly featured in leading online and print media channels, including Forbes HR expert panels. Through his work and HR community contributions, Manish is reorienting and preparing HR professionals for the new future of work, helping them to adapt and thrive in the digital age.

Dr. Kate Barker is a global consulting leader, a future of work expert, and a recognised authority in talent management, innovation, and people/technology advancements. As an international strategic advisor, Kate’s career spans three decades, working to advance Fortune 500 companies and governments around the world by applying leading strategies from her FOW insights, leadership and innovation, human-centric organisational cultures, and innovative digital workforce transformation. She has earned successful partnerships with boards, C-suite executives, international royalty, and government leaders at the highest level in furthering some of the most significant industry trends that impact the future of work.

Kate is a globally recognised keynote speaker on FOW, leadership in the digital era, she facilitates the women in leadership masterclass, and publishes on topics like technology disruption, innovative talent management strategies, inclusive organisational cultures, and workforce transformations at HR summits and executive roundtables globally.

Kate has led real-world results with clients such as Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, and Google, and is a senior advisor to BCG, EY, and McKinsey & Company. As a proud champion for diversity and inclusion, Kate is board director for a non-profit organisation devoted to shifting organisation practices to fully realise the potential of all women and men. A seven-time marathoner, Kate loves to cook, dance, and sing.

Soha, a distinguished corporate coach, trainer, author, and founder of Forward Training and

Consulting, has dedicated over a decade to the realm of human resources management. Specialising in Emotional Intelligence, resilience, and leadership training, she has etched a unique imprint in her industry.

A certified professional from the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD), Soha brings with her a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Training. Her academic achievements are complemented by an array of certifications, including the Certified Human Resources Management Professional (CHRMP), Diversity & Inclusion, Advanced Practice in Positive Psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Team Coaching, and Lego Serious Play facilitation. Her deep proficiency in various psychometric assessments equips her to understand and coach individuals and teams in diverse settings effectively.

An award-winning force in her field, Soha also contributes her expertise to numerous industry board committees and serves as a judge for international awards. Her mission lies in empowering organizations and their people to reach their full potential, nurturing a resilient and driven workforce ready for the future of work. Her approach, centred around the skills and competencies needed in tomorrow’s professional landscape, cements her reputation as an expert in crafting resilient individuals and teams prepared to surmount life’s challenges. Soha’s multifaceted career, as a coach, trainer, author, and industry leader, reflects her unwavering commitment to the personal and professional development of individuals and organizations alike.

Hisham is an award-winning Chartered MCIP member with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, including Alstom, Daikin, and Bombardier. He is currently the Head of HR for the MENA region at Helmerich and Payne.

Hisham is a keynote speaker and podcaster on leadership and cross-cultural communication in the MENA region. He has designed and delivered talks and workshops on leadership in both English and Arabic, and has recently published podcasts and expert talks with the renowned Bookboon company.

Hisham was awarded one of the Top 200 Global Power Leaders in HR in 2023 for his influence and impact on the future of the people industry in the MENA region.

Angie Safi is a highly accomplished human resources professional with a strong strategic focus, boasting a progressive career spanning 15 years across various industries. Her extensive experience as an HR generalist encompasses diverse environments and multiple geographies.

She has a proven track record of successfully establishing new HR departments, optimising HR costs, implementing best practices, and aligning HR strategies to surpass organisational objectives. Currently serving as the global HR leader at GE Digital, Angie previously held the position of HR director for EMEA FireEye and served as an HR leader for customer solutions/system engineers divisions at Nokia APAC.

Her primary objective is to collaborate with stakeholders in effectively managing the most valuable asset: human capital. Based in Dubai, Angie is a proud parent of two children and has a deep appreciation for coffee.

Imad Ghazzawi works closely with senior leadership teams to provide a strategic business partner service model. Imad also provided valuable support for rapidly evolving businesses during significant growth, transformation, and startup periods. Imad is a chartered fellow of the CIPD and has over 15 years of experience in different HR management and talent development roles. He held different leading roles with global companies in the sectors of e-commerce, fintech, oil and gas, aerospace, manufacturing, project management, and engineering.