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Executive Chairman & CEO
DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2020 with over 18,000 member companies from 170 countries, employing over 60,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to market a number of value-added products and services under Mr. Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2020, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record sixth consecutive year.
Mr. Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.
Mr. Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr. Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.
Chief Operating Officer
DMCC
Feryal Ahmadi is the Chief Operating Officer of DMCC, and has been instrumental in securing DMCC’s reputation as the leading authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.
Overseeing its long-term strategic growth plan, Feryal has shaped the corporate governance structure in DMCC, and created marketplaces that increase global trade flows through Dubai.
Feryal manages the wider operations team tasked with developing the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) business district, and implementing the innovative DMCC Smart and Sustainable District Strategy.
As an official spokesperson, Feryal frequently engages with local and international media on a variety of topics to raise awareness of DMCC, and promote the commercial appeal of Dubai around the world.
As a committee member of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) – established by UN Global Compact and UN Women – Feryal leads DMCC’s comprehensive sustainability programme. She also sits of the board of a number of semi-governmental entities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Feryal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the American University in Sharjah, and an Executive MBA from Harvard University.
PRESIDENT - PARIS PEACE FORUM
FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)
Chair of Europe - Brunswick Group
President - The UN UNWTO Ethics Of Tourism Committee
President - The French Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC)
Pascal Lamy is the President of the Paris Peace Forum and Brunswick Europe Chair. He is special advisor to the European Commission.
He shares his other activities between the Jacques Delors think tanks (Paris, Berlin, Brussels), the presidency of the UNWTO ethics of tourism committee, the French Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC), and the Musiciens du Louvre orchestra (Marc Minkowski).
He also holds positions in various French, European, and global boards or advisory boards (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, IFPRI, CERRE, TMEA, Transparency International, Alpbach Forum, Beijing Forum, World Trade Forum, WEF global risks, Europaeum, Collegium international). He is affiliate Professor at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Shanghai, and at HEC (Paris).
From 2005 to 2013, Pascal Lamy served for two terms as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He previously was European Commissioner for Trade (1999-2004), CEO of Crédit Lyonnais (1994-1999), Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission Jacques Delors and his G7 Sherpa (1985-1994), Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Prime Minister (1983-1985) and to the French Minister for Economy and Finance (1981-1983).
Latest publications: “Strange new world” (Odile Jacob 2020, “Où va le monde ? » (Odile Jacob 2018).
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
ASIA HOUSE
Michael Lawrence was appointed Chief Executive of Asia House in September 2012 following a career in journalism that took him to the highest levels of international media. Michael was Global Editor of Reuters from 2006 to 2012, leading a team of 3,000 journalists covering news in text, video and pictures from almost 200 bureaux around the world. Michael was part of the editorial team that delivered Reuters’ much-praised coverage of the Iraq war, and he ran the region through the turbulent years that followed. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Asian geopolitical landscape and economic affairs in the region.
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
IBM
Anthony is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Partner leading IBM's Blockchain Services business in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Responsible for developing blockchain solutions and strategy for IBM clients across the region within both public and private sectors. He leads a multinational team of consultants, architects, and developers to help clients and consortiums leverage blockchain to unlock new forms of value. In this capacity, he has developed blockchain-based architectures and solutions across a broad range of use cases, such as Central Bank Digital Currencies, self-sovereign identity schemes, and the transformation of various government services. He speaks widely on the topic of blockchain and is frequently called on to provide advice at a C-suite or ministerial level.
Was appointed as Distinguished Engineer in recognition of sustained technical leadership and deep expertise in distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain, and contribution to IBM’s intellectual property in the field.
Demonstrated excellence in growing and leading global teams of architects, consultants, and engineers to deliver business outcomes. Trusted advisor to C-level executives and frequent speaker at international conferences on emerging technologies and business transformation. Has proven ability to build strong customer and partner relationships, develop strategies and solutions, lead their successful execution, and deliver quantifiable business results.
He is founder and chair of IBM’s MEA patent board and a prolific innovator with multiple patent filings in cloud, mobile technologies, blockchain, analytics, and security. In 2015, he was inducted into to the Academy of Technology as one of top 800 technical leaders in IBM company.
CHIEF CHINA ECONOMIST
ICBC STANDARD BANK
Jinny joined ICBC Standard Bank in early 2016 as Chief China Economist, and leads the China markets strategy and research team. Her focus is to deliver China macroeconomic and market insights to internal and external stakeholders.
Her team launched the Belt and Road Economic Indices, which offers unique insight into China’s increasing connectivity with emerging economies. She also helps stakeholders to understand more about China’s Interbank Bond Market (CIBM), as it opens further to foreign investor access.
Prior to joining ICBCS, Jinny was a London-based Senior Economist at Standard Chartered Bank. She covered key China-Europe macro topics with a focus on Renminbi internationalisation. Her previous economist roles include covering China based in Shanghai, Europe, and supporting the Chief Economist.
Heading up the European RMB Solutions team, Jinny chaired the Education and Marketing stream of the City of London’s Renminbi initiative. Widely recognised as a China and Renminbi expert in London, she makes frequent appearances in media and at high-level conferences.
Jinny studied Economics (BA Hons) at the University of Durham. Later in her career, she gained her Masters of Development Studies (MSc.) from the London School of Economics.
Research Fellow
Hinrich Foundation
Stephen Olson is a Research Fellow at the Hinrich Foundation. Over the course of his more than 30-year career, he has held senior positions in government, business, NGOs, and academia, living in the US, Asia, and the Middle East.
Mr. Olson began his career in Washington DC as an international trade negotiator and served on the US negotiating team for the NAFTA negotiations. He subsequently became president of the Hong Kong-based Pacific Basin Economic Council, and after that, vice-chairman of Cairo-based ARTOC Group for investment and development. He is also a visiting scholar at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
He has a master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.A. from the State University of New York.
