Ahmed Bin Sulayem

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 2022 with over 23,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 65,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2022, DMCC was named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record eight consecutive years.

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 in 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.

Alfred Sanchez

Alfred Sanchez is the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, South Florida’s first and the longest-sustaining business development organization (est. 1907 as the Miami Board of Trade) and one of the largest chambers in the southeastern U.S.

In this role, Alfred directs a team of chamber professionals, supporting more than 400,000 employees of chamber member companies in South Florida. His involvement with the chamber spans more than 25 years and includes serving on the board of directors, chairing the Marketing Committee and Leadership Programs Group, and serving on the Nonprofit Committee. He attributes much of his success in South Florida to his deep involvement with the chamber.

Previously, Alfred served in a variety of leadership roles with the American Red Cross. Most recently, he was the regional chief executive officer for its South Florida region, where he led a team of over 3,000 volunteers and staff, supporting almost eight million residents across 13 counties to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters.

Before this, he led the YMCA of Greater Miami as president and chief executive officer. During his 12- year tenure at YMCA, he expanded its financial development and led strategic planning initiatives that culminated in the opening of three new Family YMCAs. These were the first facilities built by the Miami YMCA in 40 years and substantially increased the organization’s reach to thousands more community members.

Alfred also served as director of government and community relations for Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. In this role, he oversaw the charitable programs and helped implement the company’s mission to enhance communities throughout 160 international ports of call.

Alfred received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English from Beaver College and a master’s degree in community and clinical psychology from the University of Maryland. Active in his church and in the Miami community, he serves on local and national boards including US Chamber of Commerce’s Council of 100 (CCC100); Greater Miami & the Beaches Resilient City Steering Committee of the 100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation; The Beacon Council; The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Orange Bowl Committee.

Amy Furness

Amy Furness is a trial lawyer who has dedicated her career to defending diverse clients, including both domestic and foreign corporations, in complex civil litigation, particularly product liability and commercial litigation. She defends product manufacturers in all forms of cases in the pharmaceutical, aviation, chemical, tobacco, and consumer product industries. In addition to her extensive pharmaceutical and medical device litigation defense experience, she has defended manufacturers of cigarettes, yacht engines, automobile and aircraft engines, and propane tanks.

Amy has served as national coordinating counsel on numerous mass tort matters, including a significant litigation for a pharmaceutical company involving nearly 14,000 plaintiffs, with over 10,000 cases pending in federal courts and nearly 4,000 cases pending in state courts. She also has served as regional counsel on a variety of complex civil matters. Amy is a frequent lecturer on product liability and professional liability matters.

Prior to joining Carlton Fields, Amy served as in-house counsel with the environmental claims division of a national insurance company. That experience offered her unique insight into the corporate demands of an in-house legal department, and she remains mindful of the needs and pressures clients face daily.

Before entering law school, Amy was a research engineer. Her scientific education and technical experience informs her law practice today.

Amy also serves as Chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Sarah Karle

Sarah Karle is the Director of Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She is responsible for managing the U.S.-Kuwait Business Council and the U.S.-UAE Business Program. In this role, she works with member companies and key government stakeholders to develop policies that help to promote U.S. business opportunities across the Middle East.

Prior to her role at the Chamber, Sarah worked at the U.S. Department of Treasury in the Office of Technical assistance. She focused on capacity building in infrastructure finance and public private partnerships globally.

Sarah received a Master’s degree in International Development and Economic Policy from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M in 2016, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. In her free time, Sarah enjoys rock climbing, traveling and yoga. She currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and German Shepherd.

Mohammed Mohammed

Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed is a Senior Manager of Corporate Sales at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC in 2014, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and establishing a presence in DMCC. Building strategic relationships is a key focus for Mohammed, and so too is engaging with local and international business communities at key industry events throughout the year.

With over 16 years of business development and corporate sales experience, Mohammed has worked alongside a number of senior figures in both the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Mohammed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the American University in Emirates.