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 2023 with 24,000+ member companies from 180 countries, employing over 80,000 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 2023, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth 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.

Andrés O. Hayes

Andrés O. Hayes is the President and CEO of the Airtifae Group an organization that was created to assist local, regional, and international entities to elevate their international presence and level of service. Most recently, he served as Director for International Trade and Commerce in the Government of the District of Columbia from 2019-2022 and was responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Washington, DC, strengthening relationships with countries who have expressed interest in investing in DC and want to expand further, increasing exports from small- and medium-sized businesses in the District to other countries, and planning for and carrying out the Mayor’s international trade missions. He is credited

with creating and executing the first-ever International Business Strategy for the City and as a result, positioned DC as a hub in the United States for international business and supported dozens of businesses expanding operations to DC. With citizenship in the United States and residency in the UAE, Andres has forged deep relations for Foreign Direct Investment and strategic relations.

Andres Hayes has 25 years of experience in Banking and Hospitality, most of them in the Credit Card Business where he worked for Visa International for 11 years: 7 years in Miami, Florida and 4 years in London, England. As one of the youngest Regional Managers, Mr. Hayes was selected to open the new Operations Center for Central Europe Middle East, and Africa in 1994. After his time with Visa International, he managed two major Card Operations Centers in the Americas and Europe as Senior Vice President. Additionally, he was the Restaurant Manager for B. Smith’s in Washington DC for 4 years and General Manager for The Mansion on O Street for 2 years. Afterward, he opened AH Consulting Firm, a hospitality and tourism firm, as President and CEO.

Hayes is extremely active in the DC community where he served as a board member of the DC Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of Carlos Rosario International Charter School Culinary Program, and Raised funds for the Greater Washington Area Covenant House. He is a past President of Skål International Washington DC and current Director of the International Board. Skål is an international organization of Tourism Professionals. He is also a Board Member of Education for Sharing. An international non-profit organization that forms better global citizens through innovative education based on the power of play.

Michelle Hadwiger

Michelle directs and oversees Colorado's global business development strategy. She is focused on advancing the state's economy, ensuring that Colorado is the most pro-business state in the country and remains competitive in the global marketplace. Michelle leads a team of 11 Global Business staff members who implement data driven- strategies that enhance Colorado's ability to attract and expand job creation opportunities, increase investment and accelerate the commercialization of innovative products and services through the Advanced Industry program. In her tenure at OEDIT, Michelle has successfully recruited/retained clients such as Visa, Hitachi Data Systems, United Airlines, Optiv, Woodward, Ibotta, Lockheed Martin, Digital Globe, DaVita, Comcast, Cognizant, Intel, and Surrey Satellites, representing thousands of new jobs across the state.

Michelle directs and oversees Colorado's global business development strategy, she is focused on advancing the state's economy, ensuring that Colorado is the most pro-business state in the country and remains competitive in the global marketplace. Michelle leads a team of 11 Global Business staff members who implement data driven- strategies that enhance Colorado's ability to attract and expand job creation opportunities, increase investment and accelerate the commercialization of innovative products and services through the Advanced Industry program. In her tenure at OEDIT, Michelle has successfully recruited/retained clients such as Visa, Hitachi Data Systems, United Airlines, Optiv, Woodward, Ibotta, Lockheed Martin, Digital Globe, DaVita, Comcast, Cognizant, Intel, and Surrey Satellites, representing thousands of new jobs across the state.

Raymond H. Gonzales

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.