Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
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 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.

Francesco Corbello

Strategic Partner,
Dubai FDI, Corbello Cardo, Gravante & Raimo

A highly experienced and professional advisor, with more of 20 years of experience, extremely motivated to constantly develop skills and grow professionally.

Well known to provide individuals and owners of businesses small and large with the tools and information they need to succeed, while servicing each client in a manner tailored to the requirements of their individual road to success.

Francesco Corbello has a deep knowledge of the reality of Italian companies abroad and also of individual Italian citizens abroad and offer the following internationalization services to Italian SMEs:

• Assessment, that is, evaluation of the product and process characteristics, of the strengths and weaknesses of the company
• Selection of the geographic area or country to which to direct the company;
  design of a marketing plan for the promotion of the company in the selected geographical area
• Verification of the results achieved with the implementation of the marketing plan and proposal of adjustments in objectives, strategies or tactics.
  

In addition, Francesco Corbello provides assistance to companies wishing to undertake an internationalization process to find public funds from EU Commission and italian Government.

Nicola Formichella

CEO,
Forbes Italia
Nicola Formichella, born in Benevento on Nov. 27, 1975, graduated with honors in political science from Luiss Guido Carli in Rome and with a master's degree in legislative studies from ISLE in Rome. A freelance journalist since 1997, he was deputy in the 16th legislature for the People of Freedom, group leader in the European Union Policy Commission and member of the Labor Commission. Since 2013, he has been a business consultant, former Head Strategy Officer at Mercatorum University, now Director of Network Development at Guglielmo Marconi University and Development and Network Coordinator at DuskRise.

Giuseppe Esposito

Chairman,
EP World Catering Facility Management

Giuseppe Esposito was born on August 12, 1973, in Naples, Italy. My upbringing was heavily influenced by my hardworking father, who served as a role model. Academic pursuits were never my forte, and I began working at the age of 16, managing one of Napoli’s largest bars. 

My modest academic performance stemmed from my inclination towards hands-on work over textbooks, reflecting my entrepreneurial spirit. However, I recognize the evolving importance of education in today’s world.

I’ve been fortunate to contribute to our family business, EP, witnessing its growth and my personal development. Some noteworthy achievements and challenges include:

• Serving as the president of the food industry in Campania, Italy, under Confindustria.

• Pioneering the use of electric vehicles in the F&B industry in Europe.

• Expanding our company to Dubai in 2013.

• Involvement in events like the Americas Cup in 2013, Expo in Milan in 2015, and Expo in Dubai in 2021, where we earned the title of best F&B provider.

• Employee in Italy 1.200, Employee in Dubai 298

These milestones reflect a journey of growth, marked by both successes and setbacks, which have molded me into a better individual and entrepreneur. I eagerly anticipate the future, embracing it with an open mind and a commitment to learning from every experience.

Barbara Mazzali

Regional Minister for Tourism, Territorial Marketing, and Fashion,
Regione Lombardia

Lorenzo Zurino

CEO,
Italian Export Forum

Stefano Antonelli

Chief Representative - Italy Global Markets Sector,
Dubai Chambers

Giulia Piscina

Presenter,
Finance Now
Giulia Piscina is an anchor and journalist with a strong economic-financial background. In 2019 she graduated from the University of Pavia in Communication, Innovation and Multimedia with a thesis on the TED format. Her relationship with the University continues to this day in the role of tutor for the Public Speaking and Classical Oratory course. After some TV experiences in the entertainment world, she starts specializing in news in 2021 becoming anchor woman of Finanza Now TV in Milan. In 2024 she began her collaboration with Mediolanum TV, Banca Mediolanum's corporate television, as Author and Host of the program Good Morning. She is committed to financial education issues, thanks also to the conduction of the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Io penso positivo - Educare alla finanza Project, a training course dedicated to students in the last three years of secondary school financed by MIMIT with Unioncamere and SiCamera. She collaborates as a freelancer with BFC Media, Forbes Italy and Forbes Small Giants and others. Among others, she has led and moderated for: TEDx, Assolombarda, Libero, Investing group Rome and Naples, Forbes Italia, Guide Espresso, Plenaria Synergie, Plenaria Banca Reale, Wealth Management EY, Corporate Wellbeing AON, Franciacorta Golf Club and corporate team building, Phygital Sustainability Expo at Fori Imperiali in Rome.

Domenico Giudici

CCO,
Next S.r.l.

Khozama Al Saadi

Senior Manager, Corporate Sales – UK, Western Europe & Türkiye,
DMCC

Khozama Al Saadi is a Senior Manager - Corporate Sales at DMCC, where she is responsible for operations in Western Europe and Türkiye. She brings a decade of expertise in fostering strategic partnerships, relationships and alliances notably with governments and prominent industry stakeholders.

Prior to joining DMCC, Khozama worked for Dubai Chambers in the Investment Attraction division and has experience in Corporate Sales for Jumeirah Group and Mashreq Bank.

Khozama holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and Management from the American University of Dubai.