ICC UAE International Trade & Finance Conference

Location: Ritz Carlton, DIFC, Dubai
Date: 06th April 2021
Event Type: Conference
Language: English







    Description:

    As we look ahead into 2021 and beyond we are still facing significant challenges and headwinds to our effort to promote trade, development and inclusiveness. 2020 was one of the worst years in history for trade development, with global trade dropping by 10% in 2020.

    The ICC as the World Business Organisation is committed to the expansion of trade and ICC UAE will work tirelessly with its members, stakeholders and partners to turn these unprecedented challenges into opportunities.

    ICC UAE in partnership with UAE Banks Federation and Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is organizing the 2021 Annual Trade Finance Conference to be held at the Ritz Carlton DIFC on 6 April 2021 will be a blended event inviting participant to join physically or virtually with expert speakers providing insights, guidance and reasons to have hope and solid conviction that trade recovery is underway and that we can contribute collectively to reignite global trade expansion.

    The impact of the pandemic on trade finance, trade facilitation, dispute resolution and arbitration will be explored in detail and new pioneering technologies to accelerate the road to recovery will be presented.

    Please click here to download the brochure of the event.

    Programme

    Programme
    08.00 – 09.00Registration
    09.00 – 09.05 Opening Remarks
    Hassan Al Hashemi, Secretary General, ICC UAE
    09.05 – 09.15 Industry Address - The Monimove Protiviti Initiative
    Hashim M Alhussaini, Co-Founder & MD, Monimove
    09.15 – 09.45 Digital Trade Finance – Transformation

    Presenter:
    Mahmood Al Bastaki, Chief Operating Officer, DT World
    09.45 – 10.15 The Ever-Given Story – What really happened?

    Speakers:
    Krishna Prasad, President, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Middle East Branch
    Jeffrey Blum, Maritime Specialist, Expert Witness
    10.15 - 10.35 Refreshments Break
    The ICC UAE Banking Commission Presents
    10.35 – 11.15 Panel Discussion: The Guarantee Dilemma – Status and future of guarantee practice in the UAE

    Moderator:
    Vincent O’Brien, Director ICC UAE

    Panellists:
    Jamal Saleh, Director General, UAE Banks Federation
    Tom O'Brien, Coordinator, ICC UAE Commission on Banking Steering Committee
    Ahmad Elayyan, SVP - Head Of Central Operations, Ajman Bank
    11.15 – 11.55 Panel Discussion: The Evolving Role of Compliance in the UAE

    Moderator:
    Graham Baldock, Co-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Financial Crime Risk & Policy Group

    Panellists:
    Manu Palerichal, CEO & Partner, Emirates Chartered Accountants
    James Tebbs, Partner, Forensic Services Leader, Grant Thornton UAE
    11.55 – 12.25 The Chairman’s Address
    H.E. Humaid Ben Salem, Chairman, ICC UAE
    12.25 – 13.45 Lunch
    The ICC UAE Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission Presents
    13.45 – 14.10 Moderator:
    Vincent O’Brien, Director, ICC UAE

    Panellists:
    Yousra El Sayed, Principal – Business Development, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
    Nasser M. Al-Thekair, General Manager, Trade & Business Development, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)
    14.10 - 14.35 Trends in Supply Chain and Logistics

    Presenter:
    Gopal R, Global Vice President, Transportation & Logistics, Frost & Sullivan
    14.35 – 15.15 Panel Discussion: The UAE – an emerging logistics and digital hub

    Moderator:
    Nadia Abdul Aziz, Chair, ICC Commission on Customs & Trade Facilitation

    Panellists:
    Rohit Arora, General Manager, Liwa Content Driven
    Abdulrahman Bin Haider, Head, World Logistics Passport
    Gopal R, Global Vice President, Transportation & Logistics, Frost & Sullivan
    15.15 – 15.25 Expo 2020 Dubai – Where we are and where we are going!
    Expert’s insights
    Khalid Sharaf, Director, International Business Engagement Expo 2020 Dubai
    15.25 – 15.45 Refreshments Break
    The ICC UAE Arbitration & ADR Commission Presents
    15.45 – 16.25 Panel Discussion: Arbitration in the New Normal – The UAE leading the way!

    Moderator:
    Alec Emmerson, International Arbitrator, ADR Management Consultancies

    Panellists:
    Amani Khalifa, Counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
    Anne K. Hoffmann, Independent Arbitrator, Hoffmann Arbitration FZCO
    Iryna Telychko, General Legal Counsel, Etihad Rail
    16.25 – 17.05 Panel Discussion: ICC Arbitration Rules – Helping resolve your disputes

    Moderator:
    Zaynab Penot, Senior Associate, International Consultant Law Office (ICLO)

    Panellists:
    Mohammed R Alsuwaidi, Managing Partner, Al Suwaidi & Company
    Adriaan Hoeben, Consultant, Eversheds Sutherland
    Fatima Balfaqeeh, Managing Director, RKAH Consultancy
    17.05 – 17.20 Insights and Vision - The Chairs of ICC UAE Commissions
    Nadia Abdul Aziz, Chair, ICC UAE Commission on Customs & Trade Facilitation
    Dr. Hassan Arab, Chair, ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR
    Ahmad Lootah, Chair, ICC UAE Commission on Banking
    17.20 – 17.25 Grand Finale Prize Draw sponsored by China Systems
    17.30 Closing
    17.30 – 18.00 Refreshments
    18.00 – 18.30 Launch of the ICC UAE Commission on Trade & Investment (Invitation only)

    Speakers


    H.E. Humaid Ben Salem
    Chairman
    ICC UAE

     H.E. Humaid Mohamed Ben Salem was appointed as Secretary General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) in 2013 to foster cooperation and coordination between the different emirates of the UAE and prepare ground for trade and investment that contribute to the national economy at large.

    H.E. Ben Salem is also a former member of the UAE National Assembly (Parliament) where he played his significant role from 2012 to 2016.

    Prior to his tenure at the UAE National Assembly, H.E. was Director General of Umm Al Quwain Chamber of Commerce & Industry for 20 years and his charismatic personality has been facilitating the local chambers and the private sector of the UAE to achieve their goals.

    He has been at the Board of Director of International Chamber of Commerce – UAE since 2009 and was elected Chairman in 2015 to represent, support and protect the interest of the business community in the UAE.

    In addition to the above, he has been instrumental in establishing several joint business councils and has always been active and regularly contributes to the projects pertaining to the private sector.

    He holds a BA degree in Administration and Marketing from Davis & Elkins College, United States of America.
    Hassan Al Hashemi
    Secretary General
    ICC UAE

     Hassan Al Hashemi joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 2006 and is currently the Vice President of International Relations. As the principal liaison between governmental authorities and the private sector, Mr Al Hashemi’s department represents Dubai Chamber on the international arena and in turn is one of the organization’s most active departments.

    The Department’s main duties include negotiating cooperative agreements with foreign partners, organizing major events as well as high level business networking programs, representing the Chamber at local and international events, and organizing inbound and outbound delegations and trade missions.

    Since 2012, Mr Al Hashemi has led the implementation of Dubai Chamber’s ProDubai initiative, which involves setting up a number of International Representative Offices in targeted locations around the world. He is also responsible for the promotion of Dubai Association Center, a first in the region that aims at attracting international business and professional bodies to Dubai.

    Mr Al Hashemi holds a BA degree in Management and Marketing from the University of Dubai and is currently pursuing his Masters in Project Management at the British University in Dubai. He is also a graduate of the “Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development”, a selective and highly regarded program initiated by the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

    Mr Al Hashemi is a board member of ICC UAE along with other local and international business organizations. He is married and has three daughters.

    Vincent O'Brien
    Director
    ICC UAE

     He has been actively involved in trade finance for more than a quarter of a century and has delivered technical assistance for trade finance in more than 100 countries. Vincent’s primary activity is trade facilitation with the major Multilateral Development Banks and his recognized specialty is trade related dispute resolution where he often acts as Expert Witness in Trade Disputes and Legal Cases.

    Vincent also holds the positions of the Associate Director of the Institute of International Banking Law and Practice (IIBLP).

    Abdulrahman Bin Haider
    Head
    World Logistics Passport

    Abdulrahman is the Head of World Logistics Passport, responsible for leading all keystone initiatives across the WLP Programme. With demonstrated history of working in the logistics and supply chain industry.
    Adib Ibrahim
    Managing Director – Technology Strategy & Operations
    Protiviti

    Adib is the leader in Technology Strategy and Operations practice for Protiviti in the Middle East. He has advised over 50+ clients in the UAE, KSA and other GCC countries in various areas of Business Technology, Resilience and Digital Transformation. He has worked with a number of financial institutions and public sector organizations in KSA, UAE, and Bahrain, and is certified in Enterprise Architect, Design Thinking and Data Science.

    He has spearheaded multiple technology and digital enablement strategies for over 30+ organizations across the region. Some of the leading clients where he has worked on include – a financial regulator in the GCC, development bank focused on SME lending in Bahrain, launch strategy for government entities in the UAE. He has advised C-level and board organizations on emerging technology trends such as cloud, AI and digital adoption and has authored articles on emerging technology areas.

    Adib has also led engagements in technology governance & operating model particularly in the financial services industry. He is well-versed with the leading standards and trends on technology governance globally and in the region. He has earlier worked with a central bank in the GCC to develop and implement IT policies and procedures. Adib has worked on a number of engagements for developing risk and control frameworks for IT functions, self assessment of these risks by first line of defense and remediation plans for the financial services institutions across GCC. Besides, he has extensive experience in leading numerous Enterprise Architecture (EA) engagements for banks in GCC. He helped setup the EA office for one of the top 3 banks in KSA. He has conducted review of EA practices and operating model for 5 banks in the region. He has helped over 10 clients in the GCC in setting up / running EA offices / selecting and implementing EA tools.
    Adriaan Hoeben
    Consultant
    Eversheds Sutherland

    Adriaan is a Senior Counsel in the Ligation and Dispute Management practice in Eversheds Sutherland’s Dubai office. Adriaan is an experienced commercial professional with demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. He is skilled within commercial arbitration, dispute resolution and Contract Law, and is currently focusing on contentious construction work and commercial international arbitration.

    Before joining Eversheds Sutherland, Adriaan was a Legal Director for Arabtec, the largest contractor in the Middle East. In this role, he conducted adjudication before Dispute Adjudication Boards under the FIDIC forms of contract, arbitration governed by the DIFC-LCIA and the DIAC, and assisted with drafting and negotiating particular conditions as part of both the principle building agreements and subcontracts. In addition, he also advised on and made risk assessments of tenders for construction of large villa developments, prisons for the Federal Authority and new hotel developments.

    Before that, Adriaan was appointed as Vice-President: Legal Construction for DAMAC, one of Dubai’s leading property developers. He primarily advised on commercial disputes, including on termination of license and franchise agreements, overseeing Italian based arbitration and litigation, enforcing provisions against the minority shareholder, and advising on ICC arbitrations.

    Prior to his move to the Middle East in 2019, Adriaan was based in South Africa where he worked as a disputes lawyer. He was appointed director (partner) in ENSafrica’s dispute resolution department, having taken partnership in the legacy firm Sonnenberg Hoffman Galombik in 2005. ENSafrica arose out of the merger of Sonnenberg Hoffman Galombik and Edward Nathan Friedland in 2006 and became Africa’s largest law firm. In this role, Adriaan acted for contractors, developers and professionals in disputes relating to residential, commercial and hotel developments.

    Adriaan is a registered fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London (for commercial international arbitration). He is passionate about the growth of the international arbitration practice in Arica and previously sat on the committee for the oversight and governance of the Western Cape branch of the Arbitration Association of South Africa.
    Ahmad Elayyan
    SVP - Head Of Central Operations
    Ajman Bank

    Senior banking executive with 25+ years banking experience in major regional and multi-national banks in Jordan, UAE and Qatar. Currently holding the position of SVP, Head of Operations in Ajman Bank with the responsibility of overall delivery of the Bank as well as inter-divisional strategy related matters.

    With a 13 year service in Arab Bank within Jordan and UAE I had a chance to acquire a rounded and profound experience in all banking activities, techniques and products.

    Hands on experience in setting up new banking franchises such as:
    • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC)
    • Samba Financial Group in UAE
    • Jordan Dubai Islamic Bank in Jordan

    Educational & professional :
    • MBA in Finance from Canadian University of Dubai
    • University of Jordan English/Business, Bachelor (BA)
    • DITF (Diploma Status in International Trade and Finance) from LIBF, UK
    • CITF (Certificate in International Trade and Finance) from LIBF, UK
    • CDCS (Certified Documentary Credits Specialist) from LIBF, UK
    Ahmad Lootah
    Chair
    ICC UAE Commission on Banking

    Ahmad Majid Lootah Enjoys over 25 years of practical experience in banking and financial sector, both conventional and Islamic. He is currently the Managing Director & CEO of Al Hilal Capital, a privately-owned boutique financial services & investment development firm, providing innovative solutions for the banking sector and Islamic economy.

    He is also the executive chairman of Ahmad Lootah & Associates, Chartered Accountants & Shariah Auditors, a socialized forensic accounting & shariah compliance firm. He is a Director of Commercial Bank International PJSC (CBI) since 2014 & Union Insurance Company PJSC since 2015, along with several private companies in the UAE and abroad, In addition to the above roles, he is serving as a board member of The International Chamber of Commerce in The UAE (ICCUAE) and is the Chairman of ICC Banking Commission.

    He previously worked for well-known financial institutions & organization in the UAE and abroad such as: ABN – AMRO Bank, The Finance Department at Government of Dubai and M.L. United Investments in New York. Before becoming the Chief Executive of Al Hilal Capital, He served as the head of banking services at Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade and member of its executive management committees for more than eight years as well as serving as general manager of World Financial Services in Dubai.

    In addition to being a Chartered Accountant, Accredited Financial & Banking Expert to UAE Authorities, Anti-Fraud and forensic accounting specialist, he is a Certified Shariah Advisor and Auditor by The Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and member of several of international institutes and professional associations.

    He holds an Executive MBA with honours from the joint EMBA program of The University of Sharjah, American University in Beirut, and the University of Arizona. He earned his BSc. in Finance, Investments and International Business from Farmers School of Business at Miami University, USA. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Business Adminstration (DBA) with the University of Sharjah (UOS).

    In his free time, Ahmad Lootah enjoys family gatherings, reading, poetry, art, chess, swimming, fishing, scuba diving & motorcycling. He is always searching for new adventures, traveling around the world and exploring different cultures.
    Alec Emmerson
    International Arbitrator
    ADR Management Consultancies

    Alec Emmerson is a well-known international arbitrator based in Dubai with particular experience in the Middle East and Asia.

    He was a disputes lawyer with an international law firm from 1977 until the end of 2017. He worked in Guildford, London, Hong Kong (1984 to 1996) and Dubai (1999 to 2017). As party counsel Alec handled hundreds of institutional and ad hoc arbitrations in many different jurisdictions. Since retiring early as a partner and becoming a consultant in 2008 he has sat as a sole or co-arbitrator or chair in more than 180 arbitrations across a wide range of commercial sectors and jurisdictions including in England & Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia under the rules of ADCCAC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, GCCCAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC and in ad hoc and UNCITRAL arbitrations.

    Since 1 January 2018 he has worked as a full-time arbitrator and mediator with ADR Management Consultancies, the professional firm he established in Dubai.

    He is a Trustee and Chief Executive (part-time) of DIFC Arbitration Institute, which operates the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre in a sort of joint venture agreement with LCIA.

    Alec has been listed as a leading arbitrator by GAR since 2009.

    He was also recognised in Who's Who Legal for mediation, transport and insurance/reinsurance and as a highly recommended individual for the UAE in PLC Which Lawyer in the field of Dispute Resolution. He features on the GAR Arbitrator Research Tool ("ART") and is platinum ranked on the Newton Arbitration platform.

    He also features in Chambers 2021 Directory as one of the five most in demand UAE arbitrators.
    Amani Khalifa
    Counsel
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

    Amani is a counsel in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s dispute resolution group and an arbitration specialist.

    She handles large, complex construction disputes relating to projects throughout the MENA region with an emphasis on the real-estate and oil and gas sectors. She has been recognised as a leader in arbitration by Who’s Who Legal.

    She is an arbitrator on the basketball arbitral tribunal, an independent tribunal recognised by FIBA and an anticorruption hearing officer of the Tennis Integrity Unit. Amani also sits frequently as arbitrator in infrastructure disputes throughout the MENA region.
    Anne Hoffmann
    Independent Arbitrator
    Hoffmann Arbitration FZCO

    Anne K. Hoffmann is an internationally recognised arbitration practitioner with two decades of experience in international commercial and investment arbitration during which she acted in arbitrations seated around the globe and governed by a great variety of laws. She is dual qualified in both Germany and England & Wales and practiced at leading international law firms in London, Geneva and Dubai before focusing on her practice as an independent arbitrator.

    To date, Anne has acted as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and chair in commercial arbitrations, both institutional under all major rules (including ICC, LCIA, Swiss Rules, DIFC-LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, SCC, DIAC and DIS) as well as ad hoc, including UNCITRAL. She has also been appointed in investment arbitration proceedings under the ICSID Rules.

    Anne conducts arbitrations in English and German and has good knowledge of French and Russian.

    In addition to her membership in various arbitration organisations, Anne is on the panel of arbitrators of SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB and AIAC. She is also a member of the SIAC Users Council.

    Anne regularly speaks and publishes on topics of international arbitration.

    She has been recognized as a global leader arbitration in all editions of Who is Who Legal since 2014.

    Anne is also a visiting lecturer at Humboldt University Berlin.
    Fatima Balfaqeeh
    Managing Director
    RKAH Consultancy

    Fatima Balfaqeeh is a multi-disciplined professional who is an independent Arbitrator, Mediator and a member of the Charter Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a Member in RICS as a chartered Facilities Management Surveyor and a Member in the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). Fatima comes with over 16 years of experience in dispute resolution in construction-related matters, governance enforcement in contracts and procurement fields in government entities, project-related finance, payables, and banking credit facilities for cooperate clients.

    Fatima Balfaqeeh is a UAE National, with active involvement with the ICC-UAE as a board member, and the Charted Institute of Arbitrators (CIarb) as a member of the UAE Branch Committee as Vice Chair, and a Board Member on the MENA advisory panel (MAP) of Royal Institute of Charted Surveyors (RICS) and many more international and domestic ADR institutes.
    Gopal R
    Global Vice President, Transportation & Logistics
    Frost & Sullivan

    Gopal leads Frost & Sullivan’s global Supply Chain & Logistics (SC&L) Practice. He is responsible for nurturing senior client relationships in Supply Chain & Logistics, conceptualizing, managing and delivering advisory engagements in this space.

    His expertise in multiple regional markets has helped in developing relationships with local and regional companies, augmenting networks, capabilities and advisory focus. His regional expertise is backed well with knowledge and experience of working with global third party logistics companies.

    He is also an invited thought leadership speaker at more than 75 Supply Chain & Logistics conferences globally, during the last decade.

    His experience base covers broad range of sectors, leveraging long-standing working relationships with leading industry participants’ Senior Executives in:
    • Supply chain solution providers
    • Freight infrastructure and facilities
    • Maritime, Rail and Automotive
    He brings forth:
    • Practical industry experience and senior level interaction with various organizations across industries
    • Acceptance as industry thought leader by Organizations, Agencies and Industry associations
    • High Quality Project Management and Client Delivery
    Graham Baldock
    Co-Chair of the International Chamber of
    Commerce Financial Crime Risk & Policy Group

    Graham Baldock is an Individual member of the UAE ICC and sits on the UAE ICC Steering Committee.

    He is currently the Chief Compliance Officer/Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank (AGTB) in Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining AGTB, Graham was the Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance for HSBC in London. Graham has over 16 years compliance experience across the disciplines, supported by a number of industry certificates most recently a Cryptocurrency Investigator certificate. Prior to joining the corporate world in 2005, Graham served in the UK Police Service and the Royal Navy.

    Graham holds a Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice graduating in 2019 his research thesis focused on the cross-jurisdiction comparison of corruption. He also holds a MSc in Forensic Accounting and a BSc in Counter Fraud and Criminal Justice studies all obtained through the University of Portsmouth in the UK. Through his academic studies he has published two journal articles on the subject of corruption in the Journal of Financial Crime.

    Over the years Graham has held several industry forum roles most recently being the co-chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Financial Crime Risk & Policy Group. He sits on the ACAMs Sanctions Education Working Group, Wolfsberg Trade Finance Principles Working Group and acts as in an advisory position to the newly formed MENA Chapter for the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime.

    Graham spends his spare time scuba diving through which he has achieved Master Scuba Diver status and is currently undertaking the PADI Diving Instructor course.

    Hashim M Alhussaini
    Co-Founder & MD
    Monimove

    Hashim is a Business Management professional, holding a bachelor’s degree from University of Business & Technology. Hashim is a member of the ICC Banking Commission, he has 13+ years of experience in Credit and Trade Finance as a Banker and he has been managing different nature of trading and construction businesses.

    Hashim is a serial entrepreneur who is constantly developing business solutions for existing challenges. First, he co-founded Nobles Tree Building Solutions Co. Ltd., the main distributor of the Spanish NUEVA TERRAIN –SDP Factories in K.S.A. Hashim always aspires to add value to the whole ecosystem, through Nobles Tree, he created innovative solutions to support owners, consultants, contractors and technicians. Once the company took off and grew in the market, Hashim realized his passion for entrepreneurship. In 2019, he again co-founded a fintech company with his father Dr. Mansour Al Hussaini, the company “MoniMove” offers a platform that revolutionizes the current credit utilization, supply chain and trade finance models. The startup is growing fast, it is currently operating in UAE and KSA with plans to expand regionally in the near future. MoniMove platform already won several achievements, it was selected as one of the best FinTechs by HSBC UAE in the “Connected FinTech Program” and it was awarded the Best Platform in MENA FinTech Hackathon for “Digitization of MURABAH Process.

    With unrelenting persistence, Hashim was able to overcome several challenges, he has a deep desire to succeed and add value to everyone touched by his businesses.
    Dr. Hassan Arab
    Chair
    ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR

    Hassan Arab is a leading expert in all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, ADR, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. He has spent his career building one of the strongest litigation teams in the Middle East which Legal 500 has recognised as “having a great reputation for local court work with a number of really good practitioners”.

    Chambers Global has commended Hassan Arab as a “real winner who gives excellent advice and solutions”. He has been recognised as a highly recommended leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution Eminent Practitioner in the UAE.

    Hassan Arab is also listed in the prestigious category of Arbitration Future Leaders 2017 by Who’s Who Legal.
    Iryna Telychko
    General Legal Counsel
    Etihad Rail

    Iryna Telychko is a recognized corporate counsel included in GC POWERLIST: MIDDLE EAST 2019 and a member of the Corporate Counsel Subcommittee within the IBA Arbitration Committee. She is an international lawyer with more than 14 years of in – house and private practice experience in the fields of international commercial transactions, infrastructure projects, general corporate law, energy projects, finance and banking transactions as well as dispute resolution. She was involved in commercial and investment disputes representing states, state entities, multinational corporations and contractors in various industries. She is regularly appointed by various arbitration institutions to act as an arbitrator to resolve commercial disputes and invited to speak at the professional events.
    Jamal Saleh
    Director General
    UAE Banks Federation

    Jamal Saleh joined UBF (UAE Banks Federation) in July 2018 and became UBF’s Director General on 1st January 2019. Prior to joining UBF, his last role was Head of Credit & Risk and Acting Regional Chief Risk Officer with a leading GCC bank.

    Jamal spent 29 years in banking (Conventional and Islamic) and covered Credit and Enterprise Risk Management (Credit, Market, Operational, Liquidity, and IT Risks).

    His first 10 years were in the USA (in Private Banking and Credit) and the last 19 were in the UAE in Corporate Banking, Credit, and Risk Management with three leading UAE banks.

    He served as PRMIA’s UAE Director General for 7 years (2007-2014) and was concurrently Member on British University’s Advisory Board.

    Jamal graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude, from New Jersey (USA) in Finance and Banking, and held 6 professional certifications in credit, finance, investment, and risk management.

    He was a frequent TV quest on local and international business channels and newspapers, as well as a key speaker at tens of regional and international forums in UAE, MENA, Singapore, Europe, USA, etc., including 11 years at the renowned RiskMinds of Geneva/Amsterdam from 2006-2016, and the Commonwealth of Nations at Westminster Palace’s Central Hall in London.
    James Tebbs
    Partner
    Forensic Services Leader, Grant Thornton UAE

    James is a partner and leads the Forensic Department at Grant Thornton UAE. He is a highly experienced forensic, anti-fraud and anti-financial crime professional with 20 years' experience in professional practice in the UK and Middle East. Based in Dubai, he joined Grant Thornton after 18 years with a Big 4 firm both in the UK and the Middle East, latterly as ME regional head of financial crime.

    The forensic team includes specialists covering financial crime, fraud risk assessment, fraud investigation, dispute resolution, corporate intelligence and digital forensics (including e-Discovery and data analytics). His experience covers most industry sectors, particularly including financial services, government, construction, energy/oil and gas, healthcare, telecoms, family businesses, retail and consumer.

    Selected examples of James’s experience include:

    Leading numerous financial crime reviews from small compliance engagements to large scale remediations with major international banks under local and global regulatory scrutiny. As part of this James has worked closely with regulators and large correspondent banks;

    Leading multiple fraud investigation engagements in the Middle East and globally. These have involved all aspects of investigative work from e-discovery to data analytics, interviews and corporate intelligence, and have resulted in reports submitted to the Police, serious fraud office and to Court. James has also appeared before the Public Prosecutor;

    Leading multiple dispute resolution engagements across multiple sectors, routinely preparing experts and evidence for court or other dispute resolution methods;

    Leading fraud risk assessments in the GCC and beyond, helping clients to identify and mitigate areas of fraud risk; and

    Multiple other forensic matters across the Middle East and Europe, including significant public interest cases.
    Jeffrey Blum
    Maritime Specialist, Expert Witness

    Jeffrey Blum has been involved in shipping and trading since 1972. He is the fourth generation of a shipping and logistics family, a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1976 and has worked in London and abroad with a Lloyd's underwriter, a Lloyd’s broker and as a shipbroker, ship owner, ship operator, gasoil futures broker, charterer and commodities trader.

    He founded Interlink International Trading (UK) Ltd in 1994 to provide maritime commercial claims consultancy and global bespoke corporate training to oil majors, commodity traders, shipowners, shipbrokers, P&I Clubs, law firms, international shipping organisations and several governments.

    In 2002 Jeffrey founded and is the principal lecturer (with 30 guest lecturers) of Maritime Education & Training Ltd, providing bespoke training for international students in London and elsewhere.

    He achieved Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers by examination in 1979 (3rd in world) and since 1983 has served on the London & South East Branch Committee, including as its Education Officer (2000 to date) and Chairman (2005-2007), as well as on several international committees for many years.

    A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 1997, he has been an arbitrator (both sole and tribunal) since 1994 under LMAA and SCMA and ICSAS terms. He has been an Expert Witness since 1983 and is the Chairman of BEWA (Baltic Expert Witness Association).

    He has lectured since 1984 on Commercial Maritime Studies and Law at universities and colleges in London, throughout the UK and abroad. He is a Visiting Professor at the World Maritime University in Malmo and the Shanghai Maritime University (both since 2007) and is a frequent guest presenter at bespoke, academic and public training conferences and masterclass workshops worldwide.
    Khalid Sharaf
    Director, Expo Business Programme
    Expo 2020 Dubai

    Since joining the global mega project in September 2014 where he assumed multiple roles, Khalid Sharaf is currently Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Business Programme. Khalid is responsible for leading & developing business programmes and platforms which also support participating countries at Expo 2020 Dubai in their business plans; this includes but not limited to a Business Matchmaking service, sector specific forums, and facilitating partnerships. Khalid is also responsible for B2B outreach to communicate the business value proposition of Expo 2020 Dubai to the global business community.
    Krishna Prasad
    President
    Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Middle East Branch

    A Graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering and a Post Graduate in Business Administration from the globally reputed Indian Institute of Management, Kolkatta. Krishna Prasad has 33years experience in various facets of commercial shipping. He has had hands on experience in Ship-broking, Ship-operations and Ship-Management. He was also involved with Liner shipping and Freight Forwarding.

    He started his career with India’s National Carrier The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). After nearly 10 years with SCI he moved on as the Country Representative in India for M/s Puyvast Chartering bv, Holland, a regular Liner operator out of India. In 1999 he joined the ship-management arm of the Sharaf Group in Dubai. He later became the Managing Director of M/s Huadao Shipping Dubai, a fully owned subsidiary of BM Shipping Group of Italy, heading their operations in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. During his tenure, Huadao Shipping expanded its market share in the region remarkably. In late 2006 he joined M/s Tradex Marine Global as a Director on Board. Presently he is the Managing Director of Aster Marine Cargo Dubai, a company focusing on Shipbroking, project cargo logistics and Consultancy.

    He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, London. He is a founder member and Branch Secretary of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, East India Branch. He is the President of the ICS Middle East Branch and is a member of the Controlling Council of the Institute globally. He has also served as a member of the Education and Training Committee of ICS.

    Mr Krishna Prasad has presented papers in many renowned International Shipping Seminars and Conferences. He has also been a visiting faculty in many Institutes and Universities, in India and in Dubai. He also conducts corporate training programmes and has undertaken consultancy assignments to many companies in India, Europe and the Middle East.
    Mahmood Al Bastaki
    Chief Operating Officer
    DT World

    Leading DP World’s effort to become the global trade enabler through the impactful application of technology across the logistics and Maritime industry, Mahmood Al Bastaki has played a major role in the advancement of e-business in the Middle East region.

    An expert in e-governance solutions, Al Bastaki served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dubai Trade before taking up his current position as the Chairman of the Board for Dubai Trade and Chief Operating Officer of DT World, an entity that is aiming to digitize the cargo flow information across global supply chains.

    Al Bastaki is also the former Acting Director of E-Services of Dubai E-Government where he formulated the then E-Government Strategy. He managed critical projects such as the governmental Electronic Payment Gateway “ePay”, Unified Contact Center “AskDubai”, Web Hosting and Management Platform “eHost”.

    Al Bastaki was appointed an Advisor for the Dubai Expo 2020 bid team. He is Member of the Board of Directors in the International Chamber of Commerce – UAE and Chairman fo the Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission. He is a Member of the UAE National Committee of World Trade Organization. He was the president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – UAE Board of Trustees.

    A Winner of the 2013 “Accomplished Leaders” category of Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award, organized by Hamdan Bin Mohammed E-University and voted as the “Popular CEO of the Year” at the 6th International Maritime Award in 2013. He was selected as one of the Government Technology Leaders by “The Who’s of Government Technology – Middle East” in 2006.

    A graduate of Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Development Program & Dubai World Leaders Program in association with Wharton School of Government in Pennsylvania, UAE. He had Bachelor degree of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, USA in 1993 and Master degree in Electrical Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute, USA, in 1998.
    Manu Palerichal
    CEO & Partner
    Emirates Chartered Accountants

    A passionate professional - CEO & Partner of Emirates Chartered Accountants Group.

    Possesses more than twenty-three years of extensive experience in the fields of Finance, Accounts, Audit, Taxation and Management Consultancy.

    An unvarying speaker on various platforms in an international sphere on topics like VAT, Economic Substance Regulation & International Taxation.

    After 8 years of experience within the auditing industry in India, he started his career in Dubai in the year 2003. In the year 2005, under the leadership of Mr. Manu [Manoharan Palerichal], a team of finance professionals started a Chartered Accountants Firm called Emirates Chartered Accountants. Later, the firms United Auditing – the Audit Division, ECA Taxation – the Tax Division and Emirates Int’l Chartered Accountants were also incorporated under the group as Emirates Chartered Accountants Group and now it is one of the leading Financial Audit, Tax and Financial Consultancy firms in the UAE.

    Emirates Chartered Accountants Group & Its Associate Professional Firms (Emirates Chartered Accountants Group) are ISO 9001-2008 Certified International Chartered Accountants Firms head quartered in Dubai. The firm has branches in other Emirates of the UAE, Bahrain, UK & India. It is a member of IECNet an international association of accountants, auditors and tax professionals with its head office in Paris, France.

    Mr. Manu [Manoharan Palerichal] is a TAX Expert with practical experience of implementing VAT in UAE & Bahrain. He also conducts VAT Training on a regular basis and has already conducted more than 200 VAT seminars and Training Sessions across the UAE & Bahrain since May 2017.

    A speaker in various platforms like, live talk shows in TV and Radio, Middle East Finance and Accounting Show, VAT Clinic held by ICAI Dubai Chapter & Khaleej Times, a panelist in ICC UAE Trade Finance Conference (International Chamber of Commerce) & many other platforms on various topics including VAT, Int’l Tax, ESR etc.
    Mohammed R Alsuwaidi
    Managing Partner
    Al Suwaidi & Company

    Mohammed Alsuwaidi is the Founder and Managing Partner of Al Suwaidi & Company. He obtained his LLM from the University of Boston, and his LLB from UAE University. Mohammed is a fully qualified Emirati lawyer with full right of audience in all courts of the United Arab Emirates in 1986 and founded Al Suwaidi & Company in 1997.

    He is also an experienced international commercial arbitrator having served as chairperson, sole arbitrator, and co-arbitrator in more than 70 arbitration cases. Previously, Mohammed was the Head of the Legal for Emirates General Petroleum Corporation. He was President of the Organization of Young Arab Lawyers and was Deputy Chairman of the UAE Jurists Association.

    He has been called upon as a UAE law expert in international arbitrations and is a licensed arbitrator in the International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration. He is a board member for the Islamic Lawyers Association, the ICC UAE and the Arbitration Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
    Nadia Abdul Aziz
    Chair, ICC UAE Commission on Customs & Trade Facilitation
    President, National Association of Freight & Logistics

    Nadia Abdul Aziz, is the Managing Director/Partner of UNASCO LLC, President of National Association of Freight and Logistics- NAFL (Fiata),Chairperson of WILAT-ME- Women in Logistics & Transport- Middle East (part of CILT, Chair of the ICC UAE Commission on Customs and Trade Facilitation Steering Committee, Vice President of FIATA extended Board .She is also in the Board of Governors for Al Noor Centre for children with special needs and a Board member of Dubai Land Transport Group.

    Nadia has more than 17 years of experience in Freight & Logistics sector. She has worked in her family business DULSCO LLC – one of the largest man power supply companies in the Gulf. Nadia has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing & Advertising and Master's degree in Business Administration (American University in Dubai).

    She helps the Al Noor Centre to raise funds for the school and assist with event organization .She mainly focusses on raising the freight /logistics industry standards in the country by offering professional training and in solving industry challenges and opening opportunity doors for the investors to the country in collaboration with government organizations.
    Rohit Arora
    General Manager
    Liwa Content Driven

    Rohit believes that for agile brands to be consistently purpose-driven, it’s important to catalyze their sustainable growth. The other way around is equally true. He does that by combining strategy with creative storytelling, data, tech & most importantly, intuition.

    Over the last two decades, he’s held leadership roles with WPP agencies (Grey, Y&R, JWT & Bates) & in his current role he’s championing brands to harness the power of video-marketing & interactive with inbound-marketing to meaningfully add value across the sales funnel.

    He’s also earned industry several recognitions like Effie, Jay Chiat, AME, AMEA, Cannes, Dubai Lynx, Digital MENA, Epica & MENA Crystal together with like-minded teams and clients.

    He’s also an avid writer of opinion pieces, whitepapers and creative reviews that have been published in resources like WARC, Campaign Middle East, Campaign Asia, American Marketer, Luxury Daily, Brand channel, Gulf Marketing Review, Brand Equity & several others.

    He’s also a guest speaker in Hult International Business School, EMDI Institute of Media & Communication and Amity University.
    Tom O'Brien
    Coordinator
    ICC UAE Commission on Banking Steering Committee

    Tom O’Brien is the coordinator of the steering committee of the ICC Banking Commission at ICC UAE.

    He is an active participant in the UAE Guarantees facilitation project where his focus is on the technology channel of this important project.

    Tom works with China Systems, a world leading trade and supply chain finance solutions provider. Tom graduated as an IT professional and has now expanded his focus to encompass Trade and Supply Chain Finance workflow, mapping and operations.

    Tom is a realist that has a keen interest in new technologies, innovation and digitalization that add real business value and trade connectivity. Both Tom and China Systems are always eager to support collaborative innovations and initiatives that will benefit the entire International Trade & Finance Ecosystem.
    Zaynab Penot
    Senior Associate
    International Consultant Law Office (ICLO)

    Zaynab Penot is a dual qualified French lawyer and English solicitor and accumulates 7 years of experience in the UAE where she has been mostly involved in arbitration and corporate matters. She is acting as counsel and arbitrator in arbitration proceedings conducted under various local and international rules. Zaynab has published a number of articles and co-launched the first “UAE Arbitration Yearbook”, a yearly publication edited by the “International Consultant Law Office” (ICLO) since 2015. She acquired experience in French & Qatari law firms and in the Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Center of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce before joining ICLO in 2014.

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    Logistical Notes

    The Ritz Carlton, DIFC, Dubai


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    Contact Us

    For more information, please contact Habibullah Rizwan at habib@iccuae.com or by phone to +971 4 220 8288.