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The Strategic conference is the only high-level forum in Dubai exclusively for senior decision makers in the energy and utilities sector from the Middle East and African Nations. The theme ‘Powering the energy transition’ will shape the narrative of the conference, with stories from thought leaders who are developing and implementing strategies to successfully facilitate the energy transition and steering energy efficiency projects while ensuring adequate energy generation to meet future needs.
The Strategic conference is free-to-attend and CPD accredited.
Conference doors open | Networking
Session: Opening
Welcome by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
National anthem and conference opening
Welcome remarks by Informa
Azzan Mohamed, Exhibition Director, Energy – Middle East and Africa, Informa Markets
Session: Energy market trends
Opening Keynote: Challenges and opportunities for the Energy Transition in the Middle East and North Africa
Given its natural resources, expertise on energy markets and investment capacity, the Middle East and North Africa has the conditions to lead on the energy transition. While some challenges are preventing this from happening, the opportunities remain enormous.
Nicolas Daher, Lead Energy Analyst, The Economist Intelligence Unit - London
Panel: What electricity demand looks like in the future and what energy companies are doing to meet it and why?
Sub-topics:
Moderator: Nicolas Daher, Lead Energy Analyst, The Economist Intelligence Unit - London
Panellists:
Panel: Perspectives from Nigeria on the Energy Transition
The next couple of decades presents a unique opportunity to merge economic development and climate action priorities in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, one of the world’s first true just transitions. Explore challenges and opportunities for Natural Gas in the Energy Transition
Moderator: Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
Speakers:
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Egypt on the Energy Transition
Egypt has laid out its vision for successful and consensual negotiated outcomes at COP27. Explore projects in Egypt to accelerate the transition to clean energy, to drive energy decarbonisation and ensure efficient use of energy.
Moderator: Amena Bakr, Dubai Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief OPEC Correspondent, Energy Intelligence
Speaker: Madiha M. Abdel Azim, Head of Technical Affairs Sector, New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), Egypt
Session: Funding the Energy Transition
How can large companies accelerate their innovation activities while maximising financial and environmental impact?
How energy companies can accelerate their transition to clean energy by combining Venture capital investing and a holistic Innovation ecosystem
Brian Ryan, VP of Innovation, National Grid, USA
Panel: Bankability of renewable energy projects
Review the latest best practices in controlling project risks, securing revenues and putting in place adequate lender protections to ensure that lenders can be comfortable providing debt finance on a non-recourse or limited recourse basis.
Moderator: Moamina Faour, Head of Department/ Presenter, Business 24 TV
Panellists:
Backing visionary entrepreneurs from ideas to global energy markets
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe’s flagship innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and game changing innovations, including in the energy sector. Established in 2021 under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, the EIC has a budget of €10.1 billion to support visionary researchers and innovators throughout the lifecycle from early stage research, to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale up of start-ups and SMEs.
Martin Lange, Deputy Head of Unit of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Agency, European Commission
Closing Remarks by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
End of day one
Session: Through the Lens of the Future
Opening remarks by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy Firm
Our shared future
An inspiring view on reducing our carbon footprint
Licypriya Kangujam, 11-year-old Climate Activist
Panel: Net Zero Carbon roadmap implementation
What success would look like and what policies, systems, and strategies do countries need to adopt to achieve universal electricity access through clean energy
Moderator: Baset Asaba, Editor, Utilities Middle East
Panellists:
Session: Achieving Universal Electricity Access
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Rwanda on the Energy Transition
Ambassador Emmanuel Hategeka, Ambassador of Rwanda to UAE
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from East Africa on the Energy Transition
Explore how East Africa is rapidly emerging as a renewable energy superpower in Africa, building up capacities and plans and projects to reach 100% clean energy
Moderator: Farah Mourad, Senior News Presenter, Market Analyst, XTB MENA
Speaker:
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Jordan on the Energy Transition
Jordan's energy transition has been rapid and ambitious. Review renewable energy and financial challenges, energy fund project, and megaprojects that enable energy transition strategies and priorities
Moderator: Oliver Klaus, Dubai Bureau Chief; Eastern Hemisphere Head of Client Engagement & News Editor, Energy Intelligence
Speakers:
Networking break
Session: Decarbonising Heavy Industries
Transformers go green
Georgios Giovanakis, CEO, thyssenkrup Electrical Steel
Fire-side chat: Unlocking collective innovation potential to decarbonise industrial value chains through collaboration
The right mix of incentives and mandates can set market forces into motion, leading to industry-wide technology breakthroughs. But the transition to net-zero will require new forms of corporate collaboration with business, government, and research institutions.
Moderator: Alan Mammoser, Chief Editor, Energy & Utilities
Panellists:
Ahmed Badr, Director, Project Facilitation & Support (PFS), IRENA – International Renewable Energy Agency
Session: Hybridisation of Renewable Energy Projects
Panel: Strategies for hybridisation of renewable energy projects - wind and solar complementarity
The integration of hybrid systems into the network will increase network stability, security, reduce emissions, and lower cost of electricity. However, to enable these advantages, there is a requirement for the electricity network to transition towards a smart grid. This session will focus on hybrid systems with renewables and how a smart grid should be developed to enable the effective integration of these intermittent resources
Moderator: Bart Cornelisson, Partner, Energy, Resources & Industrials Leader, Deloitte
Panellists:
Session: Hydrogen and the Energy Transition
Panel: Unlocking hydrogen's power potential
Green hydrogen plants are now under construction as momentum gathers for a global market. This technical discussion will offer insights on how it will work in the power sectors of diverse countries.
Moderator: Alan Mammoser, Chief Editor, Energy & Utilities
Panellists:
François Dao, Vice-President, Middle East & Africa, EDF Renewables
Claude Mourey, Director, Hydrogen and New Energies – EMEA, Wood Mackenzie Consulting
Vatche Kourkejian, Partner & Head of Energy MENA, Roland Berger
Diversity to boost decarbonisation across the MENA region
Noora Abdul Latif Kheily, Engineering Outage Planning Director for EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), GE Power
Session: Middle East Energy Exhibition welcomes Women in Renewable Energy - WiRE
Closing session
Moderator: Dr Rahaf Ajaj, Assistant Professor, Abu Dhabi University, WiRE UAE Chapter Leader
Opening remarks
Joanna Osawe, Chair, President and CEO, WiRE, Federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Canada (via video)
- Biodiesel as sustainable energy (via video)
Dr Suzan Shahin, Assistant Professor, WiRE UAE Chapter Leader
- Dubai energy chain and carbon footprint analysis - Opportunities in the UAE
Tania Zepeda Lunda, Renewable Energy Expert, WiRE UAE Chapter Leader
- Net Zero landscape: opportunities and implications, the overview of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): current state and expectations
Dana Darwish, ESG and Sustainability Consultant, WiRE UAE Chapter Leader
Young Female Engineer Presentation: Design of Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbines for Airport Runaway Energy Generation
Haya Turkmani, Abu Dhabi University
Closing remarks by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
End of day two
Opening networking session
Welcome remarks by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
Session: Storing Energy in Distributed Energy Networks
Opening keynote: Perspectives on battery energy storage in the Distributed Energy Network
Fouad Dagher, Director, NY Energy Storage Development, National Grid, USA
Session: Building Energy Efficiency on the Demand Side - Customers as Partners
Review Demand-side energy efficiency (DSEE) approaches include upgrading industrial plants, equipment, and appliances, retrofitting public infrastructure and residential buildings
Case study - Advancing Deep Retrofits in the UAE
Dr Abdullatif Albitawi, Director, Emirates Green Building Council
Session: The Future Workforce
The knowledge economy, future workforce and capacity building
Learn how to compete in a knowledge economy. The shift to a knowledge economy also has implications beyond the globalisation of innovative, high-skilled work. Greater specialisation in high-skilled jobs could magnify the role of employers in training and development of the workforce and their stake in national education and training systems and their infrastructures. A better understanding of the factors that contribute to productivity among knowledge workers could also influence management and human resource practices.
Prof Philip Hamil, Associate Provost for Research and Academic Development; Office of the Provost, Abu Dhabi University
Session: Digital transformation of grids
Panel: Digitalised grids
Sub-topics:
Moderator: Saqib Saeed, Chief Research Officer, Power Technology Research
Speakers:
Networking break
Drone-powered and AI-enabled OHTL inspections
Nikin Mohan James, Chief Operating Officer, FEDS
Session: New Business Models for a New Power Sector
Panel: Alternative business models in the power sector
To balance the need to deliver sustainability while also meeting investor demands for growth, explore how companies are integrating their corporate and ESG -Environmental, Social and Governance strategies.
Sub-topics:
Session: Rural Electrification
Fire-side chat: Progress in rural electrification
Explore a success story on electrification and mobility and practical applications that are meant to contribute to bridging the electrification gaps in rural areas particularly in the MEA's power sector, leading rigorously towards sustainable development.
Moderator: Dina Barqawi, TV Presenter, Dubai TV
Closing remarks by Emcee
Hala Bou Alwan, Master of Ceremonies, Founder and CEO, Hala Bou Alwan (HBA) Consultancy
End of conference
Bringing together the highest stakeholders within the energy communities, this comprehensive conference will be delivered by distinguished industry experts and influencers, focusing on addressing real-world commercial solutions to help fasten the road to global energy transition.
Day 1, Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Future Energy outlook in Middle East and Africa – planning and policies
Day 2, Wednesday, 8 March 2023
Decarbonising energy and utilities
Day 3, Thursday, 9 March 2023
Driving digitalisation and innovation in the power sector
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