Overview
Winning hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup has revolutionized Qatar’s approach to economic growth. Strategies have been developed to ensure that every sector of the economy reaps the benefits. And as the final countdown to kickoff begins, the authorities hope their efforts will ensure a long-lasting legacy. This event is a chance to showcase what opportunities the tournament presents.
Qatar isn’t new to economic miracles. It recently emerged from a four-year blockade stronger and more self-sufficient, and deftly managed the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly impressive is progress it has made in food security, energy transition, living standards, infrastructure, and the green economy.
This event, Qatar Investment Conference 2022, held on September 19, will celebrate the launch of The Business Year: Qatar 2022, 2022 FIFA World Cup Special Edition, which features dozens of interviews with business leaders from across the economy, as well as a range of news and analysis—it is the handbook to own for prospective investors in Qatar as it leaves the blockade and COVID-19 behind it and as the world looks on this winter.
The event will include a series of panel discussions where members of the public and private sectors will discuss a range of pertinent topics, from the beautiful game to Qatar National Vision 2030, the growth of smart cities, the case for cleaner energy, digitalization, and more.
Program
9:15 Welcome Note: Ioana Popa, Regional Director Middle East, The Business Year
9:20 Official Launch of The Business Year: Qatar 2022, World Cup Special Edition, Nataly Almanza, Country Manager, Qatar
9.30 Panel 1 – Stable & Resilient Growth
Moderator
Seif Hourani, Strategy Partner, Consulting HAUS
Panelists
– Gudni Stiholt Adalsteinsson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Doha Bank
– David Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Sharq Insurance
10.35 Speech: Sustainable Business Models: Ghanim AlSulaiti, CEO and Founder, Enbat Holding
10.50 Panel 2 – Sustainability & ESG Initiatives
Panelists
– Ghassan Kosta, Country Manager, Google Cloud Qatar
– Dr. Fadi Nasser, CCO, Meeza
– Ali Al-Shabibi, Partner, KPMG Qatar
– Simon Alexander, Regional Operations Manager, Qatar Lulu Group International
12.00pm Panel 3 – World Cup Preparation & Legacy
Moderator
Venkat Krishnaswamy, Partner, Head of Advisory, KPMG in Qatar
Panelists
– Sheikh Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Head of Business Development, Qetaifan Projects
– Ashraf Abu Issa, Chairman, AbuIssa Holding
– Faisal Abdulla KH Al Mana, Vice Chairman, RC Al Mana
– Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director, Competitions & Football Development, Qatar Stars League (QSL)
Speakers
Seif Hourani Hourani
Partner, Head of Strategy, Consulting HAUS
Seif Hourani Hourani
Partner, Head of Strategy, Consulting HAUS
Seif Hourani has more than 20 years of corporate finance experience during which he has held various senior positions in regional consulting practices and investment banks. He has first-hand experience in leading a number of large strategy projects for financial and non-financial institutions to support in drawing market penetration and products strategies. e has also worked on a number of capital market transactions including leading listing support and M&A transactions across various sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and real estate. He holds a BA in finance and a master's in international economics and finance from the University of Toulouse, France.
Ali Al-Shabibi
Partner, KPMG Qatar
Ali Al-Shabibi
Partner, KPMG Qatar
Ali Al-Shabibi, a UK-qualified chartered accountant and started his career at KPMG in London in the firm’s financial services audit line of business, where he served clients such as Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Credit Suisse. Following that, he moved on a secondment to KPMG Singapore to help set up a risk consulting practice. He subsequently moved to Dubai to set up and head up the risk advisory practice at one of the big four firms until 2012. Since 2019, he has been a senior partner at KPMG in Qatar, where he leads the firm’s Governance & Risk, Business Transformation and ESG service lines. He has over 30 years of experience gained within the profession and outside.
Ghassan Kosta
Country Manager, Google Cloud Qatar
Ghassan Kosta
Country Manager, Google Cloud Qatar
Ghassan Kosta joined Google Cloud as Qatar Country Manager in 2021, with the objective of building the new Google Cloud region and helping make a difference for businesses in Qatar. Before that, he worked for EMC and Dell Technologies for 15 years, based in Qatar. He brings strong market experience of managing successful teams and leading great revenue growth. Ambitious and committed, he positions himself as a strategic solution provider, anticipates challenges, and leads the execution. He is Lebanese and graduated with a bachelor of engineering degree from Notre Dame University.
Ashraf Abu Issa
Chairman, AbuIssa Holding
Ashraf Abu Issa
Chairman, AbuIssa Holding
Ashraf Abuissa took over the family business with his brother Nabil at a young age. Primarily in a retail and distribution business, the company grew to be one of the most distinguished groups with several activities and more than 100 stores in the region and more than 3,000 employees. he received the Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 from the Swiss Business Council in Qatar; The Businessman of the Year award from Arabian Business magazine in 2016; and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011. Abuissa Holding was listed among Forbes top-100 Arab family businesses in Middle East 2021 list.
Venkat Krishnaswamy
Partner, Head of Advisory, KPMG in Qatar
Venkat Krishnaswamy
Partner, Head of Advisory, KPMG in Qatar
Venkat Krishnaswamy has over 25 years of business and advisory experience primarily in the areas of strategy, transformation, private equity, acquisition and disposal assistance, and related areas. He has spent eight years working in senior positions in private equity, consumer banking, and the manufacturing sector, and the remaining 17 years advising clients in a range of advisory mandates.
Dr. Fadi Nasser
Chief Commercial Officer, MEEZA
Dr. Fadi Nasser
Chief Commercial Officer, MEEZA
As Chief Commercial Officer, Dr. Fadi Nasser is responsible for the management of all of MEEZA’s commercial activities including sales, pre-sales, marketing, alliances, bid management, advanced services, and commercial strategy. Prior to joining MEEZA, he founded the new ICT business unit at Omantel, part of the Omantel-Zain group of companies, serving as general manager and senior advisor to the CEO. Prior to moving to Oman, he served as Chief Alliances Officer at MEEZA. He has an executive MBA from HEC Paris and recently completed his doctorate in Nationwide digital transformation frameworks across the GCC.
Dr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi
Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development, Qatar Stars League
Dr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi
Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development, Qatar Stars League
Dr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi currently serves as the Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development at the Qatar Stars League, designing and leading strategies together with the teams to achieve the organization’s ambitious vision and targets. Prior to that, he was serving as the director of national teams, being part of the team winning the Gulf Cup 2014 and the Asian Cup 2019. In parallel to that, he is a member of the AFC competitions committee and is the co-founder of Qatar Solar Energy. After finishing his bachelor's degree in Qatar and MBA in the UK, Abbassi obtained a doctorate in business administration with a research focus on leadership, strategy, and innovation at the Ecole des Ponts Business School in Paris.
Ioana Krempanszky Popa
Regional Director for Middle East, The Business Year
Ioana Krempanszky Popa
Regional Director for Middle East, The Business Year
Ioana Krempanszky Popa is The Regional Director for Middle East for The Business Year, where she has been working for the past 6 years. She has successfully created partnerships with the worlds' largest entities in highly competitive markets, and lead teams to complete successful projects in several countries, such as the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jamaica, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Nigeria. She graduated from the University of Vienna, Austria, with a Master's Degree in Cognitive Science, majoring in Behavioural Economics.
Nataly Almanza Madrid
Country Manager, The Business Year
Nataly Almanza Madrid
Country Manager, The Business Year
Nataly Almanza Madrid is an International Business Professional who has been the Country Director for The Business Year in Qatar for more than two years. She has successfully managed projects in Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. For the last 10 years, she has gained wide international experience working in America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Gudni Stiholt Adalsteinsson
Acting CEO, Doha Bank
Gudni Stiholt Adalsteinsson
Acting CEO, Doha Bank
Gudni Stiholt Adalsteinsson is the Acting CEO of Doha Bank and Chief Treasury and Investment Officer. He joined the bank in 2019 with 25 years of senior banking experience working in the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia for number of organizations including Credit Suisse, Lehman Brothers, AIB, and Legal & General Group. Adalsteinsson holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA from the University of Cambridge, UK. He been a non-executive board member of banks in UK and Scandinavia and has contributed to the field of liquidity management and investments as a published author and speaker.
David Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Sharq Insurance Cook
CEO, Sharq Insurance
David Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Sharq Insurance Cook
CEO, Sharq Insurance
David Cook began his career in insurance as a marketing-underwriting trainee at the US company AEtna Casualty & Surety. His career excelled as he joined American International Group (AIG). AIG appointed him to key executive positions in the US, Far East, and MENA. At one time he was the Global Head of AIG Crisis Management and Product Recall located in New York City. He also spent six years with the global company Allianz. Between Allianz and AIG, he spent six years in in the Gulf region working in both the UAE and KSA. It was this experience that led to his appointment as CEO of Sharq Insurance in 2021.
Simon Alexander
Regional Operations Manager, Qatar Lulu Group International
Simon Alexander
Regional Operations Manager, Qatar Lulu Group International
Simon Alexander is Regional Operations Manager in Qatar for Lulu Group International. With a wealth of international retail operations and development experience from across the world including Asia, Europe and the US he brings expertise in bringing world class sustainable retail practices to Qatar and the wider Middle East.
Faisal Abdulla KH Al Mana
Vice Chairman, RC Al Mana
Faisal Abdulla KH Al Mana
Vice Chairman, RC Al Mana
Faisal Abdulla KH Al Mana is a Qatari businessman who collectively co-owns more than 16 companies working across a great variety of industries in Qatar. He is currently the Chairman of Al Jassra Group and its affiliated companies and the Vice-Chairman of RC AL MANA Group of Companies. He is the founder of the maintainers, one of the leading facility management companies in Qatar, servicing more than 30 different industries. He is a dynamic businessman with exceptional leadership talents and a sharp vision fulfilling his loyalty and patriotism for his country. He is presently Board Member at Al Khaliji Bank and has previously had various roles at governmental entities to name a few; Director of Project Development Department at Qatar Development Bank as well as Director of Minister's office at the Qatar Ministry of Economy & Commerce. Faisal holds a bachelor of economics from Qatar University and trade policy diploma from the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Ghanim Al-Sulaiti
CEO & Founder, Enbat Holding
Ghanim Al-Sulaiti
CEO & Founder, Enbat Holding
Ghanim Al-Sulaiti is a young Qatari entrepreneur passionate about creating a positive impact on society by promoting a plant-based lifestyle. In his spare time, he is a serial entrepreneur, founding his first business—Evergreen Organics—in 2016, and now has over 10 projects currently live or under development. All of these projects share the same vision and values as its founder—to be vegan, sustainable, and promote a healthier lifestyle. He has worked extensively with local schools and regional organizations such as Qatar Foundation, Ooredoo Doha Marathon, Qatar National Library, Qatar Financial Center, and the Qatar Investment Authority, producing educational programs to change the status quo. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Drexel University, US.
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