Dr. Arezou Harraf Founder & CEO of Learn & Evolve LLC An experienced educator, Dr. Arezou Harraf holds a Ph.D. in Technology Management and Human Resource Training and Development. She serves as the Head of the Department of Business Studies at Box Hill College Kuwait. She is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas during the summer term. She also serves as an academic advisor for several MBA students at Maastricht University. Dr. Harraf is the founder and CEO of Learn & Evolve LLC. In this capacity, she helps organizations use strategy, science, and psychology to address workforce challenges such as low performance, productivity, turnover, and retention issues. Moreover, Dr. Harraf is co-founder of Amplify Women Leadership Boot-camp to train women with skills to help them advance to executive positions within their organizations and or become successful venture creators and entrepreneurs. With a focus on the future of technology and HR, she consults with organizations on improving existing in-house technology platforms to enhance features relating to HR and employee needs. Dr. Harraf is vice-chairperson of the Board of Directors at ABCK-Am-Cham Kuwait, where she also leads the Women in Business and Knowledge Economic focus groups and holds additional memberships in the Academy of Human Resource Development, Academy of Human Resource Management, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, Academy of Management, Women of Tech in MENA, and Graduate Women in Science.
Lulwah Al-Munifi HR Organizational Effectiveness Leader and Inclusion Facilitator at Equate Petrochemical
Lulwah Al-Munifi HR Organizational Effectiveness Leader and Inclusion Facilitator at Equate Petrochemical Lulwah Al Munifi is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in Human Resources, specializing in fostering inclusive environments and optimizing organizational effectiveness. Currently serving as an Inclusion Facilitator at EQUATE Petrochemical Company since July 2022, Lulwah plays a pivotal role in championing diversity and equity within the workplace.
Nour Al Naqeeb Lawyer at Dalal Al Mulla Legal Group
Nour Al Naqeeb Lawyer at Dalal Al Mulla Legal Group Noor has about a decade of business experience in the financial and investment sectors as well as the technology sector. Previous to joining Dalal Al Mulla’s Legal Group Noor held several positions in financial and multinational organizations; the most recent being Vice President of Corporate Communications at Rasameel Investment Company in which her communications efforts resulted in $3.7 Million of actual investments made in one quarter. Moreover, she worked as a Marketing Executive at the global tech giant Huawei Technologies as well as working at the National Bank of Kuwait, one of Kuwait’s leading banks.
Najla Al Sager Executive Manager Head of Talent Management Group Human Resources at NBK
Najla Al Sager Executive Manager Head of Talent Management Group Human Resources at NBK Najlaa Al Sager Serves as the Head of Talent Management, Group Human Resources at National Bank of Kuwait. Her area of expertise is in Human Resources with a specialization in Organization Design, Organization Development, and Learning and Development, she is currently responsible for the learning and development initiatives across the Group as well as identifying and developing the right talents to assume bigger roles. She specializes in designing curriculums of the highest standards to ensure the educational journey is enriching and conducive.
Eman Alawadhi Group Senior VP of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at KIPCO
Eman Alawadhi Group Senior VP of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at KIPCO Eman is responsible for coordinating the Group’s overall communications strategy and for KIPCO’s corporate communications, media relations, branding and marketing activities. She also manages communication between the company's management and its investors. Ms Al Awadhi’s career in public relations, media and journalism spans over two decades. She was previously a member of the ‘Newsweek Arabic’ production team and the foreign correspondent at Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait’s official news wire. She holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Bahrain and is a Certified Investor Relations Officer (CIRO).
Dr. Manal Hamad Alhasawi Founder & managing partner of Think Tank Strategy & Development Advisory
Dr. Manal Hamad Alhasawi Founder & managing partner of Think Tank Strategy & Development Advisory Dr. Manal Al Hasawi is the founder and managing partner of Think Tank Strategy
Dr. Lubna Alkazi Founder,Women’s Research and Studies Center of Kuwait University
Dr. Lubna Alkazi Founder,Women’s Research and Studies Center of Kuwait University Lubna Ahmed Alkadi, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in December 1983 with a Ph.D. in Demography and Sociology. She is an Associate Professor at Kuwait University in the Sociology Department from 1984 to the present. She was a consultant with the Population Division at the United Nations for one year from 1986-87, when she prepared the Country Case Study: Kuwait on the population policies of Kuwait. She also prepared the gender section in the Master Plan for Tourism in Kuwait in 2004 -2005. She was a consultant in 2009 for the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) when she prepared the section on Gender and Development for the Kuwait National five-year plan 2010 – 2015.She has presented talks on Gender and leadership in various intellectual gatherings. Some of these talks are a speech at White House on role of women in promoting peace in 2000, Women’s rights in Kuwait at the Council of Foreign relations, New York in 2006, on Kuwaiti Women and development at La Hague in 2010 as part of the GCC delegation and on Women’s role in the society at a conference organized by Freedom House in 2012 at Washington, DC.
Mona Dabbah Chief Customer Officer at Sultan
Mona Dabbah Chief Customer Officer at Sultan Mona Dabbah is the Chief Customer Officer of Sultan Group and joined the organization in 2022. Ms. Dabbah has combined experience of more than 25 years in Customer, Marketing, Communication management. Ms. Dabbah has spent 9 years with such esteemed organizations as NBK and over 12 years with M.H. Al Shaya, the largest retailer in Kuwait. Prior to joining Sultan Ms. Dabbah was the Director of Customer Service at M.H. Al Shaya leading a team of 200+ covering 10 countries for over 90 brands across MENA such as Starbucks, H&M, Mother care, Debenhams, American Eagle Outfitters, P.F. Changes, Boots Pharmacy, The Body Shop, Victoria’s Secret, KidZania and many others. Ms. Dabbah holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Kuwait University.
Fadwa Darwich Secretary General at Union of Investment Companies
Fadwa Darwich Secretary General at Union of Investment Companies As Secretary General, she brings a demonstrated history of success in the investment management industry. Her skills encompass Business Planning, Banking, Asset Management, Equities, and Capital Markets. A robust business development professional, she holds a Diploma in Professional Designation in Financial Institution Management from the University of California, LosAngeles. She further earned a Master of Philosophy (Distinction) with an emphasis on Finance from Exeter University, England, and a BSc (Hons) in Business Administration/Economics from the United Arab Emirates University,UAE.
Salma Hajjaj GM of HR at Gulf Bank
Salma Hajjaj GM of HR at Gulf Bank Salma joined Gulf Bank in February 2013 as General Manager of Human Resources.
Alaeddine Karim Country General Manager at Microsoft Kuwait
Alaeddine Karim Country General Manager at Microsoft Kuwait As a Country General Manager for Microsoft in Kuwait, Alaeddine Karim is responsible for landing the company strategy, ensuring the execution of the mission as well as leading the company’s operations. Alaeddine joined Microsoft back in 2007 as a Partner Account Manager and then served through different senior capacities in Kuwait and most recently in the Gulf region where he helped the company establish strong partnerships with Key customers in the region.
Bessam Khadraoui Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of France in Kuwait
Bessam Khadraoui Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of France in Kuwait M. Khadhraoui is the Deputy head of Mission of the French Embassy in Kuwait, after holding the position of Political Advisor since 2022.
Emma Morley Resident Representative at UNDP
Emma Morley Resident Representative at UNDP Ms. Morley was appointed Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kuwait in January 2024. She has over 20 years of experience leading development policy and program initiatives with the UNDP, the United Kingdom’s former Department for International Development (DFID), and civil society in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with a focus on social development, governance, and human rights.
Dr. Ziad Nakat Resident Representative at Worldbank
Dr. Ziad Nakat Resident Representative at Worldbank Dr. Ziad Nakat has worked extensively on development issues, focusing primarily on infrastructure sectors. He has over 20 years’ experience in Infrastructure and Transport sectors of which 17 at the World Bank working on 40 countries in Eastern Europe, Central and Southern Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He is a recognized global expert on infrastructure finance, policy, and asset management; and was featured as an expert in reputable conferences, journals, and media outlets. Dr. Nakat joined the World Bank in 2006 as a Transport Specialist in the Infrastructure Vice Presidency. He has since held various positions in the headquarters in Washington DC, and in the field, delivering large and complex programs in the billions of dollars. His most recent assignment was as a Senior Transport Specialist in the Southern Africa Region.
Makram Raad Country Manager at DHL Express
Makram Raad Country Manager at DHL Express Makram Raad is a certified international specialist who has been part of DHL for more than 11 years. He has initially joined the company in Dubai coming from the financial sector where he spent 8 plus years managing multinational partners in various industries, the likes of Energy, Engineering and Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology, Fashion and Retail, Banking, etc.
Ola Saab Head of Corporate Commercial at Al Tamimi & Company
Ola Saab Head of Corporate Commercial at Al Tamimi & Company Ola is currently the Head of the Kuwait office Corporate Commercial practice. She has been in Kuwait for the past seventeen years serving clients, both local and international on contentious and non-contentious matters.
