Confirmed Speakers
Essam Al-Ammar
Professor of Electrical Energy, King Saud University
Essam Al-Ammar
Professor of Electrical Energy, King Saud University
Essam is a Full Professor of Electrical Energy at King Saud University, where he teaches, researches, and consults on various aspects of power, renewable energy, smart grids, energy efficiency, energy economics, electric vehicles, and digital transformation. He has over 15 years of academic and R&D experience, and he has published nearly 170 papers and 20 patents in my field of expertise. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, an MBA from York St. John University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Digital Business from Emeritus Institute of Management in collaboration with MIT Sloan Business School and Columbia Business School. In addition to his academic role, he is also a board member, advisor, trainer, speaker, and opinion columnist for various organizations and media outlets in the energy, water, and digital sectors. He served as a governor's advisor at Saudi WERA, a chair coordinator at Saudi Aramco Chair in Electrical Power, an energy consultant at Riyadh Techno Valley, and a member of several local and international committees and societies. He is passionate about advancing the knowledge and practice of sustainable energy and digital business, and he shares his insights and perspectives weekly in Al Eqtisadiah (Saudi Newspaper) and other platforms. He is also certified in project management, risk management, and business analysis by PMI, and a senior member of IEEE since 2007.
Waleed AlHallaj
Head of Business Development - MENA, Amarenco
Waleed AlHallaj
Head of Business Development - MENA, Amarenco
Over a decade of experience in solar energy and green hydrogen development in the MENA region.
Mustafa Al-Jayyousi
Sr. Sales Manager, Jinko Solar
Mustafa Al-Jayyousi
Sr. Sales Manager, Jinko Solar
Sr. Sales Manager for MENA region; Managing Jinko BESS business; +18 years of experience in Water & power
Saeed Baalhaddad
General Manager & Commercial Director, Gulf Renewable Energy Lab
Abdullah Zalam
Manager – PV Technology, ACWA Power
Abdullah Zalam
Manager – PV Technology, ACWA Power
Abdullah Zalam is the Manager of PV technology at ACWA Power and is looking after Engineering, technical services, technical bid development, and evaluating the innovative technology across ACWA Power’s Solar PV portfolio. Abdullah has +10 years' experience in engineering, operations, maintenance, asset management, testing, and commissioning within utilities, HV substations, and Solar PV plants, including Sakaka 300MW and Sudair 1500 MW which are the first utility-scale solar projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also, he is playing the role of Engineering Manager of AR-Rass 1 and AR- RASS 2 Solar projects with a capacity of 2,700MW. Abdullah has an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University – Cambridge – UK, CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, a Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP), Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA) - ISO 55001, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical Power and Machines Engineering from Ain Shams University.
Rami Hamati
Project Development Manager, Emerge
Rami Hamati
Project Development Manager, Emerge
Rami is an accomplished professional with over six years of dedicated experience in the renewable energy sector. Currently holding the position of Project Development Manager at Emerge KSA & Bahrain, he has honed his skills in various domains, including technical and commercial analysis, business development, sales, project finance, and management. Throughout his career, Rami has successfully overseen numerous multimillion-dollar projects, consistently delivering outstanding results and establishing a proven track record of success. His expertise spans both the public and private sectors, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East Region. As a graduate of the German Jordanian University with a BSc degree in Energy Engineering, Rami's academic background has significantly complemented his practical experience. Additionally, he has earned multiple certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), further solidifying his proficiency and commitment to the highest standards in the field.
Omar Atiyat
Regional Sales Manager, LONGi
Omar Atiyat
Regional Sales Manager, LONGi
Omar Atiyat serves as the Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East, overseeing the Distributed Generation market at LONGi, a global leader in the manufacturing of solar wafers, cells, and modules. He has a background in Electronics & Communications Engineering and extensive experience as a project manager developing commercial and industrial Solar PV, and smart city projects in the region.
Raed Bkayrat
Chief Development Officer, Alternative Energy Projects
Raed Bkayrat
Chief Development Officer, Alternative Energy Projects
Raed has over a decade of hands on experience in the clean tech industry in MENA, he has taken different roles in the region from being a founding member of the Technology Innovation Program at KAUST, Saudi Arabia to leading project and business development in MENA for First Solar as well as advising multiple private and public sector entities in the region. Raed has served previously as a board member at the Middle East Solar Industry Association and Managing Director at the Clean Energy Business Council.
Leon Chuang
Global Marketing Director, Risen Energy
Leon Chuang
Global Marketing Director, Risen Energy
Leon Chuang, Risen Energy Co.,Ltd , Global Marketing Director , Master of Business Administration , Rich resume , Has extensive successful practical experience in photovoltaic technology solutions, construction management, and financial operations , In 2008, Leon chuang joined Jiangxi Ruijing Solar, and participated in the early construction of Ruijing in the whole process. He has experienced the development of domestic and foreign markets from research and development to products (solar photovoltaic cells) to systems (Golden Sun Project, Xizang Power Generation Project) . In 2012, he successfully introduced German photovoltaic EPC technology and material production for photovoltaic feasibility studies to China during his tenure at Beijing Volvo Solar Company, helping to consolidate the technological upgrading and overseas project investment foundation of the domestic photovoltaic industry
Nahidh ElShaer
Country Director, SirajPower
Nahidh ElShaer
Country Director, SirajPower
Established professional with 25+ years success with reputed international and family companies achieving green energy business development objectives, marketing as well as delivering sales, revenue, and profitability targets. Demonstrated leadership and management abilities with excellence in formulating and implementing effective strategies. The business focus has been in developing green energy solutions, namely solar, hydrogen, fuel cells, wind power, EV & hybrid power generation.
Theo Xin
Head of Product&Technology MENA, Trina Solar
Theo Xin
Head of Product&Technology MENA, Trina Solar
Theo Xin is the Head of Product&Technology for the Middle East and Africa region of Trina Solar. Theo holds a degree in New Energy Engineering and a Master's degree in Innovation management, he worked in the wind power industry before joining the photovoltaic industry. After that in Trinasolar he spent a significant amount of time working on solar module products and technology. He has worked in Europe, China, and in the Middle East and Africa.
Majid Refae
Chairman, Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy
Majid Refae
Chairman, Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy
With a distinguished career spanning several decades, Majid Refae is a dynamic and accomplished professional who has played pivotal roles in the advancement of renewable energy and industrial engineering. Currently serving as the Chairman of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy since June 2022, Majid Refae is at the forefront of shaping the future of sustainable technology.
In his previous role as the Chief Executive Officer of Desert Technologies Industries from June 2022 to 2023, Majid Refae demonstrated exceptional leadership, driving the company's growth and innovation. Majid Refae 's extensive experience in the energy sector includes a significant tenure at the Advanced Electronics Company, where he served from 2006 to 2020. Mr. Refae holds a BSc. Degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master's Degree in Applied Science in Engineering Management.
He is a distinguished member of the Saudi Council of Engineering and the Consultation Committee of Industrial Engineering at King Saud University. He also contributes his insights to international business relations as a member of the Saudi Iraqi, Saudi Omani, and Saudi Spain Business Councils.
Marcus H. Schrauf
CEO Renewables, FAS Energy
Marcus H. Schrauf
CEO Renewables, FAS Energy
Marcus has over 20 years’ experience in renewable energy development, investment, and asset-based lending, predominantly in EMEA and LATAM. In total, Marcus’ experience spans more than 50 successfully concluded PV projects. Over the last decade, Marcus acquired in-depth knowledge of PV component manufacturers, EPCs, IPPs and has also developed his own portfolio of C+I assets. Currently, Marcus is the CEO Renewables for FAS Infrastructure, the clean energy arm of Saudi FAS Holding, a developer of an IPP of renewable energy projects with a focus on emerging markets.
Yasser Zaidan
Sr. Sales Manager - Middle East, Jinko Solar
Yasser Zaidan
Sr. Sales Manager - Middle East, Jinko Solar
Electrical Engineer with over 9 years of experience in the Solar Field in inverters, storage, and modules. I have been with Jinko Solar for almost 7 years, responsible for the Middle East market, including KSA.
Dr Mengyuan Li
Vice President, Product Management Center, LONGi
Mustafa Ahmed Al-Hakeem
Project Manager
Mustafa Ahmed Al-Hakeem
Project Manager
A visionary leader who has consistently delivered innovative solutions, driving the successful implementation of renewable energy initiatives and shaping a greener future.
Electrical Engineer and EMBA graduate from KFUPM with more than 13 Years of experience in energy field within multinational organizations such as AREVA T&D, ALSTOM, GE, ABB, Hitachi and Neom Green Hydrogen Company.
We are continuously confirming expert speakers, so stay tuned!
Moderators
Dr. Hussain Bassi
Senior Consultant, Saline Water Conversion Corporation
Dr. Hussain Bassi
Senior Consultant, Saline Water Conversion Corporation
Dr. Hussain Bassi, a power and control systems guru at Saline Water Conversion Corporation (WTIIRA), champions renewable energy integration. His multilevel inverter magic helps solar and wind seamlessly join the grid. A data champion, he harnesses analytics to optimize energy flow and tame pesky shade on solar panels. From patented inventions to prestigious publications, Dr. Bassi's expertise electrifies the industry. He tirelessly explores efficient harvesting systems and whispers control secrets to wind turbines. A passionate researcher and dedicated academic, Dr. Bassi empowers a sustainable energy future, one watt at a time.
Emiliano Bellini
News Director, pv magazine
Emiliano Bellini
News Director, pv magazine
Emiliano Bellini is the News Director at pv magazine. He joined the company in March 2017. He has been reporting on solar and renewable energy since 2009. Emiliano is responsible for the daily news coverage on pv-magazine.com with a particular focus on European market. Emiliano also covers new technology, R&D, installations and company financial reporting. In its previous experience as a journalist, Emiliano has written about EdTech and new language technologies.
Eckhart K. Gouras
Managing Director, pv magazine
Eckhart K. Gouras
Managing Director, pv magazine
Eckhart is the managing director and publisher of pv magazine group headquartered in Berlin, Germany. pv magazine was established in 2008 and provides coverage of key market, technology and product developments across the entire solar PV value chain (see www.pv-magazine.com for more details). Prior to his work in renewables Eckhart held senior management positions at Internet-based telecommunications providers in Berlin, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. His own venture, Poptel Telecommunications AG, was the first provider of Internet-based phone services in Europe in 1996.
Dr. Amin Al Yaquob
Managing Partner, Al Yaquob Advisory
Dr. Amin Al Yaquob
Managing Partner, Al Yaquob Advisory
Dr. Amin Al Yaquob is the Managing Partner of Al Yaquob Advisory, a finance and strategy advisory office, and has served as an Advisor at the Ministry of Energy and collaborated with top consultancies on major energy initiatives. He has led the localization of renewable energy and drafted national policies on energy, hydrogen, and storage, in addition to managing a multi-billion dollar investment portfolio with international partners. His education includes an MBA and PhD from Japan along with executive programs at Oxford and MIT.
Krzysztof Ignaciuk
Partner, Head of MENA, Apricum – The Cleantech Advisory
Krzysztof Ignaciuk
Partner, Head of MENA, Apricum – The Cleantech Advisory
Krzysztof Ignaciuk is partner and head of Apricum's MENA business. He brings over 14 years of experience in investment banking and management consulting in the energy, utilities, manufacturing, and public sectors and will be tasked with driving Apricum’s advisory services business in the MENA region, applying an impressive breadth and depth of expertise in strategy, value creation, transformation and M&A.