The City of London Corporation and The Saudi British Joint Business Council UK (SBJBC UK) are delighted to announce the UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Summit, set to take place on 24 June 2024 at Plaisterers’ Hall in London.
SBJBC UK, in partnership with the City of London Corporation, hosted the UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Summit on the 24th of June in London. The event brought together over 280 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders, and financial professionals from the UK and Saudi Arabia, to discuss the development of sustainable infrastructure projects, including financing and the future of green technologies.
The Summit was co-sponsored by SAB (Saudi Awwal Bank) and NEOM, with the support of the Department for Business and Trade, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Ministry of Investment. Held at Plaisterer’s Hall, the event featured fireside chats, panel sessions, spotlights on key infrastructure projects, and discussions on how to get involved.
To view the photos from the day, please follow the link here.
Arab News Article, please click here
The National Article, please click here
Article by the Lord Mayor, please click here
Other topics on the agenda include:
Date
Time
Location:
A full-day, in-person event featuring keynotes, panels, workshops and networking opportunities, focusing on sustainable infrastructure opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the UK, and how firms can play a pivotal role.
08:45 Arrivals at Plaisterers Hall: Registration & Tea/Coffee
09:30 Welcome Remarks by Saudi British Joint Business Council and City of London Corporation
09:35 Fireside Chat: H.E Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia. Moderated by Najlaa Habriri, Foreign Affairs Editor, Asharq Al-Awsat
09:50 Keynote: Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO, NEOM
10:00 Importance of UK-Saudi Collaboration in Key Sectors and Advancing the Green Transition to Net Zero
10:15 Panel 1 – Financing Sustainable Infrastructure: Bridging the investment gap, and the role of public-private partnerships and innovative financing models
Speakers:
11:00 Coffee Break
11:30 Panel 2 – Urbanisation and Sustainable City Development: Giga Projects, Infrastructure for urbanisation and smart urban planning
Speakers:
12:15 Panel 3 – Green Technology and Renewable Energy Initiatives: Scaling green technologies and low carbon construction technologies for the built environment.
Speakers:
12:55 Closing Remarks: Shravan Joshi, MBE. Chairman of Planning and Transportation, City of London Corporation
13:00 Networking Lunch
14:00 Keynote Address
14:10 A Spotlight on UK and Saudi Key Infrastructure Projects and how to get involved:
(Main Stage) Representative and Moderator on stage: Presentation and Q&A format
Saudi Introduction: Fahad AlHashem, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Investment, Saudi Arabia
*Note: These will be interactive sessions, companies will have the chance to engage directly with speakers. MISA will also be taking meetings with delegates on request after the event and the following day.
15:30 Closing Discussion- Next Steps & How to get Involved
16:00 Close: Alderman Alastair King DL, Senior Alderman Below the Chair, City of London Corporation
Michael Mainelli was elected as Lord Mayor of the City of London on 29 September 2023 and took office on 10 November 2023. He previously served Sheriff of the City of London from 2019-2021, being granted an extraordinary second year in that office, the first time since 1228, in order to provide continuity during the Covid19 pandemic.Educated at Harvard University and Trinity College Dublin, Michael gained his PhD at London School of Economics where he was also a Visiting Professor. Originally a research scientist in aerospace (rocket science) and graphics in the USA and Switzerland, he created the first commercial digital maps of the world in Cambridge.He entered the City of London in 1984 ahead of Big Bang, becoming a partner in 1987 with BDO Binder Hamlyn, and in 1995 a Director of Ministry of Defence research. During a mergers & acquisitions spell in merchant banking with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, he co-founded Z/Yen, the City of London’s leading think-tank, promoting societal advance through better finance and technology. Z/Yen is renowned for the Global Financial Centres Index, Global Green Finance Index, Long Finance, and numerous technology and finance projects.
HRH graduated from Oxford University and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy before commissioning from Sandhurst Military Academy.He subsequently worked at the United Nations Department of Political Affairs in New York and served as Advisor to the Saudi Ambassador in Washington D.C. USA.In 2006, he established Dayim Holdings, as a partnership and investment platform for international companies looking to work in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.From 2017 to 2019 he served as Saudi Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany before becoming Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 2019.
His Excellency Khalid A. Al-Falih has been Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 25 February 2020. He previously served as Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources from May 2016 to September 2019, as Minister of Health from April 2015 to May 2016, and as Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Board of Directors from April 2015 to September 2019. Prior to his appointment as Chairman, HE Al-Falih also held key leadership positions across the company, including President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2009 to May 2015. HE Al-Falih has been consistently recognized for his leadership in spearheading the strategic transformation of leading sectors and organizations across Saudi Arabia. His achievements include driving large-scale business initiatives and industrial projects, building organizational capacity for the benefit of Saudi citizens through economic and social programs, and enhancing the performance and impact of complex organizations. For many years, he has taken a particular interest in leveraging business activities to fuel social development and economic diversification; fostering strong collaboration between Saudi Arabia’s public, private and academic/research sectors; and promoting the importance of the fields of science and digital technology among young people. HE Al-Falih remains committed to enriching society through the nurturing of entrepreneurship and innovation; the creation of a knowledge-based society equipped to meet the challenges of the future; the creation of new business and human resource development opportunities; and the protection of the environment. His appointment as Minister of Investment is in line with HE Al-Falih’s exceptional achievements in advancing private sector growth in the Kingdom, which is a central driver of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ongoing economic diversification plan.
Dr. Manar Al Moneef brings a record of transformational leadership to her role as Chief Investment Officer for NEOM, where she is responsible for developing and implementing its investment strategy. As part of her role, Al Moneef works on creating and executing growth initiatives, including identifying and developing new business opportunities as well as building partnerships. Al Moneef is a proactive and performance-driven professional with 20 years of operational expertise. Over the course of her career, she has built a track record of delivering growth as well as operational and financial improvements in complex situations and organizations.Prior to joining NEOM, Al Moneef held various commercial and operational leadership roles globally and regionally. At GE, she served in various roles over the course of 10 years, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer at GE Renewable Energy in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region. There she led the company’s onshore wind business and renewables portfolio and was responsible for driving growth and operations as well as bringing together technology, services and digital solutions across the entire spectrum of renewable energy development. Before her time at GE, Al Moneef was the Director General for Health Care and Life Science at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). In her last role there, she was leading knowledge-based investments in Saudi Arabia and positioning the Kingdom globally as a premier investment destination. Al Moneef, who has an executive Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, also holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology and Genetics from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr has enjoyed a long and rewarding career leading several of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s most reputable companies and projects. Since July 2018, Al-Nasr has been at the helm of NEOM – one of the most important projects in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. As the Chief Executive Officer of NEOM, he is responsible for leading and delivering the company’s bold and ambitious program of work. Under Al-Nasr’s stewardship. NEOM is set to become an economic engine for the nation and a global hub for innovation and enterprise to shape the new future. With an Engineering degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, he began his career at Saudi Aramco in 1978. Over many years, he held positions of increasing responsibility within the company and was lead manager on many of Aramco’s signature engineering projects. Some of the most notable projects Al-Nasr oversaw at Aramco were the crude expansion project in the Ghawar oil field and the Shaybah Development Program. He also served as Manager of Facilities and Planning, Manager of Long-Range Planning and Managing Director of Saudi Petroleum Overseas Ltd. (SPOL). In 2006, Al-Nasr became Vice President of the KAUST Development Program and just two years later he was appointed as KAUST’s Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance. Al-Nasr also holds significant board positions. In 2009, he was appointed by Royal Decree to serve on the Advisory Board of the Supreme Economic Council. In 2017, he was appointed Interim President of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC).
Neil Crompton was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in February 2020. Prior to this appointment, he was the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Directorate.He joined the FCO in 1995 as a Senior Research Officer in the Middle East and North Africa Group.2019: Full-time Language Training (Arabic)2015 – 2019: Director, Middle East and North Africa Directorate2014 – 2015: Deputy Political Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate,and South Asia and Afghanistan Directorate2012 – 2014: Director, South Asia and Afghanistan Directorate2007 – 2011: Washington, Counsellor, Foreign and Security Policy Department,Joint Intelligence Committee Representative2005 – 2007: Iran Coordinator, Iran Department2003 – 2005: Head of Iraq Policy Unit1999 – 2003: Tehran, Deputy Head of Mission1998 – 1999: Full-time Language Training (Farsi)1997 – 1998: Head of Iran Section1995 – 1997: Senior Research Officer, Middle East and North Africa Group1990 – 1995: HM Forces – Army
Jennie is a Consultant and former Senior Partner at Trowers & Hamlins specialising in corporate finance and commercial law.Jennie has over 30 years' experience in private equity, stock and bond issues, loans, the acquisition acquisition/transfer of companies and undertakings, as well as large commercial and administrative matters and board level advisory work for businesses of many types including start-ups. Jennie has led many major deals, and works with both the public and private sectors.Jennie has been acknowledged in legal directories as an expert in her field for Corporate/M&A and Private buyouts: Equity. She is Chair of the UK side of the Saudi British Joint Business Council, regularly speaks at industry events and has held several NED roles.
Prof Mark Gillan is Associate Vice President of Technologies and Special Projects, in the National Transformation Institute (NTI), at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Mark leads a diverse portfolio of large projects, from the world’s largest coral reef restoration initiative at Shushah Island, in collaboration with NEOM, to Cryogenic Carbon Capture, to KAUST SMART, which has a sustainability and integrated multimodal transport focus. The portfolio includes a number of embryonic opportunities, all aimed at accelerating impact. Mark studied Aeronautical Engineering at Queens’ University of Belfast, obtaining a First Class Honours Degree in 1990, followed by a Doctorate in Aeronautical Engineering at Queens, in 1993. Throughout his studies he was sponsored by Short Brothers (Bombardier). Mark is both a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Chartered Engineer. Mark has written 37 peer reviewed Journal and Conference papers and led a mixture of UK and EU funded programmes, securing over GBP100M in competitive grant funding. He has held various engineering leadership roles within industry, elite sports, academia and the public sector. In over a decade in F1 he was Chief Race Engineer for both Jaguar/Red Bull and Williams race teams. In academia he held the inaugural Sir George Edwards Chair in Aerospace Engineering, at the University of Surrey. As CTO of the UK’s Innovation Agency, Innovate UK, Mark ran both the Strategy and Impact and the Centres and Networks Governance Directorates, that included oversight of the UK’s extensive Catapult Network and governance oversight of an annual operating budget of GBP350M and 5,000 staff. Mark was also Chief Executive of Wave Power Ltd, Director at the US Company MTS Systems, leading their Advanced Technology and Motorsports Group, Chief Operations Officer for Artemis Technologies (ex-America’s Cup Sailing Team) and Belfast Digital Innovation Commissioner. Immediately prior to joining KAUST, Mark was Head of R&D at the UK’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS), leading on a variety of airspace projects, including the UK’s largest funded AI project, called BlueBird, working in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute, aimed at delivering the world’s first AI system to work with air traffic controllers and to control a section of airspace, in live trials. Mark is also a Visiting Professor of both Surrey and Ulster Universities.
Philip has had a distinguished career in British politics as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2019. He held a range of Senior cabinet posts, most recently serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019. Prior to this, he served as Foreign Secretary (2014-2016), Defence Secretary (2011- 2014) and Transport Secretary (2010-2011). He was awarded a life peerage by HM The Queen in July 2020. Before entering Parliament in 1997, Philip had a wide-ranging business career spanning the house-building and property, healthcare equipment and oil and gas sectors. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip focussed on the long-term productivity challenges facing the UK economy and was a strong advocate for the Financial Services sector, and especially for the fast-growing Fintech sector. He championed the cause of SMEs and the need for greater access to long-term growth capital to allow successful British start-ups to scale up in the UK, rather than seeking capital overseas.
With more than 25 years of experience across real estate development, investment and construction industries, Denis Hickey has a strong track record creating and delivering complex projects – from concept to completion. As CDO for THE LINE, he will ensure total delivery of NEOM’s flagship project.
Claire is the strategic lead for BloombergNEF’s Industry, Technology & Innovation research, overseeing BNEF’s coverage of industrial decarbonization and early-stage climate-technology. As part of this role Claire manages teams covering the decarbonization of steel, cement and petrochemicals, the circular economy and biomaterials, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Claire has a particular interest in startup innovation and how to scale first-of-a-kind projects. She is co-chair of the BNEF Pioneers program, Bloomberg’s annual climate-tech innovation competition..
Sami Al Khani is the General Manager of Global Corporate and Institutional Banking at Saudi Awwal Bank “SAB”. With over a decade of banking experience, he has held key roles in both domestic and international institutions. Prior to re-joining SAB in 2022, Sami served as the Managing Director of Global Corporates & Sovereign Wealth Funds at an International Bank in Saudi Arabia, overseeing relationships with major global corporates, sovereign wealth funds & GRE’s. Started his career in equity research and thereafter joined SAB in 2009, progressing through various roles within the Global Banking function. His tenure at SAB has been marked by strategic vision and effective management and contributing to the bank’s growth and success. In his leadership roles, Sami emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a client-centric approach, focusing on delivering exceptional value to clients.
David King joined Bechtel’s UK & Ireland business in November 2023 where he is responsible for strategic relationships and oversees infrastructure projects across the UK’s rail, aviation, defence, and nuclear sectors. David joined Bechtel in 2012 as Risk Manager on the Wa’ad Al-Shamal project in Saudi Arabia, developing a $10Bn city and phosphates industrial complex in the Kingdom’s Northern Province. He moved to Riyadh in 2015 to lead Bechtel’s successful bid to manage the Kingdom’s National Project Management Organisation. In 2017, he returned to the UK as part of Bechtel’s project to transform the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, becoming Project Manager in 2018. He remobilised to Saudi Arabia in 2019, driving a business development effort that secured new scopes of work at the Neom Spine, Trojena, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, and the New Murabba in Riyadh. In 2021 David was appointed KSA Country Manager, leading Bechtel’s participation in the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ strategic transformation program. During his 3-year tenure, Bechtel’s turnover in Saudi Arabia grew by 400%. In 2023 he was elected Vice-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce. Before Bechtel, David spent 25 years as a Royal Marines officer. He commanded 40 Commando Royal Marines, was appointed OBE following operations in Iraq, and left the Service as a Brigadier. He holds a master’s degree from Kings College London and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. David lives in West Sussex.
Jane leads LSEG’s sustainability ambition and strategy globally, spearheading the integration of sustainability into the Group’s value chain encompassing operations, market engagement and product and solutions alignment. Jane has over 25 years’ experience in sustainability within asset management, investment consulting and wealth management. Jane has been in the vanguard of the sustainable and responsible investment market throughout her career, responsible for creating sustainable finance capabilities across different market segments. Jane has a MSc, Environmental Technology and a BSc Environmental Sciences and was named in the Fifty Most Influential in Sustainable Finance in 2023.
David is passionate about harnessing the power of insurance to allow investment to flow, to allow individuals, companies and organisations to grow, and to be used as a force for good. He has spent the last 30 years building a global company on that passion. Today, Howden delivers solutions and service to millions of clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the US, through retail, wholesale, and reinsurance broking, risk and capital markets advisory, and underwriting. Howden’s open secret is its people, who now number 17,500, and who own 30% of the company. This core employee ownership drives the personal service, collaboration and innovation that are what make Howden a fresh and dynamic partner to its clients and underpins both the culture and the sustainable growth of the company; Howden has a compound annual growth rate of 30% over 30 years and is one of the largest privately owned businesses in the UK. David is the driving force behind Howden's major investment in solutions to help companies and nations respond to the challenges of climate change as Howden works to play its part in securing everyone's futures.
Daniel South is the Sales Senior Director, Project Management Office at ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading national real estate developer and PIF-owned giga-project.Daniel’s responsibilities include the planning and execution of multiple community launches across the Kingdom, in addition to monitoring and reporting on current live projects. Through his work Daniel interacts closely with the wide number of stakeholders involved in the successful planning, development and selling of these new communities. He is dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation for ideas relating to the living communities and the sustainable improvements that can be achieved. The notion of living communities, which promotes sustainability and a high quality of life through integrated community design, is considered a new concept for the Kingdom and its public.Daniel’s close proximity to the distribution teams in ROSHN gives him a unique opportunity to hear the voice of the customer as ROSHN builds these new communities which are based on notions of quality of life and sustainability.For 15 years prior to joining ROSHN, Daniel worked in the wealth and investment management sector, with the last 10 of those specifically focused on investments and opportunities that achieve both financial return and social impact. Daniel is a Chartered Member of the CISI and holds a BSc from Brunel University, London. He resides in Saudi’s capital, Riyadh, with his family, and enjoys football, golf, cycling and exploring all aspects of Riyadh life in his spare time.
James Hooton is Managing Director of the Green Finance Institute Europe, leading on European strategy and building relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders. Under James’ leadership, the GFI has expanded its presence to Spain and Denmark with an initial focus on channelling more capital into decarbonising the built environment. James is a founding member of the Sustainable Energy Finance Association, an advisory member of the Science Based Targets initiative Expert Advisory Group on Buildings, and a member of the Core Project Team for the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials.
Myrtle Dawes is Chief Executive Officer of the Net Zero Technology Centre where she leads the development of technology for a net zero energy industry.She is a non-executive board member of FirstGroup, a non-executive director on the Aquila European Renewables plc board, an advisory board member for the Association of Black and Minority Engineers and sits on the Technology Leadership Board.A Chartered Chemical Engineer, Myrtle is an established leader with extensive experience in the energy sector both in the UK and overseas. Respected as a prominent voice on the energy transition, she began her career 30 years ago as an offshore engineer for BP, before delivering on leadership roles in engineering, project management, technology and digital transformation. Myrtle’s passion for innovation and technology galvanises her colleagues, government and industry to take action and push boundaries.Myrtle holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology from Imperial College. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of the Energy Institute, Fellow of the Forward Institute and Honorary Fellow of the Association of Project Managers.In 2017, Myrtle received recognition for her contribution to business, having featured in Breaking the Glass Ceiling and being selected as one of 100 Women to Watch in the Cranfield FTSE Board Report 2017. In 2021 she was recognised by TE:100 as one of the Women of the Energy Transition.Myrtle has two children and in her spare time studies mathematics, is a keen cat lover, and gamer.
Jamie Burrows is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Future (VF), the world’s leading controlled-environment-technology (CEA) technology company (independently voted). Founded in 2016, VF designs, manufactures and deploys autonomous, data driven vertical farms across multiple geographies, with use cases ranging from food and water security, through to reforestation, pharmaceuticals, and most recently, space exploration, with VF’s system’s planned to be on the AXIOM space station by 2026. VF is also a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and active in policy discussions in various arenas, including most recently at the European Commission. Jamie is educated up to PhD level in Health Economics and prior to founding VF, he worked in economic regeneration, and health and life sciences at EY, Deloitte, with the National Health Service (NHS) and at the U.K. Department of Health. Jamie resides in London with his wife and three children.
Mohammed Al Nemer is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Morood Investment Company Morood Investment Company, has become the portfolio management and wealth advisory partner of choice for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in the Kingdom, as well as a trusted corporate advisor for SMEs. Al Nemer is a trusted long-term investor in the real estate, food and beverage, entertainment and financial services sectors and also serves on other boards, government related committees and local & international organizations, including: Chairman of the Saudi Surfing Federation, Ana Odeer Investment Company, Malahi Leisure, Dar Al Tanmiyat Ltd, Furniture Land Ltd and Food Seasons Trading Company. Board Member of the National Committee for Entertainment, Makkah Province Youth Counsel & President of Entertainment Committee, Riyadh Chambers (Culture & Entertainment Committee), Saudi British Business Counsel for Saudi Chamber, Wabel Al Arabia Investment Company, Cubitt & Bond, UK and Seek Pharmaceuticals, UK.
James Munce is the Chief Executive Officer of HYCAP. James started his career with PwC auditing private equity and hedge funds whilst qualifying as a chartered accountant before moving to Merrill Lynch (BAML) in 2007. James spent 11 years at BAML building out the award-winning Merrill Lynch Investment Solutions (MLIS) UCITS platform that partnered with top tier investment managers to provide European distribution and infrastructure. MLIS had peak assets of $6.5 BN and James served as both COO and CEO. Most recently James has been the CEO of Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners, an Abu Dhabi based asset manager with $1 BN in AUM investing across the asset class and industry spectrum.
Rafat Malik is an experienced corporate officer and board member with over 27 years of experience, having worked in internationally in government, military and high technology commercial environments.Rafat has also spent a number of years in the academic sector leading renewable energy institutions. More latterly Rafat has served as a vice president in Saud Telecom and appointed to a number of boards as well as chairing a number of committees within the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) portfolio of business. He is also one of the founding board members of the PIF’s Centre for Governance and previously served as its inaugural CEO.Rafat has been international recognised and awarded as corporate leader focusing on international trade particularly in the tech’ sector. Rafat has had the privilege of being nominated as one of the top 100 most influential British Muslims in the UK Parliamentary Power 100 Rankings. Currently, Rafat holds a number of international board positions and is the CEO and Chair of board of Directors for M&R Partners GmbH, a global cross boarder pension fund regulated in Luxembourg.
Dr Emad Abdulaziz El-Dukair is the founder and CEO of The Care Group, a leading player in the public-private partnerships sector.Dr El-Dukair has helped design, build, and finance infrastructure projects, with a focus on hospital and service provision, in numerous countries around the world, from the Turks and Caicos to Poland. Dr El-Dukair has broad experience across a number of sectors with interests ranging from major education projects to sport and real estate.As well as co-chairing the Saudi-British Joint Business Council, Dr Emad is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK), on the Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council
Chris is UK Executive Director and CEO of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC UK) , a non-profit business association with over 200 Saudi and British members which promotes business and partnership opportunities between the two Kingdoms through advocacy, events and knowledge exchange.Chris is a former senior diplomat whose previous posts include Riyadh, Kuwait, Ankara, Cairo and Jerusalem. He is a Director of UK-Gulf Connect Ltd, and has been active over the past 12 years in supporting UK/Saudi economic, commercial and capacity building partnerships in key Vision 2030 linked sectors. He has also led the development of SBJBC UK from 20 founding corporate members in 2014 to over 130 today.
Reece spearheads the City of London Corporation's initiatives to foster two-way trade and investment in financial and professional services between the UK and high growth markets, with a focus on the Gulf region. Reece specialises in green and transition finance, and infrastructure investment. He is currently leading the City Corporation’s flagship UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Summit, set to take place on June 24 th , 2024, in the City of London, aiming to showcase and enhance sustainable infrastructure ventures between the UK and Saudi Arabia. Reece holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Birmingham.
Subject to election, Alderman Alastair King DL will become the 696th Lord Mayor of London in November 2024. The principal role of Lord Mayor is as a Global Ambassador for UK’s Financial and Professional Services, alongside championing charitable interests for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and the wider community. Following his early career as a City of London lawyer, Alastair has had an entrepreneurial career in financial services. After a period working in early-stage Venture Capital, he started a successful Buy-Out vehicle with a colleague and then founded his own asset management house, specialising in global fixed income. Alastair serves on the board of five City of London-based financial services companies, four of which he chairs (he is the founder of two of them). He is also Chair of the Advisory Board of Urbium Capital. In his civic career Alastair was elected to the Court of Common Council for the Ward of Queenhithe in 1999. He was appointed Deputy in 2006 and then elected as Alderman in 2016. During his continuing 24 years of service with the City of London Corporation (CoLC), he was elected as Sheriff of London (2022-23). Alastair also has substantial involvement in the Livery movement, as well as serving as Chair of the British Liver Trust – the national liver charity - and supporting other charitable interests. He was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 2022 and is an Hon. Visiting Professor at Bayes Business School – part of the University of London. Of proud Scottish heritage, Alastair was educated at Oundle and at the Universities of Bristol and Kent, the College of Law in London and the London Business School. His interests include boxing and hill walking in Scotland with Florence his wife and their Italian Greyhound.
Najlaa Habriri is a Journalist and Foreign Affairs Editor with Asharq Al-Awsat. From covering the war in Ukraine, the migration crisis in the Mediterranean, to successive International Economic Forums in Davos, and Annual G20 meetings, Najlaa brings extensive experience in global geopolitics and international economy to her role. Since obtaining her MSc in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics, Najlaa worked as a journalist in both the Business and Politics Departments at Asharq Al-Awsat, and launched the publication’s first morning brief newsletter. In her role as editor of international affairs, Najlaa has interviewed world leading decision-makers, including White House Advisors and Envoys, Foreign and Economy Ministers and UN Representatives. She also regularly takes part in live on-air analysis of current affairs, including on news channels like BBC Arabic, Al-Arabiya and France 24.
Richard Riggs is Investment Director at Aramco Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of Aramco. Aramco Ventures’ strategic venturing programs invest globally in start-up and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent company, Aramco, primarily supporting its operational decarbonization, new lower-carbon fuels businesses, and digital transformation initiatives. Richard has and continues to invest in a broad variety of sustainability technology companies throughout Europe. Richard previously worked at BASF Venture Capital, the corporate venturing subsidiary of the global chemicals group BASF, and before that led various research programs as a scientist within BASF.
Simi Shah is Director of Innovation and Growth at the City of London Corporation, which works to strengthen and promote the global offer of the UK’s financial and professional services sector. Simi previously led the development of the Climate Action Strategy which is driving the Corporation’s own net zero goal by 2027 and net zero in the Square Mile by 2040. Simi joined the Corporation in 2019 with 20 years experience of deploying institutional and private capital with a sustainability lens in the UK, US and Africa.
Shravan is presently the Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee and a Member of the Policy and Resources Committee. He has served since 2018 as an elected member at the City Corporation and has held various positions including, Deputy Chairman of the Licensing Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee & Deputy Chairman of the Property Investment Board. Shravan started his career in investment banking but moved to the energy sector in 1999. He specialised in trade structuring and supply chain contracts into Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Far East and North America. He has worked with several new energy technology companies, and currently advises firms on policy, governance and commercialisation of new innovations and solutions.
Leading transformational projects and developments in Energy and Transport sectors covering Smart Grids, Wind, Solar, Hybrids, Battery Storage, Carbon Capture, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and e Fuels Through my experience, I was able to secure and deliver complex projects and orders, as well establish strong relations and connections with utilities, developers and clients in Middle East and Europe. Currently I am in charge of the local setup and development of the largest and most advanced Waste to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) project in the world (Lighthouse Green Fuels) I consider myself fortunate to be involved during transition periods of the energy sector, I was involved in Electricity Transmission and Distribution when it transformed from conventional to SMART Grids and Digitalization, also I was involved in introducing Renewable Energy to Middle East through the first renewable IPP (Tafila 117MW wind farm in Jordan) , and currently I am leading initiatives related to decarbonisation of the transport sector with our Waste to SAF project in UK. Throughout my experience, I was involved and leading setting up branches and operations in new locations and countries and have full P&L responsibilities in addition to establishing the organization, staffing and recruitment, office setup, procedures, and legal entities, in both my roles with Vestas and now with alfanar, I was the first to arrive to the country and within a specific timeline build up full organization and operations. Working before with ALSTOM Power (currently GE), AREVA T&D (currently GE), ALSTOM GRID (currently GE), VESTAS Wind and currently with alfanar enriched my technical knowledge in Power Generation (both Renewables and Conventional), Electricity Transmission and Distribution, Waste to Value and e-fuels.
Chris joined Federated Hermes in 2010, having successfully established Australian fund manager QIC’s European office in London. Prior to that he was head of European Property at HSBC. Chris spent the majority of his career as a fund manager at Prudential, where he led the diversification of its UK real estate exposure into overseas markets in 2001.Under his leadership the Real Estate business has led a number of landmark real estate transactions, including the largest regeneration project in Europe at King’s Cross, the development of the iconic Silverstone circuit, the major regeneration at Paradise Circus Birmingham and the rejuvenation of central Milton Keynes.Chris is currently the Chairman of MEPC, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a member of the Bank of England Commercial Property Committee and a Founding Board Member of INREV. As past President of the British Property Federation, Chris has engaged actively with Central and Local Government to recognise the pivotal contribution that real estate and infrastructure can make as conduits for growth and regeneration.As CEO of Real Estate, managing over £7 billion of real estate, Chris is also the BTPS Director on the Argent Board and has taken a lead role in promoting responsible investment with major regeneration schemes such as King’s Cross London, Paradise Circus Birmingham, NOMA Manchester, Wellington Place Leeds and most recently St Mary Le Port, Bristol.
Chris joined Federated Hermes in 2010, having successfully established Australian fund manager QIC’s European office in London. Prior to that he was head of European Property at HSBC. Chris spent the majority of his career as a fund manager at Prudential, where he led the diversification of its UK real estate exposure into overseas markets in 2001.Under his leadership the Real Estate business has led a number of landmark real estate transactions, including the largest regeneration project in Europe at King’s Cross, the development of the iconic Silverstone circuit, the major regeneration at Paradise Circus Birmingham and the rejuvenation of central Milton Keynes.Chris is currently the Chairman of MEPC, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a member of the Bank of England Commercial Property Committee and a Founding Board Member of INREV. As past President of the British Property Federation, Chris has engaged actively with Central and Local Government to recognise the pivotal contribution that real estate and infrastructure can make as conduits for growth and regeneration.As CEO of Real Estate, managing over £7 billion of real estate, Chris is also the BTPS Director on the Argent Board and has taken a lead role in promoting responsible investment with major regeneration schemes such as King’s Cross London, Paradise Circus Birmingham, NOMA Manchester, Wellington Place Leeds and most recently St Mary Le Port, Bristol.
Based in Guildhall, the City Corporation looks after and promotes the City of London. It is headed by the Lord Mayor with the Court of Common Council being its main decision-making body. We are a uniquely diverse organisation, with a role that goes beyond that of an ordinary local authority. We have our own government (the oldest in the country with origins pre-dating Parliament), our own Lord Mayor and independent police force.
As the governing body of the Square Mile, we are dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.
NEOM is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built as a living laboratory – an accelerator of human progress. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for livability, doing business and environmental conservation. As a future global hub, NEOM will include cognitive cities, ports, research centers and tourist destinations.
SAB – الأول is one of the largest banks in the Kingdom and traces its origins in Saudi Arabia to more than 90 years, during which time it has been an active partner supporting the Kingdom’s economic growth and social development. SAB – الأول is one of the leading corporate and institutional international banks in the Kingdom with a top Wealth & Personal Banking proposition. SAB – الأول is also a leader in Saudi Arabia and the region in trade finance, foreign exchange, equity and debt wholesale banking, digital service innovation, and ESG, paving the way for transformation and excellence.
SAB – الأول offers integrated financial and banking services, including corporate banking, investment, private banking, and treasury.
SAB – الأول ‘s paid-up capital is SAR 20.5 billion, after the legal merger with Alawwal Bank on 14th March 2021, when it was legally known as the Saudi British Bank (SABB). SAB – الأول is a licensed financial institution operating under the supervision of and regulated by the Saudi Central Bank, and a partner of the HSBC Group.
The ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 is unlocking new opportunities in the Kingdom at an unprecedented pace. The Ministry of Investment for Saudi Arabia (MISA) is facilitating access to these opportunities by developing a reliable, robust, business-friendly ecosystem, working across government to ensure investors and businesses are supported through their investment journey.
MISA’s mission is to promote Saudi Arabia as a world-class investment destination, attract and retain investors, and expand their investments; for the benefit of a sustainable national economic growth.
The Federation of Saudi Chambers is the umbrella and only representative of the Saudi business community. They represent those doing business in Saudi Arabia both domestically and through partner organisations such as the Saudi British Joint Business Council.
DBT is the department for economic growth. They support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
DBT is a ministerial department, supported by 19 agencies and public bodies.
🇬🇧 78 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ES
🇸🇦 c/o Federation of Saudi Chambers King Fahad Branch Rd, Al Mutamarat, Riyadh 12711
+44 (0) 203 7098060
info@sbjbc.org
