Dr. Kholoud Mohammed H. N. Abdulla Lecturer of Pharmaceutical Sciences, QU​

Dr. Kholoud is a distinguished expert in pharmacogenomics, clinical pharmacy and precision medicine, recognized as the first Qatari specialist in pharmacogenomics. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Jordan University in 2006 and furthered her education with a Master's in Clinical Pharmacy from Queen’s University Belfast, UK, in 2014. In 2021, she successfully completed her PhD in Genomic and Precision Medicine.

Dr. Kholoud currently serves as Lecturer of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy, Qatar University. Her work spans clinical research, translational science, and digital health innovation, with a focus on optimizing pharmacotherapy for neuropsychiatric disorders, oncology, and type 2 diabetes. Her research integrates pharmacogenomics, pharmacometabolomics, and AI-driven analytics to advance precision medicine approaches in mental health and chronic disease management.

She has secured multiple prestigious grants, including Path Towards Precision Medicine (PPM), Hamad Medical Corporation’s Internal Research Grant Cycle (IRGC), Qatar University’s National Capacity Building Program, and other competitive institutional research funding schemes. Dr. Kholoud leads several high-impact studies on the implementation of genomic- guided prescribing and personalized therapeutic strategies in real-world clinical settings.

Dr. Kholoud is the Chair of Qatar’s first HealthTech Innovation Hackathon, an initiative that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and drives cutting-edge healthcare innovation. Her leadership in health entrepreneurship gained regional recognition after she won first place at the GCC Rowad Hackathon for her groundbreaking pharmacogenomics-based health tech solution. This success earned her the prestigious title of “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2024, celebrating her pioneering role in advancing precision medicine and digital health innovation in the region.

Beyond her research, Dr. Kholoud serves as a reviewer for high-impact peer-reviewed journals and contributes to advancing academic excellence and capacity building in genomic medicine.

Eng. Amna Al Nema Chair of Qatar Society of Engineers

Eng. Amna Mohammed Al-NaamaA Qatari architect with over 16 years of experience in managing major projects and global events. She is distinguished by her strategic planning and executive management skills. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Qatar University, a Master’s degree in Strategic Business Unit Management from HEC Paris, and she is a graduate of Qatar Leadership Centre.

Currently, she serves as an Advisor in the Executive Office of the Prime Minister, where she supports government entities in executing developmental projects and achieving their goals. Previously, she held the position of Executive Director of Strategy and Stakeholder Relations at the Strategic Office of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. In that role, she led the Integrated Delivery Program, which brought together more than 50 national programs in support of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. She also oversaw reporting and data operations in the Main Operations Centre during the tournament. She began her career at ASTAD Project Management, where she managed prominent architectural and infrastructure projects such as the National Museum of Qatar and Education City Stadium.

She is the first Qatari female engineer to serve as the Chairman of Qatar Society of Engineers, and she is also a member of several other professional institutions. With strong communication and event management skills, she has played a role in organizing both national and international conferences and exhibitions, representing Qatar in numerous global forums.

Prof. Hilal A. Lashuel Research Development and Innovation Advisor to the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Executive Director of RDI at the Chairperson’s Office

Prof. Hilal Lashuel is the Research Development and Innovation Advisor to the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Executive Director of RDI at the Chairperson’s Office. He is also a Professand Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ND BioSciences SA.

Professor Lashuel received his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the City University of New York in 1994 and completed his doctoral studies at Texas A&M University and the Scripps Research Institute in 2000. Following his doctorate, he joined the Picower Institute for Medical Research in Long Island, New York, as a research scientist. In 2001, he moved to Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a research fellow in the Center for Neurologic Diseases, later being promoted to an instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. In 2005, Prof. Lashuel transitioned to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL) where he served as the Director of the Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration. His research focuses on applying chemical biology approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of protein misfolding and aggregation and their contribution to neurodegenerative diseases. His research focuses on developing novel disease models and mechanism-based therapies and diagnostics for early intervention and monitoring disease progression.

In addition to his role at EPFL, Prof. Lashuel was a visiting professor at the Department of Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. He served as the Executive Director of Qatar Biomedical Research and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Qatar Biobank and Qatar Genome Project from 2014-2016. He was also Vice Chair of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of Qatar Biobank from 2016-2019. His extensive service includes leadership roles in the Qatar Metabolic Institute Research Group, the Qatar Cancer Research Partnership, and numerous national and international boards and committees, including the Joint Qatar Foundation-Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar Advisory Board, the Path Towards Personalized Medicine (PTPM) Steering Committee of the Qatar National Research Fund, and the Brain Forum Scientific Advisory Board.

Prof. Lashuel's scientific contributions include: 1) 230 publications in peer-reviewed journals; 2) Nine patents on novel strategies for detecting and preventing protein aggregation, treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases; 3) Over 260 invited lectures; and 3) More than 32,000 citations with an h-index of 95. Over the past two decades, his work has been funded by Swiss, European, and US funding agencies, private foundations such as the Michael J. Fox Foundation and CHDI, and partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies including Abbvie, Merck, Nestle, AC Immune, Idorsia, and UCB. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Takreem Foundation's Scientific & Technological Achievement Award, the Kuwait Prize in Fundamental Sciences (Biological Sciences), the H. Martin Friedman Distinguished Lecture at Brooklyn College (CUNY), the EPFL-Section of Life Sciences and Technologies Ambition Award, ERC starting and proof of concept grants, and the Human Frontiers Science Young Investigator Award. In 2012, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was featured by the Swiss business magazine L'Hebdo among the "100 outstanding personalities” in the French-speaking part of Switzerland (Forum des 100).

H.E. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Founder & Chairman MBK Holdings

H.E. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Khalifa Al-Thani is a visionary and a luminary figure in the global entrepreneurial landscape, celebrated for his visionary leadership and transformative impact. With a career spanning over two decades, Sheikh Mansoor is an astute entrepreneur and a driving force behind innovative ventures.

At the heart of his endeavors lies the aspiration to 'innovate innovation'. Sheikh Mansoor envisions and cultivates a dynamic global ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurs, propels innovation, and accelerates ventures into the international arena. His visionary approach has redefined the traditional boundaries of business, ushering in a new era of possibilities.

His expansive portfolio spans a spectrum of sectors, from information security and online training platforms to aviation technologies, renewable energy, and innovative health and wellness solutions. This global footprint extends across the Gulf region, UK, Europe, Singapore, Latin America, Canada, Australia, and the USA.

Mr. Marwan Marouf Mahmoud CEO at MOSECO Technology

A multidisciplinary Investment professional with more than 35 years experience in the Qatari financial, telecom, cyber security, Startups, and government ICT sectors.

Marwan started his career in Financial Services Technology, during the 17 years QNB he transformed the bank to become the most Technologically advanced in the GCC region and helped its international expansions.

He later joined the government first ICT body and Regulator in 2009, as Head of ICT Industry helping with regulation and incentives to diversify Qatar’s economy, establishing a few investment vehicles and introducing competition in the Telecom Sector. Since 2017, Marwan Joined the private sector, via MOSECO Technology serving Telecom, National Security, and regulatory Technology. He is also a founding member of Doha Tech Angels investing in local and International Tech startups.

Dr. Rana Sobh Dean of the College of Business & Economics, QU

Rana Sobh is a Professor of Marketing and Dean of The College of Business and Economics at Qatar University. She received her PhD in marketing from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) in 2006 and joined Qatar University in 2007. Dean Sobh has contributed to several national and international projects and is serving on many local and international organizations’ advisory boards including the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to help promote innovation and excellence in higher education. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Middle East and North Africa Association for Advancing Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), further contributing to the enhancement of business educational standards in the region.

Dean Sobh is a strong advocate for re-designing higher education curricula and pedagogies to better prepare graduates for the challenges of life and citizenship in the 21st century. She firmly believes that business schools have a pivotal role in cultivating agents of change and responsible leaders capable of tackling the pressing challenges faced by local and global communities. Dean Sobh believes in the strength of building bridges between academia and the industry and in joining forces. Her vision is to foster a sustainable future and a better world for all through education.

In pursuit of this vision, Dean Sobh emphasizes the power of global collaboration, recognizing its potential to drive meaningful change and create impactful outcomes. One of her significant achievements is the establishment of the MENA Business Schools Alliance for Advancing Sustainability (MEBAS), an alliance comprising 15 AACSB accredited business schools from the region. Together, they are shaping the future of business education in the MENA region and beyond.

Mr. Saad Altami Founder and president of The Diwan

aad Al-Tami is an entrepreneur, and policy advisor whose work focuses on youth empowerment, regional collaboration, and institutional development across the Middle East. He is the Founder and President of The Diwan, a platform that convenes global experts, policymakers, and academics for high-level dialogue on geopolitics, economic strategy, culture, and security.

He serves on the boards of FAWSEC Educational Company, the International Education Management Agency, and Icelis Global, contributing to strategic planning, organizational growth, and international partnerships. Saad holds a Master’s in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from Harvard University, a Master’s in International Affairs from The George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Toledo.