Meet Our Speakers
Uncover breakthrough insights from IDC experts and exclusive sessions featuring influential voices transforming technology and leadership today
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Nagia El-Emary
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:10 am
IDC Opening Keynote: Preparing for the AI Economy: IT Market Outlook, Key Trends and Insights for the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) Region
One Day Event 9:00 am
IDC Welcome Address
Eng. Taha M. Khalifa
Eng. Taha M. Khalifa leads Intel’s Middle East and Africa operations, driving the region’s digital transformation through strategic technology innovation. With over two decades at Intel, he partners with governments, industry pioneers, and technology leaders to architect the future of AI-enabled computing across MEA. His vision centers on democratizing advanced technologies — from edge to cloud — that unlock economic growth and societal progress. Throughout his career spanning the U.S., EMEA, and MENA, Taha has championed breakthrough solutions in engineering, go-to-market strategy, and ecosystem development, positioning the region as an emerging hub for scalable, responsible AI innovation.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:40 am
Sovereign AI as a Strategic Priority
The conversation around AI has changed – and agentic systems are at the center of it. From the boardroom to the data center floor, tech leaders across the region recognize that AI is now business-critical infrastructure.
In an era of increased complexity, the focus is on building a secure and sovereign AI supply chain – where trust is built in from the silicon level. Always-on, verified AI powered by infrastructure that delivers business continuity, flexing to any operational environment without compromising on security.
This keynote explores how agentic AI infrastructure is being engineered for operational resilience and security, helping enterprises navigate a shifting landscape with confidence.
Rony Mezeraani
Rony Mezeraani is the General Manager for Levant, Egypt, North Africa (LENA) at Lenovo, overseeing the company’s strategy and operations across a diverse portfolio of high-growth markets. Rony is responsible for driving Lenovo’s business performance across consumer, commercial, enterprise, infrastructure, and services portfolios.
In this role, Rony leads country and regional management teams, including Egypt, North Africa, the Levant, with a focus on accelerating growth, strengthening partner ecosystems, and expanding Lenovo’s footprint across public and private sector segments. He plays a key role in shaping regional go-to-market strategies and ensuring alignment with Lenovo’s global transformation into a solutions and services-led technology company.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 10:00 am
Hybrid AI the Ultimate Path to AI Democratization
Lenovo’s latest Hybrid AI strategy positions the company as a leader in combining Personal AI, Enterprise AI, and Public AI into one connected ecosystem. Rather than relying only on cloud-based AI, Lenovo promotes a model where intelligence is distributed across devices, private enterprise environments, and public AI platforms to maximize speed, privacy, cost-efficiency, and productivity.
Amir Hanna
Event Sessions
One Day Event 10:30 am
Revolutionizing Customer Experience: Integrating Digital Business Strategies in SaaS Solutions
How SaaS solutions are transforming customer experience through integrated digital business strategies. It highlights aligning technology, data, and processes to deliver seamless, personalized interactions. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging automation, analytics, and scalable platforms to enhance engagement, improve retention, and drive sustainable business growth in a competitive digital landscape.
Hazem Taha
Event Sessions
One Day Event 10:45 am
The Intelligent Edge: Powering and Protecting the Rise of Agentic Systems
The rise of Agentic Systems demands a new architectural substrate. Cloudflare explores how CIOs can move beyond “digitization” to provide the secure, low-latency, and compliant infrastructure necessary for autonomous agents to execute at scale—safely and lightning-fast.
Hatem Ali
Hatem Ali is the head of Gulf and North Africa for Google Cloud Security GTM. Prior to this role, Hatem held many cyber security roles with companies like Mandiant, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, RSA, IBM, and Fortinet. Hatem has devoted the last 25 years working with organizations across multiple industries on the best practices of cyber risk resilience, traversing domains such as security organization and architecture, security operations, threat intelligence, cyber security consulting, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).
Hatem has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the American University in Cairo, and a cyber security public policy diploma from Harvard’s Kennedy School, and is a certified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, and an active CISSP member
Event Sessions
One Day Event 10:15 am
Securing the AI Era
The age of AI is rapidly transforming businesses but also accelerating the threat landscape, as bad actors utilize AI to scale attacks and bypass traditional defenses at machine speed. To combat this, a new security era is required, and Google is positioned to deliver it with a full AI stack built on the most secure cloud, offering Gemini-native agentic defense that automates response and can reduce the risk and cost of a breach by 70%. This defense is powered by Google’s unmatched visibility from the world’s largest threat observatory and the frontline expertise and real-world tradecraft of Mandiant.
Dr. Bisohy Sawiris
Dr. Bishoy Sawiris is a results-oriented Chief Data Officer with over 16 years of experience spearheading transformative data initiatives across technology, artificial intelligence, and business strategy. With both a PhD and a DBA in Big Data and AI, he skillfully integrates strategic leadership with technical expertise, fostering innovation and delivering measurable business outcomes.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sawiris has effectively guided organizations in harnessing advanced data and AI technologies to optimize operations, refine business models, and promote sustainable growth. His approach emphasizes the alignment of data and AI strategies with overarching business objectives, facilitating change and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement.
As a dedicated leader, Dr. Sawiris is passionate about nurturing high-performance teams that recognize data as a strategic asset for addressing complex challenges. He prioritizes the development of scalable solutions that not only satisfy current needs but also strategically position organizations for long-term success and competitive advantage.
His contributions to the field have garnered numerous accolades, including the 2024 & 2025 CX Asia Data & AI Golden Awards, 2025 British Data Award, 2025 Global CDO 100 Winner, 2025 IDC Excellence Award, 2025 DataIQ Award, 2026 CX TOP 50 AI Leader and recognition as a Data Evangelist.
In addition to his executive role, Dr. Sawiris is dedicated to education, teaching at the university level and mentoring the next generation of data professionals. At Multiple University in Egypt, he demonstrates the transformative potential of AI across various industries, inspiring students to explore innovative solutions and applications in data science.
Through his unique blend of experience, leadership, and commitment to education, Dr. Sawiris remains a pivotal figure in the data landscape, driving innovation and success in organizations worldwide. His work not only advances business objectives but also contributes significantly to the cultivation of future leaders in the fields of data and AI.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 2:37 pm
For the CIO-By the CIO Session: Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins
One Day Event 11:45 am
Turning Data into Decisions: GB Corp’s Journey to AI-Driven Enterprise Value
This session unveils GB Corp’s transformation journey in building a modern, scalable data ecosystem that turns data into a strategic business asset. It will showcase how we architected and seamlessly integrated core layers—data infrastructure, data operations, and data consumption—to establish a unified, governed, and business-ready data foundation.
The session will further highlight how a lakehouse architecture enables us to operationalize data at scale, delivering faster processing, enhanced accessibility, and near real-time insights across the enterprise. Most importantly, it will demonstrate how AI and machine learning are embedded into this ecosystem to unlock tangible business value, accelerate decision-making, and drive sustainable digital transformation at scale.
Mohammed Helaly
Mohammed Helaly is Vice President and Head of META at AvePoint, responsible for strategy and growth across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. With over 15 years of experience in enterprise technology, Mohammed works closely with regional governments and large organizations to address critical challenges around cloud adoption, data resilience, compliance, and governance.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 11:55 am
Building Secure and Resilience Data Protection for an AI-Ready Future
This executive‑level session explores how organizations can maximize the business value of Microsoft 365 while strengthening security, resilience, and AI readiness. We will share practical insights on secure M365 migrations, data protection and compliance, and modern governance strategies. Learn how the AvePoint Confidence Platform helps leaders reduce risk, protect critical data, and confidently enable AI and Copilot—while maintaining control, visibility, and trust across the digital workplace
Mohamed Elgeziry
Mohamed Elgeziry is a Data & AI Expert with over a decade of experience helping organizations transform data into a strategic asset. Mohamed works with enterprises across the MEATI region, particularly in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to design and deliver scalable analytics and AI-driven solutions.
Throughout his career, Mohamed has partnered with business and technology leaders to bridge the gap between data, analytics, and emerging AI capabilities. He has led numerous Conversations, strategic engagements, and technical initiatives focused on enabling organizations to operationalize AI, enhance decision-making, and unlock new business value.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 12:10 pm
From AI Potential to Decision Trust
AI holds enormous promise to transform organizations, from real-time efficiency optimization to truly predictive insights. Yet beneath the momentum, enterprise confidence is fragile, with a significant majority demanding far greater transparency into how their data is used.
In this session, we’ll explore how explainability, auditability, and governance must evolve alongside the algorithms themselves to unlock that trust. Ultimately, true AI maturity starts not with more models, but with robust frameworks that make AI reliable, safe, and accountable at scale. This is how we move from simply seeing AI’s potential to truly trusting its decisions.
Ahmed ElHamouly
Ahmed ElHamouly is the Head of the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) at Boomi, where he leads the company’s regional growth strategy and works closely with enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.
Ahmed played a key role in establishing Boomi’s presence across the META region and expanding its footprint across multiple industries including telecommunications, logistics, retail, government, manufacturing, and financial services.
With more than two decades of experience in enterprise technology, Ahmed brings deep expertise in integration, data management, API-led architectures, and modern cloud platforms. He regularly works with CIOs and technology leaders to help organizations unlock the value of their data, modernize complex IT environments, and drive innovation through connected digital ecosystems.
Prior to joining Boomi, Ahmed held leadership roles at global technology organizations including Dell EMC, SAP, and Oracle
Event Sessions
One Day Event 12:25 pm
The AI-Powered Data Activation Platform
90% of enterprise AI use cases never make it out of pilot—not because the models fail, but because the integration foundation isn’t there. Without connected data, AI agents have no context, no fuel, and no real business impact.
Boomi’s session cuts through the noise to show how integration is the make-or-break layer for agentic AI. Learn how Boomi enables organizations to activate their data, connect their systems, and deploy AI agents that actually work — at scale, within guardrails, across any cloud or environment. Boomi gives CIOs the platform to move from AI experimentation to AI execution.
Mohamed Matar
Event Sessions
One Day Event 12:40 pm
Secure Information Management for AI: Control Your Enterprise Information to Drive Trusted, Scalable Results with AI
In an AI-first world, success depends on secure, connected, high-quality, and well-governed data. OpenText helps organizations unlock AI’s full potential by unifying data sets across systems such as ERPs, CRMs, supply chains, content management and more, ensuring accuracy with zero hallucination and making sure AI is used in context, all of this in a compliant and secure ways. From ingestion and curation to search, summarization, and protection, we deliver secure information management that fuels smarter automation and scales to make your enterprise ready for the evolving demands of AI.
Mutaz Salem
Mutaz is a high-impact leader with over 20 years of experience driving rapid international growth and digital transformation for reputable regional and national organizations. A specialist in P&L management and organizational turnarounds, he possesses a rare blend of deep technical fluency, spanning Cloud, ERP, and complex application integration, and sophisticated business acumen. Having successfully scaled ventures from startup phase to market leadership, Mutaz excels at navigating ambiguity, managing complex enterprise negotiations, and building the strategic alliances necessary to cement DStation’s position as a world-class industry leader.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 1:00 pm
Closing the Governance Gap: Why Data Maturity is the Missing Layer in AI Transformation
Across the Middle East, organisations are accelerating investments in AI, analytics, and digital infrastructure. Yet new IDC research reveals a growing imbalance: while advanced technologies are rapidly adopted, data governance maturity is not keeping pace. This session explores what we call the “Governance Gap” and why it is emerging as one of the most critical challenges facing CIOs today. Drawing on IDC research and regional insights, we will examine the structural weaknesses in governance, metadata, and data quality that undermine AI initiatives and regulatory readiness. More importantly, we will discuss how organisations can move from periodic compliance exercises to embedded, operational data governance.
Husein El-Sayed
Hussein El-Sayed is the General Manager of Global Brands for Information Technology, a subsidiary of Global Brands Group (GBG), bringing over 28 years of experience in the IT industry, including 24 years within multinational organizations. He is a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in digital transformation, IT security, and enterprise technology management, driving large-scale innovation and operational excellence.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 1:15 pm
Infuse AI across the enterprise — from productivity and automation to AI agents
Discover how organizations can embed AI across every layer of the business, from enhancing daily productivity and automating workflows to deploying intelligent AI agents that drive autonomous execution and measurable business value.
Micheal Mounir
Michael is a strategic technology leader driving AI, digital transformation, and innovation across Eva Pharma Group, including its affiliated companies: Limitless Care, Medsulto, MARC Clinical, and Limitless Naturals. With a career spanning telecom, fintech, healthcare and Insurtech , Michael has a proven track record of building teams, leveraging technology to scale operations, transforming customer experiences, and accelerating access to care.
At Eva, he oversees the whole digital and IT spectrum, including enterprise IT, Oracle ERP, software engineering, cloud infrastructure, agile delivery, digital product development, and support operations. He also leads high-performing teams across data engineering, BI, AI, and machine learning, delivering AI-driven solutions that power real-time decision-making and reshape the healthcare experience.
Before joining Eva Pharma, Michael was Senior Manager of Digital Services and Online Channels at Orange, leading digital programs and online transformation across Egypt.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 2:37 pm
For the CIO-By the CIO Session: Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins
Dr. Mohamed Salem
Dr. Mohamed Salem is a senior technology execu6ve with over 25 years of interna6onal experience leading digital transforma6on, enterprise moderniza6on, and innova6on across FMCG, manufacturing, fintech, retail, telecom, real estate, and government sectors. He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer of Juhayna Food Industries Group, where he leads group-wide technology strategy spanning agriculture, manufacturing, distribu6on, and commercial opera6ons. Dr. Salem has held regional and execu6ve leadership roles across MENA, GCC, Turkey, Europe, the UK, and Africa. He previously served as Head of Technology at the Confedera6on of African Football (CAF), overseeing digital transforma6on ini6a6ves across 55 African federa6ons. He also acts as a Technology Consultant to the Interna6onal Finance Corpora6on (IFC – World Bank Group) and USAID, advising governments and private-sector organiza6ons on enterprise systems, digital strategy, and large-scale transforma6on programs.
His exper6se spans enterprise architecture (SAP, Oracle, MicrosoX), AI and data plaYorms, cybersecurity and IT governance (ISO 27001, COBIT, TOGAF), ERP transforma6ons, M&A; technology due diligence, and large mul6-country programs. Dr. Salem has delivered measurable impact including cost reduc6ons exceeding 30%, CAPEX savings of up to 55%, revenue growth of 80% through digital channels, and produc6vity gains through automa6on and analy6cs. Alongside his execu6ve career, Dr. Salem is a part-6me Assistant Professor at Coventry University (UK & Egypt), teaching computer science and cybersecurity, mentoring graduate students, and serving as a jury member for technology innova6on programs. He holds a Doctorate of Business Administra6on (DBA) from UBIS University in Geneva, an MBA from Victoria University in Switzerland, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 2:37 pm
For the CIO-By the CIO Session: Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins
Eng. Mohamed Fathy
Mohamed Fathy is the Group Chief Information Officer at EFG Holding, where he leads the firm’s technology strategy and digital transformation initiatives. With over 20 years of experience in financial technology, enterprise IT, and Information Security, he has led large-scale innovation across fintech, capital markets, and non-bank financial institutions. Mohamed is a Doctoral Researcher in Business Management, holds an MBA from ESLSCA University, a prestigious Diploma in Digital Transformation and Business Innovation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s leading institutions in technology and innovation and a BSc in Communication Engineering.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 2:37 pm
For the CIO-By the CIO Session: Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins
Ayman Fathy
Chief Information Officer at Vodafone Egypt and Managing Executive of Telco IT across Vodafone’s African markets, with 20 years of experience in Information Technology, currently leading a team of +1K professionals covering BSS, financial services, e-commerce, cloud infrastructure, software development, and AI. He holds a bachelor’s in computer and communications engineering and a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, and is known for pairing technology strategy with hands-on execution to drive large-scale digital transformation.
Under his leadership, Vodafone Egypt has achieved the top digital maturity benchmark score across the Group, and has launched the top featured telco mobile app and the biggest digital wallet in Egypt.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 2:37 pm
For the CIO-By the CIO Session: Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins
Alaa Abou Elmagd
Alaa Abou Elmagd is a prominent figure with extensive experience for 18 years in banking, telecom and NBFIs in various areas like digital transformation, Fintech, Digital Channels and Innovation. He currently serves as the VP, Head of Digital Transformation & PMO Division at GB Capital Holding for Financial Investments.
Held numerous leadership positions in major banks, Telecommunication companies and financial institutions, including the Commercial International Bank (CIB), AlexBank, Ahli United Bank Egypt, etisalat e& and HSBC GSC.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:07 pm
For The CIO- By The CIO Session: The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, CFO’s and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce
Dr. Amr Alashkar
Dr. Amr Alashkar is a visionary leader in the ever-changing field of information technology and digital transformation, with more than two and a half decades of experience in influencing the future of organizations through the empowerment of technology and information. He has directed businesses from strategic vision to tangible value by orchestrating intricate digital transformation programs over the course of his career.
Dr. Alashkar is a results-driven digital transformation leader, recognized for translating technology innovation into clear, measurable business outcomes. Aligning technology initiatives with business objectives, ensure that every investment in digital transformation supports operational efficiency and growth. By focusing on optimizing processes and strengthening technology, he creates a foundation for scalability and agility. His expertise in data governance and cybersecurity ensures that organizations not only meet compliance standards but also mitigate risks proactively. Once these foundational elements are in place, Dr. Alashkar incorporates advanced technologies like AI and automation to enhance decision-making, improve service delivery, and further optimize operations.
Dr. Alashkar has been instrumental in securing both local and international accreditations for healthcare organizations, enhancing their credibility and operational standards. His leadership has achieved recognition from bodies such as HIMSS, JCI, and TEMOS, while also ensuring compliance with local standards from GAHAR in Egypt.
As CIO of Cleopatra Hospitals Group, he led a comprehensive digital transformation that improved patient care and operational excellence. In his previous role at Integrated Diagnostics Holdings, he facilitated the healthcare sector’s shift to digital platforms.
An active thought leader, Dr. Alashkar speaks at major tech conferences and contributes to the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s Digital Transformation Committee, influencing policy discussions on technology and governance. He holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Ain Shams University, a Master’s from the University of Louisville, and a PhD in Business Administration from Maastricht Business School.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:07 pm
For The CIO- By The CIO Session: The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, CFO’s and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce
Karim Solyman
Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) Strategic Management, AASTMT University.
Certified Business Architecture CBA (2020)
Managing Projects Program from Manchester University (2019)
ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (2012)
Bachelor’s degree in communications & electronics engineering, Cairo University (2004).
20 Years of experience in the Telecom and Oil & Gas sectors
Egypt’s Oil & Gas Digital Transformation Program Member
Graduate of Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Middle Management Program
Technical Speaker at EGYPES 2018, OAPEC 2025 and co-chair at EGYPES 2019.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:07 pm
For The CIO- By The CIO Session: The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, CFO’s and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce
Ahmed ElShanet
I am a seasoned Chief Operating Officer (COO) with over 20 years of experience in the banking sector, specializing in digital transformation, operations, and enterprise modernization. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Communication Engineering, along with executive leadership diplomas from Harvard University and INSEAD.
I have led large-scale IT and operational functions, driving innovation across mobile banking, blockchain, big data, and automation, while managing and mentoring teams of over 700 professionals. I actively collaborate with multinational organizations and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to deliver impactful digital initiatives.
I am a hands-on leader with a strong focus on strategic vision, resilience, and cross-functional collaboration, with proven expertise in transformation, risk management, and operational excellence.
On a personal note, I am divorced and a proud parent to a daughter, born on February 8, 2008, currently in her final year of high school at Oasis International School.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:07 pm
For The CIO- By The CIO Session: The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, CFO’s and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce
Dr. Ayman Fawzy
Dr. Ayman Fawzy is a senior finance executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across multinational banks and corporations. He currently serves as CFO of Suez Canal Bank, after holding key positions at Crédit Agricole, Calyon Bank, National Bank of Oman, Orascom Construction, Deloitte, and the Bank of New York. His expertise covers financial management, budgeting, accounting, risk, ALM, business continuity, and regulatory compliance.
He has a strong record of strengthening financial controls, optimizing cost of funds, increasing profitability and building robust planning and reporting systems.
Alongside his corporate roles, he is a lecturer at AUC, Arab Banks Federation, Edinburgh Business School, and AAST, and works as a consultant for entities in Egypt and abroad. He holds multiple advanced degrees and diplomas, including PHD , an MBA and achieved 2nd place globally in the Stanford Euro Bank Management.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 3:07 pm
For The CIO- By The CIO Session: The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, CFO’s and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce
Samar El Sayed
Michael Hanna
Hanan Thabet
An accomplished HR professional with an MBA specializing in Human Resources and over 25 years of experience in multinational organizations, including more than 10 years in the Gulf region.
Holding the SHRM SCP HR professional certificate 2017.
Currently, Chief Human Resources Officer at NBK Egypt since 2019, prior to that was working at FAB Egypt for more than 14 years.
Strengths:
- Strategic & Managerial Skills: Expertise in structuring, planning, staffing, organizing, monitoring, and evaluating HR Functions.
- Futuristic mindset: motived by contributions that shape the future of organization.
- Market awareness: deep understanding of market forces and business needs.
- Digitalization Expertise: committed to promoting and contributing to digitalization initiatives within the banking sector to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
- Ideation: Proven ability to generate innovative ideas that drive significant results.