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President of Kawar Group, is a serial entrepreneur, a former diplomat and angel investor. He served as Jordan’s Ambassador to the US 2002-2007.
Ambassador Kawar is a co-founder and chairman of NatHealth, the largest TPA in the healthcare sector. He is the Vice Chairman of Optimiza, a regional systems integrator. He is the chairman of IrisGuard, a FinTech company that developed the EyePay® network. He is the chairman of Kawar Energy, the largest developer of renewable energy projects.
Founder of ten companies in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT). Co-founder and director of Oasis500, the Arab World's first and largest accelerator and seed capital fund. Co-founder of the Jordan Strategy Forum. Founding chairman of EDAMA for energy, water, and environment. Founding chairman of int@j the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan.
Appointed by Royal Decree to the Economic Consultative Council by His Majesty King Abdullah II. Former chairman of the board of trustees of King’s Academy (2010-2015), former trustee of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, the American University of Madaba, Ahli Bank, JWICO, United Insurance and the Jordan River Foundation, headed by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah.
Ambassador Kawar was the architect of the REACH Initiative and REACH 2025. A member of the 100 Best Arab Startups Selection Committee, Global Agenda Council; Young Global Leader; Global Leader for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum; Eisenhower Fellow; Member of the World Presidents’ Organization (YPO/WPO); Cofounder and President of Bridges of Understanding Foundation.
Graduated from Boston College in 1987 with a BSc in Management, Finance and Computer Science.
Mrs. Nadia Alsaeed has been leading Bank al Etihad as CEO since 2008 and is recognized as an influential leader in her field. With significant banking experience and a track record of financial success, Alsaeed has positioned Bank al Etihad as one of the most progressive banks in Jordan, ranking it as the fourth largest in the country by total assets.
In 2014, Alsaeed also led and successfully launched Bank al Etihad’s Women’s Market Program, under the name of Shorouq, to support female economic participation across the country through financial and non-financial solutions and programs.
Before becoming Bank al Etihad’s CEO, Alsaeed was a Strategy Advisor at Mckinsey & Co. working on developing a new growth strategy for the bank. She had also led a distinguished career while holding several key positions at Bank al Etihad, with the last being Head of Corporate Banking.
She has also served as Minister of Information and Communications Technology ICT and the Ministry’s Secretary General from 2003-2006, making major contributions to the development of the ICT sector in Jordan.
Alsaeed is the Chairperson of Endeavor Jordan and a board member of prestigious organizations, among which are the Financial Alliance for Women, Jordan Strategy Forum, and EDAMA. She is also the private Sector Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s “Closing the Gender Gap” accelerator.
Alsaeed has been selected as one of the “Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen” for ten consecutive years (2014-2023) by Forbes Middle East. She was also awarded “Best Woman in the Corporate Sector in MENA” by The AmCham MENA Regional Council and voted as one of the most powerful women in Jordan-by-Jordan Business Magazine.
Mrs. Alsaeed holds an MBA degree from the American University of Cairo and a BA degree in Business Management and Economics.
A legal expert in the field of projects, corporate, commercial and investment and leads the Corporate, M&A and Energy practice areas at K&P. Specialized in the power sector and have assisted in paving the way for successful launch of numerous energy-related projects, including a 485MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Jordan, a 3,000MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Iraq, Shams Ma’an 50MW Solar Power Plant, Mafraq 50MW Solar Power Plant and Risha 50MW Solar Power Plant. Advised on the acquisition and financing of many renewable energy projects in Jordan. Has extensive experience in corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions. Continues to act for local and international private equity funds acquiring and exiting assets in Jordan and in the region. Also worked on many financings (including Sharia compliant) transactions and has extensive experience in real estate development and construction contracts. Joined Khalifeh & Partners in 2000 and has been a partner since 2006. Holds a Bachelor Degree of Law from the University of Jordan and a master’s degree – International Law (LLM) from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.
Sahl Dudin is the Managing Director of Ayla Oasis Development Company (Ayla) and a member of the Board of Directors of its 26 affiliated companies that have interests in a wide range of industries, including tourism and property development, entertainment, and services.
Sahl Dudin has over 35 years of experience in developing mega projects. He began his career as an engineering supervisor for the Public Security Department in 1986 and then became Director of Maintenance and Engineering at Intercontinental Jordan Hotel. He was later responsible for leading several high-net-worth projects in the hospitality and tourism sectors. He has contributed towards the growth of Zara Investment Holding Company in various capacities including that of Deputy General Manager
– Technical Affairs; where he played a key role in the establishment of a chain of hotels including the Movenpick Resort Petra and Nabatean Castle, Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba and Tala Bay, Grand Hyatt Amman, and Intercontinental Amman.
After joining Ayla, Dudin oversaw the establishment of the master-planned community of Ayla in his capacity as Managing Director. The project features 750,000 sq. m of man-made lagoons that added 17 km of waterfront to the shorelines of Aqaba and Jordan’s first signature golf course designed by Greg Norman. Ayla is strategically located on the pristine Red Sea shores in close proximity to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The project aims to transform Aqaba from a port of commerce into a sustainable waterfront community that combines opportunities to live, play and work.
Currently, Sahl is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Tourism Board, Aqaba Airports Company, Al Himmeh Mineral Water Company, the Marine Sciences Station, Jordan Strategy Forum, Run Jordan (the Jordanian Marathon Association) and a member of the Board of Trustees of the non-profit organization INJAZ.
He also served as a member of the Investment Board and Head of the Audit Committee of the Social Security Investment Fund between 2016 and 2023.
Sahl Dudin holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical and Civil Engineering from the University of Hartford in the US. A community leader, he is an active member of the Jordanian civil society, focusing on youth and sustainable development.
Executive Managing Director of the Arabtech Jardaneh Group Jordan, AJ group has businesses spanning several engineering sectors and covering a large part of the Middle East. The company holds the King Abdullah II Award, Jordan’s most prestigious award for excellence. ; AJ is also an EFQM 3-Star Recognized for Excellence Company. AJ is annually ranked in ENR Magazine’s list of the Top 200 International Design Firms.
As of 2008 Bisher was appointed as the nonexecutive Chairman of Invest Bank Jordan, a publicly traded (among the largest 20 companies in the ASE) corporate and high-end consumer local bank, a position he still holds.
Currently services on:
- Board member of Trustee of Princess Sumaya University for Technology.
- Board member of Orange.
- Chair of Trustees of Taawon Association (Geneva) and chairs the strategy and governance committee.
- Chair of Arab Cultural Society, Al Raed AlArabi School.
- Vice Chair of Zaha Foundation for Children.
Previously served on:
- The Royal Commission of Kuluna Al Urdun (a twenty-five-member committee chaired by HM King Abdullah II).
- The Royal Commission on Jordan’s Water Strategy (a seven-member committee chaired by HRH Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein).
- The Executive Committee of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers [FIDIC], Geneva.
- Chairman of The National Resources Investment & Development Corporation.
- Member of The National Building Council.
- The Social Security Investment Fund, one of nine board members appointed by the Council of ministers. The fund, the largest in the country was established to manage the investments of Social Security Corporation (SSC). Greater Amman Municipality, Council Member, and Head of Finance Committee.
- The Jordan Investment Board, the agency entrusted with promoting foreign direct investments into Jordan. Jordan Strategy Forum Vice Chair a socioeconomic think tank.
- Architects and Engineers Business Council [AEBC] Jordan- Chair.
- The Infrastructure Committee for Jordan’s National Agenda.
- Nuqul Group Board, a privately held leader in the region that runs different investments and industries spanning several continents.
- Vice Chairman Abdali Investment & Development Psc.
- Chairman of Abdali Boulevard Company Psc.
- Chairman of Daman Development Psc.
- Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation Board [JEDCO], The Jordan Enterprise Development. Corporations are mandated to support the establishment and development of enterprises to become globally competitive.
- Board of the Arab Orphans Committee.
Bisher is a member of the World Presidents Organization (YPO/WPO), Jordan Engineers Association [JEA], Jordan Businessmen, Jordanian American and Jordanian – European Business Associations. Bisher holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana – Champaign, and a M.Sc. in Construction Management from the University of California, Berkeley.
Aiman Mazahreh graduated with a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University in 1981 and has been active in the field of Technology ever since. In 1989, after 8 years working as a Computer Engineer, Aiman co-founded STS, a leading IT Solutions Provider in Jordan, and the region, of which he is today the CEO.
Over the span of his career, Aiman has consistently been a strong advocate of the ICT sector in Jordan and is today recognized as an expert and leading authority on Technology and its critical role in developing the Jordanian Economy and positioning Jordan as an IT Innovation Hub. This is evidenced by the various positions, listed below, that he has been entrusted with over the years:
- A member of the Kingdom Economic Policies Council under the direct supervision of HM King Abdullah II and chaired by the Prime Minister
- A Board Member of the Central Bank of Jordan
- Vice Chairman and a founding Board Member of Oasis500, a leading early stage and seed investment company and the first of its kind in Jordan and the MENA region
- Chairman of the Board of Int@j, the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan
- A member of the National Committee for Human Resources Development entrusted with developing the Kingdom’s Human Resources strategy
- A member of the ICT Advocacy Council of the Ministry of ICT
- A local community representative in the Princess Sumaya Technology Council
More recently, Aiman is focusing on navigating STS’s Digital Transformation Journey where he is driving STS’s strategy to transform how the business operates and delivers value to all stakeholders, proving yet again the importance of solid leadership in delivering change. Aiman Mazahreh graduated with a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University in 1981 and has been active in the field of Technology ever since. In 1989, after 8 years working as a Computer Engineer, Aiman co-founded STS, a leading IT Solutions Provider in Jordan and the region, of which he is today the CEO.
Over the span of his career, Aiman has consistently been a strong advocate of the ICT sector in Jordan and is today recognized as an expert and leading authority on Technology and its critical role in developing the Jordanian Economy and positioning Jordan as an IT Innovation Hub. This is evidenced by the various positions, listed below, that he has been entrusted with over the years:
- A member of the Kingdom Economic Policies Council under the direct supervision of HM King Abdullah II and chaired by the Prime Minister
- A Board Member of the Central Bank of Jordan
- Vice Chairman and a founding Board Member of Oasis500, a leading early stage and seed investment company and the first of its kind in Jordan and the MENA region
- Chairman of the Board of Int@j, the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan
- A member of the National Committee for Human Resources Development entrusted with developing the Kingdom’s Human Resources strategy
- A member of the ICT Advocacy Council of the Ministry of ICT
- A local community representative in the Princess Sumaya Technology Council
More recently, Aiman is focusing on navigating STS’s Digital Transformation Journey where he is driving STS’s strategy to transform how the business operates and delivers value to all stakeholders, proving yet again the importance of solid leadership in delivering change.
Leveraging more than 24 years of advisory experience, Samar Obaid currently serves as EY’s MENA Strategy & Transactions Services Markets as well as Government & Public Sector Leader. Furthermore, she leads EY's MENA Corporate Finance solutions.
Over the course of her career, Obaid garnered her in-depth knowledge working with local and regional clients within the Government, Financial Services, and Lifesciences sectors, among others. As a Corporate Finance expert, Obaid’s expertise is often called upon for the purpose of corporate planning, capital allocation, portfolio management, financial reporting, purchase or sale of assets or businesses, and investment strategy and restructuring.
Obaid also assists companies and investors in developing business plans, carrying out business case analysis, evaluating project investment alternatives, and building financial models for complex decision support analysis, such as mergers and acquisitions, capital investments, budgeting, operational research, and measuring economic impact.
Obaid earned her bachelor’s degree in international business administration and holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from Concordia University, Montreal.
Worked in several banking, industrial and manufacturing organizations in Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia since 1991 until 2010
- Institute of Management Consultants (IMC)
- Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA)
