Hamad Khalfan Al Mutawa

Director- Government Communications Department | Federal Geographic Information Center (FGIC) | UAE

H.E. Eng. Hamed Al Kaabi

Director General | Federal Geographic Information Centre | UAE

His Excellency Eng. Hamed Khamis Al-Kaabi assumed the position of Director General of the Center since its inception; He previously held several positions in the field of surveying and geographic information systems in the UAE armed forces, through which he contributed to the process of developing and designing production methods in the field of producing maps and geospatial information at the state level, in addition to working on managing strategic projects related to them, such as supervising the design and construction of the database State national topography.

HE Al-Kaabi has more than 25 years of practical experience in the field of surveying, maps and geographic information systems technology, in addition to his extensive experience in the administrative and technical field of strategic projects related to the field of geospatial information in the country.

HE Al-Kaabi is a country representative of High-level Forum on (UN-GGIM), the Arab Committee of United Nations Experts for Geospatial Information Management and the United Nations Committee of Experts for Geographical Names, with the aim of enhancing the level of spatial awareness and developing a general framework for related policies, legislation and laws, and working to improve the capabilities of countries in the field of geospatial information infrastructure.

HE Al-Kaabi represented the UAE in many events, activities and conferences related to geographic information, in addition to contributing to the preparation and follow-up of strategic agreements and memorandums related to the exchange of maps and geospatial information inside and outside the country.

HE Al-Kaabi holds a master's degree in engineering sciences majoring in geographic information systems from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, and a bachelor's degree in surveying and mapping sciences from the University of East London, United Kingdom.

H.E. Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi

Chairman | Federal Geographic Information Centre | UAE

Dr. Khalifa Mohammed Thani Al Romaithi serves as an Advisor to His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He joined the Armed Forces in 1978 and served as Director of Military Survey and Rapporteur of the Advisory Committee for Borders from 1984 to 2004. In 2005, he was appointed Commander of Military Works, then in 2008 became Chairman of the Supply Authority, and in 2014 he assumed the position of Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense.

Alongside his responsibilities, he has held several positions in the federal government - he was Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Qualifications Authority; then Chairman of the Board of the UAE Space Agency since its establishment until 2017; and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Federal Center for Geographic Information. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Federal Center for Geographic Information.

Dr. Khalifa has held key positions in government requiring the highest standards of leadership and integrity. Through his long service, he has gained pioneering experience in strategic planning and the implementation of advanced strategic technologies to drive innovative geospatial development. He has published more than 22 technical papers in journals, seminars, and conferences, in addition to authored books - the most recent being "Geographical Names - The Memory of Generations", a historical and documentary study of the United Arab Emirates. This book won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in 2024 in the category of "Development and State Building."

He has also participated as a keynote speaker in a wide range of national and international conferences and symposia. In April 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam, recognized as "a pioneer in the Emirati and regional geospatial community."

He holds academic degrees in aerial surveying, a master's degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Twente University - ITC in the Netherlands, and a Ph.D. in Geospatial Science from UTM University. Dr. Khalifa is credited with pioneering the introduction of GPS and GIS applications in the UAE since the last century.

Eng. Mohammad Almabrook

Executive Director of international cooperation and partnership | General Authority for Survey and Geospatial information | Saudi Arabia

Antoine Delcourt

Ambassador | Embassy of Belgium in the United Arab Emirates | UAE

Antoine Delcourt has been serving as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the United Arab Emirates since August 2022. A seasoned diplomat, he previously held key positions including Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Belgium in China and Mongolia, and Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy in India, overseeing relations with South Asian nations. He also served at the Directorate General for European Affairs, coordinating Belgium's EU external policies and regional relations with MENA countries. Holding master's degrees in Law and EU Law, he has also lectured at University de Mons and is an Officer of the Order of the Crown.

Sohail Elabd

Global Director -Emerging Markets | Esri | UAE

Sohail Elabd is the Global Director for Emerging Markets at Esri, the global leader in GIS technology. With nearly three decades of experience, he has advised governments worldwide on country-wide Geospatial Strategies, National Spatial Data Infrastructures (NSDI), and Fit-for-Purpose Geospatial Excellence. He is committed to ensuring equitable access to geospatial technology as a foundation for economic development, sustainability, and resilience. Sohail founded the Africa GeoPortal and currently leads the Map Africa initiative, expanding access to cutting-edge GIS technology and training across emerging markets.

Sanjay Kumar

Founder and CEO | Geospatial World

H.E. Eng. Anwaar AlShimmari

Executive Director of the Geospatial Governance Sector | Federal Geographic Information Centre | UAE

Anwaar Alshimmari is a distinguished Emirati engineer with over 24 years of experience in urban planning, infrastructure, innovation, and governance. She leads the Geospatial Governance Sector at the Federal Geographic Information Center and chairs the UN-GGIM Arab States Working Group on Geospatial Governance, guiding the harmonization of regional policy. Her career spans high-impact roles across local, federal, and private sectors in the UAE. Alshimmari holds advanced degrees from top global universities and has delivered 100+ innovation workshops. She represents the UAE in international programs and has received numerous awards for her leadership in engineering, innovation, and public sector transformation.

Dr. Sh May Mohamed A.Wahab Al-Khalifa

Director, GIS | Information and eGovernment Authority | Kingdom of Bahrain

Gert Kleijer

Head of Sales - EMEA Partners & Key Accounts | TomTom | The Netherlands

Gert Kleijer is Head of Sales - EMEA Partners & Key Accounts at TomTom, where he leads the partner strategy across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He helps governments, cities and businesses unlock the power of geospatial and traffic data to enable smarter, more sustainable mobility. With over 35 years of leadership experience in the hardware and software industries and a distinguished early career as an Officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Gert combines strategic discipline with deep technical expertise.

Passionate about data-driven mobility and smart city innovation, he is recognized for his thought leadership at the intersection of technology and partnerships.

Dr. Greg Scott

Executive Director - SDG Data Alliance | PVBLIC Foundation | Australia

Greg Scott is the Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance in PVBLIC Foundation and is leading the expansion of the Alliance into a new phase for developing countries, including increased engagement with SIDS through the establishment of the SIDS Global Data Hub and strategic support from Esri.

Greg previously spent 12 years in the United Nations as the strategic advisor and Secretariat lead in the establishment and development of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Greg spent 25 years in Geoscience Australia delivering Australia�s national mapping and geospatial programs. He has a Graduate Diploma in Geography from the Australian National University, and PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the University of Melbourne.

Eng. Mohammed Ali Flaieh Arabiat

Head of Geoportal Section | Royal Jordanian Geographic Center (RJGC) | Jordan

Engr. Mohammed Ali Flaieh Arabiat is a geospatial and telecommunications expert with a Master's degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He brings extensive international experience, having worked with global companies including Nokia, Huawei, and Orange, specializing in network optimization, planning, and problem analysis and solving based on location. Currently, as Head of the Geoportal Section at the Royal Jordanian Geographic Center, he leads the development, integration, and management of RJGC geospatial platforms, ArcGIS Enterprise systems, and location-based services, and provides technical consultation on Web GIS and interactive mapping applications to Jordanian government entities, and actively participates in the development of Jordan�s Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). Eng. Mohammed Arabiat is also a member of the IGIF Working Group at UN-GGIM: Arab States.

Eng. Mohammad Almabrook

Executive Director of international cooperation and partnership | General Authority for Survey and Geospatial information | Saudi Arabia

Sanjay Kumar

Founder and CEO | Geospatial World

Geert De Coensel

CEO | Merkator Group BV | Belgium

Geert De Coensel, co-founder and CEO Merkator Group leads a diverse team of 250 Geo-professionals around the world.

Under his leadership the company became a leader in Telco Digital Twin software solutions, Smart City solutions and advanced 6D Data sets for Utilities, Telco and the Private sector.

Headquartered in Belgium and serving customers in more than 15 countries at present including the Middle East Region.

Vasily Balandin

Deputy Director - Branch of the Public Law Company | Information Technology Center, Roskadastr-Infotech | Russia

Vasily Balandin, PhD in Economics, is Deputy Director of the Branch of the Public Law Company Roskadastr Information Technology Center Roskadastr-Infotech.

In 2007 he graduated from the State University of Land Use Planning with a degree in Urban Cadastre Engineering, and in 2013 he completed postgraduate studies at the same University and received a PhD in Economics.

In 2017 he completed professional retraining in State and Municipal Management at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

From 2007 to 2014 he held various positions in real property and territorial development companies. He was involved in the development of the land and property complexes of the Companies, including with the use of geoinformation technologies.

Since 2015 he has been working in the public sector. From 2015 to 2021 he worked in the Architecture and Urban Planning Committee of the Moscow Region dealing with the digitalization of state and municipal services in urban planning, creation and development of the information system for urban planning.

Since 2022 he has been working in the Big Rosreestr team on the creation and development of the Unified Digital Platform National Spatial Data System.

Since 2015 he has been teaching, including at the State University of Land Use Planning, and now at the Odintsovo branch of MGIMO and the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (MIIGAiK).

Abdelrahman Azmy

CEO | Barjeel Aerial Photography Services (BAPS) | UAE

Abdelrahman Azmy from Barjeel Aerial Photography Services (BAPS), a Dubai-based company specializing in aerial mapping and geospatial solutions. His role focuses on the modernization of geospatial practices in the UAE and digital transformation that bridge traditional mapping with advanced data processing, automation, and smart systems. With a background in engineering and project management, Azmy is passionate about driving innovation through collaboration between government, private sector, and academia.

Abdulrahman Al Hashmi

Director- Spatial Data Division | Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) | UAE

Abdulrahman Alhashmi director of GIS department in Department of municipalities and transport.

Shalabh Dhaddha

Regional Sales Manager | Trimble | MEA

Shalabh Dhaddha has an impressive 15+ years of experience in the field of surveying, GIS, material testing and thermal imaging. He has developed his skills in offering hardware solutions in his field that help organizations push the boundaries of digital transformation; for example, implementing BIM supported field layout technologies, using Augmented reality technology on the field, implementing cutting edge 3D laser scanning tools, and beyond.

From offering state-of-the-art solutions to implementing and trouble-shooting, Shalabh makes sure his patrons are making the most of digital construction - implementing BIM, 3D models, as-built data and more, into their workflows.

H.E. Salem Al Qubaisi

Director General | UAE Space Agency | UAE

Nicholas Brown

Head of Office | United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence | Bonn, Germany

Nick Brown is Head of Office at the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence in Bonn, Germany. Nick works with Member States and organizations to strengthen their collective impact to enhance investment in the global geodesy supply chain, build capacity, and make geodesy and its benefit more visible and understandable to society.

Prior to this role, Nick was the Director of National Geodesy at Geoscience Australia.

Hasan Al Hosani

CEO-Smart Solutions | Space42 | UAE

Hasan Al Hosani is a technology and business leader with over twenty years of experience in control systems, geospatial analytics, and artificial intelligence. As Chief Executive Officer of Bayanat Smart Solutions, he oversees the company's end-to-end geospatial data acquisition and processing capabilities, driving its integration with artificial intelligence to support applications across mobility, environment, and national security.

Hasan led the acquisition of Bayanat in 2020, positioning the company for transformation into a publicly listed entity on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2022. The listing established Bayanat as the first artificial intelligence-powered geospatial company to go public and was recognized as the Best Debut of the Year by Bloomberg. Under his leadership, Bayanat experienced an extraordinary growth trajectory, skyrocketing from 20 million US dollars in 2019 to 200 million US dollars in 2022, achieving a tenfold increase in less than three years. Building on this momentum, he spearheaded the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, bringing together geospatial analytics, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence under a single entity to create Space42.

Before leading Bayanat, Hasan played a key role in the strategic growth of G42, where he was part of the mergers and acquisitions team responsible for transitioning Bayanat from a conventional mapping and surveying company, into an artificial intelligence powerhouse. He was instrumental in shaping G42's early portfolio and positioning it as a leader in emerging technologies.

Hasan was the co-founder of SECUIRA, a firm that delivered security technology solutions to government and private-sector clients. Under his leadership, SECUIRA became a market leader in security consulting and technology integration for smart cities, artificial intelligence, and big data. Earlier in his career, he was a founding member of the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Center, where he contributed to the development of national security infrastructure. He served as a member of the MCC Executive Committee and chaired the MCC Standards and Practices Committee.

His experience also includes leadership roles at Advanced Integrated Systems, where he oversaw the design and deployment of Abu Dhabi's multi-billion-dirham smart city infrastructure.

Hasan is an active contributor to the advancement of geospatial and space technologies. He is a member of the Sharjah University Advisory Board, Khalifa University Industrialization Advisory Board, and the World Geospatial Industry Council, supporting innovation and policy development in artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics.

Ali AlShehhi

Director General | National Space Science and Technology Centre | UAE

Ali Al Shehhi is a distinguished leader with over three decades of experience in aviation, geospatial, and space technology. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Science and a Master's degree in Management and Communications, Ali has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for innovation and project management throughout his career.

As the former head of the Space Reconnaissance Center in Abu Dhabi and current Director of the National Space Science and Technology Center at UAE University, Ali is committed to advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. An esteemed keynote speaker, his insights and expertise are sought after globally, making him a driving force in shaping the future of space-tech and space new economy strategies.

Ali drives innovation and capability development to position the UAE as a regional hub in space science and advanced technology. Known for his ability to lead complex, high-stakes programs, foster international collaboration, and shape national strategies in defense and space.

Takayuki Odawara

Executive Officer, GM of Business Dept. | Synspective | Japan

Takayuki, also known as "Oda," joined Synspective in 2021 as a geospatial business development expert in Japan and international markets. He assumed his current General Manager of Business position in October 2022.

Takayuki's career spans 30 years with a focus on the geospatial data and analytics industry including Earth observation and remote sensing, location-based services, connected cars, and intelligent transportation systems. After taking on Sony's consumer electronics sales and marketing role in the North African market, Takayuki served in a series of business growth roles including sales and marketing manager at NAVTEQ (now HERE Technologies), Corporate VP and APAC head at DigitalGlobe (now Maxar Technologies) and INRIX, and country manager roles at leading geospatial start-ups.

Dr. Haitham Akah

Senior Director for Space Systems Development Sector | Egyptian Space Agency | Egypt

Dr. Haitham Akah is a distinguished scientist with over 25 years of experience advancing space science and technology in Egypt. As the Senior Director for Space System Development at the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), he plays a key role in shaping the nation's space capabilities. His expertise lies in satellite technology, space research, and innovation. He has made significant contributions to Egypt's space program, including the participation in the first Egyptian EO satellite Egyptsat-1, leading the development of Egypt's Cubesat satellites and First operational EO satellite Egyptsat-2, he is also pioneering research in space-based navigation systems with applications for precision agriculture. His research interests include, satellite communication, and SAR systems. Dr. Akah has also been instrumental in strengthening Egypt's position in the global space community. Beyond his technical achievements, he is dedicated to promoting STEM education and inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers in Egypt and Africa. His work reflects a commitment to leveraging space technology for sustainable development, national security, and scientific advancement.

Karthik Ramamurthy

Regional Head and Partner | IPSOS Strategy3 | UAE

Karthik is the Partner & Regional Head of Ipsos Strategy3. With over two and a half decades of advisory experience, he has advised over 200 clients in with their growth strategies. While his experience spans multiple industries, in the region he has been focused on public sector, industrial and real estate & retail clients.

Khawla Abdulla Abduljalil Alfahim

Director - Geospatial Data Management Division; Business Intelligence & Advanced Analytics Sector; GOV Digital | Department of Government Enablement (DGE) | UAE

Khawla Al Fahim is a strategic leader with over two decades of experience driving digital transformation, data governance, and innovation across Abu Dhabi's government. She leads the Geospatial Data Management Department at the Department of Government Enablement, where she spearheads the re-establishment of the Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Infrastructure (AD-SDI) and integrates GeoAI to enable smarter, data-driven decision-making.

Throughout her career, Khawla has led national initiatives, forged partnerships with global technology leaders, and positioned Abu Dhabi as a benchmark in geospatial strategy and digital innovation. She holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and is an alumna of the MBZUAI Executive Program in Artificial Intelligence.

Recognized for bridging policy, technology, and strategy, Khawla continues to shape the future of smart governance and data-driven excellence in Abu Dhabi.

Malika Amri

Geographic Information Systems Manager | Omantel | Oman

Malika Al Amri is a seasoned GIS professional leader with over 16 years of experience delivering innovative solutions in the telecommunications and utility sectors, including electricity and telecom networks. She holds an MBA from Franklin University and a Bachelor's in GIS from Sultan Qaboos University. Malika is passionate about leveraging geospatial technology to drive innovation, optimize resources, and support strategic decision-making.

Maher Abdel Karim

GIS Consultant | The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) | Kuwait

As a GIS expert, and project manager working for the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) in Kuwait, Maher is working in the last 20 years in GIS field. He worked in multiple disciplines in many organizations which vary from esri distributors, private consultancy, and government organizations. Maher worked under the umbrella of international donors support for different countries including Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, and Syria.

Maher is taking care of many innovative projects for PACI which include the implementation of Big Data, and machine learning projects the empower the GIS services like Kuwait Finder, Lidar, and StreetView projects and others provided by PACI.

Maher has a GISP, PMI-PMP, PMI-RMP, PMI-PBA, and esri enterprise system design associate professional certificates.

Mohamed Misbah

Senior Director , Digital Services, Middle East & Africa | Khatib & Alami | UAE

Dr. Mohamed Misbah is the Regional Senior Director for Digital Services at Khatib & Alami, the leading international multidisciplinary consultancy and one of the region's foremost Geospatial Systems Integrators. He leads business development and digital transformation initiatives across the Middle East and Africa, focusing on GIS, Smart Cities, AI, and Digital Twin solutions.

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Misbah has a distinguished record in driving business growth, forging strategic partnerships, and delivering high-impact digital programs for government and private sector organizations.

He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in GIS and IT Applications in Infrastructure Management from Cairo University, and an MBA in International Marketing from ESLSCA Business School, Paris.

Prof. Dr. Zaffar Sadiq Mohamed-Ghouse

Vice President and Director, Advisory and Innovation | Woolpert | Australia

Prof. Dr Zaffar Sadiq Mohamed-Ghouse is an engineer and scientist, recognised as one of the global leaders in the Spatial and Space sector. Zaffar has held senior and executive roles in the Private Sector, government, and research sectors. He has over 25 years of experience, developing strategic plan for positioning networks including products; client management, strategic consulting studies, business development, project management, systems review and integration for the Utility Industry and Government, design, development and management of spatial databases, review data framework policies, develop spatial analyses techniques and technology including GIS applications development for major clients across the globe. Zaffar is also the Chair of the UN-GGIM Geospatial Societies and Former Chair of UN-GGIM Private Sector Network. He also serves as Vice Chair of the OGC Board of Directors. He has held senior and executive roles in the Government, Research and Private sectors. He has experience working for major clients in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He has led several Multi-Million Dollar National Mapping projects for State and Federal governments globally. Zaffar has published extensively in GIS, Surveying, Remote Sensing, Data Management and SDIs. He is also the Chair of the World Geospatial Industry Council for Policy Committee and UN-related entities and the Former President of the Surveying Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), Australia. He holds an appointment as the Senior Advisor to the Smartsat CRC, an Australian Government initiative in the Space Sector. He is one of the founder members of the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure and is an expert and advocate for Geospatial Ecosystems beyond SDIs. He was recognised for his 15-year contribution to ISO TC 211 Standards for Geospatial and Geomatics by Standards Australia. He has held and holds academic appointments in India, Australia and Malaysia.

Zaffar is a recipient of: National Geospatial Professional Fellow (Overseas Citizen of India) 2025, IIT Bombay, India for International Leadership; The ISDE Service Award 2025, conferred by the International Society for Digital Earth for International Leadership and promoting digital earth; Peter Woodgate, Special Award 2025 for leadership, mentoring and innovation; the Club Melbourne Ambassador Award, 2024 by Victorian Convention Bureau; "Thornton-Smith Medal" awarded by the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia, for significant contribution to the surveying and spatial industry; "Professional of the Year 2022" APSEA- Oceania and APSEA-Victoria Recipient; Young Professional Award APSEA-Victoria, conferred by Geospatial Council of Australia formerly SSSI in 2011; He is also a recipient of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information's full Doctorate Scholarship. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Geospatial Council of Australia, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, UK and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and elected as a Senior Member of IEEE.

Akanksha Tyagi

Senior Director - EMEA | Geospatial World | UAE

Dr. Fawaz Nadim Habbal

Director General | Emirates Scholar Scientific Reserach Centre | UAE

Associate Professor with a PhD in E-Government Applications and Business Information Technologies, specializing in Process Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and Business Innovative Technologies. His research interests encompass Computer Applications, AI in data prediction, and Data Science.

Dr. Habbal possesses extensive experience in strategy, particularly within innovation, digitalization, and information technology across various industries. As the Founder, Director General, and Board of Trustees Member at the Emirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies in the UAE, he leads a multidisciplinary research team. His leadership is pivotal in steering research efforts towards impactful academic contributions. In this capacity, he demonstrates a profound understanding of research methodologies, knowledge dissemination, and aligning research with organizational objectives.

Throughout his career, Dr. Habbal has consistently demonstrated an ability to develop and implement forwardthinking strategies. This includes spearheading digital transformation initiatives, leading cross-functional teams, and aligning technology investments with business goals. His role as the Editor-in-Chief at the International Journal of Advanced Digital Technology (IJADT) has further enriched his insights into the intersection of academia and industry, allowing him to shape innovative strategies from a holistic perspective.

Dr. Habbal is also the founder and Conference President of the International Dialogue of Civilizations and Tolerance in Abu Dhabi, organized in collaboration with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Ministry of Tolerance. In this role, he underscores the conference's mission to highlight the significant contributions of academia and scientific research in fostering civilizations and promoting coexistence. The conference serves as a vital platform for scholars, researchers, and thought leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue and share insights on advancing tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and societies. Dr. Habbal's leadership in this initiative underscores his commitment to leveraging academic and scientific contributions to address global challenges and enhance intercultural dialogue.

In addition to his academic and research roles, Dr. Habbal is the founder and president of Geminos Group in Dubai, UAE. Here, he directs a dynamic team dedicated to driving innovative solutions and leveraging digital technologies to enhance business operations and customer experiences. Under his strategic guidance, Geminos has emerged as a leader in adopting cutting-edge technologies.

Previously, Dr. Habbal served as the Group IT Director at Fujairah Media Group, a semi-government entity in Fujairah, UAE. During his tenure, he led the IT division, driving technological advancements that significantly improved operational efficiency. His responsibilities included overseeing the implementation of robust IT infrastructure, managing large-scale projects, and ensuring seamless technology integration across various departments.

Naeema Al Hosani

Professor-Geomatics | University - UAEU | UAE

Prof. Naeema Alhosani holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Geography with a specialization in Cartography from the University of Kansas, USA. She has served as Chair of her department since 2017 and previously held leadership roles including Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (2013-2017) and Acting Director of the UAEU Library (2023-2024). Her research focuses on cartographic design, GIS, remote sensing, urban studies, and education. Prof. Alhosani is an award-winning scholar, active in international conferences, research projects, and professional associations.

Paul Strootman

Social Studies Teacher - High School | American School of Dubai | UAE

Paul Strootman is a second-generation social studies teacher and Department Head at the American School of Dubai, where he integrates ArcGIS technology into history and geography education. With 15 years of international teaching experience and dual Master's degrees in International Education and Geographic Information Systems, he bridges the gap between geospatial technology and K-12 education.

Paul founded ASD's GeoSpatial Club, where students use ArcGIS Online, Pro, and StoryMaps to develop spatial thinking skills. Through partnerships with Esri Dubai and GeoDubai, his students have presented at professional conferences and published their work publicly. He believes GIS will dramatically improve our world and has made it his mission to bring this technology to students throughout Dubai, the UAE and the region.

Arpit Dugar

Founder | Lab Of Future | UAE

Arpit is an accomplished leader and visionary in the field of future technologies, he is the Founder & CEO of Lab of Future, a pioneering organization at the forefront of Space Science innovation and technological advancement.

He is a highly sought-after speaker known for his insightful perspectives on the intersection of technology, business strategy, and future trends. His engaging speaking style and in-depth knowledge captivate audiences, making him a compelling choice for conferences and educational events.