Martin G. Pedersen is the Chairman of the International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), the most trusted independent Free Zone in the UAE. A serial entrepreneur whose philosophy sits proudly outside the box, Martin has an unrelenting drive to redefine boundaries, develop
sustainably successful companies, and continuously improve the way he, his team and his clients do business.

Growing up in a small rural town in Denmark, Martin’s entrepreneurial mindset began to take shape at an early age. When he was just 16 years old, he had already set up his own thriving
business, and, before long, moved to Germany to pursue new projects. There, he combined
his natural entrepreneurial talents with an exceptional ability to identify worthwhile
opportunities and transform them into profitable businesses.

Ever the free spirit, Martin was able to blend his ever-growing professional ambitions with his
personal passion for travelling the world and discovering new things. From Denmark,
Germany, different parts of Asia to the Middle East, he continued to strengthen to his skillset,
achieving success across numerous industries, while establishing long-lasting connections built on trust, respect and determination.

Martin’s ties with the UAE date back to the 1990s, when he began regularly travelling to Dubai
to conduct business. Since then, he has witnessed the city emerge from the desert and become the international powerhouse it is today under the leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. For Martin, Dubai has provided him with the perfect
platform to be himself and follow his entrepreneurial vision – the ideal environment to build
IFZA from the ground up as the only B2B-focused Free Zone in the world.

IFZA is the culmination of Martin’s vision, ambition and pioneering approach. It is far more than a Free Zone; it is a community where SMEs and their teams are motivated to create, inspired to succeed, and enabled to become part of an ever-evolving ecosystem that nurtures energy, creativity and determination. It is a reflection of Martin’s own personality, and his team share his unyielding passion, drive and dedication to hard work and excellence.

A natural problem-solver who loves what he does, Martin is committed to constant progress. With IFZA, he is ambitious enough to build upon the company’s foundation of sustainable success, but humble enough to recognise the need for continuous improvement. He believes that there should never be limits placed on new ideas and knows that there are always ways to innovate, evolve and improve.

IFZA is well-positioned to increase its global reach across new markets in an environment that empowers people to dare to live, do business and thrive differently. As it continues to expand and go from strength to strength, so too does its ability to adapt, grow and provide new opportunities for SMEs and larger enterprises to excel in an ever-developing community of international businesses.

Throughout his unfolding journey with IFZA, Martin is looking forward to evolving his vision and forward-thinking mindset even further, while also empowering IFZA licensees to do the same in the unique ecosystem of Dubai. Just as the region has facilitated Martin’s own entrepreneurial success and provided him with the tools, resources and freedom to thrive, he believes Dubai will continue to grow as a global hub, where innovation, ambition and passion are rewarded, and the businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future are cultivated.

Jim Hagemann Snabe is Chairman Siemens AG (D) and Board member C3.ai (US). He is a member of the Board of Trustees at World Economic Forum (CH). He is the former co-CEO of SAP AG and former Chairman A. P. Moller Maersk (DK).

With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Jim Hagemann Snabe is focused on leadership around innovation, digitisation and societal progress. As co-CEO of SAP Jim, together with Bill McDermott, was instrumental in driving the strategic development of SAP to double the value of the company and play a more responsible role in society. In 2013 he and co-CEO Bill McDermott were ranked #2 on Glassdoor.com’s listing of the top fifty highest rated CEOs, based on their 99 percent approval rating from employees.

In his capacity as a global business leader, Jim is involved in a number of activities focused on societal progress and the role of business in society. Snabe’s views on leadership is shaped by his commitment to solving societal issues and his trust in human potential.

Snabe received a master’s degree in operational research from the Aarhus School of Business in Denmark. In 2016 Jim was appointed Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School based on his work around digital transformation and its impact on business and society. He lives with his family in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Joseph McMonigle is the fifth Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF), the largest international organization of energy ministers, based in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His term officially started on July 1, 2020.

He has over 20 years of experience working on energy issues in the public and private sectors. He served as Chief of Staff at the US Department of Energy during the first term of the Bush Administration helping to manage a cabinet agency with $23 billion budget and over 100,000 federal and contractor employees.

In addition, he served two years as Vice Chairman and US Representative to the International Energy Agency (IEA), an international organization of OECD energy consuming countries, and the US co-chair of the US-China Energy Working Group.

Prior to becoming Secretary General, Mr. McMonigle was the President & Co-Founder of The Abraham Group, a leading international energy sector management consulting firm based in Washington D.C. as well as a senior energy analyst for Hedgeye Risk Management based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Mr. McMonigle is an attorney and a member of the Energy Bar Association and licensed in the District of Colombia and Pennsylvania state bars. He is also an FAA licensed pilot with instrument rating.