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.

Santiago Rojas serves as the Northern Regional Manager and Representative for CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in Peru.

A Colombian national, Mr. Rojas holds a law degree from Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and a specialization in Negotiations and International Relations from Universidad de Los Andes. His distinguished career includes various high-profile roles in Colombia, such as Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism; President of the Bank of Foreign Trade (BANCOLDEX); General Director of Taxes and
Customs; advisor to the Colombian Mission to the WTO; Director of the Institute of Foreign Trade; and legal consultant for the Andean Community.

In academia, Mr. Rojas has been a professor of International Economic Law at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. He has authored several publications, including Las Reglas de Juego del TLC and Aspectos Jurídicos del Tratado de Libre Comercio entre Colombia y Estados Unidos.

Chi Fulin, Senior Research Fellow and Ph.D. student supervisor, a member of the 11th and 12th National Committee of CPPCC. He is the President of China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), the President of Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies. He is also a policymaking advisor for provincial governments in Guangdong, Shandong and Hainan. He is the distinguished professor at several universities, including Peking University and Northeastern University. He has been entitled to the State Council’s special allowances for experts. He has been awarded the Best Works Award, Sun Yefang Prize for Economics, China Development Research Award, National Excellence Award for Specialized Talents, and many others. He was selected as one of the “100 Economists that have Influenced China’s Economic Construction in the Last 60 Years”. He and his works were selected in Overview of the Academic Achievements of Famous Chinese Social Scientists in the 20th Century (Economics Volume).

Badr Al-Olama is the Director General at Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) – the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) arm responsible for driving economic diversification and growth in the emirate.

As a former Mubadala executive, Badr managed a diverse portfolio of investments ranging from aerospace and defense, to healthcare services, and satellite technologies. During his tenure at Mubadala, Badr held chief executive roles at Strata – the regions first aerospace manufacturing facility, and at Hub71 – Abu Dhabi’s tech startup incubator and accelerator.

Over the past two decades, Badr served extensively on a number of company boards in different parts of the world. More notably is his current chairmanship of both 7X (Emirates Post Group) and the publicly-listed asset management and investment bank Shuaa Capital, as well as his board membership with the Emirates Drug Establishment, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Yas Holding, and Maqta Gateway.

On public engagements, Badr was the former President of the UAE Harvard Club and was also a member of the UAE Ministerial Council on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). This led him to establish the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) alongside the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to promote 4IR technologies with the global manufacturing sector.

As a graduate of both the UAE University and Harvard Law School, Badr began his career as a lawyer and got nominated in 2016 as a ‘Young Global Leader for the Middle East and North Africa Region’ by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Stefan has been working in UNIDO for the past 20 years and currently serves as Head of UNIDO’s Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation. He has formulated and implemented a wide range of projects in areas of investment promotion and private sector development, sustainable supply chain development in various geographical regions. He has more recently spearheaded the development of a suite of novel and digital instruments for investment promotion agencies in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Stefan is holder of a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Karlsruhe University and holder of a PhD from Leipzig University, Germany.

John Defterios is veteran, award winning journalist and economic analyst with more than 35 years of experience at CNN, Reuters and PBS Television in the United States. 

John is the former CNN Business’ Emerging Markets Editor and Anchor. He is a Strategic Senior Advisor APCO Worldwide, board member in media and the youth development arenas, Professor of Business at NYU-Abu Dhabi and a World Economic Forum Distinguished Energy Fellow.

Defterios is a recipient of the Alfred Dupont Award at Columbia University, The Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation award for the Advancement of Energy Journalism and the International Association of Energy Economics Award for excellence in energy journalism.

He is a sought-after fixture at high-level global events as both a speaker and moderator. He chairs sessions at the World Economic Forum, the OPEC Seminar, IMF Global Roundtable, St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, ADIPEC, Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, U.A.E. World Government Summit, Global Manufacturing & Industrialization Summit, The Milken Institute, IRENA General Assembly, Euromoney Roundtables, U.S.-Saudi Arabia Investment Summit, Islamic Development Bank Annual Meeting, Global Women’s Forum, UNWTO Global Tourism Council, World Energy Council and Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative and many others.

As Managing Director, Mr. Beger is heading the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, which is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving
technologies. The Directorate is also in charge of developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders. Before assuming his position as Managing Director in October 2022, he also provided his expertise as Special Advisor for Agribusiness at UNIDO.

Prior to working for UNIDO, Mr. Beger served as Executive Director for Germany at the World Bank Group as well as in several leadership positions in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany from 2013-2021, as
Director-General for Global Health, Private Sector, Trade, Sustainable Supply Chains and Rural Development and as Head of Political Staff. 

From 2006 – 2013, Mr. Beger worked in numerous leading functions at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of Germany, such as Head of Division for International Projects, Twinning; and Head of Division for Promotion of
Foreign Trade and Investment. 

Earlier in his career, he served as Head of Division for Agriculture at the German Embassy in Moscow, Russia (1995-2000). In the years 1991 to 1995, he worked at the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry as Advisor for International Cooperation and Trade. Gunther Beger holds a Master`s degree in Agricultural Economics.

Dr. Adil Alzarooni is a Leader of Entrepreneurial Teams, Investor and Educator. With over two decades of experience in executive management, investments, sales, logistics, IT security and economic zone development, he has served in various leadership positions within UAE government entities as well as family-owned businesses. He has bolstered his portfolio with directorship positions in within diverse sectors including healthcare, education, financial services, logistics, media, technology, food and beverage, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and real estate. Currently, he operates two family offices and a venture studio.

Dr. Adil holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Etisalat College of Engineering, a master’s in business administration from American University of Sharjah and a PhD in family businesses and business systems from the British University in Dubai. He is a passionate educator and an inspiring public speaker in the fields of economic zone development and sustainability of family businesses. He is the co-author of Economic Zones: The Essentials and the author of Sustaining Family Businesses: The Essentials.

 Mr. Scott Wang is the Vice President, Asia Pacific for the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). In this role, Mr. Wang draws from his 20+ years of expertise on businesses relations and trade in the U.S. and Asian countries to lead WTCA’s efforts in developing business relations in Asia Pacific region. He supports the operational and development needs of existing WTCs in the Asia Pacific, and executes the growth and expansion initiatives for new WTCs in the area. 

Prior to his appointment to WTCA, Mr. Wang served as Vice President of the World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) in charge of Asia Desk, where he developed Asia Desk as a prominent Asia business intelligence platform for San Diego and World Trade Center communities. Under his leadership, Asia Desk provided thousands of small and medium-sized companies with assistances in information, communications and connections for doing business in Asia. Before joining WTCSD in 2002, Mr. Wang was a senior business development manager at PacketVideo Corporation, a San Diego-based wireless software company, where he led the business development efforts for the wireless multimedia platform adoption in the Chinese market. Mr. Wang holds a Masters of Pacific International Affairs (MPIA) degree from the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in addition to M.A. and B.A. degrees from Zhejiang University, China.

Preston Mendenhall has more than 20 years’ experience in emerging markets. Based at Tatu City, he manages the 5,000-acre Special Economic Zone in Kenya, as well as Rendeavour’s operations across the company’s new city developments.

Previously, Preston was Head of Marketing & Public Affairs for Renaissance Group, the Moscow-based emerging markets investment firm. Prior to Renaissance, Preston was Vice President for Strategy of Russian Standard, Russia’s leading global consumer brand with interests in financial services and alcohol beverage production and distribution.

From 1993-2006, Preston was a producer and correspondent for NBC News, covering global events in the Soviet successor states, Europe, Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Preston is a graduate of Cornell University and Phillips Exeter Academy.

Based in Geneva, Rami is a trade facilitation and cross border solutions expert at the International Road Transport Union (IRU), specialised in helping logistics and road transport operators to remove trade barriers in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

He has over 10 years of experience working with international organisations and private sector companies across Europe and the Middle East. After a six-year spell in the reinsurance industry, Rami spent 4 years in the financial division of Geneva’s United Nations office. 

Since he joined IRU, Rami led the implementation of the TIR system in numerous countries, focusing on enriching IRU missions in facilitating trade and unlocking regional trade potential, an effort that is helping transport companies to significantly reduce cost, transit time and CO2 emissions.

Courtney Fingar is a leading expert on foreign direct investment and a business editor with more than 20 years of media experience. 

She has covered business stories in all major regions of the world and has been on assignment to more than 80 countries, interviewing government and business leaders. She has appeared on television and radio in dozens of countries as a commentator and has twice been called to give evidence to the UK Parliament about inward investment. 

Among her ongoing media work, she writes a column for Forbes.com on FDI and is a contributing editor for Real Asset Media. 

An in-demand moderator, master of ceremonies and keynote speaker, Ms Fingar has participated in hundreds of business events globally and advises event organisers on content and strategy. 

In 2023, she set up Fingar Direct Investment, a boutique consultancy advising governments on investment promotion, investor outreach and location marketing. She also serves as senior advisor for the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies. She is a member of the advisory board of Halkin Investments and is a Global Fellow for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 

She previously served as the editor-in-chief of Investment Monitor, a digital publication focused on cross-border investment, and before that spent 15 years with the Financial Times where she ran the group’s specialist FDI publication. 

Dr. Samir Hamrouni is CEO of the World Free Zones Organization. In this role he reports to the Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, providing analytical assistance and advice on key strategic matters to the organization consolidating this new not-for-profit organization.

Previously, Dr. Samir was employed as Senior Advisor with Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), a 100% Government owned free zone that promotes modern technology based industries. Previous to DSO he was at Economic Zones World, EZW, a global developer and operator of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks under the Dubai World Group. EZW’s portfolio includes JAFZA, one of the world’s largest free zones; TechnoPark (TP), a research driven business and industrial park, and Dubai Auto Zone, an industry specific free zone. 

Dr. Samir coordinated a multidisciplinary team, which developed for the Dubai Economic Development Department and Dubai Executive Council the “Dubai Medium Term Economic Plan 2012-2016”.

Dr. Samir has served in various posts since he began his career. He was Manager of Research & Development at The Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF).

During 2004-2005, Samir joined the Euro-Arab Management School (EAMS), as Director of Business Development. In 2002, he founded the Barcelona Arab Center, which aims to consolidate Euro-Arab cooperation in the cultural, social, educational and economic fields, and until very recently he was its director.

In 1997, he was working as Research Manager at the University of Barcelona (UB), where he played a key role in the internationalization of research and the establishment of “Parc Cientific de Barcelona” (Barcelona Science Park), a pioneer R+D+I structure (Research + Development + Innovation).

Yuta Takanabe joined Japan Customs in 2009 and has over 15 years of experience in inspections at sea ports and airports, intelligence, information exchange with foreign Customs administrations, counter-terrorism, and free trade agreements. In 2018, he was stationed at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport in the United States as a Container Security Initiative (CSI) officer to combat threats to border security and global trade in close cooperation with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In July 2023, Mr. Takanabe was appointed as a Technical Attaché at the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate of the World Customs Organization (WCO). His work at the WCO primarily focuses on Free Zones, postal issues, SAFE Framework of Standards, and AEO Programmes. He has organized several capacity building workshops on Free Zones for WCO Members with the aim of supporting Customs operations and enhancing cooperation between Customs and Free Zone stakeholders for the competitiveness and sustainability of Free Zones.

Kelli-Dawn is a distinguished professional with a wealth of expertise in policy development, international trade, public relations, and investment facilitation. Serving as the Chief Executive Officer at the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) since November 1, 2023, Kelli-Dawn brings a decade-long track record of excellence in driving organizational success and fostering economic growth. With her previous role as Director of Investor Relations and Communications at the JSEZA, Kelli-Dawn demonstrated her prowess as an investment facilitator, playing a pivotal role in attracting investments and enhancing communication strategies.

Prior to her tenure at the JSEZA, Kelli-Dawn honed her skills at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation, JAMPRO, where she contributed to a range of special projects, research, business development, capacity building, specifically in the services industry and investment promotion. As a certified Services Go Global Trainer, Kelli-Dawn has been a catalyst for entrepreneurship across the Caribbean Region, empowering local businesses to expand their market base and access overseas markets.

Recognized for her adept project management skills, Kelli-Dawn has successfully coordinated and implemented numerous national initiatives, contributing to the advancement of a range of sectors in Jamaica.

In addition to her professional commitments, Kelli-Dawn actively contributes to the governance landscape of Jamaica, serving on the Board of Directors of prestigious organizations such as the Spectrum Management Authority of Jamaica, the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA), and the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA).

Kelli-Dawn holds a Master of Science Degree in Comparative Politics and Political Theory, as well as a Bachelor of Science in International Relations with a minor in Political Science, both from the University of the West Indies, Mona. Her academic background, coupled with her extensive practical experience, underscores her commitment to driving socio-economic development and fostering strategic partnerships on a global scale.

Jacopo Dettoni is the editor of fDi Intelligence, a leading publication from the Financial Times, where he spearheads the editorial vision and strategic growth of the title. A seasoned journalist and thought leader, Jacopo is a sought-after speaker and moderator at international forums, where he delves into the complexities and opportunities within global trade and investment. His extensive career has taken him across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, where he reported on some of the world’s most dynamic economies and transformative industries. Jacopo holds a master’s degree in Economics and Finance from the Catholic University of Milan, with a specialisation in trade policies and economic welfare, underscoring his deep understanding of the forces shaping our global economy.