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Sarah is a Senior Associate at Airut Legal Consultants, a regional law firm specializing in PPP advisory. With extensive experience advising governments and private sector clients across the GCC, Sarah focuses on structuring and negotiating Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), infrastructure concessions, and complex commercial transactions. At Airut, she has led the legal advisory on several landmark PPP projects in the region.

Dr. Al Bastaki was instrumental in shaping public-private partnership initiatives and driving healthcare investment projects aimed at enhancing Dubai’s health infrastructure. Her professional journey spans across both public and private sectors, including notable positions with the Prime Minister’s Office, VPS Healthcare, the Ministry of Health, and DHA. A medical graduate from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dr. Al Bastaki is board-certified in Family Medicine and holds a master’s degree in healthcare management from RCSI. She is also an alumna of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Program. Since 2014, Dr. Al Bastaki has served as the Scientific Chair of the International Family Medicine (IFM) Conference, contributing to the advancement of family medicine on both regional and international levels.

Ziad Hayek is a globally recognized authority in PPPs, with over four decades of experience in investment banking, public policy, and infrastructure development. As President of the WAPPP and Vice-Chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Working Party on PPPs, he has been instrumental in shaping international PPP standards and promoting best practices. During his tenure as Secretary General of Lebanon’s High Council for Privatization and PPP, Hayek led the development of the country’s PPP framework, facilitating major infrastructure projects and attracting significant international investment. His advocacy for innovative, sustainable, and inclusive PPP models continues to influence global infrastructure strategies.

Neset Guner is an Associate Partner at FTI Consulting ‘s Strategy & Transformation practice. He brings more than 15 years of consulting experience with a focus on PPP and privatization projects in the Middle East, advising public entities on their key strategic problems. Over his career, he has led national PPP planning for multiple countries, worked with numerous Ministries and sectorial authorities for opportunity identification and acted as the Lead Advisor for more than 15 PPP transactions, driving them from concept through closure. His experience spans a wide range of sectors and functional topics related to PPP projects, including deal structuring, value optimization and governance.

Nisrine’s career spans research, teaching, and leadership in multicultural higher education across France, Lebanon, the UK, and the UAE. She is a Professor of Law and Director of Research at the School of Law, USJ Dubai. Previously, she served as Director of USJ’s Dubai campus and Vice Dean of the School of Law. Nisrine holds a PhD in Public Law from the University of Paris 2, Pantheon-Assas. Her work has been published in respected international outlets, including Brill, Taylor & Francis, and Oxford University Press, with 200 citations on Google Scholar. She has also presented at international conferences, including events hosted by Johns Hopkins University, Qatar University, and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Rita holds a PhD from Paris II, Assas on BOT contracts and an LLM in Litigation, Arbitration and ADR. With over 15 years of experience as an educator and legal consultant, she currently serves as the Vice-Dean of the School of Law at Saint Joseph University Dubai. Dr. Waked has numerous publications in the legal field, notably on Public Private Partnerships.

Naveed Khawaja is a seasoned professional with over 16 years of diverse experience in strategic planning, financial advisory, private equity investments, and public-private partnerships (PPP). He brings a rich blend of expertise in project finance, corporate finance, venture capital investments, and greenfield developments. Previously, Naveed spearheaded the PPP Program at the Department of Finance, Government of Dubai, where he played a pivotal role in developing and executing Dubai’s PPP strategy and policy. Since joining the Dubai Government in 2011, he has delivered numerous high-impact projects across a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, public transport, green energy, healthcare, utilities, and real estate. With extensive experience in financial valuations, business modelling, and project management, Naveed has been an integral contributor to a wide array of transactions across both public and private sectors. Additionally, his areas of expertise include PPP development, strategic planning, financial modelling, and financial planning.

In his current role, Naveed leads Parkin’s Corporate Strategy, where he oversees the development and execution of the organization’s strategic roadmap. His responsibilities include identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities, fostering innovation, and driving initiatives that strengthen competitive positioning in the parking and mobility sector. Naveed plays a critical role in aligning the company’s objectives with evolving market trends and customer needs, ensuring the delivery of sustainable, long-term value. By integrating insights from market analysis and leveraging his expertise in project finance and PPPs, Naveed ensures that Parkin remains at the forefront of industry advancements while achieving its expansion and profitability goals.

Naveed holds an MBA in International Finance & Investment from NUST Business School, reflecting his strong academic foundation and dedication to driving excellence in financial and strategic leadership.