Conference Program 2026

Eng. Khaled Al Attar

Director-General, DIHAD Sustainable Organisation | United Arab Emirates

Eng. Khaled Al Attar is the Director General of the DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Organisation, where he leads strategic initiatives across humanitarian action, education, and sustainable development. His portfolio includes the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD), a global platform bringing together governments, United Nations agencies, international organisations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to advance humanitarian dialogue, partnerships, and action. He played a pivotal role in the development of the DIHAD Humanitarian College and the establishment of its first international Master’s in Sustainable Humanitarian Action, contributing to the advancement of humanitarian education and the development of future leaders in the sector. As Director General of the Abdulsalam AlMadani Global Education Centre (AGEC), Eng. Al Attar also leads initiatives focused on education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and future-focused learning, creating platforms that strengthen individual and institutional capabilities and translate knowledge into meaningful impact. With more than two decades of experience spanning humanitarian action, education, leadership, and international development, Eng. Al Attar has contributed to initiatives that strengthen global cooperation, build institutional capacity, and foster sustainable solutions. His work is driven by a commitment to connecting knowledge, leadership, and partnerships with action to create lasting impact for communities and future generations.

Prof. Roberto Mugavero

IECM Scientific Director; President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine – CEMEC | United Arab Emirates

IECM Scientific Director; President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine – CEMEC

Ms. Ivana Mrdja

Director for GCC Countries, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) | United Arab Emirates

Director for GCC Countries, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Dr. Flavio Salio

Head, Global Health Emergency Corps, Network Leader, Emergency Medical Teams (EMT), World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva | United Arab Emirates

Flavio currently serves as Head of the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC). In this role, Flavio oversees some of the most important health emergency networks, including GOARN, Emergency Medical Teams (EMT), and EOC-NET, bringing together countries, partners, and institutions to advance the vision of the Global Health Emergency Corps. With more than 20 years of international leadership experience, Flavio has guided health programmes and emergency operations across a wide range of humanitarian and public health crises. His work has spanned natural disasters, disease outbreaks, conflict settings, and protracted emergencies throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, where he has held senior executive leadership and country-level management roles. Dr. Flavio has played a key role in shaping and leading major global health emergency responses, including the Ebola outbreaks, the Nepal and Türkiye earthquakes, the crises in Iraq, Yemen and Gaza, and the COVID-19 pandemic to name few. He has led the development of emergency preparedness strategies, coordinated large-scale response operations, and mobilized global surge capacities and emergency medical teams in support of countries facing complex emergencies. A recognized leader in disaster medicine and emergency management, Flavio combines operational leadership with academic excellence. Holding a PhD in Disaster Medicine, he is actively engaged in teaching, research, and professional development. Through his academic and operational work, he continues to advance the science and practice of health emergency management while helping develop the next generation of global health emergency leaders.

Mr. Mario Stephan

Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Center for Civilians in Conflict | United Arab Emirates

Mario Stephan is currently the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for the Centre for Civilians in Conflict, based out of Geneva. He brings today over 21 years’ experience in the Aid&Relief sector, with more than half of it dedicated to philanthropy and building partnerships, during which he carved an expertise in Islamic and Blockchain philanthropy. Mario’s experience encompasses a wide variety of roles, from field work to leadership and executive roles, with several international organisations. In the course of his career, Mario has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Egypt, the UAE, and now Switzerland. Mario also held regional positions covering eastern and southern Africa, the MENA region, and the Gulf region. In the years leading to his present appointment, Mario was the founding director of Arabian Perspectives, a consultancy firm providing expertise and knowledge on the Arab World to the relief and development sectors, and the Executive Director for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s UAE regional office from 2018 to 2022. Since 2013, Mario has been involved in different governance roles, from board member and trustee to secretary to chairman. He has also joined advisory boards of Gulf universities and foundations, bridging the gap with the Aid & Relief sector. Mario speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish, and holds a Master’s degree in Management and Business Administration from the KEDGE business school (Bordeaux, France), and throughout his career has been accredited as a professional trainer by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (London, United Kingdom), and a mentor at Senior Practitioner Level by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).

Dr. Petra Khoury

Director for Health and Care Department · International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Petra Khoury is Global Director of Health and Care at IFRC headquarters in Geneva. In her current role, she oversees the IFRC operational plan on global health security, health protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). She works with a network of 191 National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies on health preparedness, readiness and emergency response plans. Prior to this role, she held a public health leadership role serving as Senior Health Adviser to the Prime Minister of Lebanon and led the national COVID-19 response plan as well as chairing the national COVID-19 Vaccination Executive Committee. In this capacity, she developed and executed the operational response and vaccination plan and became the nation's scientific spokesperson on COVID-19-related matters. She also coordinated the national health disaster plan after the 2020 Beirut explosion on 4 August. Prior to joining the public health sector, Petra was Chief Quality and Compliance Officer and part of the Executive Leadership Team at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre (AUBMC). In this role, she had oversight over quality, safety, risk management, medico-legal matters, Joint Commission accreditations and regulatory compliance. She started her clinical career as a healthcare professional at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) covering different patient care services as infectious disease specialist and managed the antimicrobial stewardship programme. Petra holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy. She completed her residency training at MGH, where she specialized in infectious diseases. She also earned a post-graduate certificate in Quality, Safety, Leadership and Informatics from Harvard Medical School. She is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

Mr. Takeshi Komino

Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee, Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) | United Arab Emirates

As the Chairperson and Executive Committee member of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), Takeshi plays a crucial role in shaping the network’s strategic direction. He also leads the ADRRN Tokyo Innovation Hub (ATIH) and serves as a member of CWS Technical Unit for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Takeshi is an active member of the Regional Advisory Group for the Global Network of CSOs for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) and co-leads the joint secretariat of the Japan CSO Coalition for DRR (JCC-DRR). His experience spans humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Thailand, and he founded CWS Japan during the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami response, where he now serves as Board Member and General Secretary.

Ms. Yara Matar

Director for Global Advocacy and Philanthropy at the Eleanor Crook Foundation (ECF) - Moderator | United Arab Emirates

Director for Global Advocacy and Philanthropy at the Eleanor Crook Foundation (ECF)

Mr. Sherring Thekekkara

Global Executive Vice President, Market Access, DP World | United Arab Emirates

Sherring is a strategic business leader with over 30 years of experience un multiple industry verticals and geographies working with high energy teams, he has helped businesses grow into market leadership positions, creating value for all stakeholders. Backed with rich experience of managing complexities and heading businesses successfully in manufacturing, agri-commodities, investments, logistics, pharmaceuticals and FMCG, he is currently heading “Global Market Access”, a unique end-to-end capability within DP World. ‘Market Access’ is the latest addition to DP World’s foray into Global Logistics. We offer sourcing, value addition and distribution solutions to principals across key industry verticals and geographies, thus delivering our promise: “From Factory Floor To Customer Door”

Lt. Colonel Dr. Rawdha Alshamsi

Head of Clinical Section, General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police | United Arab Emirates

Head of Clinical Section, General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police

Mr. Samer AbdelJaber

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and Northern Africa and Eastern Europe | United Arab Emirates

Samer AbdelJaber is the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe, a role he has held since June 2025. Mr. AbdelJaber facilitates coordination and dissemination of strategic guidance to Coun-try Offices across the region, strengthening operational effectiveness and performance. Mr. AbdelJaber represents the WFP in engagement with key stakeholders across the re-gion to enhance strategic partnerships, resource mobilization efforts and inter-agency coordination to advance WFP’s mission in the region. A Jordanian national, Samer brings over two decades of humanitarian and development leadership across the region and beyond. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Director of the Office of the Deputy Execu-tive Director and as WFP’s Director of Emergencies in the Office of the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at WFP Headquarters. In this role, he played a cen-tral part in shaping the organization's global emergency preparedness and response ar-chitecture. Previously, Mr. AbdelJaber was WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Palestine, where he also led WFP’s emergency operations during the outbreak of the Gaza crisis in October 2023. He previously also served as Country Director in Libya, where he spear-headed initiatives that strengthened national capacities. Under his leadership, WFP also established key common services such as the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) and the Logistics Cluster, improving humanitarian access and coordination across the country. Throughout his career, Mr. AbdelJaber has held a range of strategic and technical roles across WFP operations in Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, and Egypt, as well as at Headquarters. He served as Chief of Digital Solutions Delivery, leading major corporate technology initia-tives, and as Deputy Country Director in Egypt, where he strengthened partnerships with UN agencies and donors and oversaw WFP’s Syria emergency response in Egypt. He has also played a key role in inter-agency coordination, most recently representing WFP in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Emergency Directors Group, contributing to the humanitarian reset agenda, support to Resident Coordinators, and the review of corporate scale-ups. Mr. AbdelJaber holds a degree in Computer Science from Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Amman, Jordan. He is married and has two children.

Ms. Farah Kabir

Country Director, Action Aid Bangladesh | United Arab Emirates

Farah Kabir is the Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh and a renowned human rights activist with a longstanding commitment to social justice, gender equality, and climate justice. She is widely recognized for her uncompromising advocacy against human rights violations and her leadership in advancing women’s rights and political empowerment in Bangladesh. As a gender justice advocate, her contributions to research and advocacy are recognized nationally and internationally. As a media activist, Farah Kabir regularly writes op-eds and advocacy pieces in Bangla and English newspapers to advance social justice. A prominent voice on climate justice in Bangladesh, she actively engages in national and global advocacy platforms, including the UN climate negotiations (COP process).

Dr. Datuk Heng Aik Cheng

Board Member of Mercy Malaysia and Asean Partnership Group (APG) | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Heng Aik Cheng is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and dedicated humanitarian who has volunteered his time with Mercy Malaysia since 2002. He has had success working in areas of Conflict, Natural Disasters, coordinating complex Humanitarian Programmes of Planning, Food and Health. Work has been in all countries in Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Palestine, Iraq, Sudan, China, North Korea and Chile. Besides being a volunteer has served as a Board Member of Mercy Malaysia, ADRRN (Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network), ALNAP, APG (ASEAN Partnership Group) and Regional Board Planning Committees. Having worked in multi-ethnic, inclusive and challenging environments he has been inspired to improve the standard of care, peace, equality, health, environment and mental health of the human race irrespective of religion, race or ethnicity.

Mr. Marwan Ali Anbar

Dubai Ambulance Chief AI Officer | United Arab Emirates

Marwan Ali is a Chief AI Officer and Ambulance Operations Consultant at Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in emergency medical services. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Services. Throughout his career, Marwan has worked across ambulance operations, innovation, digital transformation, and service design, with a strong interest in how technology can make emergency response faster, smarter, and more connected. His work focuses on bringing practical ideas into real EMS operations, from artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to digital systems that support frontline teams and improve patient care. As a panelist at the International Emergency and Catastrophe Management Conference, Marwan brings a grounded perspective shaped by field experience, public-sector leadership, and a commitment to building more proactive, reliable, and human-centered emergency services.

Dr. Hanna Kaade

DIHAD College Student; Emergency Physician, and Humanitarian Health Advisor, German Red Cross | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Hanna Kaade is a German dual board-certified General Surgeon and Emergency Physician, International Health Delegate with the German Red Cross, WHO Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Mentor, and Visiting Researcher at the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB), Germany. With more than 15 years of experience in humanitarian health, he has led and supported health responses in conflict and disaster settings across the Middle East and beyond, including with the World Health Organization and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. His work focuses on Emergency Medical Teams, humanitarian health systems, emergency and critical care, and strengthening healthcare delivery in crisis settings.

Mr. Pablo Panadero

Chief of Warehouse and Inventory Management Centre, UNICEF (Lead agency, UN 3PL) | United Arab Emirates

Pablo has more than 20 years of experience in humanitarian and development related supply chain and contracting positions from various UN agencies and at both headquarters and country level. Prior to his current role as Chief, Warehouse and Inventory Management Centre, Pablo worked in various roles with UNICEF Supply Division, UNDP and WHO India managing teams to improve efficiency and outcomes of supply chain operations. Originally from Spain, prior to joining the UN, Pablo worked in both the public and private sector in Spain in the field of international trade. He holds a master’s in business administration from the University Autonoma de Madrid and has subsequent certifications and studies in Humanitarian Logistics, from Fritz Institute / CILT, and Poverty Reduction from SOAS in London. He is married, has two kids and speaks Spanish, English, French and Danish.

Mr. Tim Smith

Senior Director Strategic Development, Middle East and Africa, DSV | United Arab Emirates

Tim was a Logistics Officer and Port Captain with World Food Programme before moving into private sector roles with leading international supply chain organizations serving humanitarian organizations. He is currently based in Dubai with DSV, serving as their Senior Director for Strategic Development for Middle East and Africa. DSV is one of the world's leading transport and logistics companies and, following the acquisition of DB Schenker, ranks among the largest global freight forwarding and logistics providers.

Ms. Prabha Venu

Chief Commercial Officer, CMA CGM UAE | United Arab Emirates

Prabha Venu is a commercial leader with over three decades of global experience across shipping, freight forwarding, and integrated supply chains. She has a strong track record of driving commercial growth, building strategic customer partnerships, and leading diverse teams across international markets. Her expertise spans commercial strategy, customer solutions, and supply chain leadership, with a focus on creating sustainable value in complex global environments.

Mr. Philipp Isler

World Economic Forum | United Kingdom

World Economic Forum

Prof. Roberto Mugavero

IECM Scientific Director; President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine – CEMEC | United Arab Emirates

IECM Scientific Director; President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine – CEMEC