Thank you, Speakers, Partners & Delegates
for an unforgettable #SHRMMENA25.
16th - 18th September | Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Delegate Pass
Pre-conference Masterclasses
- Gain early access to exclusive sessions led by global HR and worktech experts.
- Dive deep into high-impact topics like AI integration, people analytics, and agile leadership.
- Build a competitive edge with immersive, skill-building workshops before the main conference begins.
Main Stage Sessions
- Leverage visionary thoughts and bold ideas from world-renowned HR leaders and futurists.
- Engage with dynamic panels that address today’s biggest workforce challenges and opportunities.
- Be inspired, with strategic insights to transform your HR leadership journey.
Expo Visitor Only Access
Exposition & Experience Zone
- Discover cutting-edge HR solutions through hands-on demos and tech showcases.
- Explore immersive experiences from worktech trailblazers reimagining the future of work.
- Identify the right tools to elevate employee experience, performance, and operational impact.
Seminars For Visitors
- Join high-value conversations designed for HR professionals exploring the exposition.
- Learn from real-world case studies, expert insights, and practical
takeaways. - Ideal for professionals seeking quick, targeted learning on the go.
New-Age Learning, Elevated
- Hands-on learning opportunity.
- Curated cohorts with real-world tools.
- Designed to provide depth and interactivity.
Collaborative Thought Leadership
- Innovative new learning formats.
- Focus on essential AI-era soft skills.
- Built to shift mindsets and empower to lead.
Unfiltered Conversations in the Idea Lab
- Peer-led cross-sector discussions.
- Deep-dive into topical themes.
- Action-oriented, engaging format.
The People-Tech Expo: Touch, Test, Transform
- Explore the region’s largest showcase of HRTech solutions.
- Applicability across function / sectors.
- Opportunity to experience tools in real-time.
H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi
The Government of UAE
H.E. Faisal Saeed Binbuti Al Mheiri
Federal Authority for Government Human Resources
H.E. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al-Falasi
Dubai Government Human Resources Department
Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid
Dubai Police
Randi Zuckerberg
Zuckerberg Media and HUG
Sanford R. (Sandy) Climan
EMV (Hollywood Producer)
Michael Fraccaro
Former Chief People Officer
Mastercard
Lars N. Minns
Mercedes-Benz USA
Shiv
Emily M. Dickens, J.D.
SHRM
Achal Khanna
SHRM APAC & MENA
Adel Alghamdi
Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
Osama Yousef G. Alfraidi
Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
Arda Atalay
LinkedIn MENA
Nader Haffar
Co-Founder & Chairman, VALYOO Holding
Marketa Simkova
KPMG Middle East
Abdullah ALZahrani
Tharwah
Fazeela Gopalani
EY Academy
Ahmed Jassim
Commercial Bank International
Sid Ahmed Benraouane, Ph.D.
Pallav Popli
Vantage Circle
Sara Boueri
Scope Investment
Dr. Salima Hamouche, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP
University of Sharjah
Rami Busbait
Savvy Games Group
Abdulrahman Alsheail
KPMG, Saudi Arabia
Shilpa Bhushan
RAK Government
Zahia T. Abu Ali
Nabila Al Amri
Vijay Gandhi
Korn Ferry Digital
Iktimal Daneshvar
Projects - META
Korn Ferry
Prof. Andrew James
Alliance Manchester Business School
Sally Al Shafey
Center for Creative Leadership
Manar Al-Dina
Center for Creative Leadership
Prof. Matthew Bidwell
The Wharton School
Nicholas Williams
EY Parthenon, MENA
Zahid Mubarik SHRM-SCP, SPHRi, GPHR
HR Metrics
Pallav Popli
Vantage Circle
Wassim Hassanieh
Magnar Systems
James Chouffot
EY
Dr. Muath Jafaari
Tharwah
Mahmoud Ayman Al-Saleh
Ivory Training
Sudarsan Ravi
RippleHire
Sriram Iyer
Korn Ferry Academy (Singapore)
Elie Moussallem
Rohit Manucha
Yamen Zein
SHRM MENA
Fadi Ganni
Morgan International
Rishi Malhotra
ACCA Middle East
Hamzeh AlSmadi
Mena For Information Technology
Amandeep Bhangu
Voice Media London
Kirat Dhillon
SHRM APAC & MENA
Partika Raj
SHRM MENA
Yamen Zein
SHRM MENA
Nida Shahid
SHRM MENA
Aljohara Abdullah Alharqan
SHRM KSA
Reem Zakaria
SHRM MENA
Randi Zuckerberg
Zuckerberg Media and HUG
Sanford R. (Sandy) Climan
EMV (Hollywood Producer)
Michael Fraccaro
Former Chief People Officer
Mastercard
Lars N. Minns
Mercedes-Benz USA
Shiv
Emily M. Dickens, J.D.
SHRM
Achal Khanna
SHRM APAC & MENA
Adel Alghamdi
Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
Osama Yousef G. Alfraidi
Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
Arda Atalay
LinkedIn MENA
Nader Haffar
Co-Founder & Chairman, VALYOO Holding
Marketa Simkova
KPMG Middle East
Pre-Conference Masterclasses
AI-Accelerated Hiring & Career Architecture: Transforming Talent Acquisition for Precision and Scale
09:00 - 12:30
- Streamline talent acquisition using AI tools for efficient sourcing, screening, and candidate shortlisting.
- Leverage success profiles to align individual capabilities with job roles and drive a Talent-Driven Organisation strategy.
- Design Work & Career Architecture based on sub-functions, role types, and team-based success profiles for structured growth.
- Apply predictive analytics to assess role fit, enhance hiring accuracy, and minimize turnover risk.
- Build ethical, unbiased hiring models by integrating AI responsibly into existing talent acquisition workflows.
Masterclass Facilitators
Vijay Gandhi
Regional Director - EMEA
Korn Ferry Digital
Iktimal Daneshvar
Vice President, RPO & Projects - META
Korn Ferry
Shaping the Future of Work: People, Skills and Innovation for Digital Transformation
09:00 - 12:00
- Align talent, technology, and transformation to proactively lead change rather than react to it.
- Embed agility and innovation into the DNA of your organizational culture to stay competitive and resilient.
- Drive workforce readiness through strategic upskilling and reskilling in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration to break down silos, accelerate execution, and fuel innovation.
Masterclass Facilitator
Prof. Andrew James
Professor of Innovation Management & Policy
Alliance Manchester Business School
Shaping Leadership in the Era of Polycrisis
09:00 - 12:30
- Explore CCL's research on Polycrisis and the six essential capabilities for effective leadership in high-stakes environments.
- Adopt a "both-and" vs. "either-or" thinking mindset to navigate complexity with right strategy and flexibility.
- Identify and manage polarities within ongoing challenges.
- Learn polarity mapping to balance the upsides and downsides of opposing forces for better decision-making.
Masterclass Facilitators
Sally Al Shafey
Leadership Solutions Associate Coach
Center for Creative Leadership
Manar Al-Dina
Leadership Solutions Associate
Center for Creative Leadership
From Talent to Advantage: Where AI Meets National Workforce Strategy
13:30 - 17:00
- Leverage AI-driven insights to forecast future skills, roles, and capability needs.
- Shift from compliance-based to impact-driven capabilities to accelerate national talent development.
- Embed workforce agility to align with and drive evolving corporate strategies.
- Enable AI-powered problem solving by empowering the workforce to meet dynamic market demands.
Masterclass Facilitator
Nicholas Williams
MENA People Strategy & M&A Leader
EY Parthenon Strategy
Managing Talent in a Changing World: How Work is Transforming and How it Isn't
13:30 - 17:00
This session explores the evolving future of work-what's changing, what remains constant, and how organizations can adapt. Key discussion points:
- Navigate remote and hybrid work by uncovering new value opportunities, tackling emerging challenges, and adopting effective management approaches.
- Explore AI's potential in talent management by analyzing historical shifts and mapping scenarios for AI's impact over the next decade.
- Debunk myths about the "end of organizations" and uncover why traditional employment models persist-highlighting implications of the shift to a free agent model.
- Engage in collaborative learning through interactive discussions, idea sharing, and real-world applications to future-proof your talent strategies.
Masterclass Facilitator
Matthew Bidwell
Xingmei Zhang and Yongge Dai
Professor of Management
The Wharton School
Becoming AI-Ready: Aligning Culture, Talent & Analytics for Scalable Impact
13:30 - 17:00
- Assess your organization's current readiness to scale AI and analytics initiatives effectively.
- Build a data-driven culture that fosters collaboration between business, tech, and analytics teams.
- Develop internal talent strategies to close skill gaps and support long-term AI adoption.
- Align leadership, governance, and analytics capability to enable enterprise-wide transformation.
Masterclass Facilitator
Zahid Mubarik
SHRM-SCP, SPHRi, GPHR CEO
HR Metrics
Welcome Lounge: Registration, Expo, Interaction & Networking
National Anthem and Opening Ceremony
Inaugural Address
H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi
Minister of State for Government Development & the Future
The Government of UAE
Welcome Address
Achal Khanna
CEO
SHRM APAC & MENA
Special Address
H.E. Faisal Saeed Binbuti Al Mheiri
Director General
Federal Authority for Government Human Resources
Special Address
H.E. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al-Falasi
Director General
Dubai Government Human Resources Department
Power Talk: The Voice of Change
People & Purpose: Shaping the Future of Work
- Evolving organizational culture to build the behaviors needed today, and to drive business tomorrow
- Transforming organizations to align to strategic priorities and create better collaboration across businesses and regions
- Delivering an enhanced leadership and employee development program
- Launching an AI-driven talent marketplace, setting the foundation for a skills-powered organization
- Scaling a data-driven approach to people analytics and improved employee experience
Michael Fraccaro
Senior Fellow & Former Chief People Officer
Mastercard
Knowledge Networking Break- Connect Over Coffee
Power Panel: Leaders' Perspectives
The Rise of the AI-powered Workforce: Embracing Future-ready Talent
- Leveraging AI to optimize skill-based cross-border hiring and streamline the global candidate experience
- Exploring real-world applications of AI across sourcing, assessment, and compliance in diverse geographies to bridge the skills gap at scale
- Anticipating the evolution of job roles, skills, and tools in a digitally distributed, globally competitive talent landscape as AI redefines job architectures and career paths
Moderator
Dr. Muath Jafaari
Chief Innovation Officer
Tharwah
Ahmed Jassim
Chief Human Resources Officer
Commercial Bank International
Arda Atalay
Head, LinkedIn Talent Solutions
LinkedIn MENA
Abdulrahman Alsheail
Director
KPMG, Saudi Arabia
Power Panel: Ideas that Move People
Future Forward Coaching: Developing Leaders Through Cross-Generational Learning
- Using AI-enabled coaching to build leadership skills across generations
- Reverse mentoring to drive two-way learning and inclusive leadership
- Preparing agile leaders to thrive in a fast-changing digital workplace
Moderator
Emily M. Dickens, J.D.
Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary
SHRM
Nader Haffar
Former Chairman & CEO, KPMG LG
Co-Founder & Chairman, VALYOO Holding
Osama Yousef G. Alfraidi
GM - HR Development
Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
Lunch: Refuel & Recharge
Solution Theatre: The Idea Lab-Part 1
From Disruption to Dominance: Rethinking Talent in the Age of AI
- Navigate power shifts and new decision-making dynamics across the Talent Management lifecycle
- Blend human intuition with machine intelligence to drive performance, inclusion, and innovation
- Cultivate adaptive leadership mindsets that transform disruption into competitive advantage
- Futuristic Technology Integration for Talent Success
- Integration of AI and shifting Workforce Structures
- Humans and AI systems collaborating on tasks.
- Rethinking talent strategies in the age of AI and be better positioned to innovate and maintain competitive advantage.
Dr. Salima Hamouche, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP
Professor of Human Resources Management
University of Sharjah
Zahia T. Abu Ali
Talent Acquisition & Talent Management Leader
Rami Busbait
Vice President - Talent Management
Nabila Al Amri
Culture & Employee Engagement Leader
Solution Theatre Hosts & Moderators
Kirat Dhillon
Director-HR
SHRM APAC & MENA
Partika Raj
Head of Consulting and Capability Building
SHRM MENA
Yamen Zein
Senior Knowledge Advisor
SHRM MENA
Nida Shahid
Director Consulting and Capability Building
SHRM MENA
Aljohara Abdullah Alharqan
Senior Knowledge Advisor
SHRM KSA
Power Panel: Thoughts that Matter
Integrating Innovative Technologies: Driving Business Outcomes through Human-Centricity
- Integrating innovative HR technologies to align talent strategies with measurable business goals
- Designing personalized, purpose-driven employee programs that boost engagement, well-being, and performance
- Balancing automation with empathy to build a more agile, productive, and future-ready workforce
Moderator
Fazeela Gopalani
Partner
EY Academy
Lars N. Minns
Chief Human Resources Officer
Mercedes-Benz USA
Shilpa Bhushan
Consultant & Strategic Advisor - HR Department
RAK Government
Day 1 Closing Keynote Address
Reimagining Leadership in the Age of AI, Creativity, and Human Potential
Randi Zuckerberg
Founder & CEO
Zuckerberg Media & HUG
END OF DAY1 EVENING COFFEE, CONNECTIONS & CONVERSATIONS
Beyond the Bot: Where AI Ends and Leadership Begins
09:30 - 10:15
- Defining the human edge in an AI-powered world
- Ensuring trust and transparency in AI-led decisions
- Leadership mindsets & traits for future-ready teams
Seminar Facilitator
James Chouffot
Partner - People Consulting
EY
Digital Dexterity, Human Resilience: Thriving in the New Era
10:30 - 11:15
- The dynamics of technology in business
- How technology can help hinder effective functioning and growth of a company
- The mindset required to leverage technology for profitability and productivity
- How to assess, plan, and enact strategies to use technology for successful outcomes
Seminar Facilitator
Fadi Ganni
CEO
Morgan International
Maximizing Impact & Leading Innovation in HCM Solutions
11:30 - 12:15
- Harnessing AI and data for smarter workforce decisions
- Designing employee-centric, agile HCM experiences
- Driving organizational impact through scalable innovation
Seminar Facilitator
Wassim Hassanieh
Founder & CEO
Magnar Systems
The Future of Recognition: Where Human Empathy Meets Artificial Intelligence
12:20 - 13:05
- Strategic Imperative of Intelligent Recognition in Modern Workplaces
- Integrating Technology Without Losing the Human Touch
- Recognition as the Cornerstone of Engagement, Culture, and Resilience
- Leveraging AI for Scalable, Inclusive, and Meaningful Appreciation
Seminar Facilitator
Pallav Popli
Chief Revenue Officer & Employee Engagement Evangelist
Vantage Circle
Fuel Your People Power: How to Evaluate Your Workplace Culture and Elevate Your Impact
13:10 - 13:55
- Learn how to create a more harmonious workplace for the workforce
- Build your capacity with techniques for getting genuine employee feedback and strategies for connecting data with impact
- Gain the practical skills needed to elevate your workplace culture and the motivation to do it
Seminar Facilitator
Dr. Muath Jafaari
Chief Innovation Officer
Tharwah
Beyond Hiring: Building a True Skills-Based Culture for Sustainable Talent Success
15:30 - 16:00
- Identify ways to move beyond policy changes and build a true skills-based workplace culture
- Explore how to break traditional degree biases, realign business practices, and drive sustainable, inclusive talent strategies
- Learn more about real-world challenges and actionable ideas for future-ready workplaces
Seminar Facilitator
Sudarsan Ravi
Founder & CEO
RippleHire
Registration, Expo & Networking
Day 2 Opening
Set the Vision: Special Address
Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid
Director of the General Department of Human Resources Dubai Police
HR Power Talk: Leader's Perspective
The S-Class of Work: Crafting Premium People Experiences
- Harness worktech to enhance workforce productivity
- Redesign talent strategies using predictive insights
- Integrate worktech adoption with business agility for long-term value creation and workforce readiness
Lars N. Minns
Chief Human Resources Officer
Mercedes-Benz USA
Solution Theatre: The Idea Lab - Part 2
From Disruption to Dominance: Rethinking Talent in the Age of AI
- Navigate power shifts and new decision-making dynamics across the Talent Management lifecycle
- Blend human intuition with machine intelligence to drive performance, inclusion, and innovation
- Cultivate adaptive leadership mindsets that transform disruption into competitive advantage
- Futuristic Technology Integration for Talent Success
- Integration of AI and shifting Workforce Structures
- Humans and AI systems collaborating on tasks
- Rethinking talent strategies in the age of AI and be better positioned to innovate and maintain competitive advantage
Dr. Salima Hamouche, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP
Professor of Human Resources Management
University of Sharjah
Zahia T. Abu Ali
Talent Acquisition & Talent Management Leader
Rami Busbait
Vice President - Talent Management
Nabila Al Amri
Culture & Employee Engagement Leader
Solution Theatre Hosts & Moderators
Kirat Dhillon
Director-HR
SHRM APAC & MENA
Partika Raj
Head of Consulting and Capability Building
SHRM MENA
Yamen Zein
Senior Knowledge Advisor
SHRM MENA
Nida Shahid
Director Consulting and Capability Building
SHRM MENA
Aljohara Abdullah Alharqan
Senior Knowledge Advisor
SHRM KSA
Knowledge Networking Break- Brew & Bond
Power Talk: The Voice of Impact
Leading Through Change: Building Future-Ready Leadership
- Equipping leaders to navigate uncertainty and complexity with agility and confidence
- Fostering cultures of trust, alignment, and adaptability that empower high-performing teams
- Embedding authentic leadership behaviors that inspire commitment and drive sustainable impact in volatile times
Shiv
Operating Partner, Advent Private Equity
Former Chairperson & CEO, PepsiCo &
Former CEO, Emerging Markets, Nokia
Power Panel: Insight Exchange
Inclusive Leadership: Empowering and Recognizing Diverse Teams for Innovation
- The Role of AI and Intelligent Recognition in Supporting Inclusive and Equitable Workplace Practices
- Designing Inclusive Talent Strategies including R&R with Data-Driven Insights
- Balancing Human Judgment and Machine Intelligence to Recognize and Elevate Diverse Workforces
Moderator
Pallav Popli
Chief Revenue Officer & Employee Engagement Evangelist
Vantage Circle
Adel Alghamdi
Assistant Deputy Minister for Human Resources
Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
Sid Ahmed Benraouane, Ph.D.
Dubai Government Advisor
Marketa Simkova
Partner & Head of People, Performance & Culture
KPMG Middle East
Sara Boueri
Group Director - HR
Scope Investment
Closing Session: From Insights to Impact
Directing the Boardroom: Leadership Lessons from Hollywood
- Experience a dynamic Watch–Reflect–Apply format using curated clips from films, ads, and media.
- Uncover parallels between cinematic storytelling and real-world leadership challenges.
- Derive actionable insights for talent management, organizational growth, and high-stakes decision-making.
Sanford R. (Sandy) Climan
CEO
EMV (Hollywood Producer)
Achal Khanna
CEO
SHRM APAC & MENA
Lunch: Midday Mingle
SHRM MENA Star Awards 2025
Strategic AI Adoption: Designing Smarter Workflows
09:30 - 10:15
- Identify which HR workflows can be automated, augmented, or left alone
- Build a framework to assess AI use case value vs. risk
- Learn how to upskill your team and lead change across the org
Seminar Facilitator
Sriram Iyer
Adjunct Faculty – NUS (Singapore),
Korn Ferry Academy (Singapore)
Leveraging Data for Strategic HR Decisions
10:30 - 11:15
- Leveraging psychometrics and behavioral insights for data-driven hiring and development
- Using assessment analytics to identify growth areas and shape succession planning
- Expanding access to diverse online tools: benefits, affordability, and adoption challenges
Seminar Facilitator
Yamen Zein
Senior Knowledge Advisor
SHRM MENA
Designing Agile Organizations: Building for Speed, Trust, and Talent Resilience
11:30 - 12:15
- Balancing human capability with AI agents for smarter, faster decision-making
- Reimagining employee experience in a digital-first, continuously evolving workplace
- Embedding ethical AI, fairness, and compliance into talent practices to build trust and inclusivity
Seminar Facilitator
Dr. Elie Moussallem
HR, L&D & Organizational Development Expert
E-learning and Training Technologie
12:20 - 12:45
- Best practices for implementing and optimizing Moodle LMS in enterprise environments
- Strategies for seamless cloud migration and scalable e-learning infrastructure deployment
- Custom plugin development techniques to enhance learning management system functionality
- Data-driven approaches to improve user engagement and learning outcomes in digital training platforms
Seminar Facilitator
Hamzeh AlSmadi
E-Learning SME, Moodle Specialist
Mena For Information Technology
Strategic Workforce Planning in the AI Era: Aligning Talent with Business Impact
12:50 - 13:20
- Leverage AI and workforce analytics to plan, predict, and optimize talent across business functions
- Redesign workforce strategies to drive agility, productivity, and long-term value
- Adopt a future-focused mindset and digital tools to lead through transformation and uncertainty
Seminar Facilitator
Mahmoud Ayman Al-Saleh
Chief Executive Officer
Ivory Training
Managing Managers to Manage Better: AI-Driven Leadership
13:30 - 14:15
- Know more about critical AI tools and skillsets managers need to have to lead and manage those who report to them
- Learn how the AI-powered analytics and dashboards provide managers with real-time data on team performance, engagement, and project progress
- Leverage the principles of Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) to analyze how teams collaborate and contribute to their workplaces
Seminar Facilitator
Rohit Manucha
AI Factory Program Director and Executive Coach
Future-Ready and Purpose-Driven Talent: The New Workforce Blueprint
14:30 - 15:15
- Harnessing data for strategic decisions & advancing multigenerational and gender-responsive policies
- Stepping up as architects of resilient, inclusive, and future-ready workforces
- Unlocking people potential, drive purpose, and shape tomorrow’s organizations
Seminar Facilitator
Rishi Malhotra
Regional Business Development Manager (Strategic Partnerships)
ACCA Middle East
Interested in registering a group of five or more?
Contact Moataz Elkhamisy: +971 58 259 5495 (Dubai) | [email protected].
For speaking opportunities Contact us at [email protected] or Landline: +971 43649464 (UAE).
SHRM Members Save!
If you are not a member yet, register for your SHRM Global Online Membership
First so you can enjoy the conference plus all the benefits of the SHRM membership for one year.
Registration
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Expo Visitor Only Access
Interested in registering a group of five or more?
Contact Moataz Elkhamisy: +971 58 259 5495 (Dubai) | [email protected].
For speaking opportunities Contact us at [email protected] or Landline: +971 43649464 (UAE).
SHRM Members Save!
If you are not a member yet, register for your SHRM Global Online Membership
First so you can enjoy the conference plus all the benefits of the SHRM membership for one year.
Talent Acquisition, Management & Development
Building agile, future-ready talent pipelines through innovative sourcing, development, and employee lifecycle strategies
Strategic HR & Organization Design
Redesigning organizations for agility, alignment, and performance with data-driven strategic HR frameworks
Future of Work & Innovation
Exploring workforce transformation, hybrid models, and digital disruption shaping the evolving future of work
HR Technology & Analytics
Harnessing AI, automation, and predictive analytics to drive smarter HR decisions and workforce efficiency
Leadership & Development
Empowering leaders with adaptive mindsets, emotional intelligence, and skills to lead change in complex ecosystems
Email: [email protected] | Landline: +971 43649464 | Privacy Policy