Brent Melvin
General Manager
RSA Cold Chain
Brent Melvin is an accomplished and results-driven Senior Business Leader & Board Advisor with 30+ years of experience at integrating strategy and operations to deliver outstanding stakeholder value in Logistics, Distribution, Transport, Project Cargo, Express and Warehousing across the Middle East & Africa region. Demonstrated success in establishing and stewarding organizations, driving business growth & profitability, mentoring executive teams, optimizing operational & financial performance, building strategic partnerships and innovating to deploy scalable, data-led solutions in complex cross-functional environments.
Dr. Masoud Khakdaman
Assistant Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Abu Dhabi University
Dr. Masoud Khakdaman is an Assistant Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the College of Business, Abu Dhabi University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. His Ph.D. research was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and Europe Container Terminals.
Dr. Masoud has more than 15 years of academic and industrial experience across Europe, Asia, the USA, and the Middle East. He worked in various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, oil and gas, airline, and freight transportation, in areas including business intelligence, revenue management, supply chain design/strategy, sourcing and procurement, sales and operations planning, and various systems design and improvement projects.
Dr. Sathya Menon (FCIPS, FCLIT, FCMI, CPM, CICCM, CISCM)
CERTIFIED SAP CONSULTANT - SCM
Group CEO Blue Ocean Corporation & Vice Chairman UAE Chapter
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport International
United Arab Emirates
Dr. Shereen Nassar
Global Director of Logistics Studies and Director of MSc Logistics and SCM programmes
Heriot-Watt University
Dr. Stéphane Graber
Director General
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations
Dr Stéphane Graber has been Director General at FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations since 2020. FIATA is the largest non-governmental organisation in the field of logistics, which represents 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms and employs around 10 million people around the globe.
Prior to joining FIATA, Dr Graber was Secretary General at STSA (Swiss Commodity Trading and Shipping Association) and Chaired the eGTSA, a company that successfully developed a digital platform used by commodity trading companies and commodity trade-financing banks, which was sold to Komgo in 2019.
Dr Graber has previously worked at the Economic Department of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, and was President of the Geneva Chapter of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Gilbert Abi Zeid
Vice President Logistics
GMG
Gilbert Abi Zeid is a seasoned and highly accomplished professional with over 14 years of experience in the field of logistics. He is currently working as the Vice President of GMG Logistics. Gilbert has a strong background in overseeing supply chain strategies in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. He is capable of applying innovations in warehousing to distribution, fulfillment, and last-mile delivery, and along with his team, is contributing to the sustainable growth of GMG, stakeholders, and the retail sector.
Kivanc Karayol
Regional Director & Sustainability Leader
Volvo Group
With over a decade of automotive industry experience, Kivanc is now the Market Director and Head of Electromobility and Sustainable Growth for the Middle East & Turkiye at Volvo Group.
Throughout his career, he has worn multiple hats in sales, aftersales, network, and business development, contributing to my holistic understanding of the automotive industry.
A significant part of his career has been dedicated to electrifying the region's transportation sector. In his current role, he has the unique privilege of driving sustainable mobility solutions in a region at the forefront of electric vehicle innovation and overseeing operations in several countries in the ME and Turkiye region.
Mohsen Ahmad
Chief Executive Officer – Logistics District
Dubai South
Mohsen Ahmad oversees Dubai South’s entire Logistics District as its chief executive officer. Having set up its free zone and established the Dubai Logistics Corridor, which connects Jebel Ali Port with Al Maktoum International Airport via a single, custom-bonded zone, Mohsen leads the overall execution of the district’s operations, manages its financial planning, and is responsible for setting the district’s strategic directions and goals. He was also instrumental in laying the groundwork for future developments to ensure the district’s sustainable growth.
Anticipating the rapid growth of e-commerce and witnessing the growing number of international and regional movers in Dubai, Mohsen championed the development of EZDubai, a purpose built e-commerce hub that supports the growth of the sector through state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure within the Logistics District. Additionally, as an industry veteran, he played an instrumental role in developing Dubai’s overall e-commerce strategy to consolidate the emirate’s position as a hub for global e-commerce.
Mohsen joined Dubai South in 2008 following more than twelve years’ experience in the supply chains and logistics sector, having held management posts at Al Futtaim Logistics and tenure as head of inbound logistics at Dubai Aluminum Company (DUBAL).
He had set his sights early on a career in supply chain and logistics, with a bachelor’s degree in logistics and transportation from the University of Tennessee, USA and a Master of Science in logistics and supply chain management from Cranfield University School of Management, United Kingdom.
He is currently a fellow member and was previously the secretary general of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), UAE.
Nadia Abdul Aziz
President
The National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL)
Nadia Abdul Aziz is a prominent figure in the United Arab Emirates' freight and logistics sector, recognized for her leadership, expertise, and dedication to advancing the industry.
Currently serving as the President of the UAE National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL), she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this crucial position which represents more than 400 companies in the freight, shipping, and logistics industries in the country.
As President of UAE NAFL, she plays a pivotal role in representing the interests of stakeholders across the freight and logistics industry. She actively advocates for policy changes, promotes industry best practices, and champions initiatives that contribute to the sector's growth and development.
Her dedication extends beyond NAFL. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Global network for the Middle East, further amplifying her voice on the international stage and empowering women in the supply chain logistics industry through capacity building, certified training, networking events, mentoring, and coaching.
Nasir Zubair
Acting Director - Faculty of Transport & Logistics
Muscat University
Nissrine Elqobai
SCLG Executive Board Member
CEO
ENY Consulting
Nissrine is a seasoned supply chain professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in global supply chain management. Her expertise lies in cost-effective supply chain strategies, vendor procurement, and project management, gained from operating within prestigious Fortune organizations and leading Middle East Family Groups.
Focusing on developing resilient and synchronized end-to-end supply chain solutions, Nissrine aligns strategic models with business objectives to maximize ROI and mitigate risks effectively. She specializes in optimizing heavy industry manufacturing processes, crafting intricate online and offline retail supply chains, and orchestrating warehouse operations across various locations, including China, Japan, Sudan, and more, utilizing her proficiency in network design.
Drawing on her vast experience, Nissrine has provided valuable insights and consultation services to renowned corporations such as Medsupply, MAF Carrefour, Duval, DP World, and Savoye across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her adeptness in diagnosing, auditing, and designing transformation roadmaps for end-to-end supply chain enhancements underscores her strategic approach and problem-solving skills.
Sam Achampong
Regional Managing Director, MENA
Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
Sam is a senior executive with extensive experience across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. He has held senior roles for organisations such as Land Securities in the UK, Abu Dhabi Municipality in the Middle East and MTN across Africa. He also holds various non executive board director roles, for entities such as the British Business Group (Dubai).
An active member of the procurement and supply chain fraternity, Sam is currently Regional Director of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) for the MENA Region. He holds a Masters Degree in International Procurement from the University of Glamorgan in the UK, MSc in Facilities Management from the University of Westminster (UK) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. He is a regular speaker at industry events and an advocate for professional standards in business, procurement and supply chain management.
Shailen Shukla
Supply Chain Director
Omar Kassem Alesayi Group (OKAG)
Shailen Shukla is an Alumni of Delhi University and IIM, Ahmedabad, is an astute professional with over 30+ years of experience in Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management, Profit Centre Management, Commercial Operations, Project Procurement and Management, Vendor Management and ERP & Systems Implementation.
Currently working as Supply Chain Director in Alesayi Group in Jeddah, KSA. Omar Kassem Alesayi Group’s Consumer and Trading portfolio is built on providing an excellent portfolio of products alongside the highest standards of service for clients and consumers. Over time, the company has invested heavily in the acquisition and development of consumer concepts and services to exceed the demands of consumer and market requirements. Omar Kassem Alesayi Group’s portfolio ranges from automotive, transportation, electrical products, cabling systems and consumer goods. The Group continuously seeks to expand its portfolio with opportunities that provide a variety of products and services through partnerships, complementary offerings, and relevant innovations.
Worked as Chief Logistics Officer at PicTruc LLC, a MHAO group company, with a JV with Unanu India. Powered by Massive Data and Innovation, PicTruc is well poised to bring in Disruptive Technology in Logistics through Marketplace and end-to- end Logistics Platform. Was also group head for Logistics and advisor in Admiral Mobility a JV for Geely Electric Trucks distribution.
Previously for 9 years, worked as Business Head of JECL Logistics LLC (A 3PL company under the Jumbo Electronics Group) and Head Logistics, Jumbo Electronics, a top UAE Electronics Distributor / Retail Chain. Winner of “SCATA (Supply Chain and Transport Awards) – Supply Chain Of The Year Award 2013” and “Supply Chain Of The Year - Highly Commended” in 2014, “Supply Chain Manager of The Year – Highly Commended” in 2015!!!
