Dr. Sarah Hill has a passion for creating thriving cities.
With extensive experience in Sydney and London, Sarah is an Executive Project Director for the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. As the CEO of the expanded Western Parkland City Authority, Sarah led the delivery of Australia’s largest and most ambitious city-building project of the last century.
Sarah’s work at the WPCA built on the vision she co-created as the inaugural CEO of the Greater Sydney Commission. Under Sarah’s leadership, the Commission developed new ways of engaging with citizens, measuring and monitoring key planning outcomes and aligning growth with infrastructure, including introducing Australia’s first Place-Based Infrastructure Compact.
As Commission CEO and as Deputy Secretary in both NSW Treasury and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Sarah fostered a strong culture of collaboration. Sarah also brings with her a wealth of technical expertise, drawing from her experience in senior planning roles in NSW and London, and in leadership roles at Hill PDA Property Consulting.
Whilst in London, Sarah was a member of the London Olympics Joint Planning Authorities Team. In this role Sarah took the lead on a range of specialist areas as well as well as the stakeholder consultation and engagement process for the Olympic and paralympic Games applications and their legacy. Sarah was an integral part of the team negotiating the legal planning agreements for the games and their legacy including complex legal issues relating to common land.
Sarah was appointed the Chair of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Panel by the Prime Minister and Minister King. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building and continues to be a thought leader with a particular focus on the economics of cities and the feasibility of development. She is also Fellow and a past-President of the Planning Institute of Australia (NSW Division).
Sarah has received numerous professional awards locally and internationally, including:
Husain Buhwaid currently serves as Senior Development Director at Misk City Company, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation, and is a founding member of Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City. With over 20 years of experience in real estate development and investment, Husain has led and advised on a wide range of asset classes, with a particular focus on master planning, urban development, hospitality, and mixed-use projects that drive positive social impact and community transformation. His work reflects a deep commitment to sustainable urban growth and innovative city design that enhances quality of life and supports national development visions.
Mohammed Bin Moawad is a senior sustainability and environmental governance leader and currently serves as Head of Environmental Sustainability at the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON). He leads enterprise-wide sustainability transformation across Saudi Arabia’s industrial cities, with responsibility for environmental governance, decarbonization, circular economy, ESG integration, and climate strategy in alignment with Vision 2030 and Net Zero 2060. With over two decades of cross-sector experience spanning industry, infrastructure, utilities, and public-sector transformation, Mohammed has led large-scale sustainability, operational excellence, and capacity-building initiatives that deliver measurable environmental and economic impact. His work bridges policy, strategy, and execution, supporting sustainable manufacturing, regulatory leadership, and long-term industrial competitiveness. Mohammed holds a PhD in Engineering and Sustainability Leadership from Swansea University, an Executive MBA, and professional certifications including Executive ESG Leadership from the University of Cambridge. His research and practice focus on sustainability leadership, ESG, and systemic change in industrial ecosystems.
Seasoned Infrastructure Director having extensive experience in integrated delivery of mega Infrastructure and mixed use development with top tier Real Estae Developers, PMC and Consultants in Middle east.
A results-driven and strategically focused AI and emerging technology leader with a strong track record of delivering impactful solutions and driving digital transformation initiatives. Possessing a solid foundation of technical expertise combined with recent certifications in business and management, I am committed to leveraging my extensive experience to bridge the gap between technology and business objectives. Seeking a leadership role where I can utilize my skills to contribute effectively to organizational growth, foster innovation, and lead high-performing teams towards achieving sustainable success.
An architect and urbanist with experience across Scandinavia and the Middle East, Laila Alawneh brings a unique blend of design sensitivity and expertise to sustainable building. With degrees from Aalborg University and the University of the Arts London, her work focuses on smart, climate-resilient architecture and regional planning.
Matthew is an experienced leader, working at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and the built environment. Having founded WSP’s Smart Places practice and grown Accenture’s offering in this field, Matthew led a €100m business across a range of asset types and geographies. Matthew was named as the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year 2022 and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Young Visionary 2016 for his contributions to the global Smart Buildings industry. As a recognized thought leader, Matthew is a keynote speaker at international industry events related to emerging technology, net zero design and places at the building and city scales. He was an author in the Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies and a published writer in a variety of journals, earning a doctorate in Smart Buildings.
Ismail HAMOUMI is a Doctor in Sociology and a researcher specializing in the institutional transformations associated with smart cities, digital governance and urban innovation. His work examines the intersections between technological change, public sector modernization and the evolving configurations of urban production. He currently serves as a Smart City Lead at Egis in Riyadh, where he advises governmental entities and development authorities on digital transformation strategies, data-driven planning and next-generation urban infrastructures. Before joining Egis, Ismail worked as a Cities & Public Services Consultant at Dassault Systèmes. In this role, he led the commercial development and deployment of urban digital twins and advanced climate-resilience simulations for public authorities across Europe and North America. His projects encompassed data architecture, 3D city modelling and predictive scenario analysis, and included the design of AI-powered tools for environmental forecasting. He also secured national research funding to advance the integration of artificial intelligence into urban simulation workflows. Between 2018 and 2023, he served as Senior Consultant for Public Sector and Smart Cities at KPMG France, where he co-founded and structured the firm’s advisory practice dedicated to Local Public Innovation and Smart Territories. He supported municipalities, regions, and national agencies in the development of digital governance frameworks, open-data strategies, environmental intelligence systems, and territorial data platforms. He contributed to several strategic policy documents that shaped France’s national agenda on digital transformation and the governance of public data. In parallel to his professional activities, Ismail is an adjunct lecturer in sociology at Sciences Po Paris, where he has taught undergraduate courses since 2021. He holds a PhD in Sociology from École des Ponts ParisTech, where his doctoral research, conducted within the LATTS-CNRS research laboratory, analyses the institutionalization of digital public policies, the emergence of smart city instruments, and the transnational circulation of innovation models within local government action.
Ramzi Banisaied is a management consulting professional with expertise in strategy, digital transformation, and large-scale program delivery focusing in Cities and infrastructure. He has advised senior leaders across the public sector on transformation initiatives, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence, with a strong focus on turning strategy into measurable results.
Professor in the Department of Urban Planning, King Saud University. Director of the Research Center (2023-2025), Head of the Urban Planning Department (2020-2023), and Head of the Saudi Housing Research Unit (2018-2020). Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Architecture and Planning from (2016-2018). He worked as an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Planning, King Saud University from (2019-2025); an Assistant Professor from (2015-2019) and an Assistant Lecturer from (2001-2015). He holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, with a specialization in Housing and Human Settlement, from Texas Southern University, USA, in 2014. He holds a Master of Science (MCP) in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio (UC), USA, in 2010. He also holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Urban Design from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, in 2005, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons.) in Urban Planning with Honors from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, in 2001. He has extensive experience in the field of informal housing and settlements and has previously worked as a local consultant for IHS The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies to develop a training program for trainers related to land systems and informal settlements management within the framework of the Future of Saudi Cities Program (FSCP) provided by UN-Habitat in 2016. He has more than (86) publications, including books, research papers, and participation in scientific conferences and seminars. He holds a professional accreditation as a "Consultant" from (SCE). He is a member of several professional associations such as the American Planners Association (APA), the Urban Affairs Association (UAA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
Engineer Faisal Al-Faqieh has led and supervised major urban development and transportation projects within the Riyadh Metro Program. Over the past six years, he has managed road and urban enhancement works across Lines 4/5/6, conducted safety audits, coordinated traffic management operations, and oversaw the handover of upgraded road networks to AMANA. His role further included directing the Barrier Removal Campaign, achieving the removal of more than 152,000 barriers, and managing multidisciplinary teams of Project Managers and Project Assistants to ensure successful project delivery.
In addition, Eng. Faisal is the author of a research paper titled “Measuring the Impact of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)”, which focuses on assessing the effects of public transport–oriented development on urban mobility and infrastructure performance.
Khaled M. Alkolfat is a senior executive and governance specialist with over 20 years of experience in project, program, and portfolio management across large-scale infrastructure, construction, and public-sector transformation initiatives. His expertise includes establishing enterprise PMOs, corporate governance, business excellence, and strategic alignment. He has extensive exposure to smart city programs, mobility portfolios, and digital transformation initiatives. Khaled holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Geneva Business School, and a Master of Engineering in Construction Project Management from Helwan University.
Ali Raza is a seasoned Project Management and Reporting professional with over 16 years of experience across large scale government and mega development programs. He has worked in roles spanning Project Controls, PMIS, Reporting, Governance, and Digital Project Management, supporting complex portfolios within the construction and real estate sectors.
He holds a B.Tech and an MBA in Project Management, along with internationally recognized certifications including PMP®, PRINCE2®, and PMI ACP®. Ali brings strong expertise in systems such as Oracle Unifier, PMWeb, Primavera P6, Power BI, SharePoint, and enterprise reporting platforms, enabling data driven decision making at both project and executive levels.
Currently based in Saudi Arabia, Ali has extensive experience working with government stakeholders and delivery partners, and is known for bridging technical systems with business and leadership requirements.
Omar Al-Hachim is a Smart City and Electrical Engineering professional with over 20 years of experience in the design, implementation, and operation of large-scale urban infrastructure and smart city programs across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UK. He currently leads the Smart City Division at Sabbagh Engineering Consultants & Associates (SECA), where he oversees strategic planning, integrated city platforms, control centers, and advanced digital solutions. His experience includes city-wide ICT networks, SCADA and BMS systems, AI-driven analytics, and real-time urban operations, with a strong focus on governance, compliance, and stakeholder coordination for complex, high-profile developments.
Wajih El Hoss is a transportation planning specialist with over a decade of experience supporting public and private sector developments across the Middle East. A University of Leeds graduate with a Master’s in Transportation Planning and Engineering, he has contributed to transportation planning, traffic impact assessments, and extensive traffic data collection programs across Saudi Arabia, supporting Vision 2030 initiatives and large-scale urban and infrastructure projects.
Alaa Alkahtani is a cybersecurity executive with a proven track record at the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), where she contributed to strengthening national cybersecurity practices, supporting secure cloud adoption, and protecting mission-critical financial operations.
Her experience spans cybersecurity architecture, risk management, and digital transformation governance—bridging strategy and execution to build resilient, scalable security programs in high-trust environments.
Today, Alaa serves as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at a confidential entity. She is also a Global Ambassador at the Responsible AI Governance Network, supporting the advancement of practical, trustworthy AI governance.
Recognized for clarity, resilience, and bold leadership, she represents a new generation of cyber leaders who turn security into a force for growth, trust, and sustained business value.
Selected as an “Expert Speaker” in 11th Asia Clean Energy Forum by Asian Development Bank.
Selected as a PPP Trainer to provide training for provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan by World Bank Group.
Appointed as a PPP Trainer at two days’ workshop organized by Marcus Evans in Pakistan.
Awarded a memento of appreciation for leading the Government team from the inception stage to Pakistan’s first financial close of a road project based on Islamic financing for Karachi Thatta Dual Carriageway Project.