Shaping the Future of Global Sports

His Excellency Khalid A. Al-Falih has been Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 25 February 2020. He previously served as Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources from May 2016 to September 2019, as Minister of Health from April 2015 to May 2016, and as Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Board of Directors from April 2015 to September 2019. HE Al-Falih also held key leadership positions across the company, including President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2009 to May 2015.

Ibrahim Almoaiqel is the Assistant Deputy Minister for Investment and Privatization at the Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia, leading efforts to commercialize the sports sector, expand private sector involvement, and oversee the national privatization program—ranging from transforming state-owned sports clubs into private entities to evaluating the privatization of major sports assets including Stadia and Sports cities.

A Saudi executive with experience across public and private sectors, he has driven strategic planning, transformation initiatives, and investment programs within the sports landscape. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee and sits on several committees, including the Investments and Funds Committee of SURJ Investments, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company.

A Saudi executive with experience across public and private sectors, he has driven strategic planning, transformation initiatives, and investment programs within the sports landscape. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee and sits on several committees, including the Investments and Funds Committee of SURJ Investments, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company.

Suliman B. Hammad is a senior investment and sports industry professional serving as Head of Investment Enablement at the Ministry of Sport, Saudi Arabia. In his role, he focuses on supporting investment opportunities and enabling the continued development and growth of Saudi Arabia’s sports ecosystem.

With experience across investment, business development and strategic initiatives, Suliman brings a strong understanding of the commercial opportunities emerging within the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding sports sector. His work contributes to creating an environment that encourages private-sector participation, innovation and sustainable investment across the industry.

Suliman is also actively engaged with the wider sports innovation community. 

Through his work, Suliman contributes to Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to develop a world-class sports industry, attract investment and create new opportunities across the Kingdom and the wider region.

Ahmed Mohtaseb is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development and Co-Founder of Sela, the leading Saudi entertainment, sports, and live-experiences company. He helps direct global expansion, major sports partnerships, and large-scale entertainment projects.

Nasser Majali is the General Secretary of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), where he plays a key role in advancing the organisation’s strategic direction and supporting the development of sport across the Islamic world.

Kamel Badawy is a distinguished business leader with over 18 years of extensive experience across various domains, including sports operations management, strategic partnerships, sponsorship, events management, and commercialization. Currently serving as the Chief of Data and Strategic Alliance at Aspire Zone Foundation, Kamel exemplifies dynamic leadership and unparalleled expertise in driving business success. 

Dr. Sakis Batsilas has contributed to the bidding, planning, delivery, and legacy of some of the world’s most prestigious and complex sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup Championships, UEFA European Championship, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As Deputy CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, he oversaw the operational, strategic, and financial aspects of the tournament, helping to ensure its success and sustainability in alignment with the vision and values of FIFA and Qatar. He also leverages his expertise in sports, events, and media to foster partnerships, engage stakeholders, and promote innovation and diversity across the organisation and the wider industry.

Rasha Al-Khamis is President of the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation and a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Boxing Confederation, as well as Vice-Chair of the Strategy Committee and Board Advisor for Strategic Planning at the International Boxing Association (IBA).

Rawan Albutairi is CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), leading the strategic execution of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. This mandate is a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, driving efforts to develop a thriving esports ecosystem that fosters innovation, talent development and sustainable growth. Beyond SEF, Rawan holds senior positions for both the GCC and Arab Esports Federations, facilitating cross-border collaboration as MENA continues to emerge as one the fastest growing markets in the esports industry.

Faris Al Kooheji is the Secretary General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and serves as a member of the Coordination Committee as well as Chair of the Media Committee for the 20th Asian Games, to be held in AichiNagoya in 2026. He is the CEO of Spartan Fitness and M E & F Holdings, a private family office that manages a family-exclusive investment fund with diversified interests across financial securities and operational oversight.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso is the President of the Community of Madrid and one of the most influential figures in Spain’s conservative Partido Popular (PP). Politician and journalist most distinguished for her position as the President of the Community of Madrid, she is also the President of the People's Party of Madrid and the vice-secretary of communication, as well as the spokeswoman for the party's Madrilenian branch. 

Hassan El Kamah is a sport marketeer with over 15 years of experience in the sport industry. Currently he is the Commercial Director at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overseeing TV rights, Sponsorships, and Marketing based in Cairo, Egypt. Hassan’s educational background is in Economics, and is an alumni of the FIFA Master program, also holds a Sport Management Master’s Degree from University of San Francisco, USA.

Shaima Saleh AlHusseini is the Managing Director of the Saudi Sports for All Federation. Shaima advocates for a healthy lifestyle by inspiring all members of society to be physically active. This commitment reflects her desire to highlight the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to empower girls and women to play a role in the development of a vibrant society and healthy, active communities.

Dr. Enes Efendiolglu serves as Director General of Youth Services at Türkiye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, overseeing a national infrastructure of nearly 1,000 facilities, including 580 youth centres, 374 youth offices and 43 youth camps, operating across all 81 provinces. The directorate employs more than 4,000 full-time staff and reaches millions of young people through programmes his team has built and continues to expand, including ÜNİDES, a direct funding mechanism for university student clubs that has supported thousands of projects across Türkiye over the past two years. 

Taylor J. Agisim is a global senior executive with two decades of experience, working in eight countries across North America, Europe, Asia & the Middle East.  Mr. Agisim has intertwined experience as a lead principal investor, entrepreneur, coupled with operating experience, working for leading corporate entities & public sector institutions.  He has contributed industry development, through country placemaking, infrastructure development, content creation & community initiatives, earning numerous industry awards.

Shireen is a Senior Principal and a member of the firm’s Global Board of Directors. Her experience spans stadium, arena and convention centre design for projects in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, as well as mixed-use sports masterplans and Olympic and FIFA overlay design. Fluent in Arabic, Shireen oversees Populous’ Middle East operations. She is currently leading the design of several large-scale sports and entertainment infrastructure projects across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia. These projects include Aramco Stadium, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and King Salman International Stadium, all of which are potential venues for the 2034 World Cup.

Bader Al Jeraisy is a Saudi management professional and strategy specialist serving as the General Manager of Privatization at the Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia, where he helps drive the country's sports clubs privatization program under Vision 2030. Over 15 years experience in organisational transformation, performance management, governance, and strategy execution across public entities like the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

Dr. Aldubaikhi is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in various sectors, including international business management, investment, industrial, banking, technical, agricultural, logistics, and transportation. His extensive career has seen him hold numerous leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, notably serving as the Assistant Minister at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment, CEO of Bahri Group and the Saudi Agricultural Investment and Livestock Company (SALIC).

Abdulrahman Al-Malki is an accomplished engineering and project management professional with over 22 years of experience delivering major infrastructure and sports facilities in Qatar. He currently serves as the Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Affairs at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, previously leading the Ministry’s Facilities & Projects Department and overseeing national sports infrastructure development.

Al Naaman Al-Naamani is a sports development professional and currently serves as President of the Oman Padel Committee, where he contributes to the growth and long-term development of padel in Oman. He is also Co-Founder of Smash Padel Club Oman.

Wael Fayez is an accomplished Strategic Management Executive who brings over two decades of experience in leading digital transformation and driving business growth across diverse industries. Currently served as the CCO of the Saudi Pro League in Saudi Arabia.

Fahad AlSububaie is an accomplished Strategic Management Executive with over two decades of experience leading digital transformation and driving business growth across diverse industries. With expertise in digital marketing, project management, international business development, and information technology, Fahad has a proven track record of navigating complex commercial environments, identifying opportunities, and delivering impactful strategic initiatives.

Aphrodite Moschoudi is an accomplished professional with expertise in major sports projects and events. Her career highlights include extensive involvement in bidding, strategic planning and delivery of major events, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Arab Games, FIFA World Cup, FIFA Arab Cup, Asian Cup, World Championships in Athletics and IPC Para-Athletics. She has also been instrumental in setting up key sport projects such as the Schools Olympic Programme, the Olympic & Sport Museum, the National Sport Day as well as sport investments and partnerships. Aphrodite has recently joined Qatar Tourism as a Director of Planning and Quality.

James Bisgrove is an internationally experienced football CEO, currently leading Al-Qadsiah Club, one of Saudi Arabia’s major professional clubs. Previously held executive and board roles with Rangers FC, SPFL, TEAM Marketing, UEFA Champions League & Europa League, as well as Emirates Airline—working with global rights holders including Formula 1, FIFA, and Real Madrid. Proven track record in driving revenue growth, enhancing fan engagement, and developing progressive elite performance environments.

His Excellency Issa Hilal Al-Hazami is a dynamic leader in the UAE sports community, currently serving as the Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council since July 2020. With a passion for advancing sports and community well-being, he has driven significant initiatives that have shaped the sports landscape in Sharjah. Prior to this, he served as the Secretary General of the Council from 2018 to 2020, and played a key role in national disaster management efforts at the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) from 2011 to 2020.

Eng. Mansour Al Mokbel, the CEO of the Saudi Motorsport Company. He plays a leading role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s global motorsport presence, driving major events like Formula 1 and Dakar, and aligning the industry with Vision 2030. With a strong background in strategic leadership across government and industry, Eng. Mansour is helping position the Kingdom as a hub for innovation, investment, and sporting excellence.

Melissa Lawton is Chief Content Officer at SailGP and heads the league’s global production strategy to create a breakthrough grand prix racing product in SailGP. From broadcast production to social media content creation and non-live content creation including SailGP’s docu-series Racing on the Edge, Lawton has played an integral role in bringing the world’s most exciting race on water closer to fans than ever before.Prior to SailGP, Lawton was the Head of Production at Meta for just over four years. She was also previously Head of Live Content for Red Bull TV for five years. Her career has included long-term production roles at events such as the Beijing and Sydney Olympics, FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, and the Commonwealth Games in India.

Emilio Butragueño is a legendary figure in Spanish football and a senior leader at Real Madrid, where he currently serves as Director of Institutional Relations and Director General of the Real Madrid Universidad Europea University School. A lifelong Madridista, Butragueño enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Real Madrid between 1984 and 1995, making 463 official appearances and scoring 171 goals. He was the inspirational leader of the famous ‘Quinta del Buitre’ generation alongside Manuel Sanchís, Míchel, Martín Vázquez and Miguel Pardeza.

Tim Cahill AO is one of Australia’s most celebrated footballers and a prominent figure in the global sports industry. He currently serves as Chief Sports Officer at Aspire Academy in Qatar and as a Global Strategic Advisor specialising in sports and government affairs. He is also a member of the Advisory Board at OxiWear.

Cahill enjoyed an illustrious playing career spanning more than two decades, representing clubs including Everton, Millwall, New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua, Melbourne City and Jamshedpur. He earned 108 international caps for Australia, scoring 50 goals, and represented the Socceroos at four FIFA World Cups.

Fatema Hayat is a Kuwaiti sports leader and strategist with extensive experience in organizational development, governance, and international relations. She currently serves as the Director of International Relations and Cooperation at the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), where she plays a central role in strengthening global sports collaboration among the 57 National Olympic Committees of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states. During the Islamic Solidarity Games Riyadh 2025, she oversaw key protocol functions, including the Opening Ceremony, Medal Ceremonies, and Games Protocol.

Mohammed Awlia is a highly experienced entrepreneur with a track record of success in the business world. He began his career as a founding partner of Oil Barrel Collection, a fashion, furniture, and lifestyle brand, scaling it to operate in the GCC and the UK while studying at university in London. He was then recognized as one of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future by Forbes Middle East.

Ziad Alsuhaibani is a distinguished strategy and sports leadership executive with a proven record of driving transformation across government, entertainment, and sports sectors. At the The Royal Commission for AlUla, Ziad currently serves as Chief Sports Officer, following senior leadership roles as Head of Sport Sector Executive Program and Strategy Executive Director. In these positions, he has helped shape major sector initiatives, strengthen governance, and support the growth of AlUla’s sports ecosystem in alignment with national ambitions.