Open Discussion Sessions
Global environment is constantly changing and so we try to improve the G200 Youth Forum and introduce new platforms and events that could be beneficial for future leaders and change makers. One event of such is Open Sessions which allows participants to listen to inspirational speakers and ask any questions they may have.
What is the Purpose of the Open Discussion Sessions?
The purpose of the event is to invite experts from all over the world to share their knowledge and experience and provide a platform for a Q&A session.
What are the Topics of the Open Discussion Sessions?
This year the sessions will cover the following topics:
1. Entrepreneurship
The Open Session on Entrepreneurship will include presentations from young entrepreneurs, who have managed to put their projects into practice and achieve great results.
The attendants would have an opportunity to:
- listen to the success stories and ask questions
- get inspired by the experience of young entrepreneurs with a proven track record of accomplishments
- learn more about investor relations and risks which are connected with starting a business venture
2. De-globalization: risks, opportunities and implication in different countries
The Open Session on de-globalization will involve speakers commenting on pre-prepared sets of observations, concerning risks and opportunities of de-globalization or so-called “globalonelization”, and its impact on the global market economy.
The participants would have a chance to:
- listen to the experts and ask their own questions
- learn more about the influence of de-globalization on political and business environments
Who are the Speakers of the Event?
Ms. Bonnie Chiu
Founder and CEO, Lensational
Managing Director, The Social Investment Consultancy
London, UK
Hong Kong-born Chiu is the Founder and CEO of award-winning non-profit social enterprise Lensational, which aims to empower marginalised women by equipping them with cameras and photography training. Since launching in 2013, the organisation – which has expanded to a team of a hundred volunteers – has taught photography to seven hundred women across seventeen developing countries. She is also the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy, an international consulting firm headquartered in London that helps organisations maximise their social impact. She holds a MSc International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE) and she is recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur in Europe in 2017. As a two-time TEDx speaker, she has been invited to speak in 11 countries on topics on social entrepreneurship, youth leadership and gender equality - most prominently at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.
Mr. Ritesh Tilanitesh
Founding Partner, Enhance
Co-CEO, joigifts.com
The United Arab Emirates
Ritesh Tilani is a serial entrepreneur and investor, with venture capital, blue chip MNC and top-tier global consulting experience. Ritesh is currently Founding Partner at 'enhance', a holding company consisting of online businesses that provide life-enhancing services to consumers. enhance has also formed strategic alliances with leading international VCs to support their portfolio companies with growing their businesses in the Middle East. enhance's current portfolio includes joi (www.joigifts.com), the leading online gift platform in the Middle East and Medigo (www.medigo.com), a global disruptor in the medical travel space.
In addition, Ritesh is as a mentor, advisor, angel investor and board member to multiple startups and accelerators, a regular speaker and judge at various events and startup competitions, and the former Head of UAE at iMENA Group, making him an active player in the region’s startup ecosystem. He has also been a consultant with Bain & Company’s Singapore Office, and the Head of Strategy for MENA at Nokia.
Ritesh is a native of the UAE with over 25 years of experience in the region. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from INSEAD.
Mr. Tarek Ahmed Fouad
Accelerator Manager
Sheraa Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center
Tarek brings in over 8 years of experience in leading business entities and an extensive background in strategic marketing and lean business models. Tarek holds a master’s degree in control engineering and MBA from the prestigious London Business School and is also a certified personal trainer, life-coach, NLP practitioner and a hypnotherapist. The young business entrepreneur is the publisher of numerous research papers in both engineering and marketing fields and was a motivational speaker on various events held by the Dubai government and TEDx. Tarek Ahmed Fouad founded Lean International in 2012 which was sold off to a private equity firm. He has worked with the likes of TechWadi in Silicon Valley as UAE’s country manager and has cofounded Wakil Technologies, a blockchain government services portal earlier this year. Tarek is currently spearheading the accelerator program at Sheraa to contribute to Sharjah’s vision in becoming the entrepreneurial hub of the Middle East.
Mrs. Habiba Al Mar'ashi
Co-founder and Chairperson
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)
The United Arab Emirates
Mrs. Habiba Al Mara’shi is the co-founder and Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), a pioneering organisation founded in the United Arab Emirates in 1991. A visionary for a Safer Environment and a sustainable future for her country, region and the world in general, she has pioneered and played a key role in the growth of EEG to be a regional multi-sectorial organisation. EEG has had many a first under its banner.
-The first environmental NGO in the world to receive an ISO 14001 certification in 2001.
EEG is also the only organization of its kind in the GCC to be accredited with two highly esteemed UN bodies namely the United Nations Convention to Combating Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council.
-Under the leadership of Mrs. Al Mara’shi, in the year 2004, Arabia CSR Network (ACSRN) the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network in the Arab Region came into being. ACSRN is the only multi stakeholder platform with local and multinational entities. ACRN initiated and rolled out the first prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility Award for the Arab World in 2008.
-A founding member of the Emirates Green Building Council (Emirates GBC) wherein Mrs. Al Mara’shi serves as a Treasurer to the Council since 2006 in addition to her role as the Vice Chair of the Council. She also serves as a Membership Committee on the World Green Building Council (WGBC) since 2016.
-EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and had the privilege to host the Local Network for the Gulf States from 2008-2014. Mrs. Al Mara’shi was also the first Arab woman to become a board member of the UN Global Compact and was on the board from 2006 to 2012
Besides the above Mrs. Al Mara’shi is actively involved and is a member on the Board of several prestigious Councils. She is involved in many leading initiatives on environment, women and development at the national, regional and international levels and is a recognized representative and spokesperson for West Asian Arab Women at high ranking international summits.
Presentation: Deglobalisation : Disintegration or Consolidation
Mr. Ziad G. El Haddad
Principal, Risk Advisory
Deloitte & Touche (M.E.)
The United Arab Emirates
Ziad El Haddad, Director with Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) Risk Advisory practice, possesses over 12 years of professional experience directing large-scale Risk Advisory services including, Data Risk Analytics, Controls Transformation, Cyber Security, Business Continuity and Risk Management, for international and local clients. He brings extensive design, implementation and maintenance of organizational programs and regulatory operations.
Ziad is a regular speaker in international Risk Advisory events and supports many board of directors and audit committees as trusted advisor. His experience spans industries and countries – Middle East countries, Boston, Chicago, Canada and Singapore. He had exposure to many industries; however, he specializes in Financial Services, Holding and Public Sector companies. Currently, he leads the Cyber and Technology practice in the United Arab Emirates, and Data Risk services in the Middle East.
Presentation: Cyber Security on the C-suite agenda