Majed Aleid is a seasoned investment and business development executive currently serving as CIRO and Director at the Ministry of Investment (MISA) of Saudi Arabia. In this role he supports strategic initiatives to attract and retain investors, foster partnerships, and promote the Kingdom as a premier investment destination under Vision 2030. Majed brings deep expertise in investment facilitation, cross-sector collaboration, and project development, particularly within entertainment, sports, and media sectors. Prior to his current position, he held senior roles focusing on finance, third-party transactions, and capital markets, contributing to major investment projects and strengthening investor relations across regional and international markets.

A key figure in building world-class esports infrastructure, Elie has been instrumental in expanding competitive gaming ecosystems and elevating the standards of esports operations across the region. His work continues to empower gamers, teams, and organizers through technology-driven solutions that scale.

Nezar Al Turki is a distinguished technology executive and former Brigadier General with more than three decades of experience leading information systems, digital transformation, and mission-critical technology initiatives within Saudi Arabia’s security and government sectors. As Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of National Guard, he has been instrumental in advancing enterprise technology capabilities, modernizing information systems, and strengthening operational readiness through innovation and strategic leadership.

Throughout his career, Nezar has led the development and deployment of key automated systems for the National Guard, overseen the migration of legacy mainframe environments to modern computing platforms, and directed large-scale technology and organizational transformation projects. During the Gulf War, he developed specialized systems that provided senior leadership with critical manpower and operational visibility, contributing to effective decision-making in a complex military environment.

His achievements include establishing and managing automated supply systems, leading the construction of the Security Operations Center for the Ministry of National Guard, coordinating organizational and equipment modernization initiatives, and serving on strategic committees responsible for risk assessment, command-and-control operations, and national security projects. His contributions have been recognized through numerous military and national honors, including the Kuwait Liberation Medal, King Fahad Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait, Medal of Security, Medal of Excellence, and multiple Military Service Medals.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Systems from Kansas Newman College, USA, Nezar combines deep technical expertise with extensive leadership experience in cybersecurity, project management, systems development, and digital governance. He remains a respected leader driving technology innovation and operational excellence across Saudi Arabia’s public sector.

Paul Pacifico is the Chief Executive Officer of the Music Commission at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture. He is the Founder of Specific Music, a London-based creative music consultancy established in 2003, and has sustained a parallel career as a musician for more than three decades. His industry leadership has been recognized through inclusion on the Alternative Power List (2020), Billboard’s Global Power Players (2022), and Billboard’s MENA Power Players (2025). Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Previously, Paul was CEO of the Association of Independent Music, CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition, and President of the International Artist Organization. His wider experience spans academic and board roles with Berklee College of Music, UK Music, IMPALA, Creative UK, WIN, and English National Ballet.

Charity Joy is the CEO of Mirai, a subsidiary of Scopely and part of the Savvy Games Group, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Charity has led video game development teams since 2006, holding the titles of Creative Director, Executive Producer, and Studio GM at The Walt Disney Company and Electronic Arts (EA). She has worked on some of the world’s most loved games including Club Penguin, UFC, Need for Speed, and Battlefield – games that have entertained hundreds of millions of players worldwide. With a background in theatre and the performing arts, Joy holds an MBA in Executive Leadership and is a certified executive coach. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), with research focused on the games industry, and has lived and worked across North America, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.

As Chief Creative Officer my role is to drive creative ideation, design and innovation at the intersection of storytelling, holistic experiences and cutting-edge technology.

I lead the company’s global ambition to craft and deliver unforgettable immersive experiences that bring culturally significant stories of Saudi Arabia to life. Blending captivating narratives inspired by history, culture and heritage with cutting-edge digital innovation to captivate audiences, ignite imaginations, and forge deep connections, I ensure storytelling aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to connect deeply with the people of Saudi Arabia, the wider region and emotionally resonate with new global audiences.

I work closely with the CEO, Creative Committee and executive leadership team at QSAS, while overseeing, leading and growing diverse in-house teams of creative directors, strategists, experiential designers, holistic creatives, concept artists, copywriters, lighting designer and audio, engineers, spanning Brand Activation, Attraction and Theme Park Design, Digital Interaction, Media & Communications Content Design across a broad section of sectors.

Whilst managing large-scale, high-quality projects I ensure all creative output is in line with our business and brand objectives and aligned with our organization’s broader creative and strategic vision, while expertly managing stakeholder collaborations, creative committees, partnerships and client relationships from concept through to final execution.

Faisal Al Bitar is a Managing Director of Tamatem Plus with 10+ years of experience in products, fintech and venture capital funds. Faisal is a highly experienced fin-tech professional that worked with multiple multinational organizations in the region as well as leading and launching the first Neobank in Jordan! Faisal joined Tamatem Games to pursue his passion for fintech in order to build the intersection of gaming and payments.

Johnson Yeh holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Peking University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He has significant experience in the gaming and circular economy sectors, having held senior positions at Riot Games and the World Economic Forum. Currently, Johnson leads Ambrus Studio, a Web3 game production company, and ROEHL, a Lifestyle as a Service brand focused on sustainability.

Tung Nguyen-Khac is a seasoned entrepreneur and game industry executive with 20 + years of leadership experience at the intersection of gaming, technology, and media. Tung has a C-Level history as CEO of ProSiebenSat1 Games, AeriaGames, Spilgames. He built and scaled multiple companies from early-stage to successful exits, including Bigpoint, WHOW Games, and Usercentrics. His track record spans 1 billion+ installs, partnerships with Sony, Fox, Warner and Luc Besson, and investor collaborations with (Hh Capital, EMH, EQT).
As founder of Vizta Digital, Tung focuses on AI-driven, social-first experiences that connect entertainment, lifestyle, and community. His current project, NextGoal, redefines the football-manager genre for the social and AI generation ahead of World Cup 2026.
Past advisory and investment roles include MTG, Kongregate, DECA Games, UserCentrics, and Oxolo AI.

Thamer AlDairem, known online as Xzit Thamer, is The Best gaming content creator, influencer, and Gaming Ambassador with over 15 million followers across social media platforms.Unique style: Xzit Thamer is known for his unique “silent acting” approach, where he conveys humor and emotion through facial expressions and body language, often while playing games. This has allowed him to connect with a global audience beyond Arabic speakers.Content focus: His content combines gaming videos, silent acting skits, and anime pack openings. He gained significant popularity creating videos for games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.Gaming ambassador: As an ambassador for the gaming industry, he has worked with over 30 major companies, including PlayStation, WWE, Warner Brothers, and TikTok.Career goal: He is a strong advocate for the gaming community in Saudi Arabia and beyond, working to encourage investors to support the industry and help gamers turn their passion into a career.

Saad Hameed is the CEO & Co-Founder of Game District, one of the fastest-growing mobile gaming companies emerging from the MENAPT region. Under his leadership, Game District has expanded from a small studio in Pakistan to a global multi-studio organization with more than 2 billion downloads, 22 million daily active users

Malak AlQhtani is the CEO & Founder of Valar Club, a forward-thinking platform focused on building community, leadership, and innovation within emerging industries. As a visionary entrepreneur, Malak is passionate about empowering founders, executives, and creators through curated networks, strategic programs, and high-impact collaborations. With a strong commitment to growth, inclusivity, and future-ready leadership, Malak continues to drive Valar Club as a hub for meaningful connections and transformative ideas.

Al-Obailan assumed his current role in April 2024. In November 2024, the company changed its name from Abdulmohsen Alhokair for Tourism and Development Company to BAAN Holding Group. As of 2024, BAAN Holding Group operated 23 hotels and 69 family entertainment centers. It also recorded revenues of $181 million and net profits of $1.4 million. In December 2024, the BAAN Holding Group signed two strategic agreements with the Al Oula Real Estate Development Company and the Abdulmohsen Al Hokair Holding Group to acquire assets worth $221.4 million. Al-Obailan previously held key roles at Seera Group and the Abdul Latif Jameel Group.

Stefan Mitrov is the Founder and CEO of M3DS Academy, the world’s #1 portfolio-first institution for game art and 3D creative education, serving students across 100+ countries. Holding official certifications from Epic Games as an Unreal Engine Academic Partner, alongside Autodesk, Adobe, and Maxon ZBrush, M3DS Academy stands at the forefront of a global shift in how creative professionals are trained, assessed, and placed within the industry.

What sets M3DS Academy apart is an uncompromising commitment to real-world outcomes, portfolio standards shaped by Pixar, Disney, Epic Games, and Unity, supported by an industry-leading 12 hours per day of live instructor access. The result is a talent pipeline that consistently produces graduates ready to compete and contribute at the highest levels of the games industry.

Stefan is now extending this vision beyond digital education into the physical world building full-scale educational ecosystems for the next generation that are measurably outperforming both private and public institutions. These are not supplements to traditional education. They are replacements engineered from the ground up around portfolio outcomes, creative mastery, and industry relevance.

Dr. Faisal Khan is the Director of IT at AlNassr Club Company (a PIF company) and a Harvard-certified leader, with extensive experience driving digital transformation in sports organizations. His expertise spans sports analytics, AI, ML, VR, and fan engagement, enabling technology-led performance and immersive fan experiences. A recipient of the Global CIO Award 2024/25 and multiple industry honors, Dr. Faisal is recognized for leading innovation at the intersection of sports, technology, and business.

Dr. Ahad is a seasoned commercial executive known for driving turnaround strategies, unlocking growth, and delivering sustainable value across entertainment pillars. He is currently managing the largest entertainment and gaming portfolio at Al Othaim Entertainment (72 sites across 6 countries) and manages the largest e-gaming center in KSA (ESPOT)

Rema Alyahya is a venture capital professional with experience across portfolio management, investment strategy, and ecosystem development.
‍She currently serves as Vice President of VC Portfolio Management at Merak Capital, where she leads post-investment strategy and execution across the firm’s venture funds.
‍Rema oversees portfolio performance, reporting, and value creation, and leads follow-on investments for more than 30 portfolio companies. Her work focuses on building scalable portfolio systems, developing strategic partnerships with leading technology vendors, and driving growth initiatives across gaming, fintech, and digital infrastructure.
‍Prior to joining Merak Capital, Rema served as Strategy Lead at SRMG before joining SRMG Ventures, where she was involved in launching the fund and managing its operations.
‍Earlier in her career, she worked at high-growth technology startups Wise Systems and SmartBear Software in Boston, leading initiatives in strategy, sales, and marketing.
‍Rema holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Management from Northeastern University. She has also completed executive programs in Venture Finance at Oxford Saïd Business School and Corporate Finance at JPMorgan Chase.

Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh is the Business Development and Distribution Director at Manga Productions, leading partnerships, publishing, and international distribution.

Hassan Yusuf is the Project Manager of the Real Madrid Foundation Football Program under the umbrella of Riyadh Schools. Hassan is an avid sports enthusiast and humanitarian from Columbia, Missouri – USA. He specializes in cross-cultural education and sports. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and peacekeeping from the University of Missouri-Columbia. At age 22, Hassan visited 30 countries and developed a passion for cross-cultural relations and international education. In addition to his career accomplishments, in 2020, Hassan was the first American and international participant to compete in the Saudi King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, the world’s largest camel festival. In his blog, he shares his experiences of living in Saudi Arabia and highlights Saudi Vision 2030.

Rasha Alkhamis is a senior leader in the sports, investment, and strategy space. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation and sits on the Board of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), where she also leads the Women’s Committee. With over a decade of experience at top-tier consulting firms, Rasha specializes in strategy development, operating model design, and large-scale transformation across the sports, culture, and media sectors.

She serves on multiple boards and previously held the role of Vice President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, where she drove growth in participation and championed women’s inclusion in sport. Rasha is also a public speaker and a four-time Guinness World Record holder.

Rasha holds multiple board positions, including AlUla Sports Club, and has played a pivotal role in shaping sports ecosystems in Saudi Arabia. As former Vice President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, she led the development of national strategies, significantly increasing participation and advancing women’s representation in the sport. She was also a board member on the Asian boxing confederation.

She is widely recognized for her contributions to women’s sports development, governance, and international collaboration, and is an active speaker on sports diplomacy and industry transformation. Rasha holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California and is a four-time Guinness World Record holder

Nayef Bin Mohammed Bin Humaid holds a Master of Science in Project Management from The George Washington University, where he graduated in 2009.
He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation, leading the strategic development and growth of the sport in the Kingdom. In addition, he works as a Strategy & Governance Director at Diriyah Company, where he plays a key role in shaping strategic direction and strengthening governance frameworks for major initiatives.

Nadeem Bakhsh is the Co-Founder and CEO of webook.com, an omni-channel, next-gen platform transforming the entertainment, travel, sports, dining, and cultural industries across the Middle East and beyond with innovative tech. Under his leadership, webook.com, rebranded from Hala Yalla in 2014, has grown into a high-performance “super-app for fun” with over 13 million users spanning 180 countries, powered by bookings for events, flights, hotels, restaurants, sports, auctions, and live streaming.
Before webook.com, Nadeem served as Senior VP of Digital & Innovation at Mobily, where he led the creation of one of the region’s top telco apps, and founded UXBERT Labs, a boutique digital experience firm notable for delivering strong revenue growth through UX superiority.
Nadeem’s journey from launching grassroots digital communities to steering a multi-category global platform showcases his commitment to frictionless user experiences and cultural resonance.

Abdulghafoor Al-Joker is Chief Strategy Officer of Riyadh Schools Group (Misk Foundation) and a seasoned strategic architect specializing in ecosystem design, organizational scaling, and innovation governance. He has led the transformation of a single-institution model into a multi-entity education system while navigating regulatory breakthroughs, financial sustainability pathways, and technology integration. His work at the intersection of strategy, governance, and emerging tech makes him a thought leader on building resilient, future-ready institutions in Saudi Arabia’s evolving innovation landscape.

Jimmy Sjølander is the Founder & CEO of Ahead XR, a Norwegian company pioneering the future of Active Gaming through immersive XR technology. With a background in UX design and extended reality development, he has built innovative experiences that combine physical movement, gaming, and social interaction.

Jimmy is the driving force behind Ahead XR Arena, a concept designed to transform traditional gaming into engaging, physical, and inclusive experiences. His work focuses on lowering the barrier to activity for young people while creating new opportunities for learning, health, and community building through technology.

He has presented Ahead XR on major stages, including Digithon 2025, where he showcased the vision for the next generation of gaming. As a finalist at Digithon and a nominee for the VRINN Awards, Jimmy is recognized as an emerging voice in the intersection of gaming, health, and immersive technology.

Through his talks, Jimmy challenges the traditional e-sports model and inspires audiences to rethink how gaming can create movement, connection, and real-world impact.

Vit Jedlicka studied Political Science and Economy. On April 13, 2015 he founded the Free Republic of Liberland and was elected its first President. More than 750 000 people applied for citizenship. He has been a speaker on many high-level conferences such as the Horasis Global Meeting and has been interviewed in nearly all mainstream media. His goal is to build the freest country in the world and use the full spectrum of Web3 tools in the process

Ogle is a globally recognized cybersecurity and blockchain expert, best known for co‑founding Glue, a security‑centric Layer‑1 blockchain ecosystem designed to make decentralized finance accessible and secure for mainstream users. He has played a leading role in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrencies from high‑profile protocol exploits and has built and exited several multi‑million‑dollar tech ventures prior to founding Glue. Ogle is a frequent speaker at major industry events and has lectured on DeFi and crypto security at academic institutions and for government agencies. His work combines deep technical expertise with a mission to strengthen blockchain safety, usability, and mass adoption.

Meow is the co-founder of Jupiter, one of the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregators on the Solana ecosystem. Under his leadership, Jupiter has become a core piece of Solana’s DeFi infrastructure, known for its deep liquidity routing, user-first product design, and strong community governance. Meow is widely recognized for his long-term vision on decentralized finance, community-led growth, and the evolution of Web3 toward more open, accessible financial systems. Through Jupiter, he continues to shape how millions of users interact with DeFi at scale.

Kanessa Muluneh is a Dutch-Ethiopian serial entrepreneur who founded Rise of Fearless in

2024. Rise of Fearless is a UAE-based mobile gaming platform that merges African storytelling

with immersive battle royale gameplay. The game is inspired by Ethiopia’s historic victory at the

Battle of Adwa where Ethiopian forces defeated Italian colonial troops. Since the game

launched in April 2025, Rise of Fearless has built an engaged community of more than 5,000

registered players – united by African heritage. Based in Dubai, Kanessa leverages the UAE’s

position as a global business and technology hub to connect African heritage with global

markets, demonstrating her expertise in identifying and monetizing underserved gaming

demographics. Africa’s gaming market is expanding rapidly with over 680 million mobile users

and a projected industry value of USD 3.72 billion by 2029.

Under Kanessa’s leadership, Rise of Fearless is pioneering Web3 integration in African gaming,

implementing blockchain technology to provide players with true digital ownership of in-game

assets – creating new economic opportunities particularly valuable in regions with limited

traditional banking access. The game’s success extends beyond player acquisition to building

strategic partnerships across Africa’s gaming ecosystem, including organic collaboration with

volunteer African developers and content creators. Having previously launched and sold

multiple ventures for $1.5M, including a medical services platform and Sporthy (a social media

fitness platform), Kanessa brings proven experience in scaling technology solutions across

emerging markets. Her team of 10, operating from the UAE with expansion planned to Ethiopia,

previously demonstrated market resilience by successfully launching the Dire Lej NFT

community during the 2022 market downturn.

Josh Woongki Ahn is the Chief Operating Officer at T1 Entertainment & Sports, Inc. He previously led the company’s Business Department and earlier worked as a reporter for SBS CNBC and The Korea Business Daily.

Joseph van Heeswijk is an entrepreneur and one of the founders of the 2Game ecosystem, a rapidly expanding gaming and esports group that operates globally and forms part of GCL, a NASDAQ-listed company. Joseph serves as the CEO of the LATAM division, overseeing growth across Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and the wider Latin American region.
With more than 20 years of experience in the global games industry, Joseph has worked across Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America in roles spanning distribution, development, publishing partnerships, and large-scale marketing.
In esports, he helped build 2Game Esports into one of the region’s fastest-growing organisations earning a place in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) through competitive qualification in its first year. VCT is Riot Games’ official global league system and one of the most prestigious circuits in esports. Joseph also discovered standout talent such as Blaz from Chile, who went on to achieve major international success. With multiple expansions underway, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for the group.
Joseph focuses on building the infrastructure and opportunities needed to accelerate Latin American expansion in gaming, esports, and digital entertainment.

Alona Shevtsova is the Director and CEO of Sends, a UK-based fintech platform focused on delivering payment solutions for both B2B and B2C clients across the EU and UK markets. With over 15 years of experience in the fintech and payments industry, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Sends development strategy and expansion. In 2025, Alona Shevtsova was recognised as a Woman Entrepreneur in Fintech of the Year by the Brit Fintech Awards and as a Financial Women Trailblazer of the Year at Finnovex Middle East 2025. In 2026, Alona Shevtsova was included in Innovate Finance’s Women Powerlist. 

Alona began her career by founding and leading a payment system, where she spent over a decade building and scaling operations. Following this success, she expanded her expertise into the banking sector, deepening her knowledge of international finance and regulatory frameworks.

In 2024, she took on the role of CEO at Sends, where she is driving the company’s vision to simplify cross-border payments and support modern businesses with secure, scalable financial infrastructure.

Alona Shevtsova is a fintech leader driving measurable innovation, growth, and social responsibility as CEO of Sends. With over 15 years of experience in payments and financial technology, she has consistently delivered scalable solutions that bridge technology, compliance, and global financial accessibility.

Since taking on the role of Sends CEO in 2023, Alona has accelerated Sends’ transformation into a fully licensed Electronic Money Institution, delivering an embedded finance platform for both B2B and B2C markets. Under her leadership, Sends now enables secure transactions across 180+ countries, supported by real-time payment capabilities, multi-currency accounts, and an end-to-end compliance infrastructure.

Her strategy has resulted in:

• A scalable API-first payment system supporting global partners and developers
• Direct integrations with major payment schemes: Visa, Mastercard and CUP
• A platform capable of onboarding businesses rapidly, with account setup in 48 hours

Alona has also strengthened Sends’ position in the global payments landscape through:

• Principal membership with major card networks, enabling fast access and reduced transaction costs
• Advanced acquiring capabilities supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, expanding digital payment adoption
• Secure infrastructure aligned with compliance and security standards

Alona’s leadership combines innovation with purpose—ensuring that financial technology serves both economic and societal advancement. She is a regular donor to the charity funds. Her achievements have been recognised internationally, including:

• Woman Entrepreneur in Fintech of the Year (Brit Fintech Awards, 2025)
• Financial Women Trailblazer of the Year (Finnovex Middle East, 2025)
• Inclusion in the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist (2026)

Alona Shevtsova represents the future of technology leadership: data-driven, globally impactful, and purpose-led—making her an outstanding candidate for the Women in Tech Excellence award. Please, find supporting materials via the link

Ayman is a founding member of D360 Bank, overseeing the Bank’s risk strategy. He was Chief Risk Officer at Emkan Finance and held senior roles at Al Rajhi Bank, Ayman holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from KFUPM and an MBA from King Saud University, where he graduated top of his class.

Morrad Irsane is a serial entrepreneur, 500 Startups alumnus, and pioneer of Islamic Web3 finance based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With successful ventures across the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East — including the IKEA-acquired marketplace Melltoo — Morrad brings rare depth across startup building, exits, and emerging technology.
He is the founder of Takadao (Shariah-compliant cooperative insurance on blockchain) and TheLifeDAO NoBank, launched today as the world’s first decentralized halal Nobank, backed by Tim Draper, Chainlink, and Arbitrum.
A sought-after speaker on the future of Islamic finance and decentralized technology, Morrad bridges the worlds of traditional Islamic economics and cutting-edge Web3 infrastructure for a global audience of 1.8 billion Muslims.

Dr. Mohammed Abdur Rahman is a Full Professor and current Head of the Department of Cyber Security and Forensic Computing at the University of Prince Mugrin, Saudi Arabia, and Founder & Director of AdvancedMediaLab. Ranked among the World’s Top 2% Scientists, he has secured over USD 15 million in research funding and received the UPM Best Researcher Award for five consecutive years.
He has authored more than 150 scientific publications, including 57 journal articles, 90 conference papers, and 37 Q1 journal publications. His publication portfolio spans Artificial Intelligence, Agentic AI, AI Governance, Cybersecurity, Blockchain-enabled Trust Architectures, Digital Banking Security, IoT/6G Security, Smart Cities, Digital Healthcare, and Cyber-Physical Systems.
His work focuses on building secure, trustworthy, and scalable AI-driven digital ecosystems, with particular emphasis on AI governance, digital trust, blockchain-enabled systems, cyber resilience, and large-scale intelligent infrastructure

Sary Qasim is a Strategic Digital Transformation Leader in the MENA Region & USA, and author of The Nation’s Evolution (2026). With over 15 years of experience driving industrial and financial innovation across the GCC, he serves as the CEO of Dilmet Holding WLL, MENA Regional Lead for the Government Blockchain Association (GBA), and a Board Member of i-Blockchain Bahrain.

A recipient of the GBA Leadership Award in Washington, D.C., Sary regularly advises regional governments on digital assets, decentralized governance, and smart city ecosystems. He is a frequent global keynote speaker, having presented at the UN IGF, the Future of Money Summit (US. Capitol Hill), and Money 2.0, where he champions the integration of traditional enterprise with the future of decentralized economies.