HON CHRISTOPHER PYNE
HIS EXCELLENCY MR RIDWAAN JADWAT
Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Special Envoy to the OIC
Mr Jadwat is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He was most recently the First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division, and has held the role of Australia’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation since December 2018.
Mr Jadwat was Australia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen from June 2018 until December 2020. Mr Jadwat has also served at Australian missions in Tehran (Deputy Head of Mission) and Kuala Lumpur (Counsellor).
Prior to his appointment as the head of the Middle East and Africa Division in March 2023, Mr Jadwat was the Head of the Southeast Asia Division and the Southeast Asia Maritime Division in the Office of Southeast Asia.
Mr Jadwat was seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2015-2018 and served as Assistant Secretary, South and South-East Asia, Americas and the Middle East, International Division, and as the Head of Policy in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit Taskforce.
Mr Jadwat holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney, and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.
Mr Jadwat is married with children.
HIS EXCELLENCY DR FAHAD ALTAFFAG
The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Australia
His Excellency Dr Fahad Obaid Mohamed Altaffag Almarashda, Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Commonwealth of Australia March 27, 2024.
Prior to his current assignment, His Excellency was the UAE Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria since between April 2018-April 2023.
His Excellency previously held the position of Director of the African affairs directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation during the periods April 2023 – April 2024.
His Excellency had served as the Director of Economic and Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation during the periods January 2015 -January 2018, Vice Chair at the Indian Ocean Rim Association between September 2016 and February 2018, in addition, HE was managing the special projects department at the Tawazun Economic Council “Offsets” during the periods of January 2011- August 2014, He also held various managerial positions in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Dubai Municipality.
Over the years, His Excellency has been a member of various international and national committees and associations including the World Energy Councils 2019, World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, the Executive team for the Foreign Direct Investment contribution in the GDP, the Executive Team on countering protective measure and Anti-Dumping practices, the UAE-Italy Friendship Association, the UAE Steering Committee at the World Trade Organization, and the Committee of Avoidance of Double Taxation and Investments Protection and Promotion.
The distinctive service record over the years have qualified His Excellency to receive the Distinction Order by HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in February 2017, the Middle East Award for the Future Distinctive Leader in June 2014, the Jordan Business Council Award for Academic Excellence in 2010, and also His Excellency received HH Sheikh Rashid Award for Scientific Distinction in 2000 and 2019.
His Excellency Dr Fahad Obaid Mohamed Altaffag Almarashda, holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Economic Diplomacy from the United Arab Emirates University, UAE. Also, HE has a Master Degree in Business Administration with concentration in Finance from the American University in Dubai, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computing and Information Systems from the University of Dubai. His Excellency has completed the Duke Leadership Program at Duke University in Durham USA, He also completed executive diplomas in Strategic IQ and Building Smarter Organization from Harvard Business School-USA, and Achieving Outstanding Performance from INSEAD Business School in France, and Negotiation Skills and Decision-Making Strategies from Chicago Booth Business School-USA.
His Excellency is married and has four children (2 Boys and 2 Girls).
MS ELLECIA SAFFRON
Founder & Managing Director – Maysaffron
Maysaffron, which Ellecia founded in 2015 is the solution for institutions wanting to connect intelligently and effectively with the Middle East & Asia Pacific. Maysaffron have raised >$500m in capital, advised on more than $35bn in transactions and currently advise groups with assets totalling more than $18bn AUM.
Formerly a Fund Manager at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Australia, Asia Pacific & Global mandates) and prior to this a Research Analyst at Macquarie Bank, Ellecia is currently an advisory board member of the Australian UAE Business Council and Co-Deputy Chair Australian Institute of Company Directors Middle East Committee. She is also a Board member on the Global Council for 100 Women in Finance and a member of the 100 Women in Finance Middle East Committee.
She is passionate about community and giving back. In 2018 she was one of 100 recipients in the UAE of an award in honour of the Founder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed, for contributions to the business community. In 2024 Ellecia received the ‘Legacy Award’ from AusBG – Australian Business Group Abu Dhabi & Australian Business Council Dubai for outstanding contributions, reputation, and ethics over the course of ten years.
Ellecia has a BA in Business from The University of Technology Sydney, an MBA from The University of Wales, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
MR JAMIE LEVY
Senior Advisor – Abu Dhabi Investment Office
Jamie is Senior Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the central government hub supporting private sector investment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
ADIO enables opportunities for domestic and foreign investors aligned with Abu Dhabi’s economic priorities and offers a range of targeted programmes, including competitive cash and non-cash incentives, direct investment, VC fund investment, SME stimulus and public-private partnerships.
Prior to joining ADIO, Jamie was a Corporate Law Partner in KPMG Law’s Sydney office. Before joining KPMG Law, Jamie was a General Counsel at Mubadala Investment Company, advising Aerospace, Defence, ICT and Healthcare business units.
His formative legal years were spent at King & Wood Mallesons (Sydney) and New York Law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton (London) where he obtained significant experience in advising private equity fund sponsors and investors in relation to establishment and investment into private equity funds.
MR ABDUL HAMID OUBEISI
Abdul Hamid Oubeisi is a senior executive in strategic business development and management across multiple industries. Specialized in healthcare and education with 23 years of international experience in management, investments, start-ups, project development, operations, business development, and finance. In partnership with LabCorp, Abdul Hamid is the co-founder of Mubadala’s National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and was the CEO between 2011 & 2022. During his tenure, he provided strategic direction and leadership, while overseeing the growth, operations, and financial performance of the company. In parallel, he was also LabCorp’s General Manager for the Middle East between 2013 & 2020. LabCorp is the worlds’ largest diagnostic and fortune 500 company. Over the past decade, NRL of LabCorp emerged to be the largest and most trusted reference laboratory in the region.
Prior to joining NRL, Abdul Hamid played a key role in founding and leading several high profile and successful healthcare and education ventures in the MENA region. Between 2007 & 2010, he was the Director of Business Development & Consultancy Projects for Dubai Healthcare City in partnership and association with Harvard Medical International and Harvard Medical School, Dubai Center. Between May 2008 & April 2009, he was the co-founder of Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education in Dubai (rebranded to Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine). He served as Regional Business Development Manager for the MENA region for Synergy Healthcare between 2006 & 2007 and for Smiths Medical between 2000 & 2005.
After graduating in Business Administration in 1999, Abdul Hamid attended several industry-specific academic programs with various institutes and universities such as London Business School, Harvard Medical School, and Duke University. In addition, he participated in several international commercial conferences and events.
MR MOUSTAFA FAHOUR OAM
Cheif Operating Officer – Plenary Middle East
Moustafa is based in the United Arab Emirates and leads Plenary’s business activities in the Middle East.
Prior to joining in 2021, he was CEO and Managing Director of one of the leading diversified international contractors in the Middle East.
He has more than 22 years of experience in the banking industry, construction, management and has held senior roles with CIMIC Group, Macquarie Bank, National Australia Bank, UBS and Citigroup.
Moustafa is the founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia. He is the author of Boundless Plains: The Australian Muslim Connection and The Journey: Establishing Australia’s First Islamic Museum. He was also Executive Producer of the documentary, Boundless Plains: The Australian Muslim Connection.
In 2015, Moustafa was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia by the Australian Government and in 2021 was Highly Commended by the Victorian Government for community response and recovery.
He was selected as one of The World’s Most Influential Young Arabs under the age of 40 by Arabian Business, and in 2016 was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award by La Trobe University.
MR FEDERICO TATA NARDINI
Cheif Financial Officer –
Fleet Space Technologies
Federico is Chief Financial Officer at Fleet Space Technologies, leading Fleet’s financial strategy, capital funding, and global investment expansion. In addition to his current role, Federico holds the title of Chief Strategy & Investment Officer and has been an Executive Board Member at the company since 2019. He also sits on the board of directors for Fleet’s international subsidiaries in Canada, Chile, Luxembourg, and the USA.
Prior to joining Fleet, Federico acquired 16+ years of experience as international CFO for the multinational energy company Engie SA, across 4 continents. Federico has deep international expertise working in high-level financing, M&A, and sector transformation in the global energy markets. He is also a shareholder in Alauda Aeronautics, a high-tech Australian start-up engineering high-performance electric flying cars.
During his career as CFO, Federico has led several major financing projects in Italy, South Europe, during the Grexit Crisis. He was also appointed by Engie to lead their first acquisition in India in support of the company’s decarbonization efforts. Shortly after, Federico was assigned to oversee a Joint Venture between Total and Engie in the UAE, which led to his appointment as CFO by Abu Dhabi Holding to be part of TAQA Group’s energy business in support of the Abu Dhabi’s energy sector transformation.
Federico received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from Universita’ La Sapienza in Rome, his Master’s in International Finance from Almo Borromeo College and the University of Pavia, and has received multiple Master’s in IFRS.