Made For Trade Live Speakers
AHMED BIN SULAYEM
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN & CEO
DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2020 with over 18,000 member companies from 170 countries, employing over 60,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to market a number of value-added products and services under Mr. Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2020, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record sixth consecutive year.
Mr. Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.
Mr. Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr. Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.
SANJEEV DUTTA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - COMMODITIES & FINANCIAL SERVICES
DMCC
Sanjeev Dutta is the Executive Director of Commodities and Financial Services at DMCC. He oversees DMCC’s commodities vertical, and directs the development, implementation and regulation of the organisation’s financial products, platforms and services.
An expert on trade finance and commodity markets, Sanjeev is responsible for identifying new business opportunities for DMCC and nurturing existing commercial partnerships. He was instrumental in establishing the DMCC Tea Centre, DMCC Coffee Centre and the award-winning DMCC Tradeflow platform, and now tasked with enhancing the trade of agri and softs, precious metals and stones through Dubai.
Sanjeev is a senior member of DMCC’s executive leadership team and supports the general management, strategic direction and growth initiatives of the organisation. Sanjeev devised and implemented the organisation’s Code of Corporate Governance, and established its comprehensive risk management protocol.
Joining on its inception, Sanjeev has held a number of senior roles within DMCC and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DCGX). A distinguished speaker, Sanjeev regularly represents DMCC at international industry events and is an expert on trade, commodities and Islamic Finance.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Sanjeev has over two decades of multi-industry expertise in auditing, financial controls, consulting, risk management, corporate governance and general management with both PwC and KPMG.
JOAN ROGET
VICE PRESIDENT
FOMENT DEL TREBALL NACIONAL
General Manager/Vicepresident ITW Reagents Division
President Fedequim
Vicepresident Foment del Treball
Vicepresident Feique
HEAD OF SALES
DMCC
James Bernard is currently the Head of Corporate Sales at DMCC (Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre) and has played a pivotal role in its growth and development into a multi-award winning free zone with a portfolio of over 16,000 companies till date.
A special economics and free trade zone expert, James joined DMCC as Associate Director of Commodities and was later appointed as Director of Business Development in 2009 and has spearheaded both trade and commercial activities.
With over 14 years of experience and passion for commodities, logistics and global trade, James also specialises in big data, predictive analytics and distributed ledger technologies.
Prior to joining DMCC, James worked with several global financial institutions and trading houses across London and also set up his own trading companies for physical commodities and derivatives.
James is one of the founding members of the Dubai “Global Blockchain Council” and completed his higher education at the Westminster University in London.
RAMON PALOU I GODALL
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION
FOMENT DEL TREBALL NACIONAL
Formación Académica:
- Licenciado en Ciencias Políticas y Económicas por la Universidad Central de Barcelona.
- Economista por el Ilustre Colegio de Economistas de Barcelona Colegiado No.1092
- Master en Gestión Financiera y Bursátil por el Instituto de Economía Publica, Cooperativa y Derecho Público de la Facultad de Derecho de Barcelona
- Especialista Textil por la Escuela de Ingenieros de Barcelona
Actividades Profesionales Desarrolladas:
- Ex Vocal del Comité Ejecutivo del Cuerpo Consular de Barcelona con responsabilidades en las Relaciones Institucionales.
Actividades Actuales:
- Fundador, accionista y consejero de la Compañía AIT GROUP (Auxiliar del Automóvil y Construcción) Fabricas: España, Polonia y Estados Unidos.
- CEO de la Consultoría GERMAI XIV S.L.
- Perito Judicial por el Ilustre Colegio Economistas de Barcelona
- Cónsul del Mar. Consell de Vint. Tribunal de arbitraje para la resolución de conflictos de la Cámara del Comercio, Industria y Navegación de Barcelona
- Vocal de la Comisión de Control y Transparencia del Futbol Club Barcelona, Después de ser Directivo del Futbol Club Barcelona y Vicepresidente de la Fundación del Futbol Club Barcelona
- Consejero Compañía de Seguridad Onsecur.
- Vicepresidente de la Comisión Internacional de Foment del Treball
Condecoraciones:
- Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil otorgada por el Embajador del Reino de España en la República de Guinea Bissau por los méritos conseguidos en las relaciones entre ambos países
URS STIRNIMANN
DIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT
SWISS ILC SERVICES DMCC/SWISS BUSINESS COUNCIL DUBAI & NORTHERN EMIRATES
Urs Stirnimann is managing partner of Swiss International Legal Consultants, UAE.
Urs worked more than 25 years in various countries of the Middle East and Latin America with different responsibilities in the financial, diplomatic and legal field.
Since 2004, Urs is working as lawyer in the UAE. In the meantime, he also established a law firm in Abu Dhabi. He assists mostly Europeans who would like to benefit from the various advantages Dubai offers. He has established several hundred companies in the UAE. He advises also in the creation of Islamic products and structures and real estate issues and counsels as well in the fintech / blockchain field.
Urs has plenty of honorary positions like Vice President of the Swiss Business Council Dubai and chairman of the Swiss Financial Group, where 20 Swiss banks and insurance companies are represented. In addition, he is the Executive Director of the Emirati Swiss Friendship Forum under the leadership of HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and HE Pascal Couchepin former president of Switzerland. Recently he was elected to represent the Swiss in the UAE at the Council for Swiss Living Abroad.
Urs studied economics and law at the University of Zurich. Urs speaks fluent German, English, Spanish and French.
XAVIER VENTURA SANTAMANS
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR DT CATALONIA
BANCO SABADELL
Licenciado en económicas por la UAB y programa PDG por IESE
Director Comercial en Catalunya desde el 2013, siendo el responsable del direccionamiento comercial de toda la Red de oficinas , tanto para el negocio de particulares como el de Pymes y Empresas.
Responsable asimismo de toda la Red de Especialistas de Catalunya, que colaboran transversalmente con la Red de oficinas en los negocios de internacional, red agentes, turístico, digitalización, agrario, TPV y e-commerce, entre otros.
VÍCTOR ARGÜELLO
DIRECTOR, DUBAI REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
BANCO SABADELL
Director de la Oficina de Representación de Banco Sabadell en Dubai con ámbito regional y cobertura sobre Arabia Saudita, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahréin, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Omán, Líbano y Jordania.
Licenciado en Derecho y abogado por el ICAM, cuenta con más de 20 años de experiencia en diferentes entidades financieras, siempre dentro del ámbito internacional. Ha desarrollado su carrera profesional en Banco Sabadell, Banco Atlántico, Caixabank (Paris), BCH (Paris) o AXA (Montreal). Ha cursado estudios de Asesor Financiero en la Univ. Politécnica de Valencia, de Economía en la Sorbona de Paris y en el CEF de Madrid.
Nacido en Alicante. Casado y 4 hijos.
Director of the Representative Office of Banco Sabadell in Dubai with coverage on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Lebanon and Jordan.
Bachelor of Law and certified lawyer by ICAM, having more than 20 years of experience in different financial entities, always within the international scope. He has developed his professional career at Banco Sabadell, Banco Atlántico, Caixabank (Paris), BCH (Paris) or AXA (Montreal). He has studied Financial Advisor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Economics at the Sorbonne in Paris and the CEF in Madrid.
Born in Alicante. Married and 4 children.
ALBERT JOVÉ FRANCO
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW AND HEAD OF THE SPANISH DESK, DUBAI OFFICE
SCHLÜTER GRAF
Albert Jové Franco is an Attorney-At-Law admitted to Barcelona’s Bar Association and is registered as a Legal Consultant at the Ruler’s Court of Dubai. He is also The Head of the Spanish Desk in the Dubai office of SCHLÜTER GRAF.
In his professional career he was previously working for large insurance companies and banks in Spain. As the Head of the Spanish Desk, he regularly advises Spanish companies, multinational corporations and SMEs on corporate and commercial legal matters.
Furthermore, since 2018 Albert is also the vice chairman of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UAE, an association that gathers the major Spanish companies in the UAE.
Albert Jové is listed and recommended by various professional directories including the Spanish Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and the Commercial Office of Spain in the UAE (ICEX). He also is a member of the German-Emirati Joint Council (AHK) and the Austrian Business Council.
CRISTINA ORDINAS
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND FUNDRAISING
ACCIÓN CULTURAL ESPAÑOLA (AC/E)
Cristina Ordinas is responsible for the International Affairs and Fundraising at Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the governmental agency that orchestrates public support for the promotion of culture, both in Spain and overseas.
After her incursion in Investment Banking (Morgan Stanley, Citigroup) and the luxury industry (L.K. Bennett, Loewe and Acosta) she entered the public sector.
In the last 10 years, she has actively put her experience in the private sector at the disposal of the participation of Spain in the International and Universal exhibitions, at first as part of the SEEI team and later by participating in the merger of the three state companies dedicated to cultural promotion.
Obsessed with the enrichment and leverage of the collaboration between the public and private initiative, she is currently focused on making Spain Pavillion in Expo Dubai 2020 a best practice of it.
Cristina holds a Business Management BA in Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE. E-2) as well as a Master in Politics in Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
Spanish (Madrid), married and three kids.
ANTHONY PETER
OWNER AND DIRECTOR
TRANS ATLANTIC GEMS SALES DMCC
Anthony Peter is the owner and director of Trans Atlantic Gem Sales DMCC, which acts as an independent, online rough diamond sales channel which connects both buyers and sellers, while providing a sales solution for producers, small artisanal miners and suppliers. With over thirty years of diamond industry experience, Anthony has a broad knowledge base and is a well-recognised individual within the trade. He has pioneered the tender and auction services within the United Arab Emirates and been supportive in creating Dubai into a diamond hub.
JUSTICE MALALA
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR/WRITER
Justice Malala is a political commentator, newspaper columnist and author of the Number 1 bestseller “We Have Now Begun Our Descent”. Malala writes regular weekly columns for The Times online newspaper and the Financial Mail magazine in South Africa. His new book about the SA transition to democracy will be published in 2021 in the USA, Canada, the UK and SA by Simon&Schuster.
Until August 2018 Malala was resident political analyst for eNews Channel Africa (eNCA). He also presented a weekly political talk show (The Justice Factor) on eNCA. He was a political analyst at Lefika Securities in Johannesburg and was rated among the top five political / economic analysts of 2016 and 2017 in SA.
His book, We Have Now Begun Our Descent, reached number one on the South African best-seller lists in 2016 and was nominated as one of the top five non-fiction books of 2015 by the Jenny Crwys-Williams Book Club.
Between 2007 and 2011 Malala was general manager of Times Media Group’s stable of 44 magazines and, following that, general manager of the Sowetan and Sunday World newspapers.
Malala is a regular contributor to the Guardian in London and his work has been published internationally in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, Forbes, Institutional Investor, The Age, The Observer and the Toronto Globe and Mail. He has also contributed to BBC Online, Al Jazeera, CNN and Deutsche Welle.
He has given talks and rendered political advisory to JP Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Liberty, Old Mutual, Investec, Nedbank and many others.
Malala was awarded the Foreign Correspondents Association Award for Courageous Journalism in 1997. He was named by the New Yorker magazine as one of the eight most fascinating Africans of 2012 along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Malawian president Joyce Banda.
Malala was founding editor of ThisDay, the quality, upmarket South African daily newspaper which was launched on October 7 2003 and folded a year later. Malala was an executive producer on Hard Copy I and II, a ground-breaking television series on SABC3. Hard Copy I won the Golden Horn Award for best television series.
Malala was the London Correspondent of the Sunday Times (South Africa) from 1999 to 2001. He was the newspaper’s New York correspondent from 2001 to 2003.
Malala currently splits his time between SA and the USA, where he has been developing a television series.
BONGANI BINGWA
BROADCASTER/SPEAKER
702 BREAKFAST
Bongani Bingwa is the host of 702 Breakfast, the morning show of the premium English talk radio station in South Africa. His passion for broadcasting began at a young age in 1993 when he worked as a presenter for children’s television at the SABC.
In 2007 he has been a presenter and journalist for South Africa’s longest-running investigative television programme Carte Blanche. He has interviewed thought leaders, senior politicians, and captains of industry, authors, celebrities and high flyers on the global stage. Not a few wrongdoers came under the glare of his probing questioning for the show.
He is a recognized industry leader and was highlighted among a select few journalists and media specialists for Vanity Fair’s July 2007 Africa feature. In 2014 he was also an anchor host on The Oscar Pistorious Trial Channel 199, viewed by audiences around the world.
He has also facilitated discussions at major conferences, spoken at corporate, government and charity functions. He has conducted on-stage and camera interviews with international figures such as Cyril Ramaphosa, Tony Blair, Thabo Mbeki, Al Gore, Rudi Giuliani, Graca Machel as well as CEO’s and other leaders in various fields.
He studied politics and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNISA.
In July 2017, Bongani was announced as the new host of The Afternoon Drive on Talk Radio 702. Within a record six months, he was offered the morning slot which he hosts weekdays, from six to nine.
In March 2018 after 11 years with M-Net's Carte Blanche, he was announced as the co-anchor of the prime time weekly evening news show on SABC 404 The Full View. He was also the studio anchor for a funeral broadcast of the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
In 2019 he presented the SABC flagship elections show, The Democracy Gauge that achieved the highest ratings of any election coverage of the general elections.
DEEPAK LACHMANDAS ASWANI
CO-CHAIR
FICCI KERALA STATE COUNCIL
An MBA by qualification and is part of The Lachmandas Group, family run group specializes into FMCG, Textile Retailing and Distribution with partnership with several leading players including ITC, Raymond, Amway, Colour Plus, Bombay Dyeing and a couple of self started ventures namely Priceless-The Factory Outlet and My Kingdom-The Family Lifestyle Store. Deepak is highly experienced in Retail Marketing in multiproduct environment and has been very successful in this segment.
He has several awards to his credits like :
- BEST SHOWROOM BOMBAY DYEING
- BEST SHOWROOM RAYMOND
- BEST SHOWROOM PARK AVENUE
- GOLD DEALER ITC
- BEST SERVICE PARTNER AMWAY
- AWARD FROM COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SERVICE & TECHNOLOGY
- DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER AT VARIOUS MANAGEMENT FORA
He holds the following positions/membership:
- FORMER CHAIRMAN – KERALA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, ERNAKULAM.
- CHAIRMAN – CIGARETTE & TOBACCO DEALERS ASSOCIATION, KERALA.
- FORMER PRESIDENT – SHOP & OFFICE HOLDERS ASSOCIATION G C D A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX ERNAKULAM.
- MEMBER – KERALA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, EKM. (INMB-031)
- MEMBER – REATAILERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
- MEMBER – KERALA GOVT. FINANCE MINISTRY TAXES REDRESSAL COMMITTEE
- MEMBER – KERALA GOVT. MIMIMUM WAGES ADVISORY BOARD
- MEMBER - KERALA FINANCIAL CORPORATION ADVISORY BOARD
- MEMBER – COMMERCIAL TAXES DEPARTMENT – GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL BUREAU
- MEMBER – KERALA INSTITUTE OF RETAIL MANAGEMENT
- MEMBER – TRAVEL & TOUR INDUSTRY STAKE HOLDERS COMMITTEE - CIAL
GIANLUCA TUCCI
PARTNER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CN & CO
Gianluca Tucci is one of the partners and executive directors of CN&CO. CN&CO is a lifestyle business populated by people who believe, above all other things, in the importance and the power of those around us. The team comes with many years’ experience in a diverse range of skills — from strategy to events, project management to risk management, and much in between.
Gianluca's experience and skills are in brand strategy, communications, design and project management. His experience includes working with brands, partners and clients in a range of industries. This includes insurance, finance, tourism and travel, technology and more. Gianluca studied at the University of Johannesburg, VEGA (Brand Communications School) and the Gordon Institute of Business Science
MICHAEL LANE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
SWISS INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONSULTANTS LTD
Michael Lane is a Swiss Lawyer in Swiss ILC Services DMCC, a Management Consultancy firm and corporate service provider in the DMCC. He is also Manging Director of Swiss International Legal Consultants Ltd, a legal consultancy based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Before his engagement in the United Arab Emirates, he worked for a Swiss corporate law firm advising international and local clients in corporate, real estate and inheritance law as well as tax matters. With more than 10 years hands on experience in international corporate law, he advises clients in setting up but also optimising existing structures and entities in the United Arab Emirates.
Being a registered Will Draftsman with the DIFC Wills Service, having registered Abu Dhabi and Dubai Wills, he advises clients on inheritance matters and how to protect their assets in all seven Emirates.