Aathira Prasad is an Economist at the Dubai International Financial Centre. At DIFC, she deals with the economic analysis and forecasts of the MENA and DIFC region economies (where DIFC focuses its operations) and is an active participant in their in-house research publications. Prior to joining DIFC, she was an Economist with the Group Research division at the DBS Bank Singapore, covering the regional macroeconomic outlook with specific focus on India and Thailand.

Ms. Aathira Prasad, Economist
Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
Economic Outlook in GCC and MENA Region
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 09:10 AM

Jim Heid is a real estate advisor, land planner and sustainability expert, whose focus is the creation of developments that provide a positive contribution to their environment, region, and residents.  In 2000, he founded UrbanGreen to advise established development companies, governments and legacy NGO’s that seek better development models.  With over thirty years experience in the design and development of new community and urban infill developments, Jim is known to effectively resolve the complex layers of community design and real estate using a variety of proven tools and best practices.  He is motivated by the need to deliver high quality developments to a broader market – in an increasingly complex world of entitlements and financing – without compromising environmental, economic or placemaking objectives. 

 

Jim brings rigor to the rapidly changing discussion of urban sustainability through a dedication to research and practical hand-on experience. Over the past decade he has pioneered many of the Urban Land Institute’s evolving contributions to sustainable land development, climate change and real estate investment.  For the ULI he serves on the Climate, Land Use, and Energy Committee.  He is a regularly featured speaker at national conferences and symposia and the primary instructor for ULI’s Sustainable Communities Development Workshops. He is nationally recognized as an articulate advocate for responsible land development.

 

Prior to founding UrbanGreen, Jim worked as an urban designer/land planner and real estate strategist with two of the country’s leading firms, Design Workshop (1987-1993) and EDAW (1994-2000), where he also served as COO. In 1994, he earned a Masters of Science in Real Estate Development at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as a way to more fully integrate the practice of design with real world implementation strategies. The range of his experience gives him the ability to deal with a multitude of issues – from 30,000 to 3 feet – and deliver an inspired, but market-responsive approach.

Mr. Jim Heid, President & Founder
Urban Green LLC
Building a Sustainable City: Emerging Trends, Opportunities and Challenges
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 10:10 AM

Sanad Humaid H.Q. Ahmed is a Senior Project Manager at Masdar City, responsible for
managing the design, project development and contracting of the Masdar Institute of
Science and Technology (MI) campus within Masdar City. This includes working with
architects, designers, engineers, contractors and consultants to ensure the project is
delivered on time, on budget and to specifi cations, all while ensuring full harmonization with the overall Masdar City mandate.

Sanad also serves as the senior project manager of a Masdar geothermal energy pilot study that is looking into the feasibility of, and potential for, geothermal energy in
the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, Sanad serves on the Masdar Hydrogen Plant Abu
Dhabi (HPAD) Steering Committee, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar)
Steering Committee, as well as the Masdar-General Electric Steering Committee.

Mr. Sanad Humaid Ahmed, Senior Project Manager
Masdar
The Challenges and Opportunities in Building the World’s First Carbon Neutral, Zero Waste, Clean Technology Cluster
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 11:10 AM

Mr. Keehn was raised in California, United States, where he attended undergraduate university at California State University, San Francisco, with a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies.  He then attended American University, in Washington, DC, for his Masters in Global Environmental Policy.  His master’s thesis research addressed the existing and emerging green building and LEED certification market in Washington, DC.  He was also the student representative to the university’s building committee for a new project on campus designed and constructed as a LEED NC certified building. 

 

Professionally, Mr. Keehn has worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the National Center for Environmental Research, a division of the Office of Research and Development in Washington, DC.  There he worked with university professors and companies seeking to obtain funding from the federal government to pursue research and business applications linked to environmental technologies and sustainability.  He was also involved with launching and coordinating a group of young EPA employees and other interested parties to focus their professional knowledge regarding environmental issues and apply it to Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), with a specific emphasis on alternative energy technologies. 

 

Mr. Keehn next worked with Concept Two Prefab, a startup company working to design and build prefabricated green homes.  As the Director of Market Strategies, he worked with the principles to develop designs, determine market characteristics, and officially launch the company.  Prefabrication offers many environmental and financial benefits and Concept Two Prefab looked to make use of these advantages while delivering a high quality and environmentally positive home, at a price that a typical home buyer could afford.  The company now has a number of lines under fabrication.

The opportunity to work with one of the most well recognized energy efficiency and green building companies in the Middle East presented itself and Mr. Keehn joined EMS.  In his time with them, he has grown the green building department which now has projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.   He has also worked and is working with clients and project teams on a number of LEED buildings and other sustainable master development and sustainable projects. 

 

In addition, Mr. Keehn led a team to compile and create EMS’s annual CSR report for the second straight year.  EMS is a reporting member of the United Nations Global Compact, a U.N. sponsored CSR initiative.

Mr. Samuel Keehn, Environmental and Sustainability Manager
Energy Management Services, Int
Developing Green Solution for the Energy City Qatar Development
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 11:40 AM

Engr. Ibrahim Kutubkhanah holds the position of Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Jeddah. In this capacity he is responsible for the management and administration of the Construction and Projects Division, overseeing projects and services in regard to infrastructure for the city.   This includes the planning and construction of transportation facilities such as roads and bridges, plus all open space facilities and parks, and is involved in monitoring construction projects worth in excess of SR 5 billion. The management of all operation and maintenance work associated with this infrastructure is another critical and major task within his area of responsibility.

 

In addition, Eng. Ibrahim is involved with implementing an Initiative Formulation program for the City to establish a rigorous rationale for annual budget submittals.  He is also instrumental in the development of the Jeddah Strategic Plan, a document that guides development in the city over the next twenty years, and in establishing a Project Management Office.

 

He has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, and attended UCLA [California, USA], for one year studying Systems Management.

 

He has over thirty years experience with the Royal Commission at Yanbu Industrial City, where he rose to become Deputy Director General, a position he held for 17 years. In this role, he worked in five of the Royal Commission’s organizational divisions.   Under his direction in the Technical Affairs Division, he was responsible for the overall management of more than 2,000 employees, and the procurement and implementation of construction and design contracts worth SR 1.8 billion.  In this role he was also responsible for the completion of a new Master Plan for the city, which significantly increased the residential community and added a major waterfront tourism and leisure component.  This work involved broad responsibilities in resource planning, organization, management, budget/performance accountability, and extensive coordination work with domestic and international contractors and numerous government ministries.

 

Eng. Ibrahim holds membership in the Institute of Administration Management, U.S.A.; Institute of Municipal Engineering, U.S.A.; American Public Works Association; International Cities Management Association, U.S.A.; and the Saudi Council of Engineers.  

 

Engr. Ibrahim has several publications to his credit mostly in the area of construction management and its role in project implementation. Other publications relate to the development of municipal services, the preservation of Islamic heritage in Town Planning, and environmental protection.

Eng. Ibrahim Khalil Ismaeel Kutubkhanah, Deputy Mayor for Constructions & Projects
Mayor's Office - Jeddah
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Masterplan: Latest Development and Project Opportunities
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 02:00 PM

Alexander Rieck is currently working as a senior scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute of Industrial Engineering (IAO) in Stuttgart. After studying architecture in Stuttgart and Phoenix (Arizona) Alexander Rieck worked in several architecture offices. Focused on new technologies like virtual reality he started his research career at the IAO in the Competence Center Virtual Environments. From 1998 he is working in interdisciplinary teams in the development of future scenarios addressing the work of the future (OFFICE 21), hotel of the future (Future Hotel) and construction of the future (FUCON).  

Since 2009 Alexander is head of Building Innovations Department at the IAO and since Dec. 2009 he is organizing the Corporate Projects Department of Fraunhofer in Munich.

Parallel to his academic career Alexander was founding in 2007 together with Tobias Wallisser and Chris Bosse the architectural firm LAVA based in Stuttgart, Sydney and Abu Dhabi.

Mr. Alexander Rieck, Director
LAVA
Sustainable design on Future Hotels and Masdar City
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 02:30 PM

Abdel is a Sustainability Consultant and has been instrumental in spearheading Faithful+Gould’s sustainability initiative in the Middle East. He holds a First Class Honors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters Degree in engineering for sustainable development awarded with commendation.

 

He possesses extensive experience in building engineering services with emphasis on energy management and renewable energy integration. Abdel has worked on renewable energy integration for various developments, including projects requiring solar thermal/photovoltaic systems and energy efficient HVAC systems.

 

Abdel is a LEED Accredited Professional and is responsible for project managing Green Building Assessments for clients across the Middle East. His role involves providing an interface between the technical and cost considerations often encountered whilst appraising sustainability options on projects. Other areas of his expertise include sustainability strategy, carbon footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment.

Mr. Abdel Khan, sustainability Consultant
Faithful & Gould
Evaluating Sustainability within the Built Environment
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 03:00 PM

Ahmed Al Ali is a young and emerging new architect-entrepreneur of U.A.E. He graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a degree in Architecture and since 2003 established his own firm to realise the ambition to create the unique avant-garde office, X-Architects.

 

X Architects, a versatile and innovative design studio. He has designed a number of projects including a floating apartment, sustainable cities, commercial towers and numerous private villas.

 

He has exhibited his designs in various international venues and events, including AIA Berlin 2002, Technical University (TU) Berlin, Cityscape, Abu Dhabi, Dubai International boat show, etc. Numerous local and international television channels have exhibited his designs including Al-Aghariya, Belgium, Italian and German stations. An authority on Sustainable master planning, Ahmed is regularly invited to speak at various conferences on Green Building.

 

Many Emirates design publications have featured his work, these include Al Manakh 1 & 2 by AMO, Mark, 2A- Architecture & art, architecture plus and global magazines such as Casamica and LUP- The Venice Biennale

 

He is a critic at the School of Design and Architecture at the American University Sharjah.

Mr. Ahmed Al-Ali, Executive Chairman
X-architects
An Update on Sustainability Case Studies:
Day 1 [Mon 22, February], at 04:30 PM

Robert Stephens has been involved in the high-rise façade industry for over 12 years. For the last 5 years he has been based in Dubai heading up Meinhardt's specialist façade teams in the region. During his time in the U.A.E., he has consulted on large scale
projects such as Dubai Festival City, United Tower Kuwait, Lamar Towers KSA., and Vision Tower Business Bay.

 

Robert has gained extensive experience of sustainable façade designs for hot climates due to his involvement in projects such as the Integer Hong Kong Pavilion (2002), The Hong Kong Science Park (2000) and more recently Central Market Abu Dhabi, and The Dubai Pearl Project, Dubai. In terms of practical experience Robert has been fully involved with the design, detailing and execution of double skin façades, integrated PV façades, façades with thermal collectors, and the carbon footprint analysis / life cycle costing of façades

Mr. Robert Stephens, Regional Director - Middle East
Meinhardt Facade Technology
Building Tall Building Facades with an Environmentally Responsible Approach
Day 2 [Tue 23, February], at 09:05 AM

Judy has been a city councillor for 8 years. Her extensive qualifications are in teaching, counseling, public relations, social policy and research and sociology.  She holds a master of Science in international social policy from Oxford University and has a keen interest in community development and social capital. 

 

She chairs the Waitakere city council Community and Culture Committee drawing on over thirty years involvement in community development, values education and many roles in schools and community organizations. 

 

Her presentation reflects her own enthusiasm and the successes of Waitakere ecocity for building sustainable communities through involving people from the ‘ground up’.  She says “top down and bottom up must move together for sustainable cities to succeed”.

Ms. Judy Lawley, Councillor
Waitakere Ecocity, New Zealand
Waitakere-New Zealand’s First Eco City
Day 2 [Tue 23, February], at 09:35 AM

Jay Witherspoon is a Fellow Technologist (the highest technology rating offered by CH2M HILL), Vice President, and assistant, Global Technology Director for CH2M HILL with over 28 years of extensive experience in sustainable plant design and optimization, renewable energy sources, air quality and greenhouse gases evaluations, measurements, and reductions, composting, waste management, water and wastewater regulatory compliance issues, biosolids management, and odour control approaches.  Jay is leading triple bottom line technology innovations and integrated approaches and analysis for 100% renewable powered city with very stringent sustainability KPIs that meet One Planet Living goals.   

Mr. Jay Witherspoon, Technology Director
CH2M HILL International
Global Water Resource Sustainability Dynamics & Challenges
Day 2 [Tue 23, February], at 11:40 AM