Agenda

Dr. Al Kuwaiti has appointed into the Cabinet as the Head of the Cyber Security for the UAE Government since 2020. As the Head of the Cyber Security, his mandate includes being the Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council as well as Managing Director of the National Data Centre under the Supreme Council for National Security. As the Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government by investiture, Dr. Al Kuwaiti has legal authority over all aspects pertaining securing the cyberspace for the entire Nation.

Dr. Al Kuwaiti has published numerous papers and keynoted at many conferences such as IEEE, RSA, Cyber Warfare Europe, Tele Strategies, ISS World MEA, IDEX, International Anti-Cyber Crimes Conference, Future War Summit etc., He is a highly sought after speaker internationally and have provided the main keynote address for more than 50 international, regional, and national cybersecurity events such as GITEX, GISEC and the World Government Summit, and had presented the UAE Cyber Security Framework at INTERPOL Global Cyberspace and Cybercrime Complex located in Singapore. Dr. Al Kuwaiti holds a Doctorate in Computer Engineering and Network Security from George Washington University in the U.S. and a master’s degree in Telecommunications and Computer Networks. He also holds a M.A. degree in International and Civil Security. Dr. Al Kuwaiti is an honorable member of Society of Engineers, IEEE Society, Golden Key National Honor Society and Computer Society. His research interests are detecting, monitoring and responding to cyber warfare, Network Forensics, Corporate Governance & Process, and national cyber policy.

With around 20 years of experience in Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Karim Abdelghani is an expert in international relations in this dynamic sector. He has served the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, the International Finance Corporation, and the ITU. He holds a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham, which he obtained as a Chevening scholar in 2009. He is also the Senior Advisor in the ITU Arab Regional Office, where he works with various stakeholders in the region on topics such as digital government services, smart learning, digital health, digital agriculture, ICT indicators, and digital innovation ecosystems. He leads the ITU Arab Regional Office's collaboration with the UN in the region as well. 

Dr Chafic Chaya is the Regional Manager for Public Policy and Government Affairs in the Middle East for RIPE NCC with a recognised 30-year career. He specialises in enhancing Internet infrastructure, focusing on connectivity, peering, routing security, and capacity building. Dr. Chaya plays an instrumental role in public policy, liaising with government officials, policymakers, and regulators, emphasising collaborative efforts to create a secure and resilient Internet environment. 

He is an advocate of education and capacity building. He leads RIPE NCC's capacity building efforts, academic initiatives, and certified professional programs in the Middle East. He aims to ensure that members, communities, and governments in the region are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to stay informed and relevant to the constantly evolving needs of the Internet and its governance. 

Dr Chaya's commitment to multistakeholder Internet governance is evident through his active involvement in various national, regional, and international events and organisations, including NRIs, the League of Arab States on Internet-related issues, WSIS, IGF, GDC, and ITU meetings. His work in Internet governance encompasses fostering multistakeholder collaboration, promoting inclusive decision-making processes, and advocating for sustainable Internet development. 

His involvement with the Order of Engineers in Beirut, AUD’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, the Policy Network AI, GigaNet, the Arab IGF, and Lebanon IGF underscores his dedication to fostering partnerships and collaboration for the development of the Internet and its public policy. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Internet governance from Staffordshire University, UK, an MBA from Lebanon, and a Telecommunications Engineering degree from France.

Dr. Heba Mohamed Ismail is the Vice President of the Arab Federation of libraries and Information (AFLI), a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institution Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section (CPDWL), she works as Libraries Technical Manager at Egypt's Society for Culture and Development. 
She earned a PHD in Librarianship and Information Science on "E-training networks for public librarians". She also publish and contributes to the development of the profession in different subject related to the internet and children, E-books, etc.  

Kassem Istanbouli (1986): a Lebanese actor, director, and cultural innovator with a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the Lebanese University. He has over 15 years of experience in theater, filmmaking, and cultural project management, and specializes in using the arts to create community participation and social change. In 2014, he founded Tiro Association for Arts (TAA), which led to the revival of abandoned cinemas in Tyre and Tripoli, transforming them into cultural hubs similar to the Lebanese National Theatre. In 2020, Kassem Istanbouli founded ACAN, a network of over 700 organizational and individual members from 22 Arab countries and 44 European countries. Kassem Istanbouli won the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture’s 19th edition in 2023 in recognition of all the contributed efforts in the field of culture and intercultural dialogue.

Ruth Sidabutar is a Project Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for digital technologies. She leads the facilitation and coordination of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process and its alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as with other digital global governance processes. She has dedicated her career in the field of international cooperation, which spans in international organisations, regional organisations, and non-governmental organisations. Before joining ITU, she served as a Political Officer at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. She holds a Master’s degree in Cooperation and Development and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations (International Development).