![image description](images/rise-design-blank-pr.jpg)
About RISE 2023
The SAMENA Council RISE (Rising for Industry Sustainability & Efficiencies) Conference is about rising to new challenges and making progress as new digital applications, services, platforms, and new business as well as operating models surface on the digital horizon. RISE is also about addressing new needs of the businesses, economic sectors and industries, and the society at large. Thus “sustainability” takes the center stage and is assessed with the right policy lens and conducive regulatory measures. RISE, as a new model of leadership discourse and display, aims to contribute to the creation of new technology synergies and efficiencies within and beyond the ICT Industry, to help accelerate efficient digital transformation.
The RISE Conference in Riyadh aims to showcase how metaphorical desertification of the past is now catalyzing digitalization of the future.
RISE Promo
Speakers
![image description](images/speakers/Doreen-Bogdan-Martin.jpg)
H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin
Secretary General, ITU![image description](images/speakers/Mohammed_Al-Tamimi.jpg)
H.E Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi
Governor, CST![image description](images/speakers/Olayan-Alwetaid.jpg)
Eng. Olayan M. Alwetaid
Chairman, SAMENA CouncilCEO, stc Group
![image description](images/speakers/Edward-Mermelstein.jpg)
Mr. Edward Mermelstein
CommissionerNew York City
![image description](images/speakers/MARGARETE-SCHRAMBÖCK.jpg)
H.E. Dr. Margarete Schramböck
Former Minister of Digital & Economic Affairs - Austria![image description](images/speakers/Deemah-Al-Yahya.jpg)
H.E. Ms. Deemah Al Yahya
Secretary GeneralDCO
![image description](images/speakers/Amandeep-Singh-Gill.jpg)
Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill
Under-Secretary General & Special Envoy on Technology - UN![image description](images/speakers/Bassam-Al-Sarhan.jpg)
H.E. Eng. Bassam Al-Sarhan
Chairman & CEOTRC Jordan
![image description](images/speakers/Philip-Marnick.jpg)
H.E. Mr. Philip Marnick
General DirectorTRA Bahrain
![image description](images/speakers/AmirAlGibreen.jpg)
Mr. Amir Algibreen
Group Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer - stc Group![image description](images/speakers/Alaa-Al-Maliki.jpg)
Eng. Alaa Al Maliki
CTOMobily
![image description](images/speakers/Amer-Bukvic.jpg)
Mr. Amer Bukvic
Acting Director General of Global Practices & Partnerships, IDB![image description](images/speakers/Abdulrahman-Al-Marzouqi.jpg)
Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Marzouqi
Director Policies and Programs Department, TDRA![image description](images/speakers/AlFhadah-AlBaiz.jpg)
Ms. AlFhadah AlBaiz
Director – Sector DevelopmentMCIT
![image description](images/speakers/Jawad-Jalal-Abbassi.jpg)
Mr. Jawad Jalal Abbassi
Head Of MENA - Government & Regulatory Affairs, GSMA![image description](images/speakers/Yazeed_A_Alfaris.jpg)
Mr. Yazeed A. Alfaris
VP of Application Sectorstc
![image description](images/speakers/Abdulhadi-Alhassani.jpg)
Mr. Abdulhadi Alhassani
VP Corporate StrategyArabsat
![image description](images/speakers/Bocar_A._BA.jpg)
Mr. Bocar A. BA
CEO & Board MemberSAMENA Council
![image description](images/speakers/Baraka-Wu.jpg)
Mr. Baraka Wu
Deputy Managing DirectorChina Mobile International
![image description](images/speakers/Adam-MacHale-2.jpg)
Mr. Adam MacHale
VP Service Provider EMEACisco
![image description](images/speakers/Ramzi-Khoury.jpg)
Mr. Ramzi Khoury
PartnerStrategy&
![image description](images/speakers/Thomas-Kuruvilla.jpg)
Mr. Thomas Kuruvilla
Managing PartnerAD Little
![image description](images/speakers/Ram-Ramachandran.jpg)
Mr. Ram Ramachandran
Managing Director MEATech Mahindra
![image description](images/speakers/Marc-Biosca.jpg)
Mr. Marc Biosca
Senior PartnerKearney
![image description](images/speakers/Philippe-Defraigne.jpg)
Mr. Philippe Defraigne
Co-Founder & DirectorCullen International
![image description](images/speakers/Alexander-Popovskiy.jpg)
Mr. Alexander Popovskiy
Director of Strategic InitiativesYandex Maps
![image description](images/speakers/Ghassan-Murat.jpg)
Mr. Ghassan Murat
Regional Vice PresidentMENA - Eutelsat
![image description](images/speakers/Brahim-Ghribi.jpg)
Dr. Brahim Ghribi
Head of Government & Policy Affairs MEA - Nokia![image description](images/speakers/Hussein-Oteifa.jpg)
Mr. Hussein Oteifa
General Manager Middle EastSES
![image description](images/speakers/Nour-Al-Atassi.jpg)
Mr. Nour Al Atassi
Director Service Providers - MEA, Turkey, India, APAC & CIS - AvayaAgenda
Sustainable ICT Development:
The Future of Digital Visions & Cross-Industry Innovation
- Opening Ceremony10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
- Morning Session10:20 AM - 12:30 PM
- Afternoon Session12:30 PM - 03:40 PM
- Evening Session04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Opening, Host Welcome and Keynote Messages
![image description](images/speakers/Bocar_A._BA.jpg)
Mr. Bocar BA
CEO & Board MemberSAMENA Council
![image description](images/speakers/Mohammed_Al-Tamimi.jpg)
H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saud AlTamimi
GovernorCST Commission
![image description](images/speakers/Olaiyan-Al-Wetaid.jpg)
Eng. Olayan M. Alwetaid
Chairman, SAMENA CouncilCEO, stc Group
![image description](images/speakers/Doreen-Bogdan-Martin.jpg)
H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin
Secretary GeneralITU
Digital Cooperation to Support National Visions
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Deemah-Al-Yahya.jpg)
H.E. Ms. Deemah Al Yahya
Secretary GeneralDCO
RISE Leaders Session Frontiers beyond Connectivity & Technologies Shaping Cross-sector Synergies
To consider: Investment Gaps. Going beyond connectivity products. Web 3.0 Landscape – its implications and applications. Vertical-sector opportunities. Transforming roles and expectations among stakeholders.
About this discussion track:
It is now well-established that telecommunications services and networks are crucial to everyday life, serving as the bedrock of the digital economy and conduit of social, economic, and political activity. But paradoxically, telcos’ crucial role within the society and the enterprise service landscape still requires to be translated into strong returns for the shareholders. In the context of new demands on networks through key developments, including but not limited to Web 3.0 and the role of ICTs in sustainable development, new pressures are coming towards Telecom Operators to invest even more, requiring new ways of doing things, and working closely with diverse groups of stakeholders, including policymakers, other digital space players, satellite service providers, to name a few. The focus for all is to create new value, offer relevant services in the digital economy, and help fulfill national ICT visions that transcend beyond mere connectivity.
This session will explore what the future looks like for all different stakeholders in a meshed world where economic, social and business activities require advanced, resilient and secure communications networks.
Moderator
![image description](images/speakers/Ramzi-Khoury.jpg)
Mr. Ramzi Khoury
PartnerStrategy&
Speakers
![image description](images/speakers/Alaa-Al-Maliki.jpg)
Eng. Alaa Al Maliki
CTOMobily
![image description](images/speakers/MARGARETE-SCHRAMBÖCK.jpg)
H.E. Dr. Margarete Schramböck
Former Minister of Digital & Economic AffairsAustria
![image description](images/speakers/Abdulrahman-Al-Marzouqi.jpg)
Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Marzouqi
Director Policies and Programs DepartmentTDRA
![image description](images/speakers/Abdulhadi-Alhassani.jpg)
Mr. Abdulhadi Alhassani
VP Corporate StrategyArabsat
![image description](images/speakers/Jawad-Jalal-Abbassi.jpg)
Mr. Jawad Jalal Abbassi
Head Of MENA - Government & Regulatory AffairsGSMA
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Coffee Break
Digital Transformation and Municipal Services
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Edward-Mermelstein.jpg)
Mr. Edward Mermelstein
CommissionerNew York City
Sustainability Imperatives for the Tech Industry
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Sherif-Hamoudah.jpg)
Mr. Sherif Hamoudah
Head of Ecosystems and ChannelsSAP Signavio Middle East & Africa
Rising to Challenges Digital Policies for a Sustainable Digital Future
To consider: G5 classification examples in the GCC. Challenges in digital development. Role of the private sector and the regulators in actionable policymaking. Evolving digital ecosystem. IoT. Regulatory sandbox approaches. Cross-border data flows. Evolution in policy and regulatory approaches. Supply-chain sustainability.
About this discussion track:
The ICT Sector is widely acknowledged as a cross-cutting enabler for sustainable development. ICTs are accelerators, amplifiers, and augmenters of change, making it feasible to more flexibly and dynamically reconfigure, and hence transform all aspects of how resources are produced and used. Given that ICT-enabled solutions are driving impact across various sectors, where smart manufacturing and smart agriculture, smart buildings, smart metering, and smart mobility could contribute to achieving more than 70% of the total global emission reduction potential, for example, there are major challenges associated with “sustainability” of Business, Digital Transformation, Resources, Environment, and overall Human Well-being. It is high time that digital space players, policymakers, and regulators champion rectification of various sustainability-related challenges.
This session explores various dimensions of a sustainability-driven digital future, and the types of policies, strategies and measures required to ensure, for example, that ICTs are transformed to become greener, enabling a truly sustainable digital future.
Moderator
![image description](images/speakers/Thomas-Kuruvilla.jpg)
Mr. Thomas Kuruvilla
Managing PartnerAD Little
Speakers
![image description](images/speakers/Bassam-Al-Sarhan.jpg)
H.E. Eng. Bassam Al-Sarhan
Chairman & CEOTRC Jordan
![image description](images/speakers/Philip-Marnick.jpg)
H.E. Mr. Philip Marnick
General DirectorTRA Bahrain
![image description](images/speakers/Amir-Algibreen.jpg)
Mr. Amir Algibreen
Group Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officerstc Group
![image description](images/speakers/Adam-MacHale-2.jpg)
Mr. Adam MacHale
VP Service Provider EMEACisco
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Prayer Break & Luncheon
Financial Industry Perspectives Digital Development and the Financial Sectors
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Amer-Bukvic.jpg)
Mr. Amer Bukvic
Acting Director General of Global Practices & PartnershipsIslamic Development Bank
ICT Industry Perspectives Sustainable Development through 5G
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Baraka-Wu.jpg)
Mr. Baraka Wu
Deputy Managing DirectorChina Mobile International
The 180° Shift Evolution of Digital Transformation – Lessons Learned, Actions Planned
To consider: Catalysts in digital adoption. National ICT and socioeconomic visions. Achieving sustainable advantages in the Telecom and Vertical businesses. Agility in technology deployment. Emerging technologies. Digital-development cooperation.
About this discussion track:
Many countries, including in the GCC region, have realized well that digital transformation and the proliferation of ICTs can help contribute to addressing many pressing challenges that governments are confronted with, such as population growth, increasing urbanization and related pressures on non-renewable resources, as well as socio-economic issues such as access to education, healthcare, public services and more. Countries in the region have acted with foresight and have introduced national digital economy and ICT visions, with horizons defined beyond 2040 in some cases. Fulfilling such visions, however, requires preparing the ground for smooth technology adoption, enabling both ICT-centric and ICT-driven sectors to collaborate more, building a complex digital services ecosystem in a sustainable manner, and materializing cooperation on multiple fronts.
This session will explore the landscape of digital transformation across the region, with focus on what has worked, what did not, and where evolution is required in terms of strategy, vision, policy, and implementation to meet the set goals.
Moderator
![image description](images/speakers/Marc-Biosca.jpg)
Mr. Marc Biosca
Senior PartnerKearney
Speakers
![image description](images/speakers/Ram-Ramachandran.jpg)
Mr. Ram Ramachandran
Managing Director MEATech Mahindra
![image description](images/speakers/Nour-Al-Atassi.jpg)
Mr. Nour Al Atassi
Director Service Providers - MEA, Turkey, India,APAC & CIS - Avaya
![image description](images/speakers/Amr-Farouk.jpg)
Mr. Amr. Farouk
Marketing & Services Solution DirectorHuawei Middle East & Central Asia
![image description](images/speakers/Amani-A-Albraikan.jpg)
Dr. Amani A. Albraikan
Assistant Professor - Artificial IntelligencePrincess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
![image description](images/speakers/Yazeed_A_Alfaris.jpg)
Mr. Yazeed A. Alfaris
VP of Application Sectorstc
United Nations Connect Agenda and Policy Recommendations
Keynote
![image description](images/speakers/Amandeep-Singh-Gill.jpg)
Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill
Under-Secretary General & Special Envoy on TechnologyUnited Nations
Elevating the Debate New Horizons in Rising for Industry Sustainability & Efficiency
To consider: ICT ecosystem sustainability challenges in the age of Metaverse. Realizing e-health, e-government, e-education. Big Tech and Internet platforms. Terrestrial & Satellite synergies.
About this discussion track:
The digital economy is made up of many different stakeholders, providing many different types of technologies, infrastructure, specialist knowledge, guidance, and value-adding digital services. To ensure that national visions and associated KPIs, such as digital education or digitalization of the national electricity grid, or e-government can become a reality, all stakeholders need to work toward meeting sustainability and efficiency requirements in the collective interest of all. This is only possible based on deep and long-lasting partnerships that maintain a balance of incentives among key actors. Furthermore, because our dependency on communication technologies - whether provided by Telecom Operators, Satellite Operators, or Internet Companies - coupled with the acceleration of technology innovation, has increased the need for new regulatory tools and policies, there is a longstanding need to foster: trust-building, consumer privacy protection, freedom of speech and security without dampening growth or inhibiting innovation, realizing synergies, leveraging expertise, among other factors unique to each stakeholder group. This will require an agile, flexible and transparent approach to governance along with multi-stakeholder cooperation and collaboration.
This session examines key challenges of the digital world as they relate to partnerships along the digital value-chain. Moreover, it examines new horizons for the ICT ecosystem and for policymakers, and the challenges and opportunities stemming from those horizons.
Moderator
![image description](images/speakers/Philippe-Defraigne.jpg)
Mr. Philippe Defraigne
Co-Founder & DirectorCullen International
Speakers
![image description](images/speakers/AlFhadah-AlBaiz.jpg)
Ms. AlFhadah AlBaiz
Director - Sector DevelopmentMCIT KSA
![image description](images/speakers/Alexander-Popovskiy.jpg)
Mr. Alexander Popovskiy
Director of Strategic InitiativesYandex Maps
![image description](images/speakers/Ghassan-Murat.jpg)
Mr. Ghassan Murat
Regional Vice President MENAEutelsat
![image description](images/speakers/Brahim-Ghribi.jpg)
Dr. Brahim Ghribi
Head of Government & Policy Affairs MEANokia
![image description](images/speakers/Hussein-Oteifa.jpg)
Mr. Hussein Oteifa
General Manager Middle EastSES