Mr. Gunther Beger, Managing Director, Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO

Gunther Beger is UNIDO Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, responsible for the development of innovative services in areas of agro-industry, sustainability standards, fair production, and climate-improving technologies.

Prior he severed as Executive Director for Germany at the World Bank Group, as Director General in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and held several leadership positions in the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.

H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions

H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa holds the posts of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ICEI); and Chairman Board of Trustees of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions.

A graduate of Law, Sheikh Ebrahim has held a number of key positions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A former Minister of Housing from 2007 to 2011; Undersecretary of Finance (1993 to 2007), he has also been the Deputy Governor of Bahrain Monetary Agency (now Central Bank of Bahrain) (1982 to 1993).

Sheikh Ebrahim has been Chairman, Gulf International Bank; Chairman of Bahrain Development Bank; Chairman and Managing Director, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (GARMCO); the Chairman of Bahrain Institute of Technology. He is also a Board Member of Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) and Board Member of Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO); and Chairman of EBDAA Bank.

Sheikh Ebrahim is a strong advocate of youth economic empowerment through entrepreneurship development.

Mr. Wissam H. Fattouh, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks

A career development, Mr. Wissam H. FATTOUH became the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks in November 2010. As such, he leads the largest banking consortium in the region and the sole representative of the Arab banking community, which aims at the development and advancement of the banking and financial markets, in addition to the cross-border relations and exchange of expertise with international counterparts.

Mr. Fattouh has excellent knowledge and expertise in Arab and International banking and financial sectors, acquired from over 25 years of experience in this domain, and through extensive and close relations with MENA Region, Europe and United States of America, in addition to regional/ International financial and regulatory bodies. His remarkable contact portfolio with Heads of States, officials, ministers, politicians, Governors and regulators, and excellent liaison with banks and financial institutions’ chairmen, CEOs and heads through years of direct and careful relations acted as the vote of confidence for his evident rise to this position