Destination Greater Bay Area

Venue: The St. Regis Downtown Dubai

Join us for our international conference Destination Greater Bay Area set to take place on 31 October 2024 in Dubai.Through a selection of panellists and invited guests, this conference will have a focus on China and Middle East Opportunities, with particular emphasis on the Greater Bay Area.

The conference aims to bring together key business leaders and stakeholders from across Middle East and China and will provide a platform for cross-industry discussion among sector leaders.

The event will start with lunch and conclude with a networking drinks reception.

Please register your place at the event using the link above.

The St. Regis Downtown Dubai
Marasi Drive, Business Bay
Dubai
United Arab Emirates, 191984

12:30 - 14:00
Registration & lunch

14:00 - 14:20
Welcome and introductions

Speakers:

• Peter Somekh, Managing Partner, Middle East and Africa
• Horace Lam, Co-Country Managing Partner, China

14:20 - 14:30
Opening remarks:  Business opportunities for China and the GBA in Dubai

Speaker: His Excellency Hadi Badri CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation

14:30 - 14:50
Remarks: Run to the Greater Bay Area

Speaker: The honourable Mr. Lian Zhu, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the People's Republic of China

14:50 - 15:45 
Session 1: Fintech Frontiers: Innovations & Policy Predictions in GBA, Middle East & Europe

Moderator: Kristi Swartz, Partner, Hong Kong, AKD Partners

Speakers:

• Nilmini Rubin, Chief Policy Officer, Hedera
• Syed Musheer Ahmed, Founder, FinStep Asia
• Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom

15.45 - 16:00
ESG Spotlight: The Nature COPs: From Kunming to Riyadh

Speakers:

• Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry, Partner, Managing Director, Sustainability and Resilience, United Kingdom, AKD Partners
• Kelly Sporn, Special Counsel, International Head of Strategic Delivery – Sustainability & ESG, United Kingdom, AKD Partners

16:00 - 16:15
Coffee break

16:15 - 17:00
Session 2: Risks and practical tips for cross-border dispute resolution

Speakers:

• Andrew Mackenzie, Partner, Head of Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations, Middle East AKD Partners
• Ernest Yang, Partner, Co-Head of International Arbitration, Asia Pacific, AKD Partners
• Johnny Choi, Partner, Head of Employment - China, AKD Partners

17:00 - 17:15
ESG Spotlight: The rise and rise of mandatory sustainability disclosure: trends in Asia and the Middle East

Speakers:

Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry, Partner, Managing Director, Sustainability and Resilience, United Kingdom, AKD Partners

Kelly Sporn,Special Counsel, International Head of Strategic Delivery – Sustainability & ESG, United Kingdom, AKD Partners

17:15 - 18:15
Session 3: Middle East-GBA Business Synergies: 7th Tech Index Discussion

Unearthing the Middle East and GBA synergies. A discussion to explore to what extent the 7th Tech Index reinforces the global business between these two powerhouse regions.

Moderator: Mark O'Conor, Partner, Global Co-Chair, Technology Sector, AKD Partners

Speakers:

• Paul Allen, Partner, Global Co-Chair, Intellectual Property and Technology, Middle East AKD Partners
• Susheela Rivers, Partner, Office Managing Partner, Hong Kong Head of Real Estate, Asia Pacific AKD Partners
• Saba Al Sultani, Partner, Head of Intellectual Property and Technology, Middle East AKD Partners
• Mac (Mahmood) Ghani, Microsoft Business Group Lead at Accenture APAC 

18:15 - 18:20
Close

Speaker: Satpal Gobindpuri, Regional Managing Partner, Asia, AKD Partners

18:20
Networking drinks