9th Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium

Speaker: Nihal Shaikh, Associate Director at startAD

Speaker: John Tate, CEO of Tamkeen

Speaker: H.E. Sheikha Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of Integrated Environmental Policy and Planning Sector. Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

As global temperatures continue to rise, adaptation has become as vital as mitigation. This panel explores how disruptive technologies are enabling climate resilience across critical sectors such as water, energy, and urban infrastructure. Experts will discuss how the UAE’s innovation ecosystem can scale these solutions across the Global South, bridging the gap between research, policy, and implementation.

Speakers:

Rahma Al Shamsi, Head of Ventures & Portfolio at Bee'ah

Zain Tarawneh, ClimateTech Lead, Hub71

Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Director of Marine Biodiversity at EAD

Aby Thomas, Editor, Inc Arabia

Policy can be the single biggest accelerator - or barrier - to climate innovation. This session convenes regional and international leaders to examine the frameworks, partnerships, and financing mechanisms needed to scale climate resilience. Panelists will highlight actionable pathways for governments and institutions to integrate climate adaptation into national development agendas and attract private sector participation.

Speakers:

Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi, Founding Partner at Soma Mater

Khalid Tebe, Director - Climate Policies, Regulations, and Market Mechanisms at GCFC

Eva Ramos, Directo of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Economics at EAD

Tara Al Marzooqi, Programme Associate at Frontiers25

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we understand, predict, and combat climate change. This forward-looking conversation will explore how AI is being applied to climate modeling, carbon accounting, energy optimization, and investment decision-making. Experts from academia, startups, and industry will discuss the promise and pitfalls of AI-driven climate solutions and what it takes to ensure that innovation translates into measurable impact.

Speakers:

Amy Lehoczky, Director of ESG at G42

Dr Vian Sharif, President of Nature Alpha

Sean Park, CEO of EnergyX.ai

Moussa Beidas, Partner and Ideation Lead, PwC Middle East

Climate innovation thrives where capital meets opportunity but early-stage funding remains the missing link across much of the Global South. This discussion brings together leading investors and ecosystem builders to explore how blended finance, venture capital, and new digital platforms can de-risk investment and unlock scalable climate impact. The panel will dive into the practical tools and strategies that can accelerate capital flow into frontier markets.

Speakers:

Zoe Reich, Founding Partner at Octopus Energy Climate Ventures

Patil Mesrobian, Head of Client Coverage - MEA at S&P

Qais Al Suwaidi, Vice President, Innovation and R&D at TAQA

Tammer Qaddumi, Founding Partner at VentureSouq

Speaker: Sonia Weymuller, Co-Founder & General Partner, VentureSouq

Evening reception at BB Social Dining