Conscious Investor Fellowship

An insatiably curious dilettante, Aaron Fallon spent the majority of his professional life searching for opportunities to think deeply about complex problems with intelligent, hard-working people in collaborative, creative cultures.

This has led him to roles in the private family office of a computer scientist, strategy positions in a boutique consultancy, and, most recently an entrepreneurial, impact-focused role at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in Abu Dhabi. When he’s not working, Aaron is running long distances, caring for way too many houseplants, and searching for the best cup of karak chai in his neighborhood.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Aaron Fallon

Andrew Yip believes in truth, growth, and health. He make things happen wherever he goes. Latest gig: shaping the future of cities by building the most sustainable and healthy food system using digital, innovation, and policy over a land the size of Belgium northwest of Saudi Arabia.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Andrew Yip

Ayman has a track record of leadership and delivery of excellent results through strategically driving revenue and profit growth. He is known for his expertise in conventional & Islamic financial institutions in local and international venues (MENA, Europe, Asia and USA). Demonstrated ability to identify and troubleshoot critical issues impacting productivity, cost, distribution, underwriting results, products development, sales performance and financial operations.

Location: Bahrain
LinkedIn: Ayman Al-Ajmi

With over 12 years of experience across both academia and industry and a global network, Babar is leveraging his skillset to advise governments and VC funds focusing on tech assessment and investments. His passion lies in transforming current systems into environmentally sustainable ones to improve planetary health. Along with being a co-inventor on 4 US patents, Babar holds a BS in Environmental Biology, an MS in Clinical Biology, a certificate in Entrepreneurship from the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, and PhD in Bioscience from KAUST. Babar was inducted into the MIT Technology Review’s “”Innovators Under 35 “” in 2019 for work on a novel biosensor to improve the water desalination process.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Babar Khan

Budoor is passionate about entrepreneurship with an interest in social enterprises. She is a certified chief innovation officer with an Executive MBA and 13+ years of experience in innovation management, supporting innovators in developing startups, developing enterprises, and supporting Entrepreneurship. Budoor managed 60+ business projects funded and supported by UAE government entities. Currently, she is the manager of the corporate innovation strategy and framework at Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Budoor Wahidi

A humanitarian & social entrepreneur by heart, strategist by trade and a design thinker whose life has always been aligned to the causes she truly believes in. Whether it’s about empowering the youth, developing socially impactful products or helping impact driven businesses thrive. Dania’s aim through the past 12+ years of her career has been a consistent one: to be a driver of social change and innovation.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Dania Al Masri

Ezekiel is a Chartered Accountant with 7 years of post-qualifying experience. He has extensive Investment, Corporate Finance and Accounting experience gained while working for Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre and leading global professional services in the United States, Qatar, Ireland and lately, Saudi Arabia. Working in audit, financial advisory and Venture Capital has given him knowledge of various industries and sectors, sound financial analysis experience, corporate finance knowledge and a sharpened commercial acumen. Always driven by his aspiration to go beyond his abilities, Ezekiel thrives in a professional and culturally diverse environments that offer the potential for growth.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Ezekiel Kwenda

Faisal has 20+ years experience in M&A, private equity, venture capital and investment banking. He currently works in a corporate M&A role at Aramco. Previously, Faisal spent several years working in senior private equity roles in Bahrain. Before moving to the Gulf, he was in the US where he worked in venture capital (NEA) and investment banking (JPMorgan, Citi). Faisal has an MBA in Finance from Yale University.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Faisal Baig

Fereshteh is an experienced strategy and innovation professional with a demonstrated history of working in finance, entrepreneurship and impact. She has strong communication skills focused on strategic partnership development and stakeholder engagement, which have been a cornerstone of her career to date across global ecosystems, while always considering a social impact lens.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Fereshteh Amarsy

Holding a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies from King’s College London, Greg Ohannessian has dedicated his career to developing policy and strategy at the intersection of the public and private sectors. Delivering projects in coordination with the UN, DP World, the UAE Ministry of Defense, MoCCaE, and Dubai Government, and AgriTech projects focused on market-entry analysis in the UAE for a leading global CEA company as well as conducting investor due diligence for a UAE-based CEA incumbent, Greg has over a decade of experience and is committed to long-term sustainable growth in the region. Greg is a founding partner of SOMA MATER.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Greg Ohannessian

Hiba Alajeeb is the IR4.0 Sector Localization Lead responsible for in- Kingdom economic development projects towards localization of key commodities and services to support investments related to New & Emerging Technologies in the Energy Sector. Hiba holds a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology and a MS in Technology Management with a focus on New Product Development & Commercialization.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Hiba Alajeeb

Hussein Attar is the investment manager at Tech Invest Com, a 1Bn SAR Saudi investment firm that invests in MENA-based tech startups that are raising Series A/B. He co-founded Sawerly, one of the top 50 Arab startups by Forbes. He is also in the opportunity committee at Oqal Angel investment group, and member of the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. He is also board member at Attar Software Engineering, a leading software development house in Saudi Arabia.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Hussein Attar

Khaled is taking a deep dive into the tech startup space. He joined KittyHawk Ventures as a Venture Associate. Prior to joining KittyHawk, he was part of a high energy team at Hive, an AI startup that delivers Computer Vision solutions for a variety of use cases. He focused on introducing new verticals to Hive by helping both startups and large corporations in various industries incorporate computer vision AI solutions into their business models. Khaled has an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he focused his studies on IOT, AI and scaling tech ventures. He also studied Civil Engineering at the university of Michigan – Ann Arbor, after which he worked on construction projects of various sizes in Qatar and Washington DC.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Khaled Mouasher

Lachlan is the Portfolio Manager covering Venture Capital at Aditum Investment Management, based in Dubai. In this role, Lachlan is responsible for investing out of the firm’s venture capital fund with a focus on Seed to Series B investments globally, with a skew towards early-stage opportunities in the MENA region. The fund is not constrained to any sector but B2B software and fintech are to key themes driving the current investment strategy. Lachlan has 10+ years of experience investing in and supporting technology companies. Prior to joining Aditum Lachlan was a founding team member of Potentia Capital, Australia’s largest private equity buyout fund specializing in technology companies.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Lachlan Hughes

Lujain AlUbaid is the co-founder and CEO of Tasamy for Social Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing an ecosystem and a safe haven for social entrepreneurs in the region. Born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her background in finance she diversified her knowledge by participating in the Harvard Business school Women Executive Leadership Program, and Columbia Business School’s Executive Education Program for Non-profit Organizations. She is also an Acumen Global Fellow and she worked as the Chief Strategy Officer for Ignis Careers in Hyderabad, India as she is also A CEDPA alumni. She was selected as one of the most 100 influential women in the middle east, and also nominated to be the most influential under thirty in Saudi Arabia.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Lujain AlUbaid

Sheikh Dr. Majid Sultan Al Qassimi qualified as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Saint Istvan University in Budapest, Hungary. He started his work as a veterinarian in the zoo and conservation field and moved into an administration role in 2013 as a Director to oversee the Terrestrial Biodiversity and conservation activities at the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi. From 2015 to 2021 he was the Chief Veterinary Officer of the UAE and Advisor to 2 Minister regarding all things Food and Agriculture, at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE. He is a founding partner at SOMA MATER where he continues to develop Food Security and Sustainability strategies and solutions for private sector and governments.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Majid Al Qassimi

Experienced VC professional, mentor, advisor with a demonstrated history of working experience in the Private Equity and Venture Capital industry. Areas of expertise and passion include startups, entrepreneurship, business development, growth strategy, negotiation, deal structuring and Risk Management.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Muhammad Zeeshan Hassan

Noora is a confident leader seeking to use strong communication skills and insightful business sense to inspire and lead an organization. Combining the knowledge of operational excellence, business regulations, service quality strategies, and market trends to take an organization to the next level of transformation. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Key Information Technology Dubai, setting and driving organizational vision, operational strategy, and hiring needs. Empowering her team with the leadership and resources they need.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Noora Al Jahani

Raed is currently the head of Elm corporate VC. His whole career has been in the technology and IT services industry. Prior to that, Raed worked on developing and managing data-driven products. Raed holds Electrical Engineering degree from King Saud University, and MBA from Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College for Business and Entrepreneurship.

Location: Saudi Arabia
LinkedIn: Raed Marouf

Location: Saudi Arabia

Salama is an entrepreneur with 20+ years of diversified experience within the family corporate office, hospitality, and aviation industry – Co-founded Virall tech, a venture innovation connecting intelligent individuals to real market. With expertise in strategy and planning, project management, franchise management, Emiratization, business intelligence and analytics, revenue optimization, system enhancements & implementation, currently managing (The Business Inn) day to day operations in addition to other 7 endeavors. Top scorer of the Graduate Management Development Program in the first batch of the program in Etihad. Also been a “Best Emirati” Award runner-up twice. A risk-taker who considers failure a tough learning curve.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Salama Al Amry

Samah Al Hajeri is the Director of Cooperatives and Strategic Reserve in the Ministry of Economy certified in Project Management (PMP) with more than 10 years’ experience in Policy Development, Economics Behavioral Insights, Project Management and Innovation Management. Member of the National Team of the Global Innovation Index, member of the Knowledge- based Entrepreneurial Committee and member of the UAE Advanced Innovation Strategy Taskforce. A graduate of the UAE Impactful Leadership Program and a graduate of Executive Masters in Public Administration. Holder of Public Innovation Diploma from University of Cambridge and certified as a young advisor for Small and Medium Enterprises. Winner of the Minister’s Award for the “Innovative Employee 2020” .

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Samah Al Hajeri

Sara is the CEO of the Family Business Council Gulf, the GCC chapter of FBN International the largest global network of family businesses. Prior to FBCG, Sara worked as a management consultant at Arthur D. Little, Monitor Deloitte (formerly Monitor Group) and Dubai Holding across various sectors on strategy, transformation and economic policy. She is avid supporter of social initiatives that led her to organize the first nation-wide internship program (Karamaan Initiative) and TEDx event (TEDxTehran) in Iran. Sara is also a Fellow of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.Sara holds a MSc with Distinction in International Political Economy from LSE and BA Summa Cum Laude in International Relations and Economics from Tufts University.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Sara Mohammadi

Sulafa in one of the recognized women leaders within the family business scene in the UAE. A career banker by profession, she transitioned into managing the reins of her family business 14 years ago when she assumed the position of Director at Al Sayyah group. She has a wealth of experience across the fields of investment and portfolio management, food distribution and property management among other areas. She is in charge of a broad mandate encompassing P&L management, human capital development for the verticals assigned, operational and service excellence, ensuring brand patronage, expansion and growth.

Location: United Arab Emirates
LinkedIn: Sulafa Al Sayyah

Yasmeen Al-Sharaf is the Director of the FinTech & Innovation Unit at the Central Bank of Bahrain (“CBB”), tasked with setting up a conducive ecosystem to facilitate a robust regulatory framework that fosters innovation within the financial services sector. She has been working with the CBB for the past 15 years were she started her journey within the Licensing Director at the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), before being appointed to lead the newly established FinTech and Innovation Unit in 2017. One of Yasmeen’s latest achievements was the launch of the Kingdom’s first digital sandbox platform “FinHub973” . Her tremendous efforts has led to the recognition of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a leading FinTech hub in the MENA region.

Location: Bahrain
LinkedIn: Yasmeen Al-Sharaf

Eng. Nawal Alhanaee is a leader in sustainable infrastructure, strategic energy planning, and innovation. As Director of the Future Energy Department at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, she has spearheaded national initiatives such as the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 revision and the National Hydrogen Strategy. With a strong commitment to advancing the energy transition and climate action, HE Nawal joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen her expertise in sustainable and impact investing. She is passionate about aligning capital with long-term environmental goals, fostering collaboration within a network of conscious investors, and driving change in support of the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision. A certified innovation strategist, PMP, and PhD candidate in sustainable development and leadership, HE Nawal is also a proud recipient of the First Class Order of Zayed II and Hydrogen Person of the Year awards.

Eva is a public policy, corporate sustainability, and development expert with extensive international experience across Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. As Director of Environmental Policy Analysis and Economics at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, she leads initiatives under the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy 2023–2027 to drive environmental innovation, sustainable finance, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Eva joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen her knowledge of ClimateTech investing and support the creation of policy frameworks that mobilize capital for climate solutions. She previously worked with the Inter-American Development Bank, ECODES, the Avina Foundation, the European Union, and Abengoa, and holds an MSc in Economics and Business and an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Sussex, where she was a Chevening Scholar.

Humaid is the Head Economist at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, where he leads the development of climate and environmental economic policies for the Emirate. His work focuses on integrating economic tools into environmental decision-making and aligning investment strategies with sustainability goals. He currently oversees Abu Dhabi’s carbon pricing initiatives and the implementation of its greenhouse gas measurement and reporting framework. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Humaid aims to strengthen his understanding of early-stage ClimateTech investment frameworks, build pathways for regulatory partnerships with startups, and support Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a regional hub for climate innovation. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from NYU Abu Dhabi and has over 15 years of experience across the banking sector and public service.

Hajar is the Director of Government Communications at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), where she leads strategic communications, media, and stakeholder engagement efforts in alignment with the UAE’s climate agenda. She served as the lead communications representative for MOCCAE at COP28 and brings nearly two decades of experience across government, private, and international sectors. Hajar joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to expand her network of climate-focused investors and startups, supporting her passion for advancing social impact through innovation. She previously held leadership roles at Dubai Municipality, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Chalhoub Group, and is a recognized mentor for startups and accelerator programs. Hajar holds an MBA from the Canadian University in Dubai and is a graduate of the UAE Government Leadership Program.

Alia Al Ali is an Emirati professional specializing in investor access, strategic engagement, and sustainable leadership. At HSBC, she connects global investors to opportunities across the MENAT region and leads youth-driven initiatives as Head of the HSBC Youth Council. Alia joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen her expertise in ClimateTech investment trends and build meaningful relationships with mission-driven investors and founders. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Investor Relations from the University of Sharjah, a master’s in Strategic Leadership from the University of Abu Dhabi, and is a certified Investor Relations Officer by MEIRA. Purpose-driven and values-led, Alia is committed to advancing long-term impact through sustainable investment and collaboration.

Ayman is a visionary Emirati business leader and inspirational speaker, dedicated to empowering startups and advancing leadership excellence. As Co-Founder of The Corporate Group (TCG) and Managing Director of Axeed Space, the UAE’s largest business incubator, Ayman plays a key role in attracting foreign direct investment and enabling startup growth across the GCC. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Ayman seeks to deepen his understanding of the investment ecosystem, ESG, and impact-driven capital. His goal is to evolve from ecosystem builder to conscious investor and advocate, supporting social enterprises and sustainable innovation with greater intentionality.

Dr. Ahmed Alfadhel is the Executive Director of Innovation & Technology Commercialization at Dhahran Techno Valley Company (DTVC), leading deep-tech development, investment, and venture-building initiatives. He brings a strong background in technology commercialization, having previously served as Chief Technologist at a Public Investment Fund (PIF) subsidiary focused on bridging R&D and market applications. Ahmed joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to refine his approach to ethical and sustainable investing, build connections with like-minded investors, and expand his impact investing skillset. A published researcher in microsystems and nanofabrication, and co-founder of a startup specializing in nano-porous ceramic membranes, he holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from KAUST and a BS from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Saad Altuwaijri is a private equity and impact investment professional with over nine years of experience across the GCC and international markets. As a Manager in the Investment Impact Department at the Environment Fund (E Fund), he leads fund investments and ecosystem initiatives aligned with Saudi Arabia’s environmental and sustainability priorities. Saad joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen his expertise in ClimateTech investment trends, build strategic connections with mission-driven investors, and identify co-investment opportunities to accelerate the Environment Fund’s impact objectives. He previously worked with PIF, HSBC, and international investment firms, and holds a Bachelor’s in Finance & Investment with executive education from UC Berkeley.

Raghad Furayyan works in External Partnerships under the Impact Investment Department at the Environment Fund in Saudi Arabia. With a background in marketing and business development, she supports initiatives that align capital with environmental impact objectives. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Raghad aims to deepen her understanding of climate investing to further contribute to her team’s mission and strengthen the Fund’s role in advancing sustainability and impact investment across the region.

Pramendra is an experienced finance and investment professional with a background in strategic growth, acquisitions, and business development. Based in Abu Dhabi, he has held senior leadership roles, including serving as Chief Investment Officer, where he led group expansion through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Pramendra aims to enhance his ability to identify and assess ClimateTech investment opportunities and support founders and the broader ecosystem. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA, combining strong financial expertise with a passion for mission-driven investing.

Tariq is a sustainability strategist with a strong background in ESG, economic development, and innovation. He currently serves at the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and brings experience from key roles at Riyad Bank and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, where he led strategic initiatives in sustainability and CSR. Tariq joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen his expertise in impact investing and lay the foundation for a future green innovation fund. He holds a Master’s degree from IE Business School, certifications from Harvard University, and is a Climate Reality Leader. He is also an adjunct professor at IE University and a member of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum.

Bob is a business leader, investor, and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience across multinational corporations, entrepreneurial ventures, and the public sector. Based in Dubai for over a decade, he has held senior roles including Big Four consulting director and board (vice) president, and is actively involved in advising and investing in startups focused on sustainability, FinTech, HealthTech, and Environmental Tech. Bob joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen his impact in tech-enabled climate innovation and connect with like-minded investors driving measurable change. He holds degrees from institutions in the UK, the Netherlands, and the USA, with executive education from INSEAD, MIT, and Oxford, and is the author of a book on career transformation.

Christine is a long-time advocate for merging business with impact, with over a decade of experience in international development, entrepreneurship, and early-stage investing. Her career began at the World Bank, addressing youth employment challenges in the Middle East, and evolved into building Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—launching education programs, supporting incubators, and founding a Female Angel investment group to empower women investors and founders. Christine joins the CIF as she builds a regional impact angel syndicate fund, aiming to deepen her expertise in impact finance and connect with like-minded investors across MENA. She holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from USC, a Master’s in International Development from American University, and an MBA from Columbia University.

Gaston is a startup founder, impact investor, and cleantech advocate with over a decade of experience across emerging markets. He co-founded Tree Geo Data, a software venture focused on afforestation in desert environments, and NoCO2, which connected finance to agroforestry initiatives in South America. With more than 100 angel investments and notable exits like a 14x return from Baubap, Gaston brings deep expertise in early-stage funding, financial modeling, and legal structuring. Currently General Counsel at NEOM’s ENOWA, his previous legal career includes senior roles at Nakilat and Total SA. Through the Fellowship, he aims to launch a ClimateTech Venture Builder in the GCC and strengthen his regional network of mission-driven investors.

Ismail is a social entrepreneur and ecosystem builder passionate about driving positive change through innovation and community empowerment. As the founder of The World Impacteurs, he connects purpose-driven founders with investors focused on social and environmental impact. At Optimum Green Ventures, he supports ClimateTech innovation through strategic investments that deliver both financial returns and environmental outcomes. Ismail also serves as Vice Chairman of the World Organisation for Development, working alongside the United Nations to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and global collaboration. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, he aims to deepen his expertise, expand his network, and continue supporting scalable ventures that drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

Sir Malachi is the Founder and CEO of Halliday Forfaiting Services (HFS), a Dubai-based financial services firm providing working capital solutions and advisory to startups and MSMEs across the UAE. Through flexible invoice discounting and strategic support, HFS aims to fund over 2,000 enterprises, improving access to finance and enabling growth for underserved businesses. Knighted for his and his family’s service to community development, Sir Malachi brings a mission-driven approach to sustainable finance. He is a frequent mentor, judge, and speaker on topics such as financial inclusion and capital access, and joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen his impact and connect with like-minded investors committed to inclusive economic growth.

Paul is a legal and sustainability expert with a background in law, strategy, and climate policy. He is the Managing Director and co-founder of Econetix, where he focuses on scaling high-integrity carbon markets, particularly in East Africa, and advising on institutional-grade carbon projects that align with global climate goals. Previously, Paul served as Director of Legal, Sustainability & Strategy at neoom and has advised policymakers on energy, resource, and climate issues. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Vienna and has completed additional studies in renewable energy systems. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, he aims to deepen his understanding of sustainable finance and connect with a regional network of impact-driven professionals.

Nishat is a tri-sector professional dedicated to building world-class institutions in emerging markets that create better, healthier, and more inspiring futures. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships – Business & Philanthropy at Crescent Enterprises, he works at the intersection of philanthropy, venture capital, and technology, collaborating with international philanthropists, multilateral organizations, and high-impact CEOs to design and scale entrepreneurial institutions with a social mission. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Nishat aims to sharpen his thinking around early-stage, impact-oriented investment strategies and connect with a community of like-minded leaders driving systemic change across the region.

Salman is a third-generation family business leader overseeing operations at Lucky Group, a metal recycling and manufacturing enterprise based in Doha. With over 20 years of global industrial experience, he is focused on aligning his family business with sustainable growth, innovation, and climate-conscious practices. Salman holds degrees from the University of Waterloo and HEC Paris, and actively contributes to advisory boards and mentorship programs across Canada, Qatar, and the UAE. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, he aims to deepen his understanding of the ClimateTech market, explore investment frameworks, and build meaningful connections with experts driving global sustainability solutions.

Tamara is the founder & CEO of RAMA Impact, a venture that supports early stage women owned social enterprises operating in underserved communities in Middle East & Africa in the climate resilience economic empowerment sector. With a background in business management and a decade of experience in the humanitarian and social entrepreneurship sectors, Tamara has designed and led programs focused on education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and refugee support. She previously founded and led the HerMeNow Accelerator, empowering women- led social enterprises across the region. Tamara joins CIF to refine her investment approach, deepen her knowledge of conscious capital strategies, and connect with a network of mission-driven investors. She also advises family offices and funders on deploying capital purposefully to achieve sustainable and scalable impact.

Aarzoo is an early-stage investor at the Dubai Future District Fund, with a focus on startups advancing supply chain, industrial, and mobility technologies. Her investment work spans Europe and the US, with particular emphasis on ventures that digitize, democratize, and decarbonize legacy industries. With an academic background in engineering, physics, and finance, Aarzoo brings a multidisciplinary perspective to ClimateTech and deeptech investing. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, she aims to deepen her understanding of the regional ClimateTech landscape and explore its broader implications for sustainability and innovation in the MENA region.

Mengdan Zhang is a Sustainability Manager at HSBC, where she focuses on sustainable finance origination, ESG partnerships, and strategic client engagement across the MENA region. She leads initiatives such as the Sustainable Business Accelerator Programme, helping clients strengthen ESG reporting and integrate sustainability into their core business strategies. With a background in engineering and finance, Mengdan holds degrees from Politecnico di Milano, Tongji University, and UCL. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, she aims to deepen her technical understanding of ClimateTech, build a regional network of mission-aligned investors, and drive more conscious capital flow toward innovative, climate- positive ventures.

Rana Taher is a product and innovation lead at C3 – Companies Creating Change, with a background in engineering and business. A graduate of McGill University with a Bachelor of Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering, she brings cross-sector experience in financial services, healthcare, and public service, with a focus on applying technologies like blockchain and Generative AI to solve complex challenges. Rana has worked on high-impact projects, including modernizing a leading bank’s commercial financing platform and contributing to Accenture’s innovation hub. With certifications as a Scrum Master and Product Owner, she blends technical insight with user-centered design to build scalable, purpose-driven solutions.

Jonathan is the founder of Potentia Inc and brings over 25 years of experience in private equity, M&A advisory, and fund management across EMEA. He has held leadership roles at PwC, HSBC, Abraaj Capital, TVM Capital Healthcare Partners, and Auvest, with sector expertise spanning food & beverage, healthcare, industrials, logistics, and technology. Jonathan is now focused on sustainability-driven ventures, with active projects including forest-based carbon and biodiversity credits in Mexico, insect farms in the GCC, and alternative milk proteins in Australia. A recent graduate of a Forest Carbon Credits certificate program, he joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to gain a structured framework for climate investing, deepen his knowledge of emerging trends, and connect with a global community of mission- aligned investors.

Anushweta is the Regional Lead for the Middle East at Carta, where she spearheads go-to-market efforts for Carta’s private capital fund solutions and plays a key role in establishing the firm’s presence in the region’s PE/VC ecosystem. With over a decade of experience across corporate strategy, market entry, and business development, Anushweta lead initiatives to attract companies and managing strategic projects such as the Abu Dhabi–Singapore Smart Cities Challenge.Her growing interest in impact investing stems from both professional exposure and a personal passion for supporting mission-driven ventures. Through the CIF, Anushweta aims to deepen her knowledge of evaluating early- stage startups through an impact lens, engage with climate-focused investors, and strengthen her ability to support the region’s emerging ClimateTech ecosystem.

Donna is the Program Director at Prospect Innovation, where she leads efforts to support and invest in early-stage technologies within the mining, metals, and critical minerals sectors—industries essential for enabling a sustainable and decarbonized future. Based in Singapore, Donna brings a multidisciplinary background in commodities trading, strategic partnerships, and climate innovation, and has led initiatives in collaboration with global platforms including the World Economic Forum and UpLink. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Donna aims to deepen her strategic knowledge of climate-focused investing, expand her network of capital allocators and innovators, and strengthen her ability to drive collaborative investment in sustainability-focused ventures. She is particularly interested in contributing to climate resilience across the MENA region.

Wakim is a cultural innovation and communications leader with over 20 years of experience spanning advertising, strategic development, and creative economy initiatives. As Senior Associate – Director of Operations and Business Development at Aeon Collective, he oversees cross-functional operations and leads impactful initiatives. He is now actively involved in launching a Venture Studio for nature-based solutions, reflecting a growing focus on ClimateTech and environmental innovation. He is the co-founder of both Silverline and Nuqat, two organizations dedicated to advancing sustainable cultural and creative development across the Middle East. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Wakim seeks to build a deeper understanding of ClimateTech investment structures and connect with a network of mission-aligned investors.

Latifa is an award-winning Emirati social entrepreneur and emerging angel investor, known for her leadership in mental health advocacy, financial inclusion, and youth empowerment. She is the founder of Mental Health AE, a nationally recognized platform, and Baytukum, a DIFC-licensed real estate investment platform named one of the UAE’s Future 100 Companies. She also leads Aurora Technologies, supporting digital growth for startups and SMEs. A member of the UAE Youth Council for Entrepreneurship, Latifa brings a deep commitment to values-led innovation. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, she aims to sharpen her investment lens, expand her network, and grow as an intentional investor supporting early-stage ventures with meaningful social impact.

Aamna is an energy management specialist with over nine years of experience helping organizations reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through innovative, efficient technologies and practices. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to climate action and sustainability, with a focus on enabling real-world impact. Currently working in carbon management, Aamna joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to better understand how capital can drive the transition to a low-carbon future. She is eager to learn how ESG factors shape investment decisions and to connect with like-minded individuals using finance as a force for environmental good.

Yazan is a sustainability and climate change specialist with nearly a decade of experience at ADNOC, where he led ESG strategy, GHG management, and corporate sustainability reporting. With a background in mechanical engineering and advanced certifications in responsible sourcing, investing, strategy, and AI, Yazan brings a strong technical foundation to climate and sustainability leadership. Now transitioning into impact investing, Yazan joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to apply his ESG expertise to purpose-driven capital allocation. He aims to support climate-focused innovation across the MENA region while contributing to the growth of a regional sustainable finance community.

Reem is part of the Energy Transition Cluster at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), where she supports efforts to attract sustainable, long-term investment into the emirate’s clean technology ecosystem. With a background in mechanical engineering and a focus on sustainable infrastructure, Reem previously worked on hydraulic modelling and network design projects that prioritized energy and cost efficiency. She holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, and has passed CFA Level I. Through the Conscious Investor Fellowship, Reem aims to deepen her investment expertise and build a strong network to advance Abu Dhabi’s leadership in climate innovation and the global energy transition.

Tara Al Marzooqi is a sustainability specialist at UICCA, where she supports the UAE’s climate agenda through accelerator design, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships that scale ClimateTech solutions. Her work spans program development, high-impact events, and strategic outreach to foster collaboration across government, private sector, and civil society. With an honors degree in Environment and Planning from the University of Liverpool and a graduate of the NYU Abu Dhabi Leadership Program, Tara joins the Conscious Investor Fellowship to deepen her understanding of ClimateTech investing and build the tools to bridge capital with innovation in support of the UAE’s Net Zero ambitions.