TEDxAURAK

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Belinda Scot

  Belinda joined GIB in 2022, based in the UAE but spends considerable time across GIB’s regional offices, particularly in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. She is primarily responsible for embedding the bank’s sustainability strategy in the GCC and heads the bank’s Climate Working Group. Belinda also represents GIB on several regional climate and sustainable finance initiatives for the banking sector. Before joining GIB, she was the Head of Corporate Sustainability at First Abu Dhabi Bank where she led the development and delivery of the bank’s sustainability/ESG strategy across sustainable finance, climate change and ESG. Under her leadership, FAB built a strong reputation in the market for being a leading sustainable finance provider. She has extensive experience of sustainability governance and reporting, including identifying and tracking green / ESG assets and managing ESG oversight Committees. Belinda has also worked at National Bank of Abu Dhabi, where she was Head of Citizenship and Corporate Sustainability, Mubadala Development Company and the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA).

• Chada Benmahcene

  Chada is the CEO and founder of ENTROGX Ventures, with over 13 years of experience in women and youth activism and community engagement. She has 10 years of experience in energy tech multinationals and over 7 years working with startups. Chada focuses on empowering communities by mentoring young entrepreneurs, women in STEM, and aspiring tech enthusiasts throughout the Arab world. She has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Dubai for 2023 by WomenPreneur and named one of the 100 Arab Female Heroes in Volunteering by BBC. Additionally, she was honored as Distinguished Alumni of the Year 2019 by MEPI.

• Cherian Varghese

  Vice President

  Having joined Oracle in 2007, Cherian Varghese currently serves as Senior Vice President for EMEA Technology—AI/ML, ISV & SMB. Cherian leads Oracle’s technology business across the region in this role, helping drive revenue growth and ensuring client satisfaction. With more than 24 years’ experience in the ICT industry, Cherian has led various divisions within Oracle globally, where he played a pivotal role in helping organizations achieve strategic growth objectives with Oracle technology solutions.

• Danyaal Abdul Khaliq

  Danyaal Abdul-Khaliq is a strategy and investments professional who has been the Director of Innovation at e&, leading transformative initiatives in AI, IoT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity for the enterprise sector. With over a decade of experience in strategy, investment banking, and venture development, he has held roles with Lightsource BP, Jefferies, and Teamup Group, where he pioneered new business ventures. Danyaal has crafted market strategies and managed multi-billion-dollar acquisitions. He holds an LLB from SOAS, University of London, and an MSc from University College London.

• Debbie Botha

  As an Industry Council Member of the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard, Debbie provides guidance on the potential business impact of the research coming out of D^3, especially in AI. Debbie has worked as an executive, consultant, and architect for 25 years in the data, analytics, and AI field, including the last 8 years at IBM. She has helped more than 40 clients across 4 continents and 10 industries become data—and AI-driven.

• Julie Lewis

  Julie works with organizations seeking to cultivate healthy, resilient and thriving teams poised for success in a dynamic and ever-evolving marketplace. With a rich portfolio of personal experiences, straightforward strategies, and research-backed tools, she excels at forging deep connections with her audience. Having led multi-national teams of women and men on 70 successful global expeditions, including 10 to the Arctic and 3 to Antarctica, Julie has a wealth of experience-based wisdom to share on: Adaptive Resilience Mental and emotional fitness Building motivated and successful teams Strengths based leadership Blue Mind thinking

• Rohit Bassi

  Rohit Bassi, known as "The Communication Wizard," has over 30 years of experience guiding leaders, sales professionals, and teams to speak like a wise CEO. His raw, honest communication—delivered with no sugar-coating and great care—addresses the mass contradictions we often face in life. In private circles, he is called "The Man of Compassion." Rohit’s journey, work, and interactions reflect the guidance in his book, "MY CREED: TO DO THE BEST I CAN, DESPITE THE ODDS." He encourages individuals to embrace courage, clarity, conviction, and compassion—not just in their work, but in every aspect of life. Having spoken in over 21 countries and engaged with 51+ nationalities, Rohit’s TED Talks and thought-provoking sessions have deeply resonated across the globe. As a member of the National Academy of Best-Selling Authors®, he has collaborated with esteemed organizations such as the World Bank, Oracle, Canon, and many more. Rohit’s sessions have delivered remarkable outcomes: - Securing multi-million-dollar deals - Enhancing influence and persuasion by over 80% - Cultivating mindfulness to pass through adversity with resilience Rohit’s mind flow stems from the knowing that communication forms the foundation of trust, resilience, and progress in a world often engulfed by uncertainty and chaos. His work continues to inspire individuals and organizations to thrive despite the odds.