Ahmed Ezz, Founder and President, Ezz Industries

Ahmed Ezz is the founder and president of Ezz Industries, an industrial conglomerate that owns several companies, the largest of which is Ezz Steel.

Mr. Ezz was born in Cairo in 1959. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Cairo University. He began his professional career in the early 1980s, trading in steel and construction materials. In 1984, he founded an international trading company based in Geneva specialised in countertrade, followed by Al-Ezz Shipping Line, in 1987.

He made his shift towards industry by establishing Gemma, a porcelain company, in 1988. In 1991, he founded Ezz Steel. Over 35 years, he has led Ezz Steel to become the largest steel producer in the Arab World and Africa, the first ever private-sector company to be elevated to such a status. Ezz Steel is also the largest industrial group in Egypt, employing around 10 thousand Egyptians, with a production capacity of 7 million tons of finished steel, and an annual turnover of circa $4 billion.

In 2023, Mr. Ezz steered Ezz Steel to become Egypt’s largest industrial exporter on record, with exports reaching 2.4 million tons with a value of $1.6 billion.

Ahmed Ezz’s achievements in the steel industry have been recognized, both regionally and internationally. In 2008, he was elected as the first Chairman of ‘The Arab Iron & Steel Union’ to come from the private sector – a post he was elected to again in 2025. In 2010, he was awarded the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award for making the ‘greatest contribution to the development of a local steel industry, turning it into a global player’. In 2017, upon recommendations from fellow steel producers in the Arab World, Mr. Ezz was named ‘The Arab Iron & Steel Man of the Year’.

Mr. Ezz also served as deputy chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries between 1996 and 2000. He was also the founding chairman of the Egyptian Italian Business Council. He was elected as member of the Egyptian Parliament in 2000, 2005, and 2010 where he chaired the Budget and Planning Committee for nearly 11 years.

Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi is the Group Chief Executive Officer of EMSTEEL Group, the UAE’s largest publicly listed steel and building materials manufacturer. EMSTEEL holds more than 45% of the UAE steel market and exports its products to over 72 countries worldwide.

Under his leadership, EMSTEEL has become a regional leader in sustainable steelmaking and industrial innovation, pioneering initiatives in low-carbon steel production, carbon capture and green hydrogen in steelmaking.

In addition to his role at EMSTEEL, Eng. Saeed serves as:

• Chairman of the UAE Steel Producers Committee (SPC)
• Vice Chairman of the Arab Iron and Steel Union (AISU)
• Chairman of the Audit Committee of the World Steel Association (WSA)
• Chairman of Al Gharbia Pipeline Company in UAE (AGPC)

Abdulqader Al-Mubarak is the Chief Executive Officer of Hadeed, the leading steel producer in the region. Appointed in June 2024, he assumed leadership at a pivotal stage in the company’s transformation journey, with over 25 years of accumulated experience across diverse segments of the steel manufacturing and trading sectors.

His career spans a broad spectrum of leadership roles ranging from marketing, sales, and logistics to full enterprise management, including key positions at Solb Steel and Sulb Company. He later served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Al Rajhi Steel before being appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, where he led major strategic and operational transformations.

In addition to his role at Hadeed, Al-Mubarak serves as Chairman of Takamul and is a Board Member of AMTPJ. He also holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Arab Iron and Steel Union, underscoring his broader influence in regional industrial collaboration and policy development.

Mahmoud Mohieldin is a global economist and the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, with over 30 years of experience in international finance and development. He leads the UN Secretary General expert group on debt solutions. Formerly Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund, Senior Vice President at the World Bank Group, he was Egypt’s first Minister of Investment. He also served as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP27. He chairs and serves on key international and regional advisory boards, including as a member of the Expert Advisory Panel of the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick, and co-chairs the WEF Global Future Council on the Business of Economic Growth. He is a Professor of Economics and Finance, Cairo University, a Visiting Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University, Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution, a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science and a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society.

After earning a degree in electrical engineering at Polytechnic University in Milan, Mr.
Mareschi Danieli focused on a deeper understanding of the steelmaking process and
gained work experience in the Danieli steelmaking division ABS. Afterwards, he spent
some years on Danieli construction sites worldwide, including three years in Abu Dhabi
and two years in Ukraine, assuming first the role of project coordinator and then becoming
site manager, responsible for the Interpipe project.

Next, he joined the Danieli Thailand team, the largest affiliate of Danieli at the time. This
experience culminated in his appointment as CEO of Danieli Thailand in 2012, focusing
on improved efficiency and specialization to compete in the SEA market.

 
At the beginning of 2015 he returned to the group headquarters and took over the
management of the Danieli Plant Engineering department, aiming at the consolidation of
the commercial activities for multi-product line projects, also managing product lines such
as Cranes, Hydraulics, Environment, and Centro Metallics.

 
Part of the Danieli managing board since 2009, Mr. Mareschi Danieli was appointed Chief
Executive Office of Danieli & C. and member of the Danieli Group Executive Board in
2017.

Stefano Maggiolino is President and CEO at Tenova HYL.

Stefano began his career at the Techint Group in 1996, at Tenaris Tamsa in Veracruz, Mexico. In 1998, he moved to Italy as Project Manager at Tenova, working across a number of worldwide steelmaking projects. In 2005, Stefano moved back to Mexico as Project Director at Tenova HYL, in Monterrey, where he led direct reduction plant projects. Since July 2015, he has been President and CEO of Tenova HYL.

Stefano trained as a mechanical engineer, graduating from the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and an Executive Management degree from IPADE Business School.

Stefano believes that innovation in sustainability and safety are key to long-term profitability of the steel industry, and sees direct reduction specifically as a path to reach these goals. He values team effort and efficient organization, and tackles problems with a positive, solution-driven attitude. Stefano’s strategic clarity is combined with his passion for people – he builds excellent and enduring relationships with all stakeholders. Thanks to his in-depth expertise in the sector, he is the inventor of various patents, author of numerous international papers, and regular speaker at international conferences.

“Hatim Senhaji is a highly accomplished business executive who currently serves as the CEO of Maghreb Steel. With a proven track record in the industry, he has held various key positions throughout his career.

Hatim Senhaji joined Maghreb Steel in 2014 to setup the Business Steering department as part of a new independent management team with a mission to realize a massive turnaround of the company. His responsibilities included integrated and optimized planning of the operations and raw material procurement. He was then promoted to deputy CEO in charge of operations and sales, before being appointed as CEO of the company in 2019.

Prior to this, Hatim worked for OCP, the largest phosphate producer worldwide, both within the corporate strategy team and the business steering department that he led in 2013.

In Morocco, Mr. Senhaji also worked as Project Manager in Strategy for CDG Capital, the investment bank of CDG.

Earlier, he held several positions in the financial markets industry, namely Société Générale, Reuters and BNP Paribas, where he was mainly involved in quantitative analysis and software development for financial risk calculation.    

Hatim Senhaji holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology and Strategy-Marketing-Finance from Ecole Centrale Paris, as well as additional qualifications such as an MIT Sloan School of Management certification, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute, and Risk Management certification from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). Furthermore, he also holds a Master’s degree in Probability and Finance from Université Paris 6.”

Eng. Hassan Elmarakby is the Chief Executive Officer of El Marakby Steel Group and one of Egypt’s leading industrialists in the steel sector. He has shaped the Group’s strategic direction and led its transformation into one of Egypt’s foremost steel producers, combining deep operational expertise with a long-term view of what it takes to build a resilient industrial enterprise.
Under his leadership, El Marakby Steel Group has grown into a diversified, internationally recognized organization anchored in operational excellence, innovation, and environmental responsibility. His agenda centres on product diversification, strong corporate governance, and performance-driven culture — the foundations that allow the Group to remain competitive and resilient through volatile global markets. He regards sustainability not as a compliance exercise but as a core operating principle, and he is focused on creating lasting value across the entire chain, from raw materials to finished product, for customers, employees, partners, and the Egyptian economy.
Beyond the Group, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Metallurgical Industries at the Federation of Egyptian Industries He is also active in several international steel associations, working with peers to advance the competitiveness and sustainability of the regional and global steel sector.
Elmarakby holds an MBA from London Business School and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cairo University. His professional strengths span executive leadership, business development, financial planning, industrial project management, and sustainable operations.

Dr. Ing. Alberto Bregante, CSO Middle East & Africa, was born on March 30, 1963, in Milano, Italy. He holds a Classical Lyceum Diploma and a Civil Engineering degree from Politecnico of Milan (Italy). He has more than 30 years of experience in the steel industry. His background in SMS group started in the technical field, initially serving as Head of the Plant Engineering department, before moving into the Sales & Marketing world. His professional responsibilities included management roles such as CEO and Executive Vice President in the Flat Rolling department in SMS group GmbH. Alberto Bregante is currently CSO for the MEA region in SMS group.

Danieli is a global technology provider and equipment manufacturer for iron and steel industry.

Danieli Centro Metallics is the business unit of Danieli for Direct Reduction Plants, with the technology of EnergIron, and the technology of upstream processing of Iron ore. EnergIron, jointly developed by Danieli and Tenova, is the technology for gas iron ore reduction that is hydrogen ready.

Marco works with Danieli since 2009, after working in Oil & Gas engineering company.

He worked as Project Director for EPC contracts for Direct Reduction Plant and Iron Ore beneficiation, as well as other projects for steel manufacturing plants.

After an assignment as responsible of execution of construction contracts, he led the new business unit of Danieli Green Metal with the task of developing new technologies for the sustainability of steel production and bring them to industrialization.

He is now responsible of the product line for Direct Reduction and Iron Ore Processing with the focus on commercial and process technology.

He earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering and started his working career as a process engineer.

Nicole Voigt is a Managing Director and Partner at BCG’s Düsseldorf office, where she leads Climate & Sustainability for Industrial Goods across Europe, the Middle East, and South America. With six years overseeing BCG’s global metals practice, she is a recognized authority on sustainability, the circular economy, and CO₂ footprint optimization in the metals sector. She supports clients in redesigning their end-to-end value chains through (digital) supply chain transformations and the application of (Gen)AI to unlock new levels of efficiency and resilience in metals and process industries.

In parallel, Nicole contributes thought leadership on trade policies and their implications, as well as on the decarbonization of heavy industry in the context of global climate objectives.

Afaf Ezz began her career in the Investment Banking Division at Morgan Stanley in London, as part of the Basic Materials Group, where she built a strong grounding in financial valuation, capital markets and the global steel and mining sectors. She then joined Ezz Steel, where she spent fifteen years working across several divisions of the Group before being appointed Group General Manager for Strategy and Business Development. She brings a thorough understanding of both the financial and operational sides of the business, along with deep, long-standing institutional relationships. Ms. Ezz holds a bachelor’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Lina Aburous is Senior Managing Director and Head of the Critical Issues Practice at Forward Global, where she advises governments, international institutions and major corporations on geopolitical risk, EU policy, sanctions and strategic government affairs.

With over two decades of international experience, she specialises in navigating complex political and regulatory environments, including EU trade policy, industrial competitiveness, restrictive measures and relations with third countries. Her work spans Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf, Africa, Latin America and Asia, with particular attention to the geopolitical and regulatory challenges facing strategic industries, including steel.

Previously, Lina held senior positions at the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan, the Union for the Mediterranean, a multinational FTSE 100, and in European public affairs advisory. She has advised senior political leaders and international decision makers and is a regular commentator on Bloomberg, Euronews and other international media.

Recognised by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of 55 emerging global leaders, she is a member of the Oxford University Global Public Affairs Council, and speaks English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

Anas Deeb Joud was born in Latakia on June 18, 1953, in the Mar Taqla neighborhood. His father, Mohammad Deeb, was a merchant in Latakia, and the family owned a commercial shop on Al-Qowatly Street.

He began his education at a young age and completed his high school studies in the scientific branch in 1971 at Jules Jammal School in Latakia. He later enrolled at Damascus University, where he studied at the Faculty of Commerce from 1972 to 1976 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, specializing in Accounting.

He began his professional career in 1980 in cooperation with his brothers. In 1981, he co-founded Joud Trading Company in Latakia. The business started in the field of foodstuff trading, and over time expanded into industrial ventures.

He established several important industries, including the production of bottled water, carbonated beverages, and juices under both international and local brands such as Pepsi, Miranda, and 7Up. He also founded a factory for household appliances with a full range of products, followed by the establishment of iron rolling mills, foundries, and a wood processing plant (MDF) in Damascus. The company expanded to include representation of several international brands in the trade and food sectors.

More recently, he established a large flour mill that began actual production nearly three years ago, positioning the company among the leading industrial and commercial firms in Syria.

He currently serves as President of the Latakia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Syrian Chambers. He is also a board member of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber and serves on the Board of Directors of the Arab Iron and Steel Union, representing the private sector.

Since 1995, he has served as the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Syria, appointed in recognition of his long-standing cooperation with Slovakia. The Slovak government entrusted him with safeguarding its interests and providing necessary support to its embassy in Damascus.

He continues to serve in all of these roles to date.

Chairman of the National Committee for Steel Industry – KSA and a member of the Raw Materials Unit, he currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Arab Refractories Factory Company since 2015. Prior to that, he held the position of General Manager of the company from 2013 to 2015, and earlier served as Head of the Development and Public Relations Department from 2011 to 2013. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Business School at Anglia University in England. He has also completed several technical and managerial training courses in Europe and the Gulf countries. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Arab Refractories Factory Company and also serves as its Managing Director.

Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science (FEPS), Cairo University.
El Mahdi is the Former Dean of FEPS – Cairo University (2008-2011).
Previously, the former Director of the Center of Economic and Financial Research and Studies (2005–2008) and the Vice President of MSA (Modern Science and Arts) University (2003–2005).
Chairperson of the Egyptian Iron and Steel Association (2019–2021).
Managing Director and Partner at Egypols (Egyptian Polls and Policies Consultancy Firm) (2015–2022).
Former Senator in the Parliament Upper House (Shura Council).
In her different positions, she led policy research projects supporting different ministries, national authorities, private sector companies, and international organizations.
Her areas of specialization include macroeconomic analysis, labor market studies—especially the informal labor market—and the dynamics and performance of Micro and Small Enterprises, industrial policies, and education and social protection in Egypt and the Arab countries.
El Mahdi has published numerous articles and book chapters internationally, regionally, and in Egypt. She also led numerous research projects in various fields of socio-economic research.

Sunil Seepana has close to 18 years of experience in the commodity industry and joined CRU in July 2022. He is based in India and works as a part of CRU’s global steel team looking after the Indian, Middle East and African Finished Steel and bulk ferroalloys markets. He is also the editor of CRU’s Bulk Ferroalloys Monitor service.

His prior experience includes being a proprietary derivative trader for six years in the energy and agricultural markets. Subsequently he has worked for over eight years in strategy and risk consulting roles advising manufacturing companies for their strategic sourcing requirements and has served, amongst others, large auto OEMs in India in developing commodity market intelligence solutions, market price risk management solutions and hedging frameworks.

Dr Dimitrios is currently the Senior Vice President of ESG & Sustainability at EMSTEEL, previously the Group CEO Advisor. He has +20 years of experience on delivering decarbonization and energy transition impact, with extensive cross-sectoral expertise in steel, hydrogen, fertilizers and petrochemicals. He is known for executing complex, high-impact mandates across global markets, driving bold sustainability agendas and pioneering first-of-a-kind ESG solutions across sectors. 

Previous managerial roles include ADNOC HQ, where he led the merger and asset management of a fertilizers JV, and hydrogen business development roles where he has led multiple strategic partnership projects with international and domestic players in the space of hydrogen.  He is a Certified Chair for advisory boards, member of the Board of Directors of ResponsibleSteel, member of the advisory board of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in Khalifa University, and serving as an Adjunct Professor in Khalifa University. Prior to his tenure in the UAE, he held management consulting and engineering roles in NexantECA and Johnson Matthey UK. Dr Dimitrios has a PhD from Imperial College and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.

Fady Archie is a market analyst and consultant at McKinsey & Company’s German office, specializing in steel market analytics, green steel dynamics, and cost modelling within the firm’s Metals & Mining Practice. 

Originally from Egypt, he holds a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and brings over 13 years of experience in the steel industry, combining deep technical expertise with market and strategic insights. 

Prior to joining McKinsey, he worked in technical consulting at NLMK Europe, focusing on process optimization and product development.

Paulo Carvalho is Managing Director of decarbValue, a London-based iron & steel market consultancy. With over 16 years’ experience in iron ore, iron metallics and downstream steel markets, his advisory work focuses on helping clients redesign commercial & offtake strategies, enter new markets, and capture premiums and market opportunities. 

He recently supported the financing of various iron and steel projects in MENA and Europe, designed and implemented CBAM strategies for key exporters, and helped unlock commercial value from product and emissions credentials. 

Previously, Paulo was a Partner at ERM, Head of Steel Consulting at CRU, and Senior Economist at Vale S.A. He holds a master’s degree in economics from PUC-Rio and completed his Executive Development Program at Chicago Booth.

Andy Purvis serves as the Director of Sustainable Manufacturing at the World Steel Association, a dynamic member-led industry association with a steadfast commitment to sustainability. With nearly three decades of experience in and around the steel industry, Andy has held key roles in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia. His career has evolved with an increasing focus on environmental performance, sustainability, and greenhouse gas abatement technology and policy.

In his current capacity, Andy leads worldsteel programs addressing critical facets of Environment, Safety, Technology, and People. His role involves steering initiatives that align with global sustainability goals, making substantial contributions to the advancement of environmentally responsible practices within the steel sector.

A chartered Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Leeds, Andy combines technical expertise with strategic leadership. He holds an MBA with distinction from Warwick University. Originally from the UK, Andy now resides and works in Brussels with his family, leveraging his extensive knowledge and executive skills to drive positive change in the steel industry.

Mr. Hatem El Demerdash is the Director and Global Head of Advisory & Capital Markets at Afreximbank, overseeing the Bank’s advisory, mergers & acquisitions, debt capital Market, and equity capital market business lines.
Before joining Afreximbank, Mr. El Demerdash served as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Capital (ADIB Capital), where he led the institution’s successful turnaround and the execution of internationally recognized transactions across local, regional and international markets.
Over his 24-year career in corporate finance & investment banking, he has advised on and executed transformative transactions with an aggregate value exceeding US$15 billion across project finance,
mergers & acquisitions, debt and equity capital markets, Sukuk, and structured finance.
His extensive experience spans diverse sectors and geographies, advising corporates, financial institutions, and governments on complex financing, capital raising, and strategic growth initiatives.
Mr. Hatem holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. He is also a Certified Public Accountant with the California Board of Accountancy in the United States.

Dirk Durinck is a Senior Expert at McKinsey & Company, with 18 years of experience advising steel producers worldwide on technical operations, operational excellence, and performance improvement. Holding a PhD in Metallurgy, Dirk combines deep technical expertise with extensive hands-on industry experience, having worked with more than 185 steel plants globally.

Dirk leads McKinsey’s SteelLens solution, a proprietary approach to independent steel plant diagnostics that combines technical assessments, performance benchmarking, and the identification of operational improvement opportunities.

Throughout his career, Dirk has focused on helping steel producers improve productivity, reduce costs, optimize energy and raw material consumption, and enhance asset performance. He brings a global perspective on steel industry competitiveness and the practical application of benchmarking to drive sustainable operational improvements.

Head of the Trade Remedies Sector – Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, Egypt
Mrs. Yomna El Shabrawy began her professional career in 1996 at the Trade Remedies Sector, the national authority responsible for conducting anti-dumping, subsidy, and safeguard investigations, where she took part in numerous investigations conducted by the Egyptian authority, as well as in cases targeting Egyptian exports before foreign investigating authorities.
She has also regularly represented Egypt in World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings, contributing to the defense of national interests before technical committees and relevant bodies. She eventually assumed leadership of the Sector, becoming the first woman to hold this position in Egypt, and the first Egyptian investigating authority head to be selected as a member of a WTO dispute settlement panel in a trade remedies dispute.
Mrs. El Shabrawy holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from ESLSCA University, France, along with other specialized qualifications in international trade and trade remedies.

Mohammed Muteb Al Ameri is an accomplished industrial leader with more than 18 years of experience in the steel and energy sectors. As Vice President of Manufacturing Excellence at Emirates Steel, part of EMSTEEL Group, he leads strategic initiatives that enhance production efficiency, operational reliability, and sustainability across the Group’s advanced facilities.

Since joining EMSTEEL in 2012, Mohammed has progressed through a series of leadership roles spanning manufacturing, operations, project sales, and safety transformation—playing a key role in driving performance excellence and technical innovation across the company.

In addition to his responsibilities at EMSTEEL, Mohammed serves as Chairman of the Technical Committee at the Arab Iron & Steel Union, where he contributes to advancing regional cooperation, innovation, and knowledge exchange in the steel industry.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi and has completed executive programmes at the London Business School, focusing on resilience, agility, and productivity management.

Mohammed is widely respected for his technical expertise, people leadership, and commitment to advancing manufacturing excellence in alignment with the UAE’s industrial vision.

Menna brings close to 20 years of experience in Egypt and across MENA. She joined the EBRD in 2012 and currently serves also as an M&S Senior Banker in Cairo. Menna played a pivotal role in establishing the Bank’s presence in Egypt and was instrumental to shaping the portfolio from the ground up. Menna started her career as an Analyst at EFG Hermes Private Equity in 2006 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.

Dr. Mona Toema El-Garf, Professor of International Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, and economic advisor to the Ezz Steel Group, particularly on competition protection issues.

She has over 30 years of academic and practical experience working with the government, the private sector, and international organizations in various fields, primarily foreign trade, trade facilitation, regional trade agreements, export promotion, and export support programs, as well as international trade issues related to dumping, subsidies, and excessive imports. Her expertise also extends to industrial economics, global and regional value chains, as well as her practical experience in the field of competition and the prevention of monopolistic practices in the Egyptian and Arab markets.

She served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Authority for six years, from 2012 to 2018, Dr. El-Garf also served as an economic advisor to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development during the period 2020-June 2024, contributing her expertise and opinion on many issues related to structural reform programs, development strategies. She also led a team of local and international experts and technicians to develop a methodology and measure the first index of competitiveness among governorates at the national level, which was released in 2024.

Dr. El-Garf also worked for six years, from 2004 to 2011, as chief economist for the Office of the Minister of Trade and Industry, where she provided strategic technical expertise in local, regional, and international trade affairs during this period.

In light of her academic and practical experience, she has provided training programs and scientific consultations in the fields of trade negotiations, World Trade Organization agreements and their mechanisms, as well as competition, its tools and importance, and how to draft competition laws and competition policy, and the institutional framework for implementation. These programs and consultations have been provided locally to many government agencies and the private sector, and externally in Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, and Yemen.

Dr. Mona has served as a member of numerous government bodies, including the Advisory Committee for Trade Remedies and Protection of the National Economy at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Electricity Regulatory Authority and Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Electricity, the Supreme Council for Information, which was formed by a decision of the President of the Republic, and the Gas Regulatory Authority at the Ministry of Petroleum. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Euro-Mediterranean Economic Association (EMEA). She has also supervised numerous university theses in her field of specialization.

• Elsayed Ibrahim is a mechanical (industrial) engineer from Alexandria University, Egypt with 36 years of experience in the iron and steel industry.
• Holds M.S.c degree in advanced engineering with management from Sheffield University, UK 
• Elsayed began his career in the steel industry at ANSDK (now EZDK) in 1991. He worked in various engineering and management positions, including operational and projects management. 
• Since 2024 he has the role Deputy General Manager for Technical Affairs at EZDK, Alexandria
• Elsayed has published 5 technical papers in iron making and a filed patent on lignite injection in gas based direct reduction process.

Tao Bai joined EMR immediately after graduating in 2003 and has been with the same company for over 22 years. He had his first 10 years with EMR UK, gaining experience across yard operations, logistics, documentation and LC handling, and pricing desk hedging operation.

In 2013, he relocated to the US to lead EMR’s US commercial centralization project, overseeing central fulfilment, risk management, and commercial administration. 

In recent years, his focus has shifted toward ferrous market research and analytical development.

Lee Allen is Senior Strategic Markets Editor at Fastmarkets with ten years of experience of reporting and analysis of metal markets. He specialises in secondary and recycled metals- notably in the markets of the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Lee spearheaded Fastmarkets’ initiatives to launch world-first ferrous scrap price indices for the Saudi Arabia (HMS 1&2) and United Arab Emirates (shredded) domestic markets in 2025 and 2024, respectively. In July 2026, Fastmarkets then launched new regional scrap index prices for the markets of Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province.

He has appeared on broadcast media including Sky News, BBC News and BBC Radio to provide insight into metal markets. He has also previously presented sessions on scrap markets at conferences organized by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and the Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI).

Ahmed Nabil Ahmed Mohamed is a senior executive with more than 40 years of experience spanning management, industry, finance, and investment. He has been with Ezz Steel (Ezz Industrial Group) since 1999, where he has held a series of senior leadership and board roles.

His key positions include:

• Board Member, Ezz Dekheila Steel Company, Alexandria
• General Manager, Investor Relations, Ezz Group
• Board Member, Ezz Flat Steel Company
• General Manager, Ezz Flat Steel Company (2008–2018)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ezz Flat Steel Company

Earlier in his career, he served as Head of Project Finance and Trade at the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) in Saudi Arabia (1990–1999). Before that, he worked at the Egyptian Export Development Bank in project promotion, financing, and follow-up (1988–1990), and at Sabbour Consulting Engineering Office in structural design and project management (1983–1988).

Mr. Mohamed has authored research papers and working papers on mega-project financing, industrial risk mitigation, and the impact of these factors on investment and funding. He has presented them at regional and specialized conferences on heavy industries and finance in several countries.

He is also active in professional training and education. He has served as an advisor and lecturer at the Management Centre of the American University in Cairo, where he taught on the Banking Credit Diploma, and as a lecturer in finance and treasury management at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.

Education:

• M.Sc., Project Management, Georgia Institute of Technology
• B.Sc., Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University

Abdelkadir Khellaf is Marketing Director at AQS, a leading integrated steel producer in the MENA region. He has extensive experience in the Algerian steel market, international trade, market development, and exports.

His role covers both the domestic market and international markets, supporting AQS’s presence in 49 countries across four continents. He regularly contributes to international steel industry forums as a speaker and panelist.

Mohamed Emam is a Metallurgical Engineer and the Head of the EAF/LF Section at Qatar Steel. He leads Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) operations and secondary refining at a facility that produces 2.6 million tons of billets annually.

A graduate of Cairo University (B.Sc., Metallurgical Engineering, 2003), Mohamed brings more than 22 years of technical and operational leadership to the steel industry. He has worked with leading producers in the MENA region, including Qatar Steel and Ezz Steel. He is recognized as an expert in optimizing metallic charge strategies in the EAF, particularly gas-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and scrap-mix charges.

Beyond his metallurgical expertise, Mohamed is a driving force behind strong corporate governance, environmental management systems, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) tracking and reporting, helping align operational performance with sustainability goals.