Hashim Al Zain is a hands-on design specialist, with 23-years of experience in machine design, reverse engineering, and product development. He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Polymer Processing and started two technology-based SMEs (DarTec Engineering & HealTec Manufacturing) that leverage the use of technologies in the industrial and healthcare sector.

Hammed Kayode Alabi is an edtech leader, TEDx speaker, author, and social entrepreneur passionate about youth empowerment. Raised in Makoko, Lagos, he turned early challenges into a mission to expand access to education. He founded the Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative (KLCI), which has trained 10,000+ youth and 70 teachers in leadership and career skills. Through Peace First, he has supported young changemakers in 150+ countries and addressed global leaders at UNESCO. He also founded Skill2Rural.Org and Rafiki AI, reaching 130,000+ youth and 6,500 users globally. Hammed received the 2025 University of Edinburgh Being an Edinburgh Alumni Award.

An education and innovation specialist skilled in strategic planning, curriculum design, and teacher development. She has led programs integrating quality assurance, instructional coaching, and competency-based learning, particularly in early and primary education. Her work includes developing digital resources, classroom tools, and psychosocial support activities while aligning curricula with national standards to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes. Experienced in lecturing, training, and community learning, she applies data-driven strategies to enhance teaching quality. Recognized for excellence in innovation and educational development, Manal contributes to research, community service, and human capital projects that strengthen learning and drive educational improvement.

Annick Collins is a British designer and artist based in Saudi Arabia. She creates artworks, participatory projects, and workshops. Her work investigates the action of creative exploration through drawing, print, materials, and sculpture. Annick’s approach utilizes experimentation, play, and improvisation with materials, process, and an audience. Often, the starting points are developing on simple interactions of mark making, such as the ‘Meandering’ drawing series. Annick earned a Master of Arts from the Royal College of Art, London, and has worked regularly with higher education to engage and support students in creative practice.

Abdulrahman has over 13 years of experience in research, teaching, and consulting on sustainable and inclusive urban and regional planning. His expertise spans city humanization, urban policy, community engagement, and placemaking. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Governance from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a Master’s in Sustainable Planning from Cardiff University. As a faculty member at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, he teaches urban and regional planning. Abdulrahman has consulted with UN-Habitat’s Future Saudi Cities Program and co-authored global studies, including a World Bank publication. He received the Best Scientific Paper Award at the 2022 International Place Branding Association Conference.

Huda Al-Aithan is a Saudi visual artist and designer whose work spans utilitarian objects and immersive installations. Exploring form, color, and light, she uses harmony and repetition to evoke emotion and narrative. Her recent projects reflect on essence and identity, reinterpreting the past to shape the future. Al-Aithan’s work has been exhibited across Europe, the US, and the MENASA region, including Misk Art Institute, Noor Riyadh, Art Dubai, and Dubai Design Week. She holds MA and MFA degrees from the University of Iowa and is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the American University in Dubai.

Robert Frith is Creative Director at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, guiding creativity and innovation programs, including the Idea Lab and Tanween conference. With 20 years of experience in culture, heritage, education, and health, he previously led exhibition teams at Christie’s in London and New York, delivering global programs. Frith is also a Founding Director of Superblue, an experimental design lab creating interactive experiences that reimagine how people engage with spaces. His work focuses on curatorial innovation, experiential design, and fostering creative engagement across diverse audiences.

Rahaf Alabdali is a Creative Lead with 8 years of experience in design and marketing. She began her career in a creative agency specializing in visual and conceptual design before moving to corporate environments, where she expanded her expertise into strategy, marketing, and brand development. Known for blending creativity with strategic insight, she crafts impactful brand experiences and guides teams toward delivering meaningful creative outcomes.

Watfa Hamidaddin and Deem Al Haqbani are Co-Founders of Shaddah Design Studio, a multidisciplinary Riyadh-based studio with over 11 years of experience. They create visual brand identities and strategies that connect meaningfully with audiences, blending authenticity, Arabic cultural inspiration, and world-class design standards. Their work combines local storytelling with global relevance, crafting designs that are both rooted in tradition and impactful on an international scale.