Registration & Networking

Registration & Networking
Registration and snacks/networking outside the main hall at the Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR

Introduction

Introduction and welcome from event MC
Paul Godfrey introduces the critical themes of the day’s forthcoming debates, presenting some challenging statistics for the present state of gender equality in the GCC Construction sector.

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Naomi Miles

Keynote Address
The School of the Future Program – Reimagining Education to build professional Gender Balance

Naomi presents AtkinsRéalis’ School of the Future Program, launched at the UNGA Climate Week in New York on 22nd September. The Program reimagines education to inspire the next generation of engineers, particularly young women, and focuses on how to engrain sustainability from the start. It shows how industry can play a role in creating pathways for future female talent while addressing broader climate and equity challenges.

Naomi Miles, Vice President of Human Resources, Middle East and Africa, AtkinsRéalis

Fireside Chat

The User Experience: creating a neuro-diverse and wellness-focused built environment
This session examines in depth the research, the psychology and the blueprinting employed by JLL to create environments that are truly ED&I compliant, and achieve rich and fulfilling user experiences. It covers key areas such as choices about inter-sectionality, the need to cater for broad neuro-diversity and the importance of a Macro-Meso-Multi-Micro plan.

Confirmed Speakers

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Farah Addada, Head of Workplace & Design UAE, Project & Development Services, JLL

Samit Seth, Director, Consulting, JLL

Fireside Chat

From Expert to Leader: Driving Change in a Male-Dominated Industry
Focusing on the premise “What got you here won’t get you there”, Kasia reviews the startling inability of women in highly-skilled roles in the Construction sector to transition to key leadership positions. What are the mindsets, tools and networking capabilities that can help bridge that gap? What are the mindset and cultural changes that organisations urgently need to embrace and deliver?

Confirmed Speakers

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Kasia Halliday, Director, Alvares and Marsal

Panel Discussion One

The ‘C-Suite’ panel: Transforming Company Performance – Cultural Intelligence & ROI

While it’s often said that more inclusive policies can result in enhanced company performance, what are the actual facts behind that assertion? How can businesses equate superior financial results with a more diverse and gender-balanced employee profile? What are the processes for acquiring and delivering more attuned cultural intelligence?

• Understanding the training and evaluation protocols for a cultural level playing-field within a business
• Why Cultural Intelligence can unlock hitherto-dormant potential in employees and unleash stronger deliverables across a business
• The advantages of gender-balanced and ED&I-informed teams for client liaison, repeat business and client up-selling

Moderator

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Confirmed Panelists

Olga Litkovets, Partner, Cundall

Shannon Bell, People & Culture Business Partner, TBH

Engi Jaber, Associate Partner – Sustainability and Head of Climatize, Climatize, part of +impact

Iryna Akulenka, Director, Construction Claims and Expert Services, HKA

Emma Jordaan, Founder, Infinite Consulting

Sarah Chessis, Development Director, KEO International Consultants

Panel Discussion Two

ED&I & Gender Equity as Paradigms for Competitive Advantage

Why should a business factor-in the quest for gender equality and better ED&I awareness from the get-go, and then project this awareness outwards to build better brand differentiation? How can organisations see these as major factors in their quest for Competitive Advantage?

• What are the benefits of gender equality and ED&I awareness from the client’s perspective?
• How do more inclusive teams better integrate with the client and the perception of stronger project delivery?
• How should companies go about marketing their strengths in these areas and let this identity permeate all their branding?

Moderator

Natalia Barroso, Senior Director, FTI Consulting

Confirmed Panelists

Jincy Mariam Rinu, Façade Engineering Leader, GHD

Cristina Amate Munoz, Head of Contracts and Procurement, Beumer Group Middle East FZCO

Zoe Stanford, Associate Director – Business Development, KPS

Laura Davies, MRICS, Associate Project Manager, CSQ

Melia Abs, Business Development Manager, Compass Project Consulting

Fireside Chat

Gender Equality and the Law
A great deal of the day’s discussions actually reflect the way that companies are all too often unaware of their existing legal obligations. Here, an expert on local and regional Employment Law explains the provisions that are already in place – and the risks business run if they blatantly refuse to comply.

Confirmed Speakers

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Alison Eslick, Senior Associate, Reed Smith

Panel Discussion Three

Beyond Tokenisation: Lobbying for Organisational Change

If the ‘status quo’ is lamentable, what can actually be done about changing it? How can strong messages best be put in place across the industry to proactively drive change? What can be done to prevent companies simply playing lip-service to better values but failing to do so in practice?

• How to lobby for change in a way that is aligned with a business’ values and mindsets
• Who to go to when it’s important to make your voice heard?
• Defining your goals: what are the changes that you want to see?

Moderator

Sarah Saxon, Founder and Director, Saxon Group

Confirmed Panelists

Dr. Gunjan Bhatia, CEO & Founder, Shivohini TechAI

Nada Abdel Khalek, Head of Marketing Communications & Strategic Accounts, ISG Middle East

Dr. Rana El-Dabaa, Assistant Professor, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Naomi Miles, Vice President of Human Resources, Middle East and Africa, AtkinsRéalis

Networking

Lunch
Buffet lunch and networking.

Panel Discussion Four

The Diversity Quotient: Commercials and the role of inclusive teams

Do inclusive teams actually perform better, and if so, why is this? How can these results be measured and how can companies make the best cross-cultural skills match-ups when they create a team from scratch?

• What actually constitutes an ‘inclusive’ team: is it gender, ethnicity or contrasting and complementary skills?
• What evidence is there for suggesting that an inclusive team will deliver better financials? How can we use these precedents as our own, practical templates?
• How is best to deal with the potential for conflict within a highly diverse team and ensure smooth day-to-day collaboration?

Moderator

Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant

Confirmed Panelists

Dr. Dalia Hafiz, Assistant Professor, Ajman University

Natalia Barroso, Senior Director, FTI Consulting

Dr. Gunjan Bhatia, CEO & Founder, Shivohini TechAI

Nicola Trivett, Commercial Director, Summertown Interiors

Dr. Harpreet Seth, Associate Professor, Head of Architecture, Senior Director of Studies, Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Event Wrap-up

MC closing remarks
Thank you for attending the 2025 Women in Construction Summit.