Take part in a transformative journey: MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Programme - Cohort 2024/25
2024/25 Mentors
Umar is a Product Management professional 5+ years of experience and deep product expertise especially in AgriTech (hardware and software). Umar has a very good understanding of the Agricultural industry landscape globally having worked for one of the largest Ag solutions companies in the world and by just being passionate about agricultural productivity. He would also love a discussion about football, politics or innovation.
I am the CEO and founder of LandPrint, a NatureTech company pioneering nature-positive metrics through an innovative digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (dMRV) platform. At LandPrint, we leverage advanced digital technologies to assess and rate progress in building natural capital and mitigating investment risks. By providing actionable ratings and insights, we empower companies and investors to make sustainable choices that transform environmental assets into measurable economic value. I have over 20 years of experience in leading and supporting regenerative agriculture projects, both as a co-founder and advisor of several impact ventures and as a regenerative farmer myself. I have a Ph.D. in Water and Natural Resources Engineering and have collaborated with top academic institutions. I have also been nominated and received national and international prizes for my work in sustainability and social impact. My mission is to integrate tech and financial solutions in innovations related to regenerative agriculture and the restoration of ecosystems. I am interested in networking with professionals who share this vision and are open to explore new joint opportunities.
Lola is a Principal at VentureSouq, an early-stage Venture Capital firm focused on FinTech and ClimateTech. There she works under the ClimateTech thesis investing in early-stage companies developing tech-enabled solutions in agriculture, foodtech, supply chains, ecosystem restoration, industrial decarbonization and more
Dominique Ghazar is a Global Sustainability and Inclusion Senior Manager in HSBC Wealth and Personal Banking. She focuses on embedding sustainability and inclusion into employee culture & upskill teams as well as building a sustainability brand through partnership and engagement. Dominique joined HSBC in 2009 and then moved to Sustainability function at HSBC Bank Middle East in 2013 overseeing design, development, planning, and implementation of major awards winning sustainability projects in collaboration with non-profits, government entities and academia. Dominique led the implementation of the global sustainability strategy in EMEA supporting the development of future skills and entrepreneurships across the region and has played an important role in the evolution of HSBC’s future skills portfolio. Before joining HSBC, Dominique worked for the UN with the Italian contingent in Lebanon where she supported the community development team in their mandate. It was during this time she developed her passion for sustainability. Dominique is a member of the Global Application Review Committee for Teach For All’s Let Girls Thrive Fund. This Fund of USD 15 million aims to develop at least 1,500 new teaching participants over the next five years to reach over 250,000 girls and other disadvantaged children in countries and communities where girls are most marginalized. Dominique is also a Board Member of the Global Fund for Widows an inspirational organization that is disrupting micro-finance via its “micro-bank” financial inclusion innovation. Dominique holds a postgraduate certificate in Sustainability in The Value Chains, a certificate in Sustainability Business Management from the University of Cambridge and two certificates in sustainable finance and impact investment from Oxford University and New York University.
Christine is global leader and expert in agrifood and climate tech innovation, with two decades of experience leading creative and collaborative change throughout the industry.
She has built Thought For Food, the world's largest and most diverse innovation movement and community that spans 180+ countries; has incubated and accelerated 100+ science-and-technology-based startups which have gone on to raise over $300mm in venture capital; and has worked extensively with organizations that include the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation, Cargill, Google, and DHL, among many others.
In her previous roles, Christine led external affairs, public policy, & corporate affairs functions for leading multinationals, unicorn-level startups, think tanks & industry associations. One of the highlights of her career was her work to design and establish the world’s first open-licensing platform for patented vegetable traits while working at Syngenta, which eventually led to a shift in the sharing and use of beneficial intellectual property assets across the entire plant breeding industry.
Christine was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the UN Food Systems Summit, and was selected for the prestigious Acumen/Rockefeller Food Systems Fellowship. Her work has been featured in MIT Tech Review, BBC, and The Economist, and Forbes recently named her as one of the “Top 10 Women in Synthetic Biology.”
Christine is the author of "The Change-makers Guide to Feeding the Planet,” the producer of 2 docu-films about next-gen agri-food-tech solutions, and has spearheaded global events on five continents that have earned awards for sustainability and impact from the United Nations Environment Programme and Fast Company. She has built Thought For Food, the world's largest and most diverse innovation movement and community that spans 180+ countries; has incubated and accelerated 100+ science-and-technology-based startups which have gone on to raise over $300mm in venture capital; and has worked extensively with organizations that include the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation, Cargill, Google, and DHL, among many others.
Co-Founder of Kök Projekt with diverse experience within the agri-food sector. Works together with food, agriculture, water, and energy sector corporates, governmental organizations, and investment funds on startups acceleration and corporate innovation programs development within the Emerging Markets.
Lara Hussein, co-founder of The Waste Lab, is pioneering a revolution in food waste management. Along with Ceylan Uren, they co-founded this impact-driven startup, in Dubai, to turn food scraps from a burden into a valuable resource, reshaping the way communities think about waste. The Waste Lab's mission is to build healthier soil and future by empowering individuals, businesses, and communities. Their innovative, data-driven platform offers practical, nature-based solutions to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, benefiting local soil, farms, and food production. To date, The Waste Lab diverted over 2 million kg of food waste from landfills, significantly impacting local sustainability. The Waste Lab disrupts traditional waste management by promoting transparency and community participation. Lara’s vision extends beyond mere waste diversion; it's about creating a culture of environmental responsibility where everyone, from homeowners to large establishments, plays a part in sustainable living.
Mariam is an investment professional with 15+ years of experience working across a wide range of the capital markets spectrum, from publicly listed companies to legacy family businesses, to her current and more active role, advising and investing in early-stage tech startups. Mariam began her career in Investment Banking advising mid- and large-cap companies in connection with corporate restructuring, equity- and debt- financing, mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets transactions, predominantly Initial Public Offerings. She then provided Investor Relations advisory for a number of publicly-listed companies and family conglomerates. Mariam co-founded FLOW, a wellness center, whose operations spanned multiple locations. She leads AUC Angels, the first alumni-based angel investor network in the MENA region, and is a board member of Tiye Angels, a network of female angel investors guided by a gender lens investment thesis in Egypt. Mariam is a Partner at LoftyInc’s Alpha Fund, a pan-African fund investing in early-stage tech startups across multiple sectors.
Nisrine’s career journey is multifaceted and unique. She has gained experience from both public and private organizations, undertaking various roles and working across diverse industries, including e-Commerce, Logistics, Agriculture, and Marketing Research. Nisrine has a diversified background with expertise in strategy development and execution, transformation, program management, marketing and customer insights; a unique differentiator reinforcing her profile versatility and adaptability. She has led critical organizational initiatives looking after mergers and acquisitions, overseeing post-acquisition integrations, and leading the Project Management Office, successfully delivering on projects from ideation to fruition. She is a strong advocate of continuous improvement and passionate about transformation and change management. Nisrine is trilingual fluent (native Arabic, English and French) and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD, a Chief Product Officer certification from MIT. She is currently pursuing the Certificate of Leadership Excellence in Strategy and Innovation from Harvard.
A serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of scaling startups into multimillion-dollar enterprises and driving innovation in the engineering and technology sectors. Known for transforming bold ideas into impactful ventures through expertise in product development, operations, and strategic business growth. Hands-on in taking concepts from ideation to MVP and scaling them into market-ready solutions, while leading large-scale, cross-functional projects. Skilled in crafting and executing GTM strategies, launching new business verticals, and delivering measurable results in high-energy startup environments. A seasoned fundraiser and empathetic business developer with a talent for forging strong relationships and navigating complex challenges. Experienced in managing diverse teams and building vibrant communities to address human-centric problems and foster sustainable growth. Proven ability to manage high-stakes accounts and large-scale programs, while leveraging deep industry insights to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced ecosystems. Focused on driving success through innovation, measurable outcomes, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Co-founder of Nexus Climate and LandOS. Former Head of Portfolio Strategy team for the Equities Department at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Angel investor. Booting Up a Sustainable Future.
Nathan Millard, founder of G3 Partners, is an experienced leader in the startup ecosystem with 15 years of experience driving growth-stage businesses toward market expansion and funding success. As a mentor and advisor, Nathan is passionate about fostering AgTech startups and sustainability-focused innovators, aligning closely with global food security and economic diversification goals.
Simon is a scientific and regulatory advisor for the Abu Dhabi government with deep experience in consumer and industrial product R&D, regulatory affairs and economic impact assessments. Simon specializes in the interpretation of high-level technical information for the development of regulatory tools through coordination of multidisciplinary technical teams. Simon approaches technical subjects from all viewpoints, through 20 years of experience in academia, commercial enterprise and government, driving cutting edge innovation of products and services and best-in-class policy development.sustainability-focused innovators, aligning closely with global food security and economic diversification goals.
Fadi is a seasoned professional with a strong background in digital transformation and entrepreneurship, particularly in the field of regenerative agriculture. With a Bachelor's in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington, and further studies in Software Project Management at Carnegie Mellon University, Fadi brings a robust technical and managerial skill set to his roles. His experience spans various significant positions, including a Digital Agriculture Expert for the FAO Project and roles within the United Nations, where he focused on information systems and digital initiatives.
As the founder and former CEO of Game Power 7, Fadi demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen by establishing the first online game publisher in the Arab region. He also has a track record of supporting startups and serving as a jury member in entrepreneurship contests across several organizations, highlighting his commitment to nurturing new talent and innovation.
Miles has over 24 years’ experience within the HSBC Group working across all segments of the global banking and corporate banking arena as either a relationship manager or team leader. Miles is from a farming background in the UK, and still helps manage the family farm which itself is now embracing regenerative agriculture techniques. He moved the UAE in 2017, and now heads up the Technology and New Economy Division of HSBC Corporate bank, which provides a full range of banking services to equity backed, high growth, tech focused, innovative and disruptive businesses.
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