Cohort 2024/25

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christine Gould is an award-winning innovation leader, entrepreneur, and strategist driving transformation in global food systems. She is the Founder of GIGA, an innovation and investment platform tackling billion-dollar challenges and unlocking trillion-dollar opportunities to nourish people and build climate resilience. She authored The Change-Maker’s Guide to Feeding the Planet, an Amazon bestseller, and is a sought-after speaker at WEF, HelloTomorrow, and the UN.

As Founder of Thought For Food®️ (TFF), Christine built the world’s leading next-gen agrifood innovation community, engaging 30K+ young entrepreneurs across 180+ countries, accelerating 100+ startups ($300M+ raised), and partnering with Danone, DSM, Cargill, Leaps by Bayer, Google, and NEOM. At Syngenta, she led biotechnology and breeding initiatives, launching an open-licensing platform to expand access to agricultural innovations.

Christine co-founded the Food Systems Game Changers Lab, advised the UN Food Systems Summit, and has been recognized as an Acumen Fellow, IMAGINE Leader, and Swiss Digital Shaper. Her work has been featured in Forbes, BBC, MIT Tech Review, and The Economist. She holds an MPA in Science & Technology Policy from Columbia University and a BA with a focus on Security & Defense Economics from American University.

I joined HSBC in 2019 through the Global Graduate Programme and have since worked across multiple departments.

In 2023, I became part of the Regional Sustainability team, where I focus on sustainable finance origination, ESG partnerships, strategy, and marketing & events. My key responsibility is to originate sustainable finance opportunities, helping clients integrate sustainability into their business strategies through HSBC’s sustainable finance solutions. Beyond financing, I also drive ESG partnerships and marketing initiatives to enhance client engagement. One of the key programmes I lead is the Sustainable Business Accelerator Programme, a collaboration with a third party to support clients in strengthening their ESG reporting.

Before HSBC, I interned as a journalist and marketing assistant at a media firm in London, where I developed strong communication and relationship-building skills.

I hold a double bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in Italy and Tongji University in China, as well as a master’s degree in Engineering with Finance from UCL in London.

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.