Dr. Sa’ed Rasmi Abed has held the position of Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Kuwait University since 2024, having joined the University in 2014. Prior to joining Kuwait University, he began his academic career at the Hashemite University in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he served as a faculty member from 2008 to 2014. He then progressed through the academic ranks at Kuwait University, attaining the rank of Associate Professor in 2018 and Professor in 2024.

Throughout his academic and research career, Prof. Sa’ed has contributed to the advancement of higher education and scientific research in computer engineering. He has helped educate and develop generations of students through effective, innovative teaching methods, while conducting applied academic research that supports the use of emerging knowledge and technologies across science and engineering.

His research interests include Formal Methods and Verification, Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) design, and image processing, combining theoretical research with advanced applications in computer engineering. He also has extensive experience in academic peer review, having served as a reviewer for numerous international scientific conferences and journals, as well as a judge for several local, regional, and international competitions.

Prof. Sa’ed has an extensive academic and research record, with 2 published books and more than 160 research papers published in leading international journals and conference proceedings. His work reflects his continued contributions to his fields of expertise and to scientific research.

Prof. Sa’ed holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, obtained in 1994 and 1996, respectively. He earned his PhD in Computer Engineering from Concordia University in Canada in 2008.

Ms. Amel Ismail Juma has over 15 years of professional experience in digital government, digital transformation, and innovation, as well as national project management, strategic framework development, and supporting government excellence and public sector transformation.

She currently serves as a Senior Specialist – Digital Transformation Planning at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in the United Arab Emirates, where she leads and contributes to a number of national initiatives in the areas of digital government, digital government maturity, digital participation, national portals, innovation, and digital enablers. She also has extensive experience in project and program planning and management, stakeholder engagement, performance monitoring, and the evaluation of digital government frameworks, services, service design, and user experience.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to leading and implementing several national initiatives, most notably the UAE Hackathon, Government Digital Enablers Evaluation, the Government Digital Maturity Model, and initiatives related to digital participation, national portals, and innovation. She also led the UAE Hackathon project, overseeing its planning, implementation, and coordination with stakeholders across all seven Emirates, in addition to contributing to digital government enablement initiatives, government entity assessments, and user experience testing of government services and websites.

She also has experience in collaborating and coordinating with international organizations, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the World Bank. In addition, she has represented the UAE at various international forums and served as a jury member for initiatives and awards specializing in technology, innovation, and digital excellence.

Her areas of expertise include digital government strategy, project and program management, service design and user experience, innovation enablement, stakeholder engagement, digital maturity assessment, data-driven decision-making, and government excellence.

Mr. Abdulla Habib has been serving the Kingdom of Bahrain’s ICT sector for over 24 years, contributing to both the public and private sectors. Over the course of his career, he has been exposed to different roles and responsibilities taking part in managing and overlooking strategic national-level projects and initiatives.

Mr. Habib, is currently the AGM – Enterprise Digital Optimization, at Eskan Bank, a key member of the executive leadership team, leading the bank’s enterprise-wide digital transformation, technology innovation, and data-driven optimization initiatives. Additionally he serves as a founding board member of Technology and Business Society.

In his previous roles, he held the responsibilities of managing and overlooking an independent QA center of excellence in the financial sector and various system development projects for governmental entities, and defining all relevant national-level standards, frameworks, procedures, and policies in addition to suggesting and providing consultancy on best practices for Standardization in the ICT arena, and driving and managing national-level initiatives. He has also served as the board secretary for the Governmental ICT Governance Committee, as well as being a member of the National ICT cost optimization committee, a member of the National Elections Executive Committee, and the Head of the National Elections Information Technology Committee.

Mr. Abdulla holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Bahrain, and a master’s degree in business administration in Management, in addition to various numbers of professional certificates across different fields in ICT, Management and Leadership.

Ms. Hana Almaimouni has over 12 years of professional experience in government awards and incentives at the Digital Government Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is responsible for managing government awards and incentives at the Authority and providing consultancy services to government entities in the field of digital competitiveness. She is also one of the founders of the Digital Government Award in Saudi Arabia and has managed the award program since 2022.

Ms. Almaimouni has experience in designing and developing evaluation criteria and methodologies, reviewing and evaluating digital submissions and initiatives, and managing jury committee processes. She also served as the National Expert for Saudi Arabia at the World Summit Awards and has experience in evaluating digital initiatives and services based on criteria of excellence, impact, and innovation.

Eng. Mohammed Al Hooti is an Omani specialist in digital transformation, information technology, and artificial intelligence, with extensive experience in leading organizational transformation, developing digital strategies and initiatives, and leveraging emerging technologies to enhance operational efficiency, service quality, and sustainable impact.

He has contributed to several national initiatives in the Sultanate of Oman, including the development of strategies and plans related to digital transformation and information technology. He has also participated in national committees and working groups focused on advancing digital services, strengthening technological and organizational readiness, and supporting Oman’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Throughout his career, he has led and contributed to the delivery of strategic programs and projects across government, industrial, and service sectors, covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data and analytics, automation, enterprise systems, and digital services. His expertise also extends to technology governance and the assessment of digital initiatives and projects.

He has served on national evaluation and judging committees in the fields of digital excellence and transformation. His professional focus centers on accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies, strengthening digital governance, and translating strategic directions into practical initiatives that deliver sustainable organizational and national impact.

Ms. Reem Al Ahbabi has over 18 years of professional experience in digital government, digital transformation, corporate strategy, IT governance, and information security.

She currently serves as Director of Digital Government Policies and Standards at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the State of Qatar, where she leads the development of national policies, frameworks, and standards that support digital transformation. She also oversees the implementation of digital government strategies and related initiatives, contributing to the advancement of digital government and the development of an integrated digital ecosystem aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Throughout her career, she has held several leadership positions at Aspire Academy – Aspire Zone Foundation and the Qatar Olympic Committee, with responsibilities spanning corporate strategy, information technology, applications and systems. She also has experience in network engineering and information security.

Her areas of expertise include corporate strategy, risk management, IT governance, performance management, digital transformation, and the development of government policies, frameworks, and standards. She has also contributed to national initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of digital government services and promoting integration and innovation across the government sector.

Dr. Anwar Al-Harbi specializes in information technology, artificial intelligence, information security, digital transformation, and digital governance, with more than 25 years of experience across the technical, media, academic, and consultancy fields. He is also experienced in utilizing modern technologies and simplifying technical concepts for the public.

Dr. Al-Harbi served as a lecturer at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) in Kuwait and held several consultancy positions within Kuwaiti government entities, including the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), the Technical Office of the former Minister of Communications, and the Minister of Information.

In the media field, he produced and presented several technology-focused radio and television programs, including Computer World, Computer Diwaniya, Digital Stations, and Digital Minds. He also participates in local and international conferences and events as a keynote speaker, session moderator, and workshop facilitator in the fields of information security, digital transformation, and modern technologies.

He has contributed to promoting digital awareness through journalism, authorship, and training. He served as Managing Editor of Afaq Al-Internet magazine and authored several books, including The Dama Game Using Artificial Intelligence, The Digital Employee Guide, and Poems of Digital Minds. Among his notable projects is the development of the traditional Dama game using artificial intelligence, which won first place as the Best Educational Game Based on Artificial Intelligence in a competition organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

Dr. Al-Harbi is also a member of the Kuwait Information Technology Society, where he chairs the Relations and Electronic Media Committee. He is additionally a member of the Kuwait Geographic Information Systems Users Society and the Kuwait Society of Engineers.

He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom and the United States. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oxford Brookes University, a Higher Diploma from the University of Westminster, a master’s degree in Systems Management from the University of Salford, and a PhD in eGovernment from Westbrook University in the United States.