H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, was appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Trade in July 2020 to oversee the development of non-oil foreign trade and the expansion of global trade partnerships and increase Exports. In addition to supervising the portfolio of retaining and attracting the best talents and competencies serving the strategic orientation of the UAE, His Excellency also leads the efforts to enhance the UAE’s investment climate in order to achieve the country’s economic interests and strategic goals, thereby strengthening its position as a prime destination for business and investments at both regional and global levels.

Prior to his appointment as the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, H.E held the position of Minister of Climate Change and Environment and supervised the implementation of the country’s strategies at the domestic level, for environment and climate action, agricultural development, animal husbandry and fisheries, in addition to combating desertification and preserving biodiversity leading to enhance the sustainability of natural systems, food diversity and the transition to a green economy. Through diverse Global participations, HE led the UAE’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to the repercussions of climate change, and protect the country's natural ecosystem by developing and implementing a set of effective policies and initiatives to achieve sustainable development at both regional and international levels and by strengthening existing and new partnerships with the government and private sectors that are capable of increasing the contribution of environment, agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors to ensuring food security and biosafety in the country as well as increasing the quality of national production.

Previously and after he served as the Director of the Department of Energy and Climate Change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E Al Zeyoudi was appointed as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as extraordinary Ambassador.

Minister Al Zeyoudi started his career as an oil engineer at the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), and then moved to Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), where he worked on the development of renewable and clean energy technologies and solutions, and also played a key role in the success of the UAE’s 2009 campaign to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the capital City, Abu Dhabi.

In 2020, HE. was chosen by the Davos World Economic Forum to become a member of the Young Global Leadership Council affiliated with the Forum, recognizing his outstanding international efforts in the field of environment and climate. In 2015, Dr. Al Zeyoudi received the first award for Excellence from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in recognition of his pioneering efforts in the field of renewable energy.

H.E Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi holds a Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, an MBA in Project Management from the British University in Dubai, and a PhD in Strategy, Program and Project Management from Skema Business School in France.

Head of Cyber Security, United Arab Emirates Government H.E Dr. Al Kuwaiti is currently holding the position of the Managing Director of the National Data Centre under the Supreme Council for National Security. He is also working as Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Homeland Security Program at Rabdan Academy.

In his current role Dr. Al Kuwaiti aims to create a fully governed approach to data privacy, sharing and processing as well as the unification and connectivity of government systems and digitization towards a smart government.

In 2013, Dr. Al Kuwaiti joined the National Electronic Security Authority and held He held various positions. As the Executive Director of Government Operations, where he managed the National and International government relations. Executive Director of Operations Analysis and Cyber Security.

In 2011, Dr. Al Kuwaiti was the Chief Technical Analyst at Ministry of Interior where he directed and managed various technical and administrative tasks. He also held other positions, such as Operations Director and CTO of the Counter Terrorism Center. He was also stationed as a Defense, Air, and Naval Military Attaché at the Embassy of The United Arab Emirates in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Al-Kuwaiti has published numerous studies and lectured at many conferences such as IEEE, RSA, Cyber Warfare Europe, Tele Strategies, ISS World MEA, IDEX, International Anti-Cyber Crimes Conference, Future War Summit etc., Dr. Al-Kuwaiti presented the UAE Cyber Security Framework at INTERPOL in Singapore. He also organized various events such as National Cyber Security Exercise and Cyber Quest.

His interests are consulting on detecting, monitoring and responding to cyber warfare, Network Forensics, Corporate Governance & Process, and national cyber policy. He is an honorable member of Society of Engineers – UAE, IEEE Society, Golden Key National Honor Society and Computer Society. He is a visiting lecturer on Cyber Security at few universities such as Khalifa University and National Defense College in Abu Dhabi.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Al-Kuwaiti holds a Doctorate in Computer Engineering and Network Security from George Washington University in the USA and a M.Sc. degree in Telecommunications and Computer Networks. He also holds a M.A. degree in International and Civil Security. Dr. Al-Kuwaiti has won various awards such as Best Lecturer, Dean honors list, leadership Awards, best Design Projects.

A creative and dynamic strategist and technologist, he is skilled in providing thought leadership and direction on a diverse range of initiatives and is an experienced leader in the digital field with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry.

In his current role Dr. Al Kuwaiti aims to create a fully governed approach to data privacy, sharing and processing as well as the unification and connectivity of government systems and digitization towards a smart government.

Able to communicate effectively with a spectrum of stakeholders and able to engender commitment and trust, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Askar possesses a passion for delivery and realization of products and services with lasting value.

His considerable experience and knowledge has given him in-depth knowledge of the Middle East market, in which he has acquired sensitivity to its unique challenges and opportunities through a range of skills in strategy, performance management, policy, audit, software development, service management, service delivery, information security, government service improvement, organization design, process management, project management, program management, digital government, government procurement and shared services.

He has obtained professional certification in many different domains, such as project management, enterprise architecture, and service management, having managed several programs and projects such as the Abu Dhabi Government Services Program (TAMM), Abu Dhabi Information Security Program, Data Management Program, Smart Services Program, Enterprise Service Maturing Project, and the Government Procurement Program.

Al Askar holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business and a Master's Degree in IT Management from the University of Wollongong in Dubai, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering from the United Arab Emirates University.

His many diverse interests include academic studies in the field of information systems, information security, and work-life balance.

Sean Murphy is Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Murphy holds the rank of Minister Counselor in the United States Foreign Service.

Mr. Murphy entered the Foreign Service in 1989 and served entry-level tours in India and Spain; in 1993 he returned to the State Department to work as a desk officer for Cuba and later Mexico, responsible for border and migration issues during both assignments. In 1998, he was transferred to Mexico to help establish a new consulate in Nogales, Sonora. From 2002-2004, Mr. Murphy served as Chief of the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. He subsequently served as Consul General in Santiago, Chile from 2004-2007, as Consul General in Havana, Cuba from 2007-2009, and as Consul General in Mexico City, from 2009-2011. Mr. Murphy served as Charge d’Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador from December 2011-July 2012, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in San Salvador until July 2013. In 2013, he returned to Washington as Senior Advisor in the Executive Office of the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. Mr. Murphy served as Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt from 2014-2017, and Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2017-2020, before assuming his current assignment in Abu Dhabi in August, 2020.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Murphy is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Russian and Eastern European History. He is married to Dr. Hengameh Rastegar-Murphy; the Murphys have two children, aged 22 and 18, and reside in Tucson, Arizona where Dr. Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona Medical College. Mr. Murphy speaks Spanish and Portuguese, reads Russian and French, and is studying Arabic.