STRATEGIC CONFERENCE THEMES
1. Building a more accessible, affordable and sustainable power system
Demand for electricity is soaring. Disruptive new power-hungry data centres, the electrification of transport, heating and cooling, and the push to advance energy access in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7, is fuelling unprecedented global electricity demand growth. As we enter the age of electricity, it is critical that power systems remain affordable, secure and sustainable – requiring unprecedented levels of cooperation between policy makers, regulators, utilities, technology providers and financial institutions.
2. Putting water at the heart of energy and climate adaptation plans
Water scarcity is a global crisis that is set to grow both in terms of severity and in people affected by it. In many parts of the world, demand for water already exceeds supply and by 2030, the gap between supply and demand is projected to reach close to 40% globally. Utilities, governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector all have a key role to play in developing and scaling the solutions needed to close the gap and safeguard the water needed to allow people, communities and economies to thrive as our climate changes.
3. Unlocking the potential of AI and clean technologies
AI presents a unique opportunity to transform the power sector, enhancing efficiency, optimising grids, and accelerating the transition to net zero. As such, it has increasingly become a central pillar of the sector’s innovation agenda offering a pathway to a smarter, more resilient energy system. However, AI's rising electricity demands from data centres, requires urgent adaptation. Power systems must expand renewable capacity, improve grid flexibility, and enhance flexibility at a speed and scale unprecedented in recent times. Coordinated action from governments, businesses, and markets is essential to harness AI’s potential while ensuring a sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy future.
4. Prioritising flexibility solutions for more resilient energy
As power generation becomes increasingly dominated by renewables, the need for flexibility solutions grows. According to IRENA, in a 2050 net-zero energy system solar and wind account for 90% of generation, making flexibility on both the supply and demand sides central to maintaining a stable, responsive, and resilient grid. Gas, battery storage, grid interconnections, and demand response are among the tools available. Careful and strategic system planning is essential to ensure flexibility options are optimised and tailored to geographic contexts.
5. Adopting strategic capital reallocation and innovative financing models
Driving sustainable growth in utilities hinges on innovative financing and strategic investment. Models like green bonds and public-private partnerships are vital for funding clean energy supply, resilient water systems, and grid modernisation. Global grid spending is set to reach $811 billion by 2030 in Bloomberg NEF's net zero scenario, driven by rapid growth in clean power, electric vehicles and other low-carbon technologies. Emerging strategies may include innovative project financing and development, and climate finance mechanisms as well as the integration of digital solutions and even fintech to secure the required finance.
6. Shaping policies and partnerships for the future of utilities
Achieving a low-carbon, interconnected energy future demands urgent action and bold innovation across the sector. Rapid demand growth is accelerating the pace of change for utilities, while decarbonisation goals and the expansion of clean energy are reshaping traditional system management. The way utility companies engage with policymakers, suppliers, customers and with each other, has transformed dramatically in the last decade. Platforms like the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA), launched under the UAE’s COP28 Presidency in 2023, are an example of the need for utilities to embrace a new era of collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders as the sector navigates a transformative new era.
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
United Arab Emirates
Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs
Kingdom of Bahrain
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation
Egypt
Minister of Water Resources
Iraq
Senior Minister for Infrastructure
Barbados
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Sierra Leone
Deputy Minister of Energy
Turkmenistan
Vice Minister, Ministry of Water Resources
China
Foreign Affairs Adviser, Ministry of Energy
Romania
Group CEO & MD
TAQA
MD & CEO
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)
Director General
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
President
World Water Council
President
Arab Water Council
Chairman & CEO
EDF
CEO
Ansaldo Energia SpA
CEO
SSE
CEO
SWPC
CEO
Etihad Water & Electricity
CEO, JERA Asia Pte. Ltd, Head of Platform Business Division
JERA
CEO
Tabreed
CEO
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
CEO
Kraken Utilities
A/Director General of Regulatory Affairs
Department of Energy
CEO
Ansaldo Nucleare SpA
President & CEO
Marubeni Middle East Africa Power
Chairman & CEO
SUEZ
CEO
Emirates Steel
CEO, Morocco – UK Power Project
Xlinks
CEO
MoltexFLEX
CEO Generation
TAQA
Co-Founder & President
Zhero
CEO
TRANSCO
CEO and Inventor
Enercap Energy Holdings Limited
CEO - Africa, Near and Middle East
Veolia
Secretary General
International Desalination And Reuse Association (IDRA)
CEO, Transmission & Distribution
TAQA
CEO, Cable Business Unit
Ducab
CEO, Middle East
Dalkia
Managing Director & CEO
SWS
CEO
Eos Energy Storage
CEO
Siemens Middle East
President, Energy, Executive Vice President
Wärtsilä Corporation
VP of Trading
Saudi Power Procurement Company
Global Segment President Water and Wastewater
Schneider Electric
Managing Director & Head – Sustainable Finance, West
Standard Chartered
CFO
ACX (AirCarbon Exchange)
CTO EMEA, Gas Power
GE Vernova
Chief Researcher, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Center
Technology Innovation Institute (TII)
MD
Iberdrola Innovation Middle East
MD - Water
NEOM
Chief Strategy & Development Officer
SWPC
Lead Green Grids Initiative, International Energy Transition
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, UK
General Counsel
Emirates Water & Electricity Company
Head, Centre for Energy and Materials
World Economic Forum
Chief Strategy Officer
TAQA
President - eVinci Microreactor Business
Westinghouse Electric Company
AMEA MD and GCC Country Manager
Engie
MD & Country Cluster Head Arabian Peninsula
BASF Middle East LLC
Chairwoman
Kuwait Water Association
Chief Strategy Officer
GE Vernova
CEO
Isle Utilities
CEO
SirajPower, a Positive Zero company
COO
Tabreed
CEO
Apex Investments
CEO
Qamar Energy
Global Managing Partner, Industries & Assets
IBM
Founder & CEO
One Moto
COO
Etihad Water & Electricity
Chief Asset Management Officer
Tabreed
Chief Transformation & Business Excellence Officer
Emicool
Director Waste Strategy and Projects
Dubai Municipality
CTO, Smart PV
Huawei Middle East
VP of Energy Services
Olayan Financing Company
VP Power Systems - Middle East & Africa Region
Schneider Electric
Director of Future Energy Department
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE
Global Head of Commodities, Energy & Environmental Markets
BloombergNEF
Executive Director, EMEA - Energy, Power, Renewables, Metals & Mining
J.P. Morgan Chase Bank
CEO
Dii Desert Energy
CTO - Middle East and Head of Innovation Center, Abu Dhabi
Siemens Energy
Senior Vice President
Minsait
Chairman, MENA Hydrogen Alliance and Director
MED-GEM Network
Regional VP - MEA & Turkey
Oracle Utilities
Founder & Executive Director, Orisun Invest, and Board Member
Global Solar Alliance
Strategy and Planning Executive Director
EWEC
Nuclear Safety Director
Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Head of Mobility
Positive Zero
Secretary General
Zero Emissions Traders Alliance (ZETA)
SVP, Chemicals & Process Technologies – Middle East & Turkey
thyssenkrupp AG
Executive Director - Utilities and Renewables Department
KAPSARC
Vice President - Petrochemicals
SLB
Director General
International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)
MD & Senior Partner
BCG
Senior Director, Clean Energy
Dynapower Company LLC
Director - Head of International Media Relations
APCO Worldwide
Associate Professor, Associate Chair Nuclear Engineering & Deputy Director ENTC Nuclear Engineering
Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Head of Energy Transition
EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg
Decarbonisation Leader, Carbon Solutions - Middle East & Africa
GE Vernova
CTO
IFS
Head of Industry Value Advisory, Middle East & Africa South
SAP
MD & Senior Partner
BCG
Partner - Power, Water & Environment
PwC
Partner
McKinsey & Company
Senior Partner, Dubai
McKinsey & Company
Partner
McKinsey & Company
MD & Senior Partner
BCG
Associate Partner & Regional Leader – Energy & Environment
Frost & Sulivan
Partner
Strategy&
Partner, People & Organization
KPMG Lower Gulf
Sustainability and Climate Change Advisor
KPMG Lower Gulf
Technical Regulation Director
Department of Energy
Chief of Professionals Tribe & MC
World Utilities Congress
CEO
Sustainable Water & Power Consultants (SWPC)
Managing Director, Energy Strategy & Performance Transformation
KPMG, UK
Global Energy and Utilities Practice Leader
IBM Consulting
