Empowering sustainable innovation: GHD partners up with the World Future Energy Summit

The World Future Energy Summit is the foremost global event driving the transition to clean energy and sustainability. It brings together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and start-ups to exchange ideas and solutions. 

As a global professional services firm specialising in engineering, construction, and architecture, we are committed to tackling the most pressing global issues surrounding water, energy, and community development. We connect and support communities around the globe to make deep and lasting social and economic impact, leading the way through our forward-thinking and innovative solutions.

We believe that forging enduring partnerships and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and collaborators can help us transform the energy landscape.

GHD’s Tom Foley, EMEA Future Energy Leader, Anna Jakobsen, EMEA Leader - Sustainability & Commercial Advisory and Thomas Evans, EMEA Origination Leader will be guest speakers on three panel sessions:

Solar and Clean Energy Conference: Long-Distance Transmission - Investing in Multi-Country Corridors

Tuesday, April 16

3:20 pm to 4:00 pm (GST)

GHD speaker: Tom Foley

Co-panelists:

• Moderator: Hind Almteiri, Senior Manager – IPPs & Production Planning Department, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

• Omar Al Hashmi, CEO, Transmission & Distribution, TAQA

• Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director Middle East, Siemens Energy

• Simon Birkebaek, Partner, BCG

In the context of growing energy needs, low-carbon, long-distance energy transmission emerges as a critical consideration for nations. Its advantages in efficiency, resilience to fluctuations, and potential to empower underserved communities highlight its significance. This panel will delve into the technical hurdles associated with long-distance transmission of clean energy, assess the efficacy of east-to-west transmission strategies in maximising renewable-energy utilisation, and evaluate the feasibility of investment levels required to realise these ambitions.

About Tom Foley

Tom brings more than 28 years of consulting expertise, guiding public- and private-sector clients towards sustainable energy solutions. Throughout his distinguished career, Tom has spearheaded senior leadership roles, driving consultancy efforts and ensuring unparalleled client satisfaction. Tom specialises in electricity-sector investment planning and appraisal, offering invaluable insights into regulatory frameworks, market dynamics, and asset valuation.

Climate and Environment Conference: Strengthening Regional ESG Data Quality for Greater Actionable Insights

Wednesday, April 17

3:50 pm to 4:30 pm (GST)

GHD speaker: Anna Jakobsen

Co-panelists:

• Moderator: Dr Jelena Janjusevic, Associate Professor of Finance, Heriot-Watt University–Dubai 

• Anne Marie Thodsen, Managing Director, the Umbrella Institute 

• Lisa Knudsen, Vice President and Head of ESG, RAKBank 

• Vash Singh, Sustainability Director, KEO Sustainability + Environment 

• Wassim Merheby, CEO and Co-Founder, Verofax  

The speakers will look at ways to enhance the transparency, accuracy, and reliability of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data in the Middle East. They will explore the types of data necessary, potential updates to regulatory requirements, and the pivotal role of such data in meeting investor expectations.

About Anna Jakobsen

With more than 17 years of experience, Anna collaborates with governments and businesses to drive the transition towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future. She specialises in sustainability, ESG, strategy consulting, and net-zero transition. Previously, Anna held executive roles at Business in the Community (BITC) and EY, where she led impactful initiatives and advised senior leadership on ESG performance.

Solar and Clean Energy Conference: Advancing the Commercial Viability of Green Hydrogen

Thursday, April 18

3:05 pm to 3:50 pm (GST)

GHD speaker: Thomas Evans

Co-panelists:

• Moderator: Frank Wouters, Chairman, MENA Hydrogen Alliance and Director, EU MED-GEM Network

• Engineer Nawal Alhanaee, Director of Future Energy Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Hamad Massod, Director of Business Development — Green Hydrogen, Acwa Power

• Francois Dao, Senior Vice President, MEA, EDF 

For this session, the panelists will share their insights on the evolving hydrogen economy and the commercial outlook for low-carbon hydrogen in the near and long term. The speakers will tackle questions surrounding the impact of rising gas prices on the motivation for countries to invest in green-hydrogen facilities. They will also discuss the critical link between off-take and production for financial success.

Having a career spanning more than 12 years, Thomas brings a wealth of global experience in energy transition, strategy, and data science. With a background in Economics and a master’s degree in Sustainable Development, Thomas has led management consulting teams across London, Sydney, and Madrid, providing an international perspective on energy-transition dynamics. His recent focus on hydrogen-related projects includes supporting financial institutions, leading the development of the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, and collaborating on decarbonisation business models in the UK.

Explore comprehensive sustainability strategies and bold solutions tailored to future-proof your business across key sectors! Stop by our booth (Atrium — A101) to speak with our Future Energy team.

We offer the ideal blend of industry knowledge and technical skills and are committed to assisting clients in decarbonising energy systems, covering transaction advisory, hydrogen, renewables, sustainability, grid stability, water-energy nexus, offshore renewables, and policy/strategy.