Speakers - GovTech Awards 2025

Keynote Speakers

Ahmed Soliman

Country Manager – UAE
Pure Storage

Ahmed Soliman

With 20 years of experience in the technology industry—15 of which I’ve spent working with market-leading vendors such as Pure Storage and Oracle—I specialize in helping organizations across the Middle East unlock the full potential of their data while optimizing performance, efficiency, and cost. As the Country Manager for the United Arab Emirates at Pure Storage, I work closely with UAE customers across all industries to simplify and modernise their IT infrastructure, accelerate cloud adoption, transition to cloud native applications, and ensure seamless data mobility.

I take a consultative approach to problem-solving, helping businesses eliminate complexity, reduce downtime, and drive innovation. Whether it’s improving application performance, enhancing data resilience, or leveraging AI-driven insights, I focus on delivering real business outcomes.

My customers know me as a strategic thinker and a trusted advisor who builds long-term relationships based on transparency, collaboration, and results. My passion lies in enabling businesses to modernize their technology landscape while staying ahead in an ever-evolving digital world

Rehan Shahid

Regional Channel & Alliances Manager – Middle East & Pakistan
Hitachi Vantara

Rehan Shahid

For over 20 years Rehan Shahid has been a successful and noteworthy leader working for major multinational IT vendors and is playing a significant role in supporting the Digital Transformation of large, complex and often transformational IT solutions into major organisations across a wide range of industry sectors. Recently, as a Regional Channel & Alliances Head across Midde East, Rehan has been working closely to transform Hitachi’s partner ecosystem and strongly believes that “A Strong Channel Builds a Strong and Satisfied Customer Base”.

Although he loves playing cricket, table tennis and Golf but he has now added scrolling up and down on his phone to his list of sports activities.

Thomas Rizkallah

Regional Sales Director – MENA
CITRIX

Thomas Rizkallah

Thomas Rizkallah is the Regional Director for Citrix across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where he oversees the full spectrum of sales operations and spearheads the company’s go-to-market strategy. His role is rooted in building connections with customers, partners, and the wider ecosystem while ensuring Citrix remains a key player in a region that moves fast and demands even faster.

Thomas brings a sharp commercial instinct and a knack for cutting through the noise, shaped by years spent with some of the world’s most recognizable tech names. Prior to Citrix, he held senior roles at Microsoft, Juniper Networks, Nokia, and McAfee Inc., where he learned that influence isn’t about volume, it’s about clarity, timing, and knowing when to listen and adapt in real time. His soft skills and mindset are informed by both global experience and a deep understanding of the regional dynamics. He approaches leadership with a mix of precision and pragmatism, believing that the best solutions come from those who stay curious, ask better questions, and challenge the conventional.

Whether he’s in a boardroom or a hallway conversation, Thomas Rizkallah is focused on what really matters – shifting perspectives and leaving a mark that outlasts the moment.

Fireside Chat Speaker

Wolfgang Kroj

GM Sales, Middle East and Africa
Hitachi Vantara

Wolfgang Kroj

With an impressive 45-year journey in the IT industry, Wolfgang Kroj is a seasoned leader known for shaping high-performance teams and driving innovation across global markets. Having held senior leadership roles at Sun Microsystems and Oracle, he led the EMEA Systems Presales Team, fostering excellence across the region.

Now at Hitachi Vantara, Wolfgang has been instrumental in developing and leading teams across Central Europe, Turkey, South Africa, and now the Middle East. His deep expertise in business transformation, leadership, and cultural intelligence makes him a sought-after voice in the industry.

As a business coach, Wolfgang is passionate about helping organizations and individuals navigate change and unlock their full potential.

Join Wolfgang as he shares insights from decades of industry leadership, offering game-changing strategies for growth and success in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Speakers

Ekta Puthran

Sales & Regional Marketing Director – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa
Barco

Ekta Puthran

Georges Lemire

Area Vice President EMEA
Neat

Georges Lemire

As Area Vice President EMEA at Neat, Georges Lemire brings over 25 years of leadership experience in technology and innovation, with a strong focus on collaboration platforms and user experience. A 52-year-old French national, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Paris IX Dauphine, complemented by an International Business program that took him through Paris, New York, and Tokyo—shaping a truly global business perspective.

Georges has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of several renowned technology companies. His career includes impactful positions at Sony and Cisco Systems, where he spent 13 years in various leadership roles, ultimately serving as Director of Collaboration for Emerging Markets, based in Dubai, UAE. He also held executive roles at Pexip and StarLeaf, both during their startup phases. Today, he brings his expertise to Neat, a leading innovator dedicated to simplifying the meeting room collaboration experience.

With more than 15 years of experience in the Middle East, Georges has developed a deep understanding of regional dynamics and customer needs. His ability to bridge cultural nuances with technological innovation enables him to design and deliver solutions that offer exceptional user experiences and measurable business outcomes.

A passionate advocate for simplicity, innovation, and customer-centric design, Georges continues to drive growth and transformation in the ever-evolving landscape of workplace collaboration.

Panelists

Francois Van Deventer

Director & CTO – Emerging Markets
CITRIX

Francois Van Deventer

Francois van Deventer is an award-winning technology and business leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across high-potential emerging markets—spanning Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa.

Currently serving as Director & CTO at Cloud Software Group, Francois is recognized for his ability to bridge deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen. His leadership has helped shape Citrix’s regional success, earning him accolades including EMEA Networking Sales Specialist of the Year, World Wide Sales & Services Excellence Award, and most recently, a place in the Circle of Excellence 2024. He has also achieved Presidents Club and Headwaters Club distinctions during his time at Riverbed Technology.

Certified as a CISSP and with a suite of top-tier technical certifications (Cisco, Citrix, HP, Microsoft), Francois continues to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity and cloud-driven architectures. His approach blends strategic clarity, technical depth, and people-first leadership to build high-performing, cross-functional teams that deliver measurable outcomes.

Known for his reflective and empathetic leadership style, Francois champions environments where team members are empowered to grow, innovate, and succeed. His reputation for thoughtful problem-solving and calm, focused leadership—especially under pressure—is consistently echoed in peer recommendations.

In parallel, he is pursuing a Master’s – Business Administration with the University of London and Generative AI from Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard, reinforcing his commitment to lifelong learning and multidimensional leadership. Outside the professional realm, Francois is a passionate learner, devoted husband, and father of three, with a love for literature, podcasts, and personal growth.

Dr. Jassim Haji

President
International Group of Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Jassim Haji

Executive Advisor at HH Shk Nasser AI Research & Development Centre and President of International Group of Artificial Intelligence.

He participated as a key speaker and chairman in over 390 technology conferences in the
Middle East and Europe to cover the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machibe Learning.

Dr Haji managed to achieve forty-four top Middle Eastern technology, innovation and entrepreneurship awards, including 15 Chief of Information Technology distinguished awards. Moreover, published five books in English, Spanish and Arabic on Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Technology and over 780 articles on AI & technologies with international land international press and media in English and Arabic.

Renan De Lima

Solutions Consultant
Hitachi Vantara

Renan De Lima

Renan de Lima is an accomplished Technical Sales Consultant at Hitachi Vantara with over 10 years of experience in the technology industry. Renan specializes in delivering cutting-edge solutions that align with the strategic objectives of enterprise clients, leveraging his in-depth knowledge of data infrastructure, analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations. Renowned for his ability to simplify complex technical concepts, Renan is skilled at demonstrating the tangible business value of advanced technologies. His strategic insights and collaborative approach have made him a trusted advisor in driving digital transformation initiatives. Renan brings a unique perspective on how to navigate and leverage technological advancements to optimise business operations in today’s competitive landscape.