Industrial Advisory Boards

Dr. Khaled Al-Banaa was named the Chief Executive Officer of IHS Kuwait in Dec. 2020. In the current role, Dr. Al-Banaa has an overall responsibility for managing the first P&L Tower company in Kuwait. He holds the responsibility for growth, financial viability, and profitability of the business. Moreover, part of his responsibility as a CEO, is to define and implement business growth strategies, talent developments, and localization strategies.

Previously, Dr. Khaled Al-Banaa joined the Power sector as the Director of the first regional GE Kuwait Technology Center in 2015. The GE Tech Center was the first of its kind in the region and Kuwait. In his role, Dr. Al-Banaa has overall responsibility for the establishing, commissioning and managing the first P&L facility in Kuwait for GE-Power that houses the Training Center, Tooling Distribution Center, and Engineering R&D Facilities and Laboratories.

Dr. Al-Banaa came from an R&D sector, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), where in 1994 he started his career as an Assistant Researcher. In 2005, he obtained his Ph.D. and upon his return to Kuwait, was promoted to Research Scientist in the Coastal Management Program where he assumed various roles of increasing responsibility and led several projects for KISR. Dr. Al-Banaa has participated in several national, regional, and international scientific committees. He has also represented Kuwait at the United Nations on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission as well as serving and participating in several international scientific committees. In 2013, he was named Program Manager of the Coastal Management Program at KISR.

Dr. Al-Banaa earned bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1993 and in 2005 he earned his MS./Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with an emphasis on Environmental Fluid Mechanics with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, New York, USA.

Eng. Haitham Al – Refaei joined Insha’a Holding Company as a Projects Manager in 2005. He held several positions since he joined; he was promoted to Chief Operation Officer in 2006. In 2008, he was promoted to Deputy Chief Executive Office. And in 2010 he became the Chief Executive Officer. Currently Eng. Al – Refaei is the chairman of EPO Gulf Co. in Kuwait, and board member of Global Mining Co. Oman also.

During his tenure at Insha’a, his working also a chairman of Building System Company.

Previously, he was working at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) from 1993 until 2005 between various positions. Till his last position as a senior Engineering (Projects Management) from Kuwait University in 2006, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ahliya University in Bahrain in 2008. His experience and expertise span over 20 years in the field of Engineering, Projects Management, and Business Administration.

Mr. Tareq Khalil is Energy and Automation expert with 16 years of experience in leading positions in Kuwait and GCC market covering different industries and market segments. Tareq started his career with Kharafi National group in the oil and gas sector, then he joined the Giant Swiss company ABB and worked his way to become the Automation Division Manager. He is now the Digital Leader and Industries Segment Director for Hitachi Energy in Kuwait. Tareq is an Electrical Engineer graduated from University of Jordan and has a degree in project management form the George Washington University and many certificates in Energy, automation and business management from intentional institutes.

He is also member of Jordanian and Kuwaiti Engineering Associations and a speaker of Tamilnadu Engineers Forum. He is also a regular industrial evaluator for engineering student projects at AU.

Hebah Abbas is a visionary leader in technology and construction, boasting over two decades of diverse expertise spanning from international telecom to strategic public educational initiatives.

Beginning her journey in the telecom sector, she successfully negotiated crucial regional deals and then transitioned to the public education sector, where she strives to enhance the quality of education in public schools in the State of Kuwait.

Currently serving as the chief specialist Electrical Engineer at the Ministry of Education in Kuwait and the Chairwoman of Sustainability Committee at the Kuwait Water Association.

As a Syracuse University alumna, Eng. Hebah Abbas seamlessly integrates her profound knowledge in telecom, education, construction, utilities, and sustainability.

Having enriched the private sector for 14 years, her current endeavors in the government sector are complemented by her voluntary contributions to NGOs in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Recognized for her vast contributions, she’s a member of the American Business Council (American Chamber AM-Cham) Kuwait, and Committee Member of the World Utilities Congress 2024.

Frequently gracing international conferences and seminars as a keynote speaker and a panellist.

Dr. Ali M. Khuraibet is a leading environmental expert with more than 30 years of professional experience spanning the oil and gas as well as nonoil sectors, with a distinguished career that combines academic excellence, national policy development, and international consultancy. In 1999, he was appointed by Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) to chair the national committee responsible for drafting and developing Kuwait’s first Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, a role entrusted to him in recognition of his extensive expertise in environmental assessments, higher education, and professional consultancy. His national-level contributions were further reinforced when he was contracted by Tony Blair Associates, led by the former UK Prime Minister, to author the environmental chapter of the Kuwait Vision 2035 Study, providing strategic environmental direction for the country’s long-term development. Internationally, Dr. Khuraibet has contributed through several assignments with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), particularly in the areas of climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Academically, he holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Impact Assessment and Sustainable Development from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, awarded in 1987, followed by a Ph.D. in the same discipline from the University of Aberdeen in 1990, and subsequently completed postdoctoral research fellowships in Environmental Sciences at the same institution in 1998 and 2003. Professionally, he has held senior academic and administrative positions, including serving as Head of the Environmental Health Department and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the College of Health Sciences in Kuwait, and as President of the National Committee for the Protection of the Marine Environment, which includes representatives from Equate Petrochemical Company, the Ministry of Health, ECO Environmental Consultants, and the Kuwait Dive Centre. In addition, he has played a key role in capacity building by training EPA employees on biodiversity with a particular focus on Kuwait’s marine ecosystems. Dr. Khuraibet’s fields of expertise encompass Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Sustainable Development, Environmental and HSE Management Systems, marine environment studies, desert ecology, marine fauna classification, occupational health and safety, waste management, risk assessment and management, biodiversity, and climate change. His professional achievements include certification as a Lead Auditor for approximately fifteen ISO standards, including ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 17025, ISO 22000, and ISO 20121, in addition to being a Certified Internal Auditor for ISO 31000 on Risk Management and ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility. Throughout his consultancy career, he has delivered environmental and HSE services to a wide range of major national, regional, and international organizations, including DuPont, Royal Boskalis, Mouchel, Petrofac, HoK, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Hyundai Heavy Industries, SKEC, SNC-Lavalin, UNAMI, UNDP, UNEP, PERSGA, ROPME, Kuwait Oil Company, KNPC, Equate, Joint Operations, and PIC. He has also contributed to regional dialogue and policy discussions by presenting a research paper at the International Conference on “The Future Vision of the Relationship Between Iraq and Kuwait,” organized by Kuwait’s National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee in collaboration with Kuwait University’s Centre for Futuristic and Strategic Studies.

Mr. Musaed M. Al-Arada is a senior engineering executive with over 30 years of experience in Kuwait’s oil and gas sector, having served at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC). He is currently the Manager of the Quality Assurance Group at KIPIC, where he leads reliability, inspection, corrosion, and engineering functions to ensure refinery asset integrity, safety, and operational excellence.

Mr. Al-Arada has played a key role in delivering major capital projects, including the USD 2.8 billion LNG Import Project, and is recognized for pioneering high-impact engineering solutions under critical operational conditions. His career reflects a strong blend of technical expertise and executive leadership, with a sustained focus on international standards, reliability excellence, and national talent development.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kuwait University and has received multiple national and international awards for engineering excellence and safety performance.

Eng. Abdullah Abu-Qumasha

• Director – Strategic Planning & Evaluation at Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Leading and directing the development and implementation of the organization strategy and overseeing the operations of three relevant departments.
• Strategic and annual planning and development.
• Performance monitoring and periodic evaluation.
• Alignment of subsidiaries objectives and performance.
• Development and upkeep of policies, procedures & processes.
• Holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from University of Manchester (2019 – 2021).
• Obtained his Bachelor degree in Architecture from University of Minnesota (1994 – 1999).

Dr. Manal Alhasawi

• Founder and managing partner of ThinkTank Strategy Consulting.
• Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Strategic Planning, a not-for-profit established in 2017.
• Advising government members on strategy development, implementation, and communication for change for 10+ years including recently Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences – KFAS, Dhaman Assurance, and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
• Selected as one of the most inspirational persons in Kuwait by Those Who Inspire international organization
• Selected as one of 60 Powerful female leaders by United Nations Women in 2018.
• Featured in the Kuwait Country report promoted by BBC-Macropolis in 2021 as one of the top 10 consulting industry leaders in Kuwait.

Farida Anany

Farida Anany is a highly respected executive in the banking and technology sectors, bringing over 28 years of progressive experience in digital transformation, consulting, and technology leadership. She currently serves as Executive Manager of Emerging Technologies at Warba Bank, where she leads pioneering initiatives that blend innovation, governance, and customer-centric digital evolution.

Before joining Warba Bank, Farida worked for Baker Tilly Kuwait for 20 years, concluding her career with the firm as a partner in assurance and consulting services.

Farida is currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Transformation at the University of Hull, UK, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Scrum Master Accredited Certification holder, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a Certified in Emerging Technologies (CET) professional, and a Certified in Risk Management expert, with multiple accreditations in digital strategy and transformation leadership.

Farida is a frequent guest speaker and advisor on topics including AI adoption, cybersecurity, and agile banking innovation. She mentors rising professionals and contributes actively to academic and professional communities, including partnerships between industry and academia.

With a strong belief in empowering future leaders, Farida’s role on the Industrial Advisory Board of AU’s College of Business reflects her dedication to aligning educational outcomes with evolving market needs, fostering innovation, and building digitally skilled business graduates.

Mr. Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly, currently the Deputy Head of Group Human Resources for the National Bank of Kuwait, has over 30 years’ experience across multiple geographies and industries, predominantly based in the Middle East, covering the wider region (Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan) as well as expansion and operations in the UK, the US, Europe, and several APAC countries.

He has worked, as a leader and as a consultant, in Oil & Gas, Engineering, Procurement & Construction, Retail, Telecoms, Family-Owned Conglomerates and Banking & Financial Services, including Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and high-profile Kuwait businesses such as MH Alshaya, Kharafi National, Alghanim Industries and Kuwait Financial Services Markaz.

Regionally and internationally his other significant roles were in Al Jaber Group and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in the UAE, and globally with Chiyoda Corporation, Japan and worldwide.

His consistent focus has been structuring organizations to deliver business results through their people and people systems. Peter is a Fellow of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, and has a Master’s in HR from the University of Westminster.