Keynote Speakers

Dr. habil. Dmitry Ivanov

Berlin School of Economics and Law
Artificial Intelligence-enabled viable supply chains

Dr. habil. Dmitry Ivanov is a Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin), where he leads the Digital-AI Supply Chain Lab. He is internationally recognised as one of the foremost scholars in supply chain resilience, viability, and the ripple effect of disruptions, as well as in digital supply chain twins and Industry 4.0/5.0 systems.

Over his career, he has authored more than 500 scientific publications, including high-impact journal articles, books, book chapters, and conference papers, positioning him among the most prolific and influential researchers in his field. His work has shaped key theoretical frameworks, especially regarding viable supply chain design, stress-testing, adaptive networks, and AI-enabled decision support systems.

Ivanov has served in leadership roles in major European research projects and international collaborations. His contributions include conceptualising and modelling resilient multi-plant networks and advancing data-driven methodologies for managing disruptions. His research has been widely adopted both in academia and in industry practice, influencing supply chain strategies globally. He is a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences, a member of scientific committees, and an active collaborator with universities and research centres worldwide. His seminal books, most notably Introduction to Supply Chain Resilience and Global Supply Chain and Operations Management, are widely used in graduate programmes and professional training.

Today, his work continues to advance the frontier of supply chain science, with particular emphasis on digital twins, AI-supported resilience analytics, network viability, and the strategic management of complex, disruption-prone supply systems.

Dr. Yogesh K. Dwivedi

Distinguished Professor, Dept of Information Systems & Operations Management

Director, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Finance and Digital Economy

KFUPM Business School (KBS)
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dharan, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Yogesh K. Dwivedi is a Riyad Bank Chair Professor of Digital Business in the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management (ISOM) and the Acting Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Finance and Digital Economy (IRC-FDE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he holds an Honorary Professorship at the School of Management, Swansea University, UK, where he previously served as a Personal Chair and Professor of Digital Marketing and Innovation.

During his 18-year tenure at Swansea University, he undertook several significant leadership roles, including Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of Department, Research Director, and University Dean of REF Environment. Dr. Dwivedi has successfully supervised over 25 Ph.D. students and examined more than 100 doctoral theses globally. He earned his Ph.D. from Brunel University of London, UK, and was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorate) from “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania. His research interests lie at the intersection of Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management, with a particular emphasis on the adoption and diffusion of emerging digital technologies and innovations. His current research focuses on areas such as generative artificial intelligence, digital government, digital and social media marketing, and their impact on organizations and society, particularly within the context of emerging markets.

Dr. Abul Fazal Arif

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Director, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Intelligent Manufacturing & Robotics,

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dharan, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Abul Fazal Muhammad Arif is a distinguished academic and researcher currently serving as the Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Intelligent Manufacturing & Robotics and Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He obtained his M.S. (1988) and Ph.D. (1991) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, USA.

Dr. Arif has built an extensive academic and research career spanning several decades, with significant contributions to advanced manufacturing, computational mechanics, and materials engineering. His research focuses on areas such as finite element modeling, composite materials, laser applications, and advanced simulation techniques. He has authored over 250 scholarly publications and has received thousands of citations, reflecting his strong impact in the field.

At KFUPM, he plays a key leadership role in advancing interdisciplinary research in intelligent manufacturing and robotics, contributing to the university’s strategic vision of innovation and industrial transformation. His work supports the development of cutting-edge technologies aligned with Industry 4.0, automation, and smart manufacturing systems. Dr. Arif is also widely recognized for his excellence in teaching and research, having received prestigious institutional awards, including the KFUPM Distinguished Teacher Award and Distinguished Researcher Award.

Through his academic leadership, research excellence, and mentorship, Dr. Arif continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of mechanical engineering and intelligent manufacturing systems at both national and international levels.

Dr. Nimir Elbashir

Professor, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar

Dr. Elbashir is a professor at the Chemical Engineering Department of the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) since August 2025. He was the director of Texas A&M University’s Gas and Fuels Research Center from 2015-2025 and a professor in the Chemical Engineering Program at Texas A&M University at Qatar since 2008 (adjunct from August 2025). He has extensive research and teaching experience from industry and academia (e.g., BASF R&D Catalysts, Engelhard and SABIC).

His research focuses on designing advanced reactors, catalysts for chemical and environmental processes, and is specialized in designing novel systems in sustainable gas-to-liquid and gas-to-carbon material, including CO2 utilization and decarbonization. He has established several unique global research collaboration models between academia and industry. He holds several granted patents and hundreds of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, technical industry reports, and others.

He has been recognized by awards from Qatar Foundation, BASF Corp., Texas A&M University, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Shell, and others. Dr. Elbashir became a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering in August 2023 and was elected as a member of the Sudan National Academy of Sciences (SNAS) in 2022.

Dr. Zafar Said Khan

Distinguished Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE

Dr. Zafar Said is an associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UAE University. He specializes in Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, AI, and more, supporting SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 13 on clean energy, innovation, sustainable cities, and climate action. He has published several research articles, including in Progress in Energy and Combustion, Physics Reports, Advanced Energy Materials, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Nano Energy, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, several books, book chapters and conference papers), with about 32,000+ citations and an H-index of 101, 3 US patents granted & 2 Indian Patents. As per Web of Science, he has several highly cited papers.

He is also ranked in the World’s Top 2% Scientists 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Elsevier BV and Stanford University) in the field of Energy. He has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Best Academic Research at the 13th Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport, 2024, and First Place in Scientific Research at the Excellence and Creative Engineering Award, 2023, by the Society of Engineers, UAE. He also won the Research and Innovation Award from the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for 2022 and 2023, and the Rising Star Science Star award by Research.com for three consecutive years.

His accolades include the Sharjah Islamic Bank Award for Distinguished Researchers and multiple Faculty Annual Incentive Research Awards. Dr. Said is a sought-after plenary and keynote speaker at international conferences.