ConTech Leader of the Year

Ahmed Gadelhak is a visionary technology executive with a proven track record of driving digital transformation and leveraging emerging technologies to create business value. With an extensive background in enterprise technology, digital strategy, and operational execution, Ahmed has led groundbreaking initiatives in the construction sector, positioning SBG at the forefront of digital innovation.

Before joining SBG, Ahmed was an executive at Oracle, where he played a key role in implementing enterprise solutions, cloud strategies, and data analytics for large-scale projects, managing a $23m customer base and delivering transformative results.

At SBG, Ahmed has orchestrated an ambitious digital transformation strategy, integrating Digital Twin technology, AI-driven automation, IoT-powered monitoring, blockchain-based procurement, and advanced document management platforms.

His leadership has streamlined operations, optimised project efficiency, and enhanced lifecycle management, ensuring that SBG remains a digital leader in construction technology.

Ashraf is a digital transformation leader in construction technology (ConTech), spearheading BIM-driven execution on mega projects exceeding $7bn. With more than 38 years of expertise, he has led groundbreaking initiatives, including:

• Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum ($1.5bn) – Integrating Blockchain and AI-powered HSSE solutions to enhance safety and environment.
• Zayed International Airport ($5bn+) – Leading BIM implementation for one of the world’s largest airport expansions, optimizing digital coordination.
• ADNOC HQ – UAE’s First Digital Twin – Driving BIM strategies to pioneer real-time asset management and operational intelligence.

As a Technical Director & Digital Transformation Consultant, Ashraf has championed BIM, AI, and Blockchain to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and sustainability. His innovative digital workflows bridge design, engineering, and execution, setting new industry benchmarks.

A mentor and industry speaker, he shares expertise on BIM, Innovation, and value engineering, shaping the future of ConTech. His leadership continues to drive digital excellence, ensuring construction evolves with cutting-edge technology.

David Watkins, a pioneering real estate and infrastructure leader with over 30 years of global experience, serves as the Chief Project Development Officer at Osool Integrated Real Estate Co. His role involves overseeing a diversified portfolio of iconic commercial, residential, and retail assets, and he has been instrumental in driving Osool's mission to deliver world-class property solutions through advanced construction technologies, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable best practices.

In this pivotal role, David drives Osool’s mission to deliver world-class property solutions by championing advanced construction technologies, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable best practices.

Under his leadership, Osool embraces digital twin frameworks and digitised construction methodologies, streamlining project lifecycles, optimising costs, and enhancing tenant and stakeholder experiences. These initiatives align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification and urban development.

A firm believer in operational excellence and long-term value creation, David fosters a culture of collaboration, ensuring diverse teams work cohesively to transform the Kingdom’s real estate landscape.

By integrating real-time analytics, innovative reporting systems, and ESG principles, he positions Osool as a trendsetter, defining new benchmarks for quality, trust, and innovation in the built environment. This legacy of forward-thinking leadership cements David as a true ConTech visionary.

Hichem Troudi is a transformative leader and Digital Practice Director at KEO International Consultants, driving innovation across the Middle East construction sector thanks to his academic engineering research background supported by more than 17 years of experience delivering iconic mega/giga-projects across multiple sectors.

In addition to his Design Consultancy and Construction Management expertise, he has pioneered groundbreaking strategic and organisational digital initiatives where Hichem’s central role involved leading successful strategies implementation that enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes and integrate cutting-edge technologies into project delivery.

His visionary approach and hands-on involvement in these initiatives continue to set industry benchmarks for integrating technology and data-driven methodologies, solidifying his reputation as an award-winning leader in the AEC industry digitalisation.

Hichem has initiated, authored, and implemented different innovational and creative processes within the AECO industry such as BIM and Project Controls integration, unmodeled BIM, Automated IPA, and much more thanks to his wide expertise in information system solutions & diversified hands-on capabilities in addition to the high sense of creativity, quality focus and organisational leadership.

Hichem is additionally an events speaker, instructor, tutor for design and construction professionals, and an active member of mentoring programs focusing on AECO digitalisation advisory and implementation.

Ismail Azam is a leader in AI-driven construction technology, driving automation and data intelligence across NEOM’s giga-projects. As the Acting Director of Construction Technology and Applications, he oversees all NEOM-wide PMIS systems, including Aconex, Primavera P6, Unifier, and GIS platforms, while leading the development of Adassa, NEOM’s largest AI-powered platform for progress tracking, geospatial intelligence, and automated decision-making.

Under his leadership, Adassa has introduced AI-driven construction progress tracking, generative AI decision support, and computer vision models for earthworks, schedule and commercial management, and municipality operations. He's also helped NEOM become a centre of excellence for drone scanning, 2D/3D/4D modelling, and satellite-based analytics.

Ismail has replaced manual, time-intensive workflows, generating over nine figures in annual savings and enabling real-time construction monitoring across 70+ locations.

Before NEOM, Ismail held pivotal product management leadership roles at Microsoft and New Relic, led a Stanford-backed startup, and taught credited courses at UC Berkeley. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Data Science from Harvard University.

His expertise in AI, geospatial intelligence, and product innovation is redefining how automation, data, and construction technology converge to build smarter, more efficient, and scalable infrastructure solutions for NEOM and the global built environment.

Kareem Ruhi, the Regional Information Officer (RIO) for the Middle East & South Asia, oversees Digital Engineering and IS/IT, continuously driving the organisation toward digital excellence. He is a dynamic leader with a passion for technology and innovation.

Known for his visionary approach and collaborative spirit, Kareem has been a driving force in transforming how Egis Group harnesses technology to achieve new heights. His journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a commitment to sustainability, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on the industry.

Kareem Ruhi has always been tech-savvy, with a deep-seated passion for technology that has driven his career. Holding a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Kareem has over 16 years of experience in AV/EarlIT, SMART, and Building Services & Project Management. His career began with delivering multidisciplinary engineering projects, where he introduced groundbreaking design automation and BIM adoption, showcasing his innovative mindset from the outset.

Transitioning to AV/IT & Security engineering, Kareem leads a team to implement advanced technology infrastructures for mega projects, including smart buildings, further solidifying his reputation as a technological pioneer.

Dr. Marwan Abu Ebeid is a leading expert in driving digital transformation in the construction industry. With his innovative use of technologies like IoT and blockchain integration, Marwan has made a global impact on industry enterprise levels, expense tracking, innovation, and automation, leading to unprecedented growth and advancement.

He has spearheaded major construction projects, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Presidential Palace. In recognition of his work, he received the Excellence and Creative Engineering Award in UAE and authored two chapters of the National Smart Construction Guidelines for the entire UAE Government.

As a keynote speaker at over 20 global events, Marwan has shared his expertise and paved the way for other companies to use ground-breaking technology in their construction processes. He serves as a founding member of the UK-funded Center of Excellence research centre and on the board of the Society of Engineers in UAE – Digital Engineering Chapter, as well as an Advisory Board Member for the American University of Sharjah.

Marwan holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Construction Project Management from Heriot Watt University, a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kharkiv National University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, and certificates in Driving Digital Strategy from Harvard University and Digital Transformation from MIT. Join the digital revolution with Marwan Abu Ebeid.

Oliver Kallenborn stands as a pioneering force in construction technology, uniquely combining computational biology expertise with construction innovation. As Regional Data Analytics and Assurance Director, he has transformed project management through the implementation of the Advanced Analytics Control Centre (AACC) and innovative "Co-pilot model".

His leadership has grown a high-performing team from one to 110 professionals in Bangalore within 2.5 years, while chairing the Global Data Intelligence Technical Network of 2,000 specialists.

His groundbreaking implementations include AI-driven project analysis, virtual reality applications for project visualisation, and automated project control systems. Oliver's "hybrid roles through digital dexterity" concept has revolutionised workforce development, ensuring team members possess both traditional and technological expertise.

His standardised processes have enabled consistent quality across projects while maintaining flexibility for specific requirements.

Under his leadership, the organisation has achieved significant improvements in project delivery times and cost efficiency through automated systems. His innovative approach combines virtual reality, AI chatbots, and advanced analytics, creating an immersive project management environment.

This comprehensive transformation has established new benchmarks for the construction industry, influencing practices and standards across the sector.

Roger Wahl, as Group CTO of Innovo, is a driving force behind digital transformation at the business. Roger is leading the integration of cutting-edge technologies across finance, procurement, human capital management, and project operations.

Under his leadership, Innovo has successfully implemented Oracle Fusion for financial processes, SAP SuccessFactors for HR management, and Autodesk Construction Cloud for enhanced project execution. His strategic foresight also introduced sustainability-driven innovations, such as AI-powered 3D Reality Capture Digital Twin for project monitoring, Karbonwise for carbon accounting, and iEnergy for energy optimisation.

A significant milestone under Roger’s leadership is the establishment of Innovo’s Technology Solutions, a dedicated technology business that scales proprietary innovations and startups, delivering advancements in modular data centres, smart city technologies, and green energy solutions.

His commitment to fostering an innovation-driven culture is evident through initiatives such as cybersecurity training, AI adoption programs, and structured digital engagement across the organisation.

Roger’s leadership has delivered tangible results, including productivity increases, cost reductions, and lower carbon emissions, positioning Innovo as a global pioneer in construction technology and sustainability. His strategic execution of digital transformation has significantly improved project visibility, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Over the past 24 months, under his leadership, Rua Al Madinah (RUA) has launched a fully integrated GIS enterprise system, including a centralised geodatabase that consolidates diverse data sources such as master plans and infrastructure layouts into a single, accessible platform. Tamer led the establishment of the BIM function, which resulted in a unified system that operates across all project stages and various development levels.

Through his pioneering application of various Reality Capture technologies, he achieved precise digital records of site progress. Tamer shared leadership of the PMIS implementation which facilitated seamless project planning and execution across multidisciplinary teams. These initiatives have delivered measurable results, including a 60% improvement in workflow efficiency, a 20% reduction in operational costs, and enhanced ESG outcomes.

Tamer’s leadership and track record of success make him a role model for leveraging digital innovation to enhance efficiency, quality, and sustainability in the built environment.