ConTech Star of the Year

Ahmed Mohamed Ali is a Geospatial Team Leader at Dubai Municipality, with more than 18 years of experience spanning geospatial engineering, construction technology, and digital transformation. Holding a BSc. in Surveying Engineering from University of Khartoum, an MSc. in Construction Project Management from Heriot Watt University, and currently pursuing an MSc. in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from Sheffield Hallam University, he combines strong engineering foundations with advanced data and AI-driven capabilities.

Throughout his career, Ahmed has played a leading role in modernising surveying and infrastructure workflows by integrating GIS, BIM, drones, satellite imagery, underground utility mapping, and machine learning into scalable, real-world solutions. He has led multidisciplinary teams delivering high-accuracy geospatial data for major infrastructure and urban development projects, directly supporting digital twin initiatives and smart city objectives.

Ahmed is a Certified Lead Auditor for ISO/IEC 42001 (Artificial Intelligence Management Systems), contributing to responsible AI governance and the structured adoption of AI within public-sector engineering environments. He also led the development of an Underground Utility Data Submission Standard, establishing a unified framework for 3D utility data quality, interoperability, and long-term asset management. He also led the introduction and practical implementation of robotic technologies in surveying operations.

Ammar Al Jamal is a Lead Manager – Digital Delivery & BIM at Trojan General Contracting, responsible for defining how digital, technology, and data-led delivery is governed, funded, and embedded as a core organisational capability.

Operating from the contractor side, his leadership spans the full construction lifecycle, from early coordination and mobilisation through live construction, validation, and digital handover. In this role, he provides leadership oversight and accountability for how digital delivery is planned, governed, and measured across the organisation.

Under his leadership, digital delivery evolved from isolated tools into an integrated, governed operating model supporting complex projects. Ammar shaped how BIM, reality capture, issue management, planning data, cost intelligence, and performance dashboards are structured into a unified management environment supporting executive decision-making, proactive risk control, and delivery confidence across projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Beyond technology deployment, Ammar institutionalised digital ways of working through formal SOPs, procurement strategies, and contractual requirements, ensuring scalability and consistent adoption. This strengthened collaboration between engineering, site, commercial, and management teams and positioned digital delivery as a strategic construction capability.

Through outcome-driven leadership, Ammar has delivered measurable improvements in efficiency, safety, quality, and governance, contributing to a sustained shift in how construction is managed.

Eslam Ebied has been a driving force behind Saudi Binladin Group’s (SBG) digital project delivery and operational transformation, consistently initiating and leading solutions that improve project performance.

As the initiator of the Manpower Application, he replaced fragmented, manual resource management with a centralised, real time platform that automates allocation, enhances planning accuracy, and gives management clear visibility over manpower across projects.

Building on this, he launched the MAS AI Agents program, introducing applied artificial intelligence into day-to-day operations to automate reporting, streamline communication, and support faster, data driven decisions. In addition to these major initiatives, he developed the internal procedures, ensuring they are clear, structured, and aligned with modern operational needs, improving consistency and enabling smoother adoption of digital workflows.

Eslam combines vision with execution: he identifies operational pain points, designs practical digital solutions, and brings stakeholders with him through clear communication and hands on support. His initiatives have delivered measurable efficiency gains and established him as a rising leader in digital transformation within our organisation.

As engineering manager of power and utilities Khaled Abdelaziz translated frontier construction technology into resilient, low-carbon power infrastructure that keeps bigger number of customers energised.

Over past years he has converted ambitious clauses into concrete outcomes: for instance, five power plants totalling 1.5 GW were delivered 4% under budget and 11 weeks ahead of schedule, returning $43m to the client while generating zero unresolved claims.

He has rigorous, empathetic contract leadership and fuses deep technical insight with commercial fluency, chairing risk-and-opportunity review that cut change-order cycles by 45%. Khaled’s early adoption of BIM-integrated NEC frameworks, digital dashboards and Advanced Work Packaging has raised productivity by 22% and given stakeholders live transparency.

Safety and sustainability sit at the core of every clause he negotiates, evidenced by 5 million LTI-free hours and a 15% embodied carbon reduction through contractual incentives.

Mohamed Elsayed has been instrumental in driving Saudi Binladin Group’s (SBG) digital transformation, architecting and implementing integrated ConTech solutions that bridge strategy with execution.

He led the development of the Nexus Platform, which seamlessly connects BIM, project controls, and field technologies - integrating tools like Primavera P6, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and reality capture platforms - to break down data silos and enable real-time, data-driven decision-making.

His efforts go beyond implementation - he has fostered a culture of digital adoption through tailored training and governance, significantly enhancing collaboration and efficiency across projects. Under his leadership, SBG achieved a 55% reduction in report generation time, 90% improvement in data accessibility, and widespread deployment of IoT and digital twin technologies.

We are nominating Mohamed for his ability to translate complex digital construction concepts into scalable, operational reality. His forward-thinking approach and measurable impact exemplify the innovative leadership shaping the future of construction.

Ronnet Closa is a leader in sustainability, environment, and engineering, recognised for driving transformative impact across complex projects in the UAE and MENA region. With more than 20 years of multidisciplinary experience in engineering, HSE, and sustainability management, Ronnet combines technical expertise with strategic leadership to deliver measurable outcomes that advance environmental, social, and governance objectives.

As Corporate Manager at Masri Engineering & Contracting, she has led innovative digital and sustainability initiatives, integrating BIM, energy modelling, Estidama, LEED, and BREEAM frameworks to optimise project delivery, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance operational efficiency. Ronnet’s leadership has directly contributed to award-winning projects, earning recognition from the Emirates Green Building Council and other industry authorities.

Beyond project execution, Ronnet champions a culture of innovation and capability development, mentoring teams and embedding ESG-driven practices across organisations. She has played a pivotal role in advancing national development goals through sustainable infrastructure growth, workforce development, and strengthened local supply chains.

Ronnet is results-driven, forward-thinking, and committed to sustainable excellence. Her strategic vision, technical mastery, and measurable impact position her as a transformative force in the engineering and sustainability sector.

Suzanne Jdid is a civil and structural engineer with more than 19 years of experience across design, supervision, contracting, and BIM delivery. She holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and is recognised for applying construction technology with a strong execution focus and measurable business impact.

After building extensive experience on complex projects with international firms, Suzanne made a decisive career move in 2024 by resigning from her role as Civil and Architectural Manager on the New American Embassy Compound in Beirut to join CS Engineering and Contracting. Her objective was to embed digital capability at the core of a growing engineering and contracting practice.

Over the past 15 months, she has led the expansion of CS’s engineering and BIM services, securing and delivering more than 10 projects across the MENA region and the United States. She introduced structured BIM standards, execution-focused workflows, and digital documentation systems that improved coordination, quality, and delivery reliability.

By leveraging remote delivery and time-zone coordination, she enabled responsive, cost-effective support for international clients without increasing overhead.

Suzanne consistently demonstrates how construction technology, when guided by engineering judgment and leadership, delivers measurable commercial value while fostering a collaborative, human-centred team culture.

As the PMO Manager representing Surbana Jurong, Udhayakumar Ramasamy leads the P3M3 implementation for Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) – Project and Technical Affairs Department. He drove a measurable transformation of governance across a multi-billion SAR airport development portfolio.

Udhayakumar led the maturity journey from P3M3 Level-1 in 2023 to Level-3 by October 2025, delivering quantifiable improvements across project governance, monitoring and control, risk, stakeholder, resource, and financial management, supported by digital integration.

Under his leadership, portfolio governance was standardised across the department through the development and implementation of stage-gate procedures, governance manuals, and MATARAT-aligned frameworks. He headed the implementation of SAP, Aconex, and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), enabling real-time portfolio visibility, audit readiness, and data-driven decision-making, resulting 40% reduction in processing cycle times and continuous transparency through always-available digital records.

Udhayakumar directly managed 36 projects in 2024, ensuring consistent business case alignment, stage-gate evaluations, and budget reallocations in coordination with JEDCO Finance. He also led internal and external audits, including ISO readiness, achieving 96% conformance in 2025 through standardised processes and procedure.