Johnson Fernandes is a seasoned QHSE professional with over three decades of experience in the industrial gases and chemical sectors. Currently serving as the Regional Safety and Quality Manager at Air Products Middle East, he leads safety, quality, and compliance initiatives across multiple facilities in the region. Since joining Air Products in 2001, Johnson has been instrumental in implementing robust safety programs, conducting audits, and driving continuous improvement in Package gases operations. His career spans key roles in plant management, production, and engineering with multinational companies including Dow Chemicals and Praxair. Johnson holds a BS in Engineering Technology, along with diplomas in Electrical Engineering and Refrigeration & Air Conditioning. He is NEBOSH-certified and a trained Lead Auditor for Quality Management Systems. Known for his hands-on leadership and commitment to operational excellence, Johnson brings deep expertise in process safety, ISO standards, and regulatory compliance. He is fluent in five languages and actively contributes to regional safety forums and training programs.

Mr. AlRasheed has been instrumental in driving significant organizational enhancements at GASAL. His key achievements include streamlining and strengthening the Integrated Management System (IMS) and spearheading a comprehensive road safety program. Furthermore, he led the successful introduction of key tools to reinforce the safety culture and performance, such as Stop Work Authority (SWA), the 'Make a Difference' campaign, suggestion and complaint mechanisms, and internal recognition programs, alongside critical digitalization initiatives. He remains deeply committed to advancing leadership, operational excellence, and a robust safety culture within the industrial gases sector.

Dynamic chemical engineer and operations leader with over a decade of progressive experience in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Currently serving as Operations Director at SOAL, overseeing strategic operations, process optimization, and organizational performance.

Combines strong technical expertise with a results-driven management approach, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety across all operational areas. Known for developing effective teams, streamlining workflows, and implementing innovative solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability.

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Fahad Ali Al Ansari joined Gasal in 2023 as the Chief Executive Officer, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in Qatar’s energy sector across technical, commercial, marketing and executive leadership roles.

Prior to joining Gasal, Fahad held senior positions at QatarEnergy, RasGas (now QatarEnergy LNG) and the Ministry of Electricity and Water. Throughout his career, he has led both commercial and marketing functions, in addition to managing major capital projects across Qatar where his role included project management, development, maintenance, continuous improvement initiatives while embedding quality, health, safety and environmental standards into daily operations.

Within Gasal, he provides strategic leadership, ensuring the company’s growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. Committed to upholding the company’s core values, he fosters a culture of safety, integrity, innovation and efficiency while actively engaging with shareholders and stakeholders, aligning corporate strategy and driving business excellence.

Fahad has also served on the Boards of Directors of key organisations in the petrochemical, industrial, and energy sectors, holding positions such as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Member.

He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and has completed executive training programmes from renowned global academic institutions including Harvard University and INSEAD.

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Eng. Najwa Nooman is the Quality Manager at Buzwair Scientific and Technical Gases, with over 3.5 years of specialized experience in analytical quality control and assurance of high-purity and specialty gases. She oversees compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 17025, and ISO 17034, advancing calibration gas traceability, risk-based quality systems, and validation protocols that ensure gas integrity and reliability for petrochemical, medical, scientific and research and development applications.

Ali Alzuwayyid is the KSA Director of HSSE, IMS & Risk Management at Air Liquide, bringing over 14 years of experience in the industrial gases industry across operations, procurement, and commercial . He has led major transformation initiatives improving safety, efficiency, and compliance across multiple sites in Saudi Arabia. Ali holds an MBA and several professional certifications, including PMP |CIPM |CIPP |NEBOSH Certification in IGC,PSM & Safety Leadership Excellence |Six Sigma. He is passionate about leadership, safety culture, and operational excellence within the Middle East’s industrial gases sector.

Elias Nasr is a highly accomplished executive, currently serving gas Chief Operating Officer (COO) at GASAL QSC (JV of Air Liquide, Qatar Energy and QIMC).He is an expert in the industrial gas sector, responsible for Primary production operations, Bulk and On Site Operations, maintenance, and project execution from concept to commissioning. With over 15 years at Air Liquide Group, he has led many strategic initiatives, including the Smart Innovative Operation(SIO)and digital transformation across the Africa, Middle East, and India regions. As an Electrical and Electronic Engineer with expertise in smart manufacturing, his technical background includes extensive experience commissioning large-scale ASU and HYCO units.

Accomplished executive with over four decades of international experience across industrial, healthcare, and engineering sectors. Currently serving as Chairman of the Middle East Gases Association. Proven track record in strategic leadership, acquisitions, and market expansion with a consistent ability to deliver sustainable growth in competitive environments. Recognized for building robust operations and high-performing teams across diverse cultural and regulatory landscapes.  Worked and lived across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Long-term residencies in France, Lebanon, Turkey, and the UAE. Operational exposure includes the USA, Canada, Japan, India, and multiple African and GCC countries.

Prof. MohammadAbu Zahra is a global expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS),decarbonization and clean energy, with over 20 years of experience in research,industry, and policy development. He currently serves as the Chief Regionaloffice-MEA at the Global CCS Institute, where he leads efforts to acceleratethe deployment of large-scale CCUS projects and supports governments andindustries in developing carbon management strategies.  

Prof. Abu Zahrais also a member of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the EnergyTransition (UN CEET), an independent advisory body to the UN Secretary-Generalthat provides technical expertise to advance global net-zero goals. Hiscontributions to the UN CEET reflect his commitment to shaping internationalpolicies on carbon management and sustainable energy solutions.  

Prior to joiningthe Global CCS Institute, Prof. Abu Zahra served as a faculty member at MasdarInstitute and Khalifa University from 2011 to 2022, where he established thefirst regional research group dedicated to CO₂ capture and co-founded the RICHCenter (Research and Innovation Center on CO₂ and Hydrogen), amultidisciplinary hub for advancing carbon and hydrogen technologies. Duringhis academic tenure, he supervised over 30 MSc and PhD students, published morethan 150 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and technical papers, anddelivered over 250 presentations at both local and international conferences.His work significantly advanced CCUS technologies and established this CCUSresearch in the region. In addition to his academic contributions, Prof. AbuZahra also served as Carbon Capture Project Manager at the IEA Greenhouse GasR&D Programme (IEAGHG) and as a Senior Process Engineer at TNO, where hewas actively involved in pioneering carbon capture projects and integratedenergy systems.

Prof. Abu Zahraholds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University ofJordan, a Master’s in Process Design and Development from the University ofTwente, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering-Process and Energy from DelftUniversity of Technology.  

A frequent speaker at global energy summits, Prof.Abu Zahra actively engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and researchersto drive the adoption of CCUS technologies as a critical tool for climatechange mitigation. His expertise continues to shape the future of carbonmanagement in the region and globally, supporting the transition toward alow-carbon economy.

Prof. Lourdes F. Vegais Full Professor of Chemical Engineering, Director and Founder of the Researchand Innovation Center on CO₂ and Hydrogen (RICH Center) and Theme Lead onEnergy and Hydrogen at the Research and Innovation Center for Graphene and 2DMaterials (RIC2D), at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE. She has built hercareer across academia and industry in the USA, Spain, and the UAE. With 300+publications and 7 patents under exploitation, she is internationallyrecognized for translating fundamental science into applied solutions in cleanenergy and sustainable technologies, including CO₂ capture and utilization,hydrogen, clean fuels, sustainable cooling, and nanomaterials. She hassuccessfully led several large industrial-academic consortia related to theseareas, including SOST-CO2 with 14 companies and 30 academic institutionsfocused on last scale industrial applications of CO₂. She hasreceived major awards, including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for ScientificDistinguishment, and is a Fellow of AIChE and Academician of the Royal Academyof Science of Spain, and serves on several international scientific advisoryand company boards.

DrDimitrios is currently the Group Vice President of ESG & Sustainability atEMSTEEL, previously the Group CEO Advisor. He has +20 years of experience ondelivering decarbonization and energy transition impact, with extensivecross-sectoral expertise in hydrogen, green steel, fertilizers andpetrochemicals. He is known for executing complex, high-impact mandates acrossglobal markets, driving bold sustainability agendas and pioneeringfirst-of-a-kind ESG solutions across sectors. Previous managerial roles includeADNOC HQ, where he led the merger and asset management of a fertilizers JV, andhydrogen business development roles where he has led multiple strategicpartnership projects with international and domestic players in the space ofhydrogen. He is a Certified Chair for advisory boards, member of the advisoryboard of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in KhalifaUniversity. Prior to his tenure in the UAE, he held management consulting andengineering roles in NexantECA and Johnson Matthey UK. Dr Dimitrios has a PhDfrom Imperial College and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.

Elie Adaimy is heading Business Development, Technology, and Innovation at Gulf Cryo Group, the Middle East’s leading manufacturer for industrial, medical, specialty gases and related services, present across 10 countries in the region. Elie is managing the business activities and leading the development of Group Sustainability initiatives and gas-related business solutions including green projects as decarbonizing industries through CCUS as carbon capture, CO2 re-use in industrial applications, H2 solutions and clean mobility.

Elie has started his career within Air Liquide Group and has developed over two decades of extensive multidisciplinary experience in the industrial gas business in

South Europe, Middle East, India, North & Sub-Saharan Africa. He has developed a solid transversal expertise and know-how in a wide range of process industries as power, water, environment, metallurgy, mining, O&G, F&B and healthcare.

Elie holds a master’s degree in Industrial engineering, and currently chairing Hydrogen WG in MEGA, and CCUS WG in IRENA.

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Broad experience working for Linde Plc in multiple fields such as Quality, Safety, Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance, Operations. Gained an in-depth understanding of the pharmaceutical industries at production, quality and regulatory aspects. A strong academic background and excellent analytical skills are allied to a passion for growth and strong team-working spirit.

With a career spanning nearly two decades, Anna Spector has progressed from technical engineering roles to senior leadership positions within the global Oil & Gas sector. Starting as an Engineer-Trainee in the U.S., she gained deep technical expertise through early roles in pipeline simulation and process design across the U.S., China and Russia.

Since joining Linde in 2011, she has led complex, multinational engineering projects, managed cross-functional teams, and successfully transitioned into strategic business development. As Oil & Gas Business Development Manager in Russia and later for Eastern Europe and the Middle East, she spearheaded market expansion efforts and introduced innovative technologies across the region.

Currently based in Saudi Arabia, she leads Linde’s Oil & Gas operations across the Middle East. In this role, she focuses on growing the business, building strong customer relationships, and introducing advanced gas technologies. Her international experience and ability to connect technical solutions with business goals have been key to driving success in the region.

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• Chemical Engineer by qualification

• 45+ years in the Industrial Gases Industry ( BOC India, INOX and Praxair)

• Held senior position in Plant Operation and Safety Management that include onsite and merchant ASUs, HYCO, Packaged Gases, Specialty Gases, Distribution fleet management and Customer Engineering Services.  Leading ASU Project Start Up and Commissioning in overseas such as Turkey and Srilanka. A Six Sigma Black Belt and expert in Process Mapping, driving Productivity and Cost Control through the organization. Led Sustainability and Zero Waste Program for the Asia region in one of the MNCs

• Currently managing the activities and programs of  AIGA as Secretary General since 2014

• A member of International Harmonization Council and IOMA Global Committee

Rich Gottwald has served as the President & CEO of the Compressed Gas Association since 2018. The Compressed Gas Association is dedicated to developing and promoting safety standards and safe practices in the industrial, medical and food gases industry. More recently CGA has focused its efforts on hydrogen as it has moved from a chemical process component to an energy carrier with the potential to upend society’s reliance on carbon-based fuels. Before joining CGA, Rich held senior management positions in several trade associations in the chemicals and plastics sectors. He began his career as an engineer with Dow Chemical. Rich holds a degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). He lives in Washington, DC.

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Philip Brickell is Executive Director of the International Oxygen Manufacturers Association (IOMA). He is an experienced Chartered Chemical Engineer, Chartered Scientist, Fellow of the IChemE and industry executive with over thirty-five years of experience in the industrial and medical gases industry, strong expertise and a deep understanding of the industrial and medical gas business and industry. Experienced with working with senior executives and company owners in a range of different companies in the industry as well as their technical experts, he has had extensive exposure to different company and country cultures.

After graduating from the University of Nottingham in the UK with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he initially worked in the petrochemical contracting industry and then joined BOC as a project engineer. He subsequently held various roles covering engineering, project management, operations, and logistics in the compressed, special gases and semi-conductor gases businesses. As Global Safety Director for BOC he was closely involved in the integration of the safety, health, environment, quality and security functions when BOC was acquired by the Linde Group and became Head of SHEQ for Linde’s European operations. In the course of these roles, he lived and worked for extended periods in Asia, the USA, mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.

From 2010 to 2018, Philip was General Secretary of the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA), responsible for its councils and technical working groups, relations with Members and other Associations and Institutions and the activities of EIGA delegations concerning all international meetings and works.

Increasing the influence of the Association, driving member engagement and dealing

with the major challenges of Covid-19, Brexit and the changing energy situation have

been the hallmarks of Ellen Daniel’s leadership of the BCGA (British Compressed

Gases Association).

Ellen’s work has included a major digital innovation drive, a focus on STEM and

creating new opportunities for inclusivity, as well as progressing BCGA’s major

public health campaign on nitrous oxide, which ultimately led to the Government

banning the gas in all but essential circumstances last year.

This year (2025) Ellen was named in the Trade Association Forum’s Women In

Trade Associations Powerlist, and in Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35.

Chris Street is the Global Sales Director at Luxfer Gas Cylinders, leading worldwide sales of Luxfer products from the UK. A Mechanical Engineering graduate (1986), Chris began his career at Air Products through the Graduate CDP program, transitioning from engineering into specialty gas sales. His international experience expanded through engineering contracting roles in China and Korea within the iron and steel sector, where he also earned an MBA focused on the strategic importance of the emerging Chinese market.

In 1998, Chris joined Calgaz, part of Air Liquide, driving growth across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In 2006, he acquired Scientific and Technical Gases (StG), transforming it into a global leader in the calibration gas industry. After selling StG to Air Liquide in 2014, he continued with the business until 2023.

Chris was elected President of the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA), reflecting his leadership and influence in the industry. He is married, with four children and three grandchildren, and brings decades of global experience, strategic insight, and entrepreneurial success to his current role.

Philippe holds a PhD in chemistry.

He has served industry for three decades ; first industry at large on safety and environmental topics, later advocating on behalf of the chemical and gases industry in Belgium, and now serving the European industrial and medical gases sector.

At EIGA, he is the General Secretary.