Arabian Gulf Conference at Harvard 2025

Conference Description

The Arabian Gulf Conference at Harvard 2025, organized by Harvard Arabian Gulf Student Association (HAGSA), will take place from May 1-3, 2025 on the Harvard University campus. Designed to spark meaningful conversations, drive innovation, and encourage collaboration among professionals, students, subject matter experts and industry leaders from the region and beyond. With the theme “Honoring Heritage, Inspiring Innovation,” the conference celebrates the region’s cultural and historical while tackling modern challenges in Entrepreneurship & Investment, Non-Profit & Public Policy, Science & Technology, Law, Healthcare, Sports and Arts & Culture.

The conference aims to establish itself as a leading annual forum to delve into conversations around the Arabian Gulf at Harvard, attracting top-tier speakers and stakeholders committed to shaping the region’s future. Beyond the event, HAGSA seeks to build stronger ties between Harvard and the region and create a sustained intellectual and professional network. Another key objective is to reshape global perceptions of the Arabian Gulf, showcasing its contributions to innovation, economic development, and cultural diplomacy.

Target Audience

This conference brings together subject matter experts, professionals, and trainees from across the Boston area, alongside Harvard faculty, students, and scholars. We also welcome faculty members and academics from other institutions in the region.

While the conference highlights innovations and advancements in GCC countries, our primary goal is to bridge the gap between Harvard and the GCC.

Because of this, individuals from outside the GCC are a key priority, as we seek to engage a broader audience in discussions on the region's contributions to global innovation. By fostering cross-cultural dialogue, we aim to create a dynamic space for meaningful exchange and collaboration.

Speakers at The Arabian Gulf Conference at Harvard 2025

  • HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal

    Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies

  • H.E. Al Zain Al Sabah

    Ambassador of Kuwait to the US

  • Dr. David Bates

    Professor of Medicine

  • Prof. Tahany Aleisa

    Saudi Arabian Cultural Attaché to North and South America, formerly the Cultural Attaché to Italy, Greece and Malta

  • Prof. Roberto Fabbri

    Architect and Associate Professor, Zayed University

  • Mrs. Cecelia Doucette

    Director, Massachusetts for Safe Technology

  • H.E. Maryam Bin Theneya

    Second Speaker to the national council of the UAE

  • Eng. Aiman Mufti

    Senior advisor to HRH the Saudi minister of energy

  • Dr. Mohammed AlQahtani

    Pioneer in Liver and Multi-Organ Transplant Surgery; Executive Director, Transplant Center of Excellence, KFSH-D

  • Dr. Feras Khaliel

    Pioneer in Robotic Heart Surgery; Chairman of Cardiac Surgery, KFSHRC

  • Mr. Ahmad AbdulRazzaq Bindawood

    CEO, BinDawood Holding; Innovator in Retail and Consumer Experience

  • Dr. Abdulrazaq Al-Jazairi

    Deputy Executive Director, Research & Innovation

  • Mrs. Lama Alfozan

    Vice president of the Saudi athlete committee under the Saudi Olympic para Olympic committee

  • Mayor Mike Levesque

    Former U.S. Commissioner for Employment Policy and Mayor of West Warwick; International Consultant

  • Mr. Ransel Potter

    Founder and Managing Partner of C3

  • Mr. Roger Conley Wood

    CEO , (ART+DATA)

  • Dr. Heitham Hassoun

    Chief Executive, International Professor of Surgery- Cedars-Sinai

  • Mr. Majed M. Al Tahan

    Founder & CEO, IACO, Co-Founder & MD, Danube Online

  • Ms. Reem Almenhali

    Performance Arts Director and Writer

  • Mr. Yousuf Jamjoom

    Founder and CEO of Juleb

  • Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Alolama

    Medical Doctor and an Alumnus of Harvard Medical School

  • Dr. Basem Al Madani

    Director, Center of Excellence for Nonprofit development (KFUPM-KSA)

  • Prof. Ali Guermazi

    Professor of Radiology and Medicine and Director of the Quantitative Imaging Center at Boston University

  • Dr. Moez Benali

    Global Head of Medical Affairs and Executive Medical Director Fortrea (Labcorp) clinical development

  • Mrs. Hind Al Mulla

    Founder & Creative Director

  • Mr. Rick Rendon

    Founder of Empower Peace and Women2Women International Leadership Program

  • Mr. Ali Alawadhi

    Global Private Equity Advisor

  • Dr. Raymond Liu

    Vice President of Mass General Brigham Global Advisory

  • Mr. Faisal AlKadi

    General Manager at Ahmed Alkadi & Sons Holding Group

  • Mr. Patrick Mancino

    Executive VP and Director of Development at the National Council on U.S. - Arab Relations

  • Prof. Haytham Kafaarani

    Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School

  • Dean Eric Alter

    A former UN civil servant, is the Dean of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi

  • Mr. Rashed AlNuaimi

    UAE Multifaceted Singer and Actor

  • Prof. Ahmad Hersi

    Professor of cardiac sciences, a CEO of King Saud University Medical City

  • Dr. Adel AlMarshad

    General Supervisor of Health and Biotechnology at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City

  • Dr. Hisham Badreldin

    Director of the Saudi Biobank at KAIMRC

  • Dr. Abdulaziz Alhomoud

    Chief Innovation Officer at Seha Virtual Hospital and Assistant Professor at King Saud University’s College of Business Administration

  • Mr. Khalid Aboujassoum

    Founder & CEO @ Else Labs

Conference Moderators

  • Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt

    Second President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

  • Mr. Peter Tremain

    PhD student from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute in NZ

  • Mr. Kamil Homsi

    Founder/CEO

  • Dr. Mona Al Hassan

    Dental Public Health resident at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and an MMSc candidate

  • Dr. Lina Alhudaithy

    Dentist and Clinician at King Abdullah University Hospital

  • Dr. Fadi Hilani

    Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

  • Mr. Zeyad AlMajed

    Master's in Real Estate at Harvard University

  • Ms. Maya Balamane

    Sr Clinical Scientist/ Robotic-Assisted Medical Devices

  • Dr. Ahmad Al-Azzam

    Licensed physician from Jordan with extensive experience in translational cancer research

Conference Panels

    1. Transforming Sports in the Arabian Gulf: From Regional Leagues to Global Recognition

    1. The Landscape of Cultural Production in the Gulf: Institutions and Intangible Heritage

    2. Contemporary Gulf Art: Music, Theatre, and Film

    1. GCC Visions: Driving Business Innovation in the Region

    2. Family business: Firm strategy and multigenerational wealth management

    1. Empowering Youth: Social Policy in the Gulf

      States

    2. Innovating Social Impact: Nonprofit Strategies

    3. Future-proofing the Gulf: Climate Change and Urban Design.

    4. Sustainability of Non-Profit Organizations

    5. Education Policy in the Gulf: Opportunities and Outcomes

    1. AI in Healthcare: Revolutionizing Diagnosis and Treatment in the GCC

    2. Powering healthcare: Access, efficacy and inclusion

    3. The Future of Healthcare at Home: Redefining Patient Care in the GCC

    4. Bridging Borders: Advancing World-Class Healthcare in the GCC through Global Collaboration

    1. Research Across Borders: Collaboration between GCC and International Partners

    2. Powering the Future: AI and Data Centers in Energy Transition