2025 Agenda*

The Touchdown Middle East 2025 Agenda includes high-level panels, deep-dive market sessions, and curated networking opportunities across both days.The two-day Agenda is split into two themes:
  • Day 1 (19th Nov) – Data Centre Landscape & Infrastructure
    Our opening day focuses on the physical and policy foundations required to meet digital demand—from connectivity and power to regulation and site readiness.
  • Day 2 (20th Nov) – AI & The Future of Digital Infrastructure
    Day two shifts toward the evolving digital ecosystem—where AI, automation, and cloud infrastructure are redefining how data centres are planned, built, and operated.
Our roster of Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Interested in speaking at Touchdown Middle East 2025? We still have some speaking slots remaining – email neethu@gulfdca.com for more information.
*This programme is subject to change

Days

19th November

10:00-19:00

Our opening day focuses on the physical and policy foundations required to meet digital demand—from connectivity and power to regulation and site readiness.

Data Centre Landscape & Infrastructure

10:00

DOORS OPEN

10:30-10:45

Opening Speech

Welcome Presentation: Henry Sutton (GDCA)

Henry Sutton
Founder

Gulf Data Centre Association | TDME

10:45 – 11:00

KEYNOTE: Global Market Trends: What Global Data Centre Dynamics Mean for the Middle East

David Sandars
Regional Director EMEA

datacentreHawk

Tahir Gok
Senior Analyst MENA

datacentreHawk

11:00 – 11:30

PANEL: The Middle East Data Centre Boom: Unlocking Investments & Expansion

Johann Adjovi
Partner

Analyses Masons

MODERATOR

Priyanka Nagpal
Data Center Lead - MEA, Director, Specialist Advisory

JLL

Juan C. Colina
EMEA DC&IT Segment Leader, Electrical Sector

Eaton

Auf Albulushi
Group Director-Data Hub Business

ITHCA

11:30 – 12:00

PANEL: Sustainability & ESG

Liam Round
Regional Managing Director

Teksan™ UK

MODERATOR

Natascha Geraedts
PARTNER

Eversheds Sutherland Netherlands

GARY WATSON
Country Manager - Ireland

Keppel Data Centre REIT Ireland

Eric Topham
CEO & Co-Founder

OctaiPipe

12:00 – 12:10

Sponsor Advert

12:10 – 12:40

PANEL:Hyperscalers & Cloud: Dominating the ME Data Centre Landscape

Jocelyn Paulley
Partner

Gowling WLG

MODERATOR

Mark Delahunty
Account Director

BGO Datacenters

Jan-Hendrik Neuenfeld
Program Director - Building the future AI Token Factories

Turner & Townsend

Simon Young
SRL Manager - Energy Location & Strategy Middle East & Africa

Google

Shaktivel K
CEO

Henox IT & Data Centers

12:40 – 12:55

KEYNOTE 2: Midday Keynote

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 – 14:10

Sponsor Advert

Jace Wang
Product Director

Envicool

14:10 – 14:40

FIRESIDE CHAT: Cybersecurity & Risk Management in a Digital-First World

Jocelyn Paulley
Partner

Gowling WLG

MODERATOR

14:40 – 15:10

PANEL: AI, Automation & the Future of Data Centre Operations

Jas Shoker
Supervising Associate

Simmons & Simmons

MODERATOR

Ivan Kuts
Solutions Architect

Vertiv

Taha Hussein
Regional Manager - MENA

Manama-IX / AMS-IX

Louay Zeaiter
Client Engagement Senior Director

OracleX

Muhammed Seedat
COO

Ezditek

15:10 – 15:25

Keynote 3: Afternoon Keynote

15:25 – 15:55

PANEL: Supplying the Surge: Enabling Growth in GCC Data Infrastructure

Graeme Leonard
EMEA Fire Protection Division Manager

Victaulic

Naveen Rajagopalan
Chief Commercial Officer

Kalaam Carrier Solutions

Saeed Al Abbar
Chief Executive Officer

AESG

15:55 – 16:25

PANEL: Infrastructure Meets Regulation: The Data Sovereignty Equation

Habib Saeed
Senior Associate

Squire Patton Boggs (Middle East)

MODERATOR

Muhammad Anum Saleem
Legal Director

AlDhabaan & Partners in association with Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Gareth Mills
Partner

Charles Russell Speechlys

Joe McCaffrey
Managing Director

DMC Global Partners

Zil Rehman
TMT Associate

Pinsent Masons

Roula Khaled
General Counsel

Khazna Data Centers

16:25 – 16:35

Sponsor Advert

16:35 – 17:00

The Talent Crunch: Workforce Development & Diversity

Cathal Quinn
Group Managing Director

MOY

Lina Tayara
Managing Editor

Lets Talk Tech

17:00-19:00

NETWORKING RECEPTION

*This programme is subject to change

20th November

10:00-17:00

Day two shifts toward the evolving digital ecosystem—where AI, automation, and cloud infrastructure are redefining how data centres are planned, built, and operated.

AI & The Future of Digital Infrastructure

10:00

DOORS OPEN

10:05 – 10:20

KEYNOTE 1: Morning Keynote

10:20 - 10:35

AI 101: Powering the Next Era

11:00-11:30

The Story of GPUs – Fueling the AI Engine

11:00 - 11:25

PANEL: Building AI-ready Data Centres

Sean Christie
Regional Director, ME

Datalec Precision Installations

Ammar Al Horani
Data Center Business Director - Middle East

Eaton

Simon Young
SRL Manager - Energy Location & Strategy Middle East & Africa

Google

Tarek Khodair
Head of Power Solution

Al Masaood Power Division.

11:25 - 11:50

PANEL: AI at Scale: Government & Enterprise

Musab Abdullah
Executive Director Business Development (ICT)

Economic Development Board (EDB)

moderator

Islam Salim
Director Enterprise Products

Batelco by Beyon

Yasmine Rifai
Public Sector AI & Digital Transformation Expert | Author | Speaker

Amjad Elnayal
Manager of Technology

TRA

Garry Connolly
Founder

Digital Infrastructure Ireland

11:50 – 12:05

KEYNOTE: Building Sovereign AI Cloud Infrastructure for the Gulf: A Practical Guide

Mihai Marcuta
Co-Founder

NodeShift

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 – 13:40

Sponsor Advert

Steven Parker
Chief Technology Officer

Adaptive Modular Data Centers

13:40 – 14:05

FIRESIDE CHAT: AI Capital Flows

14:05 - 14:30

PANEL: AI Investments: GCC Perspective

Saad Alghaidani
Head of Strategy, Oracle KSA

Oracle

14:30 - 14:45

KEYNOTE 3: Afternoon Keynote

14:45 - 14:55

Closing Remarks

15:00 - 17:00

NETWORKING RECEPTION

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