Ernesto Damiani is a computer scientist specializing in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and privacy-preserving technologies.
He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Milan (1994) and has been a Full Professor of Computer Science there since 2002. He founded and directs the SESAR Lab and served as President of the Italian Inter-University Consortium for Informatics (CINI) from 2018-2025. He also served as a visiting professor at INSA-Lyon, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2017. In the UAE, he served as the Senior Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems Institute (previously directing the Center for Cyber-Physical Systems). He is a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academy of Sciences.
Damiani pioneered intelligent models for software processes in the late 1990s and has led several influential research projects and start-ups on data-driven cybersecurity and robust Artificial Intelligence. He has published over 835 Scopus papers and is an ACM Distinguished Scientist and a multiple-award recipient from IEEE. In 2022, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of the Republic of Italy for his scientific merits.
Bashar Nuseibeh is Professor of Computing and Executive Dean of Science & Technology at City St George’s, University of London. He is also Research Pillar Chair of the UK’s Responsible AI research programme (RAi UK) and an Adjunct Professor of Software & Systems at Trinity College Dublin. His research lies at the intersection of software engineering, adaptive systems, and security & privacy. His work also addresses physical and psychosocial aspects of technology.
Bashar is a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering and the ACM, and is a Member of Academia Europaea and the Royal Irish Academy.
Chirine Ghedira-Guegan is a professor of computer science at iaelyon School of Management, University of Lyon. Her research spans smart service computing, data and service integration, privacy, security, trust, and distributed systems in the new ecosystems. In addition, she is actively engaged in scientific service through the organization of research events, service as Program Chair for several international conferences, participation in IEEE-related conference steering committee, publications in IEEE venues, and service as Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Services Computing journal.
Dr. Mahmoud Barhamgi is a Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Qatar University. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and his H.D.R. (Habilitation to Direct Research) from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University in 2010 and 2020, respectively. Dr. Barhamgi’s research focuses on developing models, systems, and tools to make the digital space safer and more respectful of users’ rights, including privacy preservation, transparency, and fairness. He has led, co-led, and contributed to several Qatari, French, and European research projects addressing challenges at the intersection of technology and society, including human factors in cybersecurity, data protection in cyberspace, secure and privacy-preserving data sharing and integration, and the detection of radicalization and cyberbullying on social networks. Dr. Barhamgi is an active contributor to the international research community in his areas of expertise. He has served as General Chair and Program Committee Chair for several major conferences, including the International Conference on Web Information Systems Engineering (WISE 2024, 2025, 2026), the International Conference on Web and Big Data (APWeb 2025), and the IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications (AICCSA 2025). Additionally, he has chaired or co-chaired research tracks and workshops at major conferences such as IEEE DSAA 2023, DEXA 2017, IDEAS 2019, and WETICE 2022–2023. In his editorial capacity, Dr. Barhamgi serves as an Associate Editor for the Springer World Wide Web Journal and the Wiley Expert Systems Journal. He has also guest-edited several special issues in prestigious journals, including ACM Transactions on the Web (TWEB), ACM Transactions on Internet Technology (TOIT), and the ACM Journal of Data and Information Quality (JDIQ).
Dr. Jassim Haji is the President of the Artificial Intelligence Group and Executive Advisor at the HH Sheikh Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research & Development Centre. He is a recognized technology leader, keynote speaker, and author specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Dr. Haji has spoken at over 385 international conferences and has received 44 awards for innovation and technology leadership. He is also the author of five books and more than 780 published articles in English and Arabic.
Professor
University of Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Dr Rasool Asal is a Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Data Science programme at the University of Dubai. His career spans more than thirty years across academia and industry, including senior research and leadership roles at British Telecom and the Etisalat BT Innovation Centre at Khalifa University. He also serves as Industry Professor at the University of Surrey and the University of Milan. Much of his work has contributed to deployed systems, commercial products, and spin-out ventures, reflecting a long-standing interest in research commercialisation and intellectual property. He has published extensively in international journals and conferences and is the holder of multiple international patents. He has also supervised doctoral and master’s students across the UK, Europe, and the UAE.
Professor
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr. Moataz Ahmed is a faculty member in the Computer Science Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. He has served as a visiting scholar at universities across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. His research focuses on metaheuristic algorithm applications, AI security, digital twins, and AI-driven automated software engineering. He has led funded research projects, supervised graduate students, and published over 100 peer-reviewed articles. He actively collaborates with government, industry, and international institutions, and has held leadership roles in technology companies and R&D organizations in the US and KSA, leading teams to deliver large-scale commercial AI solutions.
CEO Deda Wana International (Tecnosistemi FZ LLC)
Head of MENA Region Deda Bit
Italy
Alaeddine El Orf Abbassi is CEO of Deda Wana International and Head of the MENA Region at Dedagroup. A Computer Engineer and international technology executive, he brings over 15 years of experience in Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, IT Consulting, and Business Development across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with global organisations including NTT DATA and Gruppo SCAI, leading strategic initiatives in cybersecurity, AI, cloud transformation, and digital innovation. He supports enterprises and public institutions in accelerating technology-driven growth and operational resilience. Based in Milan and operating across MENA, Africa, and Europe, he frequently participates in international technology and cybersecurity forums.