Keynote Speakers
Day 1 – December 1, 2025
9:30 – 10:00
Conference Opening Ceremony
Keynote: 10:00 – 10:30, December 1
Dr. Luis Rabelo
Professor
Department of Industrial Engineering & Management Systems
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL, USA
Dr. Luis Rabelo received the BS in Electro-Mechanical Engineer from the Technological University of Panama in 1983, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1987 Master’s and Doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri. He was a Postdoc at the University of Missouri in Nuclear Engineering. Dr. Rabelo received a dual MS in Systems and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has worked for the Advanced Technology Group (Goodrich) and Honeywell Laboratories. Dr. Rabelo was a NASA Fellow from 2002 to 2005, and a Project Manager at NASA from 2009 to 2011. He is currently Professor in the Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Department at UCF. He is also the Undergraduate Coordinator. He has written more than 300 articles and a book in Artificial Intelligence. He has been the principal advisor for 39 Master’s students and 29 PhDs. He received the award for the Best Scientific Article of the Year 2004 from the Society of Automotive Engineers, received the distinction “ONE NASA” in 2006. He was the recipient of the Fulbright Distinction in 2008. In November 2008, he received the honor of the Technological University of Panama (UTP) of being the 2008 Distinguished Alumni. In 2011, he was the Henaac Award Winner in Education. In 2013 and 2018, he received the Forest R. McFarland Award from the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE). Lately, he received the SAE Russell S. Springer Award for his article on the modeling of space operations systems in 2017.
Keynote: 10:30 – 11:00, December 1
Dr. Semail ÜLGEN
Chair of Industrial Engineering Department
Antalya Bilim University
Antalya, Turkey
Assoc. Prof. Semail Ülgen is the chair of Industrial Engineering Department at Antalya Bilim University where she has been on the faculty since 2012. She received Ph.D. degree in Mathematics at Purdue University in 2005, and B.S. degree at Bilkent University in 1995. In years 2004-2006 she was at University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS as an assistant professor. Then she worked at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, as an assistant professor for one year in 2006 and later she worked as an assistant professor at Northwestern University for three years starting in 2007. She held visiting assistant professor position at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN as an assistant professor for one year in 2011-1012. Dr. Ülgen was a recipient of the Young Scientist Award for Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association (USA) in 2006. Her research interests are Finsler Geometry; Noncommutative Geometry, Applications to Mathematical Physics. She is also building research interest in stochastic processes and its applications. She was a researcher in TUBITAK 1001 (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) research project (#113F311, Title: Einstein metrics in Finsler Geometry) for two years in 2014. She served as the adviser for the Survey Development and Implementation ATSO Pilot Project for Determining the Industrial 4.0 Status of Companies in Antalya in 2017. She was the academic adviser of the TUBITAK Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition for mainly engineering undergraduate students during the years 2016, 2017, and 2020 organized by TUBITAK. Her team built two electric cars (got 25th in the competitions) and attended the competitions.
Keynote: 11:00 – 11:30, December 1
To be added details
Keynote: 11:30 – 12:00, December 1
Ibrahim Aldakhil
Executive Director, safety & loss prevention
Saudi Electricity Company
Keynote: 12:00 – 12:30, December 1
Hani Wadatullah Alahdal
HR Center of Excellence VP
STC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hani W. Alahdal is a distinguished Human Resources leader with nearly two decades of strategic and operational expertise in human capital management, organizational transformation, and executive remuneration. Renowned for his visionary leadership and sharp strategic insight, he has played a pivotal role in reshaping HR governance and building agile, future-ready talent ecosystems that enable sustainable business growth across multiple industries and geographies.
As Vice President of the HR Center of Excellence at stc, Hani spearheads the group’s human capital innovation and policy architecture, aligning people strategy with corporate ambition and national transformation objectives. His stewardship has led to the institutionalization of advanced talent frameworks, the design of equitable reward systems, and the elevation of HR as a strategic enabler of business performance. A trusted advisor to boards, executive committees, and regulatory bodies, he has become an authoritative voice on leadership capability, compensation governance, and workforce readiness within the Kingdom’s evolving economic landscape.
Prior to his current role, Hani served as General Manager of HR Center of Excellence at stc, where he consolidated the company’s HR policies and performance infrastructure, embedding governance discipline and fostering an integrated culture of meritocracy and innovation. Before joining stc, he held several senior positions at national champions such as Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), Sadara Chemical Company, TASNEE, and SABIC, where he built a reputation for excellence in organization design, policy formation, and executive rewards management. His experience across these leading institutions has endowed him with deep technical acumen and an exceptional ability to drive transformation at scale.
Hani’s professional influence extends beyond corporate boundaries. He currently serves as a member of multiple Nomination and Remuneration Committees across regional markets— including stc Kuwait, stc Bahrain, Aljumaih Holding, Al-Suaedan Real Estate, and Tawal Company—where he provides strategic counsel on corporate governance, board succession, and executive compensation. He also sits on the Board of Dimension Consulting Company and the Advisory Board of Palm HR Technology, reflecting his continuous engagement with the evolving intersection of technology, human capital, and governance.
Previously, he served as an Executive Committee Member at Specialized by stc, and as a Nomination and Remuneration Committee Member at the Health Holding Company, supporting the Ministry of Health’s transformation agenda through the restructuring of talent frameworks and leadership pipelines across Saudi health clusters.
Hani holds an MBA in Human Resources and Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. His intellectual foundation is complemented by elite executive education experiences from globally renowned institutions: Harvard Business School, Excellence in Management (2019), MIT Sloan School of Management, Business Dynamics (2012) and Cornell University, Top Seat: The Modern CHROs (2022).
Keynote: 12:30 – 13:00, December 1
Hassan AlHazmi
Group CEO
LADUN Investment Company
Dr. Hassan S. Alhazmi received his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran (2003), his M.Sc. in Construction Engineering and Management from Griffith University in Australia (2006), and his Ph.D. in Engineering and Project Management with distinction from the same university in 2011. He began his academic career at Jazan University, where he served as Head of the Civil Engineering Department and as Vice Dean of the College of Engineering. During his tenure (2011–2013), he played a leading role in developing the engineering programs and strengthening cooperation between the university and the construction industry. He also supervised several major educational, medical, and infrastructure projects for Jazan University.
In 2013, Dr. Alhazmi joined the Ministry of Higher Education: General Directorate for Projects, before moving to the Ministry of Housing in 2016, where he held several senior positions including Deputy Minister for Land and Technical Affairs. He oversaw urban development, managing infrastructure and construction projects exceeding SAR 50 billion in value. Since October 2021, Dr. Alhazmi has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Ladun Investment Company, a publicly listed real estate development firm in Saudi Arabia. His professional experience bridges academia, government, and the private sector—spanning engineering, construction management, public infrastructure, and corporate strategy. He currently serves as a Board Member of Ladun Investment Company, a Member of the Advisory Board of the College of Engineering at Alfaisal University, a Member of the Board of Trustees of Jazan Award for Excellence and Innovation and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Endowment of the Saudi Electronic University.
Dr. Alhazmi have a rich experience as a member of a number of Bords of Directors, committees and higher committees, i.e. State Properties General Authority, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saline Water Conversion Corporation, Saudi Standards, General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, Real Estate Development Fund, Real Estate General Authority, Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, State Land Committee of the Council of Ministers, Saudi Building Code National Committee, Off-Plan Sales or Rent National Committee, SAKAN Board of Trustees, National Housing Company, Chairman of the Council of Managers of the National Company for Asset Management, Chairman of the Sabya’s Municipal Council, and Griffith University BoD. He has participated in numerous conferences and executive programs in Saudi Arabia and abroad. His research and professional interests focus on project delivery systems, infrastructure management, sustainability, and innovation in engineering education.
Day 2 – December 2, 2025
Keynote: 10:00 – 10:30, December 2
Eng. Nasser Mohammad Al Osaimi
Operations Executive Director
Rua Al Madinah Holding
Saudi Arabia
Nasser M. Al Osaimi is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in operations, maintenance, and facility management. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering master’s degree in business administration and has held key leadership roles in renowned organizations such as Rua al Madinah holding the Royal Commission of Riyadh City and Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC). With a strong track record of success, Nasser has implemented innovative solutions, reduced costs, and improved customer experiences. He has managed multi-billion SAR projects, directed housing services, and supervised various areas including general services, civil engineering, and road maintenance. Nasser is known for his strategic vision, project management skills, and ability to inspire innovation and collaboration.
Keynote: 10:30 – 11:00, December 2
Dr. Mumen Hasan Rababah
Chairman, Department of Industrial Engineering
Hashemite University
Zarqa, Jordan
Dr. Mumen Rababah is an Assistant Professor and the current Chairman of the Department of Industrial Engineering at The Hashemite University in Jordan. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University, USA, where his research focused on developing and evaluating parcel delivery networks using agent-based simulation. He also holds both M.S. and B.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from the Jordan University of Science and Technology. Dr. Rababah’s research interests include simulation modeling, artificial intelligence, data analytics, logistics, and supply chain optimization. His work bridges academic research with industrial application, focusing on improving system efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. He has collaborated with international research teams on projects addressing the digital transformation of logistics and manufacturing systems. As an educator, Dr. Rababah is committed to experiential and technology-driven learning. He integrates real-world data, simulation tools, and analytical techniques into his teaching to prepare students for the evolving demands of modern industry. In addition to his academic and administrative roles, he actively supervises graduate research, contributes to academic committees, and provides professional service as a reviewer and collaborator in the field of industrial engineering. Dr. Rababah is a member of the Jordan Engineers Association and Alpha Pi Mu – the Industrial Engineering Honor Society.
Keynote: 11:00 – 11:30, December 2
Prof. Dr. Mukti M. Rana
Engineering Division of Physical and Computational Sciences &
Director and Principal Investigator, Optical Science Center for Applied Research
Delaware State University
Dover, DE, USA
Dr. Mukti Rana is a Professor of Engineering and Director and Principal Investigator at the Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) at Delaware State University (DSU). Dr. Rana received his B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh (1992-1997), and his M.S. (2000-2002) and Ph.D. (2003-2007) from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in Electrical Engineering. He also worked as graduate teaching assistant, graduate research assistant and post-doctoral research associate (2007-2008) in the Department of Electrical Engineering during his tenure at UTA. In fall 2008, Dr. Rana joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of South Alabama, Mobile. In 2010, he joined in the Department of Physics and Engineering and OSCAR of DSU. Dr. Rana’s research projects are supported by the Department of Defense (US Army, Navy and Air Force), National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH) and. Dr. Rana served the principal investigator of Optics for Space Technology and Applied Research Center funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) funded by NSF. Both of these grants were funded for 5 Million US dollars for 5 years. Dr. Rana has secured more than 13 Million US Dollars in research funding during his tenure at DSU. Currently there are five graduate, three undergraduate, and three high school students work at Dr. Rana’s research laboratory -Laboratory for Optical Sensing and Energy Conversion. His current research interest includes – thin film’s properties for microsensors’ applications, uncooled infrared detectors and microelectro-mechanical (MEMS) devices. Dr. Rana has published more than thirty-four refereed journal articles and conference proceedings, one book, one book chapter and holds three patents. Dr. Rana is a member of the IEEE, SPIE and the founding student advisor of IEEE student branch at DSU. Between Fall ‘15- Fall ‘20, Dr. Rana demonstrated outstanding leadership to advise and mentor 124 middle school, 56 high school, 200+ undergraduate and 33 graduate students, 21 middle and high school science teachers, 7 junior faculty members and 3 post-doctoral research associates. Dr. Rana is the recipient of “Faculty Mentor of The Year Award, NASA, 2019” for his contribution towards advising and mentoring of students. He is also the recipient of excellence in mentoring award in 2021, research award in 2016, vice president’s award for excellence in research in 2015 and excellence in outreach award 2015 for the college of mathematics, natural sciences and technology of DSU.
Keynote: 11:30 – 12:00, December 2
Prof. Khalifa S. Al-Jabri
Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Sultan Qaboos University
Muscat, Oman
Prof. Khalifa Al-Jabri obtained a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University in 1991. He received his master’s (1993) and doctorate (2000) degrees from The University of Sheffield, UK. He was prompted to full Professor in 2011. He was appointed the Assistant Dean for Postgraduate Studies and research, 2006-2010 and the Head of the Department of Civil and Architectural engineering, 2011-2017. He served as a member in the State Council from 2011-2015. Prof. Al-Jabri has research interests in Sustainable Construction Materials, Fire Engineering, and earthquake Enginering. He has around 220 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. He is Fellow of ICE and ASCE.
Keynote: 12:00 – 12:30, December 2
Prof. Abdelkabir Maqsoud
Professor
The Research Institute on, Mines and Environment (RIME)
UQAT-Polytechnique
Quebec, Canada
Abdelkabir Maqsoud completed his undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco in 1989. He earned his MSc. (1991) and PhD (1996) from university of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, France studying the karst development in Paris Basin. During his postdoctoral training in Canada, he studied water movement under unsaturated conditions and was recruited in 2002, as Research Scientist. Currently, he is a professor in mining hydrogeology in the Research Institute – Mines and Environment of the Quebec University in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Canada. Gross’ research areas include: mine site reclamation, water movement under unsaturated condition including hysteresis effects, hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of porous and karstic aquifers.
Keynote: 12:30 – 1:00, December 2
Ahad Ali, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Doctor of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing
Director of Industrial Engineering Programs (BSIE & MSIE)
A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics and Industrial Engineering
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA
Chief Executive Officer of IEOM Society International
Dr. Ahad Ali is an associate professor, director of doctor of engineering in advanced manufacturing and director of industrial engineering programs (BSIE & MSIE) at A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering of the Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Southfield, Michigan, USA. He established the Siemens Electro-Matic Industrial Engineering Lab at LTU. Dr. Ali was the primary author of the ABET self-study report of the BSIE Program at LTU in 2022. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, a Master’s in Systems and Engineering Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA. Dr. Ali was an Assistant Professor in Industrial Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, a Visiting Assistant Professor in Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Toledo, and a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Khulna. He received an Outstanding Professor Award from the Industrial Engineering Department, University of Puerto Rico -Mayaguez. Dr. Ali has been recognized with a Fulbright Award. He has published 75 journal papers and 150 conference papers. Dr Ali conducted research projects with Chrysler, Ford, DTE Energy, New Center Stamping, Whelan Co., Delphi Automotive System, GE Medical Systems, International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC), and Rockwell Automation. His research interests include manufacturing systems, quality, lean, six-sigma, simulation, artificial intelligence, supply chain, and optimization. He supervised 11 doctoral students in Doctor of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems (DEMS). He is a founding team member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEOM Society International. Dr. Ali is a Co-Chair of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Dr. Ali organized IEOM conferences around the globe on six continents including Augsburg, Bali, Bangkok, Bogota, Bristol, Costa Rica, Delhi, Detroit, Dhaka, Dubai, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Lima, Manila, Melbourne, Monterrey, Muscat, Orlando, Paris, Pilsen, Rabat, Riyadh, Sao Paulo, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, and Washington, DC. He is an associate editor of the IJIEOM. Dr. Ali is a member of IEOM, INFORMS, SME, and IEEE.
Day 3 – December 3, 2025
Keynote: 10:00 – 10:30, December 3
Dr. Kamran Nazir
Department of Marine Engineering
Military Technological College
Muscat, Oman
Dr Kamran Nazir received his PhD degree from Mechanical Engineering from Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea in 2018. He received his MS in Mechanical Engineering and BE in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Pakistan. His research interests include computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Dr Kamran attained the Higher Practices in Teaching and Learning certification from USA in 2024 under the joint program offered by University of Utah and University of Alabama. He is currently serving as Lecturer in Marine Engineering Department at Military Technological College, Muscat, Oman. Along with teaching and research responsibilities, he is member of launching flexible learning strategic plan and curriculum design of MS program in Mechanical Engineering at MTC. Prior to that, he served as assistant professor and Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering program at National University of Technology, NUTECH, Islamabad, Pakistan for around 6 years. His Major accomplishments include the development of curriculum for Mechanical Engineering Department, launch of Industry & Creativity Activity Term (ICAT) and Industrial Learning Experience (ILE) program in Undergraduate Curriculum.
Keynote: 10:30 – 11:00, December 3
Dr. Kamran Javed
School of Computing
Pak-Austria Fachhochschule
Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology
Pakistan
Kamran Javed received his Ph.D. degree in Automatic Control and Industrial Informatics from the University of Franche-Comté, France, in 2014. In the same year, he joined the Fuel Cell Laboratory in Belfort, France, as a Postdoctoral Researcher, where he worked on developing prognostic solutions for PEM fuel cells stacks until 2016. From 2016 to 2018, he worked with SENSEYE in the United Kingdom, focusing on predictive maintenance for automotive assembly lines. Between 2018 and 2025, he served as the Head of the Computer Engineering Department at the National University of Technology (NUTECH), Pakistan. He is currently the Chairman of the School of Computing Sciences at the Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Pakistan. His research interests include the development of AI-driven condition monitoring and prognostic solution for critical engineering assets, including data acquisition, signal processing, anomaly detection, prognostics, and human machine interface (HMI) design within Big Data environments.
Keynote: 11:00 – 11:30, December 3
Prof. Gamal Elnashar
Dean of the College of Engineering
King Salman International University (KSIU)
Egypt
Gamal A. Elnashar received a B.Sc. degree from the department of electrical engineering at Military Technical College (MTC) in 1988. He received his MSc degree in the field of electrical engineering-automatic control systems from MTC-Egypt in 1994. He received his Ph. D. degree from the department of electrical and computer engineering at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 2000. He has been serving on the MTC research faculty since the year 2000 in the areas of identification, design, and intelligent control engineering systems. He worked as a visiting scholar at Virginia Tech-Blacksburg in 2008. He has authored several reports and papers on data acquisition systems, sensors, and automatic control-related short courses at MTC and Colleges of Engineering. Prof. Elnashar’s current research interests focus on intelligent systems, control system engineering, and mechatronics. Moreover, he has great experience in the field of design, tests, and practical measurements of control systems. He participated in the supervision of several doctoral and master’s theses in engineering in the field of specialization. He is a committee member of the Engineering, Technological, and Industrial Studies Sector at the Supreme Council of Universities. He is a committee member in the Executive Regulations Committee for Research Centers at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He is the dean of the Engineering Sector at King Salman International University. He was a commandant of the Military Technical College. Also, he was the director of the Egyptian Armed Forces Scientific Research and Development Department.
Keynote: 11:30 – 12:00, December 3
Moath Abuaysha
Head of 3D Printing R&D
NEOM
Moath Abuaysha is an innovation leader spearheading 3D printing and advanced manufacturing R&D within NEOM’s Design & Construction sector. Certified by the American Institute of Industrial Engineers and MIT in additive manufacturing, he brings over 15 years of experience in developing and applying cutting-edge 3D printing technologies. He has represented Saudi Arabia in more than 40 international forums, showcasing the Kingdom’s leadership in next-generation manufacturing.
At NEOM, Moath leads the development of sustainable 3D-printed construction systems — including the region’s first fully 3D-printed cabin — alongside projects that span artificial coral reefs, high-performance architectural façades, and sustainable housing prototypes.
Before joining NEOM, he led over 70 surgical operations using patient-specific 3D-printed models and implants, pioneering medical applications of additive manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.
Moath has received multiple national and international awards, including the Intel ISEF Award, MIT Health Hackathon, Asia Projects Cup, and the Saudi Ministry of Health “Health Pioneers” Award. Recognized by King Abdullah for his contributions to national innovation, and featured at TEDx and the G20, he continues to mentor the next generation of engineers driving Saudi Arabia’s transformation in advanced and sustainable manufacturing.
Keynote: 12:00 – 12:30, December 3
Dr. Ahmed Azab
Professor
Industrial and Systems Engineering Department
King Fahd Univ. of Petroleum & Minerals
Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr. Ahmed Azab is an associate professor of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Director of the Production & Operations Management Research Lab. He has a successful record of industrial experience and publications. He has been involved in projects with local industry and has been effective in acquiring funding as sole Principal Investigator and else. He has earned to date funding from both federal and provincial granting agencies and industrial partners in the amount of approximately $0.4 M. He was one of three researchers to receive a $1M CFI-LOF/MEDI-ORF grant supporting research infrastructure. He has been recipient and nominee for a number of international and national research excellence awards. He serves as a reviewer for a number of international journals; he also sits on the editorial board for Industrial Engineering & Management. Dr. Azab was awarded in 2009 the Outstanding Graduate Research Award at University of Windsor, and in 2015 the Faculty of Engineering Medal of Excellence for his role leading the undergraduate Industrial Engineering program’s national accreditation efforts from Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).