2025 Awards Judges

Rushdy is an electrical engineer with over 16 years solid design experience in multi-discipline engineering environments across different building market segments. He has worked on numerous projects in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, and is well versed in both local and international codes and standards.

Rushdy is also a Chartered Engineer, DEWA certified solar expert, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) experienced in leading the design delivery of numerous projects. He has extensive experience in undertaking design reviews including peer-reviews on critical projects. Rushdy was also part of the CIBSE UAE awards jury panel on previous occasions, and has good understanding of the high-caliber submissions expected for the CIBSE awards.

DSM Strategy & Policy Lead
Dubai Supreme Council of Energy

Director & Board Member
Advancing Net Zero Volunteering Team

Founder
MajdTalks

Featured among the Top 50 Sustainability Leaders in MENA in 2023 by Sustainability Middle East
Magazine. Majd is a decarbonization strategist and award-winning engineer with a track record in
assisting NGOs and government organizations in developing and implementing innovative strategies and
programs aimed at advancing decarbonization, energy efficiency, and green building principles in the
region.

Currently, Majd leads strategy and policy development related to demand side management, water
management, green mobility, and circular economy at the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai
government. He is the committee secretary at two high-level government committees in Dubai which
aim to accelerate efficiency principles in order to reduce Dubai’s energy and water demand by 30% by
2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Majd is also the director and board member of the Advancing Net Zero Volunteering Team which aims
to accelerate the transition to net zero cities in the UAE. Prior to that, Majd held several positions
including senior energy advisor to the Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai, technical lead at
Emirates Green Building Council, and project manager of the National CDM Program for Solar Energy in
Lebanon.
Majd is the founder of an online platform #MajdTalks which aims at raising awareness about
sustainability and decarbonisation topics.
Majd was a speaker at 100+ flagship sustainability events in the UAE and region and a jury member of
several regional awards programs. He is also the lead author of 10 technical energy publications and has
been interviewed by 15+ regional magazines, radios, and newspapers on energy and sustainability
topics.

Majd was selected to be part of the first cohort of Emerging Board Leaders Fellowship, powered by
HSBC which recognizes exceptional Arab and North African men and women under the age of 45 and
accelerates their pathway to boardrooms.

Majd holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy from Saint Joseph University and a bachelor’s degree
in Mechanical Engineering from the Lebanese University. He also holds a Certified Energy Manager,
LEED Accredited Professional (Operations and Maintenance), and TRUE Zero Waste Advisor credentials.

Raied Al-Bitar is MEP Head with over 18 years of experience in managing MEP and infrastructure works across major developments in the UAE and internationally. He currently leads the MEP Unit at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum.

Throughout his career, Raied held key leadership roles at Eagle Hills and Meraas Holding, where he contributed to successful delivery of high-profile hospitality, residential, and entertainment projects in the UAE, Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, and beyond.

His expertise spans all project stages, including design and stakeholder management, procurement and construction supervision, commissioning management and project closeout.

Raied has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, ensuring compliance with the international standards, managing complex stakeholder requirements and implementing value engineering solutions that optimize cost and performance to deliver iconic projects on time and within budget.

Senior Development Director at KAFD
Executive Director, Past President & Co-Founder at AIA Middle East

Sherif is an architect and development management director with over three decades of diverse experience spanning the USA, UK, and the GCC. Since 2007, Sherif has been actively involved in transformative projects across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.  With a keen focus on design and design management, Sherif has a proven track record of developing innovative, cost-effective designs in architecture, interior design, and urban planning.  His high-profile project portfolio consists of large, mixed-use commercial/residential projects, corporate headquarters, hotels, university campuses, and buildings, extensive multi-use developments, major educational projects, and contemporary residences, all of which incorporate qualities that make projects successful, attractive, sustainable, and livable.

An award-winning and published designer, Sherif is a regular speaker, panelist, and chairperson at regional conferences and design award juries. He has been ranked #68 in the ‘Power 100 most influential people in the GCC’s construction industry.  As a founding member of the American Institute of Architects Middle East Board of Directors and a Fellow of the Institute, Sherif presently serves as the chapter’s Executive Director and has served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President.

Sherif holds a Bachelor of Architecture from New York’s Syracuse University School of Architecture and is a licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts.

Mohamed Aqeel is seasoned real estate development expert recognized for delivering high-impact, design-driven, and sustainability-focused projects across masterplans, cultural, healthcare & hospitality. As Director of Development & Project Management at BEEAH Group, he oversees a multi-billion Dollar real estate portfolio managing complex, multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects harnessing the power of sustainability and technology to drive positive change. 

Mohamed’s career spans award-winning initiatives like the Museum of the Future & Bee’ah Headquarters, where he championed cutting-edge technology integration, sustainable building practices, and project delivery excellence. A passionate advocate for next-generation real estate, Mohamed’s experience positions him as a thought leader at the intersection of sustainability, technology and the real estate revolution.

Principal Building Studies Specialist - Dubai Municipality

Ahmed Al Salami is a veteran engineering professional with over two decades of service in the advancement of building regulations, sustainability, and urban development in Dubai. As the Principal Building Studies Specialist at Dubai Municipality, he plays a leading role in shaping the Emirate’s construction policies, overseeing the creation and implementation of standards for building systems, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.

A graduate of UAE University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ahmed began his career focusing on technical systems and quickly rose through the ranks to become Head of the Building Systems Development Unit. In that role, he was instrumental in developing and enforcing building codes, spearheading policy reforms, and introducing green building regulations that align with Dubai’s ambitious environmental goals.

His contributions extend beyond policy, as he actively manages and advises on strategic projects related to waste management, energy conservation, and environmental resilience. A recognized expert in regulatory frameworks and sustainability, he is a key member of the Dubai Government’s Green Building Committee and maintains professional affiliations with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Society of Engineers-UAE.

Ahmed’s work continues to shape the future of Dubai’s built environment, ensuring that growth and innovation go hand-in-hand with safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

David Cooper is the CEO of LECS (UK) & LECS (UAE). He has been in the lift & escalator industry since 1980 and is a well-known author and speaker. He holds a Master of Philosophy Degree following a 5-year research project into accidents on escalators, a Master of Science Degree in Lift Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, Higher National Certificate and a Continuing Education Certificate in lift and escalator engineering.

He started his career under the Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer of the Southern Region of British 
Railways. Following this he joined Kone Marryat & Scott (now KONE) rising to Area Safety Manager & Staff 
Engineer. In 1988 he joined the technical services division of Royal Insurance as an engineer surveyor a role that expanded to the training of other engineers all around the UK. In 1993 he was one of the founding partners of LECS (UK) Ltd. He is a co-author of “The Elevator & Escalator Micropedia” (1997) and “Elevator & Escalator Accident Investigation & Litigation”. (2002 & 2005) as well as being a contributor to a number of other books including five editions of CIBSE Guide D. He is a regular columnist in trade journals worldwide including Elevation, Elevator World, Elevatori and Lift Industry News. Media exposure includes numerous appearances on TV and radio.

He has presented at a number of industry seminars worldwide including in Thessaloniki, Munich, Shanghai, San Francisco, Melbourne, Zurich, Barcelona, Santander and Vienna as well as numerous presentations within the UK. He is also a Founding Trustee and Chairman of the UK’s Lift Industry Charity which assists industry members and/or their families after an accident at work. David also Chairs the Charity that runs the Lift Symposium and is an Honorary Visiting Professor at The University of Northampton. David has served on the BSI committee MHE/4 for lifts & escalators since 1989 and Chairs MCE/20 for cable cars and cableways. In 1993 David was awarded the Highfield Shield by the IIExE (now part of the IET) for a paper on escalator safety. In 2012 he was awarded the silver medal by CIBSE for services to the Institution. In 2021 he was awarded the Sir Moir Lockhead Award by the SOE for 30 years dedication to safety in the lift & escalator industry. In the same year he was awarded a CIBSE Presidents Commendation for his work authoring guidance on reoccupation of offices post Covid lockdown. In 2023 David received an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list for services to lift & escalator engineering.

Reid Donovan is a distinguished Senior Director within the Design and Engineering team at Red Sea Global (RSG), where he oversees the design and engineering for the Red Sea and Amaala mega-projects, critical to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. Leveraging over 30 years of experience, Reid's expertise has evolved from his early career as a leading public health engineering specialist to building services (MEP) design leadership, project directorship, and regional design directorship and operations roles. In his current pivotal role as Head of Virtual Design Management (VDM), he champions a large VDM team in advanced digital design practices, with a focus on design coordination and the construction delivery of RSG's extensive project portfolio.

A Chartered Engineer and past chair of the CIBSE UAE committee, Reid is a direct report to the RSG Group Head of Design and Engineering, providing strategic leadership to a substantial team of VDM professionals.

With 18 years based in Dubai, leading design teams across the UAE and globally, he has significantly contributed to prestigious, large-scale developments across these regions. His specialized expertise covers retail, residential, hotel/hospitality, super high-rise, and mixed-use sectors, consistently collaborating with renowned architects, clients, and engineering consultants worldwide.

Managing Director, Arquitectonica

Since commencing his career in the Middle East in 2001, Philip Gillard has dedicated over two decades to transforming the regional landscape. He currently spearheads the newest office of the global architectural powerhouse, Arquitectonica, marking its 11th worldwide. Their reach extends across UK, Europe and the Middle East; where the team is developing ultra-luxury branded residential, mixed use, and hospitality designs. With each project in their portfolio, characterized by efficient plans wrapped in a series of cutting-edge and environmentally stringent designs, they are shaping every corner of the globe.

James is a distinguished professional with over 30 years of experience in the utility industry, spanning the UK, EU, and Middle East. He currently serves with the Regulation and Supervision Bureau in Dubai, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing regulations that support Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy. His work focuses on Independent Water and Power Producers (IWPPs), Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), and District Cooling.

James's career is marked by influential roles in the UK water sector, where he developed regulatory strategies for price reviews, competition, asset management, and water resource management.  In Dubai, he has authored the regulatory framework for district cooling, consulting and managing a wide range of stakeholders in the process. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering and is an alumnus of the London Business School’s Advanced Development Programme. Additionally, James is a Certified Energy Manager, underscoring his commitment to energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Sector, Department of Energy Abu Dhabi.
Adjunct Assistant Professor in Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai.

Dr. Pablo is a Demand Side Management expert in the Energy Efficiency Sector within the Department of Energy Abu Dhabi and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai.
Dr. Pablo holds an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) from the University of Surrey in the UK on Environmental Technologies as well as a Master of Science (MSc) on Applied Energy from Cranfield University also in the UK. His bachelor was Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid in Spain with specialization on energy.

As part of his academic career, Dr. Pablo has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate courses at RIT Dubai since 2017. The topics he covered included sustainable energy management and contemporary issues in energy and environment. He has also been a guest lecturer in sustainability for the MBA students of the University of Wollongong in Duabi. Dr. Pablo has done applied research in collaboration with Dr. Mohan Guruswamy, the Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Free Zones Organization regarding the Green Free Zone certification. 

In the professional field, Dr. Pablo has more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and energy management during which he has developed demand side management programmes and initiatives for Government entities in the UAE across commercial, industrial, residential and government sectors. He has also carried out several walk-through and detailed energy audits in hotels, malls, and residential buildings in Spain and the UAE where he identified significant energy savings with sort paybacks. He has also developed corporate sustainability strategies and completed detailed energy and waste management strategies for masterplan developments resulting in more sustainable real estate portfolios for companies in the Middle East and Europe. Finally, he has certified several buildings using the LEED for Operations and Maintenance rating system. 

Prior to joining DoE, Dr. Pablo was the head of the energy services section in Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and he also worked in the UAE as Senior Manager for Energy Audit and Consultancy for Smart4Power, an ENGIE Solutions company, and PMO Director for Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, a semi-government entity in Dubai. Before moving to the UAE in 2015, he has also worked with private engineering consultancies and real estate advisory firms in the UK and Spain.

With over 25 years in the HVAC and district cooling industry, Farhan holds a BSc (1994) and an MSc (Hons) (1998) in Mechanical Engineering. Since 2008, he has served as Associate Director at Nakheel, now part of Dubai Holding. His portfolio spans the strategic management of large-scale district cooling infrastructure, energy efficiency programs, and sustainability initiatives across some of Dubai’s most iconic developments.

Earlier in his career, Farhan lectured at the American University of Sharjah, teaching Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. He also served as Operations Manager at Carrier Corporation in Dubai, overseeing major regional projects.

A LEED Accredited Professional since 2009, he earned LEED AP O+M certification in 2011 and became a Certified Energy Manager in 2013. Farhan is also a registered Judicial Engineering Expert with the UAE Ministry of Justice and was awarded an “Excellent” rating by the Dubai Judicial Institute in 2020 for his Diploma in Judicial Expertise.

Now in his fifth year on the judging panel for the CIBSE UAE Awards, Farhan remains committed to advancing engineering excellence and sustainable practices across the region.

Prof. Ghalib Y. Kahwaji is Director of the Sustainability & Energy Center at RIT Dubai and former Chair of Mechanical Engineering. With over 35 years of academic and industry experience, he has published 60+ papers in energy systems, sustainability, and HVAC. He has led numerous regional and international research projects, including award-winning work on geothermal cooling in Dubai. A PhD graduate from Colorado State University, Prof. Kahwaji serves on editorial boards, SDG councils, and as a reviewer for leading journals. His current work focuses on smart cities, net-zero strategies, and advancing sustainable technologies in the UAE and beyond.

Samiullah Khan is CSO of Fakhruddin Holding, CEO of Saif AIR Tech, and Managing Director of Euka International, leading innovation in sustainability, Net Zero, and carbon capture. A trained Design Thinking expert with over 28 years of leadership experience, he has held senior roles including CEO of The Island (UAE) and Vice President of SRM University. He has launched institutions across education, healthcare, construction, and media, and formerly led Tata Motors in Saudi Arabia. A global strategist and advisor, he has worked across 52 countries, inspiring innovation and growth in diverse teams while mentoring thousands of students and professionals worldwide.

James is Managing Director, EMEA for Energi People with over 17 years of experience in MEP Building Services Engineering recruitment across the whole project lifecycle, within the UK, MENA & APAC regions. Appointed as a judge at the MEP Middle East Awards for the last three years, James is a recognised and respected expert in MEP Building Services across the MENA region.

James is also responsible for driving Energi People’s brand, values and services to clients across the globe, spearheading multi-disciplinary business development, 360 recruitment within MEP Building Services design – both contingency, retained and headhunting, and leading the growth of the building services design team.

Dr Anastasia Mylona, CIBSE's Technical Director, is a Chartered Engineer and a CIBSE Member. In her capacity, she leads CIBSE's Technical Team, shaping the institution's technical vision, defining knowledge priorities, and establishing policy positions. She previously served as CIBSE's Head of Research, overseeing the institution's knowledge and research activities. During this time, she fostered collaborations with both academia and industry, concentrating on developing guidance relevant to embodied carbon, circular economy principles, and providing crucial climate information for future-proofing buildings and their services. Her contributions extend to advising the Government on the implementation of Part O – Assessment of overheating risk in new dwellings in England, a component of Building Regulations. Her professional journey began with architectural training at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, followed by PhD studies at the Welsh School of Architecture, focusing on the environmental performance of buildings. Subsequently, she pursued post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford, exploring the impacts of climate change on the built environment.

Digital Transformation Strategist | Built Environment Innovator | Sustainability Advocate

Casey is a globally recognised leader in digital transformation for the built environment, with a unique ability to bridge visionary thinking and practical implementation. As the Chief Data & Digital Officer of Property Cortex, Casey empowers organisations to do things better, by design. His work accelerates the adoption of digital practices, smart data strategies, and open standards across real estate, architecture, engineering, and construction.

An architect by profession and a digital disruptor by passion, Casey is a contributor to the ISO 19650 series on information management using BIM, and played a central role in developing the CDBB Digital Twin Business Toolkit. As Chair of buildingSMART UK & Ireland, he champions the use of openBIM, IFC (ISO 16739), and digital twins (ISO 30173) to unlock greater value across asset lifecycles.

Casey is a frequent keynote speaker, known for his candid insights, engaging storytelling, and ability to cut through industry buzzwords with clarity and relevance. He regularly speaks across the GCC, Europe, Africa and the US, where his practical guidance resonates with developers, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, and policymakers alike.

Dr. Yianni Spanos, CEng MCIBSE, is a leading expert in sustainability, possessing over 25 years of experience in advising on significant projects across various real estate sectors. An expert in the development of zero carbon strategies and design, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance principles into real estate, and the adaptation to climate change. Dr. Spanos's professional background encompasses engineering, construction management, and building services, complemented by a PhD in Physics and a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD. As a recognised thought leader, he has contributed to award-winning projects in the Arabian Peninsula for more than a decade

Sandra Woodall is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Academy of Urbanism, and a recognised industry leader in sustainable architecture and urbanism. Based in Abu Dhabi, she leads Tangram Gulf’s MENA studio and brings over 30 years of design leadership in the UAE, with a focus on regionally responsive, environmentally and socially sustainable solutions. Work that is underpinned by a deep understanding of desert urbanism and a commitment to contextual design that integrates advanced technologies to minimise environmental impact.

A passionate environmentalist, award-winning architect, educator, and researcher, Sandra is the RIBA Regional Ambassador for Sustainability and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team of the RIBA Gulf Chapter. She co-founded and co-curates the Chapter’s “Sustainable Development Series,” advancing knowledge-sharing and best practice across the GCC to support the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the local context.

Outside of practice, Sandra is a regular keynote speaker at conferences, publishes articles and teaches Sustainable Design, Circularity and Sustainable Urbanism at Universities across the region.