Sustainable Water Security

Registration and Welcoming Reception

Opening of TRENDS’ Water Security Conference Side Exhibition

Water Security Intro video

Creative Show:

• Launching the Arabic Edition of “The Coming Storm: Why water will write the 21st century” Book by H.E. Sir Liam Fox
• Launching TRENDS Water Security Research Competition
• Launching TRENDS Water Security Youth Council

Master of Ceremonies:

• Mouza Al Mheiri, Researcher, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Welcoming Remarks:

• Dr. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Keynote Address:

• H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainable Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) – UAE.
• H.E. Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Belajer Al Romaithi, Department of Energy - Undersecrtary - UAE

Recognition Ceremony for Sponsors and Exhibitors

Break

Book signing ceremony of Arabic Edition of “The Coming Storm: Why water will write the 21st century” by H.E. Sir Liam Fox at TRENDS Exhibiting booth.

Panel 1: Shaping the future of water security

Water security and the larger sustainability picture: implications for food systems, economies and societies

This panel is comprised of senior policy leaders who will draw on their experience to describe why water security is a vital national and global issue. Panelists will go beyond considering water security as an individual issue, and will define its scope, exploring and understanding the impacts of water risk in the context of economies, societies, food systems, agricultural sectors, and ecological environments. The panel ends with participants’ views on what ought to be the future direction of water security on both national and global levels.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Abdulaziz Al Shehhi, Researcher, Deputy Head of Research Sector, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panelists:

• H.E. Sir Liam Fox, Former U.K. Secretary of State for Defence, Chairman of the UK Abraham Accords Group and author of “The Coming Storm: Why water will write the 21st century” – UK.
• H.E. Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University - UAE.
• Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative – UAE.

Panel 2: Transboundary water geopolitics – between conflict and cooperation

As major rivers around the world cross multiple borders, countries depend on their water for agriculture, economic activity, and national development. The ease with which upriver states can control water resources, however, means that transboundary water issues can cause geopolitical tension. Experts on this panel will explore how transboundary water issues have historically sparked conflicts, and conversely how conflict can be avoided through high levels of cooperation premised on fair and sustainable management of water resources.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Elyazia Al Hosani, Researcher, Deputy Head of Admin and Media Sector, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panelists:

• Professor Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research and UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation, Uppsala University, Department of Peace and Conflict Research - Sweden.
• Dr. Henrietta Toivanen, Advisor, Middle East and North Africa, CMI - Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation - Finland.
• Professor Cecilia Tortajada, Honorary Professor, School of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow - UK.
• Daniele Iacoboni, Co-founder and Chief R&D Officer, ANECO Middle East LLC, R&D Department – Italy.
• Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Higazy, Former Assistant Foreign Minster, Board member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Relations (ECFA), Director of North Africa Regional office NARO/ Uclga Africa (Cairo).

Lunch

TRENDS Youth Council Side Event at TRENDS Exhibiting booth.

Panel 3: Multilateralism and knowledge in the global water dialogue: the UN and the role of think tanks in promoting SDG 6

Multilateral diplomacy to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation – SDG 6 – is led by the UN and its agencies. Equally, the global cause of promoting SDG 6 can be facilitated by think tank activities such as convening stakeholder dialogues, leveraging partnerships with global research centers, developing technical and scientific knowledge, and supporting policy makers. Panelists will explore these and other synergies and develop recommendations on actions to support accelerating action on SDG 6.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Abdulla Al Khaja, Researcher, TRENDS Research & Advisory - UAE.

Panelists:

• Christophe Hodder, United Nations Climate Security and Environmental Advisor to Somalia – Kenya.
• Laura Birkman, Director of the Climate, Water and Food Security Programme at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) – Netherlands.
• Dhesigen Naidoo, Climate Adaptation Advisor to the South African Presidential Climate Commission; and Head of the African Climate Risk and Human Security Project at the Institute for Security Studies, Africa - South Africa.
• Dr. Amer Al Kindi, Former Lead Climate Adaptation Negotiator, COP28 UAE Presidency – UAE.
• Sultan Majed Al Ali, Researcher, Deputy Head of Dubai Office Sector, TRENDS Research & Advisory, co-author of book chapter titled “Climate and Regional Geopolitical Drivers: Water in the MENA region” – UAE.

End of day 1

Welcoming reception

Master of Ceremonies:

• Mouza Al Mheiri, Researcher, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panel 4: The role of finance and investment in transforming water systems

This session is comprised of high-level practitioners in the finance and investment space ranging from the start-up ecosystem to corporates and major financial institutions. Drawing on their experience as sponsors of successful businesses, panelists will focus on ways, means, and best practices of harnessing the potential of finance and investment to transform water systems and ensure water sustainability and security.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Latifa Ibrahim Al Jneibi, Researcher, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panelists:

• Robert C. Brears, Founder, Our Future Water - New Zealand.
• Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD – UAE.
• Ahmed Al Kalbani, Regional Manager for Africa, at Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) – UAE.
• Benjamin Davis, Economic Expert, Director of TRENDS South Africa office, TRENDS Research and Advisory - South Africa.

Panel 5: Technology and AI-driven approaches to future water sustainability & security

Innovation, science, and technology are the major levers through which future water sustainability will be ensured. Indeed, recent advances in technology – as well as the advent of AI – hold to the potential to create game-changing approaches to the challenge of water sustainability and security. This panel of experts will explore the most promising and cutting-edge technology and AI applications that may revolutionize the field.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Noor Saif Al Mazrouei, Researcher, Head of the AI program, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panelists:

• Prof. Saeed Alhassan Alkhazraji, Professor, Department of chemical engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, founder of UAE sustainable water start-up, Manhat – UAE.
• Prof. Philip Hart, Professor, Chief Researcher, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Center, Technology Innovation Institute (TII) – UAE.
• Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), and Director of Research and Weather Enhancement Department at the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) - UAE
• Dr. Hosni Ghedira, Professor, AI for Climate, Energy and Sustainability, Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence – UAE.
• Dr. Khalid Al Ghafli, Assistant Professor at the College of Engineering, UAE University – UAE.

Coffee break

Trends Youth Council Side Event at Trends Exhibiting booth.

Panel 6: Resilience and adaptive capacity in national water systems: Global case studies on mitigating water risk

The focus of this panel is on showcasing case studies that have used specific policies, technology, cross-sector collaboration, strategic partnerships, and other innovative approaches to successfully mitigate water risk and water stress. Panelists will explain how projects and initiatives they were involved in were implemented to achieve real-world improvements to water sustainability and security.

Panel discussion: (75 minutes)

Moderator:

• Stephen Scalet, Scientific Advisor in the Global Sector, TRENDS Research & Advisory – UAE.

Panelists:

• Professor Asit Biswas, Director, Water Management International Pte Ltd, Singapore; and Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow – UK.
• Dr. Ayman Ayad, Water & Social Infrastructure Programme Manager, Delegation of the European Union to Egypt – Cairo.
• Dr Hazim El-Naser, International Water Expert & Chairman and Founder of The Middle east Water Forum (MEWF), Former Minister of Water and Irrigation, Jordan, Former Minister of Agriculture, Jordan, Former member of the Jordan’s House of Representative – Jordan.
• Mouza Hasan Almarzooqi, Researcher, Head of Economic Studies Section, TRENDS Research & Advisory, co-author of book chapter titled “Climate and Regional Geopolitical Drivers: Water in the MENA region” – UAE.

Closing remarks & recommendations

Lunch