4 - 5 May 2026
Dubai, UAE

Speakers

Dr Vassilis P. Marinos

President International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG)Associate Professor of Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics National Technical University of Athens

Dr. Marwan Alzaylaie

Senior Manager – Geotechnical Engineering Dubai Development Authority

Karim Khalaf

Geotechnical Consulting Manager
FUGRO

Jose Thomas

VP – Infrastructure
Sobha Siniya Island

Sergei Terzaghi

Senior Principal
Aosullivan and Associates (AUS)

Finlay Leibrick

Practice Director, Ground Engineering MEA,
AECOM

Dr. Ala Sainak

Geotechnical Lead (PMC – ADNOC)
SNC Lavalin

Prof. Michał Topolnicki

Senior Technical Advisor
Keller

Dr. Hossam Ali

Geotechnical Director
ATM, a Geosyntec Company

Rhea Albelda

Regional Geotechnical Director (AMECA)
Robert Bird Group

Spyridon Konstantis

Partner
Ruler Consult

Imraan Motara

Head of Ground Engineering – Senior Technical Director
WSP

Dr. Tarek Abdoun

Head Civil & Urban Engineering
New York University Abu Dhabi

Ilias K. Michalis

Senior Geotechnical and Tunnel Consultant(AMECA)
INFRA Design & Consulting Engineers CO / SALFO S.A.

Franz-Werner Gerressen

Director of Method Development Department
BAUER Maschinen GmbH

Dr. Rita Sousa

Associate Professor, Civil and Urban Engineering
New York University Abu Dhabi

Thanawat Chuleekiat

Senior Principal - Geotechnical
Mott MacDonald

Rahul Sai Nambiar

Geotechnical Director
Pinnacle Piling Foundation LLC

Georgios Chrysovitsiotis

Head of Engineering
Binladin Contracting Group

Walid Mekni

Lead Geotechnical Engineer
Tebodin Middle East Ltd.

Dr. Mohamed Maghazy

Tunnel & Geotechnical Manager,
SYSTRA

Khalid Salman Ansari

Managing Director
Terra Melius

Hamzah M. B. Al-Hashemi

CEO & Technical Director, GeoStruXer

Nabeel Bux

Head of Geotechnics
Mirage

Dr. Ahmed Ali Ghareeb

Chief Specialist

Savithri Devi Thirunahari

Principal Geotechnical Engineer
Qualiconsult & Tasareeh Abu Dhabi

Karim Khalaf

Geotechnical Consulting Manager FUGRO

Karim Khalaf, currently serving as the Geotechnical Consulting Manager at Fugro, boasts an impressive three-decade journey in the field. He joined Fugro as a Geotechnical Engineer in 2002. Over the past 23 years at Fugro, he’s spent 17 years in the dynamic Middle East, gaining a profound understanding of the region’s unique challenges.
Karim’s passion lies in geotechnical problem-solving, where he excels in foundation assessment, safety optimisation, and the seamless integration of ground characterisation. His academic journey started with a Civil Engineering degree from Ecole spéciale des Travaux publics, du Bâtiment et de l’Industrie, France, and he further enriched his knowledge with a postgraduate degree from Texas A&M University in 1992.

Karim believes that coaching is not about making team members learn, but rather empowering them by removing obstacles in their path.

In his spare time, Karim shares his expertise as a visiting lecturer at the Heriot-Watt University. With his wealth of experience and dedication to the field, Karim Khalaf stands as a respected figure in the geotechnical community.

Waheed M. Baamer

Saudi Geological Survey

Current position: Director of Applied Geology Center in the Saudi Geological Survey
Years of Experience: 24 years
Scope of Work: engineering geological and geotechnical studies.
I have led and participated in several engineering geological projects throughout my career.
I have attended many specialized training courses and participated in many workshops and
gave scientific and introductory lectures on engineering geology.