His Excellency Gabriel Abed is Barbados newly appointed Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Gabriel Abed is widely recognised as a leading authority on Central Bank digital currencies, math-based protocols and blockchain technology globally, and is the first entrepreneur to establish blockchain companies in the Caribbean from as early as 2010. The Barbados-based entrepreneur is internationally acknowledged as a pioneer in the digital currency evolution, having conceptualized and initiated the first global movement to encourage the use of Central Bank digital currencies.

Abed has led presentations and engaged in discussions with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Caribbean Development Bank and at various fora organised by Central Banks globally.

In 2010, Abed began studying distributed ledger technology at the University of Ontario where he graduated with honours in Information Technology Network Security later that year. Several months later in November 2010, he established the Caribbean’s first blockchain company. In 2013, he co-founded Bitt Inc. in Barbados, whose current flagship project is the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank national digital currency. 

Dr Mario Abela FCPA FCMA is Director of Standards with key responsibility for technical content and interoperability of standards at the Global Reporting Initiative. He is also the Course Convenor and Head Tutor on Governance for Sustainable Future at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leaderships. He is an expert advisor on Sustainability Reporting at Bain &Co and in the past has worked with clients such as United Nations, CERES, Value Balancing Alliance and the Capitals Coalition. He is the past Chair of World Intangible Capital Initiative and has held a number of positions on a number advisory boards for global accounting bodies. Mario is a recognized expert in accounting, reporting and governance. Mario holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of London, a Masters of Science from Linkoping University, Sweden and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has held senior executive positions in both the public and private sector and for the last decade has been working in the area of sustainability and the importance of accounting and governance in companies transitioning to operating in a sustainable economy. Mario is passionate about promoting the role accounting and governance can play in driving towards more sustainable businesses and is a frequent presenter at international conferences and seminars. 

Dr. Umid Abidhadjaev is currently Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance and Director of the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A position he has held since December 2024.

Previous positions include:

• Director of the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2021-2024)
• Deputy Director of the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2019-2021)
• Head of the analytical group for infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2019)
• Research Associate of Keio University, Japan. (2018-2019)
• Project consultant focusing on infrastructure investments impact evaluation, Asian Development Bank Institute. (2017-2018)
• Adjunct-researcher at Keio University, Japan (2014-2017)
• Research Associate at the Asian Development Bank Institute. (2014-2016)
• Specialist of the first category, leading specialist of the Department of External and Public Relations of the State Property Management of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2009-2011)

Umid Abidhadjaev graduated from Tashkent Islamic University with a major in World Economy and International Economic Relations, and holds a Ph.D. in Development Economics and International Development from Keio University, Japan.

Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid is the twice-elected African Union Commissioner in charge of Infrastructure, Energy & ICT. For more than 30 years, Dr Abou-Zeid has served in leadership positions in international organizations and has amassed a remarkable mix of experience from across continents and stakeholders.

She has managed AfDB largest operational portfolio and implemented national and continental multi-sectoral development programmes, including the world’s largest solar power plant. She launched the Single African Air Transport Market, African Single Energy Market, First African Digital Transformation Strategy as well as 2nd 10-year Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa - thus, delivering on major continental initiatives for African Integration under African Union Agenda 2063.

An Egyptian national, Dr Abou-Zeid holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering, Cairo University; MBA, Université Senghor; MPA, Harvard University; and Ph.D. Economic Development, The University of Manchester.

Dr. Abou-Zeid sets the example for women in STEM and in leadership positions; She is long named and recognised as champion of gender equality and is often voted one of Africa’s most influential women.

Career Diplomat with over 30 years of service in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and institutions. He currently serves as assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate, Environment and Sustainable Development Department.

Areas of specialization include Public International Law, Human Rights Law, United Nations practice and procedures, Democratic transitions and Constitutional Law, International Environmental Law and practice. 

Professor Abreu, served as Director of GenderInSITE, an international initiative to promote the role of women in science, innovation, technology, and engineering, and to demonstrate how applying a gender lens to SITE can provide deeper insights, more effective programmes and more sustainable outcomes in the context of development.

Professor Emerita of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, she is a sociologist by training and has worked on sociology of work and on gender and science. She was vice-president of the National Research Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil, Director of the Office of Education, Science and Technology of the Organization of American States, and Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the International Council for Science. In 2022 she was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Helena is currently the vice-president and president elected of the International Seaweed Association Council and a co-founder of the Portuguese Association of algae producers PROALGA. Other team members of ALGAplus are active in several international working groups that foster the sustainable development of the Seaweed sector.

Helena studied Marine Biology at the Azores and has worked in the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) concept for her PhD developed between Portugal, USA and Chile.

Sergio Abreu Bonilla has been ALADI's Secretary-General since 2020.

He is a Doctor of Law and Social Studies (JD Equivalent) from the University of the Republic of Uruguay, as well as a Senior Executive in National and International Security at the Harvard Kennedy School. He has also been Professor of History and Theory of Integration at the Universidad de Montevideo since 1996.

Sergio served as Senator of Uruguay between 1990-1993, 2005-2010, 2010-2015 and in 2020. Additionally, he was Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining (2000-2002) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1993-1995).

He has received a wide range of honors such as the Jerusalem Award; the Storey Award from the Texas University; the European Union ECU Medal as well as awards granted by States such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, Vatican and Venezuela.

Julian Abril is the Head of Facilitation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). He joined the IMO in August 2011, and he is the secretariat of the Facilitation Committee of IMO. Under his current responsibilities, he has participated in different regional and national technical cooperation activities to promote the ratification of the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, its effective implementation and single window projects.

Prior to joining IMO in 2011, he sailed as Chief Officer and Officer in charge of navigational watch in merchant ships before he joined the Spanish Maritime Administration in 1992. He has 30 years of experience in maritime administration on subjects related to safety, security, human factor, and facilitation, at national, regional and international level. He holds a Master degree on Merchant Marine from Cadiz University, Spain.