Healthcare Leaders Summit – 2nd Edition, 13 September 2026
2nd Edition · Riyadh
- Date
- 13 September 2026
- Venue
- Rafal Tower by JW Marriott Riyadh
- Format
- In person event
- Doors
- Registration and networking from 09:00
Overview
Overview
- Date
- 13 September 2026
- Venue
- Rafal Tower by JW Marriott Riyadh
- Format
- In person event
- Doors
- Registration and networking from 09:00
Saudi Arabia continues to set a global benchmark for healthcare transformation. The 2nd Edition of the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit in Riyadh will convene policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to explore the future of integrated, technology-driven healthcare systems. Discussions in Riyadh will tackle high-priority themes such as digital health ecosystems, preventative care, talent development, and addressing lifestyle-related diseases—core pillars supporting the nation’s ambitious healthcare vision.
Stay tuned for more updates.
On stage
Speakers
Agenda · 13 September 2026
Healthcare Leaders Summit
Break
National Anthem & Opening Ceremony
Welcome Address by Khuloud Al Omian, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East
Theme 1 · From Strategy to Impact: Building Resilient Healthcare Economy
Spotlight Address: From Education to Execution - Developing Saudi Arabia’s Next Gen Healthcare Leaders
Explore how leading educational institutions, industry partnerships and a culture of lifelong learning can help build the leadership capabilities and talent Saudi Arabia needs to advance its healthcare ambitions.
Randa BessisoFounding Director & CEO, Middle East, The University of Manchester, Dubai (UAE)
Audience QnA with Stephen White, Senior Conference Manager, Forbes Middle East
Saudi Arabia's Health Economy - The Next Growth Frontier
A high-level conversation on how investment, life sciences innovation, and strategic partnerships are unlocking new growth opportunities and positioning Saudi Arabia among the world's most dynamic healthcare markets.
H.E. Dr Khalid bin Adnan Al-BurikanDeputy Minister for Investment, Ministry of Health, KSA
Sally MousaModeratorSenior Presenter Forbes Middle East
National Ambition, Global Standards - Building a World-Class Health System
Explore how public-sector leadership, industrial capability, and strategic collaboration are strengthening healthcare performance, expanding capacity, and positioning the Kingdom among the world's leading healthcare markets.
Dr. Emad Almohammadi, Chief Officer of Communicable Diseases Control, Public Health Authority
Prof. Ahmed Aljedai, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, SPIMACO
Konstantinos DeligiannisPresident, Eurasian and African Growth Markets, GE Healthcare (Greece)
Jayda ShoukryModeratorContent Producer Forbes Middle East
Capital, Partnerships, and Growth - Investing in Saudi Arabia's Healthcare Future
A leadership dialogue on how investors, healthcare leaders, and public-sector stakeholders are leveraging partnerships to unlock new growth opportunities, scale innovation, strengthen healthcare capacity, and position the Kingdom as a leading healthcare investment destination.
Prof. Awad Al-OmariCEO, Almana Medical Group (KSA)
Bassam ChahineCEO, SMC Healthcare
Faisal AbdulhadiRegional Director – Healthcare & Education, Australian Trade and Investment Commission
Dr. Tahir HussainModeratorCEO, Canadian Specialist Hospital Group (UAE)
Theme 2 · Aligning Capital and Capability: Long-Term Value Creation
Scaling Private Healthcare - Efficiency, Expansion, and Market Confidence
Explore how leading private healthcare providers are expanding capacity, enhancing operational excellence, and attracting investment while strengthening confidence in the Kingdom's emergence as a leading healthcare market.
Eng. Muteab Abdullah Altukeas, CEO, Dallah Healthcare Company
Joseph HazelGroup CEO, Apex Health (Qatar)
Marc Antoine ZoraCEO - Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META), Philips (UAE)
Michael SchelperModeratorOperating Partner, Deerfield (Qatar)
Beyond the Pilot: What It Takes to Make Health AI Work at National Scale (Arabic Session)
Explore what it takes to move health AI beyond successful pilots and into everyday care at national scale—connecting data, digital services, and care delivery while strengthening accountability, measuring outcomes, and building the capabilities needed for sustainable adoption.
Eng. Mohannad Alrasheed, CEO, Lean Business Services
Budour MousaModeratorPresenter, Forbes Middle East
Spotlight Address: The Future of Specialised Healthcare and the Importance of Centres of Excellence in the Saudi Healthcare Sector (Arabic Session)
Dr. Ghazai Al ThubaitiRegional Director Central Region, Magrabi Health
Networking Lunch
Backing Breakthroughs - Financing the Future of Health and Life Sciences
Delve into how investors, institutions, and research leaders are funding breakthrough science, accelerating commercialisation, and strengthening the foundations of a globally competitive health and life sciences ecosystem.
Dr Abdulrahman Alshaya, Chairman of Collaboration and Partnerships, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs- KAIMRC
Dr. Yassin AlhamadDirector of Medical Affairs, Hevolution Foundation (KSA)
Dr. Ibrahim AlnajashiChairman, NAJASHI Holding (KSA)
AnaMaria MeshkurtModeratorPartner, AMVS Capital (KSA)
Theme 3 · Value-Driven Patient Care: Digital Foundations, Precision Therapies, and Preventive Models
Intelligent Care Delivery - AI Redefining Performance Across the Care Continuum
Leadership insights on how AI, robotics, automation, and digital infrastructure are enhancing clinical decision-making, optimising care delivery, and improving outcomes across the healthcare continuum.
Björn BodensteinManaging Director Saudi Arabia, Siemens Healthineers (KSA)
Dr Howard S. PodolskyMD JD MBA FCLM, CEO, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (KSA)
Dr. Sarper TanliExecutive Director, Middle East and Africa, Mass General Brigham (UAE)
Nada HassanModeratorCo-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Nuxera AI (KSA)
The Global Biopharma Playbook: Rethinking the Path from Discovery to Delivery
An exclusive leadership conversation on how changing models of drug development, strategic partnerships, and global biopharma capabilities are reshaping the journey from scientific discovery to commercialisation and opening new opportunities across emerging healthcare markets.
Dr. Steve YangCo-CEO, WuXi AppTec (China)
Stephen WhiteModeratorSenior Conference Manager , Forbes Middle East
The Precision Revolution – Advancing Genomics, Longevity, and Life Sciences
Explore how genomics, biotechnology, advanced therapeutics, precision diagnostics, and longevity science are accelerating the shift toward earlier intervention, targeted treatments, and more personalised approaches to health.
Dr Mohammad Abouammoh, Senior Director – Oncology & Hematology Medical Affairs, Eli Lilly and Company
Sameh Azzam, Senior Director, Biotechnology, MENA Injectables, Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Mubarak Al ShardanSenior Director – Saudi Arabia, Oracle Health and Life Sciences (KSA)
Fadi SmeiratModeratorPartner - MENA HealthCare & Life Sciences Sector Leader, EY
Theme 4 · Healthcare as a Growth Engine: Pharma Localisation, Workforce Excellence, and Global Competitiveness
From Market to Manufacturing - Expanding the Kingdom's Pharmaceutical Footprint
Understand how localisation, advanced manufacturing, R&D capabilities, resilient supply chains, and strategic partnerships are expanding pharmaceutical capabilities and strengthening the Kingdom's position as a regional pharmaceutical hub.
Mohamed Batterjee, Managing Director, Batterjee Pharma
Ismail ShehadaCEO Tabuk Pharmaceuticals (KSA)
Dr. Gunjan BhardwajFounder & CEO, Partex AI
Rehan AhmedModeratorActing CEO, Arabio (KSA)
Excellence by Design - Talent, Leadership, and Patient-Centred Care
Leadership perspectives on how talent, clinical excellence, and patient-centred care are strengthening healthcare quality, elevating outcomes, and reinforcing the Kingdom's standing among leading healthcare systems.
Prof. Peter James GoadsbyDean of the Biomedical Sciences Division (BMS), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KSA)
Prof. Naiem MoiemenChair of Medical and Scientific Research Council, Ahl Masr Burn Hospital (Egypt)
Walaa albenayanDirector of Medical Affairs GCC, Biogen Arabia (KSA)
Dr. Paul SetlakModeratorFounder and CEO, Al-Ghaf Dynamics (UAE)
Theme 5 · Advancing Healthcare Frontiers: Enabling Seamless Care
Connected Care Ecosystems: Digitising Access, Integration, and Patient Experience
Leadership insights on how interoperable health data, secure digital ecosystems, and virtual care models are expanding access, strengthening care coordination, and enhancing patient outcomes.
M. Sofia Pires Macedo, Advisor, Center for National Health Insurance
Eng. Muayad SimbawaManaging Director, Middle East, Nemetschek Group (KSA)
Prof. Selwa A.F. Al-HazzaaFounder & Chairman of Board, SDM (KSA)
Yosr HamzaModeratorFounder, Yusr
Building Healthier Communities – Making Wellbeing Part of Everyday Life
Explore how prevention, digital innovation, education, and leadership are embedding wellbeing into everyday life to create healthier, more resilient communities.
Mark GuildeaManaging Director, Interact Healthy
Mohammed HusaryFounder & CEO, Viwell Lifestyle, UAE
Dr. Nairouz BaderCEO, Envision Partnership
Viwe KuneneModeratorPresenter Forbes Middle East
End of Conference
Moderators
Moderators
Getting there
Rafal Tower by JW Marriott Riyadh.
From dunes that form a timeless space of beauty to a city rich in history, culture and wonder, Riyadh effortlessly blends an ancient past with a scintillating present. Discover Saudi Arabia’s capital from an elevated perspective, where the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh that rises above it all lets you reset and warm the soul in all the soothing spaces that surround you.
From previous editions