Lieutenant General H.H Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan

His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed AlNahyan is United Arab Emirates Minister of Interior (since October 2004) and Deputy Prime Minister (since May 2009).The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research - Profile. Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain and graduated with a B.S. in Political Science with a specialization in Political and Administrative Sciences.

Prior to his ministerial appointment in October 2004, SheikhSaif occupied several leadership positions. He was the Deputy Director of the Capital Police Department in 1994-1995 before becoming the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Police on October 23, 1995. On December 25, 1997 he became the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, retaining this post until his appointment as Minister of Interior.

On December 30, 2004 Sheikh Saif was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in accordance with Decree No. 84 of 2004. He was re-elected Minister of Interior in the Government formed by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. 

In addition to those positions, Sheikh Saif became the Head of the Federal Demographic Structure Council on November, 2009.

H.H. Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a pioneer in the realm of change and a leader in the development of policing as evident in the many achievements realized in recent years. Characterized by an openness of mind, he provides support for federal matters without overlooking local concerns. He believes in the importance of developing a non-policing role for the police and is convinced about the need to activate the youth in the country.

Sheikh Saif’s achievements in the realms of Police and Security include: launching the Community Police Project in 2003, founding the Ministry of Interior's Centers for Rehabilitating Persons with Special Needs in 2002 and the Social Support Center in 2004. He also directed the five-year strategy plan for the Abu Dhabi Police (2004-2008), as well as the five-year plan for the Ministry of Interior and oversaw the restructuring of the Abu Dhabi Police. Moreover, he sought a permanent solution to the problem of child jockeys in camel races and initiated a number of measures to counter this problem. He also launched the Iris Scan Project - which has succeeded in preventing more than 352,000 persons from returning to the UAE since the project was implemented nationwide. In addition Sheikh Saiflaunched the project of the Emirates Identity Authority.

Sheikh Saif has participated in several training sessions, including the special training session for paratroopers in 1991. He has received several medals and honors, including the Order of Merit for Dedicated Service in 2000, the Red Crescent Charitable medal, and the Order of Merit of the International Civil Defense Organization, ICDO (Commander Rank).

He obtained a B.S.in Political Science (with a specialization in Political and Administrative Sciences) from the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain. After graduating from the university, he joined the Police College in the second foundation session for graduates in 1990.

On February 15, 2010, Sheikh Saif was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor in Social Sciences from the University of Wolverhampton.

Under Sheikh Saif’s leadership, the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police have received numerous awards. Included among these, in 2010 the Ministry of Interior won 13 awards and medals as part of the UAE Award of Excellent Government Performance. In 2012, the Ministry of Interior received 10 awards and medals as part of the UAE Award of Excellent Government Performance. In 2009, Abu Dhabi Police won four categories in the “Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance” and in 2011 won the golden category of the “International Star for Leadership in Quality Award”.

The success of Sheikh Saif has also been evident during his current reign as the President of Bani Yas Sports and Cultural Club. During his presidency the football club has been promoted to the first division where it has become a consistent competitor in the UAE First Division League.

Prior to joining the WCO, he worked for Japan's Ministry of Finance for 25 years. During his career with the Ministry, Kunio occupied a variety of senior posts, which have given him broad experience in Customs, trade development, budget, and financial policies.

He served as Director of International Negotiations, Director of Enforcement, and Director of Research and International Affairs, in the Tariff and Customs Bureau. He also served as Director of Salaries and Allowances and as the Controller in the Budget Bureau. In addition, he spent time as a Counsellor at the Japanese Mission to the WTO in Geneva and participated in the GATT Uruguay Round trade negotiations. This experience enabled him to acquire an excellent knowledge of trade-related issues.

Kunio Mikuriya has a BA degree in law from the University of Tokyo (Japan) and a Ph.D in international relations from the University of Kent (United Kingdom).

John E. Scanlon has worked on environment and sustainable development policy, law, institutions and governance at the international, national, sub-national and local level.

His work experience has been gained in the private sector, in government, with the United Nations and with international organizations, as a leader, manager, professional adviser and legal practitioner, as well as through senior voluntary positions with the non government sector.

John joined CITES as Secretary-General in May, 2010.

George Weise is Executive Vice President for Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services Inc., resident in the Washington, D.C., office. He leads STTAS’ Government Services practice, providing leadership and advice to governments as well as private-sector business interests.

With over 35 years of service in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Weise is globally recognized as one of the foremost authorities on customs, trade and supply chain matters. As commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service from 1993 to 1997, he managed more than 20,000 employees responsible for enforcing hundreds of laws at U.S. borders and led the implementation of a historic agency reorganization and modernization. Following his retirement from government service he held executive-level positions in the private sector for more than a decade, advising clients on international trade matters and global compliance strategies.

Earlier in his career Mr. Weise served as staff director for the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, where his leadership, technical expertise and negotiating skills were crucial to the achievement of major trade initiatives including the NAFTA, the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Customs Modernization Act. He also gained experience as a supervisory attorney-advisor in the Office of Tariff Affairs at the U.S. International Trade Commission after beginning his career as a Customs import specialist in Baltimore, Md.
 

Dr. Susanne Aigner is Deputy Director Compliance and Facilitation at the World Customs Organization, where she is responsible for relations with the Private Sector Consultative Group with respect to initiatives such as the SAFE Framework, Globally Networked Customs, the WCO Data Model, the Revised Kyoto Convention and the Time Release Study.

Upon completing her Doctorate in Law, she worked at the Austrian Ministry of Finance in Vienna for several years.  She then moved to Brussels in 1995 and joined the European Commission to work on international customs matters and customs legislation, most recently as Acting Head of the Risk Management and Security Unit in DG Taxation and Customs Union.  At the EU, Susanne was extensively involved in the development and implementation of EU customs policy and legislation, including the Modernized Customs Code, the Common Risk Management Framework and the Authorized Economic Operator system.  

She has given many conference presentations and University lectures on customs legislation, supply chain security and management, risk management, AEO and mutual recognition with third countries. She has been published in several books as well as international and national specialized journals.

Philippe Amon is Owner, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SICPA HOLDING SA,Switzerland. SICPA has experience of working with sovereign governments in implementing product authentication and tax reconciliation systems which integrate ink-based covert features and sophisticated traceability technologies. Today, it is the only organisation with production-monitoring systems that successfully ensure the traceability of products and secure the collection of excise tax and VAT throughout the world.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

1982, BSc in Economic Science; studies in Business Administration, HEC University of Lausanne. 1983, De La Rue Company, UK; since 1984 with Sicpa; since 2011 Chairman of the Board and CEO.

HONORS

Medal of honour, Comendador Ordem de Rio Branco, Brazil

PHILANTHROPY

Significant contributor in fields such: science, medicine, education, culture, art, human rights, neuroscience research, personally and through:

- Argaman Foundation

- SICPA Foundation

Funding of Medical Centers, Construction and support of Trauma Surgery Units, Hadassah; Classrooms establishment and educational programs; Doctors’ medical training Lausanne University Hospital CHUV; EPFL & Hebrew University’s Neuroscience programs.
 

His Excellency Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash is a member of the Federal Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates, holding two cabinet portfolios. He was appointed in 2006 by the Prime Minister as Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs. In February of 2008, he was also appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

His Excellency obtained his Ph. D. from King's College, Cambridge and he also holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's Degree in Political Science from George Washington University. In addition to his ministerial position, His Excellency holds a number of positions including:

Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking effective 2007 to date.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai School of Government effective 2008 to date.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees' Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation effective 1995 to date.
Deputy Chairman of the Permanent National Committee for Demographic Structure effective 2008 to date. 
Member of the Ministerial Legislative Committee effective 2006 to date.
Member of the Board of Trustees' of the Emirates Nationals Development Program effective 2005 to date.
Member of the Dubai Economic Council effective 2003 to date.

His Excellency has previously held a range of senior positions within several local and federal government in the UAE including:

Chairman of the National Election Committee during the period from 8/2006 to 2/2007.
Board Member of the Emirates Media establishment during the period from 1999 to 2007.
Board member on the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry DCCI during the period from 1997-2006.

Des Vertannes' career in aviation spans four decades joining IATA from Etihad where he was Executive Vice President Cargo since April 2007 and prior to that Head of Cargo at rival Gulf Air. Des began with British Airways in 1970 and during 14 years at the airline he held several management posts including Cargo Manager Gulf States and Saudi Arabia in the early Eighties.

In 1984 he established and managed his own forwarding business before joining Air Canada as GM Cargo in 1991 responsible for Europe, Africa and Middle-East.His next move was to ground handling company Menzies Aviation where he served as Chief Executive at Air Menzies International (AMI) and Managing Director Menzies World Cargo between 1999 and 2005.

In June 2010 he joined IATA as Global Head of Cargo and is based in Geneva. 

Leading Dubai Trade to become the innovative trade e-hub of the world, served as the CIO of Dubai World Corporate Departments before taking up his current position as the CEO of Dubai Trade. A Member of The UAE National Committee of World Trade Organization and an Executive Board Member of The UAE Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He was the former Acting Director of E-Services of Dubai E-Government. Al Bastaki has a Master degree in Electrical Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute - USA and a graduate of Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Development Program.

 

Tom Barnes is the CEO of Integration Point, Inc., a leading provider of Global Trade Management solutions. 

Mr. Barnes has led teams across the world in developing and supporting large scale international applications throughout his career. Recognizing the need for integrated trade solutions, Mr. Barnes founded Integration Point with the purpose of creating the premier Global Trade Management platform.

Mr. Barnes works daily with trade compliance leaders in developing and executing their global strategy.  He has international trade experience that spans most continents and industries and has seen first-hand what works and does not work when executing on a Global Trade strategy.

Mr. Barnes has built a team at Integration Point that spans the world, delivers global visibility to the largest multinational corporations, and supports regulatory requirements for over 150 countries.
 

Pablo Castellvi has worked as an architect in the private sector from 1991 until 2008 developing building projects of various scales and thematic areas, both in the projecting of the works and management phases, in different implementation modalities.

Since 2008, he has held advisory positions in the Infrastructure Direction within the Federal Administration of Public Revenue and later became Director of this area. This technical area is responsible for the execution of all works of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue throughout the country.

Mr Chapman has been in DAFF since February 2007. Prior to this he worked in Customs for

Hussam Juma Mohammed is currently the Head of Enterprise Business Architecture at Dubai Customs Dubai, UAE. Hussam is holds M.Sc. in Computer Science and B.Sc. in Computer Information System. Hussam started his career as an IT Manager at Ousha Cultural Centre in Dubai and then moved to HSBC Bank Dubai as a Senior system analyst. Hussam worked with Dubai Courts an Analyst/Senior Programmer before joining Dubai Customs in the year 2007. Hussam has a total work experience of over 13 years. At Dubai Customs, he is accountable for managing and delivering the enterprise business architecture and knowledge management  functions with focus in enterprise architecture development, knowledge management, capability maturity assessment, business migration planning, business process management, enterprise architecture governance, organization design, IT strategic planning, project portfolio management, organization change & transformation, service oriented architecture, and research & development.

Mr. Ghaleb Al Saraireh joined Jordan Customs Department in 1975. He first took up his duties as   a customs officer at several customs houses. He was then promoted to head several key positions, inter alia,  DG's Office, Transit Directorate,  Jaber Customs Center, Aqaba Customs Center and Amman customs center.

Later on, he was appointed a commissioner for revenues and customs at the Board of Commissioners of the Development and Free Zones Commission on 2/9/2010. After that, he occupied the position of Director General of the Customs Department on 22/10/2008 via a royal decree.

Since he commenced his service as a Director General for Jordan customs, Mr. Al Saraireh has embraced and adopted several developmental projects and initiatives such as; Transit Monitoring and Facilitation system (e-tracking), e-connectivity with member administration and local agencies affiliated with Customs matters, single window project and many others. Such efforts have substantially contributed to the administration's renowned process of reform and modernization that placed Jordan among the key global players in promoting cooperation and exchange of expertise and best practices within the frameworks of security and facilitation of global trade supply chain.

Rob Meerman is associate partner in IBM’s Global Business Services Public Sector. He has over 20 years consultancy and management experience in a large variety of customer assignments. He gained significant experience in the Public sector especially on topics like; business & IT alignment, IT governance, eGovernment and CRM. Rob is a member of IBM’s global Customs Borders and Revenue Management (CBRM) team, with focus on business development in the Tax and Customs domain. Major projects in the Tax domain in which he contributed are; development of eTax framework, single point of contact for Tax clients and pre-filled Tax declarations. His contribution to project’s in the Customs domain focuses on asset development for IBM’s eCustoms framework, like; Excise movement control, Declaration management, Risk management, Tariff and Customs Messaging Handling.

He is managing IBM’s contribution to the EU funded (7FP) CASSANDRA project.

CASSANDRA (Common assessment and analysis of risk in global supply chains) adresses the visibility needs of business and government in the international flow of containerised cargo to and from the EU by integrating existing information systems in global supply chain.

For IBM Netherlands he is managing and responsible for IBM’s services project portfolio at Dutch Tax and Customs Agency. Currently IBM delivers the new Declaration Management System (DMS) and Customs Tariff system for Dutch Customs. The new DMS application is one of the key assets in IBM’s eCustoms framework. Rob Meerman holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and in Information Management.

Major General Carl Setorwu MODEY is a career military officer who was seconded from the Ghana Armed Forces to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority as Commissioner on 28 November 2010. In his four decades of military career, he held several important command and staff appointments in and outside Ghana. He participated and also commanded multinational troops in a number of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations namely, Sinai, South Lebanon, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. General Modey holds two Masters Degrees; Master of Military Art and Science (MMAS) from the United States Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

He is married with children and just started playing golf.

Mr. Ercan SAKA has been working in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)–Department of Safeguards as a Nuclear Trade Analyst since January 2012.

He is currently tasked with the analysis of the state relevant factors in the framework of  non-proliferation of nuclear related material and equipment; overview of open sources; global trade analysis; export control; proliferation risk indicators and financing; building international partnership.

Before  joining the IAEA, he acted as the head of the United Nations Drugs and Control Office (UNODC)-Turkmenistan  Country office  between 2006  and 2011. He closely worked with the  national and international partners, in particular  with the national Customs and other national  law enforcement community to improve the country’s overall prevention, detection and response capacity to drugs and other types of organized crime and terrorism, promoting bilateral and regional cooperation.

Before joining the UNODC, he worked at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Enforcement and Compliance Sub-Directorate between 1994-2002 as a senior Technical officer. He was charged with the Organization’ enforcement  programs related to commercial fraud, nuclear smuggling, CITES, risk assessment, information and intelligence exchange, multilateral legal instruments and international partnership.

Beside his vast international experience, his professional career includes a number of  significant tasks and positions in the Turkish Customs service. He acted as a Customs investigator, Deputy Director General, Director General and Senior Advisor during 1979-1994 and 2002-2006.

During his career at Bureau Veritas Government Services and International Trade Division (GSIT), Elie Sawaya helped many governments in bridging the gaps and leveraging their public services through capacity building programs. He assisted governmental authorities in setting up their business plan for their integrated border management solutions and followed the execution of the defined strategies. He is specialized in Risk Management and e-government solutions.

Besides developing the strategic positioning for the integrated border management e-government solutions, he built strategic partnerships with technological key players in the field. Furthermore, he led the development of a supply chain risk management solution for fraudulent shipment targeting.

On the other hand, Elie managed major governmental contracts launching, reorganizing and negotiating tasks for Bureau Veritas GSIT in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His main fields of expertise are Contract Management, Quality Systems, Supply Chain Management, Operational Excellence, Large Scale e-Government Solutions and Risk Management.

Mohammed Sharaf is the first group Chief Executive Officer of DP World, the global port operator formed in 2005 with the integration of the domestic and international arms of the Dubai Ports organisation. 

Mr Sharaf has over two decades of experience in the transport and logistics business. He began his shipping career working at Holland Hook terminal in the Port of New York/New Jersey.  He joined Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) in 1992 and rose rapidly through the organisation holding a number of senior positions and playing a central role in the extraordinary development of Dubai's container terminals at Jebel Ali and Port Rashid, which, combined, have become a top ten global terminal facility. 

In 2001, he became the first Managing Director of the newly established Dubai Ports International (DPI), the international ports management arm of Dubai Ports.  Mr Sharaf managed a major international growth strategy that included the successful acquisition of CSX WT in 2004 and of the P&O Group in 2006, making DP World one of the top terminal operators in the world and the operator with the widest network.  Today, DP World has a multinational team of around 30,000 people operating over 60 terminals globally.

Mr Sharaf holds a Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Roger has over 30 years’ experience in customs and border management areas covering national and international policy, operational activities and trade security issues.  He was previously the New Zealand Customs Counsellor in both Brussels and Washington DC; a lead Customs trade negotiator, and a member of the New Zealand Customs Senior management team with national responsibility for managing their international airport operations.

In October 2011, Roger joined the Ministry for Primary Industries as the Deputy Director-General, Verification and Systems.  In this role, Roger has responsibility for leading New Zealand’s border biosecurity activities, and for the verification and certification of New Zealand’s primary sector exports.

Mr. Freek van Zoeren joined the Netherlands Food and Consumer Products Safety Authority (NVWA) as deputy inspector general in January 2010. The NVWA is responsible for safeguarding food and consumer products safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare. As deputy inspector general Freek van Zoeren is responsible for the overall operation of the Authority, including the development of modern control programs and supervision philosophy.

Freek has a background in running very large and high-volume services as well as control and fiscal and financial investigation operations. He was previously in charge of the Customs Authorities in the west part of The Netherlands (including the region ofSchiphol Airport). Prior to that, Freek has worked in numerous public sector roles in the Tax and Customs Administration, including several management positions. 

Jorge Casal is Senior Vice President Tax Free Shopping of Global Blue since 2008. In this function he is responsible for Tax Free Shopping product. Overall, Mr. Casal has had 17 years of continued experience as a Manager in various companies based in Argentina, Spain, UK and in Switzerland.

Mr. Casal joined Global Blue in 1999 as a Country Manager in Argentina (1999-2002). He then was appointed Country Manager for Spain (2003-2006) and was recruited as an Area Manager for Spain, Portugal, Argentina & Mexico (2004-2006). Finally, he assumed the position of Vice President Sales for the Mediterranean & Latin America (2006-2007), before becoming Vice President Sales for the UK, Mediterranean & Latin America Area (2007-2008).

Prior to joining Global Blue, Mr. Casal worked for Tia SA, one of the largest retail companies in Argentina, where he was responsible for several business units for a period of 4 years. Mr. Casal is an Argentinean and Spanish national. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

Christophe Hypolite graduated a Master of Engineering in ICT. He joined the French Customs in 2003 as head of Telecommunications and Networks team. He has worked before as project manager for France Telecom.

Mark has considerable international experience, and is currently responsible for the sales and marketing of the Autotariff software in the Americas, Europe and Far East.

As a graduate of engineering, with an international business degree, Mark has considerable experience in the implementation of technology within organisations. He has managed many projects in his career, and has been involved in both the technology and commercial aspects of the projects.

Mr Nakatani is the Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore that is scheduled to become operational in late 2014. The IGCI, as a research and development facility for the identification of crimes and criminals, will provide innovative training and operational support for law enforcement across the globe.
During the building’s ongoing construction, Mr Nakatani oversees and coordinates the creation and development of the programs and services that will be delivered from the IGCI by INTERPOL to its 190 member countries.
Mr Nakatani previously held the post of Director of Information Systems and Technology at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters (2008-2011), overseeing the development of innovative IT services for the global law enforcement community. He also served as Assistant Director of INTERPOL’s Financial and High Tech Crime (2007-2008) where he specialized in cybercrime and cyber security issues.
Mr Nakatani holds the rank of Commissioner at the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan. Prior to his secondment to INTERPOL, Mr Nakatani was Special Advisor to the Commissioner General of the NPA of Japan and Director of the Transnational Organized Crime Office (2011), where he was in charge of supervising major transnational organized crime investigations as well as the formulation of strategic priorities at the national level.
Mr Nakatani was also the Senior Assistant Director for Cyber Crime Division of the NPA (2004-2007). His work in this position included responsibility for policy and planning in the area of cybercrime across the nation. For example, he initiated the establishment of the Internet Hotline Center as one of the cornerstone measures to combat cybercrime, as well as represented the National Police Agency to the G8 Rome/Lyon High Tech Crime Sub-Group.

Mr. S.P. Sahu serves at the World Customs Organization as Technical Officer in the Area of Facilitation & Compliance. He is a lead resource on several WCO instruments such as the WCO Data Model, the Compendium on How to Build a Single Window Environment, the UCR, Guidelines on Information and Communications Technology for the Revised Kyoto Convention and Advance Passenger Information(API) and Passenger Name Record(PNR) Data transmission to governments. He has worked for several national and international initiatives concerning trade facilitation and Customs automation and has advised governments on issues concerning Single Window, Coordinated Border Management and information management issues. He speaks and writes frequently on these matters at various national and international events.

Earlier in his carrier with the Indian Customs administration, he has served in Customs clearance operations and enforcement positions. Thereafter, for nearly 10 years, he worked as executive on projects Customs automaton, EDI and Risk Management System with Indian Customs. He has received separate masters degrees in Computer Sciences and Business Administration.