DUBAI PRECIOUS METALS CONFERENCE

Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | DMCC

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading international business district in 2025 with over 26,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 90,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC was named ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.

Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working in 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project, the Uptown Dubai district.

Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).

The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process (KP) in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the KP for 2016. Mr Bin Sulayem was reappointed Chair of the KP for a historic second time in 2024, and has continued his leadership role with the position of Custodian Chair in 2025.

H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

Minister of Foreign Trade

His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Trade. He is
responsible for leading the development of non-oil foreign trade, the expansion of global trade partnerships,
and increasing UAE exports.

As part of his role, H.E. Al Zeyoudi leads the nation’s efforts to secure Comprehensive Economic
Partnerships Agreements (CEPAs) with strategic allies around the world, which supports the UAE’s aim to
boost non-oil trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031. In May 2022, the first of these CEPAs, and the first ever bilateral
deal signed by the UAE, was concluded with long-standing trade and investment partner India.

H.E. Al Zeyoudi’s leadership in global trade was recognized with his appointment as Chair of the 13th
Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13) held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, where
he was instrumental in ensuring the successful delivery of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a package of
agreements that helped to advance open, rules-based trade.

H.E. Al Zeyoudi also overseas efforts to enhance the UAE’s investment climate and strengthen its position
as a prime destination for business and investments at both regional and global levels. This includes his
portfolio as Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, in which he ensures the best global
talents have the pathways, incentives and opportunities to contribute to the UAE’s long-term economic
objectives. H.E. Al Zeyoudi’s leadership in this area has helped to strengthen the UAE’s position as a
preferred destination for global talent and increase the UAE’s economic competitiveness on the world stage.

H.E. Al Zeyoudi also serves as Vice Chairman of the Industry Development Council and Chairman of the
Council’s Executive Committee, as well as Deputy Chairman of Etihad Credit Insurance’s Board of Directors.
He is also a member of the Supreme Committee for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the
decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Foreign Trade in June 2025, he held the position of Minister of State
for Foreign Trade (2020-2025), and also previously served as Minister of Climate Change and Environment
(2016-2020), where he supervised the implementation of the country’s strategies on climate action,
agricultural development, animal husbandry and fisheries, in addition to combating desertification and
preserving biodiversity.

Feryal Ahmadi

Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, DMCC

Feryal Ahmadi serves as the Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of DMCC, playing a pivotal role in cementing its status as the world’s leading authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.

With two decades’ experience, Feryal oversees DMCC’s long-term strategic growth, driving corporate governance excellence and fostering initiatives that amplify global trade flows through Dubai. She has been instrumental in shaping and managing the development of DMCC’s flagship Uptown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) business districts, as well as spearheading the innovative DMCC Smart and Sustainable District Strategy.

As an official DMCC spokesperson, Feryal represents DMCC on global platforms, engaging with local and international media to elevate the organisation’s profile and champion Dubai’s thought leadership credentials on the world stage. Her influence has earned her repeated recognition in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen, and she was named one of Arabian Business’s Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in 2025.

As a vocal advocate for sustainability, inclusivity, and women in leadership, Feryal is a member of the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) committee, established by UN Global Compact and UN Women. She leads DMCC’s comprehensive sustainability programmes and actively contributes to a number of semi-governmental boards across the UAE.

Feryal holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the American University of Sharjah and an Executive MBA from Harvard University.

David Tait

CEO
World Gold Council

David has been the CEO of the World Gold Council since 2019.

During his 35 years in the financial services industry, David has worked for a variety of reputed firms. He was a Managing Director of Credit Suisse Investment Banking division, based in London until 2016, where he was the Global head of the Macro Products Division (Interest Rates, Fx and Commodities) and sat as a member of the Fixed Income Management Committee. Prior to this role, David was the Global Head of Credit Suisse’s Foreign Exchange and Short-Term Interest Rate Trading.

Previously, he held a partner position at the hedge fund Bluecrest Capital. Prior to this, he was Global Head of FX Proprietary Trading at Credit Suisse for six years until 2002. He started his career in FX market making and Proprietary trading at Goldman Sachs in 1984.

Additionally, he played an active and impactful leadership role in the Securities Accelerated Leadership Program [women returning to the work environment] as well as advancing the industry’s diversity and culture initiatives. He has been the firm’s Macro Financial Market Regulator liaison – PRA, FCA, FED, FINMA & MAS.

He is currently an Independent Member of the Bank of England’s FICC Market Standards Board [FMSB] and also chairs the Precious Metals working group.

David is also a major supporter and ambassador of the NSPCC and has raised over £8 million for the charity. In 2013 he climbed Everest for the fifth time in support of the charity’s work and set a world-first in 2007 by performing the very first North-South traverse of Everest.

He was a former NSPCC Trustee (2011 -2014) and was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2010 for his services to the charity. David now chairs the charity’s Rebuilding Childhoods Board, caring for sexually abused children.

In February 2020, the movie “Sulphur & White”, an account of David’s life experiences, had its Royal Premier. Proceeds from the film benefit the Nspcc.

From 2010-12 David was also chair of the Child’s Eye Foundation, a Ugandan based, infant relief and rescue charity.

For more information, visit www.davidtait.com

Frederic Panizzutti

Managing Director
NGSA

Frederic Panizzutti joined Numismatica Genevensis, a world-leading Swiss numismatic company, as Managing Director in 2025, following a 27-year career in C-level positions at MKS PAMP, a leading Swiss precious metals refining and trading group.
Throughout his career, Frederic's primary focus has been managing relationships, transactions, and business development with the central banking sector. His responsibilities have spanned high-level advisory, relationship management, and oversight functions, supporting central banks and sovereign institutions in navigating complex reserve-related decisions.
Operating consistently at the intersection of global financial markets, geopolitics, and sovereign asset management, his work has given him a nuanced understanding of the geostrategic, geoeconomic, institutional, and macroeconomic considerations shaping central bank reserve management in an increasingly multipolar, fragmented, and uncertain global landscape.
Frederic is also an Executive Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), a foundation supported by the Swiss government and governed by 55 member states and the Canton of Geneva. Headquartered in Geneva, the GCSP promotes peace, security, and international cooperation through executive education, dialogue, and policy analysis, contributing to a resilient international order capable of withstanding systemic shocks while advancing peace, cooperation, and sustainable security.