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Fortune Announces Acclaimed Female Leaders at the Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh

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The Rt. Hon. Baroness Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2016-2019)

More than 40 speakers, including top executives from FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Mastercard, Marriott International, and others

Speakers and delegates will represent 35 countries

NEW YORK, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fortune announced today a slate of confirmed speakers and special guests for its Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Fortune’s first international summit in the region, convening on May 20-21, 2025.

Prominent public sector leaders will take the stage at The St. Regis Riyadh – including Ambassador Haifa Al Jedea, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the European Union; H.E. Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, Japan; The Hon. Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament from Tanzania; and Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President and Founder, Women Political Leaders (WPL) – to explore how women in public service are reshaping leadership, rebuilding public trust, and driving inclusive policy on a global scale. 

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Theresa May, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019, will conclude Day 2 with a candid take on fractured trade ties, the erosion of multilateralism, and the race toward a greener economy. Moderated by Ellie Austin, Editorial Director of Fortune Most Powerful Women, May will share insights on navigating globalization, seizing opportunities in the energy transition, and the need for bold and creative leadership in a volatile world. 

Leaders from some of the world’s most influential Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies will join the Summit to explore innovation within their respective industries, global markets, and more. They include:

Olfat Berro, Area Head, Middle East, Roche PharmaceuticalsJulie Brill, Corporate Vice President, Global Technology and Regulatory Policy, MicrosoftAmel Chadli, President, Gulf Cluster, Schneider ElectricLeah Cotterill, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and Africa (Outside KSA), Cigna Healthcare  Jena Ladhani, Chief Executive Officer, Global Workplace Solutions, KSA, CBRE Lisa McGeough, President, CEO, and Head of Banking, HSBC U.S. Harmeen Mehta, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Equinix Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Head, Investment Strategy Group; Chief Investment Officer of Wealth Management, Goldman SachsPeggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Marriott InternationalShamina Singh, Founder and President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and EVP of Sustainability, MastercardJulie Sweet, Chief Executive Officer, AccentureShazia Syed, General Manager, Personal Care Business Group, Unilever Arabia (GCC), Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and Head of Unilever ArabiaKami Viswanathan, President, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, FedEx

Additional speakers include:

Reine Abbas, Founder and CEO, Wixel Studios and SPICATechZam Zam Al Hammadi, Fighter, Professional Fighters League (PFL)Jomana Alrashid, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG)Hattan AlSaif, Fighter, Professional Fighters League (PFL)H.R.H. Princess Dr. Haya Bint Khaled Bin Bandar Al Saud, Senior Vice President of Research, Hevolution FoundationH.H. Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, Chief Executive Officer, Culture HouseH.E. Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation OrganizationTeresa Carlson, President, General Catalyst Institute  Emily Chiu, Chief Executive Officer, NovoSerene Farah, Vice President, Growth and Strategy, Pure Harvest Smart FarmsShahad Geoffrey, Cofounder and CEO, TAFFINoosheen Hashemi, Cofounder and CEO, January AILeila Hoteit, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting GroupDr. Somi Javaid, Founder, HerMDRashida Jones, Former President, MSNBCEunice Lee, Chief Operating Officer, ScopelyAidan Madigan-Curtis, General Partner, Eclipse VenturesNadine Mezher, Cofounder, SarwaJacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO, AcumenJessica Orkin, Chief Executive Officer, SYPartnersEllie Rubenstein, Cofounder and Managing Partner, Manna TreeDana Settle, Cofounder and Managing Partner, GreycroftEmon Shakoor, Founder and CEO, Blossom Accelerator Noor Sweid, Founder and Managing Partner, Global VenturesYvonne Winter, Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer, FlyNow Aviation

For more information, including the full agenda, visit the event website here.

About Fortune: 
Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world’s biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World’s Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum, Brainstorm Tech, and Fortune Most Powerful Women. For more information, visit fortune.com.

Media Contacts:

Patrick Reilly
Fortune 
Patrick.Reilly@fortune.com

Chelsea Hudson
Fortune
Chelsea.Hudson@fortune.com

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

Published

on

By

Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

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