Speaker Biographies

Nicholas Hopton is Director General of the Middle East Association and a former British Ambassador, with a diplomatic career spanning Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. He brings deep regional expertise and decades of public service experience to the Roadshow's leadership.

Alongside his work at the MEA, Nicholas is a published author and commentator, writing on politics, culture and history for publications including the Times Literary Supplement.

Simon Crosby is BIST's Senior Area Lead for North East and Tees Valley, connecting business ambition with UK government support to unlock regional growth.

Simon brings 15 years of international commercial experience across engineering and consumer goods, developing markets and partnerships across Asia, Europe and North America.

Speaking in Newcastle on behalf of the Department for Business & Trade.

With 35 years of international business experience across EMEA, Stéphane Lambotte supports ambitious businesses to develop sustainable growth strategies, improve performance and unlock new market opportunities. With academic foundations in both Mechanical Engineering and International Business, he combines technical expertise with commercial leadership, strategic marketing, international business development and cross-cultural communication.

Having worked across both the analogue and digital eras, Stéphane bridges the worlds of technology, people and business, helping organisations convert innovation into commercial success. He has developed strong expertise in digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence, exploring how AI can enhance decision-making, improve collaboration and create new opportunities.

Speaking in Cambridge on behalf of the Department for Business & Trade.

With over 35 years' export experience — from leading a blue-chip corporation's export department to building his own businesses — Mark Burkett helps UK companies grow domestically and internationally. As a Business Growth Adviser for BIST, he shares practical knowledge and a passion for confidently taking ideas and products to the world.

Speaking in Manchester on behalf of the Department for Business & Trade.

Adam moved to Saudi Arabia from the UK in 2008, identifying the need for an independent platform to help foreign companies navigate the Kingdom's business landscape, co-founding AEI Saudi in 2012 after a career in the IT Security industry.

With over 20 years' experience, Adam's core expertise lies in Saudi business development. He has supported over 2,500 companies, predominantly from the UK, EU, and US, on their journey to enter, succeed and thrive in the Middle East. He also advises the MEA in the UK, providing commercial guidance and regional networks.

Over a near 15-year career in risk management, Chris has helped protect British businesses through periods of significant uncertainty, from Brexit and Covid-19 to the current energy crisis. With GCC currencies pegged to the US Dollar, UK businesses trading across the Middle East carry a direct GBP/USD exposure that can quietly erode margins.

Chris works closely with Smart Currency Business's Middle East-facing clients to identify and reduce this risk. He is qualified with an Investment Advice Diploma and licensed to offer regulated advice to UK corporates.

Hatice Beton is Co-Founder of the Global Diplomacy Institute (GDI), a strategic advisory firm helping governments, investors, international organisations, and businesses navigate complex geopolitical environments and build high-impact public-private partnerships.

She specialises in business diplomacy, investment strategy, and cross-sector collaboration. She also serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director of the G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership, leading strategic advocacy convening more than 30 leading global health organisations. She holds an MSc in Comparative Political Economy from the London School of Economics.

Stuart Carroll is a senior health economist and epidemiologist with over 23 years' experience spanning infectious diseases and vaccines, market access, health technology appraisal, public health and government policy. He recently served as Director of Market Access and Policy Affairs for Moderna UK & Ireland, and previously advised HM Government as a Senior Policy and Strategy Adviser to the UK Vaccines Taskforce, helping negotiate the UK's Strategic Partnership for pandemic preparedness.

He has held senior roles at Sanofi Pasteur and Biogen and across consultancy, published over 180 peer-reviewed papers, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, the Royal Society of Medicine and the Royal Society of Arts. Stuart holds an MSc in Health Economics from York and an MBA from Imperial, is an Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, and joins the MEA Roadshow panel in Newcastle as a Senior Advisor at the Global Diplomacy Institute.

Alison Raw joins the MEA Roadshow panel in Manchester as a Senior Advisor at the Global Diplomacy Institute (GDI). A senior strategic leader, international convener and systems thinker, she brings almost 30 years' experience across government, diplomacy, global health and international development, having held senior leadership roles in both the UK Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat — including as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

She has represented the UK and Commonwealth in high-level international forums and negotiations including the G7, G20, World Health Assembly and UNFCCC COP, working with heads of state, investors, international financial institutions and civil society to connect policy, investment and implementation. Her particular interest is in how governments, businesses and international partners advance long-term national transformation, economic diversification and sustainable growth. Alison is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and an Invited Professor at the National University of Singapore, and is currently completing a PhD in International Relations.

What makes brands Saudis love in the UK fail in Saudi? Judy Abdullah knows why. An aerospace engineer raised between Manchester and Riyadh, she uses lived experience and sociology to read what market reports miss: how modern Saudis think, what they believe, and cultural blind spots that sink British brands.

Heba has spent 17 years building corporate services businesses across the Middle East, initially from London and, since 2019, Dubai, where she led a multinational provider's regional business. As Managing Director, MENA, she is driving VG's regional expansion, establishing its DIFC office, supporting families, entrepreneurs and institutions navigate and establish cross-border structures, succession frameworks and governance.

Jade is a Senior Sales Manager at Sovereign PPG, bringing over 10 years of experience across the UAE and wider GCC region. She specialises in building strong client relationships and delivering professional guidance tailored to each client's business requirements.

With extensive knowledge of Abu Dhabi's commercial landscape, Jade has supported the establishment of a wide range of SMEs and multinational companies across the Gulf. She holds a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies with Spanish.

Matthew is a Dubai-based business development professional with experience advising entrepreneurs, investors, internationally mobile families and business owners on international structuring, corporate services, residency solutions and private client matters. He is a Business Development Manager at The Sovereign Group, an international provider of corporate, private client and retirement planning services.

He holds the Certificate in International Trust Management from STEP and the Award in Financial Planning from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Peter Snaith is a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, one of the UK's leading transatlantic law firms. He brings extensive expertise in commercial and corporate law, with a particular focus on transactions and business relationships across the MENA region.