Ahmed Taha
· Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS) – STLE – USA
· Certified Machine lubricant analyst (MLA) – ICML - USA
Highly qualified and well-accomplished professional with more than 14-years of experience in lubricants industry. Well versed with Lubricant technical support, sales & marketing, business development, quality standards and risk management. Ahmed is responsible for business development and technical support for Chevron’s clients in UAE, East Africa and Sothern Africa region. he has a BSc Eng of chemical engineering and a Masters degree in Engineering management. Ahmed started his career as lubricant sales engineer and then technical services specialist and then business consultant, he worked in many business development projects for Chevron in Middle east & Africa region in addition to provide many lubrication survey and auditing in many industrial and commercial segment such as fleets & transport, Cement, Mining, Oil & gas and power generation. Moreover, he is a certified Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) from International Council for machinery lubrication (ICML - USA) and Certified Lubrication specialist from Society of tribology and Lubrication Engineers ( STLE – USA ).
Ahmed also is one of strong advocate for continuous improvement in lubrication and reliability philosophy. He was a member in many lubricants & base oil conferences conducted in the middle east and Africa.
Dr. Mahdi Shahbakhti
Mahdi Shahbakhti is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, Canada. He previously held faculty and research positions at Michigan Technological University (2012–2019) and the University of California, Berkeley (2010–2012).
Dr. Shahbakhti’s research focuses on Automotive AI, Fleet management and optimization including electric, hybrid electric, fuel cell, and conventional vehicles. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has received research funding from organizations including Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Alberta Innovates, the US National Science Foundation, ARPA-E, the US Department of Energy, and major automotive companies such as Ford, GM, Toyota, and Cummins.
He is the former Chair of the ASME DSCD Automotive and Transportation Systems Technical Committee (2020–2022) and the Energy Systems Technical Committee (2018–2020). He currently serves as Technical Editor for the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics and has previously served as Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control (2017–2023) and the International Journal of Powertrains (2014–2020).
Fabian Seithel
Fabian Seithel is a professional in the automotive, fleet & mobility industry. As Associate Vice President - Sales & Business Development, EMEA for Geotab, a globally leading engineering & telematics organisation, Fabian & his team are experts when it comes to: connected car & fleet management platform solutions, providing 'return on investment' & digitised products for fleets in the areas of productivity, driver safety, sustainability (EVs), fleet optimisation, expandability & compliance.
Fabian joined Geotab in 2017 following his role at the mobility provider Sixt Leasing in Product Management.
He holds a Master of Science from Bamberg University, Germany, and is a frequent speaker at industry events globally discussing fleet management trends with a focus on connected fleet solutions and improving sustainability, driver safety and efficiency.
Hamidreza Abediasl
Hamidreza Abediasl is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the intelligent management of connected fleet vehicles with diverse powertrain systems, including conventional gasoline, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and battery electric vehicles. He has expertise in fleet connectivity, vehicle telemetry, AI and machine learning for vehicular applications, real-world emission measurement, and fleet operation optimization. He also collaborates with ReWheel Technology Inc., a Canadian startup, on developing AI-assisted fleet monitoring and optimization solutions.
Kaushik Madhavan
- Kaushik currently heads the Mobility Advisory and Consulting practice at MarketsandMarkets as Vice President and Head of Consulting.
- Kaushik comes with over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, specifically strategic consulting and market research. Expertise in Competitive intelligence and benchmarking, new market entry and diversification strategies, end consumer analysis – automotive technologies and customer purchasing behaviour, strategic planning and technology benchmarking. Kaushik brings with him experience over a wide range of sectors, leveraging long-standing working relationships with Senior Management Executives in the automotive industry. Focus areas include Automotive powertrain in passenger and commercial vehicles, Alternative fuels [Flex fuels, CNG, LPG], Hybridisation / Electrification of vehicles & Ecosystem development.
- Kaushik previously managed Powertrain consulting at the Global level within Frost & Sullivan and also managed the Global Innovation Centre at Frost & Sullivan. Kaushik was also in the long term Product Planning team at at Nissan Motor India and was closely involved in launching of the Datsun brand in India in 2014.
- Kaushik is a Jury member for the Apollo CV Awards for 10 years and has also been part of the Jury for Auto Tech Review Annual Automotive Technology Awards.
- Kaushik is also a Columnist for ET Autologue at Economic Times Auto and has moderated numerous discussions at Auto Tech Review, ACMA, HD Truck, CII Autoserve, CV Forum. He has been a regular Speaker at Engine Expo, CTI’s Transmission Symposium, Future Mobility Dubai, NASSCOM’s Connected Mobility, etc. apart from being quoted in Economic Times, Hindu Business Line, Reuters
- Kaushik has a Master of Science in Automotive Systems Engineering from the University of Technology RWTH Aachen in Germany and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the R.V. College of Engineering in Bangalore, India.
Rami Karout
Based in Geneva, Rami is a road transport expert specialising in trade facilitation, road safety and transport sustainability at IRU. He supports logistics and transport operators in the Middle East and North Africa to enhance efficiency and connectivity in the sector.
He has over 15 years of experience working with international organisations and private sector companies across Europe and the Middle East. After a six-year spell in the reinsurance industry, Rami spent 4 years in the financial division of Geneva’s United Nations office.
Since joining IRU, Rami has played a key role strengthening IRU’s mission to facilitate trade and unlock regional economic potential in the Middle East region. His efforts have also contributed to helping transport companies reduce costs, transit times, and CO₂ emissions while ensuring safer and more sustainable road transport.
Sebastian Fuchs
Sebastian Fuchs is the Managing Director of Digital Products and Services at AutoData Middle East, driving strategic initiatives for multi-million-dollar growth across the GCC and North America. Bringing a global perspective on automotive data, transparency, technology, and the future of mobility, he has leveraged over two decades of experience to play a pivotal role in AutoData Middle East’s expansion across the UAE, KSA, and Oman, positioning the company as a leader in the region’s digital automotive transformation.
In his role, Fuchs has spearheaded key partnerships with Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH, MP Warranties, Royal Swiss Auto, and others, and has been integral to the launch and success of Vehicle Report, an AI-powered platform designed to give consumers greater control in the used car market. By shifting the automotive experience from reactive to data-driven, the platform bridges the gap between information and confident decision-making.
Before joining AutoData Middle East, Fuchs held senior leadership roles at Manheim and RMS Continental Europe - Cox Automotive, where he launched Manheim Express in Germany and drove major digital transformation initiatives. Over his career, he has shaped the European automotive sector, developing OEM Used Car Schemes and remarketing programmes for global brands including Jaguar Land Rover Germany, Hyundai Motor Europe, Volvo Car Group, and Europcar International. His expertise spans strategic leadership, business development, sales and marketing, risk management, and technology-driven customer solutions, establishing him as a recognised authority in driving innovation and sustainable growth in the mobility industry.
Fuchs combines deep market knowledge with a passion for building trust through data and innovation. With a focus on solidifying AutoData Middle East’s leadership in automotive data services, he remains dedicated to guiding the company toward international success in an evolving digital landscape. Beyond his professional endeavours, he is an accomplished athlete and a committed philanthropist, supporting children’s orphanages in Thailand. He also holds academic credentials from the Graduate School of Business Administration Zurich and VWA Wiesbaden.
Sharon Kindleysides
Sharon Kindleysides is a renowned mobility strategist with over two decades of experience in transport systems, sustainable mobility, and intelligent vehicle technologies. She has worked extensively with governments, industry bodies, and private enterprises to advance connected, autonomous, and electric mobility solutions. Sharon has served as a board member and advisor across several international mobility initiatives and is a frequent speaker on workforce development and innovation in the global automotive sector.
Dr. Stephane Dreher
Dr. Stephane Dreher is Head of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) at ERTICO – ITS Europe. He is coordinating the EU-funded FAME project aimed at supporting the alignment of CCAM R&I and testing in Europe by facilitating the collaboration and sharing of knowledge within the community of CCAM stakeholders, fostering international cooperation and by developing a European Framework for Testing on Public Roads. He is a member of the Executive Group of the European CCAM Partnership under the Horizon Europe funding programme, leading the coordination cluster. From 2015 to 2017, he was a Transport Data and Statistics Expert with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He advised the Saudi Ministry of Transport on technical and policy matters regarding Transport Data, Analytics and ITS in the frame of the update of the National Transportation Strategy and Vision 2030. Prior to that, he worked 10 years at HERE, in charge of EU Government Programmes in Brussels
Sanju Johny
Sanju Johny is a dynamic business leader leading initiative in tracking and telematics solutions, automotive homologation, and connected vehicle technologies at SGS. Beyond mobility, he oversees several strategic sub-business units including regulatory compliance services for Food & Beauty, and e-commerce product regulatory compliance . With a strong background in market access and regulatory frameworks, Sanju is dedicated to advancing SGS’s mission of enabling safer, smarter, and more sustainable ecosystems. His leadership focuses on integrating innovation with compliance, fostering trust and transparency across diverse consumer and industrial sectors.