Ahmad Sharaf is the Chairman of Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME), a position he assumed in 2005.

In addition to his role as Chairman of DME, Mr. Sharaf is Chief Strategy Officer of Dubai Holding. In this position, Mr. Sharaf maintains overall responsibility for the formulation and execution of the Group's value creating strategic initiatives across all business units.

Prior to his appointment at Dubai Holding, Mr. Sharaf held leadership positions in Tatweer which he joined in 2005. Mr. Sharaf was the Chief Executive Officer of Tatweer Investments where he was responsible for leading the company's long-term growth strategy in the domestic and international arena. During his time in Tatweer, Mr. Sharaf held executive responsibilities for the energy, healthcare and real estate portfolios within the company. 

Prior to joining Tatweer, Mr. Sharaf held senior management positions with international and state energy companies in the United States and the Middle East. A petroleum engineer by training, Mr. Sharaf began his career with Conoco Inc. in Houston, Texas. Following the creation of ConocoPhillips in 2002, he was appointed General Manager and Director, Business Development, Middle East responsible for managing new growth opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa region

Mr. Sharaf is a Member of the Board of the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), a Member of the ENOC Audit Committee, and Vice Chairman of Dragon Oil. Mr. Sharaf serves as a Member of the Board of Visitors and a Group Member of the Global Partnerships Committee of the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.

Mr. Sharaf earned a B.Sc and M.Sc in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Abdullah Al-Harthy heads the Asset Allocation function for the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of the Sultanate of Oman, responsible for setting up and implementing the Fund's strategy to optimize and oversee its assets. He also chairs the investment committee for the domestic equity portfolios.

After graduation from University, Mr. Al-Harthy joined SGRF as a Financial Analyst, and became Senior Asset Allocator in 2003. From 2005, he was assigned to several projects to set up strategic investments entities including Oman Investment Fund (OIF), Vietnam-Oman Investment Company (VOI), and Libya Oman Investment Company.

Alongside his positions in SGRF, Mr. Al-Harthy is a Member of the Board of Directors of several companies including Vietnam-Oman Investment Company (VOI), National Aluminum Product Company (NAPCO) and Libya-Oman Investment Company. Mr. Al-Harthy chairs the Investment Committee of VOI and is a member of NAPCO′s Executive and Audit Committees.

Mr. Al-Harthy was awarded the CFA charter in 2004 and is a member of the CFA Institute. He has a Bachelors degree in Finance from Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.

Mr. Al-Harthy is an independent director at the DME.

Mr. Loh joins DME as an independent director with many years of experience in capital markets across Asia.

After graduation, Mr. Loh worked as a Senior Portfolio Officer at Export Credit Insurance Company of Singapore.

His previous appointments include Senior VP of Fixed Income Sales and Trading at Lehman Brothers, Managing Director of Fixed Income, Sales, Trading and Corporate Finance at Peregrine Fixed Income, Head of Asia Pacific for Boston Bank and Head of Capital Markets in Asia for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Mr. Loh holds a Business Administration degree in Finance and Economics from Washington State University, Pullman.

Avinash Pangarkar is the Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Holding, a position he assumed in 2010. In this role, Mr. Pangarkar is responsible for leading the Finance and Treasury function at the Group level and managing the company's relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Pangarkar has been associated with Dubai Holding Group since 2006, where he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for TECOM Investments.

Prior to joining Dubai Holding, Mr. Pangarkar held financial leadership positions at Citibank (2004-2006) and Microsoft (1998-2004). At Citibank, Mr. Pangarkar was responsible for Compliance and Control, Global Consumer Banking, Middle East, Africa and Turkey. In this position Mr. Pangarkar successfully established, in conjunction with the business, group wide regulatory compliance procedures, anti money laundering policies, and control risk mechanisms across the bank's multiple locations.

During his career with Microsoft MEA, which covered a geographical portfolio of over 23 countries, Mr. Pangarkar, as the Regional Head of Finance, built a finance organization designed to help the country offices take advantage of commercial and strategic growth in accordance with best in class financial guidelines.

Mr. Pangarkar is a qualified chartered accountant and has worked in the Middle East and Africa region for 19 years in several industry sectors including Real Estate, Technology, Financial Services and Consumer Retail.

Dr. Fereidun Fesharaki is Chairman of FACTS Global Energy, an energy consulting firm with offices in Singapore, London, and Honolulu.

Dr. Fesharaki was born in Iran and educated in the UK with a PhD in Energy Economics at the University of Surrey in 1974. His academic credentials include Visiting Fellow: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University; Senior Researcher: Institute for International Political and Energy Studies in Iran; Senior Fellow and Head of Energy Program at the East-West Center in Hawaii (since 1984). He is also an Affiliate Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii.

Dr. Fesharaki is the past President of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), a professional association of 4,000 energy specialists in 70 countries. He is also:

• Life Member: Council on Foreign Relations: New York (since 1989)
• Member of the International Advisory Board of Nippon Oil: Japan's largest oil company (since 1991)
• Appointed by the US Secretary of Energy as member of the National Petroleum Council, Washington DC (since 2008)
• Senior Associate, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Washington DC (since 2004)
• Senior Fellow, the US Association for Energy Economics (for distinguished services to the field of energy economics) (since 1995)
• Member of the Board of Directors, American Iranian Council (AIC) (since 1997)
• Member of the editorial boards of several energy publications.

Dr. Fesharaki is author or Editor of more than 20 books/monograph in energy economics.

Dr. Fesharaki is an independent director at the DME.

With over 14 years of experience in the banking sector, the dynamic CEO of the Dubai Real Estate Corporation and wasl Asset Management Group, Hesham Al Qassim is expected to be the driving force behind several new initiatives in asset management for the Government of Dubai.

In addition to being the Director of the DREC Board, Mr. Al Qassim serves as a board member of Dubai′s ambitious financial institutions, AMLAK, Dubai Mercantile Exchange and Shuaa Capital. He was also a member of the Financial Markets Tribunal (FMT) of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

Mr. Al Qassim′s passion for real estate was seeded during his banking stint. As the General Manager of Commercial Banking at National Bank of Dubai, he closed several significant real estate deals and represented the bank in various international forums and committees pertaining to real estate. Steering the growth of NBD′s commercial banking franchises, his position reflected his broad experience in all aspects of financial services.

An intuitive leader, Mr. Al Qassim brings an exceptional grasp of relationship management and financial planning, one of the many attributes that led him to be selected for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development.

Mr. Al Qassim holds a Masters Degree in International Business. He is also a member of the ‘Young Arab Leaders’.

Mr. Al Qassim is an independent director at the DME.

His Excellency Nasser Bin Khamis Al-Jashmi is the Undersecretary for the Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Oil & Gas.

An economist by training, he originally joined the Ministry of Finance in 1989 as a Financial Researcher in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Financial and Economic Affairs, later progressing to the position of Director General of Budget and Contracts in 1997, where he remained for 6 years before his move to the Ministry of Oil & Gas in February 2003.

His Excellency Al-Jashmi chairs the Board of Directors for Oman LNG, Oman Refinery Company and Oxy Mukhaizna. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Qalhat LNG, Oman Gas Company, Petroleum Development Oman, Oman Shipping Company, Oman Petrochemical Industries Co. and Gulf Energy Maritime.

He holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economics, a Diploma in Development Management from the American University in Washington DC, and a BSc in Economics and Political Science from Jordan University.

His Excellency Saud Nassir Al-Shukaily became the Secretary General for Taxation of the Sultanate of Oman in July 2004 after spending five years at the Ministry of Finance. His previous positions include Director of the Office of the Minister of Civil Service and Director of the Office of the Minister of the National Economy, before he joined the Ministry of Finance as the Director General of Revenues and Finance in 1999.

His Excellency Al-Shukaily is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Oman Power and Water Procurement Company and is Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors for Oman Airports Management Company and Oman Refinery Company.

He has a Masters degree in Development Management from The American University, Washington DC, and a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

His Excellency Al-Shukaily is an independent director at the DME.

Retiring after 13 years as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the longest serving exchange chairman in the history of the futures industry, Jack Sandner was elected Special Policy Advisor to the CME Board of Directors in January 1998 and a member of the Executive Committee.

During the last two decades, under his leadership, the CME embarked on many groundbreaking initiatives creating innovative Global products, seamless Technology for global distribution and execution and a new business paradigm for the 21st century. The CME became the global financial services innovator and industry pacesetter for the 1980's & 1990's establishing an unparallel track record of bringing products and services to market.

Most recently, he was a member of the team that took the CME public on December 6, 2002, the first exchange in the United States to be publicly traded. Mr. Sandner was instrumental to the CBOT and NYMEX acquisitions.

Juma Bin Abdullah Al-Hinai has been Director General of Income at the Ministry of Finance, Oman since 2007. With extensive experience in oil and gas revenue, he has held responsibility for the financial, accounting, contractual and administrative affairs of many major oil and gas companies operating in Oman, including Petroleum Development Oman, Occidental Oman, Oman Gas Co., Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG.

Mr. Al-Hinai is also a Government-designated member on the Board of Directors of several companies, including the Oman Refineries and Petrochemicals Company, Occidental Oman and Shell Deep Water BV Oman. He is Chairman of the Major Tender Board (Petroleum Development Oman), a member of the Finance Committee of PDO, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Muscat National Holding Co. and a Board member of Oman International Bank (OIB), the second largest bank in Oman.

Mr. Al-Hinai has a MBA from the University of Hull and a Higher Diploma in Accounting and Banking Management.

A Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Banker by training, Dr. Roy Leighton′s experience spans both the private and public sector, with previous positions including senior independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at the European Derivatives Exchange, senior independent Director of Baikal Global, part of the London Stock Exchange, Chairman of the UKTI Financial Services Sector Advisory Board, and Chairman of the Financial Services Skills Council. Dr. Leighton is a Doctor of Science and Honorary Professor at City University London and a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also the Founder Chairman of the Industry Group for the Associate Parliamentary Group (APG) for Wholesale Financial Services and Markets for the UK Parliament and a member of the City of London EU Advisory Board.

Dr. Leighton was Chairman of UK Financial Services Authority Recognised Investment Exchange at NYMEX Europe from July 2005 to May 2007. Prior to that he was the UK Chairman of Calyon SA (formerly Credit Lyonnais) and has held positions with Ernst & Young, Antony Gibbs & Sons Limited and Mercantile House Holdings plc.

Dr. Leighton is an independent director at DME.

Mr. Miller is currently Senior Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer with Financial Markets International.  Previously, Mr. Miller has served as: the Deputy Chief Investment Officer for the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System; Senior Risk Manager for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; Risk Advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation and Africa Global; Independent Risk Oversight Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Internal Audit for Commonfund; and Director, Trading Operations and Asset Mix Management for General Motors as well as holding several other positions at GM in Investments, Treasury and Manufacturing.

Mr. Miller currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM).   At the CME, Mr. Miller serves on the Finance Committee and Audit Committee and chairs the Market Regulation Oversight Committee.  At AAM, Mr. Miller serves on the Technology Committee and chairs the Audit Committee.

Mr. Miller graduated with a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Graduate Division.  Mr. Miller is a CFA charter-holder.

 

Thomas Leaver is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME), a position he assumed in 2008.

A leading energy industry executive, Mr. Leaver brings to the DME more than 30 years of experience in global refining, marketing, crude oil and petroleum product trading, marine transportation and logistics.

Mr. Leaver began his career with Edgington Oil Company in Long Beach, California, learning the refining business, where he held several positions up to manager of crude oil and product sales and supply, domestic and international. From there, he moved into pure trading, first with Apex Oil Company, St. Louis, and then, in London, with the Finnish national oil company Neste Oy. As Director and then Managing Director, he co-led the establishment and international expansion of one of the most successful energy trading firms in crude oil and petroleum products, in both physical and derivatives markets.

Following 10 years with Neste, Mr. Leaver, as a Director and Vice President, established the OTC derivative business in Europe and Asia for Nations Banc-CRT (now Bank of America). Subsequently, Mr. Leaver was appointed President of TransCanada International Petroleum Ltd, establishing the global trading arm of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd.

More recently, Mr. Leaver has acted as an external consultant for McKinsey & Company, advising national and international oil companies in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

Prior to joining the DME as Chief Operating Officer in 2006, Mr. Leaver was a Senior Fund Manager of RAB Capital's commodities energy fund in London.

Mr. Leaver is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a BSc. (Hons) in Business Administration.

Greg Collins is Chief Compliance Officer at the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME), where he works to ensure that the DME operates according to the highest international regulatory and financial standards. His role includes ensuring that the Exchange complies with DFSA, ESCA and CFTC regulations as well as maintaining regulatory relationships in more than 20 jurisdictions where the DME offers services.

Greg has over a decade of broad-based exposure to the financial services industry having practiced in funds management, private banking, investment banking, sales and trading. He has global compliance experience across key international financial centers including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Before joining the DME Greg spent seven years at Merrill Lynch, where he worked in a number of senior compliance roles including Head of US Surveillance and Director, Corporate Compliance both based at the bank's New York headquarters. He also served as Head of Compliance for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers in Australia. Earlier in his career, Greg worked with Deutsche Asset Management, ING Mercantile Mutual and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Greg holds degrees in Law and Arts from the University of Queensland and is admitted to practice as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in Australia.

Matthew Thompson joined the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) as Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer in October 2006. In his role, Matthew oversees the corporate strategy, business development, marketing, research and product development functions of the DME.

Matthew has over ten years broad experience in the energy and energy-trading industries, with his core expertise across the mid and downstream petroleum sectors, including supply and trading, refining, freight and logistics, and marketing.

Prior to joining the DME, Matthew worked in the petroleum practice of McKinsey & Company for seven years, most recently as an Engagement Manager. In this role, Matthew led projects around the world for a variety of clients including oil majors, National Oil Companies (NOCs), private equity players and independents. Projects he led included supply and trading optimization for a European NOC, China entry strategy for an international major, corporate portfolio management for an Asian NOC, and downstream expansion opportunity development for a Middle Eastern NOC.

Earlier in his career, Matthew worked for Elf Oil UK as a pricing co-ordinator, focused on optimizing the trading, refining, commercial and retail pricing of Elf's UK activities, and for PEL (Petroleum Economics Limited) as a market analyst. Matthew holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Sussex.