The workshop aims to highlight the unwavering efforts to empower, engage, and elevate women, while celebrating and honoring women in the GCC who excel in their fields and inspire the next generation of female leaders to follow in their footsteps. Additionally, the workshop seeks to provide actionable recommendations to address challenges and unlock opportunities for women leaders across the GCC region.
Dr. Noha Al-Harthi currently heads the Emerging Technologies department of Technology, Research, and Innovation at NEOM. In this key role, Dr. Al-Harthi directs pivotal initiatives across advanced fields such as AI/ML, robotics, human-machine interactions, next-generation computing, and applied research, which are fundamental to realizing NEOM’s ambitious vision for the future.
Dr. Al-Harthi’s leadership extends beyond technological advancements; She plays a key role in advancing NEOM’s commitment to becoming the safest destination in the world. She has led the development and implementation, from the ground up, of innovative safety and security solutions designed to adapt and grow with NEOM’s cities’ and regions’ evolving needs, setting new standards for urban safety and resilience.
A proud Saudi national, Dr. Al-Harthi has made profound contributions to the technology field both domestically and internationally. With a Ph.D. in computer science, she has been honored with several of the world’s most prestigious awards, including the German Gauss Center for Supercomputing (GCS) Award—marking the first time this distinction was awarded to a researcher from a Middle Eastern university. Additionally, Dr. Al-Harthi is Saudi Arabia’s first female drone pilot.
Dr. Noha Al-Harthi’s remarkable achievements have earned her multiple prestigious awards and recognitions. In 2024, she received the Arab Woman Award in Science and Technology as well as the Woman in Tech Global Award, with a special recognition under the Ada Lovelace Award. Previously, Dr. Al-Harthi was recognized as the “Science and Technology Woman of the Year” at the Arabian Business KSA Women Excellence Awards in 2022. She is a strong advocate for women in technology, actively mentoring and promoting initiatives that increase female representation and empowerment in the tech sector.
On the global stage, Dr. Al-Harthi is a respected voice in international technology forums, including the World Economic Forum and Davos. Her participation in these high-profile events allows her to share her insights and experiences, influencing global discussions and shaping the future of technology and its role in driving sustainable development.
Dr. Noha Al-Harthi earned her Master’s and Ph.D. in high-performance computing from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). She continues to contribute to the academic community by serving on various educational steering committees and fostering innovation through collaborative research.
Dr. Reem Khojah serves as an assistant teaching professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. With experience in instructing bioengineering at introductory and graduate levels, she actively contributes to enhancing accessibility to research tools for undergraduate research experiences. Her primary focus is on optimizing engineering education through data-driven pre-and post-lecture formative assessments and designing AI-proof assignments. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. Reem has also engaged in post-doctoral research at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Samha Z. Alayoubi is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Associate Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Sciences at Prince Sultan University. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Applied Medical Research from Imperial College London. Her research focuses on cardiac regenerative medicine and the design and evaluation of novel bioactive organic molecules through in vitro and in vivo studies. As a senior researcher in the Energy, Water, and Environment Lab, she integrates her expertise in chemistry and biomedicine to advance innovative solutions with potential therapeutic applications. Dr. Alayoubi has made significant contributions to both teaching and research and actively supports the development of new academic programs and initiatives at her university.
My purpose revolves around unleashing talent & organization capabilities. I enjoy improving functions by focusing on stakeholder needs, talent enablement, & strategic alignment. I am currently creating ways to enhance the people & performance culture at the Aramco Global Downstream Business, leading the Downstream HR Transformation.
Throughout my career, I’ve used the experience gained in the roles I’ve held in Upstream, Downstream, HR & Learning and Development, to ensure we continue to reach our corporate ambitions. These roles include leading different HR Management & Development functions, including recruitment, talent development, and strategic HR enablement. I have established the Diversity & Inclusion function at Saudi Aramco, and lead the HR and PR functions at SATORP, a Saudi Aramco joint venture with Total Energies. I’ve partnered with nearly 150 different Universities and top tier academic institutions around the world, to support our corporate Academic functions and I am a founding member and chair of a number of boards that support gender diversity in energy, such as LEWAS, GRWx (formerly GROW), W10x, and Advancing Women in Leadership Council.
