Expo – Cloudstrats Virtual Demo

Reem Asaad

Vice President
Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Session: Welcome Address & Introduction

Profile: Reem Asaad is the first female and local leader in the role of Vice President at Cisco Middle East and Africa. She is responsible for overseeing the work of 2,500 employees and contractors, while driving the company’s position as a leading technology provider and consultant across 74 markets in the region.

With over two decades of experience across industries including technology, financial services and customer experience, Asaad’s role focuses on strengthening collaborations with governments, customers and partners, underpinned by Cisco’s portfolio of advanced solutions to accelerate their digitization agendas. Cisco is currently working alongside national leadership, industry and academia in markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and South Africa, as part of the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program.

Under Asaad’s leadership, at the height of the pandemic, Cisco supported 3,600 customers across MEA in ensuring continuity via the use of Webex, including transitioning over 500 educational institutions to distance or hybrid learning models. Her teams also transitioned Expo 2020 Dubai’s 2,000-strong workforce to remote working and Cisco was earlier this year appointed as network operator for the mega-event.

With a focus on training, upskilling and developing human capital, Cisco’s Networking Academy is helping to futureproof job roles and aid the transition towards more digitally-focused economies. During Asaad’s time with Cisco, in FY20 alone, over 370,000 students across MEA gained Cisco Networking Academy certifications, representing a 27% increase year-on-year. Cisco currently has 1,627 academies running in 60 countries regionally, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

Abdelilah Nejjari

Chief Operating Officer & Partner Lead
Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Session: Welcome Address & Introduction

Profile: Abdelilah Nejjari is the Chief Operating Officer and Partner Lead for Cisco Middle East and Africa
He is in charge of planning and executing on Cisco’s operational policies, Go-To-Market strategies and priorities as well as leading the partner organization across MEA. By virtue of his 25 years career, he has brought to his position a well-established background in the IT industry and in professional services. By developing and designing an ongoing management of MEA Partner Strategy, Abdelilah is ensuring a strong blueprint and execution of our evolving selling motions, shifting Cisco’s and its Partners focus in the region, to Software & Subscriptions based offerings. Abdelilah is driven by his ultimate desire: Enable our Partners, by developing mutual performance objectives, to deliver value to Cisco customers in their digital journey, and to implement an innovative, robust and secure IT environment in the region.

He first joined Cisco, 12 years ago, as a Commercial/Enterprise Segment lead covering Morocco and achieved great results in his first year. He was then promoted as a Regional Sales Manager for Commercial Segment for North, West and Central Africa, establishing and driving with dynamism Sales and GTM strategies. In his most recent role before taking his current responsibilities, Abdelilah was Cisco’s General Manager for North & West Central Africa for more than 4 years, during which time he demonstrated ability to build and manage profitable business, while engaging and retaining high profile relationships with the local and global organizations, in both public and private sectors.

Prior to joining Cisco, Abdelilah spent more than a 15 years in IT Senior Management roles within notable IT system integrators in Morocco. With an entrepreneurship aspirations since the beginning of his career, he created and launched in 2003 his own IT Services Company, focusing on Infrastructure Services, Technical Support and Training. The company developed to become Number 1 in its field in Morocco, and was, subsequently, acquired by one of the major IT companies in the region.

Abdelilah graduated from Ecole Mohammedia des Ingenieurs, with an Engineer in Computer Science degree. He is based in Dubai, married with 4 children.

Ahmad Zureiki

Head of Collaboration Business – Cisco Middle East and Africa

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Profile: Ahmad Zureiki is the collaboration business head of Cisco Middle East and Africa, he leads a team of collaboration experts responsible for driving customers workplace digital transformation and improving end-user collaboration experience.

With more than 26 years’ experience in the IT industry, Ahmad is known of his extensive experience in the MEA market and brings a wealth of knowledge in collaboration business.

Prior to joining Cisco, Ahmad held several regional sales, technical and managerial positions with Avaya, Nortel and regional System integrators. He holds Telecommunication engineering degree, lives in Dubai with his wife and two boys.

Elizabeta Joshevski

Director – Enterprise Networking
Europe, Middle East, Africa & Russia (EMEAR)

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Profile: Elizabeta leads Cisco’s Enterprise Networking business for Europe, Middle East, Africa & Russia (EMEAR). In this role, she is driving EMEAR’s Enterprise Networking strategy for Cisco’s growth and portfolio success while introducing new consumption models and revenue streams. Elizabeta is highly regarded for her disruptive thinking, dedication to customer success and her endless drive to succeed.

Prior to this role, Elizabeta led MEA Architectures for 4 years from Dubai and before that Cisco’s Service Provider Business in Eastern Europe, based out of Vienna, Austria. She joined Cisco in 2006 and held different positions throughout a dynamic tenure in the Public Sector and Service Provider Business.

Elizabeta is a Harvard Business School alumnus in Organizational Leadership. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences with a major in Programming Languages.

Elizabeta lives in Dubai with her daughter and her husband. Together, they travel, enjoy sailing, great food and movies.

Colin McMillan

Technical Director
Cybersecurity Engineering, EMEAR Cisco

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Profile: Colin McMillan is the Technical Director of Cisco’s Security Sales, leading the EMEAR Technical Solutions Architect team across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia. In this role, he is responsible for creating and delivering the technical security strategy to support sales growth. Together with his team, he is focused on securing customers in an increasing threat landscape.

Prior to his current role, Colin led the Data Centre Architecture team for EMEAR. He joined Cisco 23 years ago in the UK and has held numerous leadership positions in Cisco from Internal IT to Technical Marketing and Architectural Sales.

Prior to Cisco, his career was initially focussed on software development in the Oil & Gas sector, following 10 years at ExxonMobil, in various systems and application designn roles, he moved into several start-up companies in the networking space.

Colin went to University in Aberdeen and has a Diploma in Maths and Computing, He lives in the Scottish borders where he enjoys Foraging and Vintage Motorcycles.

Vaughan Klein

EMEAR Director, Collaboration

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Profile: With over 20 years, Vaughan has held senior leadership roles in the Information Technology industry, partnering with both hardware and software vendors across the globe. Throughout his tenure, his endeavors have focused on assisting organizations improve their businesses through the adoption and utilization of collaboration technologies.

Vaughan believes that the power of collaboration unlocks tremendous capability by enabling businesses to compete on a global scale with increased agility, innovation, and productivity. He is equally passionate about ensuring an inclusive future for all using technology as an enabler.

Ljupcho Joshevski

Head for Cybersecurity Architectures, MEA

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Profile:Ljupcho Joshevski is the Head for Cybersecurity Architectures at Cisco Systems with over 20 years’ experience in the IT industry. He manages an expert group of Cybersecurity Technical Solutions Architects covering the Middle East & Africa theatre. In his role, Mr. Joshevski and his team are responsible for addressing the most complex security challenges companies face in today’s dynamic Cybersecurity world using Cisco’s latest innovations and leadership in Security

Garsen Naidu

Specialist Sales Lead, Cisco Middle East and Africa

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Profile: Garsen Naidu is the Specialist Sales Lead for Cisco Middle East and Africa. He is responsible for designing and executing the technology go to market strategies for Cisco’s Middle East and Africa sales teams that delivers transformational value to our customers and partners.

While his tenure as Specialist Sales Lead began in 2022, Garsen has been with Cisco more than a decade, having joined the company in 2010. His previous role was GM of Cisco’s Sub-Saharan Africa operations which included leading South Africa as the Country Manager where he was responsible for executing a country-wide vision and strategy that helped drive a digital agenda for South Africa. In the Sub-Saharan Africa region, he has also previously led Cisco’s Partner organization as well as the Engineering organization across 31 countries. Prior to this he held the position of Regional Sales Manager for Cisco Southern Africa, a role which he occupied from October 2015.

He began his career as a Software Development Engineer in the Aerospace industry designing software and hardware systems for defense systems.

Garsen’s academic achievements include a MBA (distinction) from GIBS, a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering as well as a Diploma in Electrical Engineering.

Ivan Zaklanovic

Enterprise Networks Access Lead, Cisco MEA

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Profile: Ivan Zaklanovic is the EN Access head of Cisco Middle East and Africa, leading a team of experts driving the enterprise network transformation as one of the key pillars in customer digitalization journeys.

Connecting technology and cross-architectural knowledge with customer business priorities and overall community development is the main passion that drives Ivan every day.

For the last 19 years in Cisco, Ivan collected extensive experience with different roles and geographies. Previously, he led the Cisco Software business in the Middle East and Africa and had several other technology managerial roles in Central and Eastern Europe.

Malek Qasem

Enterprise Networking Technical Solutions Architect, Access Network

Session: Next Generation Campus

Profile:27 years in IT field and 15 years at Cisco, from the DOS, DLSW, and Frame Relay era back in 1994 to a CCIE R&S on 2002 where I witnessed all the networking evolution led by Cisco which sharpened my knowledge and helped me to evolve my experience and advance my career. Started at Cisco as a Systems Engineer handling Oil and Gaz customers and Promoted to Technical Solutions Architect covering Access Network, covering multiple Countries in the Region Focusing on Switching, Wireless and Software Defined Access- SDA. My main role is to support my peer colleagues, Partners SE’s and assisting our Customers as a Technical Advisor to guide them through the digital transformation.

Josip Zimet

Sales Specialists, MEA

Session: Full Stack Observability for the Enterprise and Beyond

Profile:Currently working in Cisco for territory Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Russia. Started to work for Cisco in 1998. in Brussels in Europe. Since 1998. went through numerous positions ranging from Cisco TAC escalation center in Brussels to systems engineering and managing position. Prior to Cisco working in Croatian Telecom in Croatia. Finished master’s degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, and information science. Own prestigious Cisco CCIE routing and switching certificate since 2000

Ali Jaber

Technical Solutions Architect - Secure Cloud Edge, SASE, SD-WAN

Session: Full Stack Observability for the Enterprise and Beyond

Profile:EN TSA for MEA
CCIE #28326 (Collab, R&S, DC)
AWS Advanced Networking, Solution Architect Associate Certified
14 years of experience across diverse IT domains, a proven track record in network design, implementation, tech consulting & sales

Aadil Hassim

Enterprise Networking Specialist, MEA

Session: Smart Building Foundations for the Future of Work

Profile:Aadil Hassim is a Subject Matter Expert on Cisco Enterprise Networking solutions. Based in South Africa, Aadil supports various regions across Middle East and Africa with the design and architecture of complex Enterprise Networking solutions across all of Cisco’s core verticals. He is also the technical interface expert between the field sales teams and the Product Management, Escalation and Competitive Tiger Teams. In addition to his day-to-day role, Aadil forms part of the core infrastructure team for CiscoLive Europe (2015-2019) where he assumes the role of RF design and installation lead, and most recently lead the DNA Center Platform Lead. His accolades include being a member of the Cisco EMEAR Mobility Technical Leadership Group (TLG), Cisco Mobility Global TAG lead for MEA and has previously been a tectorial speaker at CiscoLive Europe (2016). Aadil’s tenure with Cisco spans over 10 years working on Cisco’s Enterprise Networking Solutions, SDWAN, SD-Access, Wireless & Security architectures. He also has extensive experience within the Mining & Manufacturing, Financial Services, Retail and Hospitality verticals.

Ahmad Zureiki

Head of Collaboration Business – Cisco Middle East and Africa

Session: Wrap up and Summary

Profile:Ahmad Zureiki is the collaboration business head of Cisco Middle East and Africa, he leads a team of collaboration experts responsible for driving customers workplace digital transformation and improving end-user collaboration experience.

With more than 26 years’ experience in the IT industry, Ahmad is known of his extensive experience in the MEA market and brings a wealth of knowledge in collaboration business.

Omer Ketene

Collaboration Sales Specialist in Turkey - Public Sector

Session: Webex Suite - Purpose-built for Hybrid Work

Profile:Omer is in Cisco since 2016 and he is working as a Collaboration Sales Specialist in Turkey - Public Sector. Omer has worked in the collaboration space for more than 15 years. He is a collaboration technology prefessional who is passionate about helping customers digitally transform their workplaces and improve their end user collaboration experience working from anywhere. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and lives in Ankara. Prior to joining to Cisco, Omer worked for BT as a collaboration sales professional in the AMEA region.

Youssef Shaaban

Technical Solutions Architect for Egypt, North Africa and Levant

Session: Webex Suite - Purpose-built for Hybrid Work

Profile:Over 15 years’ experience across different technologies, roles, capacities, and verticals with specialization in Collaboration and Customer Experience leading the pre-sales and professional services engagements to help organizations build collaborative, productive and secured solutions to keep their end users connected and enhance their customer experience through omni channels enabling predictive engagement & artificial intellegence. Graduated from Cairo university with bachelor degree in electronics & communications.

Henroe Burns

Product Sales Specialist - Secure Cloud Edge

Session: Secure Cloud Edge powered by SASE SD-WAN

Profile:Product Sales Specialist in the Secure Cloud Edge team covering Sub Saharan Africa and Small Business for Middle East and Africa. A CCIE with extensive experience ranging from large Service Providers to Enterprise networks. A passion to assist customers in building their future networks and embracing cloud first and multicloud networks.

Greg Griessel

Technical Solutions Architect , CyberSecurity Cisco Southern Africa

Session: Secure Cloud Edge powered by SASE SD-WAN

Profile:Greg Griessel is a Solutions Architect with Cisco Southern Africa specialising in CyberSecurity. He has over 25 years’ experience in IT Security working with Enterprise accounts, 15 of which have been with Cisco. Prior to Cisco, Greg worked at various ICT suppliers and vendors looking after Sales Engineering, and Network Support. He has a National Diploma in Electronic Engineering and he is a globally Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Greg enjoys building Electronic that contribute to tech innovations.

Omar Ma'ayah

Technical Solutions Architect , Cisco Security technologies, UAE

Session: Enabling Hybrid Workforce with Zero-Trust Security

Profile:Omar Maayah is a Technical Solutions Architect focusing on Cisco’s Security technologies, in UAE. Omar comes with 12+ years’ experience, joined Cisco UAE back in 2015 as a Product Specialist focusing on Secure Network Analytics covering Cisco Security Analytics in Middle East and Africa. In early 2018, Omar took on a Technical Solutions Architect role to drive Cisco's Security Sales activities in UAE supporting UAE’s public sector and Enterprise customers.Before Joining Cisco Omar worked as a Senior Network Admin in Abu Dhabi where he was able to achieve his CCIE R&S certificate, then became a Senior Network Operations Engineer in Etisalat dedicated to manage and operate Etisalat’s International MPLS network and Internet PoPs, then worked as a Pre-Sales Engineer in Dimension Data.

Johann du Toit

Technical Solutions Architect , Collaboration

Session: Enabling Hybrid Workforce with Zero-Trust Security

Profile:Johann is a Technical Solutions Architect within the Collaboration space, working from the Cisco South Africa office. In the past 11 years , he has covered West Africa, East Africa, SADEC, Indian Ocean Islands; ZA & MEA. Prior to Cisco, Johann has been in the IT industry since the mid 90’s and also has extensive experience working for Cisco partners in Africa & Europe for 12 years . He has experience with some of the largest multi-architectural Cisco projects in Networking, Datacentre & Collaboration technology fields across 6 continents.

Johann is married & is the father of 2x boys currently studying in Europe. Hobbies include Hiking, Photography & Golf. Vacation - time, the family preference is to explore nature in various SADEC countries– a bucket wish-list is to see the Serengeti migration in person, so East Africa will soon be a vacation destination as well.

Twitter: @jd_toit

Ahmad Zureiki

Head of Collaboration Business – Cisco Middle East and Africa

Session: Wrap Up & Closing

Profile:Ahmad Zureiki is the collaboration business head of Cisco Middle East and Africa, he leads a team of collaboration experts responsible for driving customers workplace digital transformation and improving end-user collaboration experience.

With more than 26 years’ experience in the IT industry, Ahmad is known of his extensive experience in the MEA market and brings a wealth of knowledge in collaboration business.

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Agenda

time(GMT +4)

Auditorium Sessions

11:00

Reem Asaad

Abdelilah Nejjari

Welcome Address & Introduction

11:15

Elizabeta Joshevski

Vaughan Klein

Colin McMillan

Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

11:45

Ahmad Zureiki

Ivan Zaklanovich

Ljupcho Joshevski

Garsen Naidu

Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

12:15

Break

Breakout Sessions

12:30

Malek Qasem

Next Generation Campus

13:00

Josip Zimet

Ali Jaber

Full Stack Observability for the Enterprise and Beyond

13:30

Aadil Hassim

Smart Building Foundations for the Future of Work

14:00

Ahmad Zureiki

Wrap up and Summary

12:30

Omer Ketene

Youssef Shaaban

Webex Suite - Purpose-built for Hybrid Work

13:00

Henroe Burns

Greg Griessel

Secure Cloud Edge powered by SASE SD-WAN

13:30

Omar Ma'ayah

Johann du Toit

Enabling Hybrid Workforce with Zero-Trust Security

14:00

Ahmad Zureiki

Wrap Up & Closing

Downloads

Watch Demo

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Speaker Bio

Reem Asaad

Vice PresidentMiddle East and Africa, Cisco

Session: Welcome Address & Introduction

Abdelilah Nejjari

Chief Operating Officer & Partner Lead Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Session: Welcome Address & Introduction

Ahmad Zureiki

Head of Collaboration Business – Cisco Middle East and Africa

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Elizabeta Joshevski

Director – Enterprise NetworkingEurope, Middle East, Africa & Russia (EMEAR)

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Colin McMillan

Technical Director Cybersecurity Engineering, EMEAR Cisco

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Vaughan Klein

EMEAR Director, Collaboration

Session: Keynote: The Future of Work is Hybrid

Ljupcho Joshevski

Head for Cybersecurity Architectures, MEA

Session: Keynote: Developing a Hybrid Work Model

Garsen Naidu

time
(GMT +4)

Vice President
Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Chief Operating Officer & Partner Lead
Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Director – Enterprise Networking
Europe, Middle East, Africa & Russia (EMEAR)

Technical Director
Cybersecurity Engineering, EMEAR Cisco

Jennifer
Cisco UAE BDM
Available: 6th April, 2021
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM

Shaed Khader
Cisco UAE Gulf Marketing Executive
Available: 6th April, 2021
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM