Advisory Council Members

H.E. Khalfan Belhoul is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), where he plays a vital role in driving Dubai’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation and technology. With over a decade of experience in transforming organisations and advancing economic diversification, he oversees DFF’s strategic initiatives across its five business units: future knowledge dissemination, capacity building, design and acceleration, and experiential future technologies. Under his leadership, DFF has launched numerous initiatives that bring together individuals, organisations, and government entities to develop sustainable, forward-thinking solutions.

Before joining DFF, Belhoul served as Vice President of Strategy at Dubai Holding, where he played a pivotal role in shaping its investment strategies and supporting Dubai’s non-oil economic growth. Earlier, he established the Belhoul Investment Office, crafting a sophisticated asset allocation strategy spanning private equity, real estate, and alternative investments.

Belhoul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Management Information Systems and a Master’s degree in E-Commerce from Boston University. He has been recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University Dubai for his contributions to foresight and future design. He also serves on various boards, including the Dubai Sports Council, Emirates Development Bank, and the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, reflecting his commitment to advancing key national and global initiatives.

Professor Emeritus Douglas Crawford-Brown is a distinguished figure in environmental science and policy with a career spanning over four decades. He holds degrees in physics but dedicated most of his career to advancing climate change mitigation strategies and sustainability. He retired as Director of the University of Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research in the Department of Land Economy, where he also co-founded the Cambridge Forum for Sustainability and the Environment. He continues his affiliation with the university as a Senior Member of Robinson College.

Professor Crawford-Brown previously served as Emeritus Professor in Environmental Sciences and Policy at the University of North Carolina, where he was also the founding Director of the university-wide Institute for the Environment. His academic contributions extend globally, with visiting professorships at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Doshisha University in Japan, Beihang University in China, and advisory roles with the University of Graz’s Climate College in Austria.

Currently, he focuses on supporting UK local authorities in designing and implementing pathways to net-zero emissions. His extensive experience in academia and advisory boards has made him a prominent voice in developing evidence-based climate policies and fostering international collaboration for sustainable development.

Dr. Amal-Lee Amin has over 25 years of experience delivering sustainable development outcomes. She is the Managing Director of Climate, Diversity, and Advisory at British International Investment, where she leads strategies for climate and gender impact investing. Her work includes collaborating across the development finance community, such as chairing the Adaptation and Resilience Investors Collaborative.

Previously, Dr. Amin served as Chief of the Climate Change and Sustainability Division at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), leading efforts to drive sustainable growth and climate resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean. She has also held pivotal roles, including Senior Advisor on Finance to the UK COP26 Presidency and Programme Lead at E3G, where she shaped international climate finance initiatives. Earlier in her career, she was instrumental in designing the UK Green Investment Bank and the Climate Investment Funds at the Multilateral Development Banks.

Dr. Amin holds a doctorate on investment drivers for renewable energy in developing countries. Alongside her professional roles, she is an Industry Professor at University College London, teaching responsible investing, and serves on several boards and advisory committees advancing green finance and sustainable investment.

Elham AlQasim is a senior executive and investment professional with extensive experience in driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. As Chief Strategy and Technology Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Holding, she oversees the development of long-term strategies focused on sustainable value creation and technological advancement.

Elham’s distinguished career includes leadership roles such as CEO of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), where she directed the AED 50-billion Ghadan 21 programme to accelerate Abu Dhabi’s economic transformation, and CEO of Digital14, where she led over 1,000 employees in delivering cybersecurity and digital solutions. Previously, she served as a Director at Mubadala Investment Company and held senior positions at Emirates Global Aluminium. She began her international career with JPMorgan Investment Bank in London, contributing to the Global Diversified Industrials Team.

Elham is an advocate for breaking gender barriers, recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University Dubai for her efforts in empowering women. She also holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree from the American University in Dubai. In 2010, she became the first Arab woman to complete an unsupported skiing expedition to the North Pole. She currently serves on several boards, including Bayanat, Khalifa Fund, and Al Ain Farms, reflecting her commitment to advancing impactful, sustainable development.