Sustainable Construction Steel and Importance of Local Regulations

Iman Abi Saab

Iman Abi Saab is an esteemed Fellow member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), with over two decades of engineering consultancy experience.

Throughout her career, Iman has spearheaded the design and delivery of complex, multidisciplinary projects across the built environment, advisory, and transport sectors in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Her unwavering commitment to digital delivery, efficient and sustainable low-carbon solutions, and achieving significant social outcomes has been a hallmark of her professional journey.

In addition to her role as the Middle East Buildings Lead, Iman also serves as the regional technical excellence leader for Mott MacDonald where she has been instrumental in advancing Mott MacDonald's dedication to technical excellence, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Her efforts have been pivotal in safeguarding quality and unleashing digital innovation to address the challenges faced by the construction industry.

Currently, Iman is acting as the chair of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) UAE regional group, further solidifying her influence and leadership within the engineering community.

Dr. Dimitrios Dimitriou

Dr Dimitrios is currently the Group Vice President of ESG & Sustainability at EMSTEEL, previously the Group CEO Advisor. He has 20+ years of experience on delivering decarbonization and energy transition impact, with extensive cross-sectoral expertise in hydrogen, green steel, fertilisers and petrochemicals.

He is known for executing complex, high-impact mandates across global markets, driving bold sustainability agendas and pioneering first-of-a-kind ESG solutions across sectors. Previous managerial roles include ADNOC HQ, where he led the merger and asset management of a fertilizer JV, and hydrogen business development roles where he has originated multiple strategic partnership projects with international and domestic players in the space of hydrogen.

Prior to his tenure in the UAE, he held management consulting and engineering roles in NexantECA and Johnson Matthey UK. Dr Dimitrios has a PhD from Imperial College and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.

Lee Brankley

With a background in the steel industry, Lee is an active member of the national and international standards 
making committees with a world-class knowledge of steel products, sustainable development and procurement in construction.

He has advised governments on the major issues in the steel industry to ensure optimum sustainability performance of steel products sourced for major infrastructure projects.

Steven Yule

Steven Yule is the director of Intelligent Transformation for Jacobs in the UAE and an active Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, supporting the UAE Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, a member of the Institute of Asset Management, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers. Steven's career in civil engineering has seen him make impactful contributions globally, starting in the UK with Amey in Birmingham, focusing on structure design and asset management.

Steven's career took him to Qatar, where he supported the delivery of O&M and Asset Management Transformation services for Ashghal and became the country business development manager for Amey. Returning to the UK, he influenced technology integration in civil engineering projects, notably in the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) project, where he developed a Digital Twin Strategy and collaborated with the University of Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction.

In 2022, Steven returned to the Middle East as Jacobs' director of Intelligent Transformation in Dubai. He remains active in professional committees, organising knowledge-sharing sessions and promoting professional development as an ICE SCE. As the ICE country representative for the UAE, he continues to advocate for civil engineering, demonstrating his commitment to the field and his colleagues.

Ayhan Tugrul

Ayhan Tugrul is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at CARES, where he leads strategic and operational planning and serves on the Board, Policy Advisory Committee, and technical committees. A recognised expert in sustainability and the construction steel supply chain, he has extensive experience in international certification and compliance. 

Prior to joining CARES in 2007, he worked with major public limited companies. Ayhan holds a BSc in Metallurgy and Materials Science Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and has completed postgraduate research in the UK. He is a frequent speaker at international seminars on sustainability, the circular economy, and steel industry standards.

Craig Thackray

Craig Thackray is the Vice President at AECOM responsible for the environment business within the Middle East and Africa. He is also extensively engaged in regional civil and Infrastructure projects particularly within the ports and maritime sector. 

He is a Chartered Engineer/Environmentalist/Manager as well as a Fellow of both The Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Management Institute.