International engineering professionals and educational institutions will discuss the challenges facing the engineering profession in Saudi Arabia and its impact and role in sustaining the development of the Kingdom during a three-day forum at King Fahd University of Petroleum (KFUPM) on March 28-30. The Saudi Engineering Forum is the second event to be held under the auspices of KFUPM in coordination with the Saudi Council of Engineers, Saudi Scientific Societies for Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and the Saudi sections and chapters of international engineering organizations. The keynote speakers are Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector and CEO of KFUPM, and Engineer Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. Other speakers are Eng. Salim Al-Aydh, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Project Management, Saudi Aramco; Abdullah Bazid, Vice President, Shared Services, Sabic; Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rabiah, President, Saudi Council of Engineers; Dr. Shih Choon Fong, President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); Zaki Selim, President, ME-Asia, Schlumberger; Dr. Tarek Elabbady, Director of Cairo Microsoft Innovation Center, Egypt; Dr. Skip Fletcher, President, ABET, USA; Hussein Fayez, Saudi Arabia; John Newby; Abdulla M. Al- Zamil, Chief Operating Officer, Zamil Industrial Investment Company; and Mohammad Ehteshami, Vice President, Engineering GE Oil & Gas Florence, Italy. Dr. Samir A. Al-Baiyat, chairman of the organizing committee, said the forum will look at the role and involvement of Saudi private industries in shaping the country's engineering education, how research and development of educational institutions in the field of engineering can serve the needs of the community, and how local industries, universities and professional societies, particularly engineering, can foster closer cooperation. “During the forum, speakers and delegates will address and discuss the current state of the engineering profession, role of professional societies, Saudi entrepreneurship and technological innovations, challenges facing engineers in mega projects, globalization, and attaining excellence in the engineering professions for Saudis,” Al-Baiyat said. Among the topics to be discussed are the development of the Kingdom's petrochemical sector, future of the Saudi engineering sector, overview of the engineering industry by 2020, the transport industry and the engineering sector. One very important topic, which is of special interest to the business community, is the management of mega projects and their opportunities and growing challenges to be moderated by Abdulla M. Al-Zamil. Over 400 guests and delegates are expected to attend the forum.
