Speakers

H.E. Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr is an internationally acclaimed leader in digital transformation and smart city innovation, recently honored with the Innovation Leadership Award at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Hangzhou. This historic achievement marks her as the first Emirati to receive this prestigious recognition, underscoring her pioneering contributions to sustainable and inclusive urban development.

As the former Founding Director General of Smart Dubai, Dr. Aisha led the world's first city-wide initiative to establish Dubai as a global benchmark for smart cities. Through transformative projects like the Smart City Index, Dubai Paperless Strategy, and Blockchain Strategy, she spearheaded Dubai's evolution into a digitally advanced, sustainable city, eliminating over one billion pieces of paper annually and setting industry standards for efficiency and governance. Her work not only positioned Dubai as a global leader but also shaped international frameworks and best practices for smart city development.

Dr. Aisha's influence extends across sectors, from her tenure as Vice Chairwoman of Emaar Development, where she guided the company's digital and governance strategies, to her roles as Board Member at Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park and the University of Wollongong in Dubai. Her human- centric approach to technology is further reflected in her role at Shaffra Technology Labs as the nonexecutive chairwoman and her contributions to global councils like the World Economic Forum's Global Future Councils.

In recognition of her achievements, Dr. Aisha has been awarded the 2024 Award of Excellent Government Service by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, alongside a Lifetime Achievement Award. Her commitment to ethical, sustainable digital practices continues to inspire a new generation of leaders and set benchmarks in global smart city innovation.