Chief Data Officer

Officer Connecting Data Strategy, Technology and Business Outcome

8 October 2026
Neera Dubai | Dubai

Co-Host Partners

Welcome

This gathering will bring together 33 senior decision-makers in an interactive and highly curated setting. With a sharp focus on the evolving role of the modern CDO, this edition centers around three critical areas: operational challenges in enteprise trully data-driven, making informed technology decisions between open and proprietary data and AI platforms, and building a data strategy that delivers business value and redefines the CDO’s mandate in the age of AI.

As organizations across the region accelerate their AI ambitions and digital transformation initiatives, the role of the CDO continues to evolve beyond traditional governance and compliance. Today’s data leaders are expected to define enterprise data strategy, enable trusted AI-ready data foundations, make strategic technology decisions that balance innovation with long-term flexibility, and demonstrate measurable business value from data investments. During this compact four-hour executive forum, we will explore how leading organizations are aligning data strategy with business priorities, evaluating modern data and AI technology ecosystems, and redefining the CDO function as a strategic driver of enterprise transformation.

Built around a series of focused presentations and collaborative roundtable discussions, the TPO33 format encourages open dialogue, peer benchmarking, and practical knowledge exchange. Every element is designed to help data leaders strengthen their strategic agenda, navigate today’s technology landscape, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Join us in Dubai to connect with fellow CDOs, exchange experiences, and help shape the next generation of data leadership—one that combines strong strategy, trusted governance, informed technology decisions, and clear business impact in an AI-driven enterprise.

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Speakers

CEO

Eleanor Vance

leads our vision and strategy, guiding the company toward new horizons

Chief Technology Officer

Marcus Thorne

oversees all technological advancements and product development

Head of Marketing

Sophia Chen

crafts our brand story and connects us with our audience

Sasthi Sarma

Group Head – Data (Data Science & AI)

Sasthi is a leader in Data Science and AI, with 15 years of expertise across Retail, Payments, and Finance. Over the years, Sasthi has built and scaled Data Science and AI functions from the ground up, ensuring they align with organizational goals and deliver meaningful results. Her work has focused on practical applications like supply chain optimization, pricing strategies, marketing effectiveness, and customer value management. By leveraging technologies such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Generative AI, Sasthi has worked on solving real-world challenges related to automation, optimization, and process efficiency. Sasthi’s approach emphasizes collaboration, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of business needs. She is passionate about finding data-driven solutions that improve processes and create tangible value for organizations, helping them navigate an increasingly complex and data-driven landscape

Paul Marshall

VP MEA, SS&C Blue Prism

Paul is a leader with more than 20 years of experience partnering with enterprise clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. His expertise has been shaped by leading managed services for a broad portfolio of enterprise applications and technologies. During his time in the Middle East, Paul made a significant impact across multiple industries, successfully delivering end-to-end software, hardware, and services solutions to multinational organizations, government bodies, and financial institutions, particularly within FSI, banking, and healthcare sectors. He brings strong experience working across both on-premises and cloud-based environments, demonstrating a high level of adaptability and versatility.

Zaheer Ahmed Khan

V.P. Architecture & Consulting | Edgematics Technology

As VP, Architecture & Consulting at Edgematics, I lead the intersection of complex data ecosystems and executive strategy, bringing 16+ years of experience turning technical possibility into business outcomes. My career has a consultative DNA — I don’t just architect solutions, I explain the “why” behind them, whether presenting to a boardroom or designing the platform underneath it. That’s taken me from leading data and AI transformation for the UK’s second-largest fibre provider to managing multi-million-dollar portfolios with IBM, Hewlett Packard, DXC, Informatica, and OpenText. At Edgematics, I focus on activating data — unifying fragmented silos, modernizing architecture, and building the foundation for AI at scale — across Big Data, Data Governance, MDM, and Cloud/Hybrid environments in BFSI, Oil & Gas, and Public Sector. I lead executive AI workshops, own technical strategy across RFPs and partner ecosystems, and measure success the way clients do: in cost reduction, customer satisfaction, and real operational efficiency.