Business & Investors

Alongside his seat as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ARGAS, Khalid Nouh is The Chief Executive Officer of TAQA appointed in November 2019. Joined TAQA in December 2018 as the Executive Vice President for the Production and Completion Business Group. He has amassed over thirty years of oilfield services experience.

Prior to joining TAQA, Mr. Nouh held several leadership positions with international companies headquartered in Dubai, UAE, where he was the Chief Technology Officer of the international subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). He also served as Executive Officer and President of Baker Hughes Inc for the Middle East and Asia Pacific region from 2008 until 2017. Additionally, before Mr. Nouh joined Baker Hughes Inc, he spent 19 years with Schlumberger in several technical, product development and leadership positions based out of Dhahran, KSA, Dubai, UAE, Paris, France, and Houston Texas. Mr. Nouh began his career in 1989 with Saudi Aramco’s Manufacturing, Supply and Transportation business line before moving to Schlumberger in 1994.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from King Saud University and has completed several advanced courses in Energy Economics, Investment Banking, Finance and Leadership over his career. He is a lifelong member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and is an active Board Member of its Saudi Arabian chapter.

Khaled Abdullah Al Buraik is a distinguished petroleum engineering expert with over three and a half decades of leadership experience at Saudi Aramco. He holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering with honors from the University of Petroleum and Minerals (1984) and a master’s degree with first honors from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (1987).

Mr. Al Buraik’s illustrious career began in academia as a faculty member at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals before joining Saudi Aramco in 1987. His expertise was further enhanced during his secondment with Exxon in Houston, where he contributed to crucial well drilling research projects.

Throughout his tenure at Saudi Aramco, Mr. Al Buraik held several pivotal executive positions, including Chief Petroleum Engineer, where he orchestrated the development of major fields and drove the company’s production capacity to 12 million barrels per day. As Senior Vice President for Public and Government Relations, he spearheaded the development of the King Abdulaziz Cultural Center (Ithra) and strengthened the company’s community engagement initiatives.

His leadership as Senior Vice President for Southern Area Production Operations (2016-2024) was marked by significant achievements, including managing the world’s largest water injection plant and oil stabilization facility. Notably, he led the remarkable recovery efforts following the 2019 attacks on Khurais and Abqaiq facilities, restoring full production capacity in less than 10 days. Under his guidance, the region achieved the highest possible digitalization rating and multiple facilities earned World Economic Forum Lighthouse certifications.

Following his retirement from Saudi Aramco in April 2024, Mr. Al Buraik was appointed by Royal Decree as a member of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council in September 2024, where he continues to contribute his extensive expertise to the Kingdom’s legislative and advisory body. He currently serves as the Chairman of SANAD (Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling), Vice Chairman of TAQA, and holds board positions at International Maritime Industries and ARGAS. His expertise in the energy sector is further recognized through his active membership in various professional organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the International Association of Drilling Contractors.

Abdulrahman Al-Belushi is Deputy Minister of Mineral Resource Management, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

In his current role as Assistant Deputy Minister for Mining Enablement, Abdulrahman spearheads critical initiatives, including leading the licensing rounds, Exploration Incentive Scheme, and infrastructure support. Regularly leading the Ministry delegation in various international engagements, his expertise in exploration policies and opportunities development plays a vital role in driving the growth and competitiveness of the Saudi Arabian mining sector.

With a diverse and impressive background in the field of geology and strategic planning, Abdulrahman was promoted to Assistant Deputy Minister from Head of Mining Strategy at the Ministry, where he played a key role in formulating the nation’s new mining strategy, setting the stage for sustainable development within the industry to meet the Vision 2030 objectives.

Prior to his work at the Ministry, Abdulrahman served as the Head of Execution & Transformation Unit at the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) in 2019. His tenure marked a pivotal period where SGS launched its transformation to become one of the leading geological surveys by focusing on core functions, and mining sector enablement.
Abdulrahman also served as the Director of Mining Portfolio at the National Industrial Development & Logistics Program (NIDLP) in Riyadh, KSA, between 2017 to 2019. He was among the founding members of NIDLP, actively contributing to stakeholder alignment, program governance, funding procedures, strategy stress testing, and the formulation of the initial delivery plan.

Abdulrahman holds two master’s degrees in Mining & Energy Economics from the Colorado School of Mines and the Institute of French Petroleum (IFP), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geosciences from the Pennsylvania State University. He is also affiliated with the Saudi Association for Energy Economics and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Mr. Yahya is a seasoned professional in the mining industry, he earned a BSc degree in Mining Engineering from King Abdulaziz University and Master’s degree in Minerals and Environmental Management from Leeds University, UK. He has held several key leadership positions including General Manager of Operations at Gold Metals Co., President of Ma’aden Gold Co., and Vice President of Ma’aden’s gold and base metals sector.

In addition to his corporate roles, Mr. Yahya has served as the Chairman of Drill Corp. and the Saudi Desert Drilling Co., where he has been instrumental in driving operational excellence. He also served as CEO of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co. (AMAK).

Farid is currently a Director of the Industrials and Mining Sector at the Public Investment Fund (PIF), where he has played a role in building the fund’s presence in the mining industry.

Prior to joining PIF, he was Head of M&A covering Europe, North America and the Middle East for Huhtamaki a leading Finnish packaging company with global operations. Farid worked as M&A manager at ArcelorMittal, a multinational steel and mining company and has also worked with a focus on oil and gas as Vice President at Barclays Investment Banking, in London. He started his career with Deloitte Corporate Finance in Dubai where he was an Associate.

Farid is a board member of the Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO) and Arabian Geophysical & Surveying Company (ARGAS). He is also an Executive Committee member of Manara Minerals Investment Company.

Farid has a BA in Finance from the American University of Beirut.

Duncan Bradford is currently the Executive Vice President for Ma’aden’s Base Metals & New Minerals Business Unit, where he is playing a role within Ma’aden to explore and mine the natural resources of Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030. In addition to this role, Duncan is also the Chairman of the Board of the Ma’aden Barrick Copper Company.

Prior to joining Ma’aden, Duncan worked with Nevada Gold Mines (operated by Barrick) as a General Manager across the Cortez and Carlin mining districts. He has previously worked in Saudi Arabia at the Jabal Sayid Copper Mine for the MA’ADEN Barrick Copper Company. Duncan was also the Managing Director for Byrnecut Offshore Underground Mining Contractors.

Duncan has more than 30 years of operational mining experience, with experience leading large-scale mining operations in both underground and open-pit mining around the world, having worked in Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Duncan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Melbourne.

Moath Al Rawi is the chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Arabian Geophysical and Surveying Company (“ARGAS”), a leading geophysical services company since 1966.

Before joining ARGAS, Mr. Al Rawi started his career in oilfield operations as a field engineer and progressed in various management and leadership positions in WesternGeco, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and other known international organizations, where he led teams through change and strategic management.

Mr. Al Rawi holds BSc in Electronics, Semiconductor Technology and Biomedical Engineering, and MSc in Geoscience, and philosophy degree in Strategic Management from UK. He published several papers focusing on turnaround strategies through transforming processes by simplification to improve resource utilization.

Moath’s international experience includes thirteen different countries and cross-industries knowledge in Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Tech Industry. He founded three organizations and led another two through IPO. He currently serves as a Board of Director on three other international companies in US and Canada.

Mr. Nessim is appointed to TAQA in Jan 2023 as Executive Vice President of Well Solutions. He will lead TAQA Well Solutions across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Asia, driving growth across all geographies and service lines to realize our full potential. Mr. Nessim brings a rich and varied expertise to the role through three decades of international executive experience in diverse senior positions at both public and private companies.

Across his 30-year career, Mr. Nessim has held operations, functional and leadership positions spanning Geographies across India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sub-Sahara Africa, France and USA. Prior to joining TAQA, Mr. Nessim was co-founder and chairman of Aradi Ventures; a technology incubator utilizing AI & IoT in Agricultural technology to address food security, Group CEO of TBS Holding an F&B conglomerate and leadership roles in the energy industry with Schlumberger Limited.

Mr. Nessim started his career with Schlumberger in 1992 as a Wireline field engineer and served as VP MENA Strategy, global President of Well Services, global president of Well Testing & Subsea, global Vice President of HSE, Vice President of Angola, Sub Sahara and East Africa as well as management roles in HR, marketing and product development.
He serves as a Global Strategy advisor for Tuyo Ventures an incubator specializing in solving societal issues through technological solutions and is an alumnus of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative of the Harvard Kennedy school of Leadership.
Mr. Nessim holds a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from Ain Shams University.

Mr. Al-Ghadhban serves as Executive Vice President – Ventures & Chief Investment Officer. He is responsible for the development and implementation of TAQA’s strategy toward its invested companies (joint Venture).

He joined TAQA in 2006 and has held several senior positions within the Company since, including General Manager for Finance and Administration and Acting CEO of Jubail Energy Services Company (JESCO). Prior to joining TAQA, Mr. Al-Ghadhban spent six years in Saudi Aramco’s Treasury Department and four as the CFO in health sector.

Mr. Al-Ghadhban holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Denver, US and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Washington State University, US.

Moath Al Rawi is the chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Arabian Geophysical and Surveying Company (“ARGAS”), a leading geophysical services company since 1966.

Before joining ARGAS, Mr. Al Rawi started his career in oilfield operations as a field engineer and progressed in various management and leadership positions in WesternGeco, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and other known international organizations, where he led teams through change and strategic management.

Mr. Al Rawi holds BSc in Electronics, Semiconductor Technology and Biomedical Engineering, and MSc in Geoscience, and philosophy degree in Strategic Management from UK. He published several papers focusing on turnaround strategies through transforming processes by simplification to improve resource utilization.

Moath’s international experience includes thirteen different countries and cross-industries knowledge in Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Tech Industry. He founded three organizations and led another two through IPO. He currently serves as a Board of Director on three other international companies in US and Canada.

With more than 18 years of extensive experience in finance and corporate strategy, Mr. Al Tuwaijri is a seasoned financial leader specializing in financial strategy, management, and operational efficiency. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA, both from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).

Hisham’s notable professional journey includes serving as the Corporate Development Executive Director at TAQA and as the Treasury and Risk Management Manager at JESCO. He has successfully led multiple acquisitions both locally and internationally, demonstrating his expertise in M&A, risk management, and corporate governance. Hisham is known for his ability to secure funding for key projects and drive organizational growth through effective financial planning and compliance.

A strong advocate for team leadership, Hisham is committed to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in finance.

Mr. Al Qahtani brings over 20 years of extensive experience in Human Resources and General Administration, having played a pivotal role in supporting various businesses in achieve their strategic goals and objectives. Over the course of his career, he has demonstrated a strong capability to drive organizational success by aligning key functions with the company’s broader vision.

As Chief of Staff at ARGAS, Mohammed oversees Corporate Services, including HR, Administration, IT, Procurement, Logistics, and Facilities, ensuring streamlined operations that support the company’s strategies.

He has held leadership roles in multinational organizations across industries such as Oil & Gas, Environmental Services, and Chemicals.

Renowned for his forward-thinking approach, Mr. Mohammed places a strong emphasis on innovation and continuous improvement. His focus on these areas drives sustainable business growth while consistently enhancing operational efficiency across the organization.

Mário Guedes is an executive with a proven track record of more than 25 years in the energy, environment and mining sectors. He holds a master’s degree in mining engineering, a master’s degree in environmental management and is currently developing his PhD in Energy Systems and Climate Change.

He is a specialist in project management, geographic information systems, evaluation of mining and renewable energy assets, social responsibility and public management policies. As a consultant, he has integrated a wide range of mining due diligence teams and other mining related projects.

Mario was responsible for the management and monitoring of more than 10 environmental rehabilitation projects in old mining areas, with an investment over 30M€. As a consultant, he has integrated a wide range of mining due diligence teams and other mining related projects.

Mr. Wihnan is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in risk management, safety, and human performance. He has held key leadership roles at Intactix Systems Inc., Trimac Transportation, Baker Hughes, and other organizations, where his leadership resulted in a 25% increase in operational performance, a 15% reduction in incidents, and a 75% decrease in high-risk activities.

He holds a Master’s in Human Factors and System Safety, a Bachelor’s in Occupational Health & Safety, and certifications, including Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP). He has published research on safety management and human performance.

Dean’s expertise spans oil and gas, transportation, mining and construction industries. His leadership led to a 20% reduction in incidents, a 1200% increase in proactive reporting, and improved hazard identification and risk management strategies across multiple sectors.

Dr. El Hakim is a seasoned professional with over 21 years of experience in water resources and environmental management. He has held key leadership roles at Schlumberger, where his leadership successfully transformed the Saudi Arabian water business into a steady and profitable operation and helped in establishing the geothermal business in Saudi Arabia, leading high-profile projects for MEWA, NEOM, Royal Commission of Riyadh City and other organizations.

He holds a PhD in Water Sciences Engineering from Montpellier 2 University, and a Master’s degree in Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geostatistics, and Geochemistry from Pierre et Marie Curie University (Paris VI).

Dr. Massaad’s expertise spans water resources, environmental consultancy, and geothermal energy. His leadership resulted in significant improvements in project execution, cost management, and business development across multiple sectors in the GCC and beyond.

Mahmoud Al Tarouti is an accomplished professional with 18 years of experience, beginning his career as a Seismic Field Engineer with WesternGeco-Schlumberger, where he gained operational and leadership experience in engineering. A major part of his career, however, has been dedicated to governance, risk management, compliance, and corporate control functions. He holds a Master’s in Computational Analytics and an MBA from KFUPM, alongside a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Governance & Risk Management for the TAQA Group, overseeing risk and governance across the entire organization, including ARGAS. Prior to this, he served as the Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Director at ARGAS, where he established governance frameworks, managed risks, and ensured regulatory compliance. Mahmoud also held senior roles in corporate control functions at Saudi National Bank and Samba Financial Group, where he streamlined policies, implemented controls, and ensured compliance. Over the course of his career, he has successfully accomplished several projects in controls implementation and automation workflows, strengthening organizational processes and compliance frameworks.

Soufiane Azzi holds a BSc in Geophysics from INHC Boumerdes (Algeria). He began his professional journey in 2000 with SLB, where he spent 21 years contributing to a range of roles across the company. He started with field positions, gaining hands-on experience before transitioning into operational management, focusing primarily on the seismic business. He also took on recruitment responsibilities and a product champion role. Notably, Soufiane managed the two largest land seismic crews for Westerngeco worldwide, located in Saudi Arabia, a testament to his leadership and expertise. His final position at SLB was as the manager of Cameroon in Algeria, where he oversaw operations in the region for a year and a half before leaving the company.

After his successful tenure at SLB, Soufiane joined ARGAS as the Director of Commercial & Collaborations. In this role, he played a key part in securing strategic collaborations with leading technology companies, further enhancing ARGAS’s position in the industry.

Hussain Al Zayer has over 20 years of experience in seismic field (3D/2D) with ARGAS. Starting his career as a field data acquisition engineer. he has progressively advanced into various operational management roles. Throughout his career, Hussain has successfully managed project’s mobilization for multiple clients across different countries, overseeing key phases such as project design, resources, technical and operation support, field technology and cost optimization.

Hussain hold’s BSc degree in computer science and electronics, executive management program from INSEAD executive education (France).

Hussain extensive expertise in seismic acquisition techniques using geophysical equipment. His passionate on automating seismic field operation for better controlled outcomes. Also, he is leading special project for new energy sectors such as geothermal exploration using optimized seismic, drilling for gas monitoring applications. Currently, he serves as Technology Director, supporting seismic and new diversified business.

Mr. Williams is a highly accomplished geophysicist with over four decades of experience in airborne geophysical acquisition and interpretation. He is responsible for overseeing geophysical airborne projects and managing complex operations. Mr. Williams assumed several roles before joining the ARGAS where he led significant airborne geophysical projects, managed multiple high-profile programs, and oversaw operational efficiency where they managed global projects including the largest airborne mapping program ever undertaken by a private company.

Stephen is also a recognized contributor to the field, with publications and presentations on airborne gravity and magnetics, and non-seismic methods for petroleum exploration. Their educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Photographic Arts from Ryerson University, and additional certifications in aviation safety and management.

Before joining ARGAS, Mr. Mourad Nouioui began his career as a field engineer in seismic acquisition and geophysical exploration with CGG then Seabed Geo-solutions. He advanced to the role of operations manager, demonstrating a strong track record in managing geophysical exploration projects across diverse and challenging environments. His expertise covers offshore, transition zones, swamps, deserts, urban areas, and savannahs.

With 29 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, he specializes in overseeing field operations, ensuring safety compliance, and optimizing data acquisition processes for high-quality seismic imaging.

Mr. Nouioui holds a bachelor’s degree in applied geology engineering from Tunisia. His international experience spans 11 countries across the Middle East, Africa, the Gulf, and Europe.

Maan Al-Gain brings over 16 years of experience in the geophysical and oil & gas industries. Known for his leadership and expertise, Maan plays a critical role in overseeing the company’s seismic operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality geophysical data for some of the largest energy projects in Saudi Arabia. His ability to drive operational excellence, manage complex projects, and build strong client relationships has been a cornerstone of ARGAS’ success in the region.

With a Master’s degree in Geophysics, Maan combines his technical expertise with a hands-on approach to leading teams and managing operations. His journey at ARGAS has seen him excel in various roles, from Junior Geophysicist to Crew Manager, each time advancing operational workflows, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring the highest standards in seismic data collection and processing.

As Saudi Operations Manager, Maan leads with a focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration, enabling ARGAS to stay at the forefront of the geophysical industry. His leadership and vision inspire the team to exceed project goals, deliver exceptional results, and maintain strong client partnerships, solidifying ARGAS’ reputation as a trusted leader in the field.

Ibrahim has over thirteen years of experience in the seismic field (3D/2D) with ARGAS. Starting his career as a Senior Geophysicist, he has progressively advanced into various operational management roles. Throughout his career, Ibrahim has successfully managed projects for multiple clients across different countries, overseeing key phases such as preparation, mobilization, startup, acquisition, and demobilization

Ibrahim holds Bachelor of Science in General Geology – Geophysics, and Master of Petroleum Engineering. Additionally, Ibrahim holds certifications in project management, Team Leaders and HSE-OMS.

Ibrahim possesses extensive expertise in seismic acquisition techniques, including cables and nodes. Currently, he serves as Operations Support Manager for both seismic and non-seismic projects.

Christopher Campbell is a seasoned Principal Geophysicist with extensive experience in mineral and petroleum exploration. With a career spanning over five decades, Mr. Campbell has built a reputation for excellence in geophysical consultancy and project management.

He has been pivotal in delivering high-quality technical program management and quality control services for mineral exploration across diverse global locations, including Canada, Africa, the USA, and Russia.

His expertise encompasses gravity gradiometry, magnetic, gamma-ray spectrometry, and airborne electromagnetic data quality control, project management and integrated interpretations. Notably, Mr. Campbell led the quality assurance for the world’s largest airborne geophysical program, executed for Saudi Aramco in 2001-2002, overseeing 1.7-million-line kilometres of data.

Dr. Essam Heggy is a Geoscientist at the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California and an affiliate of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He obtained both Master’s and PhD from Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and postdoctoral training at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA. His research interests focus on developing radar surface and subsurface imaging techniques to explore the shallow underground of deserts.

For more than 20 years, he has been working on various NASA and ESA space missions aiming to monitor desert environmental and climatic changes, water resources, natural hazards, and planetary explorations. He is also a Professor at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris at the University of Paris in France and has served in several advisory roles for governments and international agencies supporting innovative methods in geosciences and climate reforms in the Middle East.