About the juror
Experience brought to the panel
Mario Foster is the Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Al Ghurair Group, one of the UAE's oldest and most respected family conglomerates, with a diverse portfolio spanning multiple industry sectors. With 30 years of international experience, including 15 years as a Group CIO at prominent conglomerates in UAE and Saudi Arabia, and a background with global technology leaders like Microsoft and RSA Security (now part of Dell), Mario brings a wealth of expertise in driving largescale IT transformations. In his role at Al Ghurair Group, Mario leads the Group’s IT organisation, overseeing the evaluation and restructuring of its IT operating model and setting strategic technology plans. He is also a leader in Shared Services, having worked closely with HR, Finance, and Procurement Shared Services teams, providing strategic leadership to optimise operations, improve efficiency, and align technology initiatives across these functions with broader business goals. Before joining Al Ghurair, Mario was the Group CIO at Al Naboodah Group Enterprises, where he successfully transformed the IT department and introduced innovative solutions that helped the Group achieve regional recognition for its IT excellence. During his tenure, Mario oversaw IT operations for the Group’s businesses, which included a wide array of industries and departments, and helped drive efficiency and cost-saving initiatives across the company. Mario holds a BSc in Computer Science (Honours) from McGill University and an MBA in Management of Technology (Honours) from McMaster University in Canada. His qualifications have enabled him to bridge the gap between business needs and IT solutions, ensuring technology works as a driver for operational success. Throughout his career, Mario has been at the forefront of technology adoption and innovation, having led the implementation of cutting-edge technologies like AI, Big Data, Robotics Process Automation (RPA), and Cloud Computing. He is recognised as one of the Top 10 CIOs in the MENA Region and has won over 25 industry awards, including the CIO Catalyst Award for six consecutive years in the Conglomerates, Retail, and Real Estate & Construction sectors. Mario is also a Platinum Member of ISACA and serves on the advisory boards for leading industry councils, including the Higher Colleges of Technology's Industry Advisory Board, the National Advisory Council of the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University, and the Advisory Board for the Cloud MENA Annual Conference