The Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit), The KPI Institute’s strategy and performance audit division, is inviting organizations and practitioners to one of the year’s key gatherings in strategy and performance management. On November 17, senior leaders and industry experts will convene in Riyadh for the Performance Excellence Forum & Awards Gala 2025, a full-day program focused on advancing performance maturity and organizational excellence across sectors.

More than an event, the gala unites visionaries shaping Saudi Arabia’s future in performance, strategy, and transformation. Attendees will gain actionable insights, practical frameworks, and forward-looking perspectives to enhance capabilities and support the Kingdom’s long-term goals.

This year’s forum brings together leaders from government, private, and global organizations with expertise in strategy, transformation, performance management, and human capital. Participants will learn best practices in organizational excellence, digital transformation, and high-performance cultures from experts across aviation, investment, construction, HR, publishing, and technology—leaders driving Vision 2030 and global business standards.

Featured speakers

Below is the curated lineup of speakers leading this year’s forum:

 

 

• Badreddin Ibrahim Alharithy – Strategy & Transformation Director at Albawani Holding
• Led major strategy offices and enterprise project management offices (PMOs), delivering complex transformation programs aligned with Vision 2030.
• Title of the talk: Case Study: From Maturity Assessment to Organizational Impact. A Leap from Emergent to Advanced Practices (along with Cristina Mihăiloaie)

 

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• Anas Alkeaid – Head of Strategic Planning, at Literature Publishing Translation Commission
• Guided strategic initiatives that advance Saudi Arabia’s cultural ecosystem and support national transformation goals.
• Title of the talk: Focus Over Volume: How Performance Maturity Redefines What Gets Measured in Performance Management Systems

 

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• Abdulmohsen K. Alraimi – Excellence Programs and Quality Monitoring Director at ZATCA
• Drove major improvements in digital platforms and quality systems, securing top national excellence rankings.
• Title of the talk: From Local Fixes to Institutional Learning: Advancing Performance Improvement Maturity Across the Organization

 

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• Abdulhadi Al Ghamdi – Performance Management Senior Manager at Riyadh Airports
• Led workforce planning and performance initiatives that strengthened organizational effectiveness across Riyadh Airports.
• Title of the talk: The Performance Management Journey at Riyadh Airports Company​: From engagement insights to execution excellence

 

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• Ahmed Bin Shuail – Senior Director, Head of Strategy & Planning at Public Investment Fund (PIF)
• Spearheads PIF’s corporate strategy management and has contributed significantly to Vision 2030’s national transformation agenda.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: How Strategy and Corporate Performance Leaders Use Maturity Assessments to Drive Business Impact (along with Abdullah Almofleh, Alyn Bailey, and Diogenis Paplomytis, moderated by Cristina Mihăiloaie)

 

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• Zainab Hamidaddin – Executive Director – Engagement & HR Business Partners at Red Sea Global
• Architected high-impact human resource programs that enhanced culture, wellbeing, and engagement across major Saudi organizations.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: Performance with Purpose – Aligning People, Culture and Strategy (along with Akram Felemban, Manal Kutbi, Fahad Al-Qadhib, and Yara AlSikhan, moderated by Teodora Gorski)

 

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• Abdullah Almofleh – Vice President of Corporate Strategy at SAMI Advanced Electronics Company
• Over 16 years of leading strategic transformation initiatives that support Saudi Arabia’s industrial and national growth goals.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: How Strategy and Corporate Performance Leaders Use Maturity Assessments to Drive Business Impact (along with Ahmed Bin Shuail, Alyn Balley, and Diogenis Papiomytis, moderated by Cristina Mihăiloaie

 

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• Mohammed Sulieman Al’Mohd – Head of EPMO at Red Sea Global
• Established one of Saudi Arabia’s most advanced PMO practices, enabling large-scale strategy execution and governance excellence.
• Title of the talk: When Leadership Listens: Building a Culture that Drives Performance Through Trust (along with Talal AlMalki)

 

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• Talal AlMalki – Senior Director of Corporate Planning & Performance, Red Sea Global
• Designed modern business frameworks that drive efficiency, innovation, and long-term performance alignment.
• Title of the talk: When Leadership Listens: Building a Culture that Drives Performance Through Trust (along with Mohammed Sulieman Al’Mohd)

 

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• Dr. Majid Alsubaie – Director at The KPI Institute for Training
• Expert in key performance indicators (KPIs) and digital transformation with extensive research contributions in strategy, agile project delivery, and performance.

 

 

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• Akram Felemban – Vice President, Strategy and Transition Sector at Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA)
• Led national performance and governance frameworks that drive accountability and Vision 2030 alignment across the public sector.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: Performance with Purpose – Aligning People, Culture and Strategy (along with Zainab Hamidaddin, Manal Kutbi, Fahad Al-Qadhib, and Yara AlSikhan, moderated by Teodora Gorski)

 

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• Alyn Bailey – Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Albawani Holding
• 20-year global career leading multi-sector transformation programs, organizational restructures, and enterprise strategy.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: How Strategy and Corporate Performance Leaders Use Maturity Assessments to Drive Business Impact (along with Ahmed Din Shuail, Abdullah Almoleh, and Diogenis Papiomytis, moderated by Cristina Mihăiloaie)

 

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• Tor Inge Vasshus – Founder & CEO at Corporater
• Built one of the world’s leading Business Management Platforms, supporting Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
• Title of the talk: How Connected Enterprises Use GPRC to Advance Performance Excellence – Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Transformation

 

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• Dr. Aurel Brudan – Founder & CEO, The KPI Institute
• Global authority on performance systems with 300+ publications and advisory experience across major global institutions.

 

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• Manal Kutbi – Organization Development & Performance Management Director at Soudah Development
• Developed comprehensive human capital and performance systems that strengthen organizational agility and alignment
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: Performance with Purpose – Aligning People, Culture and Strategy (along with Zainab Hamidaddin, Akram Felemban, Fahad Al-Qadhib, and Yara AlSikhan, moderated by Teodora Gorski)

 

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• Fahad Alqadhib – Human Capital General Director at MODON
• Integrates advanced HR technologies to drive talent development, change management, and organizational excellence.

 

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• Diogenis Papiomytis – General Manager of Strategy & Business Plan at Matarat Holding
• Oversees strategy and performance across 27 Saudi airports, backed by two decades of global aviation expertise.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: How Strategy and Corporate Performance Leaders Use Maturity Assessments to Drive Business Impact (along with Ahmed Bin Shuail, Abdullah Almofleh, and Alyn Bailey, moderated by Cristina Mihăiloaie)

 

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• Yara AlSikhan – Associate Director, Talent & Performance Management at Tourism Development Fund
• Specializes in talent management and career development within high-growth national sectors.
• Title of the talk: Panel Discussion: Performance with Purpose – Aligning People, Culture and Strategy  (along with Zainab Hamidaddin, Akram Felemban, Manal Kutbi, and Fahad Al-Qadhib, moderated by Teodora Gorski)

 

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• Adrian Brudan – Co-Founder & General Manager at GPA Unit
• Global leader in performance maturity assessments, shaping TKI’s key certified programs and research initiatives.
• Title of the talk: Conference Chair Welcome Message and GPAU 3.0 Official Launch

 

 

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• Doina Popovici – Head of Maturity Assessment Services at GPA Unit
• Leads global maturity assessments that strengthen strategic alignment, operational excellence, and capability development.
• Title of the talk: How to Get Recognized for Performance Excellence

 

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• Teodora Gorski – Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth at GPA Unit
• Delivered strategy and performance advisory across 15+ countries and authored 25+ publications in sustainability, leadership, and strategy.
• Moderator for Panel Discussion: Performance with Purpose – Aligning People, Culture and Strategy

 

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• Cristina Mihăiloaie – Head of Innovation & Product Design at GPA Unit
• Founding member of The KPI Institute with a decade of research and advisory expertise shaping global performance frameworks.
• Title of the talk: Case Study: From Maturity Assessment to Organizational Impact. A Leap from Emergent to Advanced Practices (along with Badreddin Ibrahim Alharithy)
• Moderator for Panel Discussion: How Strategy and Corporate Performance Leaders Use Maturity Assessments to Drive Business Impact

 

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For a full schedule of sessions, speaker lineups, and detailed timings, explore the Performance Excellence Forum & Awards Gala 2025 agenda here.

The Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit) is inviting organizations and practitioners to join one of the year’s most significant gatherings in strategy and performance management. 

On November 17, senior leaders and industry experts will come together in Riyadh for the Performance Excellence Forum & Awards Gala 2025, a full-day program dedicated to advancing performance maturity across sectors.

“Every transformation starts with a conversation,” said Adrian Brudan, General Manager of the GPA Unit, who noted that the forum serves as a critical platform for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together perspectives on strategy, performance, culture, and governance to support the development of future-ready organizations.

The event is more than a conference; it is a movement focused on strengthening how organizations plan, measure, improve, and lead. Throughout the forum, participants will examine how long-term vision can be translated into actionable strategy, what mature performance measurement entails, and how improvement, culture, and leadership contribute to overall organizational maturity. 

Discussions will also highlight the importance of people and capability-building in driving sustainable transformation, along with pathways for achieving recognition through certifications, accreditations, and performance excellence awards. As Adrian Brudan affirms, “Performance excellence is enabled by people who listen, collaborate, and take accountability.”

The Forum includes a dynamic mix of the following:

• Expert talks on strategy, performance measurement, organizational culture, and leadership

• Case studies showcasing real transformation journeys

• Panel discussions with leaders shaping performance across major Saudi organizations

• Networking opportunities throughout the day

• The official launch of GPA Unit 3.0, marking a new phase in maturity assessment

• The prestigious Performance Excellence Awards Gala, celebrating outstanding achievements across six major capability areas

To explore the full timetable, speakers, and session topics, you can download the complete agenda and event brochure here: https://gpaunit.org/performance-excellence-forum-and-awards-gala/agenda 

Seats are limited for both the physical venue and the virtual broadcast. Join the GPA Unit at the Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residence and be part of a global dialogue shaping the future of strategy and performance management. Secure your spot now! Register here: https://gpaunit.org/performance-excellence-forum-and-awards-gala/registration 

High-performing organizations are like luxury cars. They are powerful and advanced, but they need regular care. The same goes for people, even the most productive employees and top-performing teams. “Care” does not only come in the form of better tools, training, or rewards; one essential yet often overlooked part in this aspect is wellbeing. 

By ignoring wellbeing, burnout becomes inevitable. In fact, research shows that employees are 56% more engaged in their work, 34% more likely to stay with their employer, and 37% less likely to experience burnout.

The Global Performance Audit (GPA) Unit—The KPI Institute’s strategy and performance audit division—will explore how well-being impacts organizational success in a live webinar titled “Wellbeing as Strategy: Embedding Happiness into Performance Culture,” on October 28, 2025, Tuesday. The session is designed to offer practical insights on how organizations can use wellbeing not only as an initiative or a benefit but as a strategic foundation for sustainable, long-term performance. The session runs from 5:00 – 6:00 PM (KSA Time) and will be facilitated by Bori Péntek, Head of Content Development and Insights at the GPA Unit. 

Péntek is a seasoned management consultant specializing in organizational development and human resource management. She works with businesses to align strategies, processes, and values with a strong emphasis on human and social wellbeing.

What’s in it for you

If you are trying to foster high performance without compromising employee wellbeing, the webinar offers the strategic blueprint you need. It will guide you through how mature organizations embed wellbeing as a key performance driver by integrating strategic metrics into performance dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs). You’ll also discover why emotional labor is a valid, measurable form of contribution and learn how to adapt team rituals and workflows to reduce chronic strain. 

Additionally, you will learn how to apply institutional listening practices (e.g., pulse surveys and stay interviews), how to uncover hidden stress points, and how to establish governance structures that embed well-being into leadership accountability. Expect practical frameworks and evidence-based strategies to help shift well-being from a supplementary aspect to a core performance pillar in your organization.

Whether you are a senior leader, human resource professional, middle manager, or team member, this session offers practical insights for anyone committed to building healthier, high-performing workplaces. Sign up for the webinar now! Find out more information HERE.

Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit), the strategy and performance audit division of The KPI Institute, is proud to announce that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has successfully achieved the highest level of accreditation: Level 5: Optimized. This follows a comprehensive assessment of PIF’s strategy and performance management system.

“This prestigious recognition highlights PIF’s commitment to excellence in the field of strategy, performance measurement, and performance improvement, complementing and reinforcing PIF mission to support investment opportunities and drive economic transformation in Saudi Arabia. GPA Unit and The KPI Institute remain committed to unlocking organizational potential and empowering entities through rigorous research, expert insights, and innovative capabilities,” said Adrian Brudan, GM of GPA Unit and VP of The KPI Institute.

The accreditation acknowledges PIF’s exceptional performance in:

• Strategy Planning: Demonstrating a robust and coherent strategic framework that aligns organizational goals with operational execution.
• Performance Measurement: Implementing precise and comprehensive Key Performance Indicators that drive informed decision-making and accountability.
• Performance Improvement: Continuously enhancing processes and practices to achieve superior outcomes and foster a culture of excellence.

GPA Unit conducted the assessments using a comprehensive methodology based on its PMS Maturity Model framework. It involved detailed analysis on over 300 items that reflect industry best practices, designed to gauge the complexity of organizational capabilities in the strategy and performance management field.

PIF is a global investment powerhouse and the world’s most impactful investor, enabling the creation of new sectors and opportunities that will drive the economic development, diversification and transformation of Saudi Arabia and shape the future for the global economy. Actively investing over the long term to maximize sustainable returns, PIF has been the investment partner of choice for global opportunities. PIF’s stability has been recognized by international credit ratings agencies: PIF is rated A1 by Moody’s with a positive outlook and A+ by Fitch with a stable outlook.

PIF’s partnership with GPA Unit is part of PIF’s work in exploring new ways and new perspectives to allow it to carry out its mandate better. GPA Unit’s work assists PIF to allow analysis of where PIF can grow in its performance management practices.

The accomplishment is a testament to PIF’s promising strategy and robust performance management system, as well as the well-established practices that drive PIF’s success and its position as one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds. The acknowledgment complements and reinforces the recent recognition of PIF as the single most valuable brand among the world’s sovereign wealth funds.

The achievement was formally recognized during an award ceremony that took place in Riyadh on June 6, 2024. The event was hosted by Saad Alkroud, PIF Chief of Staff and General Secretary of the Board of Directors.

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About PIF

PIF is the investment engine driving economic transformation for Saudi Arabia and the world. With an ambitious program to deliver Vision 2030, PIF invests in projects, companies and partners to diversify the Saudi economy, stimulate growth in every major sector, and create new opportunities for investment and employment.

And as a global investor and catalyst of change, PIF actively partners with the most pioneering organizations across the world to accelerate their growth, and transfer the technology and knowledge needed to build industry ecosystems of the future.

Since 2017, PIF has established 94 companies and injects at least SAR 150 billion into the local economy each year. Through strategic investments and partnerships across the Saudi public and private sector, PIF is driving the transition to a more sustainable economy, and laying the foundations for local and international partners to invest in the economic and societal transformation of Saudi Arabia. 

For more information, visit the website at www.pif.gov.sa

About The KPI Institute and the GPA Unit

The KPI Institute (TKI) is a worldwide leader in performance management and KPIs training and certification. It operates research programs in 12 practice domains, disseminates industry insights through publications and knowledge platforms, and provides support in deploying those insights through training and advisory services.

The Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit) is the strategy and performance audit division of The KPI Institute. Its purpose is to provide integrated strategy and performance assessment solutions through rigorous research, education and analysis.

Based on over 20 years of experience and a combination of academic and practitioner research in the field of strategy and performance, GPA Unit has developed a unique set of frameworks for assessing the maturity level of organizational performance management systems.

The concept and services of the GPA Unit are available worldwide, as it is supported by a dedicated online platform and a global network of collaborators, www.gpaunit.org

Contact details

For more information, please contact:

Adrian Brudan: General Manager EMEA, TKI

adrian.brudan@kpiinstitute.com | Contact Number: +40 721 233 084

Riyadh, 28 Nov, 2023: Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, has become the first company worldwide to receive the highest level (Optimized) of recognition for their Integrated Performance Excellence practices from the prestigious The KPI Institute

The certification assesses the company’s Strategy & Performance Management Architecture design and implementation. RSG was awarded the maximum accreditation, Level 5, While the average maturity level in the GCC region is a commendable three out of five. The KPI Institute’s report noted RSG’s innovation of the Balanced Scorecard methodology. The developer added sustainability as a fifth perspective, underpinning the importance of ESG and regenerative tourism for the company.

“From day one, our goal was to set new standards in everything that we do. We are proud to have achieved the highest possible level in this certification, reflecting our comprehensive approach to planning and performance, which is not merely about adhering to established norms but about redefining and innovating them,” said John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global.

The KPI Institute, through its strategy & performance audit division, the Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit), provides a holistic assessment covering five critical dimensions: Strategic Planning, Performance Measurement, Performance Management, Performance Culture, and Employee Performance Management.

Adrian Brudan, General Manager EMEA of The KPI Institute and GPA unit said: “Red Sea Global has dedicated itself to the development and enhancement of its strategy and performance management practices, aligning them with its strategic intent and industry best practices while adding sustainability as a key and core capability in order to achieve performance excellence. This commitment reflects the company’s visionary leadership, dedicated workforce, and state-of-the-art performance management architecture. With this achievement, Red Sea Global sets a new benchmark for excellence within its industry and beyond.”

Last month, The Red Sea welcomed its first guests. Two of its hotels are open for bookings and the Red Sea International Airport has been receiving a regular schedule of flights since September. Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, F&B, and leisure facilities.

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About Red Sea Global

Red Sea Global (RSG – www.redseaglobal.com) is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.

RSG is a global multi-project developer, seeking to lead the world towards a more sustainable future, showing how responsible and development can uplift communities, drive economies, and enhance the environment.  The protection of natural capital is central to all development decisions, as the organization seeks to create a better future for all.

A cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to diversify its economy, RSG is playing a key role in transforming the nation, by creating exciting opportunities for young Saudi talent and the private sector, as it develops built assets and destinations across multiple sectors that make a positive impact for people and planet.

RSG is the visionary company behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations such as The Red Sea, Amaala and Thuwal Private Retreat. It has also been entrusted with refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport, focused on upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure, and building a new international terminal.

Across its portfolio, RSG leverages the most innovative concepts, strategies, and technologies to deliver projects.

Contact details

For more information, please contact:

Jack Williams: Associate Public Relations Director

jack.williams@redseaglobal.com

 

About The KPI Institute & GPA Unit

The KPI Institute (TKI) is a worldwide leader in performance management and KPIs training and certification. It operates research programs in 12 practice domains, disseminates industry insights through publications and knowledge platforms, and provides support in deploying those insights through training and advisory services.

The Global Performance Audit Unit (GPA Unit) is the strategy and performance audit division of The KPI Institute. Its purpose is to provide integrated strategy and performance assessment solutions through rigorous research, education and analysis.

Based on over 15 years of experience and a combination of academic and practitioner research in the field of strategy and performance, we have developed a unique set of frameworks for assessing the maturity level of organizational performance management systems.

The concept and services of the GPA Unit are available worldwide, as it is supported by a dedicated online platform and a global network of collaborators, www.gpaunit.org.

Contact details

For more information, please contact:

Adrian Brudan: General Manager EMEA, TKI

adrian.brudan@kpiinstitute.com | Contact Number: +40 721 233 084