Valerie

Valerie Hawley is currently the Executive Director of the Sorbonne Centre for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI project), an entity aiming to enhance AI (Artificial Intelligence) capabilities across the Middle East. With the mandate to position SCAI as a leading education and research provider in the region, Valerie is responsible for revenue generation, profitability and client satisfaction. Her expertise lies in advising companies on their disruptive innovation strategy by developing use cases and competencies in AI related technologies.
Valerie brings over 12 years of experience in disruptive innovation: first as an entrepreneur in two ventures; second, in her leadership role in setting up the digital innovation and entrepreneurship programme at HEC Paris; and third, in her recent role as the head of innovation at Daman, the National Health Insurance Company, where she successfully influenced and changed the legacy organizational culture and mindset to architect a highly productive external innovation partnership with Plug&Play (a global innovation accelerator) and DOH. Her strategic consulting skills were honed at KPMG where she managed multiple cross- disciplinary teams and worked alongside auditors in complex business environments across France, Germany, UK and the UAE. Valerie has kept her knowledge and expertise in the innovation ecosystem current through ongoing board advisory roles at successful start-ups like Backacia in Paris, technology investments in a VC fund, mentorship on the HEC global Master programme for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and coaching young women through the REACH mentoring programme in the UAE. She has been working in the UAE for 8 years and has built a vast network within the innovation ecosystem, whilst contributing to the regulator, ADGM, on data compliance issues. She shares her thought leadership through regular public speaking engagements at regional innovation conferences.
Having demonstrated exemplary integrity, commitment and resilience in stressful environments throughout her career, Valerie brings multi-faceted and well- rounded value to board discussions across three dimensions:
§ Emotional maturity, experience, and courage to ask difficult questions and inspire constructive dialogue in ways that keep boards focused on their responsibilities towards their key stakeholders
§ Deep expertise in disruptive innovation to help boards shape their competitive strategy in the increasingly difficult and digital post-pandemic environment
§ Leadership skills, network, and experience in enabling boards to establish effective governance, performance management, and incentives to drive cultural
and behavioural change.