Mr. Lemay is the Executive VP, Structures and Sustainability for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). He leads a team of professionals to offer building owners and designers cost effective, durable and sustainable concrete building solutions through education, research and design assistance He has written many articles and books on concrete design and construction. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer in the State of Illinois. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional. Mr. Lemay holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Cynthia is a Swiss-Venezuelan Sustainability Manager and Coordinator at the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), where she has dedicated over three years to advancing sustainable practices within the concrete industry. Holding Master's degrees in International Relations and International Trading, Commodity Finance, and Shipping from the University of Geneva, she combines her academic background with practical experience to drive positive change. Fluent in five languages, Cynthia leverages her diverse skills to enhance CSC's global impact and promote sustainable development initiatives. She has completed courses at the United Nations System Staff College on Circular Economy and the 2030 Agenda and at Macquarie University on global sustainability and corporate social responsibility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she taught these subjects, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in corporate practices. Cynthia is passionate about fostering sustainability within the industry and looks forward to contributing her insights at the conference.
Colin is the Executive Vice President, Engineering Division, for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). He represents the ready mixed industry on committees that establish standards for the industry. He is a member of ACI 318 (Building Code), ACI 301 (Specifications), ACI 329 (Performance Specifications, ASTM C94 (Specification for ready mixed concrete) and several others. Colin Lobo manages NRMCA technical education and certification programs, including the plant certification program. He is involved in NRMCA research programs. He is the author of several papers and books including the User’s Guide to ASTM C94. He is a fellow of ACI and ASTM and is the recipient of numerous ACI, ASTM and NRMCA awards. Colin Lobo is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland. He holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Professional Experience
• Akçansa Çimento, (Sabancı Group & Heidelberg Materials JV), Quality Specialist & Quality Chief, Istanbul, 2008-2014
• Chryso Türkiye, Sales and Marketing Manager (Key Accounts & Jobsites), Istanbul, 2014-2019
• Cementir Group, Çimbeton, Technical Manager, Izmir, 2019-2021
• Heidelberg Materials, Performance Manager – North Europe & East Europe & Central Asia, Heidelberg, 2021-2023
• Saint Gobain Construction Chemicals, Segment Leader/Ready Mix, Paris, 2023-Present
Juan Manuel Pereira, a renowned concrete technologist and digital transformation consultant, will be a featured speaker at our upcoming International Concrete Technology Forum, taking place in Dubai on December 11th and 12th 2024.
Juan Manuel Pereira is the mastermind behind Concrete Watcher, a revolutionary monitoring system for concrete mixer trucks. This patented innovation utilizes video recordings and AI to control the concrete mix in real time. It's a true game-changer, capable of detecting water additions, slump, drum rotation, speed, and more. This addresses a critical global issue in the concrete delivery process by eliminating its biggest blind spot in a practical and cost-effective manner.
But that's not all! Concrete Watcher™ integrates seamlessly with the comprehensive QA/QC system, Concrete Quality, offering total control and traceability. This innovative system can even predict concrete strength and performance before it's poured on-site – a significant advancement in the industry.
Juan Manuel Pereira brings nearly two decades of experience in concrete production, mix design, QA/QC, and monitoring. As the Managing Director of Concrete Quality SL and inventor of both the CDM and Concrete Watcher™ systems, his expertise spans ready-mix and precast concrete production, admixtures, and testing laboratories. With his unique vision for digitizing concrete operations, J.M. combines practical, innovative, and intelligent solutions to propel the concrete industry into the digital era.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a visionary leader who is reshaping the concrete industry with cutting-edge technology and a hands-on approach. Join us at the International Concrete Technology Forum to learn from Juan Manuel Pereira's vast experience and insights!
Laith Haboubi is Vectors Corrosion Group’s Vice President for the Middle East region. With over 35 years experience in UK, Middle East and global construction related roles. He previously headed the materials & building forensics team at WSP Middle East. Prior to that senior leadership positions in a number of leading construction chemicals and speciality building material manufacturers. He has authored/co-authored over 30 papers and technical articles on the subjects of; construction materials & technologies; concrete durability, repair & passive/active protection. He is an AMPP member, was previously a NACE UAE chapter board member and also past and current President of MEDMA (Middle East Dry Mix Mortar Association
Usama Jacir is a Chemical Engineer with 30 years of experience in corrosion management. He has extensive expertise in protective coatings, corrosion inhibitors and corrosion monitoring. Usama is the Founder and CEO of Pulse Technologies, providing cutting-edge corrosion monitoring solutions.
A man who knows no boundary when it comes to this industry having 29 years of experience in the construction industry, Specializing in a wide array of management and leadership skills and Innovative foresight.
He is responsible for ensuring effective operation management, managing cost drivers, stock availability, macro-update on production planning, and assessing work processes, people, and technology. He ensures alignment of people, processes, and technology and consistently works towards synchronization and optimization for the effective and profitable working of the company.
Overall his strategy is simple, move ahead with the rapidly changing face of the UAE Market, and make the best of every possible opportunity, especially in the vibrant, fast-paced, and ever-growing cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Bahaa is the General Manager Technical at Hard Precast Building Systems (HPBS), a leading company in the precast concrete industry in UAE. With extensive expertise in construction management, engineering design, and quality control, Bahaa oversees the engineering and Operation at HPBS.
Throughout his career, Bahaa has contributed to major projects, including innovative precast solutions for landmark projects and bespoke cladding systems for iconic structures. A strong advocate for advanced engineering practices, Bahaa has led the successful adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) at HPBS, delivering improved efficiency and value to clients.
When not driving technical excellence at HPBS, Bahaa actively supports partnerships across the construction industry, promoting sustainable and cost-effective building solutions.
Noor Abdel Aziz is a dedicated sustainability engineering professional, currently serving as a Sustainability Engineer at Arabian Cement Company (ACC). She brings a solid foundation in sustainability, with experience in sustainable development practices.
Noor’s areas of expertise include carbon emissions monitoring and estimation, resource efficiency, and integrating sustainability into complex projects, in addition to sustainable water management and water conservation.
Noor is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainability, building on her Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering with a Minor in Economics from the American University in Cairo. Her commitment to sustainability is reflected in both her academic and professional achievements, making her a valuable asset to ACC’s sustainability initiatives.
Jacques Marchand is president of SIMCO Technologies Inc., an international engineering firm offering specialized consulting services for the design and maintenance of concrete infrastructure. A recognized specialist in the field of concrete mix design, Mr. Marchand is one of the original developers of the STADIUM software platform, which is currently being used to predict the durability and long-term performance of concrete structures in severe exposure conditions. Mr. Marchand is currently involved as consultant in numerous major construction and rehabilitation projects of landmark structures in North America, Europe and the Middle East. He has authored or co-authored more than 170 scientific and technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He is regularly asked to give lectures to academic and industrial research groups around the world. In his presentation, Mr. Marchand will illustrate how numerical modeling using tools such as STADIUM can be combined with proper materials selection and leading-edge testing to build durable reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environments.