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Built to Solve Complex Challenges

KAUST Beacon Development (KBD) supports clients with science-backed consulting and delivery services across environment, agriculture, land, marine, industry, and health.

With a team of 150+ experts, we connect KAUST research with real world needs. We help partners plan confidently, make informed decisions, and deliver projects that support Vision 2030.

Experts Who Deliver Impact

Behind every KBD project is a team of specialists who turn complex challenges into clear, practical action. Our experts bring together deep knowledge in environmental science, agriculture, industry, health, land and marine systems, backed by KAUST’s world-class research. With local insight and global experience, they work side by side with our clients to design science-based solutions that support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and deliver real impact on the ground.

Daymion Jenkins

Chief Commercial Officer

Daymion Jenkins is an environmental and sustainability leader with over 30 years of international experience across Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. As Chief Commercial Officer at KAUST Beacon Development, he oversees commercial strategy, business performance, and partnerships that drive the company’s long-term growth. Throughout his career, Daymion has led major environmental and infrastructure programs, advised governments on environmental policy, and directed teams within some of the world’s leading consultancies. His expertise spans environmental management, circular economy, and sustainable development, combining strategic insight with a results-driven approach to deliver value and impact at scale.

Fiona Symes

Chief Operating Officer

Fiona Symes is a Chartered Environmentalist with over 20 years of experience leading sustainability and environmental management initiatives across the Middle East and the UK. As Chief Operating Officer at KAUST Beacon Development, she oversees strategic operations and organizational performance, ensuring the successful delivery of complex environmental and marine programs. Fiona has led projects for major clients such as NEOM and Cruise Saudi, applying her expertise in environmental standards, governance, and impact assessment to drive sustainable growth and measurable long-term outcomes.

  • David Wells

    Director of Environmental Planning

    David Wells is a ISEP Fellow, Chartered Scientist and environmental planning specialist with over two decades of experience delivering environmental and social programs for major infrastructure and conservation projects. As Head of Environmental Planning, he manages multidisciplinary teams conducting environmental and social assessments, and sustainable planning for giga-projects including NEOM, RSG, Saudi Downtown, AMAALA, and Qiddiya. David’s leadership combines technical excellence with strategic insight, ensuring that environmental integrity and sustainability are embedded across every stage of development.

  • Dr. Asaad Mohamed

    Director of Aquaculture

    Dr. Asaad H. Mohamed is a senior aquaculture specialist with over 20 years of experience in marine and freshwater aquaculture systems. As Aquaculture Program Director at KAUST Beacon Development, he leads programs focused on sustainable aquaculture technologies, hatchery operations, and biosecurity management. His expertise spans fish nutrition, feed formulation, water quality control, and system design for high-value marine species. Dr. Asaad has held senior academic and advisory roles across Sudan, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia, contributing to research and national aquaculture development strategies. His work combines scientific depth with practical innovation to advance environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.

  • Dr. Claudio Grunewald

    Director of Algae

    Dr. Claudio Grünewald is an accomplished algal biotechnologist with more than 25 years of international experience in industrial microalgae production, bioprocess design, and environmental biotechnology. As Project Director at KAUST Beacon Development, he oversees the advancement of innovative algal technologies supporting sustainable aquaculture, bioenergy, and environmental programs. Throughout his career, he has led large-scale research and industrial projects across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, driving the translation of scientific innovation into practical applications. His work continues to contribute to the development of circular bioeconomy solutions and low-carbon growth strategies in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

  • Dr. Ricardo Oliveira Ramalho

    Director of Terrestrial Ecology

    Dr. Ricardo Ramalho is an accomplished ecologist with over 20 years of international experience in terrestrial ecology, conservation, and biodiversity research. As Head of Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation at KAUST Beacon Development, he leads large-scale ecological programs supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. A Chartered Environmentalist and published scientist, Dr. Ramalho has directed numerous research and conservation initiatives across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, focusing on wildlife management, habitat restoration, and ecological monitoring. His work integrates scientific excellence with practical sustainability, ensuring data-driven decisions that protect biodiversity while enabling responsible development.

  • Dr. Mark Dimech

    Marine Director

    Dr. Mark Dimech is a fisheries scientist with over 25 years of international experience in fisheries management, stock assessment, and marine research. As Technical Director of Fisheries at KAUST, he leads strategic initiatives to advance sustainable fisheries and ecosystem-based management across the Red Sea and beyond. Before joining KAUST, Dr. Dimech served with the UN FAO, the European Commission, and national ministries, providing technical leadership in fisheries governance and assessment programs across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications and technical reports.

  • John Cleland

    Director of Mining and Circular Economy

    John Cleland is an environmental specialist with over 25 years of international experience in mining, energy, and infrastructure. As Centre Director of the SIRC Applied Solutions Centre at KAUST, he leads initiatives in waste management and environmental innovation. His work spans environmental assessments, risk management, and site rehabilitation across Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Caribbean — delivering practical, sustainable solutions for complex industrial challenges.

  • Dr. Raul Vilela

    Associated Director Marine Environment

    Dr. Raul Vilela is an environmental scientist with extensive international experience in ecological modeling, environmental risk assessment, and marine spatial planning. He has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and numerous technical reports. His career includes research on fisheries and discards at the Spanish Oceanographic Institute, marine spatial planning and protected-area development with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Gabon, and ecological modeling on offshore wind impacts in Germany. He later led environmental monitoring at Red Sea Global. As Associate Director for Marine Environment at KAUST Beacon Development, he now oversees major regional marine programs supporting sustainable development across the Middle East.

  • Portrait of Dr. Hector Barrios-Garrido, senior marine megafauna specialist.

    Dr. Hector Barrios Garrido

    Senior Marine Megafauna Specialist

    Dr. Hector Barrios-Garrido is a Senior Marine Megafauna Specialist with over two decades of experience in marine conservation, ecological research, and academic leadership. His career spans work with all seven marine turtle species across multiple continents, combining field science, community-based conservation, and advanced ecological monitoring. At KAUST and KAUST Beacon Development, he leads research and management strategies for Red Sea megafauna, including the Ras Baridi Turtle Conservation Initiative. Previously a long-serving university lecturer and researcher in Venezuela, he has contributed extensively to marine ecology, published scientific studies, and earned international recognition, including awards from the International Sea Turtle Society.

  • Edwin Palmer

    Associate Director Marine Environment

    Edwin Palmer is a marine environmental consultant with 16 years of experience across the Middle East, specialising in project management for major coastal and offshore developments. He has delivered Environmental and Social Impact Assessments for high-profile projects and overseen large-scale environmental monitoring programmes. With strong relationships across consultancy and regulatory sectors, he has built a trusted network throughout Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. His extensive field experience—particularly in marine surveys and data collection—underpins his ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and to develop a dedicated marine survey capability that supports effective, science-based environmental project delivery.

  • David McGarth

    Associate Director Coastal Ecosystem Management and Restoration

    David McGrath is an environmental specialist with more than 15 years of experience focused on coastal ecosystems across the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. As Practice Lead for Coastal Ecosystem Restoration in KBD, he oversees long-term seagrass monitoring, mangrove restoration, and blue carbon programmes in Saudi Arabia. His background spans environmental impact assessment, ecological management, and monitoring for major infrastructure, energy, industrial, and conservation projects. With extensive experience in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, he has led multinational teams delivering complex ecological initiatives, and has also contributed to projects in Oman, Qatar, Guinea, and Indonesia, advancing evidence-based coastal ecosystem management.

  • William Paterson

    Principal Ecology Specialist

    Dr. William Paterson is a marine megafauna specialist with deep expertise in marine mammal science, ecological survey design, and large-scale environmental assessments. With extensive field leadership across the Red Sea, Kazakhstan, and international research projects, he brings a strong record of directing survey teams, developing evidence-based monitoring protocols, and delivering high-quality scientific outputs under demanding conditions. William holds a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of St Andrews and is a Chartered Ecologist (CEcol). His work spans marine conservation, megafauna monitoring, seabird surveys, and ecological compliance, supporting science-driven decision-making across major coastal developments.

  • Abhishekh Palaparambil Vijayan

    Geomatics Manager

    Abhishekh P. Vijayan is a Senior GIS Specialist with 18 years of experience in geospatial analysis, applied geology, and environmental mapping. With 14 years in Saudi Arabia, he has played a key role in three major Giga-projects—NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Amaala—providing spatial database management, environmental baseline mapping, and GIS support for master planning and impact assessments. Trained in Applied Geology, he has worked across India and the Gulf in GIS, remote sensing, and environmental project coordination. His work includes developing Environmental Sensitivity Index maps and contributing to peer-reviewed publications on marine spatial planning and hyperspectral analysis.

  • Francis Mallon

    Project Manager Marine Technology

    Francis Mallon is a Marine Technology Project Manager at KAUST Beacon Development, where he oversees oceanographic operations and leads all underwater and terrestrial archaeological projects. With over 20 years of experience in land and subsea survey operations, he specializes in drone mapping, GIS analysis, and managing the environmental and archaeological components of complex marine initiatives. He holds a degree in Archaeology from Queen’s University Belfast and has contributed to shipwreck surveys, offshore environmental assessments, and archaeological investigations across Ireland, the UK, and the Red Sea. His work includes a published discovery of an uncharted Red Sea brine pool, reflecting his commitment to advancing marine heritage and technology.