Trade and Investment
How to power Europe’s industrial competitiveness in an era of uncertainty
The EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act marks a shift towards domestic manufacturing to boost Europe’s economic competitiveness.
Ayla Majid
Ayla Majid is the Founder & CEO of Planetive, a leading advisory and project development company working at the intersection of technology, finance, and decarbonisation with presence in the Middle East and Pakistan. Ayla is a leading voice in creating investable models for energy, minerals, and digital infrastructure across emerging markets. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, decarbonization investor and founder of several successful ventures in tech, energy and agriculture.
Ayla serves on numerous corporate and advisory boards providing strategic oversight and thought leadership. Her current board appointments include Mari Energies, Pakistan’s leading publicly listed energy company and the largest gas producer in the country; Siemens Pakistan; Abbott Laboratories; and MMBL, a leading microfinance bank supporting the largest digital cash wallets. She is an advisory member at the Industry Advisory Council of the International Energy Forum in Riyadh.
Her previous governance leadership includes serving as the Elected Global President and Board Chair of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK). She has also chaired Government Holdings (Pakistan's state-owned energy holding company) and served on the boards of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (entity purchasing entire country’s power), the Islamabad Stock Exchange, and the Intellectual Property Rights Organization of Pakistan.
A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2015), Ayla has served on the Global Future Councils on Energy and Energy Transition and moderated high-level discussion on "Global Risks" at the 50th Annual Meeting in Davos, served on the YGL Advisory Board. She was selected as an Eisenhower Global Fellow in 2021.
Deeply committed to social impact, Ayla serves on the board of Governors of The Helpcare Society, which operates the 'Teach a Child' school network for underprivileged children. She remains a dedicated advocate for inclusive growth.
Ayla graduated with MBA (with distinction) from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, holds a Bachelors in Law from the University of London, and is an ACCA member. Holds an Executive Certificates in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Transformational Leadership from the Oxford University; Energy Transition from Andlinger Centre for Energy & Environment at Princeton University; and Smart Cities from Nanyang Technological University Singapore.
Most Popular
Social Innovation
Cómo la innovación local e iterativa impulsa el cambio real en agua y energía
Las iniciativas innovación iterativas, basadas en las capacidades locales, puede generar cambios tangibles para las comunidades —un enfoque que debe replicarse en todos los sectores.
Social Innovation
Beyond hyperbole: Local iterative innovation is making real change in energy and water
Local and iterative innovation, building on existing capabilities, can make tangible change for billions of people – an approach that should be replicated globally and across sectors.
Energy Transition
The new energy equation: Why LNG is vital to the future of supply chains
As supply chains adapt to the shifting geopolitical landscape, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is emerging as a critical buffer – offering both security and flexibility.
Global Cooperation
Regional collaboration could unlock South Asia’s economic potential
South Asia’s future hinges on collaboration, not conflict – middle-power diplomacy and tech-driven coalitions could help unlock regional prosperity.
Energy Transition
3 essentials for carbon capture and storage to really take off
By fostering collaboration and unlocking capital for carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technologies, we can pave the way for a low-carbon and sustainable future.
Energy Transition
Why South-South collaboration is the key to unlocking clean energy in the Global South
By fostering cross-border collaboration and innovation, Global South countries can address environmental challenges and drive inclusive economic growth.
Emerging Technologies
Por qué la innovación en tecnología climática requiere colaboración global para despegar
Enfrentar la crisis climática exige una remodelación del marco energético actual, pero se debe tener en cuenta la dependencia de los recursos y las infraestructuras energéticas existentes.
Emerging Technologies
Why innovative climate technology requires global collaboration to take off
Tackling the climate crisis necessitates a reshaping of the energy framework, which must consider global dependence on energy resources and infrastructure.
Energy Transition
These 3 electricity regimes give us a glimpse of our global energy future
To guarantee sustainable progress, electricity providers worldwide must implement effective tariff systems. Dubai, Pakistan and California show us how.
Forum in Focus
Why carbon capture is key to reaching climate goals
Carbon-capture and storage technology has emerged as a robust and innovative tool to reduce carbon emissions and make progress towards net zero.
Nature and Biodiversity
What can Asian countries teach the rest of the world about financing hydrogen development?
European countries can learn about financing hydrogen from Japan, India, and Pakistan, which are successfully investing in their domestic hydrogen capacity.
Trade and Investment
How to finance the energy transition in Asia
Asia is the fastest-growing region for electricity consumption over a ten-year forecast but more investment is needed in the energy transition toward renewables
Nature and Biodiversity
Beyond climate mitigation: the Pakistan floods showed there's no turning back
Climate adaptation and mitigation is not a fight for Pakistan alone, the unprecedented impact of floods worldwide calls for multi-stakeholder support.
Energy Transition
How local banking can help champion decarbonization in emerging markets
The transition to clean energy promises great economic benefits for emerging economies – and local banks are best placed to identify the right opportunities.