The British Omani Society was delighted to host a webinar exploring how the UK and Oman are shaping the next generation of e‑Government systems and national cloud strategies. The session brought together senior leaders and experts who are directly influencing digital transformation across both countries, offering members a rare opportunity to hear first‑hand perspectives on policy, technology, and future collaboration.
The discussion was moderated by Chris Breeze, Vice‑Chair of the British Omani Society, and featured:
- Nicky Stewart, Senior Advisor at the Open Cloud Coalition and former Head of ICT Strategy Delivery at the UK Cabinet Office
- Dr. Bader Al Manthari, Group Vice President – Strategy, ITHCA Group, Oman
- Eng. Maqbool Al‑Wahaibi, Acting CEO of Otech
Together, they unpacked the evolving landscape of digital government, cloud sovereignty, and secure digital infrastructure, areas that are increasingly central to national competitiveness and public‑sector innovation.
Watch the Webinar:
About the Speakers
Nicky Stewart
Senior Advisor, Open Cloud Coalition; Former Head of ICT Strategy Delivery, UK Cabinet Office
Nicky Stewart brings more than two decades of experience in UK government digital transformation and strategic sourcing. As Head of ICT Strategy Delivery in the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group, she led the commercial workstream for the pioneering G‑Cloud programme, which accelerated public‑sector cloud adoption and has since enabled over £16 billion in cloud‑related transactions.
A founding member and long‑serving Commercial Director of UKCloud, Nicky has played an influential role in shaping cloud policy and practice across the UK and Europe, contributing to the European Commission’s Expert Group on Cloud Computing Contracts, the CISPE Data Protection Task Force, and techUK’s Central Government Council. She now advises on open cloud policy and serves as a non‑executive director and senior advisor within the AI and technology sectors.
Dr. Bader Al Manthari
Group Vice President – Strategy, ITHCA Group, Oman
Dr. Bader Al Manthari is a leading strategist in Oman’s digital transformation journey, guiding national‑level initiatives as Group Vice President of Strategy at ITHCA Group, the country’s flagship ICT investment organisation. Holding a PhD in Computer Science with distinction from Queen’s University, he combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership across cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and digital infrastructure development.
Dr. Al Manthari also serves as Chairman of the Board (Executive Committee) of Space Communication Technologies SPC and the Digital Transformation Management Company, and sits on the Board of FRONTECH. Widely recognised for his contributions to Oman’s innovation ecosystem, he plays a pivotal role in advancing the country’s digital economy and supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040
Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi
Acting CEO Otech
Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi is the Chief Executive Officer of Oman Data Park (ODP), the first managed cloud service provider in Oman and a pioneer in digital transformation across the region. As a founding member and key leader of the executive management team, he has been instrumental in shaping ODP’s vision, growth, and strategic direction.
With over 25 years of experience in ICT engineering, software development, and business leadership, Eng. Maqbool brings a strong blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial insight. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Software Engineering from the University of York and an MBA from Strathclyde University, UK.
A recognized leader in the technology sector, he was named Technology Person of the Year at the AIWA Awards in 2018, and under his leadership, ODP received the Excellence in Global Cloud-Based Services award in 2019. In 2023, he was honored as one of the World’s Most Inspiring CEOs by World's Leaders magazine.
Driven by innovation, strategic foresight, and a commitment to excellence, Eng. Al Wahaibi continues to position Oman Data Park as a leading cloud service provider on both the regional and global stage.
