Fiona Symes (FISEP) is Chief Operating Officer of KAUST Beacon Development (KBD), an organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Fiona oversees the delivery of commercial and environmental consultancy projects across government, giga-projects, and the private sector, ensuring operational excellence and driving innovation through R&D and cross-functional collaboration with KAUST and external partners. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, project management, budgeting, resource allocation, and optimizing organizational efficiency. She is focused on fostering a culture of continuous improvement, achieving revenue and performance targets, and building strong partnerships with external stakeholders. With over 25 years of experience in consultancy and operational leadership, she brings deep industry insight and a proven ability to lead complex initiatives, navigate change, and deliver impactful, sustainable outcomes that support KBD’s growth and the Kingdom’s long-term vision.