As we celebrate the Class of 2025, we are privileged to welcome distinguished speakers who embody KAUST’s highest ideals of leadership, excellence, and global impact. This year’s ceremony features a keynote address by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, minister of energy and chairman of the KAUST Board of Trustees, alongside an inspiring student address by Lila Aldakheel. Their participation reflects the vision, innovation, and determination that define our graduating class.
Commencement speaker
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Minister of Energy
Chairman, KAUST Board of Trustees
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was appointed minister of energy in September 2019. In this role, he oversees the Kingdom’s domestic and international energy policies in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. His portfolio includes the regulation and strategic direction of Saudi Arabia’s oil, gas, electricity, nuclear, and renewable energy sectors. Internationally, he guides the Kingdom’s engagement with energy producers and consumers, including through OPEC and OPEC+.
Prince Abdulaziz has played a central role in shaping energy policy for more than three decades. His distinguished career at the ministry includes serving as minister of state for energy affairs, vice minister of petroleum and mineral resources, assistant minister of petroleum and mineral resources, deputy minister for petroleum affairs, and adviser to the minister of petroleum and mineral resources.
In April 2025, His Royal Highness was appointed chairman of the KAUST Board of Trustees, where he leads the University’s strategic direction to advance research, innovation, and its contribution to national priorities under Saudi Vision 2030.
He holds both an MBA (1985) and a bachelor’s degree in industrial management (1982) from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). He began his career as director of the Economic and Industrial Research Division at KFUPM’s Research Institute.
Class of 2025 student speaker
Lila Aldakheel
Ph.D. student, bioscience, KAUST
Lila Aldakheel is being conferred with a Ph.D. in bioscience at KAUST under the supervision of Professor Alexandre Rosado. Her doctoral research explores mangrove microbes and their ability to degrade plastics, contributing to sustainable solutions for plastic waste.
Aldakheel earned her bachelor’s degree in medical and molecular biology from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), where she worked in the Hematology Laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital on gene-editing approaches for inherited diseases.
She later joined KAUST as a master’s student in Professor Stefan Arold’s lab, using cryo-electron microscopy to study protein structures. She also worked with Red Sea Farms, gaining experience in sustainable agriculture and food security.
Aldakheel has received several notable awards, including:
• L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Award (2023)
• BCG V60 Award (2024)
• BESE Best Achievement Award (2025)
She has presented at international conferences, earning a Best Poster Award and securing an invited speaking opportunity.
Beyond her research, Aldakheel contributes to Precious Plastics KAUST and has mentored high school students through the KAUST Virtual Academy, where her team won first place for Best Project in 2023.
She now looks forward to expanding her work in sustainable environmental biotechnology.