David V.Scott
Board Member
David Scott is an expert in strategy formulation and implementation with an extensive track record of successful engagements involving multi-billion dollar projects and ventures in both the public and private sectors.
As chief of the strategy function at MGX, Mr. Scott works with the Funds’ leadership and investment professionals to identify priority target themes and sectors for capital allocation, as well as the management of portfolio risk. As the chief of the safety function at MGX, Mr. Scott oversees the development of safety-related criteria to support the Fund’s diligence of investment opportunities, recognizing the important safety and socioeconomic consequences of emerging AI technologies and applications.
In addition to the above, Mr. Scott serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE-based agricultural technology firm, Pure Harvest Smart Farms, and as the Managing Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, a UAE-based non-profit organization focused on the eradication of the critical global challenge of water scarcity. Mr. Scott also serves as a director on the boards of the UAE-based Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and US Seattle-based TerraPower. Further, he serves on the advisory board of Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs.
Mr. Scott is deeply passionate about education and human capital development and maintains relationships with several major academic institutions across the globe, where he lectures on various geopolitical, business and strategy-related topics.
Previously, as Executive Director of Economic and Energy Affairs for the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) (2006-2012), Mr. Scott helped organize and lead an interagency working group that developed the current diversified technology strategy being implemented in the UAE energy sector.
Prior to his role at the EAA, Mr. Scott worked as a regional vice president for Occidental Petroleum Corporation (2002-2006), contributing to Occidental’s rapid expansion in Middle East. From 2001-2002, he served at the White House as the National Security Council’s Director for Arabian Peninsula and North African Affairs.
Mr. Scott is a former US Foreign Service Officer and a veteran of the United States Army. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the Defense Language Institute, as well as the US Army’s Cryptologic and Electronic Warfare School and Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. He was also a graduate fellow with the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad at the American University of Cairo. He is fluent in both Arabic and Spanish.