His Excellency Fahd Bin Abdulmohsan Al-Rasheed was appointed by Royal Decree as Advisor in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023. He plays a key role in some of the most significant development projects and initiatives under Vision 2030.

H.E. Al-Rasheed currently serves on several boards and committees, including the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Riyadh Foundation, New Murabba Development Company, Diriyah Company, Qiddiya Investment Company, Hevolution Foundation, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), King Saud University, Expo 2030 Development Company, and Riyadh Art. He also chairs the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority and has represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a lead on Urban 20 since 2020.

H.E. Al-Rasheed was formerly the CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), the authority in charge of the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he oversaw the transformation of Riyadh into a top global city for investment, tourism, and livability by 2030. Before RCRC, H.E. Al-Rasheed served as the Group CEO and Managing Director of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), the world’s first publicly traded city and one of the largest private sector projects globally. Before joining KAEC, he served as the Deputy Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (now the Ministry of Investment).

H.E. Al-Rasheed holds a BSc from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Stanford University. He also completed the Advanced Management Program in Real Estate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in 2011.

Dr. Abdullah Abonomi is an Assistant Professor at Umm Al-Qura University, specializing in tourism, events, and hospitality management. He serves as the Operational Director of the Tourism Human Capital Development Program in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.

With extensive experience in academic teaching, research, and national training initiatives, Dr. Abdullah has contributed to multiple strategic programs, including Tourism Trailblazers, MHRAT, and the Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) program in partnership with the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority and IAEE. His expertise spans event planning, sustainability, risk management, and workforce development in the tourism and events sectors.

Dr. Abdullah holds a PhD in Tourism and Events Management from Victoria University, an M.S. in Management and Information Systems from Marywood University (with honors), and a B.S. in Business Administration from King Abdul-Aziz University. He is also a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and a member of Delta Mu Delta, the international honor society for business excellence. His research focuses on sustainable event planning, pro-environmental behavior, and the application of smart technologies in tourism mobility.

Dr. Eihab Hassan Abourokbah is a results-driven executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in education, training, nonprofit management, and business development. As CEO of the Saudi Entertainment and Event Management Academy (SEEMA), he has developed specialized training programs and led industry partnerships, enhancing workforce capabilities. Dr. Abourokbah has organized 30+ major conferences, fostering multi-million-dollar collaborations. His board leadership in non-profit organizations has strengthened governance and operational efficiency. With expertise in strategic planning, corporate leadership, and market expansion, he aligns business objectives with Saudi Vision 2030. Holding a Ph.D. in Education, he brings a data-driven, results-oriented approach to driving growth and innovation.

David Aikman is a purpose-led, performance-driven leader recognised for delivering transformative results and growth for international organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Economic Forum (WEF).

David is widely known for driving value through innovative sponsorships, high-impact events, and the creation of influential global communities and platforms such as the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the Global Shapers Community. As Managing Director of the WEF in China, David led six successful editions of the Annual Meeting of New Champions “Summer Davos”, coordinated the historic participation of President Xi to Davos, and is a fierce advocate of East-West bridge-building and track-two diplomacy.

Following the WEF, he co-founded Improvability, to help companies improve their sustainability and due diligence, compliance and reporting using AI, and created the world’s first free, open ESG standard for startups and SMEs. He is a sought-after board advisor, AI and sustainability strategist, and mentor to next-generation leaders, skilled in mobilising multicultural teams for impact. Renowned for his ability to guide C-suite negotiations in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, he combines an entrepreneurial mindset with deep financial, operational, and governance expertise.

Eng. Mohamed Al-Abdalla is the Vice President of Investment Stimulation at the Sharqia Development Authority (SDA), where he leads efforts to enhance the region’s economic potential, attract value-added investments, and strengthen public-private partnerships.

With more than 25 years of experience in investment, industrial development, and operations, he has held senior leadership roles at International Maritime Industries (IMI), the Saudi General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Saudi MAKAMIN, Saudi Fisheries Company, and Zamil Industrial. His expertise spans investment promotion, supply chain localization, strategic sourcing, and partnership development.

Eng. Al-Abdalla has played an active role in several key national committees and initiatives, including the Sharqia Development Authority Investment Stimulation Committee, the Ras Al-Khair Special Economic Zone, the Renewable Energy Projects Development Office (REPDO), King Salman Maritime Complex Supervisory Committee and serves as a member of several boards.

He holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from KFUPM, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Bahrain, and an MBA from Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. He is a Licensed Consultant Engineer with the Saudi Council of Engineers, and a Licensed Management Consultant accredited by the Ministry of Commerce.

Rawan Albouq holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Emergency Management from the University of New Haven, United States. She has over ten years of professional experience across multiple sectors, including her previous role as Director of Economic Sector Development at the Economic Development Center. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Destination Management at the Madinah Development Authority, where she leads initiatives for destination development, regional events evaluation, and the overall advancement of the tourism sector.

Jan Alessie is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of World Football Summit (WFS), a global platform that brings together key stakeholders to shape the future of the football industry. Since its launch in 2016, WFS has grown into a benchmark event series connecting professionals across sports, business, and investment.

He is also the Founder of Nexus Fostering Partnership, the company behind the development of WFS, and was involved in launching South Summit, Spain’s leading event for startups, entrepreneurs, and investors.

With over 18 years of experience as a senior consultant, content producer, and strategic advisor, Jan has worked across Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, building partnerships with public and private sector leaders. His background includes organizing investment forums, negotiating commercial agreements, and leading global media projects with a strong focus on sports and business.

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, with a working knowledge of French, Jan is passionate about fostering collaboration and driving meaningful conversations that contribute to the growth of the football and sports industry.

Eng. Abdullah AlGhamedi is a passionate customer experience, engineering, and technology leader with over a decade of experience driving business growth and operational excellence. He combines strong managerial, organizational, budgetary, technical, and communication skills to deliver consistent, customer-centric results.
With more than 10 years of leadership across business, technology, and people management, Abdullah has developed a reputation for understanding client needs and translating them into actionable strategies that foster loyalty, satisfaction, and long-term partnerships. His background in information technology and customer service enables him to bridge the gap between technical innovation and business outcomes.
Known for defining and executing strategic direction, Abdullah provides vision and mentorship across diverse IT functions, ensuring that both transformational initiatives and daily operations meet organizational and customer expectations.
He holds a specialization from Babson College in Leading Enterprise Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship, reinforcing his commitment to innovation, leadership, and continuous improvement in dynamic business environments.

Majed AlJuaid served as Vice President of Operations in the region's largest Retail Real Estate company from 2013 to 2019. He was in charge of the operations of more than 25 Malls with a total GLA of more than 1.5 million sqm. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce, with a focus on International Business from King Saud University in 2000. He also holds a degree in Commercial Property Management from the International Council for Shopping Centers (ICSC) in New York in 2012. He has held many managerial positions in the industry of Retail Real Estate since he joined in 2002 such as Regional Operations Director as well as managing a Regional Mega Mall in 2008.

In 2019, Mr. AlJuaid founded the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center (RFECC), where he continues to serve as CEO. Under his leadership, RFECC has grown into one of the region’s most prominent and sought-after venues, successfully hosting more than 50 major events to date.

As well as his role at RFECC, he is the Vice President of Procurement & Facility, responsible for establishing the foundation of four departments aligned with SEERA's strategic objectives. Aside from that, Mr. AlJuaid is also the Vice President of SEERA Cargo, one of the leading freight companies in Saudi Arabia.

Eng. Ibrahim Alsaadat is an experienced event venue director with a strong background in construction, venue operations, and large-scale event management. Over the years, he has led the planning, development, and operation of several world-class facilities that showcase Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global destination for entertainment and sports.

He currently serves as Event Venue Director at Sela, one of the Kingdom’s leading companies in entertainment and venue management. In this role, he has been proud to contribute to the successful delivery of major projects, including the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, the largest exhibition center in Saudi Arabia, and Kingdom Arena, the world’s first fully indoor stadium.

His experience has given him a deep understanding of project management, venue and stadium operations, and asset optimization. Eng. Ibrahim is passionate about creating operational excellence and driving innovation in venue design and management. As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its events and sports industries, he is proud to be part of this transformation, helping shape the next generation of venues and experiences that inspire communities and set new global standards.

Dr. Zohair Sarraj holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and has held numerous governmental and private consultancy positions. He also participated in several committees within the Board of Experts at the Council of Ministers and served at King Saud University for 24 years.

Dr. Sarraj is the Chairman of the Saudi Association for Exhibitions and Conferences (SECA) and a prominent expert in engineering, operation and maintenance, and event management. He currently serves as CEO of Al-Mukhtas Engineering Group and Al-Mukhtas Exhibitions and Conferences Group, one of the leading companies in the Arab region - and as Managing Director of the Saudi Academy for Event, Exhibition, and Conference Management.

He is a member of several local and regional organizations and committees, including the National Program for the Localization of Tourism Human Resources (Takamul), the National Program for Exhibitions and Conferences, and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events – MENA Chapter. Dr. Sarraj has served as Vice Chairman of the National Executive Committee for Tourism, Entertainment, and Events at the Council of Saudi Chambers (2017–2021), Chairman of the Exhibitions and Conferences Committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce (2016–2020), and Chairman of the Conferences Committee at the Professional Event Industry Association.

Recognized as an international expert and arbitrator in construction, operation and maintenance, and event management, he has conducted more than 50 training programs, studies, and workshops, contributing to the development, regulation, and standardization of operation and maintenance practices and conference management across Saudi Arabia.

Albert G. Aoun is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of International Fairs and Promotions (IFP Group). Under his leadership, IFP has become the preeminent organizer of trade fairs, exhibitions, and conferences in the Middle East, with a significant operational footprint in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Egypt.

Leveraging approximately 45 years of dedicated experience in the global MICE industry, Mr. Aoun provides strategic counsel on policy and development initiatives for the sector across several regional governments. His expertise has enabled him to build lasting, high-level relationships with a diverse network of business leaders, trendsetters, and policymakers.

His professional standing is further demonstrated by his 42-year membership with UFI. He is a sought-after guest speaker, contributing to the advancement of the global exhibitions industry.

Academically, Mr. Aoun is a graduate of the American University of Beirut, holding a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (1972). His multifaceted career encompasses engineering, business acumen, and public relations. He spent much of his professional career in Saudi Arabia before returning to his homeland of Lebanon in 2000.

Richard Attias, born in Morocco in 1959, is a civil engineering graduate with a master's degree in mathematics and physics. His early career at IBM ignited a passion for innovation, driving him to establish firms in the IT and global communications sectors. He has crafted over 1,000 high-profile events. As Founder and Executive Chairman of Publicis Events Worldwide from 1993 to 2008, Richard produced the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos and co-founded the Nobel Laureates Conferences.

In 2008, Richard was tapped by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to shape the nation branding strategy for Dubai, which emerged as the region's top destination. That same year, he launched Richard Attias & Associates. His subsequent co-founding of the Clinton Global Initiative, New York Forum, and New York Forum AFRICA showcases his dedication to international discourse.

Since 2008, Richard has orchestrated a plethora of events, including the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, the African Cup, the APEC CEO Summit, the Misk Global Forum, the Future Minerals Forum, the Red Sea Film Festival, and the Future Investment Initiative.

In 2018, Richard entered into a financial partnership with Sanabil, part of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. A year later, he became CEO of the FII Institute. In 2024, he was appointed Special Advisor to PIF.

Mr. Abdulwahab Baghdadi is one of the first Saudi professionals in the MICE industry, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades since 1990. He is the owner of a pioneering Saudi event company that has produced more than 950 events worldwide.

A Forbes Award winner (2015), Mr. Baghdadi is also the Founder and Chairman of the Professional Events Industry Association, the first non-profit association dedicated to advancing the events sector in Saudi Arabia. Recognized among the Top 100 Event Influencers in the Middle East (2024), he continues to play a leading role in shaping and elevating the regional events industry.

Based in Riyadh, Bilal Barmawi is the Founder and CEO of 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences, a rapidly growing global MICE organization. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he leads a dedicated team delivering world-class exhibitions and conferences across the technology, health, food, digital transformation, and lifestyle sectors, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 while connecting audiences and partners around the world.

Through strategic collaborations with international organizations, associations, and government entities, Mr. Barmawi has positioned 1st Arabia as a trusted bridge between markets, facilitating trade, knowledge exchange, and investment opportunities. Each event organized under his leadership is designed to foster innovation, strengthen cross-border relationships, and accelerate industry transformation.
Driven by a vision to build a globally connected business-event ecosystem, Mr. Barmawi is committed to empowering companies and nations to collaborate, innovate, and grow together, shaping the future of business, technology, health, and sustainability both regionally and globally.

Oli Barrett loves connecting individuals, organisations, and rooms of people. He is a regular event host and presenter for gatherings spanning technology, health, entrepreneurship, and education. Oli created the UK's largest schools entrepreneurship competition, Tenner, and co-founded the global literacy campaign TOTS (Turn On The Subtitles), encouraging broadcasters and tech companies to improve children's reading.

He co-founded StartUp Britain, launched alongside the British Prime Minister, and the social enterprise VIY (Volunteer It Yourself), in which young people gain skills and qualifications through repairing buildings in their communities. In business, he is a Co-Founder of The SuperScalers, supporting underrepresented founders to scale their work globally. He also co-founded WebMission and Clean and Cool, connecting hundreds of founders with partners and clients around the world.

He is a shareholder in several companies including the mental health business, Calm.com and Troubadour Theatres, which creates new entertainment spaces, including flagship theatres in Canary Wharf and Wembley Park. He sits on the advisory boards of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Global Tech Advocates, and One Million Mentors.

Guy Bigwood leads the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), empowering cities and organisations to become more regenerative, inclusive, and resilient. With over 20 years of experience, he has supported hundreds of destinations and brands in developing impactful sustainability strategies. As Founder of the GDS-Index and former Group Sustainability Director of MCI and President of the Green Meeting Industry Council, Guy helped shape global best practice in sustainable events. His work has earned 23 international awards, including from UNWTO and the Events Industry Council. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (FISEP).

With nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality, tourism, and meetings industry, Alessandro Bologna has built a distinguished career combining strategic vision with operational excellence. He has held senior leadership roles in internationally renowned hotel groups such as Meliá Hotels International, NH Hotels, AC Hotels, and Starhotels, etc. where he successfully led Sales & Marketing and General Management functions, driving revenue growth and brand positioning in highly competitive markets.

For over six years, Alessandro has served as CEO of MiCo DMC, part of the Fieramilano Group, where he oversees all operations and business development activities. Under his leadership, MiCo DMC has become a leading Destination Management Company specializing in incoming services for trade fairs, congresses, and corporate events in Italy and across Europe.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to build partnerships, develop high-performing teams, and adapt to evolving market trends. His deep understanding of both the hospitality and event sectors allows him to deliver integrated solutions that enhance client experience and destination value.

As Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at MCH Group, Sarah Borrey Pérez drives portfolio strategy, corporate development, and transformation across three global business units. Since 2021, she has built MCH’s Sustainability Office from scratch, embedding ESG into the company’s strategy, governance, and operations. She led the introduction of externally audited ESG reporting in line with Swiss legal requirements and positioned sustainability as a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and long-term value creation.

Sarah co-led MCH’s turnaround from loss to profitability, established two high-performing teams, and delivered significant cost improvements while strengthening cross-functional collaboration. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with performance, ensuring that growth and sustainability are mutually reinforcing.

She views sustainability as a core business strategy, essential to competitiveness and trust, and champions its integration across all levels of the organization.

Sven Bossu joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he has implemented a transformation programme which has resulted into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are facing.
Before joining AIPC, Sven worked as Managing Director at ESTRO (European Society for Radiation Oncology). He successfully led the branding, marketing and digital transformation of ESTRO – a massive project which was finalized in April 2020. It included a full re-branding, implementation of a new CMS and CRM system, the creation and implementation of a marketing strategy and a complete re-vamp of the annual congress.

Prior to joining ESTRO, Sven worked for 20 years in the financial services world. The first 10 years of his career he worked as an international programme manager at ING, followed by 10 years at SWIFT – the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications. At SWIFT, Sven oversaw Sibos – SWIFT’s flagship event that brings together over 8,000 decision-makers from more than 150 countries for four days of discussions on the key challenges and shared solutions facing the global financial community.

Geoff Dickinson graduated from the University of Birmingham, UK with an LLB Law honours degree. He started his career in publishing with emap in London. He worked on the launch of emap’s exhibition business creating a series of highly successful tech events. He moved on to be part of the leadership team that launched Haymarket Exhibitions and BBC Haymarket Exhibitions creating a series of large-scale consumer exhibitions. Geoff worked for a variety of events businesses holding numerous senior roles including being the Global Managing Director of IIR Exhibitions in the mid 90’s. He then spent over a decade as an entrepreneur in Dubai launching two successful exhibitions businesses. He sold his first business to Messe Frankfurt and the second to Clarion. In 2010 he returned to the corporate world by joining dmg events and currently acts as Global CEO. dmg events is an international events business with offices in ten global cities, operating in 28 countries - specializing in many major trade sectors. He serves on the committee of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum’s Dubai International Chamber Advisory Council. He also serves as a board member for the US events Association SISO. Geoff proudly served as UFI President for 2024.

Oliver Ehmke is Managing Director, Middle East & Africa at George P. Johnson (GPJ), the strategic experience marketing agency within Project Worldwide. Based in Dubai, he leads GPJ’s growth across the region and partners with global teams to deliver consistent, high-impact brand experiences. Before taking the MEA helm in 2025, Oliver spent more than seven years as Managing Director, Germany, where he helped launch GPJ’s presence in the Middle East - contributing to MEA becoming one of the agency’s fastest-growing regions and supporting expansion into KSA. An architect by training, Oliver has held senior roles across design, growth and management at GPJ, giving him a rare end-to-end perspective on how strategy, creativity and operations come together at scale.

Mourad El Hebil is a seasoned tourism executive and destination marketing strategist with over two decades of experience promoting Morocco as a leading global travel and meetings destination.

As the former Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office in New York, he spearheaded Morocco’s promotional strategy across North America, building strong partnerships with tour operators, airlines, and media outlets. During his tenure, he organized major tourism events and conventions for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), significantly elevating Morocco’s visibility in the U.S. market.

Mourad is the Founder of Imperial Morocco Travel & Tour Company, an exclusive tour operator known for its high-end, tailor-made cultural and incentive programs.

Today, he plays an active role in advancing the MICE sector through the Marrakech Convention Bureau, promoting the city as a premier destination for international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. His strategic focus is on fostering public–private collaboration, enhancing destination competitiveness, and driving sustainable growth within Morocco’s business tourism landscape.

Roberto Foresti has extensive professional experience with Fiera Milano. Since 2022, he has held the position of Strategic Marketing Director. From 2008 to 2015, he led the group’s commercial and international development as Commercial and International Business Director, and from 2003 to 2007, he served as Sales Director.

With over 20 years of experience in the business events industry, Adriaan Fourie is the Business Development Manager: International Business Events at the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, a unit within Wesgro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape. He is passionate about destination marketing and the transformative power of conventions to create meaningful socio-economic impact across communities.

His work focuses on strengthening the link between tourism, events, and socio-economic upliftment, ensuring that conventions leave a lasting legacy and benefit broader African communities. He is particularly interested in how technology can streamline business events, enhance impact measurement, and expand the long-term benefits of these gatherings.

Holding qualifications in Hotel Management and Public and Development Management, he brings both operational insight and strategic vision to her role. Based in Cape Town, he is committed to promoting Africa’s leading convention destination on the global stage.

Orson Francescone is the Managing Director of FT Live, the global events arm of the Financial Times, overseeing a global portfolio of over 250 events annually. He is a Board Director of TNW, the tech startup media and events company and is also a member of the advisory board of the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano and of the Randstad AI Foundation.

Chris Gallon joined Clarion in 2002 as a Show Manager to innovate and launch new shows into the UK Consumer market. He was appointed Managing Director of the Enthusiast division in 2012 and since then he has held a number of posts responsible for Clarions key sectors including Enthusiast, Retail, Gaming and Digital Marketing.

Chris joined the senior management team in 2020 and was appointed EMEA CEO in 2022, with over 25 years of experience working in the industry, building and executing market leading brands through organic launch, product development and acquisition.

Chris is a Fine Art graduate with a passion for this creative industry, he currently serves on the AEO UK Organisers group.

Ioannis Georgizas is the CEO of Develop Athens S.A. and the General Director of the “Sustainable City” network, which brings together municipalities from Greece and Cyprus.

He has extensive experience in managing European and national development programs. For over 15 years, he served as an executive at the Management Organization Unit of the Ministry of Development, overseeing the implementation of major projects.

Throughout his career, he has worked as a project manager in both the public and private sectors, leading initiatives in information technology, sustainable development, energy efficiency and the circular economy. He has also served as a senior consultant to several mayors and to the Secretary General of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, as well as to major private sector companies.

He holds a degree in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a Master’s in Information Technology (MSc), and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

With over 25 years of experience in conference management, association management, events management, and the airline and tourism industry, Anju Gomes brings a wealth of expertise. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and Business
Management. She has also completed Masters program in Business Administration specializing in Marketing and Finance Management and holds a post graduation degree in Business Management.

Anju is a practical influencer known for her strong leadership skills in nurturing new talents. She places great emphasis on education and capacity building to ensure the successful delivery of events in various destinations.

As an independent, committed, and dedicated individual, Anju is highly innovative in her approach. She possesses a deep passion for her work and family, displaying strong motivation and a spiritual inclination. Her extensive 360-degree experience adds to her well-rounded perspective.

Anju proudly represents ICCA in the Middle East and shares a strong bond with its members. She firmly believes that business events serve as catalysts for sustainability, legacy, and impactful outcomes.

Felix Jr. Gonzales is an experienced brand communication professional with a proven record of delivering impactful results in the event and brand marketing industry across multiple countries. He brings strong interdisciplinary training that spans theatre, branding, marketing, live event operations, and client management - enabling him to craft high-touch, integrated customer experiences.

Felix has led major program developments for the Beijing Olympics, Shanghai World Expo, Shanghai World AI Congress, Dubai World Expo, Saudi National Museum, RCRC Smart City Initiative, stc Customer Experience Center, and the SDAIA Launch.

Dr. Senthil Gopinath has served as the CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association since 2019. Gopinath has more than 20 years of experience in the meetings, association, and leisure industry, having held a wide range of positions, including CEO of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, and Vice President of Kuoni Travel. He has distinguished himself in the world of international events as a leader and change-maker, managing an array of teams throughout the industry.

With over 18 years of experience in the exhibitions, summits, and sustainability sectors, Naji Haddad has played a pivotal role in advancing the business events industry across the Middle East and Africa. He has led one of the region’s largest sustainability summits and expos, building strong partnerships with global organizations such as the World Bank, European Commission, UNDP, UNIDO, IRENA, and the World Energy Congress.

As the Founder of THRIVE MEA, a UAE based boutique consultancy, Naji helps clients identify and unlock growth opportunities across the MEA region, with a focus on destination positioning and strategic partnerships.

In his capacity as Regional Director for UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Naji drives UFI’s activities in the Middle East, Africa, and India, connecting global exhibition organizers, venues, and service providers. His work continues to support the development of destinations as thriving hubs for trade, innovation, and international collaboration.

Fahd Hamidaddin is a visionary leader driving one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets. As the Founding CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), established in 2019 to align with Saudi Vision 2030, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the Kingdom into a global tourism hub. Under his leadership, STA has been at the forefront of steering new destinations, reshaping global perceptions of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing traveler experiences across the Kingdom. In 2023, Saudi Arabia achieved a global milestone by welcoming 109.34 million visitors, surpassing its 2030 tourism targets seven years ahead of schedule.

STA plays a central role in the nation’s tourism ecosystem, acting as a bridge between government entities, private sector innovators, and international partners. With a mandate to build and promote Saudi Arabia’s national tourism brand, STA collaborates with tourism operators, airlines, and global travel distributors to highlight the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, natural wonders, and unmatched experiences to the world.

Hamidaddin holds prominent positions on the boards of several influential organizations, both internationally and within Saudi Arabia. These include the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), the Tourism Development Council, Qiddiya Investment Company, Saudi Arabian Airlines, the Air Connectivity Program, Cruise Saudi, the Red Sea Authority, King Saud University (KSU), the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Red Sea Cruise Company, and the Expo 2030 Executive Committee.

In addition, he has served as Secretary of the Umrah Strategy Steering Committee under the Pilgrim Experience Program amongst others. These roles underscore his pivotal contributions to advancing strategic objectives and strengthening the Kingdom's leadership on the global stage.

Hamidaddin also serves as Vice Chair of TOURISE, the world’s premier platform shaping a new horizon for global tourism. In this capacity, Hamidaddin helps guide TOURISE’s strategic direction, championing cross-sector collaboration and innovation to drive sustainable growth and transformation across the global tourism ecosystem. Under the leadership of Fahd Hamidaddin, STA has launched the “Visit Saudi” brand, opening the doors of the Kingdom to the world. He has been a key advocate for making travel more accessible for both consumers and trade partners. Through innovative initiatives such as the "Tourism Sector Accelerator Program" and the launch of the Nusuk platform, he has fostered transformative solutions that redefine the global travel experience.

Kai Hattendorf is one of the most prominent thought leaders in the global business events and exhibition sector, building on a decade-long legacy of transformation and innovation across the sector.

In his decade-long tenure as CEO of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, he led numerous initiatives and projects aimed at developing the sector, enhancing public awareness, and expanding the association’s reach and significance.

As Chair of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), a global council comprising international and global associations serving the Business Events Industry, Kai championed advocacy efforts such as the “Global Industry Manifesto,” which fosters a unified narrative for the entire events sector.
Collaborating with industry associations and global organisations like UNFCCC, OECD, and ISO, he established and supports initiatives, including the “Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative.”

Kai’s contributions to the events industry have been recognised through numerous awards and accolades worldwide.

Wilbert Heijmans is a seasoned event-industry Executive and Founder of a tech start-up. With more than two decades’ experience across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Wilbert has held leadership roles at the likes of Info Salons Middle East and Messe Frankfurt Middle East, helping drive innovation in trade shows, exhibitions, and conference registration technology.

Based in Dubai, Wilbert brings a unique blend of operational expertise, technology-first thinking, and strategic vision – especially in environments where public-private collaboration, digital design and destination value converge. He is passionate about making events more human, and future-ready, and believes that meaningful experiences and smart platforms are key to unlocking growth in the MICE ecosystem.

Greg Hitchen is the Group CEO of Terrapinn, a global events company. With over 35 years in the industry, Greg has been instrumental in growing Terrapinn's global event brands, platform and footprint. Having worked directly in Australia, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, USA, and Latin America, he now focuses on growing Terrapinn through acquisitions and value creation. He champions events as a rewarding career within Terrapinn's creative, merit-based culture.

Terrapinn is the largest privately owned (non-PE) events company in the world and is in the top twenty of global exhibition organisers.

At Terrapinn, the company looks forward to the opportunities that AI will bring to its business, its people, and the industry.

Armando Honegger is the CEO and sole owner of Honegger Group, a leading international trade fair and marketing company headquartered in Milan, operating across key European markets with own branches in Duesseldorf, Paris and London. Building on the legacy of his father, who founded the company in 1970, Armando advances the vision that trade shows are essential catalysts for business growth and international expansion. With over 40 years in the trade fair sector, he has continually implemented strategic innovations, developing new communication formats and fostering lasting collaborations with carefully selected international partners.

His diverse background includes formative experiences at Dresdner Bank (Germany, UK, USA) and Fiera Düsseldorf, giving him a broad perspective on global markets. Armando was also the creator of TRhubnet (1999), recognized as one of Italy's 20 most innovative internet projects by Il Sole 24 Ore. In addition to his business leadership, he has a solid academic record, having taught at the Politecnico di Milano and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and coordinated the Fashion Communication Master's program at IED. Since 2018, he has consolidated the group’s continuity and its focus on innovation, reinforcing Honegger’s reputation as a strategic partner in the international exhibition industry.

Iris Jeglitza-Moshage is the Chief of Corporate Identity (CCI) and Vice President of Corporate Communications, Protocol & Political Affairs, and Corporate Branding & Marketing at Messe Frankfurt GmbH, a role she has held since 2024.
With more than two decades at Messe Frankfurt, she has previously served as Head of Corporate Communications & Protocol, Senior Vice President Technology, and Vice President Technical Fairs.

Earlier, she was responsible for Marketing Communications across major international trade fairs, including ISH, Light + Building, Automechanika, IFFA, The Design Annual, Texcare, and Material Vision.

Before joining Messe Frankfurt, Iris held management positions in sales and customer communications at RheinEnergie in Cologne and worked in press and public relations for leading German industrial associations.

She studied Medieval and Modern History, Communications, and Political Science at the Georg August University in Göttingen.

Vishal Joshi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Joy, an event technology company that provides a unified operating system for events. Joy is used by over 50 million people each year in more than 150 countries to plan over half a million social and corporate events of all sizes. The platform brings event websites, guest list management, invitations, RSVPs, hotel room blocks, registries, budgeting, task tracking, and vendor and venue coordination into a single system on web and mobile. Joy was founded to address the fragmented and manual workflows that define event planning. Founded in 2016 and backed by Y Combinator, General Catalyst, and other investors, Joy has raised more than $100 million to modernize social as well as corporate event planning through technology and design.

Before founding Joy, Vishal spent more than a decade at Microsoft in Seattle. He was part of the founding team for Microsoft Azure and led engineering and product teams responsible for web and cloud platform technologies including ASP.NET, Visual Studio, IIS and related developer tools and services. Experience building large scale, developer focused platforms informs Vishal’s approach to consumer products and event technology, with an emphasis on scalable architecture, simple workflows, and dependable output.

Vishal completed his under graduate thesis in neural networks and active noise cancellation. His current work focuses on applying artificial intelligence to event planning, using data driven systems to reduce friction in planning, coordination, and communication for hosts, guests, and vendors, while respecting both the logistical complexity and the emotional significance of events.

Vishal speaks about software platforms, customer centric product building, scaling consumer services, and the integration of artificial intelligence into software workflows and real world gatherings.

Issa Jouaneh is President, Connections, at Emerald, and is responsible for leading the strategic oversight and growth optimization of the company’s core business, comprised of 140+ leading events, trade shows, and conferences.

Issa joined Emerald in March 2021 as Executive Vice President of Emerald Xcelerator, leading the company’s market diversification strategy through new shows, partnerships, and sub-expo launches.

Issa has over 20 years of experience leading multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams across a wide range of industries.

His professional journey includes leading technology, application, and web development teams at Electronic Data Systems and a 14-year tenure at The American Express Company and American Express Global Business Travel. He ultimately served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, leading American Express Meetings & Events globally, where he successfully led the transformation of the business, tripling its size and reaching over 2,400 employees in 25+ proprietary countries.

Issa holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business at York University.

Georgi Kamov is an innovation strategist, speaker, and facilitator with over 15 years of experience helping businesses, organizations, and governments imagine and build better futures. He works at the intersection of innovation, service design, and human experience, guiding teams to turn bold ideas into meaningful impact.

He co-founded one of the first service design agencies in Central and Eastern Europe, leading large-scale transformation projects for global clients including Accenture, Telenor, Raiffeisenbank, ING, Allianz, VMWare, Canon, Konica Minolta, Roche, and Beiersdorf. As Co-Founder of Red Paper Plane, Georgi has led award-winning educational programs that build future-ready skills through design thinking and project-based learning. A dynamic speaker, he has delivered four TEDx talks and dozens of keynotes at major international events.

At the inaugural International MICE Summit, Georgi designed and facilitated the highly acclaimed Innovation Clusters - a hands-on format that united professionals from across the business events ecosystem to co-create ideas for the industry’s future. The sessions transformed traditional panels into innovation labs, proving how collective creativity and structured collaboration can turn events into platforms for real change - a spirit Georgi continues to champion in this year’s edition.

Dr. Debbie Kristiansen is an accomplished leader with more than 35 years of international experience in Venue Management, MICE Tourism and Events & Entertainment industries with the last 20 years spent living and working in the GCC. Dr. Kristiansen is a leader with an extensive understanding of public, government and private sector organizations with a proven track record of driving growth and successful business development and has been passionate about mentoring and developing the next generation of future leaders. Prior to joining OVG Middle East, Dr. Kristiansen led the pre-opening of Exhibition World Bahrain, a 149,000 sqm venue and held the position of General Manager and CEO. Debbie has also held C-level positions in Gulf Film, Events@Bahrain, Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority as well as part of the leadership team who launched IMEX Frankfurt, Germany in 2001, one of the world's leading MICE exhibitions.

Nonnie Kubeka is a distinguished executive leader with 25 years of expertise in destination marketing, MICE Events, and the finance industry. As the Executive Director of the Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau (GCEB), she leverages a strong academic background, holding a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and an MBA in Strategic Marketing, to drive strategic vision.

Her impressive career includes pivotal roles at Grant Thornton, Transnet, Standard Bank CIB, as well as leadership positions as Commercial Director of the Cape Town International Convention Centre and Chief Marketing Officer at Gauteng Tourism. In her current capacity, Nonnie is dedicated to establishing Gauteng as a leading global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) destination. Her strategic focus is on stimulating business tourism, generating significant employment, and injecting billions into the provincial economy. She is a proven expert in forging strategic alliances, successfully bidding for high-profile international exhibitions and sporting events, while simultaneously advocating for community development.

Nonnie's exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including features in Forbes Africa Woman, the Standard Bank Top Women Leadership Award, the ICCA Inspirational Award, and the Women in MICE Award. She has also been listed among the Top 100 and Top 50 Most Influential People in the global MICE events industry by Eventex.

Beyond her corporate achievements, she is deeply committed to mentorship and industry development. Nonnie serves on multiple advisory boards, including UNISA, Vaal University, SAAIA, and SAACI, and has previously contributed to the boards of South African Airways and Cape Town Tourism. A sought-after speaker on over 100 international, regional, and local platforms, she is passionate about cultivating the next generation of leaders and ensuring a lasting legacy of excellence and innovation for the MICE Events industry and SME sector.

Wolfgang Marzin is the President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, a position he has held since 1 April 2010. He began his career by training as a freight forwarding agent at Schenker, followed by a degree in Business Administration (1984–1987) with a specialization in foreign trade.

In 1990, he started his professional career as a Project Manager for foreign trade fairs at the International Trade Fair and Exhibition Service in Munich. The following year, he joined Messe München as Exhibitor Group Director, and in 1997 moved to Messe Düsseldorf, where he became President of Messe Düsseldorf North America.

From 2001, he served as Deputy Managing Director at GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen in Munich, and in January 2002 was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management. From 2004 to 2009, Marzin was CEO of Messe Leipzig, before taking up his current leadership role at Messe Frankfurt.

Dr. Emad Monshi is an academic and practitioner in the field of event and tourism management. As an academic he has over 20 years of experience in teaching event management for under- and postgraduate students at national and international levels. As a practitioner he is involved in consulting government, private and not-for-profit organisations in projects related to the Saudi event tourism sector, with over 30 years of experience in the Saudi event industry.

Sally Mousa is a senior presenter and international keynote speaker who has interviewed many of the world’s most influential change-makers across every field over the last two decades.

From H.R.H. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Nobel Laureates to global icons like Will Smith, Steve Harvey, Dr. Jane Goodall, Robin Sharma, and Jay Shetty, Sally has a rare gift for revealing the deeper stories behind success and transformation. Her interviews and conversations spotlight the visionaries shaping industries, cultures, and ideas around the world.

As both a presenter and producer, she has created and led acclaimed programs that inspire audiences across the region and beyond for platforms including Forbes Middle East. Her work brings together thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to share insights that elevate global dialogue on business, leadership, innovation, and human potential. Sally was a finalist for the Arab Woman Awards UAE, under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in partnership with UN Women, and has been featured in publications including Vogue Arabia. She is also one of the first Arab women to become a global ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation, championing the mission to restore sight to millions worldwide.

Dr. Fahad bin Mushayt is the CEO at ASFAR, Saudi Tourism Investment Company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund established to drive the growth of tourism investment in partnership with the private sector to create captivating destinations in Saudi Arabia for visitors from all over the world in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

Dr. Mushayt has recently been honored as one of the Top 100 CEOs in the Middle East by Forbes, a recognition that underscores his exceptional leadership and strategic vision at ASFAR. This accolade highlights his commitment to driving innovation and excellence within the Kingdom’s tourism sector, where he has successfully propelled the organization to new heights.

Boasting more than two decades of experience, Dr. Fahad bin Mushayt's illustrious career spans across multifaceted domains including city management, mega investments in real estate, mergers and acquisitions, strategic business development, and operations management. He has also taken on challenging roles in myriad sectors including information technology and telecommunications, as well as infrastructure development.

Before his tenure at ASFAR, Dr. Mushayt held pivotal positions in both government and semi-government entities. He spent nearly twenty years at the Saudi Telecom Group holding several other key positions including CEO of Mega Strategic Projects, Vice President for Business Development, and Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Performance. He then became the CEO of Saudi Telecom Specialized Company for three years. In 2021, he became Deputy Governor for Investment and Business Development at the State Property General Authority, after being CEO of the Diplomatic Quarter General Authority (DQGA) in Riyadh for three years.

He has also served on the boards of various organizations worldwide including Maxis Communication Berhad Holding Company in Malaysia, Aircel Company in India, and Axis Company in Indonesia, to name a few.

Dr. Fahad bin Mushayt holds a PhD in Economics, Political Economy and Public Policies from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in economics from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research from King Saud University, Riyadh. In July 2024, Dr. Mushayt completed the Advanced Management Development Program at Harvard University. His ongoing commitment to professional development reflects his dedication not only to personal growth but also to the advancement of the tourism sector in the Kingdom, ensuring that ASFAR remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence.

Ronald Ngabo boasts a distinguished 15-year career in tourism and hospitality. He leverages a strong academic foundation, holding a bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from Makerere University and an MBA in Hospitality from Les Roches of Hotel Management in Switzerland. Ngabo is a seasoned tourism professional with a proven track record in both public and private sectors. His expertise spans building business relationships, driving revenue generation, capacity building, and consulting for various companies and organizations.

Ngabo has worked with the Rwanda Development Board, facilitating tourism investment opportunities; the Rwanda Convention Bureau, where he led sales efforts, secured international business, and played a pivotal role in attracting MICE events to Rwanda; and Horwath HTL Rwanda, where he served as Senior Consultant and Director of Operations, providing expert consulting services. He is currently with Afriventia Group, where he holds the position of Business Development Director for Africa, overseeing the company’s growth across the continent. Ngabo owns and operates Shield Destination Management Company in Rwanda. Since 2015, Ngabo has shared his knowledge and experience by lecturing at the University of Mount Kigali, shaping the next generation of tourism professionals.

As Managing Director at Comexposium since 2017, Laurent Noel leads a division overseeing more than 50 trade shows and digital events in sectors such as agriculture, food, wine, construction, manufacturing, and homeland security. Driving operations across 15 countries on four continents, he brings expertise in global leadership, P&L management, and team leadership to deliver impactful events.

Laurent's mission is to foster customer-centric innovation and operational excellence within the organization, ensuring events meet market needs and deliver value to stakeholders.

Chiara Palieri is an award-winning Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships who has been featured on CNN, Arab News and Euronews.

A true global citizen equipped with 13 years of best-in-class MICE experience as Executive Conference Producer that spans across 8 countries, Chiara has produced IPs and managed more than 100 high caliber LSEs for royalty, government entities, top PCOs/PEOs and Fortune 500 companies before moving into national and city-level MICE sector strategy for the Saudi government. As a key sector SME in the Kingdom, Chiara led the MICE file at the Royal Commission for Riyadh from 2019 to 2024 and heavily contributed to the national MICE strategy developed by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority.

As a powerful global connector, she has worked with an unparalleled network of royalty, heads of state, VVIPs, investors and influential individuals, including His Majesty King Charles, Angela Merkel, Michelle Obama, Viviane Reding, Mario Monti and others.

Awards and previous accolades include: Charle Magne Youth Prize Award for Italy (European Parliament), Young Italian in the World- Excellence Award, One Young World and UN World Youth Conference Ambassador, WHO Ambassador, Youth Advisor for the European Commission, Global Changemaker by the British Council, Candidate for the Young European of the Year. As an activist and spokesperson for her generation, Chiara speaks on stages around the world, including the Women's Forum on Economy and Society, TEDx and the World Innovation Summit for Education, among others.

As part of the World Defense Show organization since its launch, Andrew Pearcey has led the team to two incredibly successful events and aims even bigger for the third. He holds responsibility for the show’s overall organization and success, working in close liaison with the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI).

As CEO, Andrew oversees a permanent multicultural, multidisciplinary team of 70 in the Riyadh head office, which grows close to 150 in the run up to the event and during its execution. Through careful selection and nurturing, he has ensured a strong and growing level of Saudization in the team and a productive program of talent development throughout the organization.

This role builds on a 25-year career as an all-round strategic and commercial professional with challenging positions in events, advertising, brand management and sponsorship with brands ranging from telecoms to food and beverage.

Before joining WDS, Andrew spent five years as Chief Marketing & Insight Officer for the ADS Group (UK trade association for Aerospace, Defense, Security and Space) and its wholly owned subsidiary venue and event business Farnborough International. At FI, Andrew was a board director, responsible for the strategic direction and commercial marketing activities of key business units, including media and communications and sponsorship of the international aviation events. Pearcey has also held the positions of managing partner in Cheil Worldwide and the head of brand partnerships and sponsorship at EE.

During his time as the head of brand partnerships and sponsorship, Pearcey was responsible for the strategy, contract negotiation, marketing, PR, and ongoing relationships for all brand sponsorship and events in the UK across music, film, and sports, including the first ever title sponsorship of Wembley stadium for EE, which remains in place today.

Andrew holds a degree in business studies, with a major in marketing, from Middlesex University in his native UK, and professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Deb Rogers has worked in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East (which she describes as her second home), having lived and worked in Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Bahrain, and now Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the past 15+ years. Having worked predominantly in the hotel and event industry, Deb is passionate about building and promoting healthy work cultures and engaged teams.

Deb commenced her career in hotels, where she was fortunate to work in various operating departments before finding her niche: people and culture. Her experience includes the iconic Burj Al Arab, Suncorp Stadium, Qatar National Convention Centre, Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, and Exhibition World Bahrain, among others.

Deb specialises in the Middle East and pre-openings. She has successfully opened eleven venues, including hotels, convention centres, stadiums, and arenas.

As CEO of the Messe München Group, Stefan Rummel is driving the global expansion and oversee all capital and consumer goods shows worldwide with well-known brands such as bauma, IFAT and IAA Mobility. Within the group, his responsibilities also includes Corporate Strategy & Innovation, M&A, People and Culture, Corporate Governance, IT as well as the Operational Services. He started his career as a consultant and joined Messe München in 2011. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and a member of the Board of Directors of The Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA).

Kyle Schofield is a South African executive with more than sixteen years of experience in venue management and event production. Before founding QA Venue Solutions, he spent six years delivering large scale projects across the African continent, including leading the expansion of NBA Africa operations into twenty three countries.

More recently, Kyle has expanded the business and taken a lead role in Zaria Group, where he drives the development of sports and entertainment infrastructure. His work combines commercial strategy, operational discipline, and a clear understanding of how world class venues can shape the future of the African sports and entertainment economy.

Kyle brings a continent wide track record and a results driven approach that continues to shape the future of Africa’s sports and entertainment economy.

Chris Skeith OBE has served in the exhibition industry for over 30 years, and is Managing Director & CEO of UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, which represents over 900 organisations in over 90 countries who build, maintain, and support the world’s market places: trade show organisers, venue owners and operators, service providers, and national as well as international associations of our industry.

Chris has built a career in the not-for-profit sector, starting his exhibition career in media auditing at ABCUK, moving to the associations sector in 2006, merging two event associations in the service supplier sector to form ESSA, and in 2010, he also ran the venues association, AEV, in the UK. In 2014, he took the role of CEO of the organisers association, AEO which represents UK-based organisers who operate worldwide.
During this time, he held voluntary positions to raise the profile of the sector to Government and regulators, including Chair of UKEVENTS, and served as an UFI Board Member and chair of their associations committee.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021, he was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen, for services to the Events Industry.

Based in Dubai, Daria Smith leads The Bench’s regional operations and the global Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) portfolio, bringing nearly two decades of experience across major international event brands including Informa, Hyve Group, and dmg events. Daria has successfully launched and scaled B2B conferences and exhibitions across complex industries such as energy, design, edtech, health and nutrition, and hospitality. Alongside her current role, she sits on the Development Board at the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), and is an ambassador and mentor on the Elevate programme. Daria holds an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School.

Andrea Sozzi is the Group Business Development & International Director at Fiera Milano SpA, a role he has held since 2022. He leads the company’s business development, M&A, and international expansion initiatives. With over 15 years of experience as a strategy consultant at Roland Berger, Arthur D. Little, and EY-Parthenon, he brings deep expertise in corporate growth, strategic transformation, and global market development.

Claire Steinbrück is a seasoned trade fair executive with more than 20 years of international experience in the global exhibition and event industry. Known for her strategic acumen and forward-thinking leadership, she has built and led high-performing teams, managed complex international portfolios, and driven growth through innovation, portfolio expansion, and strong stakeholder engagement.
As Executive Director for Global Corporate Development and Strategy at Messe Düsseldorf, Claire oversees global corporate development and strategy, which includes market research, strategic pricing, corporate partnerships, and international operations across the company’s worldwide network.

Before joining Messe Düsseldorf, she served as Vice President for Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse, where she held the P&L responsibility for the international food technology portfolio. She launched new event formats such as Anuga HORIZON, expanded into new industry segments, and strengthened relations with global partners.

Earlier, as Director of imm cologne, Claire was responsible for one of Europe’s leading interior design fairs, shaping its long-term positioning and driving its marketing and communication strategies. In her previous role at Koelnmesse she was responsible for the Outbound Portfolio. During her time at Messe Frankfurt she was representing Germany at EXPO Milano 2015 as Deputy Director of the German Pavilion, working as a Innovation Manager in Business Development and started her career as a marketing and commication manager for the online platform Productpilot.

Claire holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Ravensburg, specialising in Trade Fair, Congress & Event Management. Her career has taken her across Europe and Latin America, with professional experience in Argentina, Mexico, and Italy.

Denis Steker is the Senior Vice President (International) at Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne, Germany. In this role, he serves on the Boards of Directors of most of Koelnmesse’s international subsidiaries, including those in India.
After earning his Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Cologne, he joined Koelnmesse in 2002. Over the course of his career, he has gained extensive experience managing globally leading trade shows such as ORGATEC, satellite events outside Germany such as IDEM Singapore, and professional exhibitor services, including stand construction services. He places strong emphasis on ensuring a professional and seamless customer journey across all his projects.

Today, Denis is responsible for the company’s international affairs, including the strategic development of subsidiaries outside Germany, international portfolio development, and global sales for Koelnmesse’s international show portfolio. He also leads the team managing the German Pavilion at World Expos, including Expo 2020 Dubai and Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

His overarching objective is to strengthen and expand global partnerships and relationships, driving the joint development of business and economic opportunities worldwide.

As President of UK, Europe, India, and Middle East for RX, Rachel Travers is responsible for inspiring, leading and managing the overall delivery and execution of the RX UK Hub business unit and its 70+ global shows. A current focus is to work with her talented teams to accelerate the delivery of customer value, and seek opportunities for market and adjacency expansion. The events portfolio accelerates customer value and market expansion. Rachel also plays a key role contributing to the strategy and growth of the broader RX global organisation as a member of the company’s Global Executive Leadership Team. Prior to joining RX in 2023, Rachel enjoyed a career in legal content and technology with RX's sister company Lexis Nexis in the Asia Pacific and North America business units, including her most recent role as VP and General Manager of the global legal news organisation, Law360, based in New York.

José Vicente is a dynamic executive with over 20 years of leadership in the global trade fair and congress sector. Renowned for his strategic vision and operational expertise, he has successfully led high-profile projects, driving business expansion, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. His ability to manage complex international teams and implement forward-thinking strategies has positioned him as a key influencer in the global events industry.

As the CEO of Qatar Business Events Corporation (QBEC-DECC), Mr. Vicente is at the forefront of transforming Qatar into a premier global hub for business events. His leadership fosters innovation, enhances international partnerships, and drives economic impact through world-class exhibitions and conferences.

Prior to this role, he held prominent executive positions. These include Managing Director at Aragón Exterior, CEO of Shanghai Greenland Fira Barcelona Exhibition Co. Ltd., and Managing Director of Feria de Zaragoza. During his time at Feria de Zaragoza, he also served as a MICE Consultant at Encercie business solutions (EBS). Additionally, he was the CEO of the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), a joint venture between Fira Barcelona and Elan Group. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded large-scale projects, optimized operational frameworks, and delivered exceptional results in business development, event management, and profit optimization.

Mr. Vicente is a recognized leader in the business events sector. He has served as President of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Qatar and led prominent Spanish trade fair associations, including AFE and AFA. His expertise, global perspective, and focus on results have made him a key figure in shaping the industry's future.

Dr. Gerd Weber is Partner of jwc, the globally leading management consulting firm for the trade fair and conference business. jwc provides consulting services in the areas of Strategy and Business Development, Pricing of Trade Fair Services, Mergers and Acquisitions, Planning, Construction and Operations of Venues, as well as Business Intelligence.
jwc’s clients are publishing companies, trade fair and congress organizers, venue owners, private equity companies, service providers and governments in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America.

Since 1991 he has worked for McKinsey&Co as a consultant. In 2000 he joined Koelnmesse as Executive Vice President, where he was responsible for managing the venue in Cologne. Gerd developed a new master plan for the facility and implemented the plan within a period of 4 years.

Since 2010, Gerd works with jwc as a consultant for trade fair companies and real estate projects in Europe, Latam, Middle East and Asia. His recent assignments for jwc in the trade fair industry include; strategy development, market entry strategy, master plan development, venue assessments and venue operations. Gerd has led many assignments. One of his latest responsibilities was to lead a group of jwc consultants in developing the master plan for Shenzhen World, an exhibition and conference venue in China. It has become the largest trade fair and conference venue in the world and is setting new standards in venue quality and operational excellence.

Vasyl Zhygalo is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in the events industry, shaping global strategy, market expansion, and high-growth portfolios. As Managing Director at RX Global for Middle East Business and Emerging Markets, he has led a $100M+ portfolio, delivering world-class events like World Future Energy Summit, World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, and IBTM, attracting over 100,000 attendees annually.

Passionate about innovation and growth, Vasyl has been at the forefront of expanding RX’s footprint in Saudi Arabia. His career spans working in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, China, and Latin America, where he has navigated diverse markets, built strategic partnerships, and driven commercial success. With a background in economics, he brings a strategic and data-driven approach to creating impactful, future-focused event experiences across global industries.