His Excellency Fahd 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.

As the Co-Founder and Managing Director of GEXPO, Ghada Al Rashid has led the company to become one of the Kingdom’s leading organizers of world-class exhibitions, conferences, and events, proudly aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and showcasing the richness of Arab identity and culture to the world.

Ghada's professional journey began in Paris, where she founded the haute couture brand “Ghada Paris”, which gained international recognition for its craftsmanship and creative vision. Building on that success, she expanded her focus to the events and business sectors, establishing GEXPO in 2016 to help transform Saudi Arabia’s exhibitions and conferences industry.

Under her leadership, GEXPO has delivered over 200 national and international events, earning recognition for its organizational excellence and its contribution to positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional and global hub for innovation and cultural exchange.

Beyond her role at GEXPO, Ghada serves on the Board of Directors of ARTAR and as a Member of the National Committee for Cultural Activities at the Council of Chambers, where she continues to champion creativity, women’s leadership, and the growth of the Kingdom’s business ecosystem.

Featured in global publications including Arabian Business, The Business Year, and Vanity Fair, Ghada remains passionate about empowering others, nurturing creativity, and transforming vision into achievement, always inspired by the Kingdom’s journey toward excellence and global leadership.

Mohammed AlRobayan is an experienced Service Delivery Executive with a strong history in the computer networking industry. He is skilled in service delivery, managed services, core network operations, and transmission. He brings robust operations expertise and holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Engineering Management from The George Washington University.

His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan is the Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), a position he has held since its establishment in 2017. He is also the Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group.

Under his leadership, the federation rapidly expanded its activities to become the leading Saudi entity responsible for advancing the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. SEF initially focused on providing gamers with platforms to grow into athletes. Today, it stands at the center of the Saudi esports ecosystem, opening doors and enabling everyone who wants to contribute to its growth.

His vision for the federation is to create an impact that produces a ripple effect, driving progress across sectors and services traditionally thought to be unrelated to esports. He transitioned the federation from a model based on one-time large events to a sustainable, long-term approach centered on creating IPs that evolve over time and provide stable career paths across the many disciplines surrounding professional competitive gaming.

As a result, the Saudi Esports Federation is now recognized as the subject-matter expert in gaming and esports in the Kingdom, coordinating government action, guiding investors, and providing gamers with platforms to compete and connect across Saudi Arabia.

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.

Omar Al-Abduljabbar has served as the CEO of the Hail Region Development Authority since December 15, 2021. He currently holds membership in several investment funds and is a Board Member of the Hail Health Board, in addition to serving as the General Supervisor of the Hail International Rally since 2024.
He previously served as Deputy General Supervisor of the Vision Realization Office at the Ministry of Education (2021–2022) and worked as a Consultant at the Ministry of Economy and Planning (2020–2021). From 2017 to 2020, he was the Leader of the Vision Realization Office at the Ministry of Economy and Planning. Earlier in his career, he served as General Manager of Business Development at Swicorp Company in 2017.

Before that, he held several senior roles at Alinma Investment Company, including CEO of Sales (2015–2017), Chief Operating Officer (2011–2015), and CEO of Brokerage (2009–2011). His earlier experience includes positions as Head of Brokerage at Jadwa Investment Company (2008–2009), Head of the Local Equities Department at Bank Albilad (2005–2008), Head of Brokerage at Emirates Bank in Riyadh (2004–2005), and Head of the Samba Trading Unit at Samba Financial Group (1997–2004).

Mr. Al-Abduljabbar has also held multiple board memberships, including with the Quality of Life Program (2018–2021), the Asir Region Development Authority as Board Member and Executive Committee Member (2018–2021), the Asir Regional Council (2018–2021), and the Services and Projects Committee in the Emirate of Asir Region (2018–2021). He currently serves on the boards of several charitable and humanitarian associations.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from King Saud University, obtained in 1997.

Ahmad Al-Husseini is an accomplished executive with a wealth of experience spanning the center of government, sovereign wealth funds, capital markets, international trade and investments. With a proven track record of leading large organizations both within the Kingdom and internationally, Ahmad brings deep expertise in strategy formulation, private equity, investment, multilateral relations management and strategic communications.

Ahmad's recent role as Chief of Staff for His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, saw him provide strategic advisory and execution support in managing the Minister's mandate across various entities. His experience includes serving as a senior portfolio director at the Public Investment Fund, where he was instrumental in managing diverse portfolio companies and driving successful partnerships both domestically and internationally.

Throughout his career, Ahmad has demonstrated exceptional leadership in various roles, from being a founding partner of a London-based investment firm to serving as Group CEO of Desert Technologies, a fully integrated solar energy platform in Saudi Arabia. His experience extends to consulting for EY and serving as a board secretary in several companies, including Richard Attias & Associates during 3 years at Richard Attias’ side.

Ahmad holds a bachelor's degree from Prince Sultan University and a diploma with high distinction from IMD Business School in Switzerland.

A visionary leader and strategic transformation expert with over 25 years of experience in executive management, business optimization, and the execution of large-scale projects across various sectors.

Ali Alanazi is renowned for championing the integration of technology and innovation into the core of business operations. His extensive expertise in business transformation, strategy development, and information management drives the adoption of pioneering solutions.
In the context of the digital revolution, Mr. Al Anazi focuses on; Optimizing operational efficiency through automation and utilizing Generative AI to boost productivity; Spearheading and leading sustainable growth initiatives within the events sector, ensuring seamless alignment between technological efficiency and impactful results.

His vision guides various initiatives and the companies he leads, such as "SUMMIT Event Management," toward new frontiers of innovation, while emphasizing the critical importance of human expertise in strategic decision-making, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Salman Alatawe is a distinguished Saudi leader in the exhibitions and conferences industry with over 15 years of experience in developing and managing major convention centers and trade shows across the Kingdom. He currently serves as the CEO of the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC) under the Riyadh Chamber, where he has spearheaded the organization’s institutional transformation and strengthened its position as a national hub for business tourism in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Throughout his career, Alatawe has held several senior positions in marketing, international relations, and business development, playing a pivotal role in attracting and organizing large-scale global exhibitions and conferences. He is also a published author and thought leader in the MICE sector, known for his books; Exhibitions & Conferences: Industry – Investment – Future and Marketing Map in the Exhibition & Conference World (forthcoming).

In addition to his executive leadership, Alatawe is an advocate for digital transformation, sustainability, and human capital development within the Saudi MICE ecosystem. His strategic vision aims to position Riyadh as the premier regional destination for world-class exhibitions, conferences, and business events.

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.

Turki Alfozan serves as Chief Investment Officer of the Events Investment Fund (EIF). He has over two decades of experience in the investment banking industry, covering all aspects of asset classes, including public and private equities and real estate. He is also the former Board Member of Bank AlJazirah.

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.

An executive leader with over 25 years of experience across the public and private sectors, leading strategic planning, operations management, and large-scale transformation programs. Ibrahim Alhumoud has worked with leading Saudi institutions in energy sector including Saudi Aramco and Saudi Chevron-Phillips as well as multiple government entities such as Saudi Council of Engineers and Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries (JCPDI) driving operational excellence and sustainable development.

Ibrahim has recently led a team in developing an iconic waterfront and tourism strategy in JCPDI as the new gateway for tourism and business in Saudi Arabia’s southern region.

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.

Hatim has over 10 years of experience across the public and private sector, in leadership roles in listed companies, both multinational and local.

Before joining SCEGA, Hatim was the RCRC lead for the digital economy development of Riyadh, where he worked with national government entities to build a tech and digital economy befitting the aspirations of the country’s leadership and the capital’s residents.

Before joining RCRC in 2020, Hatim served in several leadership roles at Careem from its early days as a Series B startup until its acquisition by Uber, first in Saudi country management (~$200m topline), and later in tech.

Previously, as an Industry Head at Google, Hatim has been an advisor to senior leaders in the public and private sector on capturing value from the digital economy. Hatim holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BSc in EE from KFUPM.

Abdullah Alkhaldi is the Real Estate Manager of Cluster 2, with extensive experience in strategy, privatization, and commercial development within the aviation sector. He brings a strong architectural background and a results-driven approach to evaluating complex projects, enhancing asset performance, and aligning real estate initiatives with long-term organizational objectives. His work focuses on creating value, strengthening commercial portfolios, and driving strategic.

Khaled S. Alkhattaf is the CEO of the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Alkhattaf has a long track-record in the investment and financial sectors. He possesses firsthand experience and multi-sectoral knowledge, having managed reserve funds at the Saudi Central Bank, as well as pensions and endowments alongside private wealth. His career includes underwriting projects in South America and Central Asia during his time at the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). He has also managed investment banking operations at Nomura International in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

Mr. Alkhattaf has served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at prominent institutions, including the Saudi Stock Exchange and Ma’aden, the Saudi mining company, and most recently held the position of CEO at the largest pharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to his executive roles, Khaled has served as a board member and on various investment and audit committees for several companies across different sectors, including pension asset management, ACWA Power in the energy sector, insurance, and investment banking. He has represented the Saudi government internationally, participating as a member of the GATS Technical and Negotiation Team for the WTO from 1997 to 1999, the G20 Technical Team in 2008, and the Santiago Principles Working Group for Sovereign Wealth Funds in the same year.

In terms of education, Mr. Alkhattaf holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics from the American University in Washington, DC (2004), a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Colorado (1996), a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado (1996), and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from King Saud University (1989). He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Abdulaziz Almugbel has over 12 years of experience in licensing, tourism, and event management across national entities. He currently serves as the General Manager of Licensing and Inspections at SCEGA, where he leads the development of sector legislation, licensing procedures, and event content. He oversees government approvals, represents the Authority in official meetings, and supports sectoral growth through streamlined licensing frameworks.

He previously served as Director of Licensing & Quality at SCEGA, coordinating with government agencies on event legislation and supporting licensing operations. Earlier, as Licensing Manager at SECB, he contributed to policy design, the operational transfer from SECB to SCEGA, and the implementation of business event licensing and quality procedures.

Mr. Almugbel began his career as a Licensing Specialist at SECB (2014–2019), where he managed all business events through CRM systems, worked closely with regional authorities, and advised applicants and stakeholders. His earlier roles include Tourism Products Specialist at the General Authority for Tourism & National Heritage and Coordinator at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

He brings deep sector expertise and a strong track record of advancing legislation, operational excellence, and cross-government collaboration within Saudi Arabia’s events ecosystem.

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 Alsarraj holds a PhD 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. Alsarraj 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. Alsarraj 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.

Tariq AlShaikh works on developing and managing the academic and programmatic tracks of SPA News Academy at the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), including overseeing the executive team responsible for training frameworks, curriculum development, and capacity-building initiatives. He contributes to the agency’s overall media strategy and its strategic transformation projects related to organizational development and newsroom modernization. Previously, he managed international media operations for major events such as the G20 Summit and Islamic summits. Before his work in government media, he spent more than 20 years in the management of journalism and broadcasting across newspapers, television, and radio.

Mubarak Hamad AlShamsi, a UAE national born and raised in Al Ain, the cultural heartland of Abu Dhabi, serves as the Director of the Abu Dhabi Conventions & Exhibition Bureau. With over 21 years of experience in tourism and events, AlShamsi has been instrumental in advancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a premier business events destination.

He began his career in 2004 with the former Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, where he quickly established himself across various tourism sectors, particularly in event management and international market development. His leadership also extended to the GCC region, serving for three years as Country Manager in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Since his appointment as Director of the Abu Dhabi Conventions & Exhibition Bureau in 2014, AlShamsi has played a pivotal role in driving growth within Abu Dhabi’s business events sector. His international contributions include serving as Chairperson of the ICCA Middle East Chapter in 2018. He currently serves as the 1st Vice President on the ICCA International Board and is also a board member of the IAEE MENA Chapter.

AlShamsi holds a master’s degree in General Management from LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome, Italy, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado.

Sarah Alshurayhi is a Senior Project Manager who provides training, oversight, and management for various local and international projects. She has successfully delivered projects within budget and timeline constraints while ensuring high-quality outcomes and strong client satisfaction. She also contributes to the company’s organizational planning processes, supporting its strategic vision and goals.

She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Leadership Course (CLC) holder, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and professional development. In addition, she serves as the Chairwoman of the Women’s Committee for the Saudi Arabian Handball Federation, where she works to promote and advance the sport across the country and region.

Ms. Alshurayhi is passionate about youth empowerment and excellence. In her role as Program Manager at the Ministry of Sport, she plans and executes youth-focused events, workshops, and courses that foster development and engagement.

Eman Yahya Alyami is a senior Saudi executive and one of the leading voices in workforce transformation, human capital strategy, and national skills development. She currently serves as the Secretary-General of the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and General Manager at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), where she oversees one of the Kingdom’s most critical platforms for shaping the future of labor market competitiveness under Vision 2030.

In her national role, Eman leads the governance and strategic direction of 13 Sector Skills Councils across key economic sectors, including Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, ICT, Retail, Logistics, and Construction. She directs large-scale initiatives focused on future skills, labor market standards, institutional capacity-building, and employer engagement. Her leadership strengthens the alignment between industry needs, educational systems, and workforce readiness, enabling Saudi Arabia to build a dynamic, productive, and future-ready labor market.

Before joining MHRSD, Eman held numerous senior leadership positions at Saudi Aramco, where she built a comprehensive portfolio across HR, exploration, training, governance, performance management, and strategic program execution. Her career includes significant contributions to talent development, technical capability-building, organizational performance, and the establishment of foundational institutional systems.

At Aramco, she served in roles such as Head of HR & Development for Northern Area Oil Operations, Head of Exploration HR, Head of Governance & Performance (Leap10), and Head of Financial Planning & Performance Management. She led major transformation initiatives, designed technical learning systems, established governance models, strengthened workforce strategies, and contributed to national SME development through the Taleed Program. Her cross-functional leadership experience gave her deep insight into operational excellence, talent pipelines, capability development, and business performance.

Eman later became the Managing Director & CEO of Altamayyuz Academy, a national initiative developed by Saudi Aramco in partnership with global investment and accounting leaders. She oversaw institutional governance, strategic planning, program design, and partnerships with international firms. Under her leadership, Altamayyuz elevated its national impact and strengthened its role as a premier hub for developing the Kingdom’s future financial and investment leaders.

Her academic credentials include an Executive MBA from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), a Finance & Strategy certificate from London Business School, a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, and a SHRM-CP certification. She is also a graduate of the prestigious Misk 2030 Leaders Program, delivered in partnership with ESADE.

Eman has been recognized through several international and regional awards, including the GEO Distinguished Service Award, the Training Initiative of the Year Award, and the Talent & Capability Development Award, acknowledging her achievements in leadership, innovation, and capability development.

Throughout her career, Eman has represented Saudi Arabia at high-level forums, conferences, and global platforms, sharing insights on the future of work, the skills economy, public–private partnerships, talent development, and human capability strategies. She is known for her decisive leadership, forward-looking perspective, and ability to convene stakeholders around shared national goals.

Today, Eman continues to play an influential role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s human capital landscape. Her work supports the Kingdom’s ambition to build a globally competitive workforce, empower national talent, and accelerate economic transformation across key sectors.

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.

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.

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).

Muzun Bin Rubayan is a passionate professional architect with over four years of experience in the field. She is skilled in utilizing cutting-edge design software and staying current with industry trends. Muzun is adept at balancing aesthetic and functional considerations to deliver high-quality architectural solutions.

With a strong background in project management, she has a proven ability to collaborate effectively with clients and colleagues, ensuring efficiency and excellence throughout every stage of project delivery.

Imad M. Bitar (Known as IMB) is the General Manager of Onyx Arena, a flexible multipurpose state-of-the-art permanent venue part of the venue division of MDLBEAST, Middle East’s largest music and entertainment company. He is leading and overseeing the overall venue operations, strategy, and growth of the business to ensure Onyx Arena becomes the destination for entertainment, exhibitions, and live events in Jeddah and for the region. IMB was part of the design, build, and operational & commercialization phases of Onyx Arena and continuously building & managing teams to deliver venue standards improvement, unique experiences, and a diverse events calendar.

With tremendous expertise and experience in event management agencies, consultancies, and working on the client side, IMB has worked and led major projects, events, venues and attractions from concept development throughout the overall strategic project development & execution process.
He elevates clients' expectations and experience along every touch point of a project at the highest possible standards of communication, creativity, teamwork, professionalism and execution. His event & venue management experience has been successfully experimented within various private, public, and government industries within a multitude of settings, cultures, and experiences across Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and KSA.

Throughout his career, he believes in creating opportunities, a result-driven mind set, building strong lasting relationships, and adopting a proactive and passionate approach of collaboration and excellence.

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.

Antonio Bruzzone, born in Genoa on 6 September 1967, graduated in Political Science.

After being in charge of Genoa Airport’s commercial section, Mr. Bruzzone became head of sales at Festival Crociere.

From 2001 to 2004, he held his first position in the trade-show sector as head of sales for Genoa’s Exhibition Centre. He became Commercial Director of BolognaFiere in 2005, holding the same position at Rome’s trade show organization from 2006 to 2013.

From 2013 to 2015, he returned to Genoa as CEO and Director of Organization and the Market of the Genoa Exhibition Centre. Mr. Bruzzone has been General Manager of BolognaFiere since 2015.

He is Vice President of the Italian Association of Exhibition Centres and Vice President of the European chapter of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

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.

With over 18 years of experience in the exhibitions, summits, and sustainability sectors, Naji El 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.

Lizzy Evans is the Chief Product Officer at Grip, leading AI-driven innovation across event technology. With deep experience scaling SaaS products, optimising operations and driving data-led event outcomes, she brings practical insight on how technology can empower organisers and elevate the MICE industry.

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.

Anthony Frost is the Head of Operations for Onyx Arena, MDLBeast, located in Jeddah. Anthony has been apart of Onyx Arena since its inception from 2023, and has lead the operational delivery over a multitude of events encompassing Live Music, Sports, and Mice Events since its opening in 2024.
Recently Onyx Arena has gained recognition as Best Venue In Saudi Arabia 2025, gathering multiple accolades.

Onyx under its operational leadership of highly focused and energetic personal have been key in driving forward its ambition to lead in all aspects of best practice, and be the first entertainments venue within the Kingdom set to obtain international recognition in ISO 9001 QMS, and ISO 45001 QH&S this year.

With a focus of driving forward sustainability in 2026 this will see Onyx as a leader in the market of entertainment spaces. Anthony has a true passion for the Events and Entertainment industry within the Kingdom, and delivery of Vision 2030. He has delivered high profile events since 2019 in the Kingdom, such as the Saudi Cup, and destinations within Riyadh Season. He has been a driving force to place Onyx Arena as one of the most prestigious venues in Saudi Arabia that champions a strategy of training, and upskilling companies to the highest level of operational efficiency, safety, and best practices to benefit all.

Anthony's background has a huge breadth of experience working in the venue industry. Across the world he has delivered high-quality operations and operational strategy to international standards. Anthony's career started over 25 years ago. His growth into Sporting and Entertainment Venues grew over time but started in 5 Star Hospitality brands then moving to Stadiums and Racecourses.
Anthony's focus on strategic growth, and collaboration across all of the aspects of the business, places the Onyx model in building key relationships with global promoters, international artists, and regional venues. To elevate its postion as a key location and being added as a leading tour destination within calendars.
This highlights Onyx as a model for an adaptable space for entrainment and business, but also enhances Jeddah as a tourism destination for domestic and international guests.

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.

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.

Noha Kattan is the Deputy Minister for National Partnerships and Talent Development at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, where she drives cross-sector collaborations advancing the Kingdom’s cultural transformation and fuelling the creative economy’s growth.

She was instrumental in crafting Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Talent Development Strategy and launching transformative flagship initiatives and programs in cultural training with aim to enable the sector to achieve world-class competitive standards.

Noha serves on the boards of national institutions shaping cultural policies that integrate arts, tourism, and social development. She also guides strategic priorities for long-term cultural growth on the Executive Incentives Committee of the Cultural Development Fund.

Mohammad Z. Khoujah, the CEO of Backyard Symphony, is a pioneer in the development of cultural and creative projects, with a vision that blends artistic sensibility with entrepreneurial thinking. He currently leads Backyard Symphony, which has become one of the leading Saudi companies in the field of interactive experiences and integrated projects that combine art and technology, transforming ideas into experiences that are felt, told, and immortalized. He possesses extensive experience across event management, entertainment, and cultural experiences. He is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), a Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP), and a consultant in entertainment and cultural experiences. He received his training and honed his professional skills at prestigious global institutions such as Harvard Business School, where he sharpened his management and leadership abilities, and the Disney Institute, as well as several leading international entertainment companies. This background has provided him with a deep understanding of how to combine creativity with methodology, turning projects into integrated experiences that leave a lasting impact.

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.

Jean-Guillaume Lacoste is the CEO of GL events Middle East and Africa, bringing 28 years of experience in the event industry.

He has been with the GL events Group since 2004. From 2004 to 2010, he served as Event Management Agency Director in Paris. From 2010 to 2019, he managed GL events’ activities in China and Northern Asia, where he was involved in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, and contributed to the opening of the Group’s Japan office for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Since March 2019, he has been CEO for the Middle East and Africa, overseeing GL events’ three subsidiaries in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and leading the Group’s strategic development across the region. He opened the Qatar office in 2019, where GL events became a major supplier for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Saudi Arabia office in 2020, achieving a strong track record in major events including the Dakar Rally, Saudi Cup, Formula E, and UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. He also successfully directed operations in Egypt for UN Climate COP27 and in Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations 2024.
Before joining GL events, he spent four years with Reed Exhibitions Group and four years with Comexposium Group.

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.

As Managing Director at Comexposium since 2017, Laurent Noël 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.

Jan Roode is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in financial structuring, business strategy, tourism, hospitality, and real estate development. A visionary strategist and respected industry leader, he has founded and scaled multiple businesses across diverse sectors. One of his most notable achievements was guiding Calgro M3, now one of South Africa’s largest real estate development groups, through its successful IPO on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Throughout his career, Jan has earned a reputation for transforming complex ideas into commercially viable, high-impact projects. His portfolio includes restructuring agricultural holdings into globally competitive agribusinesses, driving operational innovation at various world-class Tourism Businesses and co-founding international health-focused retail brands. His leadership consistently blends financial discipline, strategic foresight, and creative execution.

In his current role as Investment Advisor to the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, Jan is a driving force behind the development of Jaydana, a transformational waterfront and tourism city in Jazan. He led the financial strategy, feasibility modelling and destination positioning for the project, ensuring that Jaydana is both visionary and economically sound. Positioned as the new tourism and business gateway to Saudi Arabia’s southern region, Jaydana advances the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and strengthens the future of its MICE and tourism ecosystem.

John Rossant is the Founder and CEO of CoMotion, the Los Angeles–based events, media, and advisory group focused on the future of urban mobility. CoMotion is internationally recognized for organizing CoMotion LA and CoMotion MIAMI, and is launching the inaugural CoMotion GLOBAL summit in Riyadh on December 7–9. The group publishes the weekly CoMotion NEWS and produces the podcast CoMotion Fast Forward.

John is also the Founder of the NewCities Foundation, a Montreal-based non-profit dedicated to understanding how new technologies are reshaping cities worldwide. A strong believer in cross-sector collaboration, he advocates for partnerships that improve the quality of life and work in 21st-century cities.

Earlier in his career, John served as Executive Chairman of PublicisLive in Geneva, the organization behind major global gatherings including the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos and other WEF events around the world. In 2010, he was asked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to organize the e-G8 Forum on the future of the Internet, held in Paris. Before that, John held senior editorial positions at BusinessWeek, including Europe Editor.

He has received numerous awards, among them the Overseas Press Club Award and the German Marshall Fund’s Peter Weitz Award for Distinguished Reporting. John holds advanced degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the American University in Cairo.

He serves on the Board of the Fondation Tocqueville in Paris and the Advisory Board of NEOM, and is also the Founder and President of the Monaco Hydrogen Alliance, a non-profit organization in the Principality of Monaco promoting renewable hydrogen in mobility and transportation.

Haneen Rowaihy is the Director of Strategic Planning and Performance at Soudah Development (PIF), with 10 years of experience in strategy and management consulting. She leads the planning and formulation of strategies positioning Soudah Peaks as a premier ultra-luxury mountain destination in Saudi Arabia.

Before joining Soudah Development, Haneen built a strong foundation in management consulting over 8 years, leading strategic projects from planning to execution in multiple sectors.

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.

Driving Amsa Hospitality’s business growth as CEO, Muin Serhan leverages his 24 years of global experience with leading hotel chains to guide the team toward long-term success.

His career as an award-winning hotelier has showcased his ability to build and operate successful properties, even in challenging locations. A prolific public speaker, Muin’s achievements have earned him numerous accolades within the hospitality industry both in the Kingdom and abroad.

Jumanah Shaheen is a Saudi-born creative leader with a BFA in Animation & VFX from the Academy of Art University, shaping the future of storytelling across film, television, gaming, and immersive experiences. With more than a decade of global industry experience, she has contributed to features such as Captain America: Civil War, Theeb, and Fruitvale Station, as well as series including Euphoria, Black-ish, Modern Family, and Queen of the South. Her work also extends to music videos for artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, and Shawn Mendes.

As CEO of Taken Media, Jumanah leads creative strategy across productions, specialising in large-scale world-building; creature and character creation, advanced CGI, crowd simulation, environmental enhancement, and next-generation workflows incorporating AI-assisted tools, Unreal Engine, and virtual production.

She is also a partner at BWA Studios, where she is co-creating a social-impact film fund dedicated to elevating meaningful stories and supporting emerging talent through multidisciplinary narrative development. A certified coach by Inspired Justice, Jumanah integrates intentional leadership frameworks into her creative practice, guiding teams toward clarity, alignment, and purpose. Her work and perspective have been featured in Vogue Arabia, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Fortune Magazine.

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.

As the Managing Director of MCH Global, Uli Stanke leads the agency's business strategy and drives growth across EMEA through our offices in Zurich, Amsterdam, and Dubai. With a long-standing background in agency leadership and a strong
experiential marketing pedigree, Uli guides the talented team at MCH Global to deliver outstanding results for top-tier clients, including some of the world’s most iconic brands.

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.

Mohammed Ali Tayem is a Middle Eastern entrepreneur and investor shaping the intersection of business, creativity, youth innovation, and technology. With more than two decades of experience, he has built ventures that connect innovation with impact, spanning experiential marketing, large-scale production, strategic communications, and transformative tech platforms. His portfolio and influence position him among the region’s most authoritative voices in the creative economy and technology-led business transformation.

Tayem is a shareholder and Board Member of TGW Group, a global network headquartered in New York and home to companies including entourage, 214 Creative, en+, EVE Virtual, Noskhabar, and O3 Xperiential Studio. He is also the Founder and CEO of Wiz Holding, an Abu Dhabi–based investment company focused on technology solutions for emerging markets. Under Wiz Holding, he launched WizShops - an e-commerce aggregator enabling non-Amazon retailers to build fully integrated online ecosystems. The platform secured USD 2 million in pre-seed funding and serves as a foundation for his upcoming venture, WizJobs, which aims to redefine recruitment across the region.

As founder of entourage, Tayem built one of the Middle East’s most respected marketing and events consultancies. Operating across Dubai, Riyadh, Al Khobar, Cairo, and Milan, entourage has been recognized by Dubai SME100, Effie MENA, Dubai Lynx, and the Middle East Event Awards, and holds a Guinness World Record for innovation and experiential scale.

Tayem is widely regarded as the architect behind Egypt’s post–Islamic revolution tourism revival. Working directly with the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, he co-developed a strategic roadmap to reposition Egypt as a leading regional destination, culminating in a landmark campaign that helped restore global confidence and revive tourism inflows. His reputation for transforming crises into opportunities earned him nominations for ‘Best Person in Crisis’ (2021) and ‘Industry Icon of the Year’ (2022 & 2023) at the Middle East Event Awards.

His leadership has shaped major collaborations with the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, the Saudi Crown Prince’s Office, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Deloitte, and UNDP. He played a central role in elevating the Knowledge Foundation Dubai to global prominence, proposing the creation of an international knowledge award under His Highness’s name. His contributions extend to landmark platforms including the Knowledge Summit, the World Government Summit, and national rebranding strategies.

During the pandemic, Tayem also pioneered EVE - a fully integrated 3D virtual-events ecosystem offering payment gateways, video calls, messaging, digital avatars, 3D venues, live stages, exhibition areas, and even food-delivery integration. In many ways, EVE represented the metaverse before the metaverse entered mainstream discourse.

A passionate advocate for the Creative Youth Economy, he believes young innovators are reshaping industries and redefining the region’s economic map. As part of Young Arab Leaders, he championed entrepreneurship and partnered with DMCC to launch SME Connects, a networking and business-support platform for start-ups and SMEs. He also contributes to education and industry development as a board member of the International Live Events Association (ILEA) and previously as a member of the board of the British International Academy in Amman, Jordan - an IB curriculum school focused on elevating educational standards.

Tayem regularly appears across global media platforms including Bloomberg, Sky News, Abu Dhabi TV, and Dubai TV. In recognition of his leadership and industry impact, he was honoured with the ‘CEO of the Year – Media’ award at the CEO Middle East Awards 2023.

Born in Amman, Jordan, he holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Al-Zaytoonah University. His early career included leadership roles at Orange Telecom, Hyatt International, Etisalat, and DAMAC International, experiences that shaped the entrepreneurial vision he drives today.

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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.

Eithne Treanor is an international communications consultant. She is an expert media trainer and professional conference and event moderator. Her work as a professional moderator has brought her around the world, moderating and chairing high-level conferences at presidential, ministerial and executive corporate level.

Having worked as an international business TV reporter, her knowledge covers a variety of business sectors such as, the energy transition, infrastructure, maritime, & corporate leadership.

She is the Founder and CEO of Eithne Treanor Media based in Dubai, UAE and she has headlined global events as MC and lead moderator for the past 20 years.

As a former international broadcast journalist, her TV reporting experience spans major television networks including ABC News, Sky News, BBC World, Bloomberg and CNBC International.

Beyond her achievements in journalism, Eithne is recognized for her commitment to training and development of future journalists and professionals. Through her dynamic media, moderator, and presentation training sessions, she also empowers government officials, senior executives, and leaders to communicate effectively and engage, inform, educate and inspire to own the space.

All her work and training are dedicated to helping people become more effective and impactful in delivering conference content and local and international media output on a global level.

Eithne has interviewed politicians, dignitaries, business executives, thought leaders, changemakers, artists, creatives, and other influential figures. She has written and reported for television, radio, and print publications.

She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and Columbia College Chicago, and she holds a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Her lifelong commitment to media and communication continues to inspire audiences through her passion, professionalism, and dedication to excellence.

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.