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Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said is a well-established Mental Health Clinical Counselor and founder of Whispers of Serenity, the first private mental health clinic in Oman. She is also a hypnotherapist and PTSD trainer with over 23 years of experience seeing and treating patients. Sayyida Basma is a pioneer in mental health awareness, renowned for tackling taboo subjects in the Middle East such as abuse and eating disorders. Sayyida Basma is the founder of Not Alone, a mental health awareness campaign. One of its major initiatives was to provide psychological and emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic through a messaging support line that was available worldwide.

In addition to her work in mental health, Sayyida Basma has been recognized for her contributions to society and culture. As Honorary President of Oman Heritage, she helps to preserve Omani traditions and practices. She has also attended and delivered hundreds of talks, workshops and webinars internationally, and also has received numerous awards and honors from the MENA region and Europe for her work. Sayyida Basma has been named as one of the 50 Omani women who have played a significant role in the country's development.

Zaria is senior global social media manager in Duolingo. She leads social strategy, community management, and creator partnerships across all major social platforms. She spearheaded the development of Duolingo’s TikTok account. As a direct result of Zaria's work on Duolingo's TikTok strategy and execution, the now-famous TikTok channel grew from 50K followers in September 2021 to 6.7M followers today and was recently recognized as one of AdAge’s Top 5 Brand TikTok accounts. The Duolingo TikTok has 143 viral videos (view counts of 1M or higher) due to Zaria’s creativity. What started as a test-and-learn initiative has become Duolingo's most successful social buzz and word of mouth initiative to date – all because of Zaria's insights, instincts, and expertise. More broadly, Zaria is a role model for a new, diverse class of Gen Z social media talent and has proven what's possible when given creative freedom and trust in the work she does. Since her time at Duolingo, Zaria has been named AdAge Social Marketer of the Year 2021, Adweek Creative 100 and Forbes 30 under 30.

Andrea Prazakova is a banking and innovation veteran and a global executive. She currently leads Innovation, ESG & Gaming @Mastercard EEMEA.
She is a Cofounder of Space Uncensored, Podcast with a mission to amplify the voices of women in the space industry and to bridge the gap between the dynamic space economy and other markets. She is also an investor in companies such as Moove, which gives their drivers access to vehicle financing, as well as a range of financial services that were previously inaccessible to them and their families.
With a rich background spanning four continents and a multitude of prestigious institutions including Stanford Design School, Insead Blue Ocean Institute, Harvard Leadership Institute, and MIT's, Andrea is truly a lifelong learner.

Andrea is Crypto, WEB3 & Space futurist, a chef, and a mother of 2.

Dr. Eng. Suaad Al Shamsi is a trailblazer as the first Emirati woman aircraft engineer specialist in landing gear as well as first aviation researcher. Currently, she holds the position of aviation technical advisor for a major aviation project in the UAE, VP of women in aviation organization (shehana) and is also the CEO of L2L consulting company. She has received several accolades, including the Emirate women award from HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, most influential in aviation award, etc. Along with her work in aviation, she is also an accomplished author of novels and a sought-after motivational speaker at various conferences. And an artist participating in many exhibitions in the UK, UAE, Paris, Thailand, etc.

Mila Semeshkina is the CEO & Founder of Lectera.com, a pioneering global learning platform with more than 3 million users from 60 countries. A serial entrepreneur, author, and venture investor, Mila is deeply committed to democratizing education, making learning efficient and accessible.

Mila's efforts to uplift women professionally and personally led her to establish the Women’s Empowerment Council. Mila's innovations have earned her recognition on the British HolonIQ agency's top-100 women in EdTech list and as one of Arabian Business's "100 People You Must Know in Dubai" and “100 Most Inspiring Leaders.” With a vast speaking portfolio, including an interview with Maye Musk and addresses at major global events such as the Women in Tech Global Summit in Paris, Mila's influence in the educational and entrepreneurial sectors is undeniable. She is also a member of the Forbes Business Council and boasts an impressive 6.6 million followers on Instagram.

Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and author of the best-selling book Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. He has conducted research and lectured at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, the University of Melbourne, and over 750 schools internationally. Jared has published 6 books, over 50 research articles, and his work has been featured in numerous popular publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, and ABC’s Catalyst. He currently serves as Director of LME Global: a team dedicated to bringing the latest brain and behavioral research to teachers, students, and parents alike.

Saba began her career at Ernst & Young before venturing into disruptive biotechnology investments. She continues to head the production of her R&D patents for blue-chip companies and governments to fight climate change and increase the health equity of humans. Her passion for innovation is driving change in water treatment, solar, infection prevention and decarbonisation. As a TedX speaker, she encourages founders to disrupt their industries to gain first mover advantage in the field and has begun investing in founders in a range of fields.

Nelson founded Minerva in 2011 with the aim of nurturing critical wisdom through evidence-based learning. He successfully elevated Minerva University to become the most innovative institution globally and initiated the Minerva Project to expand the university's distinctive teaching approach through partnerships with higher education institutions. Prior to Minerva, Nelson dedicated over 10 years to Snapfish, playing a crucial role in developing the company from a startup to the world's largest personal publishing service. Under his leadership, Snapfish's accomplishments culminated in a $300 million acquisition by Hewlett Packard. Additionally, Nelson served as President and CEO of Community Ventures, a network of locally branded portals for American communities.

Sara embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at the young age of 15, and her success and passion have since inspired women to embrace self-confidence and achieve business success. She has since served as a board member at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and at the UAE SME Council in the Ministry of Economy in Dubai. Sara holds an honorary PhD in Business and Women Leadership. She is a respected public speaker, and has delivered over 200 keynote speeches. Sara believes in the power of community involvement, and she actively shares her knowledge and experiences, particularly with the younger generation. To Sara, women are already born strong - hence they don’t need to be empowered, they need to be inspired.

Mirna Arif is the first woman to serve as Microsoft Egypt's General Manager. With over 20 years of international working experience across from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, she is spearheading Egypt's digital transformation with a focus on empathy-based management and youth training. Arif is expanding Microsoft's digital footprint in both public and private organizations to drive the growth of the country's tech industry. Prior to joining Microsoft, she held leadership positions at Schlumberger, GE Oil & Gas, Emerson Automation Solutions, where she led digital transformation efforts in North Africa and Turkey. In addition to her role at Microsoft, Arif contributes to the boards of Banque Misr and Rameda, the Egypt Chamber of Information Technology, and serves on advisory boards for Al Nas Hospital and UNICEF Gen-U Egypt.

With a focus on educational activities, Irina has established herself as one of the top ten business speakers in Russia. She leads personal coaching sessions and delivers impactful masterclasses on achieving success while maintaining personal freedom and effective leadership.

In 2004, Irina Khakamada made history as the second woman to run for the Russian Presidency, garnering approximately 4 mln votes in the election. Subsequently, she founded the "Our Choice" party. In May 2008, she announced her decision to step away from political activities.

Irina is also an accomplished author, having written numerous books including a best-selling book "Dao of Life: Masterclass from a Convinced Individualist.

As a former Head of Public Affairs for Emerging Markets at Google, Dona has been working across Latin America, Middle East, and Africa until she left the company in March, 2024.

She previously held a range of positions in the public and third sectors. She started her career at the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation. Then she moved to ELNET, which builds strategic partnerships between Israel and Europe. Following her time as press attaché at the French Embassy in Israel, Dona held the position of VP International Business Development at a solar energy company. Just before Google, Dona was spokeswoman and parliamentary adviser.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Management as well as a Master’s degree in Government, both with honors. Married and a proud mother of three.

Martina Fuchs is an international TV anchor, business journalist, event moderator, expert on China and the Middle East, and speaks 9 languages.
She currently works as a European business correspondent for China's news agency Xinhua, international media ambassador and board member for the Montreux Jazz Festival China, and as an advisor for the St. Gallen Symposium, the IMD business school, and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.
Based in London and Zurich, Martina is also a consultant for Syngenta Group and the brand ambassador for Switzerland's premium chocolate retailer Läderach.
Previously, she was a CNNMoney Switzerland TV anchor and CGTN senior business reporter in Beijing, and worked as a Reuters economy correspondent for the Gulf Arab region in Dubai and Reuters Financial TV producer in London.

Rumaitha Al Busaidi is an Omani scientist and environmental advocate working on sustainable solutions to climate change. Her 2021 TED talk examining women as the key to our climate future has garnered more than a million views. Rumaitha currently serves as Business Development Manager at Hydrom, the orchestrator of green hydrogen development in Oman. She is also an executive board director of the only environmental NGO in the country, Environment Society of Oman, and actively works with the Omani government on sustainable diversification and energy transition strategies. Internationally, she has advised the Biden administration on developing a climate resilience standard for US foreign aid, and the Arab League on empowering Arab youth in climate change negotiations spaces. Her work in climate change has been recongnized among the ‘Top 25 Women in Climate Chang’e by Reuters

Hailing from Muscat, Rumaitha is a member of the first-ever Arab Youth Council on Climate Change. She is also the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Davos Lab, where she co-authored the youth recovery plan featuring policy recommendations from over 2 million young people across the globe. Rumaitha holds degrees from Harvard and Oxford, and is coined as the first female soccer analyst in the Arab World and the youngest Omani to step foot on the South Pole.

With over 15 years of experience leading a production company, Nayla has a rich tapestry of experience and cultural insight. In addition to being fluent in Gulf dialects and five languages, Nayla navigates complex, cross-cultural projects with ease. Nayla is unwavering in her commitment to authentic storytelling and women's empowerment.

Nayla's film "The Shadow," now on Netflix, attracted the interest of prominent producers and led to the development of her first feature film, titled "Three, which has been released on February 1, 2024 across the Gulf and major MENA territories. Nayla Al Khaja is set to direct a Fantasy/Drama film titled "BAAB," featuring the acclaimed two-time Oscar Winner AR Rahman for the entire musical score.

Nayla's impressive accolades include recognition as one of the "Top 50 Most Powerful Personalities in Arab Cinema" (Variety), "Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40" (Arabian Business), "Visionary of the Year" (Arabian Business Awards), "Businesswoman of the Year" (Gulf Business Awards), and many more.

With extensive global experience, Dr. Giovanna has led independent projects worldwide, assisting corporations and brands, including RedBull, Finnair, Fortum, Adidas, Diesel, DKNY, DVF, Coach, D-Cave, Dundas, JPMorgan, Walmart, and more in their tech transformation journey.

Dr. Giovanna G. Casimiro, an XR specialist and brand strategist since 2010, boasts over a decade of marketing and production experience in the innovation landscape. From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Giovanna served as a Lead Metaverse Producer at Decentraland Foundation, where she headed the Metaverse Fashion Week, seamlessly blending fashion with the metaverse. Her active roles include consulting, mentoring. In 2022 she co-founded the educational and consulting initiative, Metaverse Fashion Talks, leading to several innovative projects and a podcast called Tech Fusion.

She holds a PhD from the University of Sao Paulo's Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, focusing on Open Source Heritage, digital memory, and open-source tools for the future of culture and arts. She has been taking part in educational global projects such as MIT's Hacking Arts (2016-2018), Farfetch Dream Assembly (2022-2023), and Harvard HealthLab (2023-). Recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Crypto by CryptoNewsZ, 2023 Innovators List art BishBaz, 100 Female Innovators list of Epoca Magazine, MENA Innovators list 2023, Threedium Top 50 XR Award recipient, featured at Vogue Greece's Change Makers 2022, Brytehall’s Bryte Fashion Forces 2022 Top 100 member.

Camille Louise Merré is the Co-Founder and Creative Innovation Director of Camille Louise Jewellery (CLJ), a pioneering Swiss impact-tech jewellery brand (GIA, certified gemologist) and Gem XR, an emerging tech consulting agency.
Alongside CEO & Co-Founder Aline d’Ambricourt, the mother-daughter dynamic duo has been recognized as Top 100 Innovators by IoDF, Top 100 Women @Davos and Top 100 women of the future Global Vol.I “Web3 & Metaverse” among others.

CLJ's «phygital» creations, authenticated via blockchain, are compatible with Apple Vision Pro. Celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Chelsea Clinton have viewed and worn CLJ’s pieces. Dedicated to championing women’s leadership, CLJ integrates ethics, eco-responsibility and circularity models, reducing their carbon footprint, contributing to SDGs 5,9,12,13 & 17, while reshaping the future of jewellery.

At WEF Davos 23’, Merré was the youngest invitee speaker. She, alongside d’Ambricourt has shared insights at prestigious institutions, including Swiss Center for Luxury Research.

Previously at Cartier as International Innovation Manager HQ for Web3 & Blockchain, Camille Merré's expertise lies at the intersection of luxury and innovation. She was selected among an elite of 66 futurists for the inaugural Metaverse Delphi Study. Her academic background includes a Clinton Foundation University Fellow Impact-Maker title, Chartered Manager accreditation, and MA in Management and Marketing from Regents University, London.

Manizha (Sanghin) is a Russian musician of Tajik origin, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador in Russia, and co-founder of the SILSILA foundation. Fleeing the Tajik civil war in the 90’s, she settled in Moscow as a refugee. She gained recognition for her "Instagram album," 'Manuscript,' and her experimental album 'ЯIAM' ('ya-I-am'). Manizha's music videos and advocacy against domestic violence led to the SILSILA foundation. In 2021, she represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Russian Woman." In 2022, Manizha became the face of the Spotify EQUALS international project of the music strimming platform on women's rights in the music industry. Big screens with her image appeared at Times Square in New York. She faced backlash for not supporting military actions against Ukraine, leading to concert cancellations in Russia. Manizha consistently integrates her national identity and life experiences into her art, striving to resonate with those who are different and in need of support.

Carol is a passionate Personal and Business Finance Coach and the proud owner of Conscious Finance Coaching.

Carol is dedicated to empowering her clients by helping them understand and embrace their finances and money, paving the way to true financial freedom. Through personalized coaching, digital courses and engaging workshops, she removes financial fears, worry and stress, enabling clients to enjoy their money and align it with their values.

With credentials as a Fellow of the Irish Institute of Chartered Accountants and a trained coach (ICF), Carol combines financial expertise with coaching acumen.

Before starting her own business, Carol spent two decades in corporate roles, including auditing investment banks at PwC Ireland and serving major Abu Dhabi government entities at Ernst & Young. In Dubai, she held senior leadership positions at AIG Insurance and Control Risks, managing teams across 42 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Carol's unique blend of financial and life coaching provides a practical yet emotionally intelligent approach to money management. With Carol Glynn, you'll gain clarity, confidence and a path to financial empowerment.

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum is a prominent member of the Emirati society. She belongs to one of the significant UAE’s ruling family, which is Al Maktoum family, to which the rulers of Dubai belong and led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the United Arab Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum achievements are just as impressive as her family lineage. The youngest in her class at the Oxford Aviation, she was only 17 when she was admitted. She obtained her commercial pilot licence first and then later joined the Dubai Police Airwing as First Lieutenant Pilot, recently being promoted to Captain Pilot, becoming the first woman in the UAE and the Gulf Region, and the first member of the Royal Family in aviation.

Her ambitions are only matched by her determination to create a legacy of her own, opening doors and enabling other women to enter a career in aviation. With this mission in mind, she set in motion the establishment of “Shehana”, the Women in Aviation Association, with the sole purpose to create opportunities and a framework for increasing the number of women joining the aviation sector. Her motto is: “Reach altitude with the right attitude”.

Meryem Uzerli is an actress who received numerous awards worldwide for her performances in projects like „magnificent century“ ( a show about the Ottoman Empire which was sold into more than 90 countries ), the Movie „my mothers wound“ which portraits a Serbian woman who kills herself after finding out that her husband was a rapist during war times as a soldier and for the movie „keeping the bees“ on netflix she was awarded as best main actress by the Chelsea Filmfestival New York. Her upcoming project is an eight episode show for a streaming platform which will be released in 2024.

Beside her movie and theater career she’s involved in charity work which focuses on the support of children in need and women empowerment. She was a speaker at the Forbes Middle East women Panel and also is participating in a Book Project where the income goes directly to young girls who can’t afford education. During the Asian world Filmfestival, which takes place in Los Angeles every year, she was the youngest president of the jury and is a board member ever since.

Meryem recently was the guest of honor at the cinema heritage filmfestival under the patronage of UNESCO in Paris, where she did a speech about peace, togetherness and bridgebuilding.

She’s a mother of two daughters, and the daughter of a German mom and Turkish dad, based in Berlin, Germany.

Stephenie is on a mission to impact a billion lives by 2025 and democratise safety in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In 2018, she founded WanderSafe.com, and developed an ecosystem that empowers women, remote workers, and vulnerable people to go anywhere better and safer. In addition to being a tech founder in the AI sector, and a resilience expert, she is also an advocate for inclusivity and innovation as a bilateral bionic amputee, the Global Ambassador for Rotary International's Finish-the-fight.org and working with The Global Fund as an Ambassador to raise funds and awareness to eradicate humanity's greatest biological killer, Malaria. Stephenie is currently competing as Australia's first female Parafencer in Sabre in the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Dr. Louise Lambert, PhD. has lived in the UAE since 2003 developing and implementing scientifically based positive psychology wellbeing programs in organizations, as well as teaching and conducting research in the field of wellbeing and other areas of psychology (Social, Positive, Environmental, & Organizational). Recently, she has focused on sustainable wellbeing, the notion that while happiness is a human right, it should not cost the planet at the same time. She has several peer-reviewed empirical publications in positive psychology applications and designs her programs based on science. She is the Head of Happiness Programming & Policy Design with www.HappinessMatters.org. Her work includes the positive education programs at Dubai College and Kuwait’s Al Nowair Foundation, with previous employee and management training with clients across the UAE and GCC region (i.e., Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, KAUST (KSA), Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal). She is the Editor of the Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to regional wellbeing.

A leading figure in green innovation in the Middle East, an award-winning climate change strategist, Farah has two decades of experience in the built environment in the US, UK, Southeast Asia, and the UAE. Sustainability and energy strategies are synonymous with her work in Dubai, contributing to landmark projects such as the Museum of the Future, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Bee'ah HQ in Sharjah, and the Expo 2020 TERRA Sustainability Pavilion. In the UK, Farah won the Sustainable Buildings Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for her role in designing the energy strategy for the country's first zero-energy building.

Farah is a verified research expert for the Dubai Future Foundation, chartered engineer and fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, LEED and WELL accredited professional, and is a passionate advocate for STEM education. She is the co-author of the first book about Net Zero City in the MENA. At COP28, she will present her latest children’s book Mission Zero.

Katja founded Prestel & Partner, a conference boutique, driven by her passion for people, bringing them together and creating a trusted community. Over the years, the venture has evolved into the global leader in Family Office Forum Conferences. Prestel & Partner has earned a distinguished reputation for cultivating trust and understanding the needs of its audience — comprising international private single family offices, private wealth owners, and their next generation.

Katja's commitment to creating a trusted community is especially beneficial for UHNWI investors and Family Offices who attend her nine events around the world. These gatherings provide a safe solution for peers to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another, making Prestel & Partner a cornerstone in the world of Family Office Forum Conferences. Moreover, Katja brings women into a male-dominated industry so they can make lasting environmental and social contributions to our society.

Manager of Maestro Andrea Bocelli since 2006, Veronica has orchestrated his presence at iconic events worldwide, strongly contributing to the further growth of his fame and increasing record sales to over 90 million.

With her long-standing volunteering and charitable activities, she was instrumental in the creation and design of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF), established by Andrea Bocelli and his family with the mission: "Empower people and communities". ABF operates globally with a special focus on initiatives in Italy, the United States, Syria, Iraq, and Haiti.

Veronica has been honored with the "UNCA Global Citizens of the Year" award, presented by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a recognition that she shared with Andrea Bocelli for the humanitarian commitment carried out through the projects of their foundation.

Forbes Italia has elected Veronica Berti among the hundred most influential women of 2022. Further testament to her humanitarian efforts, Veronica has recently received the "Leonardo da Vinci Award" in Humanitarianism at the National Italian American Foundation, in the presence of President Joe Biden.
Veronica is married to Maestro Andrea Bocelli and is mother to their daughter Virginia.

Aline d'Ambricourt leads CLJ, a pioneering Swiss impact-tech brand committed to sustainability, powered by AI, and advocating for women's leadership, ethics, and eco-consciousness. CLJ creates "phygital" jewellery authenticated via blockchain, merging physical pieces with avatar wearables, actively working towards a net-zero environmental impact.

In addition to her role in CLJ, Aline is a former musician soloist harpsichordist with 30 years of experience, notably invited by the Danish and Belgian Royal families. Beyond her business and musical careers, she founded an arts and crafts preservation and cultural heritage Foundation in Geneva. Aline has also led international teams in producing documentary films and musical albums.

Aline co-founded CLJ with her daughter Camille Merré; together they have earned recognition as Top 100 Innovators by IoDF, Top 100 Women @Davos, Top 100 Women of the Future Global Vol.I "Web3 & Metaverse," and Top 25 Women in the Metaverse. CLJ is dedicated to transparency in the luxury sector and a member of Swiss Center for Luxury Research & ORIGINALLUXURY among members Bulgari, Cartier, IMD, EPFL and EHL.

Maria Sharapova is a world-class tennis champion, investor and entrepreneur. She brings her championship mindset to everything she does, a mindset hard earned from her career as an elite athlete. During her career she won five career Grand Slam titles and is one of only the 10 female players in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam. Since retiring, Maria is an active founder, CEO, investor, and new mom. She is an equity owner of Supergoop! and a long time ambassador for evian, and has recently expanded her business portfolio as an investor and strategic advisor to include Tonal, Therabody, Public.com, Bala, and Wolf & Shepherd. Last year, she was named to the board of public company Moncler. Across all of her business ventures, Maria works with her partners to advise on a variety of aspects of each business — including product development, creative branding, content strategy, growth and expansion — leveraging her experiences as a professional athlete, entrepreneur, and consumer to provide unique insights and strategic counsel. Whatever it is, Maria approaches all aspects of her life with a mindset to achieve greatness and optimize her and her partners’ performance.

Vera Futorjanski is a distinguished keynote speaker, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor, boasting a wealth of experience in the Middle East. With a track record of playing integral roles in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape of Dubai, Vera has contributed significantly to initiatives with the Dubai Government, the Dubai Future Foundation, and the Dubai Future Accelerators.

Vera achieved notable milestones, including the launch of the first international accelerator and the VC investor education from Stanford in Saudi Arabia. Complementing her corporate endeavors, Vera leads a global community for female leaders, providing mentorship through the Dubai Leadership Program and offering strategic innovation advisory services. Her esteemed affiliations include participation in the Expert Group on Digital Platforms and Ecosystems for the World Economic Forum, serving as an Innovation Expert at the UN, and holding a Responsible Leader position at the BMW Foundation. Vera sits on the advisory board of the IBM accelerator, she is a mentor with many global accelerators and incubators including Techstars, BMW accelerator Respond, and female Emirati accelerator e7.

Mariam Hussein is one of the most popular actresses in the Middle East. Mariam Hussein's remarkable career and enduring impact made her a true icon of the performing arts. Mariam is known for her impressive range and captivating screen presence. Her talent was quickly recognized, which allowed her to star in a number of television shows and films. Her ambition, tenacity, and talent made her stand out as a fashion icon and an inspiring woman in the Middle east. Mariam built her career as a successful artist, businesswoman, and philanthropist and has successfully become one of the most influential people on social media with over 7,000,000 followers across all platforms combined.

Maitha is an electronics engineer by profession and a youth leader by passion, and founder of Be You. She is currently working as Scrum Master at one of the largest banks within the UAE region. Maitha has a true passion to host and speak at public events. Her goal is to be an example of what a young vibrant emirate woman can achieve and inspire emirate women based on her life experiences and lessons learnt. She was awarded twice as youth leadership excellence in 2022, top 50 global inspirational women to look out for in 2023, top 50 leaders to look out for in 2023 and the Most influential women in 2023. She participated at Best Diplomat UN, Dubai Airport Show 2023, and WETEX Solar Show2023.

HE Dr. Maryam Matar is recognized as one of the most influential scientists in the UAE. Her significant contributions to preventive healthcare and the advancement of genetic sciences have earned her a place among the top 20 Arab scientists, as recognized by the British Scientific Community.

A leading figure for women scientists in the Arab world, Dr. Matar actively champions gender equality and women’s leadership in science and technology. Her efforts have been recognized with over 35 prestigious scientific and leadership awards, establishing her as a highly influential and inspirational woman role model.

A pioneer in epigenetics and regenerative therapies in the Arab region, Dr. Matar is instrumental in driving scientific discussions and community engagement in these vital fields. As the founder of the Sheikh Zayed Genetics Research Centre, she plays a pivotal role in developing innovative healthcare models for the MENA region.

Her 'Reprogram Your Genes' awareness program, adopted by over 200 academic institutions and 150 organisations, engages a wide audience from students to professionals, encouraging them to embrace healthier lifestyles. Through her lectures and scientific events focused on epigenetics and regenerative therapies, Dr. Matar equips physicians and medical professionals with the knowledge and tools needed for improving patient care.

Irina Shamilova, the visionary behind EIRINE Jewelry House, is not just its founder but also a highly skilled gemologist and a meticulous jewelry expert. She oversees every aspect of the company's operations, driven by the mission to bring happiness to women through exquisite jewelry.

In 2010, Irina embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, establishing a jewelry production business specializing in crafting custom-made pieces based on individual sketches. Her unwavering commitment and passion transformed a modest venture into EIRINE Jewelry House, a brand celebrated for its commitment to excellence and innovation, as evidenced by five groundbreaking technological patents.

EIRINE Jewelry House is committed to quality, using exclusively GIA, GRS, and Gübelin certified natural gemstones to create exceptional jewelry items. With a deep focus on customer satisfaction, the brand allocates 80% of its craftsmanship to ready-made conceptual pieces, with the remaining 20% tailored to individual orders. EIRINE’s boutique is an exclusive retreat for collectors and connoisseurs of high jewelry.

An Emirati woman who believes in the value of community work. She has specialized academically in the study of history and sociology, especially social security. Emirati identity remains her primary issue, in addition to her interest in spreading reading and the cultural and cognitive construction of the Emirati citizen. By enhancing the role of reading and knowledge, and building the critical mind of the emerging generations, based on its intellectual and cultural role that it plays through the institutions of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, of which it chairs the Board of Directors, and also through effective partnerships across other cultural and humanitarian institutions inside and outside the United Arab Emirates.
Based on her belief in the value of women and their role in society, she adopted the philosophy of achieving fair equality between the sexes, expressing her support for the state’s effort to achieve balance through her public lectures, articles she wrote in many newspapers and magazines, and her academic studies.
She actively contributed to enriching Emirati cultural life by launching the Thought and Knowledge Council, which is the first women’s literary salon in the Emirates, in 1996 when she saw that cultural work needed to unite thinking and knowledgeable minds under a knowledge system capable of influencing cultural life.

As a former Olympic swimmer (OI-Atlanta 1996), Maja embodies the values of hard work, dedication, and persistence instilled through her athletic journey. Her sports background has proven invaluable in her involvement with numerous EU projects in Serbia and the Balkan region.


Maja served as Head of the Serbian Business Hub after Dubai EXPO 2020, where she focused on facilitating the establishment and expansion of Serbian companies in the UAE market and across the Middle East. This international experience is complemented by her previous executive role at DP World Novi Sad, Serbia.


Beyond her expertise in international business relations, Maja is a staunch advocate for women's empowerment and is passionate about green energy transition and technology innovation.

Paula Yacoubian is a Lebanese TV star renowned for her impactful contributions to both Lebanese and pan-Arab international television stations. Her advocacy for women's rights, dedication to women's empowerment, and relentless support for electoral quotas and fairer election laws in Lebanon earned her a role as an expert on the World Bank Group's External Advisory Panel for Diversity and Inclusion.

Known for her commitment to social activism, Paula initiated the successful "Dafa Campaign", a prominent in-kind donation campaign in the Middle East. In the midst of Lebanon's severe economic and financial crisis, this initiative has been invaluable to more than 250,000 underprivileged families.

Paula Yacoubian was elected to the Lebanese parliament in 2018, and she was re-elected in May 2022 with her unwavering commitment to her constituents. Paula is a dedicated environmental advocate who takes part in beach clean-up campaigns and challenges environmental harm. Paula played a pivotal role in forming an opposition bloc to combat corruption, revive state institutions, and uphold the constitution and laws in Lebanon. King Philippe I of Belgium awarded her the prestigious order "Officier de l'Ordre de la Couronne" for her remarkable contributions.

Elena is Head of Brand and Communications at zolar, a leading provider of residential solar systems. With over a decade of experience in Marketing and Brand Management, she excels in driving impactful brand and communication strategies and bringing them to measurable results. She has successfully led Brand, creative and cross-functional teams in developing global and localized Marketing campaigns. Passionate about empowering women, she is looking forward to sharing insights and connecting with fellow professionals at the conference.

Lara has a global and unique experience in both corporate and startup worlds, and has been focused on the Insurtech/Healthtech ecosystem. Over time, Lara has become industry agnostic supporting startups across industries as a consultant, advisor and board member. She co-founded Thought On Paper (TOP) to help people that have an idea, make it a reality and support entrepreneurship across communities, including one that is dear to her - Women. Through her journey at TOP, Lara became the Co-founder of UBQT - a social networking app - efficient digital companion to catch-up with your contacts in real life wherever you are.

Nick Vinckier is the Director Corporate Innovation of Chalhoub Group, where he experiments with new business models for the luxury brands within the group portfolio, and embeds corporate innovation structurally in the day-to-day way of working.


For over six decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. The Group, in its endeavour to excel as a hybrid retailer, has reinforced its distribution and marketing services with a portfolio of eight owned brands and over 300 international brands in the luxury, beauty, fashion, and art de vivre categories. More recently, the Group expanded its expertise into new categories of luxury watches, jewellery, and eyewear.


Nick joined Chalhoub Group at the end of 2019, after 6 years of business consulting in Europe & the Middle. Since then, he launched concepts like Quick Commerce, Subscribe & Save, Rental, Pre-Loved and Buy Back. His most recent achievements include selling out Christofle's NFT collection in 5 minutes, creating a bestselling Roblox collection with Prince Clothing and successfully launching SOL3MATES, Chalhoub Group's first web3-native sneaker brand.


Nick, a Belgian national, started his career as an entrepreneur in the hospitality & entertainment industry. He has a big passion for growth hacking, e-commerce and innovation, and when he’s not working, you can find him in the gym.

Emon Shakoor (إيمان عبد الشكور) is a Saudi neuroscience researcher turned venture capitalist. She is the founder & CEO of Blossom Accelerator; Saudi’s first tech-inclusion accelerator. A Venture Partner at Oryx Fund Hambro Perks. An Angel Investor. She serves as an advisory board member at Oqal; Saudi’s largest angel investment group. Emon hosts the leading podcast in Arabic titled “شغف” dedicated to women leaders & female founders in partnership with Anghami. She is also the Saudi ambassador for Women Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO). Emon has been recognized as one of nine Saudi women who has made an impact on the world as she is the pioneer of women entrepreneurship in KSA. NEOM has also recognized Emon Shakoor as one of five Saudi’s driving change in Saudi Arabia and the world.

Mishaal Ashemimry is the first female aerospace engineer in the GCC, aerospace entrepreneur, commercial pilot, speaker, and influencer. Mishaal is a consultant in her field and was a professor at the University of Miami Mechanical and Aerospace Department.

Currently, Mishaal is an International Astronautical Federation Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and a special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency with a strong focus on developing Saudi’s role in the global space market. Prior to joining the Saudi Space Agency, Mishaal was a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman in the US.

While based in Miami, Florida, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace at age 26, to pursue her ultimate dream of building rockets. Her company’s objective was to design and build their own rockets to launch small satellites (500 kg) or less to Low Earth Orbit.

Her professional experience and areas of expertise include aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis and rocket stage-separation analysis, with a strong focus on computational tool development.

Delphine Bellini has a degree in International Marketing and Management, with a specialization in Luxury industries. She began her career in the Luxury tourism industry and swiftly entered the universe of Fashion.

In 2002, she joined the Couture House Leonard where she oversaw the management and business development of the brand licenses. From 2005 to 2011, she worked for Jean-Charles de Castelbajac participating in the revival of the House to expand the label of the pop-centric Artist into a comprehensive lifestyle brand. She then launched her own consulting business bringing her global expertise in management, finance and business development to high end and luxury brands. In May 2014, she joined the mythic Couture House Schiapa­relli to shape the brand and lead its strategic development.

Since 2010, Delphine has been an Adjunct Faculty Member at IFM (Institut Français de la Mode) and an active mentor to young entrepreneurs. Member of the Women Initiative Foundation, a philanthropic organization acting for the promotion of women in business, she is a regular speaker in its training programs with the world's leading universities (Stanford, McGill…).

In 2022, Delphine Bellini was recognized as one of the 50 Women in Power who are impacting their businesses and communities by the WWD magazine.

Anton Stepanenko is a Partner and Associate Director in the BCG Dubai Office and global lead of skilling practice. His key focus is laying in the Public sector projects in labor and education. He has extensive consulting experience of over 15 years working on education and skilling projects with governments, Universities, top training organizations, EdTech players etc.

Anton has developed BCG's flagship tool - Future Skills Architect - an innovative and "human-centric" approach to transform talent management at the national level that can be adapted to individual countries and clients.

Outside BCG, Anton is a member of Supervisory Board at Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) in the Great Britain. Also, Anton is a founder of charity projects ToDoGood - national Skilling and Employment platform for the underprivileged; and Ican.Pro – a skilling academy for women, minorities and underprivileged established in a partnership with Google.Org.

Dr. Laura is an international expert in well-being and behavioral transformation with emerging technologies.

With over 15 years of research experience at highly prestigious institutions, including Stanford University (Fulbright Scholar) and the MIT Media Lab, Dr. Laura has led highly impactful research to promote the positive social impact of virtual reality, social robots, and AI. Her works have also contributed to the scientific validation of coaching for wellbeing and goal achievement.

Currently based in the UAE, Dr. Laura serves as the founder of Akazest, offering a science-backed coaching program for Healthy Success. She also engages in international consultancy, specializing in experience design and the adoption of emerging technologies. Additionally, she provides training programs on optimizing one's mind-brain ecosystem for healthy success and cultivating a healthy and empowering culture of AI within organizations.

Karen Wazen is the Founder & CEO of Karen Wazen Eyewear and has successfully grown her personal brand to become a globally recognized personality where she shares her everyday life with over 14M+ fans on social media. She is also the Co-Founder of KE Partners, an investment firm and portfolio of over 12 companies.

Karen’s been honored in Forbes' Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands List and earned the Achieving Women in Digital Influence accolade at Entrepreneur Middle East's annual Achieving Women Awards. Since 2021, Karen has served on the board of executives of Fashion Trust Arabia to support up-and-coming local talents in the MENA region. Karen Wazen has become synonymous with high-fashion luxury brands and appeared as the global face of Roberto Cavalli, Guerlain, and Pantene.

Bazaar Arabia, L'Officiel Levant, ELLE Arabia, and Grazia Morocco, Karen Wazen's unique style, authentic personality, and her innate ability to break gender-norms and stereotypes for women in the region continue to excite her fanbase around the world.

Karen Wazen is a passionate humanitarian who uses her voice to advocate for the rights of refugees, displaced persons, and host communities worldwide. Since 2020, Karen Wazen has been an ambassador and advocate for UNHCR. In addition, she continues to be vocal about her struggle with Vitiligo on social media to inspire others worldwide to love their bodies and imperfections.

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar is at the forefront of driving business growth in the GCC region at Visa. She manages a team that collaborates with major financial institutions, business partners, and governments, focusing on Visa's mission to empower a digital-first environment for individuals, businesses, and economies.

In addition to her role at Visa, Dr. Jaffar serves on the Board of Trustees at Kuwait University. Her extensive experience includes former positions at United Arab Bank and Ishraq, as well as an Advisory Board role at Bahrain Fintech Bay. Moreover, she served in leadership roles at McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company as well as Alvarez & Marsal ME.

Dr. Jaffar's 20+ years of leadership and expertise have earned her accolades on prestigious lists such as Arabian Business' 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders (2022, 2023), Forbes Global Meets Local 2022, Economy Middle East Women in Lead 2023, Forbes Middle East's 100 Most Powerful Women 2023, and Fast Company's Most Creative People 2023.

Selected as one of the Most Influential Negotiation Professionals Globally, Lousin Mehrabi is a Professional Negotiator, Trainer and Inspirational Speaker.

For over 23 years she has been involved in resolving complex, multibilliondollar negotiations.

As the Global Head of Negotiation Training and Board Advisor, Lousin helps leaders to win their negotiations, while maintaining strong relationships. As a sought-after Inspirational Speaker, she is booked across the world for impactful Keynote speeches on Negotiations and Leadership.

She provides people with insights to grow through adversity and develop better relationships with others and with themselves. She regularly shares her expertise in her podcast Life Negotiations, and as a guest on other podcasts, in international media and at universities.

Prior to becoming a Professional Negotiator, Lousin worked in Senior Leadership roles in Finance. For 15 years she was responsible for Sales and Strategy on trading floors of financial institutions such as Citigroup and the New York Stock Exchange - Euronext.

As a true world citizen, Lousin is a graduate of three International Business Schools, holds four nationalities and speaks five languages. In her free time Lousin loves to be in nature, travel and read about health, mindset and happiness.

Sarah Omolewu is the award-winning pioneer behind entertainment marketing in the MENA region. She’s renowned for delivering several GCC firsts in the space, most notably the first blockbuster movie premiere, Suicide Squad, with Will Smith; the first major basketball event, Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend UAE; and the first series of celebrity popup stores in the UAE including House of Harlow, with Nicole Richie. Her work in redefining the regional entertainment landscape landed her on CEO Middle East magazine’s “50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World” and recognition among the “Top 100 most influential people in the UAE” three consecutive years.

Omolewu is the Managing Partner of Maven Global Access, a company that helps organizations, with a focus on women and minority-led founders, achieve global expansion, while generating foreign direct investment across emerging markets. She’s the driving force behind the expansion of numerous brands to the Middle East, most recently Tyra Bank’s SMiZE Cream and NBA legend Metta World Peace’s Artest Management Group. In 2023, Sarah spearheaded the first-of-its-kind viral Web3 domain giveaway that saw $1 million worth of free NFT/crypto domains provided to all women in Abu Dhabi to avail.

As one of the most notable and knowledgeable professionals in the entertainment marketing space, Omolewu continues to be one of the most sought after thought leaders and market makers in the region.

Bibigi Haile founded The Beauvoir Group to give women the license to be Unapologetically Visible, make bold moves, and stop apologizing for what they want from their professional lives.

As a sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor to women in leadership, Bibigi has rightfully owned spots on national and international stages sharing her refreshingly fierce approach to women’s visibility, imposter syndrome, and personal branding.

With a background in organizational transformation, her career expands over several industries including finance and investment management. She holds an M.Sc. in Strategy and an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies. She applies a research and evidence-based approach to guide her clients through transformational change.

When she isn’t on stage, she’s still speaking – her 5-star rated, award-winning podcast Speaking with Women explores the experience of women as they navigate the complexities of crafting a career and brand that feels right for them.

Through her ACT framework, Bibigi guides women to Align with their story, Clarify the path forward and Tweak their assets so they can leverage them on their visibility path.

Bibigi is also and especially the mother of a wise 8-year-old, third culture kid, podcast and book nerd, and a CrossFit enthusiast.

Hoda Mansour stands as a beacon of women's empowerment in the technology sector. With a strategic vision for growth and transformation, Forbes Middle East acknowledged Hoda’s leadership and impact on the business by recognizing her as one of 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in 2024. This came on the back of her recognition by Forbes Middle East as one of Top 5 Women in Technology for 2022 & being on the Forbes Middle East Most Powerful Businesswomen list since 2018.

Her trailblazing career, marked by significant roles at Oracle and Microsoft, includes being the first woman to serve as a Managing Director for SAP in the Middle East & Africa region. Hoda's commitment to driving business innovation is paralleled by her dedication to fostering inclusive work environments that champion women's advancement in tech.

Apart from her corporate leadership, Hoda contributes her expertise as a Non-Executive Board Member of Centamin PLC and Commercial International Bank, where she also leads the Board Sustainability Committee. A leading voice for gender equality and innovation, she is active in the American Chamber of Commerce.

Aby Sam Thomas is the Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Middle East, a business magazine catering to the region's entrepreneurs and business-minded readership. In this role, Aby writes and edits for Entrepreneur Middle East's monthly print publication, as well as for its website, www.entrepreneur.com/me. He is especially interested in stories on startups and the people behind them, and finding out how they put a successful enterprise together. Before working in the media sector, Aby was an analyst programmer with Accenture, where he worked with J. P. Morgan Chase's investment banking arm at offices in Mumbai, London and New York. He holds a Master's Degree in Journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Across her career spanning 28 years in the fields of Telecommunications and IT, Rima Manna has always been drawn to companies that pushed boundaries. This drive for growth brought her to invaluable opportunities across multiple organizations covering the MEA region Alcatel-Lucent, TechData, 3Com, that continuously challenged her capabilities in new fields and environments.

In Rima’s current role as Vice President for Nokia’s Middle East Market Unit, she shaped successful region-wide growth strategies that included business model transformation and sales organizations revitalization. She achieved this by combining strong business acumen, fluency in the latest technologies and passion for delivering value.

Early on Rima saw technology as a means to transform our lives and now, as a crucial means to preserving our planet. She is proud to be part of the collective effort to bring about these changes.

Maria Vitoratos is an exceptional career development professional, educator, and entrepreneur. She brings a growth mindset to every project, client program, and educational experience. Maria is currently building her EdTech MV Careers and is credited with founding two social projects: the UAE Careers Community and #STRONG.

Through her work with teenagers and adults alike, Maria is effecting tangible changes within the global community, energizing, and empowering individuals to embrace change and seize opportunities. Her passion for securing the best outcomes for those under her care is palpable, and she remains steadfast in her determination to shape a future where every individual can thrive and succeed.

Sal Jafar is the CEO of the first and only comprehensive ESG knowledge hub in the Mena region leading the hand-picked team delivering world-class work.

A multi-cultural, multi-lingual journalist at heart, Sal has interviewed over the years global icons including Former US VP Al Gore, Elon Musk, Sir Richard Branson, Diego Maradona among others.
His connection to ESG stretches from his profound aerospace knowledge where he leads his low-profile consultancy firm enabling him to analyse trends & policies geopolitically at the highest Macro-economic levels.

Having visited 164 countries & territories, he is a firm safety activist with regular high profile public appearances.

Ayesha Mubarak Ali is an Internationally acclaimed Fusion Tech-Artist and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in 'Artist' category-2023. She is the Founder of Ayesha Mubarak Studio and Creative Director of MetaVisionaries and is working in the medium of painting, digital art, film and 3d printed multimedia wearable art. Her work often explores the synergy between humans and machines at the intersection of frontier technologies and space accessibility. By combining sci-fi themes and the hidden mysteries of fractal worlds, she creates interactive hybrid art through her multi-layered visuals. Ali fuses traditional methods with software technologies like AL/ML and data visualization techniques to explore themes of identity politics, light pollution, space applications and the future identity of humans. She is the first Pakistani Artist to collaborate with NASA scientists. Her art project was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) through the SpaceX rocket for ‘Maleth II’ project in collaboration with SpaceOmix and Ice Cubes in July 2022. She is actively working as a Filmmaker for her upcoming feature film on spacesuits/bio-suits and is also collaborating with scientists on an interdisciplinary project related to creative direction in space. She often talks about her process, fusion-tech dialogue and innovative project ideas in her Podcast ‘Fusion-Tech by Ayesha’.

Sabine Holl is a seasoned IBM executive with over 25 years of experience in technical sales, solutioning, and innovation across multiple regions and markets. She is currently the Vice President Technical Sales and CTO for Middle East and Africa, leading large and diverse teams of specialists, architects, and advocates who help IBM's clients accelerate and transform their business leveraging Hybrid Cloud and AI.

Sabine has a proven track record of building organizations, developing talent, and delivering results in complex and dynamic environments. She started her career as a mainframe services consultant in IBM Austria, where she became a subject matter expert and a certified IT specialist, publishing several books and teaching workshops worldwide. She then expanded her scope and impact by introducing first of a kind technologies and digital solutions to new and emerging markets in Central/Eastern Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa. She is also a co-founder of a social enterprise that provides education and food security in Kenya. Sabine is passionate about innovation, inclusion, and growth, and strives to empower her teams and clients to achieve their full potential.

Giovanna Carnevali is an established PhD Architect and Strategic Designer Consultant about Architecture and Urban Development who links clients’ needs to architectural, digital, social, economic, and legal issues by teaming up with the necessary professionals. Since October 2018, she has been the Executive Director of Urban Planning in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.

She was formerly the head of international Projects Development at Strelka KB (Moscow 2015-2018) and the Program Coordinator of “Urban Sciences” at IaaC, Institute of Advanced Architecture in Barcelona (2017-2018). A former Director of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation (Barcelona) where she managed European Union Prizes for Contemporary Architecture: Mies van der Rohe Award together with DG Culture of the European Commission.

Since 2017 Giovanna the Official List of Experts for Culture and Architecture of the Directorate General for Culture of the European Commission.

Giovanna has developed her practice in prestigious offices such as OMA, Giancarlo de Carlo, Joan Busquets, and Josep Mias. She has developed numerous architecture and urban planning projects in Europe as a founder of Self Arquitectura SLP, among which are numerous winning competitions in Italy and Spain.

She has been lecturing in different places among these: MoMa, Biennale of Venice, Biennale of Shenzen, TU Delft, IaaC Barcelona, Moscow Urban Forum and European Commission. research, healthcare, residential and retail complexes, education, museums, high-rise and low-rise buildings.

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa represents a magnificent blend of entrepreneurial courage, humanitarian principles, and inspirational grace. As a beacon of motivation, she epitomizes the essence of an Arab Princess, captivating hearts with her unwavering dedication and dynamic spirit.
From an early age, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa embarked on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and excellence. With her relentless pursuit of knowledge in International Relations and Business Management, she forged a strong foundation on which she built her illustrious reputation. Her artistic prowess and unparalleled vision positioned her as a unique and influential figure in the business world. But beyond that, she is also an ardent philanthropist, actively striving to create positive impact within society.

Championing women's empowerment is a cause that ignites a fire within Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa. Firmly believing in the power of women to shape a brighter future, she has spearheaded initiatives that support gender equality and advance women's rights. Her visionary leadership inspires countless individuals to fearlessly pursue their dreams and shatter societal limitations.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa's journey from humble beginnings in public relations and marketing showcases her expertise and unwavering confidence. As a young investor, she dedicates herself wholeheartedly to motivate and guide budding entrepreneurs, recognizing their potential as the driving force behind a thriving future. Her ultimate vision is to foster inclusivity and sustainable asset management, placing her unwavering trust in the ambitious younger generations.

Undoubtedly, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa is a trailblazing leader, relentlessly creating opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. Through her multifaceted projects, she transforms lives and leaves an indelible mark on the world. Renowned for her astute investment skills and boundless philanthropy, she serves as a graceful role model, inspiring women of all generations to embrace their full potential and fearlessly pursue their dreams.

Beyond her artistic prowess and philanthropic endeavors, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa's compassionate soul and warm spirit shine. She passionately engages with her community, seeking to understand their needs and find effective solutions to uplift their lives. Her unwavering commitment to serving others and making a positive impact has earned her profound respect and admiration from people across all spheres of life.

As the Founder and Chairperson of FUTURE8, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa embarks on a grand mission to unite startups across different sectors and geographical boundaries. Additionally, as the Chairperson of NFINITY8 Group, she spearheads an array of companies offering comprehensive marketing solutions, and agencies specializing in cybersecurity and AI. Her visionary leadership breathes life into these ventures, shaping a future where innovation and progress are at the forefront.

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa's contributions have enriched Bahrain's cultural tapestry and touched the lives of countless individuals in need. Her unwavering commitment to arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy serves as an eternal flame of inspiration for aspiring artists, entrepreneurs, and humanitarians alike. It reminds us all of the extraordinary power of creativity and compassion to shape a better world.

Najeeba's current position is Vice President, Environment, Health and Safety. She has over 20 years of experience in Aluminum Smelter. She was involved in the Start Up of 79B Expansion Project in 2006, with annual production of 450,000 tons. In 2007 she was awarded by the International Aluminum Institute for Best Environment Friendly Producer award. In 2008 she was awarded for leading the restoration of the production lines after a long power outage.

In 2013, she joined Emirates Aluminium (EMAL), and was appointed to lead the energization (start-up) of the longest aluminum line in the world, EMAL’s Potline 3. Energizing Potline 3 involved 400 employees working around the clock for seven & half months. Despite the intense pace and the volume of activity required, the energization of the entire pot-line was achieved with zero lost time injury and the project was delivered to Operations ahead of scheduled time.

Since 2016 Najeeba has been leading the whole EGA technical departments as VP technical Midstream.

Danae is a self love advocate, journalist and public speaker. Her writing has appeared in CNN, Sunday Times, Travel and Leisure and others, and she has worked as the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health Middle East and Men’s Health Middle East.

These days, Danae’s focus is on content creation that helps women feel self love without shame. She is lucky enough to speak with millions of women a day on body confidence, with a community that is over 2.3m strong.

Avneet Kohli is the Co-Founder of StartUp Network Encubay, Startup Enabler and an experienced Life and Business Vision Coach.

From a stellar reputation in the media and entertainment industry to starting her entrepreneurial journey at age 22, to overcoming burnout, Avneet's diverse experiences led her into the world of coaching and startups. She helps driven founders and professionals launch their dream ventures, build a memorable personal brand, and achieve their life and career goals faster.

Encubay is a female-focused startup and angel network that helps women accelerate business growth by providing them access to mentorship, premium networking, and fundraising opportunities to scale up their ventures globally.

She recently authored the Life Planner, a thinking system toolkit that helps ambitious minds achieve growth and tangible results in life and business.
Visit her website at www.avneetkohli.com and explore more about Encubay on www.encubay.com.

Tala Michel Issa is a seasoned multimedia journalist and moderator based in Dubai. As a Senior Reporter at Arabian Business and Producer and Host of the AB Majlis podcast, Tala has honed her skills in guiding nuanced dialogue and writing comprehensive deep dives around complex topics ranging from business, crime and geopolitics to technology, economics and more. Her background reporting hard-hitting stories for outlets like Saudi-owned Al Arabiya English and writing for various other platforms on UK politics, telecom, and energy have given her a wealth of knowledge to draw from as a moderator.

Amnah Ajmal, Group Executive President - Merchants & Commerce, Digital Partnerships, Fintechs & Enablers, Strategy, M&A, Mastercard. In this role, she leads the P&L across multiple business verticals including merchants, telcos, governments, fintech’s, digital players across 80 markets. In addition, she also heads the strategy, pricing, analytics and M&A function for the region. Prior to this role she led the North America product & innovation organization, based out of the US, creating sustainable, competitive differentiation for Mastercard and its customers by delivering digitally integrated consumer experiences across consumer and commercial products.

Prior to joining Mastercard she was the CEO for Standard Chartered Consumer Bank Malaysia. She was also responsible for retail banking strategy for Indonesia, Malaysia & Taiwan in a global role based out of Singapore. Prior to Standard Chartered, Amnah worked at Citigroup in UAE, Egypt, UK and Poland. She held a number of leadership positions at Citigroup including Asset Business Head for Poland responsible for a full range of consumer asset products, innovation and distribution including credit cards, co brands, personal loans and mortgages.

She was honored to be listed in Forbes Middle East’s 100 most powerful businesswomen 2024; the top 100 women in fintech for 2021 by IBM & Fintech magazine; the top 25 women leaders in financial technology by the Financial Technology Report US for 2019 & 2020 and the top 100 women in Fintech, across the globe, for 2019 by Lattice80. She also holds the honor of being in America’s top 10 women in Fintech by the Fintech Magazine for 2020.
Passion advocate for women gender equity. Speaks annually at 30+ conferences.

She is passionate about social empowerment for women and gender equity. She holds a master’s degree from London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE).

Carla Bruni's journey exemplifies women's empowerment in the arts. Born into an artistic family, she was naturally drawn to music from a young age, nurturing her talent for guitar and songwriting. After a successful modeling career, Bruni made a bold move to pursue her true passion: music. Since then, she has written for Julien Clerc and released the critically acclaimed album "Quelqu'un m'a dit" with sales of over 2 million copies.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Carla Bruni masterfully balanced her role as the First Lady of France with her popular singing career. This dual role underscores her versatility and ability to navigate both political and cultural landscapes with grace and impact. Her success in these distinct realms further highlights the empowering narrative of women effectively managing multiple prominent roles and making significant contributions to each.

Her music career flourished with several albums, each showcasing her poetic sensitivity and unique style. As an artist committed to philanthropy, Bruni uses her fame to support causes she's passionate about, demonstrating the power of pursuing one's passion while positively impacting the lives of others.

Rana Alnasir-Boulos is a visionary entrepreneur who embarked on her professional journey by establishing her own agency while pursuing her studies. Her relentless drive and determination led her to the prestigious Euro Institute @eitep, where she assumed the role of Business Development Manager. Rana's innovative spirit ignited a revolution as she developed platforms that united individuals from the GCC countries and North Africa, fostering discussions on cutting-edge technical infrastructure and energy topics.

Throughout her career, Rana was deeply committed to promoting diversity in industries traditionally dominated by men, such as energy, AI, and STEM. Her groundbreaking research shed light on the stark gender disparities in these fields, prompting her to create the @Global Women Forum. This transformative platform empowers women by facilitating cultural exchange and fostering business connections between women from Europe and the MENA region. Rana's unwavering dedication also extends to the future, as she envisions pioneering initiatives and mentoring exchange programs that will continue to break down barriers and empower women in diverse industries.

Nimi Mehta is the most exciting media personality in the UAE. Born and raised in London; at the age of 23, she became the Face and Host of MTV UK. Nimi moved to the UAE 7 years ago and went on to host the #1 Radio Breakfast Show in the country at Channel 4 Dubai. She became a household name, broadcasting live across the Nation every morning & was named the ‘Top Radio Star’ by Filmfare Magazine. Since then, Nimi has found her way back to TV; where she is now the host of ‘DXB Today’ a daily show on Dubai One TV, broadcasting LIVE on weekdays 8.30pm GST. When she’s not on TV, she’s hosting some of the biggest stages in the UAE & Internationally as an MC & Moderator. An entrepreneur by blood; Nimi is now a Public Speaking Mentor, having launched an OnIine Masterclass & Community; ‘SPKR by Nimi Mehta’. SPKR has amassed a community of hundreds of women who are yearning for a transformation, and ready to take the next step towards their most confident self.

Eman is currently serving as the Vice President of Network and Cyber Security at Expo City Dubai, where she leads five essential verticals: Network Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Physical Security Technology, Integrated Operations, and Technology Acceleration. Eman stands out for the ability to combine business acumen with tech expertise. It's more than just showcasing advanced tech; it's about ensuring these innovations have a meaningful impact on our daily lives. With commercialization and sustainability at the forefront of her considerations.

Eman was previously Vice President of Cyber Security and Resilience at Expo 2020 Dubai, she was responsible for defining and implementing the most advanced cyber-security strategy ever seen at a World Expo. In addition, Eman is Expo City Dubai spokesperson in local and international media outlets.

With over 15 years of experience in the technology industry, Eman is a strategic leader who has a strong track record of driving growth, improving operations, and delivering results.

She was awarded the Prime Minister Medal by the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme for the category of distinguished employee during her career at the TRA.

Kristine is a go-getter and passionate creative and marketing executive with over 18 years’ experience in MENA delivering powerful strategies in the brand creative space through compelling stories and campaigns that convert.

Kristine has delivered emotionally resonant creative—stories and numbers that demonstrate traction and growth. She has helped transform business operations by advocating the importance of a living brand and its narrative--using research and data to distill robust strategies, leveraging technology and GenAI, iand moonshot thinking in her craft. She brings this work to life through branded content creation and production, events management and across several channels--from TV, print, digital and social, and all the pivotal avenues where they matter.

Her team’s work for Riyadh Season and Qiddiya has won 3 Grand Prix at the recently held Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity.

She is currently based in Dubai and is also the Inclusion and Diversity Lead and Corporate Citizenship Chair for Accenture Middle East.

With more than 20 years of experience, Rania is one a prominent player in the regional brand building landscape, having worked with a variety of brands to reshape the way they connect with regional and global audiences. In her role at IMI, she oversees the marketing, communications, and creative functions, merging progressive strategy with world-class execution that focuses on strengthening brand presence and expanding reach across the region and beyond to bring audiences news, entertainment, and lifestyle programming.

Prior to joining IMI, Rania was a leader in the retail industry. Merging an affinity for forward-thinking consumer experiences with a passion for curating outstanding teams, Rania reached the top of the retail corporate ladder at 40, taking on the role of Chief Transformation Officer within the Middle East’s largest luxury retail group. Her innovative, experience-led accomplishments, which include the establishment of homegrown luxury concept store Level Shoes and the transformation of the Chalhoub Group at the helm of the COVID-19 pandemic, have played a vital role in directing the evolution of the region’s dynamic retail landscape.

An advocate for the pursuit of fulfillment over traditional success, Rania uses her platforms to present a well-rounded approach to the facets of daily life. Collaborating with experts from around the world, Rania addresses pressing topics across the spheres of career development, innovation and industry transformation alongside wellbeing, motherhood, and spirituality to spur honest conversations that can support the empowerment of women in the Middle East, and beyond. An ICF certified Executive Coach,Rania leverages her passion for developing talent through personalized coaching frameworks which elevate the potential of individuals and organizations.

Suzi Fadel Nassif is a contemporary artist born in Lebanon but has been based in Dubai for over 20 years. Journeying into groundbreaking abstract impressionism and surrealism, Suzi gains inspiration from the interconnectedness of people on different walks of life, cultural diversity, mysteries of existence and semblance of emotions.

Suzi has a vivid imagination, an excellent memory, and a unique sensitivity when it comes to a variety of topics. She stores images, emotions, facial expressions, words, and poems in an organized, mental catalogue. With every painting, she tells a different story, sometimes from her imagination, other times from a present reality or surreality! With every portrait, she portrays a situation, a mood or how she imagined it to be. It is important to Suzi to breathe life into her paintings, to scream the silence of the viewer so they can relate to her art in a certain way.

In her latest “Distorted Reality” series, she challenged herself and the viewer to see where we have misattributed evil or misperceived someone as evil because the elements of your light are different than theirs. The challenge is to understand the distortion of your light and the reality in someone else’s light.

She founded Women Choice, an international organization that offers networking opportunities and training to high-level female professionals with the aim of addressing the gender gap in the private sector, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Launched in 2018 in New York, the company has since expanded into the Middle East.

Previously, Nezha established the award-winning Mayshad Foundation, an international NGO that develops social impact projects for women and youth in underprivileged communities. She also set up Mayshad Group, a consultancy firm for corporate and institutional clients in African, Middle Eastern, and US markets.

Nezha started her career leading a mission for the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP) across five countries. She is the author of Be A Leader: Be Who You Want to Be and Moroccan Sahara: Land of Inspiration. In addition, she co-authored Women: Secrets of Moroccan Sahara with Emmanuel Dierkx de Casterlé.

Mauritian entrepreneur Ambareen Musa launched her very first business venture in Australia at the young age of 21. Moving to London in 2004 to work for GE Money, she has since held various roles across marketing, financial literacy, customer advocacy and e-commerce. Wanting to be closer to home and needing a change in scenery, she moved to Dubai in 2008. She went on to found Souqalmal, a hugely influential platform regularly featured on lists of the leading SMEs in the country. Ambareen has been named one of the Top 50 most influential women in the Arab World by Arabian Business as well as the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by The Entrepreneur magazine. Moreover, she has been a member of the UAE National Debt Panel and the UN Task Force on Digital Financing for the SDGs.

Stéphanie Bretonniere, a Futurist and Impact Technology Catalyst, is the Founder & CEO of WE IMPACT.WORLD, the first-of-its-kind global Community-led Impact Intelligence Ecosystem, and Tech Innovation Lab powered by ArtificiaI, Collective, and Strategic Intelligences, building bridges between Emerging Economies, and the Western World.

Stéphanie is a member of the World Economic Forum expert network, 100 DAVOS WOMEN, and was invited to join France 2030, the national transformative initiative led by the French Prime Minister. She also contributes to the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, and sits on various boards.

She was recently honored as a 2023 FORBES 40 WOMAN, 2023 TOP 100 INNOVATOR, and 2022 TOP 100 WOMEN OF THE FUTURE.

Stéphanie is a B Corp Leader and was also nominated as a Senator for the UAE at the WBAF - World Business Angels Investment Forum, an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), collaborating globally to empower the economic development of the world.

She is currently pursuing an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration at École des Ponts ParisTech, focusing on the emerging economies' newfound power in the era of Climate Mitigation and Artificial Intelligence, and its business implications for Western Corporations, and the Global Economy.

Zachia is a driven HR professional with over over five years of experience in the human capital management. Her expertise lies in HR strategies, coaching, and training individuals.
She embarked on her career in Rwanda, exploring various sectors to discover her true passion. Throughout her journey, she navigated into hospitality operations, digital content creation, and training management roles, all of which highlighted her love and abilities to take care of people.
Transitioning her career to the UAE where she had to start from scratch and accept to learn the basics, this experience has made her a firm believer in the power of achieving whatever it is you set your mind on.

Zachia has worked with prestigious companies like Elite Plus,Radisson Blu, Hilton hotels, Marriott and Hyatt hotels where she has hugely contributed to enhancing the employee engagement, performance, and retention.

She finds joy in imparting her knowledge to others, and takes great pleasure in witnessing people's career transformations and successes.

Mary Gukasyan, is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) market. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a well-balanced approach, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence. Mary is currently serving as the Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Kraft Heinz.

Her comprehensive experience spans various aspects of business management, including developing and aligning strategic plans, managing crisis situations, implementing organizational and route-to-market structures, launching new products, and optimizing resource utilization. Mary is adept at motivating and developing teams, as well as negotiating with major customers and partners at the highest levels.
In her capacity as General Manager for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region at Kraft Heinz, Mary achieved record-breaking results in net sales value and spearheaded structural changes for the MEA zone. She focused on key priorities and successfully opened offices in strategic locations, leading to certifications for Great Place To Work in Egypt and Dubai. Mary is also focused on professional equality through empowering women, people with disabilities and youth. She is actively involved in executing Kraft Heinz ESG agenda in the region and has been an instrumental change agent in that regard.

Before joining Kraft Heinz, Mary held the position of General Manager for Russia & CIS at Kraft Heinz, where she drove significant sales and profitability growth over three years. She merged business units, developed innovative product launch plans, and fostered employee engagement, earning recognition for her leadership in the region.

Earlier in her career, Mary held various leadership roles at Danone, Sun InBev, Nestle, and ALGRO, where she gained extensive experience in sales, business development, and strategic management.
Mary holds a degree in Foreign Languages from Kuban State University, with additional education in Marketing from Kellogg University and Executive Management from INSEAD. She continues to be recognized for her leadership and achievements in the CPG industry.

Sabinije von Gaffke is a versatile, multifaceted, passionate and awarded communications catalyst, entrepreneur, leader who is tirelessly championing humanity, women, tech and sustainability across sectors, industries, arenas and summits.

As a global moderator and speaker with a grit, mission and purpose to bridge dialogue and silos, leverage knowledge, convey know-how across industries and facilitate global conversations that matter, Sabinije is sought after on stages around the world.

Sabinije is founder of Impactfulness Ventures that caters to her global assignments and also consists of a global collective intelligence and collaborations by partnering, collaborating, board assignments and investments in longevity, sustainability & impact-driven ventures, initiatives, innovations and projects around the world.

She is also a driven entrepreneur in the web3 and AI space with the mission of scaling sustainability and ethical frameworks.

Two main projects are as Co-creator of https://www.earthwise.global/ and web3 game to be launched: Elowyn – Quest of Time and as Head of Sustainability at Nibiru Studios hosting one the largest NFT and P2E games.

Sabinije is a maestro, conduit and facilitator that educates, empowers, elevates and enlightens companies, industries, communities and humanity to create impact through storytelling, ignite purpose and spark inspired action and unification.

It’s TIME - For conversations that matter! This is also the name of Sabinije’s upcoming global talk show.

Ghizlan Guenez, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, made waves in the fashion industry with her groundbreaking startup, The Modist. Recognized by prestigious publications like The Financial Times and Vogue US, The Modist redefined luxury fashion by introducing the "modesty" genre. Her entrepreneurial journey continued with the launch of FForce, a Personal Development platform empowering women and female founders in entrepreneurship and self-improvement. Ghizlan's mission-driven approach has fostered a vibrant community of ambitious women seeking personal and professional growth.

Beyond her ventures, Ghizlan co-founded Queen Mode, a digital fashion house and NFT collection, and co-created SAWA, an initiative supporting SMEs and young entrepreneurs. With 15 years of experience in Private Equity and a First-class degree from the London School of Economics, Ghizlan's influence extends globally. Recognized as one of the 500 individuals shaping the fashion industry by The Business of Fashion, Ghizlan continues to champion diversity, innovation, and female empowerment.

Currently, Kinda Ibrahim overseas TikTok's operations across the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, Central and South Asia. Under her direction, Kinda is responsible for setting TikTok's content strategy in the METAP, central and South Asia markets, to maintain TikTok's diverse community of users, creators, and content partnerships in order to provide the most pertinent, original, and enjoyable experience for our regional TikTok community. She is also responsible for building and developing teams that will manage and nurture these communities. Additionally, she also partners with the business teams on strategic growth initiatives and works directly with business and cross-functional teams to expand TikTok's footprint in these areas.

Kinda has over 17 years of international experience in digital media, content and marketing acquired in both the Middle East and North America. Before TikTok, Kinda was the Director of Media Partnerships for Twitter Middle East, Turkey and Africa. She led the team responsible for accelerating Twitter’s push for content partnerships across the news, politics, sports, TV, and entertainment verticals. Prior to Twitter, she worked at Microsoft where she was the Editor-in-Chief responsible for English MSN Arabia. She has also held numerous leadership positions in several multinational companies such as leading the media operations division at Yahoo Maktoob. Previously, she played an instrumental role in shaping the digital and data strategy at companies such as EMAP Middle East, the Yellow Pages group and the National Bank of Canada. Kinda holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University in Canada and a BSc in computer science from the American University of Beirut.

Mahdis is the Co-Founder and CEO of the global career and HR plattform the female factor, active in over 75 countries. Before starting the female factor, Mahdis served as one of the youngest and only female general managers of an international airline in Austria and Germany and led cross-border projects and teams in the Middle East, Europe and the US. She co-founded her first business at age 23 and also served in leadership roles at non-profit organisations such as the World Affairs Council, AustrianStartups and Female Founders.

Mahdis is a passionate diversity advocate and her TEDxtalk around female leadership in business has been watched over 40.000 times.

Iris has navigated an exciting career path in the tech industry, moving from Rocket Internet Berlin, to being one of the first hires at Pinterest. The past 4 years Iris was at Google Ads and Google Cloud supporting clients in their journey of innovative growth and cloud development. Now, as a Partnership Manager for Key Accounts in the Apps Industry at TikTok, Iris is positioned at the intersection of a rapidly evolving sector. Her role involves building and nurturing relationships with key partners, identifying strategic opportunities for collaboration, and driving mutual growth.

With experiences across four countries and degrees from Lauder Business School, Vienna and ECSP, Paris, Iris brings a global perspective and academic grounding to her work. Her focus on advertising, partnership management, and the Apps Industry reflects her drive for growth and innovation. Now in Dubai, she's eager to immerse herself in the region while sharing her insights and continuous learning crucial for success in tech.

Monica has held the position of Human Resources Director for the Africa and Middle East region since September 2020.

Monica began her career at General Motors in 1999 and since then has held different positions in Human Resources at the Manufacturing Complex in Toluca Mexico, the Regional Engineering Center, After Sales and Customer Service Area, as well as at the Central Offices located in Mexico City.

She has held different positions among Human Resources organization the ones to highlight are the related to Labor Relations, Creation of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategies stand out, as well as start-up of manufacturing plants and analysis of efficiency in organizational structures.

She has international experience being assigned to special projects in Seoul, South Korea, as well as her current responsibility in the Middle East.

Her areas of expertise include Talent Acquisition, Planning, Labor Relations, Compensation, Efficiency of Organizational Structures, Diversity and Inclusion, Data Analysis, and Talent Development. All this in a global context and high cooperation between subsidiaries.

With a career spanning over two decades, Iphigenia is a pioneering leader, disrupting corporate norms and driving transformative change. As a transformation strategist, she challenges the status quo, fostering innovation and agility in organizations across various sectors.

Her expertise in digitization, change management, and corporate culture has redefined the corporate landscape, propelling organizations to unprecedented success.

Fluent in four languages, she effortlessly navigates diverse cultures, fostering collaboration and sustainable growth.

Her relentless pursuit of excellence extends beyond the boardroom, as she advocates for diabetes awareness and engages in philanthropic endeavors with organizations like International Diabetes Association and Rotary.

Iphigenia's journey embodies resilience, innovation, and a commitment to empowering others, inspiring women worldwide to embrace change and lead with purpose.

Iphigenia holds a MBA from renowned London Business School.

Svetlana Bondarchuk, a multifaceted Russian figure, began her modeling career in the early 1990s. Expanding her professional scope, she contributed to movie production as a costume designer and producer, hosted TV fashion shows, and performed in films. For 15 years, she led Hello! magazine's Russian edition during its peak. Svetlana then launched her own magazine, Icons, and a beauty salon chain, BURO Beauty, with locations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Dubai. In 2018, she opened a yoga and Pilates studio, FunnyStudio. Additionally, she runs a YouTube channel and co-founded ACTION!, a cultural and charitable foundation organizing annual fundraising events since 2011.

Hannah is a driven innovation professional with over 7 years of experience in Financial Services and venture building. She began her career as an early employee of a London-based startup Fintech bank, contributing to product, operations, and processes. Transitioning to Lead Product Manager at Mastercard, she refined her skills.

Since relocating to the UAE in 2022, she has excelled in venture building across numerous industries such as Fintech, Sustainability, and FMCG, guiding products from ideation to scaling.

Hannah's inspiring journey is a testament to her boundless creativity, relentless drive, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world of innovation.

Olga Leffers is a distinguished entrepreneur, designer, and curator revered for her profound expertise in vintage fashion and conscientious consumerism. As the esteemed founder of VintageDream, she oversees a prestigious gallery boasting over ten thousand unique vintage pieces sourced from iconic fashion houses, a testament to her discerning eye for timeless elegance.

In October 2022, Olga introduced her eponymous fashion brand, LEFFERS, a symbol of bohemian chic and refined elegance with contemporary flair. Each meticulously crafted piece in the LEFFERS collection reflects Olga's unwavering commitment to individuality, characterized by intricate hand embroidery and vibrant hues that imbue the designs with an exquisite sense of artistry and craftsmanship.

Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, Olga is an accomplished art historian, contemporary art collector, columnist, and fashion historian. Her holistic approach to fashion and design, coupled with her steadfast dedication to sustainability, positions her as a pioneering force in the fashion industry. Through VintageDream and LEFFERS, Olga continues to inspire others to embrace the allure of vintage fashion while advocating for mindful consumption and empowering individual expression.

Elena Antonova is the founder, CEO and visionary of BURO ALL DESIGN, a multidisciplinary architecture and lifestyle design company specializing in full-cycle development projects of ultra high end living and public spaces. With great attention to details and professional expertise spanning across 30 years of experience, Elena has successfully developed architecture and interior design projects across Russia, France, Switzerland and the United States. Her portfolio includes over 15 large-scale international projects, showcasing her skillset in detailed BIM modeling, knowledge of international real estate laws and collaboration with elite global для manufacturers.

BURO ALL DESIGN advocates for the Art de Vivre philosophy, a holistic lifestyle enriched by the beauty of every moment, where house and all the surrounding objects must have not only a functional but also an aesthetically enriching dimension. Besides architectural and interior design firm, BURO ALL DESIGN further enriches its offerings through a specially curated showroom that features exquisite textiles and home accessories by the renowned brands and brings together the community of design enthusiasts through a series of organized special events closely linked to arts and culture.

In addition, BURO ALL DESIGN is one of the few companies on the market that leads the trend of digital technologies, offering digital art integration into public and residential spaces with full technological and architectural-design support, ensuring smooth project completion.

Twin sisters Shabnam & Shaghayegh Safarzadeh are trailblazing first-generation entrepreneurs, known for their unwavering determination and innovative spirit. At just five years old, they embarked on a journey from Iran to America with their single mother, driven by the pursuit of better opportunities.

Their entrepreneurial journey began as a reflection of their personal values and passions. With a deep-rooted commitment to innovation and a desire to build meaningful solutions for their communities, they co-founded Advanced eClinical (ACT). This groundbreaking platform revolutionizes healthcare education and training, empowering students to realize their professional aspirations in the healthcare sector. Recognizing the challenges faced by students in securing vital clinical experience, they also launched Externi, a clinical placement software aimed at simplifying the process for healthcare organizations.

In addition to their ventures in healthcare, Shab & Shay have made waves in the world of fashion with Safar, a luxury fashion line celebrated for its exquisite blazers. Their keen eye for style and penchant for innovation extend beyond the realm of healthcare, showcasing their multifaceted talents.

Driven by their personal mission to inspire others to unlock their full potential through self-love and belief, the Safarzadeh sisters are on a quest to leave a lasting legacy. Their vision extends to the Middle East and Africa region, where they aspire to expand their impact and continue fostering innovation.

As they embark on their journey to the UAE, reconnecting with their Middle Eastern roots, Shabnam & Shaghayegh Safarzadeh are poised to make a profound difference. Their ambition knows no bounds as they strive to shape a brighter future for healthcare education and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on industries and communities worldwide.

Amen is a passionate advocate of financial planning and delivering great customer experiences. He has spent over 20 years crafting wealth management, debt restructuring, and budgeting solutions for clients through organizations like HSBC and TD Bank. Having spent nearly 13 of those years in the UAE, Amen has an intimate understanding of the financial challenges and opportunities that many individuals have within the region. At Sarwa he leads a team of Advisors to deliver great advice to help clients achieve their financial goals. Amen also has an entrepreneurial spirit, he is an alumnus of Ryerson University having graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing studies and has worked closely with startups in the region.

Loubna Imenchal's remarkable career, underscored by her dedication to empowerment and positive change, made her a multi-awarded leader in the Tech industry.

Loubna's career is distinguished not just by her corporate achievements covering Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, but also by her influential role as an advocate for women in technology. As a celebrated thought leader, she regularly graces prestigious platforms like Gitex, where she vocally champions diversity and inclusion, making her voice a leader for change in the tech landscape.

Loubna Imenchal, the Head of Enterprise Business for Logitech across Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia, stands out as a formidable leader with over two decades of seasoned experience in high-stakes environments.

Maysoun is a Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Partner at Roche. She plays a pivotal role in creating and driving Global Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) strategies & capabilities both internally/externally for Roche across the enterprise. In her capacity, she brings expertise and thought leadership on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a significant focus on their impact on patients and society. While based in Dubai, UAE, Maysoun has been with Roche for over 18 years.

She holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from the University of Jordan and is certified in Diversity
and Inclusion, Women in Leadership, Leadership Profile, and Arabic editing and TV presenting.

Maysoun has been highlighted as one of the most inspiring women in business by
Women in Business Arabia & trailblazing woman at Roche as she champions women
empowerment, workplace gender equality, and STEAM education amongst young
female Arabs and passionately supports people of determination.

Outside Roche, Maysoun was a founding member of the GCC chapter and a Board
member of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa Chapter of the IABC International
Association of Business Communicators in 2018.

She earned recognition as one of the Innovator 25 in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by The Holmes Report. Maysoun will launch her Podcast, “ A City Witnessed” in May 2024 where she combines her passion and hobby to reflect on how cities can enable the dreams of successful people and catalyse a platform to learn from their stories!

Paris Norriss is a TV personality and adventurer based in Dubai, driven by an unyielding curiosity and thirst for exploration. Raised in the lush woods of England, his childhood playground nurtured his passion for adventure and physical prowess, leading him to excel as a young athlete.

Upon graduating in Scotland, Paris swiftly made his mark in Dubai's business scene but soon realized that monetary success alone was not fulfilling. Combining his entrepreneurial acumen with his adventurous spirit, he launched the TV show 'Guy in Dubai', now streaming on major platforms globally, and 'Guy in The Sky', showcasing awe-inspiring adventures across the globe.

Beyond entertainment, Paris is committed to environmental conservation, inspired by his upbringing in nature. In 2023 he rowed 4,800km across the Pacific Ocean on a 39 day challenge and raised £150,000 for The Blue Marine Foundation, highlighting his dedication to protecting marine ecosystems. Through his adventures and productions, Paris inspires audiences to embrace challenges, unlock their potential, and craft extraordinary lives.

Samsana is the Head of Communications for Airbus Africa Middle East, she oversees all aspects of Airbus communications, including business unit communications, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, leadership communications, employee engagement and corporate branding. With over 15 years of experience in strategic communication of which Samsana spent nearly ten years in the aerospace industry. Samsana has cultivated a deep seated passion and knowledge of the aerospace industry having written many thought leadership pieces on the socio-economic benefit of the industry. Before Joining Airbus, Samsana served as a communications manager at Siemens focusing on media and stakeholder engagement as well as CSR campaigns. Born in Somalia, brought up in Germany and France, Samsana speaks four languages and holds a university degree in Mass Communications as well as CI Diploma in Public Affairs.

Ida Galich, with a following of 7 million on Instagram, is one of the platform's most popular bloggers. Renowned for her humorous vines about women and their relationships with men, Ida's content has captivated hearts worldwide. Born and raised in Russia, she initially gained prominence as a television presenter, quickly distinguishing herself with her charismatic hosting skills.

Transitioning from the screen to social media stardom, Ida has continued to enchant audiences with her dynamic presence and infectious humor. Over the years, she has also ventured into acting, appearing in various TV shows and receiving praise for her versatile performances. More than just a traditional media figure, Ida excels on social media, where her ability to connect with fans through relatable and engaging content truly shines.

Flo Akinbiyi is a versatile presenter, dynamic keynote speaker, and dedicated communication coach based in Dubai since 2010, with roots in Germany and Nigeria. Flo’s career has involved collaborations with over 200 of the world’s most successful brands and delivering numerous impactful events both on and off the stage. He has also provided guidance to more than 2500 professionals, enhancing their communication skills.

He has shared the stage with celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Sharma, Michael J. Fox, and Michelle Obama. Flo is adept at adapting on-stage skills to create memorable events.

Flo has been on stage for brands such as BMW, UPS, Abu Dhabi Global Markets, Bits & Pretzels, HUB71, Toyota, Boehringer Ingelheim, DP World, Alibaba Cloud, and many others. Flo regularly travels to host events and digital formats from the Middle East to Europe, from Africa to America.

As a presenter, Flo enjoys every moment of entrancing an audience. This joyful and positive spirit is evident when he presents, maintaining the event’s momentum and keeping the audience thoroughly engaged.