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Brad Hariharan
Regional Director
Expotrade Global
Bruno Marx
CEO
EventKnowHow
Bruno set up Eventknowhow eight years ago in Dubai. Ever since, he has been taking care of event safety in the Middle East region. Authorities and Event Managers turn to Bruno for event safety advice at major events, such as Mother of the Nation Festival, Formula E, and Special Olympics.
He is passionate about raising the standards of event health and safety in the GCC and beyond, and is an active member of the worldwide Event Safety Alliance® (ESA), creating the first ever internationally accepted Event Safety Standard.
Daniel During
Managing Director
Thomas Klein International
The founder and Principal Managing director of TKI, Daniel G. During was born in Argentina, moved to Europe as a teenager and obtained his Hotel Bachelor’s degree in France in 1986.
Holger Walter
CEO / Managing Director
MEEN the Middle East Event Network
Holger started his career in 1990 as a professional Laserist with his own company in Germany. He created hundreds of international multimedia shows and installations all over the planet. Since 2015 Holger Walter is the founder and CEO of MEEN The Middle East Event Network in the UAE that represents several leading event companies from Europe in the region. MEEN´s focus is on permanent and rental based visual experiences using projection mapping, Lasers and fountains. As well Holger is the Event Technology Director of T|H|E Technology, partner of HiLights Group, in Dubai.
John Jossifakis
Project Director – Formula E ADR ePrix 2019
Stamina Productions LLC
John Jossifakis MSc, PMP, CSEP, has over 20 years of experience in large scale event management, production management, festival and event operations.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Events Management from Leeds Beckett University and a Diploma from the Harvard Business School in the Business of Entertainment, Music and Sports. He is a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) and also acts as an CSEP external examiner. John has been an active member of ILEA Middle East since 2012, previously held the role of VP of Education, and was part of the global CSEP steering committee at ILEA in the USA. He has also been a guest lecturer at Leeds Becket University and Edinburgh Napier University.
Kevin Brown
Director, Planning & Management, Programming
Expo 2020
Kevin Brown has over 25 years’ experience in Senior Management positions whilst delivering major events around the world.
Previously he worked as Head of Local and International Events for Birmingham City Council, UK for six years and thereafter Director of the Iconic Spectaculars Project at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
He has worked in the UAE for the last 6 years on both agency side and for Governmental bodies. Notably leading Dubai Fitness Challenge in its first two editions for DTCM and now as Director of Planning and Management for Programming at Expo 2020.
Matthias Maurer
Managing Director
Global Sunshine Production
Matthias has led an impressive career as a Production and Broadcast Specialist in his more than 25 years in the industry.
He has extensive experience of large-scale events and high-profile projects, installing and leading cross-functional teams with the right players and qualification in order to achieve success for each project. Solution-orientated with excellent communication skills and a drive for perfection. Proactive and willing to work hard to achieve the goals – either as part of the team or on an individual basis.
Maxine English
Partner
Park Lane Live
Maxine English, Partner of Park Lane Live who has dedicated over twenty years of her career ensuring that the UAE is firmly established in the global arena of showcasing local and international talent. Maxine’s experience in entertainment and theatre management is unparalleled in the region, with a unique and diverse skill set featuring everything from government events and theatrical production to “Triple A “artists rock and pop showcase concerts.
Maxine’s experience in Events, Communications, Entertainment and Theatre management is unparalleled in the region, with over 20+ industry awards to her name. Exceptional leadership skills and a track record of success. Maxine has worked in the region for over 20 years now, and has been responsible not only for some of the key events across the Emirates but the constant development of the industry. Leading her to be awarded a Golden Visa in recognition of her commitment to the UAE and its Arts, Culture and Events industry. The visa is in recognition of English’s over 20 years of dedicated career in organising big-ticket entertainment and art events, ranging from Flash Entertainment to Theatre by QE2, a brand that she conceptualized and brought to life.
Maxine now heads up Park Lane Live, her own Events, Communications, Content & Talent agency, delivering concepts, creative, event and production management and talent across the region.
Mike Smith
Director
Grown-Up Solutions
In the region since 2008, Mike has worked in full-time roles for Action Impact, Blink Experience and Showforce in various production and management roles, winning a couple of Middle East Event Awards along the way. A few years ago, he set up Grown-Up Solutions and now helps his clients to work smarter, better and more profitably. Most recently, Mike became a partner in Global Infusion Group’s regional office, bringing world-class event, crew and artist catering services to the Middle East.
Naji El Haddad
Regional Manager, MEA
UFI
Over his 14 years career, Naji has built a very strong industry knowledge in the exhibitions, summits and sustainability industries leading one of the largest sustainability summit & expo in the MENA region.
Part of his role, Naji has curated a number of strategic partnerships with private and public sector organizations including World Bank, European Commission, UNDP, UNIDO, Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry in Japan (METI), Ministry of Energy in India, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), World Energy Congress, Total, Standard Chartered Bank, among many others.
Naji currently takes on the role of Regional Manager for UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, in the Middle East & Africa region – in addition to being an independent event consultant.
Naji holds a Master Degree in International Business from Geneva Business School – Abu Dhabi Campus.
Ray Tinston
Executive Director
The Experience Middle East
Ray has over 18 years international experience as an organiser of events ranging from leading B2B exhibitions to conferences and B2C activations. His strategic consultancy offers: venue management, strategy development and implementation, sales, marketing and operations for associations, organisers, tourism departments and venue owners.
Shenin Hamid
Founder and CEO
Inspire Group
Stefan Wieland
Senior Consultant Director
SQRD. Consultancy LLC
Stefan Wieland has been in the Event Industry for 25years – started originally as an event technician in Europe, he switched into event production before the Millennium and has ever since worked on regional & international large scale events when moving into the UAE in the year 2000.
Since a few years stefan heads up a specialised consultancy supporting the international events & AV industry, he is engaged in knowledge transfer, legacy setting and advisory to governmental, educational and private organisation.
As a keen networker, he is participating as a speaker and judge at several international exhibitions and award programs.
Wendy Peach
Head of Online and Events
The Source Online – Source Magazine
Wilbert Heijmans
Managing Director
Info Salons Group
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