IAEE – MENA Chapter Chairperson and CEO
1st Arabia Trade Shows & Conferences

Founder and CEO of 1st Arabia Exhibitions and Conferences Organizers and a consultant for the MICE Industry, based in Saudi Arabia, and have other branches in Jordan, Dubai, and Bulgaria. Specialized in Meetings – Incentives – Conferences – Exhibitions & Event Management. The advisor & consultant for the Saudi national program, and a past managing director of the Saudi Events Management Academy – Conference & Exhibitions. He has venue management experience, his highly developed communication skills and talents for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask, he has single handily managed the most important projects regionally and internationally. His Company stands among the top in the list of MICE companies in KSA. He is the Chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Chapter of the International Organization of Exhibition and Events (IAEE), and a member of the following international associations: Ufi, ICCA, MPI, and PCMA.

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.

Head of AV Accoustics / Partner
Salt – TS

Gerasimos Efthymiatos is partner and head of AV for SALT-TS Dubai, as well as the owner of T&A in Greece and Cyprus. His professional interests include the combined Audio/ Acoustics designs, as well as special Audiovisual projects and his experience spans over 25 years. He is dual AVIXA CTS certified and Member of U.K. Institute of Acoustics.

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.

Chief Event Delivery Officer
Futurous

Lisa is a Subject Matter Expert in the world of event and project management with now 27 years global experience from all sides of the industry from being Head of Events for a Global Sports Brand, to setting up and running her own turnkey solution Event Agency and for the last 7 years being a Strategic Consultant assisting organisations (Government, Corporate, Sporting and Agencies) to design, develop and implement Event Strategies, Event Calendars and Annual Plans to achieve organisation objectives. Structure and build teams to deliver events, as well as design and implement event functions, standard operating processes and procedures to ISO 9001 quality standards and technology systems to streamline SOPs and Project Management.

Group Chief Operating Officer
All Entertainment Group

Mark Satchell is Group Chief Operating Officer of All Entertainment Group (AEG) and is an accomplished Senior Executive with a demonstrable record of achievement in the theatrical, events, festival and venue management sectors.
Previous to working within AEG, Mark was Chief Executive Officer of Squares Event and regional General Manager of Live Nation Middle East, predominantly focusing on venue development and venue management within the Middle East.

After working in London’s West End Theatres for many years, Mark had the opportunity to come to the middle east to join a creative team as Operations and Programs Director for the iThra Knowledge program for Saudi Aramco.

Now in his seventh year working in the Middle East, Mark’s mission is to ensure AEG plays a significant part in the growth and success story of Saudi Arabia, and its ambitious vision 2030. In particular transferring knowledge to a new generation of young and talented Saudi Nationals. Building a bright and sustainable future within the entertainment and events industry.

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.

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.

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.

CEO
Landmark Leisure

Landmark Leisure since 2010. Since then, Silvio has transformed the Leisure Division into one of the fastest growing and most respected indoor leisure and entertainment businesses across India and the MENA Region. Under his leadership and vision, the company offers a wide range of entertainment and play centric options to its guests at its various concepts of entertainment for young and old in indoor venues, Fun City – which is the flagship brand of the division, Fun Ville, Fun Block, Fun Works, Tridom and Jumble, unique entertainment concepts which cater to more than 50 million loyal customers every year across its 93 venues in MENA Region and India!

With his vast background of leading world class customer centric hospitality businesses, whether for MAF here in the GCC or Legoland and Bourne Leisure in the UK: Silvio is strongly equipped to continue Landmark Leisure’s evolution and growth going forward. As founding member and VICE president of MENALAC (Middle East and North Africa Leisure and Attractions Council) Silvio also serves his industry in a voluntary capacity for the benefit of its businesses and its customers. As Chairman of the events committee Silvio also holds significant experience in dealing and collaborating in organizing major events.

Director, Corporate Events CEMEA
VISA

Sophie has 15 years’ experience creating and delivering high profile events and sponsorships across the globe. Currently, Head of Events CEMEA at Visa and most recently at Nomura in London, Sophie has a diverse range of expertise, developed both agency side and in-house, for clients such as Unilever, Diageo, ExxonMobil, LVMH and Formula One. Prior to moving to Dubai, Sophie was chair of the Strategic Events Network in London, a networking group for senior event professionals in the banking, professional services and legal industries.

Founder and Managing Director
Goumbook

Tatiana moved to the UAE in 2005. Having studied Architecture and Urban Planning in Italy, she felt she was at the right place at the right time in order to support sustainable development and help raise awareness among the local community: curb pollution, conserve natural resources and reduce the impact on the environment.

Her passion for Sustainability led her to found Goumbook in 2009, creating the first ‘green’ information resource and ‘eco’ directory for the MENA Region. Her commitment to the Environment blossomed into a sense of duty towards the community and today she sits on the Engage Committee, under Dubai Chamber of Commerce’s umbrella and acts as an advisor to events such as Art Dubai or the Emirates Literature Festival to help them be more sustainable. Since 2012 she has been proud to be a judge of the Gulf Capital SME Awards for the ‘Most Sustainable Business of the Year’.