speaker

H.H. Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud

Founder

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Global Culture House

H.H. Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud founded Global Culture House in 2022 as a Saudi boutique consultancy providing advisory and implementation services related to culture, creativity, and sustainable business. Global Culture House signifies Her Highness’s return to private sector after successfully establishing the Fashion Commission at the Ministry of Culture. Princess Noura joined the Ministry of Culture in June 2019 where she led Strategy Development for the fashion sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, building local and international partnerships with fashion institutions and nurturing Saudi fashion talent. She was part of the team that developed the Commission’s flagship outreach projects, including the Fashion Futures annual conference and digital platform, as well as mentorship program Saudi 100 Brands. Through her appointment as the Commission’s Ecosystem Integration & Program Delivery General Manager, Princess Noura oversaw the implementation of the strategy’s initiatives ensuring their delivery at standards of excellence with measurable impact. Princess Noura’s entrepreneurial career commenced in 2009 in the United States, and in 2015 she co-founded her first business, focused on talent and lifestyle, before launching Global Fashion House, a fashion consultancy based in Riyadh. It was with this company that in April 2018 Princess Noura organized the Saudi Kingdom’s first ever Fashion Week, bringing together international and local stakeholders and designers for knowledge-sharing, shows and collaborative opportunities. These efforts led to her being recognized as an expert and pioneer in the Kingdom’s fashion industry, frequently called upon by both public and private sector for advisory consulting. She graduated from Effat University in Jeddah with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing, and a master’s degree in International Business with a Japanese Perspective from Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan. She was an associate member of the “Saudi Fast Growth 100” program, launched by All World Network, an entrepreneurship organization, in collaboration with the General Investment Authority (SAGIA). Princess Noura speaks Arabic, English, French and Japanese, and is now learning Spanish.

speaker

H.H. Princess Loulwa Bint Yazeed Al Saud

Founder

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Plus966 and RiseUp Saudi

H.H. Princess Loulwa Bint Yazeed Al Saud founded fashion boutique consultancy +966 last year, which celebrates Saudi culture and heritage through clothing and accessories, including handbags, homeware, and phone covers. The company is named +966 after the country code for Saudi Arabia. Princess Loulwa also champions the kingdom’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in her role as the CEO of RiseUp Saudi. Riyadh hosted MENA’s biggest entrepreneurship summit for the first time in November 2022, reaching 10,000 participants and over 150 startups.

speaker

Shaista Asif

Group Chief Operating Officer

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Pure Health

Shaista Asif is the Group Chief Operating Officer at Pure Health, the largest integrated healthcare company in the UAE. Overseeing the Group’s diversified portfolio, including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, health insurance, healthcare procurement, and health tech solutions, Shaista is at the forefront in changing the way healthcare is delivered in the country. She has spearheaded the largest number of healthcare acquisitions in the UAE over the last three years, making Pure Health the fastest-growing healthcare company in the region. With a strong track record in delivering transformational change, Shaista has led Pure Health’s consolidation, spearheading the execution of the Group’s strategy, quality distinction, growth, and development in the healthcare segment in the UAE since 2010. With over 17 years in senior leadership positions in the healthcare and technology domain, Shaista brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and is recognised for her in-depth analytical ability to facilitate operational and procedural planning to focus on the Group’s growth and optimisation. Moving from sick care to preventive care, Shaista’s North Star is Longevity. Pure Health is working towards creating the ‘Healthcare in the Cloud’ as its enabler, where the company is focused on embracing the 4th Industrial Revolution. Shaista believes in Technological Singularity, and how the increase in compute power is bringing it closer. Pure Health is working towards creating a healthcare ecosystem where people don’t fall sick, but instead live healthier and fuller lives, for longer!

speaker

Hoda Mansour

Commercial International Bank Board Member and CIB Board Head of Sustainability Committee

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Hoda is a highly experienced, creative and self-motivated executive with vast experience in delivering innovation and business value for customers. Hoda was appointed to the Board of Commercial International Bank (CIB) in March 2023 and was since then selected as the CIB Board Chair for the Bank’s Sustainability committee. Hoda also worked for leading multinational software companies including SAP, Oracle & Microsoft in regional and global capacities, living and working in three different continents, which gave her a well-rounded experience in dealing with different cultures, challenges, and business models. Given her impact on the business, Forbes Middle East acknowledged her leadership by recognizing her as one of 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in 2023. This came on the back of her recognition by Forbes Middle East as one of Top 5 Women in Technology for 2022 & being selected on the Forbes Middle East Most Powerful Businesswomen list since 2018. Hoda led SAP’s Business Process Transformation in Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa covering 75 Countries; before which she was the first female to be appointed in a Managing Director role by SAP across the whole of Middle East & Africa region. Since joining SAP in 2013 till May 2023, Hoda played a pivotal role in supporting the company’s growth strategy to transform the United Arab Emirates Market. During her role as Chief Operating Officer in 2017, the UAE & Oman won the Market Unit of the Year award across the whole of EMEA South for the first time ever and Hoda was recognized as The Top COO for Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa region (EMEA South). She acted as the local executive sponsor for several strategic digital transformation engagements including Expo2020 Dubai. Hoda is part of the Global Executive Leadership Team at SAP. She regularly speaks at global and regional forums. She is a member of the Board Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce since June 2021. She was appointed on the board of Commercial International Bank (CIB) where she has also been selected to Chair CIB’s Board Sustainability Committee Since March 2023. Hoda holds a B.Sc. with Distinction & Honors in Engineering from Alexandria University in addition to Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction from Maastricht School of Management.

speaker

Pakinam Kafafi

Chief Executive Officer

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TAQA Arabia

Kafafi has more than 18 years of industry experience. She has been with TAQA Arabia since 2006 and was appointed to her current role in 2013. In May 2022, the company acquired Rosetta Energy’s LNG arm. In December 2022, it signed an MoU with the Egyptian government in cooperation with France’s Voltalia for a green hydrogen production facility in the Suez Canal zone. Kafafi is also a board member of the British Egyptian Business Association.

speaker

Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr

Global Digital Magnate, Vice Chairwoman of the Board Emaar, Former Founding Director of Smart Dubai

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Emaar Development

Her Excellency Dr. Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bishr is the vice chairwoman of Emaar Development board since Dec 2020. Bin Bishr is a global digital magnate and the former founding Director General of Smart Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. With the distinction of being the first woman to lead the transformation of a smart city globally, she has laid a robust foundation for upcoming talent and inspires youth towards building a better tomorrow through digitalisation. Bin Bishr is considered an Emirati global ambassador for digitalisation being a renowned thoughtleader advocating the humanisation of technology to create better urban smart future. She is among the world’s most powerful women leaders in business and technology, with Forbes ME ranking her among the Middle East’s Top 10 most powerful businesswomen in 2023. Bin Bishr is the non-executive chairman of the board of Shaffra, a Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS) company. Shaffra's platform leverages cutting-edge 3D technologies to offer a revolutionary way for organizations to interact with their customers and stakeholders. As a MaaS provider, Shaffra is at the forefront of the Metaverse industry and is committed to transforming the way companies engage with their customers. Bin Bishr's leadership will enable, Shaffra to be a trailblazer in the MaaS space in the UAE market and beyond. She was the Director General of the Smart Dubai Department, UAE between 2015-2020, the government entity entrusted with Dubai’s city-wide smart digital transformation by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Dr. Aisha also led the creation of ‘The Smart City Index’ - the first-ever benchmark for smart city implementation across the globe in cooperation with ITU and the United Nations. As an acclaimed digital transformation and Smart Cities thought leader globally, she represented Smart Dubai in City Protocol Society, Smart City Expo World Congress and GSMA. In addition to her responsibilities at Smart Dubai, Her Excellency was a member of the Dubai Council under the Government Development Track until July 2020. Her Excellency also was the Chairperson of the Dubai Future Council for Blockchain, which was launched as part of the Dubai Future Councils initiative by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to assess and develop the future of key industry sectors in Dubai over the next 50 years. Dr. Aisha also was the chairwoman “The Council of Happy Cities” (part of the World Happiness Council), and was the Chairperson of the SDG 11 Global Council, and she was the only woman from the Middle East to be a member of the Gartner Global CIO Research Board. Additionally, Her Excellency serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils and The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Smart Cities Readiness Index Team – an initiative also led by WEF. Her Excellency was also a Board Member at the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE and a member of Emaar’s Board Committee until Dec 2020. Dr. Aisha was also a member of the board at the UAE AI Council, the Computer System Advisory Board, the Leadership Team for Smart Services and Digital Infrastructure, and she is a member of the Advisory Board of the College of Computing and Informatics at the University of Sharjah, the University of Wollongong, and the World Happiness Council. Dr. Aisha co-led the creation of the U4SSC’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Smart Sustainable Cities (SSC) – the first-ever benchmark for smart city implementation across the globe, drafted in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations. As an acclaimed digital transformation and smart cities thought leader globally. Prior to her current role, Dr. Aisha served as Assistant Director General of Dubai Executive Office and Assistant Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Labour during her illustrious career. Throughout her 27-year experience in ICT development, Dr. Aisha committed herself to humanising digital transformation, from developing technologies to transforming human experiences.

speaker

Agnes Lim

Vice President EEMEA

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Allergan Aesthetics

Vice President of the Allergan Aesthetics- an AbbVie company for EEMEA , responsible for commercial for Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. She obtained a Bachelor of Art in Economics University of Calgary 1989. Agnes has a diversified and extensive experience in Pharmaceutical industry in sales, marketing, general management across Asia-Pacific in many companies such as GSK, Schering-Plough MSD, Allergan and recently Allergan Aesthetics- part AbbVie. Agnes is widely recognized as a leader in the healthcare pharmaceutical industry, specializing in driving the business forward. She meets regularly with different stakeholders such as customers, healthcare professionals, distributors, Societies and associations to ensure that the patient remains the focus of all Allergan Aesthetics ’s activities. Agnes is so passionate about employees’ engagements as she value each member in her organization because the team’s experiences matters!

speaker

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar

Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager – GCC

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Visa

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar is the Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager – GCC, Visa. Prior to joining Visa, Dr Jaffar was the Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal ME, the world’s leading turnaround and restructuring firm. Dr Jaffar has also held leadership positions at McKinsey & Company as well as Bain & Company, serving clients across the U.S., Europe and the GCC. Over her 20 years of professional career, Dr Jaffar has worked in the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. on a wide range of strategic, M&A and performance-related issues with clients across a range of industries, while specializing in financial services including universal banks, private banks, investment banks, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, government institutions and family-owned businesses. Dr. Jaffar is an Emirati national and earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University, where she was the valedictorian. She earned a master's degree and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

speaker

Ali Bailoun

Regional General Manager for KSA, Oman and Bahrain

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Visa

Ali Bailoun is the Regional General Manager for GCC Cluster - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. He is responsible for overall strategy in KSA, Oman and Bahrain, including business development, resource optimization, and building long-term partnerships with Visa’s clients, fintechs, digital banks, government, regulators and other key stakeholders to drive the adoption of cashless payments and digital transformation across the three markets. Ali is an accomplished business leader bringing almost 20 years of payments, banking and management experience to support issuers, acquirers, merchants and governments in Visa’s key markets to improve their profitability and grow their business. He joined Visa in 2012 and has since been responsible for the overall strategy that has successfully led Visa's business. Before joining Visa, Ali was the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Riyad Bank where he successfully developed and executed their brand strategy to support the retail bank’s business goals. Prior to that, from 2006 to 2010, Ali was the Head of Marketing and Research at Saudi Hollandi Bank/ABN AMRO, where he worked in segmentation and product development. During his time at Saudi Hollandi Bank/ABN AMRO, he led the launch of a number of innovative firsts in the retail banking space. He was also a representative of the Saudi Central Bank Marketing Payments Committee. Ali holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from the Lebanese American University and completed several leadership, strategy and decision-making programs at Harvard University and MIT Sloan Management.

speaker

Kiran Haslam

Chief Marketing Officer

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Diriyah Company

Kiran currently holds the position of Chief Marketing Officer for Diriyah Company and is responsible for re-establishing Diriyah’s position within the Kingdom and globally as not just as the birthplace of the Kingdom, but also as a centre for the preservation of heritage and perpetuator of Saudi culture and heritage. This pedestrian and urban city, anchored on the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif, will play a significant role in redefining Saudi Arabia as a destination. Prior to joining Diriyah Company, Kiran’s career spanned multiple continents, where he played a key role in reinventing two of the world’s most powerful luxury brands in both the luxury yachting and luxury automotive spheres. He has established and branded progressive media platforms in the Middle East; authored two children’s story books; toured the world as an acclaimed musician and composer - and has been recognized as an influential and powerful public speaker with a creatively disruptive and strategic mind. The Australian, Perth-born, nomad studied Marine Biology and graduated in Engineering Technology from Deakin University before pursuing his Masters in Guitar from Berklee (Boston), and has lived, studied, and worked across South and Central Asia, the Middle East, Central Europe, and the United Kingdom.

speaker

Dr. Antoinette Sarasin Gianduzzo

Director of Biomolecular Restoration, Nutrition & Lifestyle

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The Küsnacht Practice

Dr. Antoniette Sarasin Gianduzzo is the Director of The Kusnacht Practice’s acclaimed Biomolecular Restoration (BIO-R®) Nutrition & Lifestyle Department. She is a member of the Board of Directors and Founder of the BIO-R® method. She leads an interdisciplinary team of specialists and oversees each client, from initial in-depth, state-of-the-art laboratory testing, to the composition of tailored micronutrient supplementation and correction of biochemical and neuro-chemical imbalances, metabolic stress factors and deficiencies - resulting in individual treatment plans as unique as a client’s fingerprint. At The Kusnacht Practice, BIO-R® is an essential component of every client’s programme; Dr. Antoinette works closely with the Medical Director and Psychiatric team in a joint effort to augment each client’s sense of well-being, restore vitality and achieve a higher level of mental strength and physical health. Her and her team also provide in-person coaching to clients and instruct the practice’s personal chefs, trainers and complementary therapists, which rounds off the holistic BIO-R® programme. Dr. Antoinette joined The Kusnacht Practice in 2010 after having built her own reputable business as an expert in nutrition and health. She was scouted by the founder of The Kusnacht Practice for her unique expertise and success, and has remained with the company since. Dr. Antoinette completed her postgraduate studies in Human Nutrition at the renowned Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) with distinction and obtained her doctoral degree at the University of Zurich’s Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology. She gained extensive knowledge and experience as a product manager at a pharmaceutical company specialized in the manufacturing of prescription medication for nutrition-related issues such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Antoinette continues to educate herself and undergo expert training to remain at the forefront of current research and deliver innovative expertise in nutritional medicine, health and lifestyle coaching, illness prevention, rejuvenation/age reversing interventions, and sustainable weight- and resource management. Dr. Antoinette is currently designing the blueprint for a transformational treatment protocol that focuses on incorporating science-backed pioneering therapies to promote longevity and stimulate reverse-aging processes within the context of the BIO-R® programme. Dr. Antoinette is an experienced keynote speaker and her expert opinion on nutrition and healthy living has been published across multiple print and broadcast media. She is a member of the Swiss Society for Anti-Aging Medicine and Prevention and the Swiss Society for Nutrition.

speaker

Talal AL-Ajmi

Founder and CEO

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Vi Markets

Talal Al Ajmi is a young Kuwaiti entrepreneur, his passion towards financial markets and trading made him become one of the well-known figures in this field both in Kuwait and the Middle East. He graduated from the university of Philadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in information technology, however, he had always seen himself as an entrepreneur and a business man.He started his journey of success at an early stage during his academic years in university, where he managed couple of small family businesses with his cousins and brothers, then when he came back to Kuwait, he wanted to pursue his dream and work at an investment company to gain more knowledge. After he had worked couple of years in this field he got inspired to move forward and build his empire. He held various positions in several financial companies and eventually included his career as a financial broker in order to launch a new career as an entrepreneur.His ambition had no boundaries, and he believed that through education anything is possible.So, in 2010 he founded and established Version International Markets in Kuwait and currently hold the position of CEO and a board member at One Financial Markets (the main partner) . VI Markets provide the investors in Kuwait a tailored online trading service, partnered with One Financial Markets, which was established in London 2007. One Financial Markets is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and offers global presence with local expertise through its wholly owned and affiliated offices throughout the Middle East, Europe, South America and Central and South East Asia.Of course, the journey was full of obstacles and challenges, like any other business. Talal faced countless difficulties, the main one was to secure capital as a start off, and then raising society awareness through educating them on how to trade in international markets.His goal has been to promote sustainable development via education, he established VI Markets in a modest building with few employees, knowing that this field faced fierce competition from different existing companies he still managed to move forward and build it step by step. His main focus was to educate the people in Kuwait who are interested in trading and then let them start their own journey by managing their portfolios.Social media served him well but differently as he managed to attract a huge base of existing and newly traders in Kuwait and the Middle east, through sharing with them his daily trades and educating them on how to manage their portfolios. This allowed him to become closer to the audience interested and supported his success.Because he believed that through education anything is possible, he had always wanted to start an initiative that served the women in Kuwait and the Middle east; knowing that they shared the same desire to enter the financial markets but were shy to open up during workshops done by the company. So, the idea of Yasmeen came up. Yasmeen is a forum exclusively for womendesigned to support female empowerment in business and the world of financial investment through bespoke educational services and outstanding personal support, tailored training and trading solutions that supports growth and pursue commercial and educational goals.Talal changed the concept of trading within this market through providing them with the right education (workshops and seminars) and obtaining the FCA licenses, that insured credibility and professionalism. His clear and consistent vision has paved the way with continuous success and allowed him to obtain high market share in Kuwait and the Middle East along with gaining the best partner in the Middle East for the well-known trading company One Financial Markets.

speaker

Lujaina Mohsin Darwish

Chairperson

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Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC - Infrastructure, Technology Industrial and Consumer Solutions and Oman State Council Member

Honorable Lujaina Mohsin Darwish is the Chairperson - Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial and Consumer Solutions (ITICS) of Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC. A graduate in English Literature from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), she began her career as a lecturer at SQU, before joining the family business. She was elected to the country’s consultative council - Majlis A’ Shura, one of only seven women to be elected since its inception, and holds the distinction of having been elected twice to this honorary position from the Wilayat of Muscat and then in 2015, as a member of the upper chamber, Majlis A’Dawla (Oman State Council) being appointed by Royal Decree. A business leader par excellence, Honorable Lujaina Mohsin Haider Darwish has been a trailblazer in uplifting, empowering and inspiring young Omani women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders alike. She is associated with various organizations and holds important positions such as the Honorary Chairperson of the Oman-China Friendship Association, Oman-India Friendship Association, Oman-Turkey Friendship Association and membership of the GCC Women Forum. She has been actively involved at various international forums to understand and coordinate the development efforts of women and children internationally, and particularly in the Arab World. Steadfast in her efforts to provide the youth of the country with numerous growth opportunities while empowering women to scale new heights, she is known for her invaluable contributions to driving socio-economic progress in the Sultanate of Oman. She was recently appointed to the Board of the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF). Her membership with the forum is a further testament to her active involvement with the community and keen focus on supporting causes that are targeted at the youth and women of the country. Similarly, as a Board Member of the Oman Olympic Committee, the Oman Football Association and Chairperson of the Women’s Football Committee, she has worked tirelessly to lay a sustainable foundation for women sports in the Sultanate of Oman. The strength of the legacy inherited from her late father, Mohsin Haider Darwish, and guided by his philosophy of “people first,” she brings a humane dimension to the nitty-gritty of managing a large, diversified business. She presides with élan over a hugely varied group of businesses ranging from technology to consumer durables to industrial solutions. Under her able leadership, the organization has seen exponential growth through expansion into newer categories. Adding to her list of accolades, she was ranked “23rd amongst the top 50 most powerful businesswomen” by Forbes Middle East in 2022 and ranked “34th amongst 100 most powerful businesswomen in the Middle East,” by Forbes Middle East 2020. She is the first Omani to receive a fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts, UK for her outstanding contributions as a change-maker, helping create a sustainable future for all. She also was the recipient of The Diamond Executive’s Award and Leadership Medal from the Harvard Business Council 2020 International Awards and Women of the year 2020 by International Business Stevie Awards. She is a multi-faceted personality who believes deeply in giving back to the community, is a person who assiduously works for the welfare and well-being of underprivileged persons and serves as an example and inspiration to all.

speaker

Sahar Hamad Al Marzouki

Director & Owner

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Al Faris International School

Sahar Hamad Al Marzouki is the director and owner of Al Faris International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She is deeply committed to providing enriching academic environments that emphasize the importance of quality education and give students a competitive edge. The first Saudi lady to open an international school in the Kingdom, Sahar brings considerable expertise to her directorial position, having previously served in multiple managerial roles as Branch Manager and Deputy Head of Operations at the multinational Arab National Bank and the Saudi American Bank respectively. She is a keen advocate of a number of philanthropic causes and volunteering initiatives, as well as a frequent speaker at domestic and international education conferences with a focus on addressing key topics regarding sustainability, rights to education, and advancing education technology. Sahar’s passionate leadership propelled Al Faris International School to international recognition and accreditation, making it one of the few International Baccalaureate continuum schools in the region. More recently, she led the school’s effort to be the first international school to open in AlUla through a rigorous selection process conducted by the Royal Commission for AlUla.

speaker

Amira Sajwani

Managing Director of Sales & Development

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DAMAC Properties

An entrepreneur, a businesswoman, a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother - Amira Sajwani is the epitome of today’s spirited young Emirati woman. She is the Managing Director of Sales & Development at DAMAC Properties as well as the Founder & CEO of PRYPCO. In her role with DAMAC Properties, the flagship arm of the Group, Amira oversees the 360-degree development of properties to ensure product values are maximized including but not limiting to design, construction, sales, marketing and analytics. A key focus of Amira’s responsibilities include overseeing the operations of DAMAC’s network of direct and independent sales agents both locally and internationally, as well as the development of agent programs and initiatives which strengthens partnerships, and empowers agents with the tools they need to sell more effectively. With PRYPCO, Amira has helped create an opportunity to empower the real-estate ecosystem with knowledge and information to make it simple for people to own and manage their real estate transactions in the UAE. Amira is a graduate of both University College London (UCL) and London School of Economics (LSE). She is also known to be a passionate advocate for women in business and access to education.

speaker

Tarek Youssef Hosni

Chief Executive Officer

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Jamjoom Pharma

A natural visionary Leader with unique Coaching and Transformational abilities with a phenomenal track record of challenging businesses turnaround. Having been in Pharma for more than 34 years, heading a mix of senior Commercial and General Management Leading roles over the last 25 years, the last 14 years, in particular, were strong career highlights.   Between 2009 and 2018, filled the senior Executive Roles as a Regional President leading Pfizer's various business segments, Consumer Health, Nutrition, and Pharmaceuticals, and leading businesses ranging from $400M - $B 1.3 in regions like Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.  Currently the CEO of Jamjoom Pharma, one of the leading regional players in the Middle East.

speaker

Alison Rehill-Erguven

Chief Executive Officer

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Cenomi Centers

Alison Rehill-Erguven brings more than two decades of extensive shopping centers and real estate experience having been based in and managed joint ventures, assets, and teams across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In addition, she has more than 10 years of experience in the U.S., working with global industry-leading commercial real estate companies and shopping mall operators, including with General Growth Properties. Prior to joining Cenomi Centers in 2022, she held the role of CEO for Pradera Retail Asia (PRA), a joint venture that was formed with Macquarie Bank’s MIRA division and based in Shanghai, China, for 5 years. This JV was subsequently acquired in 2021 by Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, where Alison led the transition of PRA into Brookfield acting as Senior Advisor and Head of Commercial Real Estate for Brookfield Properties based in Shanghai, China, where she was responsible for all retail assets including shopping centers, offices, and mixed-use developments. Before her role at Brookfield and PRA, Alison also held the position of Managing Director and Board Director at Pradera Limited, a retail property investment fund and asset management business with a 22-year history in the UK, Europe, China and the Middle East. She held the position in Istanbul, Turkey and led cross border teams to complete its successful repositioning and lead asset enhancement initiatives. Alison was also responsible for delivering on the company’s sustainability initiatives from 2015-2017 and served as the Head of Country for Turkey and Central & Eastern Europe, as well as an Investment Committee Member. Alison also spent almost 10 years as the Board Director of General Growth Properties, as the Vice President of International Asset management in Chicago, U.S., where she managed the performance of all assets in the Brazilian and Turkish joint ventures, overseeing a total of USD 400M worth of assets across 15 centres. Within the Group, she became Board Director of Aliansce in Brazil, and lastly stepped up as Board Director of ECE Group and General Growth Properties in Turkey. Alison was also a board member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for Asia Pacific and Europe for 6 years and recently earned a Master of Science (MS) in Organizational leadership from Colorado State University.

speaker

Esin Güral Argat

Vice President of the Board

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Gürok Group

After completing her master’s degree at Istanbul University, Department of Business Administration and Finance Institution, she founded “Güven Çini ve Seramik” in 1992. Since 1998, she has been leading the creative processes of all branches of the Gürok Group. Including award-winning brands as LAV, the 5th largest glassware producer in the world, Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts, which brings innovation in the tourism industry, JOALI Maldives, the luxury segment hotel, and JOALI BEING, the Maldives’s first well-being hotel. She has been appointed as the first female Chamber of Commerce and Industry president both in Turkey and Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Aiming to make a difference in industries, Esin Güral Argat focuses on sustainability, regional development and gender equality through the civil society studies she developed in the Board of TÜSİAD, TİKAD, GIRVAK and TÜRKONFED. As the Board Member of Fenerbahçe Sports Club- responsible of Fenerium- and as a member of Tourism Working Group, Social Relations Commissions, Women’s Working Group in the EU process, and Women 20; she continues to create space for projects that contribute to people and future.

speaker

Natasha Matos-Hemingway

Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer (CCMO) of video on demand (VOD)

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Shahid

An experienced senior executive, with deep expertise in delivering growth through commercial, marketing, and business-wide strategic activities, Natasha Matos-Hemingway is the Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer (CCMO) of video on demand (VOD) at MBC GROUP’s streaming platform division, Shahid. In her current role, Matos-Hemingway leads on the Group’s VOD business, with a focus on aligning the numerous teams involved across key growth initiatives to achieve scale and profitability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as maintain Shahid’s lead as the preferred subscription video on demand (SVOD) platform in the region. Having built her career in “big tech” at giants including Google and Microsoft, Matos-Hemingway has overseen diverse teams across a number of functions, specialising in emerging markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Prior to joining MBC GROUP, Matos-Hemingway was the Chief Marketing Officer responsible for doubling the paying base of MultiChoice’s SVOD, Showmax. There, she was credited with delivering substantial growth in Sub-Saharan Africa through high performing marketing and commercial campaigns, including the launch of new products and new markets. A creative and critical thinker, Matos-Hemingway has a passion for leveraging digital technologies to improve consumers’ experience and grow partners’ businesses. She is also known for her ability to solve complex problems with resolution and drive results through collaboration. A bold and empathetic leader, Matos-Hemingway has a remarkable ability of building high-performing teams, always with a keen focus on attracting and developing talent whilst driving business results. With roots in Portugal and South Africa, Matos-Hemingway enjoys working in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive organisations.

speaker

Moon Baz

Creator Partnerships Lead, Middle East, Africa and Turkey

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Meta

Moon Baz is the Creator Partnerships Lead, Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Meta. She leads the Creator Partnerships team across the video ecosystem for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Moon works closely with strategic creators and public figures, supporting them to leverage Facebook and Instagram tools to maximize mutually beneficial objectives. Prior to joining Meta, Moon was appointed as the acting CEO for SuperMama, and worked in parallel as a freelance consultant supporting different strategic clients in the region including Deezer MENA in their market entry strategy, Vue International in their cinema business plan and financial due diligence, and GCAM Saudi Arabia on a turnaround plan to support the Pay TV industry. Before that, Moon was a Business Planning Manager at MBC group across the online platforms, VOD (Shahid), mobile services and distribution. Moon supported in annual business plans, actions plans and product roadmaps. Moon was also a Business Development Manager for Webedia Arabia (previously Diwanee), where she evaluated strategic positioning and identified new business opportunities, developed improvement initiatives and new processes for internal operations. Prior to that, Moon was a senior management consultant with Booz & Co, where she supported projects for the firm across the Consumer, Media and Technology practice. She worked on business planning, strategy development, financial modelling and valuation, and organization restructuring. Moon holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and a master’s degree in Financial Economics from the American University of Beirut. Moon has a dual citizenship French/ Lebanese and has been residing in Dubai since June 2012. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

speaker

Wesley Pabis

Chief Executive Officer

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Augmento

Wesley Pabis, CEO of Augmento, a platform that empowers artists to showcase their work in AR and a trailblazer in the AI-driven AR revolution. striving to make AR an integral part of daily life. With global expertise in keynotes and a masterclass at Ithra Aramco, Wesley's passion and commitment inspire a future where augmented reality transforms our world. Join him on this exhilarating journey!

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Marloes Knippenberg

Chief Executive Officer

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Kerten Hospitality

Marloes is known as a pioneer of the modern mixed-use developments philosophy that lies at the heart of lifestyle destinations. Her visionary leadership has helped carve an industry niche where ESG rests at the core of operations, business processes, as well as the whole value chain. Amplifying the brand from one brand in one country, to a global lifestyle group with over 45 projects, she has always remained loyal to her mission – to expand the lifestyle footprint across curated destinations where collaborations and a common Purpose drive all stakeholders. Her industry journey started with Hilton where she held senior operational and commercial management positions. She sits on a number of industry boards and supports the young generation.

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Mona Kattan

Founder

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Kayali Fragrances

Mona Kattan first entered the cosmetics industry as a cofounder of Huda Beauty, alongside her sisters Huda and Alya in 2013. Five years later, she launched her own perfume brand, KAYALI. Her products have since been used by celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Adriana Lima, Jen Atkin, Megan Pormer, Jackie Aina, Elnaz Golrokh, and Jacqueline Fernandez. In 2021, Kayali released two new fragrances. According to the company, it has increased its global distribution by 20% year on year.

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Anne-Laure Malauzat

Partner

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Bain & Company, Middle East

Anne-Laure Malauzat is a Partner with Bain & Company in the Middle East. Based in Dubai, she is the firm’s regional Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer, and leads Bain’s Social Impact efforts in EMEA. Anne advises governments, philanthropists, and international organizations (such as UNHCR and Endeavor), focusing on education, economic development, and innovation. She has led the launch of multiple successful youth employment programmes in 5 MENA countries, and the design of the national Early Childhood Development strategy for a GCC country. She also works with private sector leaders in the retail space, supporting them in their growth, digitalization, and customer strategies. In addition, for the last decade she has served as mentor to start-ups and is a frequent speaker on topics related to gender equity, social impact, human capital development, retail, and innovation. Anne holds an MA from Georgetown University and a dual Bachelor from Mount Holyoke College. She was appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2022. She is also an inducted member of the Phi Beta Kappa society, and a member of Georgetown’s MENA Board of Advisors.

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Sima Ganwani Ved

Founder and Chairwoman

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Apparel group

“When you think about female empowerment; you have a vague figure of someone in your head, but then you meet Sima and you go like, oh wait a minute; that’s female empowerment, that’s what it looks like!”, said Eva Longoria at the Global Gift Gala in Dubai, before bestowing Sima with the Philanthrepreneur of the Year award. Sima Ganwani Ved is the Founder and Chairwoman of the Apparel group, one of the largest retailers in the Middle East based out of the UAE. The multi billion dollar company is home to 80+ brands with over 2025+ stores in 14 countries with 20,000+ human capital. Over the years, Sima has been the recipient of many awards professionally and personally, some of which are The Philanthrepreneur of the year, Retailer of the year, Great Place to work, Great Women’s award and Emirates Woman of the year. Sima was born in Africa and brought to Dubai by her self-made entrepreneur father in the 1970s. She studied in King’s College London to achieve her Bachelors degree and subsequently an MBA in business management. She began her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 20, working in her dad’s shopping mall in early 90s as the manageress of a department. To her, that set the tone of her value for hard work and business ethics. Sima is an active member of many world organisations like YPO and CEO. She is also the first female member in YPO to set up a regional chapter (YPO MENA STAR) that began with a vision of gender equality for its membership base. The chapter has achieved 52% female members, which is the highest in YPO globally. Her compassion for underprivileged children led her to mentoring her teenage daughter to launch her own Athleisure brand F5global, some of the profits of which will go towards the education of such kids. She simultaneously has mentored and founded a new social commerce beauty platform called NESSA with her eldest daughter Selina. Every decade or so Sima likes to embark on a creative journey. Back in 2000, she wrote a weekly column for 2 years. In 2010, she hosted a tv chat show on Star Plus where she interviewed Bollywood, Lollywood and some Royalty. So it is time to launch something new.

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Lana Khalaf

General Manager

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Microsoft Qatar

Lana Khalaf is the General Manager for Microsoft Qatar. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she has been instrumental in furthering Microsoft’s mission to transform businesses and industries, redefine learning, and fuel a knowledge-based economy to enhance the country’s global competitiveness. Khalaf began her career with Microsoft in 2006 as Regional Developer evangelist, and has since served as Education Lead and Public Sector Director. In September 2018, she was appointed General Manager of Microsoft Qatar, where she leads a team of 180 employees that spearheads the company’s efforts in supporting the country in its pursuit of the National Vision 2030. Khalaf is dedicated to empowering governments, enterprises, startups, communities, and partners to harness the power of technology to reimagine industries and economies. She has led crucial strategic initiatives, including Smart City initiative, Education elearning initiative, Health Hub initiative, Hosting FIFA world Cup in Qatar for the first time in the MiddleEast and the launch of Microsoft's cloud datacentres in Qatar. These facilities join the company’s Global regions making Qatar 55th region globally before any other region in MiddleEast. Khalaf has also launched first of its kind skills development programs and initiatives called Digital Center of Excellence to provide young people with access to the skills, technology, networks, and opportunities they need to succeed in the digital era. In addition, she has been committed to accelerating the Country’s sustainability agenda, helping governments, businesses, and startups access key tools and solutions to create a more sustainable future. She also drives Microsoft’s objectives in Qatar to promote diversity and inclusion, in order to bridge gender parity gap, as well as encourage the role of women in the ICT sector. Khalaf has been recognized by multiple industry publications for her contributions to the region and industry. Before joining Microsoft, Khalaf has held positions in organizations such as Samsung and Active Mania with involvement in areas such automation of business processes as well connected solutions for Smart Cities. She has an MBA with focus on leadership from the Lebanese American University, and majors in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut.

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Susanne Mikhail

Regional Director

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UN Women Office for the Arab States

Ms Susanne Mikhail (Egypt/Sweden) is the Regional Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the Arab States. In this capacity, she leads UN Women’s normative, programme and coordination work in the Middle East and North Africa. Susanne brings with her over 20 years of experience in development and humanitarian work in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Before, she was the Head of Humanitarian Aid at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), covering over 25 countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. She has several years of experience in the UN system, including as the first Head of Office and Resident Programme Coordinator of UNICEF in South Sudan as well as the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, where she managed a number of regional protection programmes for children and women in countries such Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, as well as humanitarian initiatives including on disarmament and reintegration of child soldiers in Afghanistan and Nepal. Prior to UNICEF, she worked as Regional Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa for ECPAT International. She has also supported World Bank’s programmes on community-based economic development in fragile settings. In 1999, Susanne started her international career at OCHA in Africa, covering countries such as Burundi, Kenya Rwanda and Somalia. A national of Sweden and Egypt, Susanne holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from the Uppsala University of Sweden.

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Halima Aden

Somali-American Activist and Fashion Model

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Halima Aden is a Somali-American fashion model. She is noted for being the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, where she was a semi-finalist. Following her participation in the pageant, Halima received national attention and was signed to IMG Models. She was also the first model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2018, Aden became a UNICEF ambassador. Her work is focused on children's rights. In 2021 she was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women.

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Meryem Uzerli

Turkish-German Actress

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Meryem Uzerli is a Turkish–German actor and model, best known for portraying Hürrem Sultan in one of the most successful Turkish series of all time, 'Muhteşem Yüzyıl' ('The Magnificent Century'). The role marked her debut in the Turkish entertainment industry and has brought her numerous awards and accolades. However, Meryem started her journey as an actor with German short films and TV shows. She has been seen in German short films such as 'Journey of No Return' (2010) and 'Jetzt Aber Ballett' (2010). Meryem has been featured in many advertising campaigns and has been the face of numerous brands.

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Anas Bukhash

Entrepreneur & Interviewer

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Bukhash Brothers Co.

Interviewer, serial entrepreneur, and mentor are all titles that follow Anas Bukhash. Provocative with a purpose, Anas has been acknowledged for his ability to spot trends, uncover hidden opportunities, and for the courage to take on risks. In 2014, with the explosion of social media in the region, Anas was the 1st in the UAE to start an influencer marketing agency by founding Bukhash Brothers, which has grown to become a renowned digital marketing agency that builds brands and escalates its digital growth. Four years later, Anas launched #ABtalks; a celebrity talk shows that discovers the human behind the title. A YouTube show, with 2 seasons currently streaming on Netflix, that consistently challenges the status quo and brings humanity to the forefront. Today, #ABtalks is the #1 show of its kind in the MENA region, with over 1 million subscribers, 1 billion YouTube impressions, and 14 million hours of watch time. His other entrepreneurship ventures include – CHALK, the first unisex hair salon of its kind empowering men and women to express themselves, and Not (So) Guilty, an F&B concept that offers sentimental Emirati favorites with a twist. Anas's work has been recognized globally by a diverse audience, including features in publications such as Forbes Middle East, Entrepreneur Magazine, Esquire, VOGUE, GQ, and more. Currently boasting over 1 million followers on Instagram, from the youth across the world, celebrities, ministers, business professionals, and key opinion leaders, he leverages his platform to provoke thought and a change for the better. Through his lectures and TEDx talks, Anas inspires people to take their chances and create a life fueled by their passion.

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Yusra Mardini

Syrian Swimmer

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IOC Refugee Olympic Team

Prior to the war in Syria, Yusra was a competitive swimmer who represented her country in international competitions. As the war intensified, Yusra and her sister left Damascus in early August 2015 and reached Berlin in September 2015. Since then, Yusra has been training at the Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 club, which is a partner of the Elite Schools of Sport in Berlin. She was selected to compete at Rio 2016 as part of the first ever Refugee Olympic Team and was appointed the youngest ever UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in April 2017. In November 2022, a biographical film, inspired by Mardini's life and titled "The Swimmers", was theatrically released and distributed on Netflix later the same month.

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Maguy Bou Ghosn

Lebanese Actress

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Maguy Bou Ghosn is a Lebanese actress who managed to grow a huge fan base around the Arab World throughout the years. She is now considered one of the best and most powerful Lebanese actresses. Bou Ghosn's childhood dream was always to become a successful singer; however, she ended up entering the acting industry. She started her acting career in Syrian Drama; she made her breakthrough in Lebanon with the drama TV series, Bou Ghosn's career continued achieving success in Lebanon throughout last year, especially when she plays the leading role the movie "Bebe" and "Vitamin". Additionally, she won the Murex d'Or 2021 as the Best Lebanese Actress award for the series “Till Death 2”.

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Sawsan Albahiti

Saudi Opera Singer and Vocal Coach

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Sawsan Albahiti, known to be the first Saudi opera singer and vocal coach, has trained as a soprano since 2008 with various opera singers and conductors around the world driven by her passion to learn this art form and perfect it. She also became certified as a voice teacher from the New York Vocal Coaching Studio and then opened her own vocal coaching studio, The Soulful Voice, in 2018, making it the first official center in the Kingdom specialized in voice training. Albahiti set a record for another first when she performed her debut in 2019, opening for La Scala di Milano for their concert in Riyadh where she sang the Saudi national anthem in an operatic rendition making her the first Saudi woman to perform her country’s anthem publicly. Since then, she has been developing her operatic talent with experts from around the world, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Queen's Chapel in Belgium and Strasbourg opera house, and performing heavily in the Kingdom and abroad. She is currently working with the Music Commission in the Ministry of Culture participating in establishing the music industry in Saudi Arabia.

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Nour Al-Ghandour

Egyptian TV Presenter & Actress

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Nour Al-Ghandour is an Egyptian TV presenter and actress. Born in Kuwait, the actress has perfected the Gulf dialect and has proven her presence in the Khaleeji drama industry. She launched her career in 2011 after presenting the program “Matbakh Ilham.” A year later, she presented episodes of the singing talk show “Sawt al Sahary.” In 2013, she entered the acting industry through her participation in the series “Sakan AlTalebat” and won the admiration of viewers. She has taken part in a number of drama series including “Awwal AlSubh,” “Burkan Na’am,” “Al Bayt El Saeed,” “Hodon El-Shook,” “Jumna,” “Zaman,” and “Daf3at Beirut.” In 2021, she took part in the series “Ya Baada.” In 2022, she took part in the series “25 minutes” and the Kuwaiti series “Men Sharea Al Haram Ela,” in which she played the role of a character who spoke the Egyptian dialect. Her latest series is “Dahab Bint Al-Awtel” on Shahid.

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Sham AlZahabi

Scientist/Founder & CEO

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Dao Derma Skin Clinic

Sham AlZahabi is a highly respected scientist & founder of Dao Derma skin clinic. She attained both her bachelor’s & master’s degreee in chemistry at the American University in Cairo. In 2018, She was granted full scholarships to continue her PhD graduate studies at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. She chose Cambridge University to study collagen and bio mimicry of skin with the Duer group. Sham’s graduate studies have always entailed understanding skin from a scientific perspective. Her Master’s thesis was done in collaboration with Eva cosmetics where she worked for 4 years as a senior R&D specialist for skin formulations, and was able to develop a nano carrier made of bio-materials that enhances the efficacy and penetration of actives in cosmetics. Her graduate studies in Cambridge and now continued in AUC aim at understanding the molecular changes that takes place in the skin both due to extrinsic & intrinsic factors. In a short time, Sham was able to distinguish her business with the scientific edge she employs, and natural regenerative approach of skin she advocates for in her work. Her slogan is “Beauty comes from within”, where she has been a pioneer in the market for bringing IV vitamin therapy for the first time in Egypt. Using a sophisticated tailoring of both skin & nutrition programs that uses high technology machines such as skin analysers, so-check AI, and genomics, the services offered made Dao Derma stand out in the market.Dao Derma has served more than nineteen thousand patients since 2019, with an annual growth of 58.7% in 2021 and 66.6% in 2022. Sham is currently working on expanding into Saudi Arabia, and branching in Egypt due to the market demand for her expertise and unique services. Sham’s goals do not stop there, instead, she continually invests in research where she collaborates with Nawah scientific laboratories & research groups at AUC university to further explore and innovate in the fields of regenerative medicine. Sham developed an autologous technique using blood samples to extract highly purified fibrin rich plasma that is superior to the traditional PRP treatments for hair and skin. She also hosts scientific meetings where she invites renowned Professors and pioneers in the field to share their expertise and discuss the future in the industry. Sham inherited her love for the arts and adopted piano as her tool to take out her passion for music. She finished all grades in Trinity college with excellence in performance and continued further studies in piano at Le Conservatoire, Cairo, while doing her Masters in Chemistry. Sham’s diverse talents and love and care for her family and philanthropic work has made her gain popularity at a young age as a young influencer in 2014 when her instagram profile became public, now reaching 1.7 Million followers. Her brand Dao Derma has also gained popularity reaching 400K+ followers on all social media platforms. She is now a brand ambassador for L'Oréal and formerly served as an ambassador for Aveeno.

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Evlin Abdullah-Khalifa

Miss Universe Bahrain 2022

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Evlin Abdullah Khalifa is Miss Universe Bahrain 2022. She made headlines during the Miss Universe competition with her strong message of ‘Equality’ during the swimsuit round segment of the competition where she stood out wearing a pink burkini. The 24-year-old Russian-Bahraini model was crowned Miss Universe Bahrain in September and competed in the 71st Miss Universe pageant last 14 January 2023, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She calls Riffa, Bahrain home – and is very close with her family.Born to a Russian mother and Bahraini father, Evlin Abdullah-Khalifa grew up in the Kingdom’s second-largest city, Riffa. She is a trained pianist and Taekwondo artist. She graduated from 5 different schools: music, dancing, modeling, taekwondo and comprehensive. Evlin is passionate about education in different ways. She’s working to raise awareness for various charities and initiatives. She closely works with Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft charity that works to raise funds so children around the world can have their clelt-palettes and lips corrected with reconstructive surgery. During her reign, she visited the Philippines to work with the Philippine Red Cross and Philippine General Hospital to create awareness about education in kids and access to free medicine for pediatric patients. She believes that it’s never late to study. After graduation from the university (bachelor’s degree of finance and banking) she continued her education through online classes by consistently improving her Arabic and English skills and studying psychology through the books. Evlin believes in the power of education and it should be provided and accesible for everyone.