David’s career started at Saatchi & Saatchi as a graduate trainee, progressing through the agency world as Managing Partner at WCRS and then MD of Lowe Howard-Spink in London.

Moving to Atlanta he worked for the Coca-Cola Company as Global Director and VP of Advertising, before returning agency-side as President of BBDO Europe, and then as a main board director and CEO of Tempus Partners.

Following WPP’s purchase of Tempus, David set up Team Vodafone for the group. In 2004 he joined Vodafone as Global Director of Brand and Marketing Communications, progressing to become Global Brand Director in 2005 and CEO of VIML (Vodafone Ireland Marketing LTD) in 2008 based in Dublin. Returning to London, David joined Barclays in 2012 as MD of Brand, Reputation and Citizenship.

He stepped down as Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at RBS in 2020, a position he took up in July 2015. He was a member of the Bank’s executive committee and reported to Ross McEwan, the CEO. He led the rebranding of RBS to NatWest.

David was president of the World Federation of advertisers from 2015 to 2019, he is now President Emeritus of the WFA. Ex-Chair and council member of the MGGB, a fellow of the Marketing Society and a fellow of the IPA. Awarded the Lifetime achievement award by The Drum in 2020. Recognised in the Queens New Years Honour list in 2021 for his services to Marketing and Advertising , he was awarded an OBE.

He is a Consultant, Coach and Mentor.

Nathalie Roos, former CEO of Lipton Teas and Infusions and senior L’Oréal executive, is a transformational business leader with 35+ years of global experience in consumer goods, food and beauty. She champions sustainable growth, brand reinvention, and inclusive leadership across industries.

Khaled is a pragmatic business leader with a 30-year career in marketing, branding, public affairs and communications in Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa region.

He is currently the CEO and Founding Partner of Tough Love Advisors.

His career started in advertising and continued into international sales, marketing and branding in FMCG (B2C) and the food packaging industry (B2B), in companies such as The Coca-Cola Company and Tetra Pak.

Khaled is an internationally recognised keynote speaker and author (This Tickles Me and Made With Tough Love).

He is the Chairman and Board Member of The Marketing Society, UAE. He is also an active investor in technology, beverages, advisory, hospitality, sports marketing and banking.

Khaled has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University, Canada and has completed several executive leadership programmes at Ashridge in the UK, IMD in Switzerland and at Harvard Business School in the USA.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Khaled is a Canadian citizen who has lived in 15 countries and travelled to over 55 other countries. Since 2002 he calls Dubai home.

Hamza Jawaid is the co-founder of Bazaar Technologies, Pakistan’s leading e-commerce and financial services platform with operations across 10+ cities. Since launching in 2020, Bazaar has built a digital ecosystem that empowers consumers and businesses to access everyday low pricing across 30+ product categories with next day delivery and seamless payment solutions—all through a simple mobile app.

Under Hamza’s leadership, Bazaar has become one of Pakistan’s most well-funded startups, raising $100 million in funding to-date. The company continues to expand across e-commerce and digital payments, acquiring Keenu in 2025 to become Pakistan’s first integrated e-commerce and payments platform.

The company has also gained global recognition. In 2022, Bazaar became part of the yearly curriculum at Harvard Business School as a case study and was selected as the first startup from Pakistan to join the Endeavor global community.

Before founding Bazaar, Hamza studied at London School of Economics, then pursued consulting at McKinsey and Company in the Middle East, advising global companies on growth and digital transformation, particularly in retail and tech.

Thomas Kolster is a pioneering global voice on marketing, business and sustainability. A motivational speaker, author and impact entrepreneur, he’s been called “a climate change agent” by Forbes. He coined the term Goodvertising with his first book (Goodvertising, 2012), and in The Hero Trap (2020) introduced his methodology The Arrow to help brands create real impact by enabling personal transformation.

Kolster has spoken in more than 80 countries, advising global brands like Meta, adidas, IKEA and P&G. He is founder of the Goodvertising Agency, a columnist for The Guardian, Ad Age and Forbes, and co-hosts the podcasts Purpose Hits and Misses and Climate Punk.

Daniel Käfer is a seasoned business leader with a rich history in the tech industry. His career includes roles such as the Danish Country Head for Meta and Global Group Director of Digital Marketing at Ooredoo, an international Telco carrier chain across MENA and APAC.

He is the founder of Future Advice Ltd and associate of the platform mapping world innovation - www.supertrends.com. As an accomplished author, Daniel's latest book is titled "Releasing the brakes on growth", which focuses on innovation and business growth strategies. An active participant in the startup landscape, Daniel has also co-founded several entertainment tech companies.

Alex Brunori is a globally awarded and acknowledged Chief Creative Officer, a digital pioneer, a multi-disciplinary professional and a branding and marketing innovation evangelist. He is a TedX Speaker, a classic and contemporary singer and composer, visiting professor at the Middlesex University in Dubai, video director and meditation teacher.

He is currently obsessed with the possibilities of AI, especially AI art, constantly generating thousands of complex images - and now - videos with proprietary natural language prompts for Chat GPT, Bard, Midjourney 5 and Runway 2.

Mark created the very first digital consultancy for celebrities and for people in the public eye in 2003. He quickly became known as the go to digital guy for many Hollywood A-listers. After leading the digital transformation of more than a hundred entertainment brands and public personalities from Usher and Lady Gaga, through to Barack Obama and Buckingham Palace, Mark established a new company to apply this experience and to innovate in digital transformation for B2B brands, which was acquired by VICE Media in 2015.

Nicholas lives and breathes all things creative, he began his career as a celebrated actor and dancer before transitioning into the world of advertising, joining LIONS. Over the last two years, he has delivered stage talks at the Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity, introducing the new Entertainment LIONS for Gaming and the Luxury and Lifestyle LIONS.

As one of the hosts of LIONS’ The Work Webinars, Nicholas played a pivotal role in launching the initiative to inspire creativity worldwide. He has also toured with The Work Webinars Live in London and Paris, sharing insights with international audiences. As well as running a dance school with his mother, Nicholas leads partnerships between The Work and educational institutions, furthering his passion for inspiring the next generation of creative talent.

Dolly has been in the forefront of the agency production world for decades before founding MINTMENA to become the leading production consultant in the MENAP region.

The wealth of knowledge she brings to the business is immense, and best seen through her thought leadership on the work she does through MINTMENA, partnering with multinational clients out of the GCC, Pakistan, Singapore as well as Nigeria, on many brands including Coca-Cola, Danone and Nissan to name a few, to help them and their partner agencies elevate production quality while optimizing production costs.

Dolly is also a veteran for responsible production and is always thriving to ensure responsible production guidelines are followed not just on the projects she leads but across the industry.

Mark's entrepreneurial odyssey began with a stupidly audacious venture: helping a new generation of A-list celebrities to build their brand in the first wave of the internet. He soon became the ‘go to brand guy’ for hundreds of icons… from Lady Gaga and Usher to Barack Obama and Buckingham Palace.

After Hollywood Mark shifted to Silicon Valley founding multiple tech ventures and learning the ropes in the strange and wonderful world of Venture Capital. Along the way Mark has picked up a cabinet of awards including Cannes Lions, Emmys and even an Oscar Nomination. The Guardian named him "Star of Tech City" describing him as "An Entrepreneur, Investor & Board Advisor who's changing our world by boosting economic growth." He went on to be named in the "Silicon 60 Global Tech Entrepreneurs," "The Most Influential Londoners" "The Sunday Times Top people in Britain," "The Drum's Digerati List," "The Debrett's Top 10 Digital List," and was invited to do a TED talk which quickly reached millions of views.

As a speaker, Mark Adams is celebrated for his insightful and thought-provoking presentations. Twice honoured as “Speaker of the Year” in 2023, he captivates audiences with his unique perspective on digital innovation and leadership. Mark is also the author of the anticipated 2024 publication, “The Community Driven Economy,” which promises to delve into the intricate relationship between technology, community, and economic growth.

Amir Paracha serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at Unilever Pakistan Limited. Amir began his journey with Unilever in 2000 as an Assistant Brand Manager, advancing through various Marketing and Sales leadership roles in Pakistan and globally.

Amir spearheads the company's "Unilever for Pakistan" vision, a purpose-driven movement aimed at strengthening Unilever Pakistan's impact on the lives of Pakistanis through equitable opportunities and meaningful livelihoods. He has been recognized by the Government as a “Corona War Hero” and was awarded the Shan-e-Pakistan Award by the President of Pakistan for Unilever’s COVID relief work.

Amir served as the President at the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI). He is on the boards of Shell Pakistan Limited, KVTC, Habib University Foundation and National Management Foundation. He also leads the Centre of Excellence for Responsible Business under the Pakistan Business Council and is a Male Champion of Change under Australia (MCC)'s Pakistan Coalition.

He obtained his MBA from the Institute of Business Administration. His professional journey began at The Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company in 1996. He has attended executive courses at Harvard, INSEAD, and London Business School.

Farheen Salman Amir has been associated with Unilever since 1999, leading a diverse range of categories throughout her career, including Personal Care, Ice Cream, Food, and Beverages. Her career trajectory saw her rise to the position of Ice Cream Brand Development Director for the North Africa & Middle East cluster, based out of Turkey, before she was confirmed on the board of Unilever Pakistan in 2016.

Since returning to Pakistan, Farheen has been instrumental in leading the Foods & Refreshment division as a board member for Unilever Foods Pakistan Limited, where she successfully revamped the portfolios of Lipton & Brooke Bond Tea, Knorr Foods, and Wall’s Ice Cream.

Currently, Farheen holds the position of President of Lipton Teas & Infusions, BSPAN (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan), making her one of the youngest female CEOs in the industry. Under her leadership, Lipton Teas & Infusions stands as the largest tea business globally, with renowned purpose-driven brands such as PG tips, Pukka, Lipton, T2, and Tazo. The company operates 11 production factories across four continents and maintains tea gardens in three countries.

In her role as President BSPAN & General Manager Pakistan for Lipton Teas & Infusions, Farheen oversees a business worth over €200 million and employs more than 300 people across the region.

Adding to her accomplishments, Farheen was recently elected as the Chairperson of the Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS) during its 26th Annual General Body Meeting held in December 2023. This position further solidifies her influence and leadership within the advertising and marketing industry in Pakistan.

Farheen is an alumna of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), where she completed her BBA and MBA. She is a strong advocate for women's leadership in the corporate world, emphasizing that it is possible to achieve corporate success while maintaining a balanced family life.

Mr. Samar Hayat is the Chief Executive Officer of Tapal Tea (Pvt.) Ltd. and is leading Pakistan's largest Tea company to consecutive years of extraordinary growth despite Pakistan's tough macro environment. Prior to joining Tapal, Mr. Samar spent 20 years with Procter & Gamble based in Saudi, Switzerland & Dubai leading giant global brands such as Pampers, Gillette, Head & Shoulders & Pantene for Middle East, Africa, India, Pakistan region.

Faizan is an experienced entrepreneur and founder with two successful businesses in growing sectors – digital media and consumer lifestyle. Faizan has a demonstrated history of working across functions and industries and is skilled in Analysis, Management, Leadership, Team Building, Collaboration, Finance and Marketing.

Prior to being a founder, Faizan spent time in investment banking with Lehman Brothers / BarCap in the Industrials Group. He also gained operations and marketing experience early in his career with General Motors. Faizan has an undergrad degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Finance from Cornell University.

He is also a global entrepreneur with experience in digital marketing, digital marketplaces, health & lifestyle publishing, finance and audit, manufacturing, marketing and business development. Strategized and financially supported by a variety of industries from healthcare and beauty to technology, beverage, real estate and finance. An Emerging Global Leader recognized by the US State Department, and Effie award winner for their full service digital marketing agency.

Sudhir Sitapati is the Managing Director and CEO of Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL). GCPL is one of India’s largest consumer goods multinationals with a presence in over 85 countries, and serving 1.2 billion consumers. Sudhir is responsible for guiding the purpose and ambition of the company; to bring the goodness of health and beauty to consumers in emerging markets.

Prior to this, Sudhir worked at Unilever for 22 years where he led teams across several categories and functions in India, Europe, South East Asia, and Africa. His last job was as an Executive Director - Foods and Refreshments at Hindustan Unilever

He is current Co-chair of the CII FMCG Committee and a past Co-chair of the CII National Committee of Food Processing. Sudhir was awarded the ‘Young Alumni Achiever’ by his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, in 2017. He is also the author of the best-selling book 'The CEO Factory: Management lessons from Hindustan Unilever'.

Sudhir has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a B.Sc. in Math with Economics Honors from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Sudhir is married to Ketki and spends his free time trying to get his children, Sahaana and Kabir, interested in his own hobbies — tennis, Hindustani music, farming and scrabble. So far to not much avail.

In a versatile career of over 20 years, Aziz has led large scale FMCG organizations, built business models for iconic brands, established a successful start-up company and produced a blockbuster animated feature film.

His experiences are spread over 3 continents (Asia, Africa, North America), 5 countries (USA, Singapore, Kenya, Dubai and Pakistan) and two world class FMCG companies (P&G and Colgate Palmolive) where Aziz worked at positions of increasing responsibility across General Management, Marketing and Sales functions.

In between, while on sabbatical, he founded a start-up animation company and co-produced Pakistan's highest grossing animated feature film 'The Donkey King'. Subsequently, the animation studio has turned into a sustainable business venture with dedicated, professional management at its helm as he serves in a non-executive capacity on the BoD, allowing him the freedom to do what he is most passionate about - building brands and organizations in FMCG industry

Ahsan Sheikh is a media industry expert and CEO of Kinetic Pakistan. Under his leadership, Kinetic has spearheaded numerous industry-first innovations including introduction of Digital Out of Home and Programmatic DOOH in Pakistan. Renowned for his thought leadership, Ahsan’s various articles have contributed significantly in redefining OOH's role in overall media strategy while advocating for technology integration in media and smart city development. He is a LUMS and College of Wooster alumnus and a Phi Beta Kappa Society member.

As the President of the LUMS SDSB Alumni Association, Ahsan also remains deeply connected with academia.

He began Synergy in 1999 after working for numerous agencies and brands for several years. Today, his humble beginnings with Synergy have spread into the largest IMC of Pakistan comprising of 7 leading agencies. Synergy Advertising is the local partner of the DENTSU network in Pakistan.

Ahmed is known for his bold thinking and initiatives to unite the industry:

• In 2003 launched Synergyzer, A Marketing Advertising Media and PR Industry magazine by an agency
• In 2006 launched Brandsynario.com, Pakistan's first marketing and news portal
• In 2024 published Executive Doodles, Pakistan's first in-depth book on Advertising and Marketing
• In 2024, received the first-ever RED Dragon, Dragon Master Pakistan award

Apart from his time spent on the Creativity and Advertising Management process, he is known for his keen interest in sports and philanthropy. He runs a medical aid trust in memory of his father, LKMWT.

Shahzain Munir is a visionary leader driving multiple strategic Business Units at EBM. With a rich legacy as the third generation of the EBM Family, Shahzain embodies a profound commitment to pioneering business development, growth, and expansion initiatives.

Graduating from George Washington University, Shahzain brings over 13 years of invaluable expertise across core business functions, specializing in brand building and development. His leadership extends across critical domains including marketing, media, New Product Development (NPD), Research & Development (R&D), finance, operations, supply chain, and strategic planning.

With unwavering dedication, Shahzain continues to lead transformative initiatives that define EBM’s robust growth trajectory. His steadfast leadership and forward-thinking approach ensure that EBM remains at the forefront of the industry, poised for sustained success in the years ahead. Shahzain continues to lead various transformative initiatives at EBM and propel the EBM agenda forward.

You may already know him through his out-of-the-box ideas and direction. The creative force behind Kenwood, Amreli Steels, Kingtox, the Knorr billa and many more beautifully crafted ads, Zaheeruddin, a writer and director, has been redefining Pakistani advertising for the last 20 years.

The creative figurehead of iDcreations, Dareechey Films, and Arey Wah, His portfolio is evidence of captivating concepts, masterful storytelling and enamoring execution. Through his work, he aims to bring about a shift in the creative level of advertising in Pakistan, focusing on crafting narratives based on small but significant insights that are grounded in society. Beyond advertising his first feature film “Chikkar” recently released that lifts the veil from major social issues that go unnoticed.

Asima Haq is Director (Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care) at Unilever Pakistan and part of it's management committee. A multiple award-winning brand builder and marketeer, she has over 22 years of experience in building purposeful brands and creating future fit businesses, with experience leading diverse teams across multiple markets.

A passionate advocate of women’s empowerment, driving inclusion both at work and through the reach of her brands, Asima has an MBA from IBA. She has previously served as a juror for the Effies Pakistan and was recognized by DIVA as one of Pakistan's 30 most powerful businesswomen.

Hasan understands the emerging markets and has a background in developing the digital ecosystem including both product and growth. His current flagship product is Tamasha, the largest OTT platform in Pakistan.

Prior to this, Hasan was leading the digital marketing team at HBL, tasked to inculcate a culture of data-driven decision making and enhancing the digital profile of the bank. At Telenor, he has been instrumental in establishing the digital business for the Emerging Asia Cluster. Hasan has also been in consulting working for Ernst & Young and International Data Corporation in the Middle East.

He has done his MSc in International Business from CERAM Business School in France, an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from LUMS and a number of executive courses from LBS, INSEAD, LSE and IMD. Hasan is a water sports enthusiast and has been part of various swimming, waterpolo and sailing teams as an amateur.

Asif has an extensive career in the telecommunications industry, focusing in emerging markets. He has held a number of leadership roles in multinational telecom organizations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His international experience and strategic vision have been crucial in driving Jazz's growth and sustaining its market leadership.

At Jazz, Asif has spearheaded several strategic initiatives and milestones. He played a key role in the merger of Mobilink and Warid, revitalizing the brand’s market presence and transforming it into the customer-centric brand we know today as Jazz.

Asif has been instrumental in promoting digital adoption in Pakistan, advocating for increased smartphone and broadband penetration, with a focus on digital inclusion. In his various strategic roles at Jazz, including Chief Commercial Officer, he successfully expanded Jazz’s customer base from 35 million to 75 million. Notably, he also played a crucial role in the introduction of 4G services, solidifying Jazz’s position as the market leader, growing its customer base to 47 million. Most recently, as President, enterprise solutions, he has driven Pakistan’s largest onshore cloud, Garaj to market leader.

Asif holds an MBA from Ashridge Management School (now part of Hult), and graduated from Stanford executive Proramme. Asif previously Chairman of the Pakistan Advertisers Society. A Chartered Marketer since 1997 and also an avid sportsman.

Nadeem Zaman has more than 25 years of global marketing experience, including at Unilever, the Coca-Cola Company and Kimberly-Clark, where he is Marketing Head for their Baby and Child Care portfolio. He has extensive experience working in over 120 developed and emerging markets in Asia, Europe, Africa and the US. He is currently Kimberly-Clark’s Marketing Head for the Baby and Child Care portfolio, leading the turnaround of the $7 billion dollar portfolio to accelerated growth. While serving as the Country Marketing Head for the Coca-Cola Company in Pakistan, he also led the launch of Coke Studio.

Zaman has been an inspiring mentor for many at work as well outside work and takes pride in building some of the biggest brands and supporting most enterprising and successful talent along the career journey. He is on the Advisory board of Georgia State University, Alkaram Textile outfit as well as for AI CMO (an AI enabled end-to-end content studio platform).

Adil Ahmed, Director and Co-Founder of Symmetry Group, is a pioneer in Pakistan’s digital landscape with over 20 years of experience across South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. As the co-founder of Pakistan’s first interactive marketing agency, Adil has driven the growth of digital marketing in the country.

Under his leadership, Symmetry Group has become a leading technology and experiences company, going public in 2023. He is known for his expertise across diverse digital verticals and has a reputation as a visionary, constantly seeking to introduce trends and launch successful tech ventures. Adil's expertise in AI-driven tools, experiences, and strategies has been pivotal in integrating technology into marketing, creating transformative possibilities across industries. His valuable insights will showcase how emerging technologies and innovative strategies can drive business growth and transformation in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Ali Habib is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for HBL and leads the Bank’s Marketing and Corporate Affairs functions. He joined HBL in November 2018. Ali brings a rich experience of having worked in similar roles not only in other leading banks but also outside the financial industry.

Ali’s career spans 32 years - in Pakistan / Egypt / Yemen - of working in blue chip organizations like Procter & Gamble (P&G), Reckitt Benckiser, Standard Chartered, UBL and HBL.

Ali is an alumnus of IBA, Karachi, and Aitchison College, Lahore.

Hamza has spent 14 years evangelising an industry-wide shift in advertising to an integrated marketing model where an idea remains central to storytelling irrespective of the medium that brings it to life. In 2021, he achieved historic success with Pakistan's first 2 Grands Prix at Cannes Lions. He has also earned recognition as Pakistan's most awarded Creative by Campaign Brief Asia and ranked 40th worldwide among Creative Directors, the only Pakistani on The Drum's list.

His work has garnered acclaim from prestigious global awards, including Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, Clios, One Show, D&AD, LIA, Madstars, Tambuli, and Effie. As an Executive Director of Creative, Social, and Performance Management at Ogilvy Pakistan, Hamza aims to champion the application of creative technology to address a wide range of business challenges.

Zohaib Kazi, a consummate multidisciplinary artist, has assumed various creative roles over his illustrious 17-year career. As a producer, director, music maven, and consultant, his boundless talents shine through. His hallmark lies in his distinctive approach to storytelling, evident in endeavors ranging from groundbreaking archival projects exploring Pakistan's folk music heritage to imaginative forays into science fiction narratives. Following an eight-year tenure sculpting the foundational decade of Coke Studio, culminating in his departure as its esteemed Director and Producer, Kazi seamlessly transitioned into the realm of visual direction and in search of his sonic artistic pursuits.

Here, he collaborated with titans like Pepsi, Red Bull, and Spotify while producing independent content respectively. His future promises a captivating tapestry of documentaries, music odysseys, and innovative sci-fi storytelling.

Måns has led Grey’s strategy community across AMEA since 2017 (previously in Singapore, now based in Dubai). Måns’ elevated Grey to a regional strategic leader by winning the Global & APAC Grand Effies as well as the Grand Prix’ at the WARC Prize for Asian Strategy & Effective Innovation. He’s the founder of Grey Adventures, a leading accelerator for the creative industry and sustainability practice Sustainably Grey.

Before Grey, he held strategic leadership roles at Crispin Porter+Bogusky, Razorfish, Fallon & Lowe. He also started pioneering Swedish digital creative agency Tesch & Tesch (rebranded Lowe Tesch post Lowe-acquisition) & brand innovation consultancy Tesch London.

Ahsan heads the Marketing and Digital Products division at Telenor Pakistan. In this role he is responsible for customer analytics, value propositions, products, journeys, communication, and go-to-market for the traditional telecom products as well as adjacent digital products and services.

He has over 16 years of experience across 2 continents in the consumer-facing telecom business in the marketing function.

A strategic media, digital and data thinker at Unilever Pakistan, Javed specializes in developing and executing data-driven brand strategies to deliver high returns. He's spearheaded Unilever's digital transformation across Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, resulting in a threefold increase in the company's digital investments and savings of more than EU 2.6 million. Javed also served as Vice President of the Malaysian Advertisers Association.

With an extensive professional background spanning over 16 years, Rifah has demonstrated her marketing leadership across diverse industries like technology, retail and food packaging. She has worked on some of the nation’s most renowned brands, including easypaisa, foodpanda and Metro Cash and Carry. Presently, Rifah leads the Marketing and Corporate Communications department at easypaisa, Pakistan’s foremost fintech institution.

Throughout her career, she has orchestrated numerous successful campaigns and shattered gender-based barriers by consistently securing prominent positions within her various organisations. Her skill set spans the spectrum of brand management, creative strategy, and the creation of many consumer-centric initiatives. Beyond the realms of boardrooms and marketing campaigns, Rifah’s passion for travel provides her with a unique perspective on the world, infusing her work with a distinct creative flair. Her expeditions are the secret sauce to all the creativity that she brings into her work!

Aaminah leads the marketing and communication teams at EBM, managing a portfolio of 18 brands. Her primary role is growing new and existing brands for EBM and developing strategies to deliver the company’s growth agenda for the future.

With over 15 years of expertise in the marketing in food, beverage, and personal care sectors, Aaminah has also worked as Marketing Director for L’Oreal Paris and Maybelline NY and Regional Marketing Manager at The Coca-Cola Export Corporation.

She has done her Master's in Business Administration in 2001 from Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Waqas has worked in marketing for almost 17 years across MENA, Caucasus & Central Asia Republics, and of course Pakistan. He has worked for local and international market leaders including the Coca-Cola Company, Engro Foods Friesland Campina and Reckitt before joining foodpanda. Over the years, he has been associated with globally and locally recognized brands like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Olper’s, Tarang, Dettol, and Engro corp. He believes marketing should drive sustained business growth by building brands people love and can relate to.

A strategic, transformative, and customer-obsessed executive with nearly two decades of experience shaping the luxury, retail, destinations, and leisure sectors in the MENA region. Her expertise lies in building brands and propelling them onto the global stage.

Maria founded Gedeon Mohr & Partners with a vision to service clients around the world helping them design, transform and grow sustainably. Previously Maria served as the former Chief Customer and Marketing Officer of the Chalhoub Group the largest fashion and beauty retailer in the MENA and the JV partner of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury group conglomerate. In her capacity, Maria managed an award-winning team of 150+, driving the transformation, overseeing brand building, marketing, customer experience, customer engagement, loyalty insights and advanced analytics, commercial partnerships, and content for the group.

Maria’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2002 with the establishment of Select, an events and entertainment startup catering to the Middle East. In 2006, she relocated to the UAE to work on the World Future Energy Summit, a collaborative initiative between Turret Media, Masdar, and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre. She also spearheaded marketing and sponsorship for the Turret Media consumer portfolio, playing a key role in the acquisition and growth of Taste of Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Art Fair, and the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Festival among others.

In 2009, Maria took up the role of Director of Marketing and Communication at the Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (a Mubadala subsidiary) heading up the function for Zayed Sports City. Her responsibilities included transforming and growing the brand, driving a turnaround in the company's performance, and transforming the marketing, sponsorships, events and customer experience organization.

Maria then moved to Majid Al Futtaim in 2016, the leading shopping malls, retail, and entertainment conglomerate in the MENA region, as Director of Marketing. As part of the senior executive team, she managed a cadre of 70+ award-winning marketers for the Entertainment division. Her tenure was marked by the transformation of the marketing and customer organization to instill an innovative, creative, customer-obsessed, and data-driven culture.

Presently, Maria serves as an external advisor to Bain & Company and holds positions on several regional boards, including the Marketing Society’s Middle East Chapter, the International Women Board of Directors, and Almentor.net, the largest e-learning platform in the Arab world. Maria earned her bachelor's degree in Advertising and Visual Communication from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (alba) in Beirut.

She is a proud working mother of two and a huge proponent of diversity & inclusion initiatives. A former national ski champion and enthusiastic tennis player, she possesses a deep appreciation for art, hospitality, and food. In her spare time, she travels, exercises, and delights in cooking for friends. Maria also lends her support to startups emerging from the MENA region and mentors marketing leaders of tomorrow.

Musharaf’s career in consumer business spanned over 36 years. She started her career with Unilever Pakistan in 1983. Her 23 years with the organization included roles from brand management to country operations. Musharaf’s various assignments included posting in Unilever’s London Headquarters where she worked for the Asia Pacific and Africa Middle East regions from 1991-94. Her key experience in Pakistan included the Ice Cream acquisition and merger, assuming the role of Board Director for Unilever’s Home & Personal Care Business, and subsequently becoming the National Sales Director. In July 2001, she was appointed Chairman & CEO and served in this capacity till September 2006.

Musharaf joined the L’Oreal Group in 2008 with the responsibility to establish and launch the L’Oreal business in Pakistan. The company was established in 2009, comprising entrepreneurial talent, manufacturing, supply chain, and multi-channel distribution to reach Pakistani consumers. Musharaf’s span asCEO and Founder of L’Oreal Pakistan was completed in June 2019.

She then worked with Khaadi (Pakistan’s premier fashion retail brand) on brand transformation project from October 2019 to December 2021. Some of her external roles included Board positions in Education Institutions, Banking, Non- Government Organisations, and in the Health sector. She has been a member of several Government policy groups.

In 2005, Musharaf received the Presidential Performance Award – Sitara-I-Imtiaz. This award was given in recognition of her outstanding business achievements and contribution to the economy. In 2011, the President of France, awarded Musharaf the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (Knight of National Order of Merit). In addition, she was listed among the 50 Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes Magazine in 2004.

Khurram has been responsible for leading digital transformation for global industry powerhouses including Gillette, Procter and Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. He was also a subject matter expert on Digital Marketing for the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, a mentor to emerging market startups as part of the United Nations Development Program and a founding member of the UAE government's corporate innovation accelerator Area 2071.

He currently serves as a senior digital strategy and innovation advisor to a G20 government regulator providing expertise and future thinking on policy, regulation and innovation in developing a digital economy He is also the Co Founder of a global non non for profit think tank called the Web 3 Institute and author of “The New Digital World Order”.

Dr. Zeelaf Munir is the Managing Director & CEO of English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt.) Limited (EBM) since 2015. Building upon the company’s strong foundations of over five decades, EBM has grown exponentially under Dr. Zeelaf’s leadership to become the largest national FMCG and biscuit and cake manufacturer in Pakistan while consecutively winning the “Best Place to Work” award. Her 30 year career, extending from medical practice, and managing a multi-state organization to serving on the Boards of several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, is much like the woman herself; authentic, dynamic, and purposeful.

Along with her current role at EBM, she is also Vice Chairperson at the Pakistan Business Council (PBC). She is the Chairperson of the Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS), Chairperson of the i-Care Foundation, and a board member of LUMS Foundation, IBA Corporate Leaders Advisory and serves on the jury of the IBP (Institute of Banking Pakistan) banking awards committee.

Dr. Munir holds a medical degree from Dow University, a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, post-graduate residency training from Washington University School of Medicine and has done a management and leadership program from Harvard Business School.

Aamir Ibrahim is a highly accomplished business executive with over 25 years of experience in diverse industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and financial services. He is the CEO of Jazz, the largest telecom company in Pakistan, and a member of the Global Executive Committee of VEON, the sixth largest telecom operator in the world. Under his visionary leadership, Jazz has emerged as the most successful digital conglomerate in Pakistan, becoming the connectivity lifeline in the country.

Aamir has made significant contributions to the telecom industry of Pakistan, including leading the highest investment to-date in Pakistan, crossing over $10.4 Bn, which is the highest among all telecom companies. He successfully spearheaded the merger between two giants - Mobilink and Warid - and expanded Pakistan's 4G penetration to remote areas. As the Chairman of Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd, he has driven the bank's overall strategic direction to accelerate economic growth and digitize the microfinance industry of Pakistan.

Aamir is a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion, particularly for women in Pakistan to have access to digital technologies. He has driven numerous programs to make technology more inclusive and accessible. Under his leadership, Jazz has emerged as a major player in the fintech space, with JazzCash becoming the national wallet of Pakistan, with over 56.2% mobile wallet owners.

Aamir is committed to giving back to the community and has led Jazz to be at the forefront of philanthropy. During crises such as COVID-19 and the 2022 floods, Jazz stepped up to support the community. He has served on the Boards of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Ignite, driving connectivity projects and the network of National Incubation Centers across the country. He has been the Chair of the Telecom Subcommittee of the Prime Minister's Council for Digital Economy for Pakistan.

Aamir received his Bachelors in Business (Accounting) from The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds an MBA from IMD in Switzerland and an APM Diploma from the Harvard Business School. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions in VEON, Telenor Group, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Mobilink.

Rafael Prandini (“Rafa”) is The Coca-Cola Company Marketing Vice President for Eurasia and Middle East. Rafa is a change agent who is passionate and obsessed about helping with human development, engagement, and growth. Rafa began his career as an intern in Ebay. Then he joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2004 as a trainee in Brazil.

He has worked in almost all marketing and strategic functions and categories in Latin America and North America, including the global digital lead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the turnaround of the hydration & nutrition business in Brazil, the revamp of talent engagement in Latin America, and the launch of Latin America's first alcohol endeavor, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer. In 2021 and 2022, he oversaw Coca-Cola TM brand in North America, where he led a team that transformed the brand strategy and achieved record results including the rejuvenation of the brand and its consumer base.

Kiranjeet is a senior technology executive who has over a decade of experience working at digital native businesses. He has operated across many APAC countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. The tech categories include food tech, mobility and quick commerce with experience in ad-tech, strategic partnerships, operations, commercial, amongst others. Currently, Kiranjeet leads both strategic partnerships and adtech for foodpanda (a Delivery Hero company) across 11 countries in APAC.

Prior to foodpanda, Kiranjeet was at Gojek, Uber and Uber Eats. Kiranjeet also is a member of the regional board for IAB Southeast Asia and India.

Muhammad Ammar Hassan is a Fractional CMO & CGO. Currently engaged with technology companies like DVAGO, Oraan, Onic & Yango where he working in areas pertaining to brand, performance marketing, Data, engineering & product management to amplify demand side growth for companies involved in eCommerce & physical retail, Pharmacy, FinTech, Telecommunication & Ride Hailing.

Ammar previously held C-Suite level positions in Daraz [Alibaba Group] where he was the CMO & SVP Monetization for 5 years. Ammar also was a founding member of OLX where he served as Head of marketing, Sales and customer operations from 2014 to 2019.

Ammar also have ground level experience in advertising working in the field of media planning, creative, brand activation and PR agencies in ZenithOptimedia, Adcom Leo Burnette, Evernew concepts, RG Blue comms & Status Pro along with his sales experience in ARY Digital.

Ammar is a prominent thought leader with over 27,000 followers on LinkedIn where he regularly writes about e-commerce, performance-driven marketing, branding, and organizational culture.