Archives: Session Speakers

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.

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.