Senthil has over 20 years’ experience in the meetings, association and leisure industry. He has held wide spectrum of positions in the meetings industry. Such as CEO of Convention Bureau of Sri Lanka, Vice President of Kuoni. He moved to Dubai in 2006 and has been working for Congress Solutions International, the Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) arm of Emirates Group, eventually holding responsibility for wide ranging business development, sales and operations functions for some of the largest international meetings held in the UAE, including World Diabetes Congress, UITP, and World Economic Forum. He has been involved in winning many Congress bids for Dubai, UAE and the Region. Academically he holds a European Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration. Currently reading for PHD. Senthil has been working with the global association fraternity for more than two decades and has in depth knowledge on global association segment development. He was the Regional Director Middle East for the last three years of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) headquartered in Netherlands. Presently he is the Chief Executive Officer of ICCA.
A passionate strategist. Being creative and adaptable to the constantly changing environment are his key strengths. Always aims at professionalism and focuses on achieving the organizational objectives and financial goals. Winner of Global Business Events Strategist of the year awarded by PCMA - USA.
ICCA -the International Congress and Convention Association- is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry.
ICCA represents the main specialists in organizing, transporting, and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises over 1,150-member companies and organizations in over 100 countries worldwide. ICCA specializes in the international association meetings sector, offering unrivalled data, communication channels, and business development opportunities.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: How will the MICE Sector Reverberate?

Khalid Al Zadjali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He has been associated with the tourism industry before the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism, handling promotion of domestic tourism in the Marketing Department of the Directorate General of Tourism in Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

After the formation of the MOT, Mr. Al Zadjali has overseen planning and execution of initiatives and events to promote tourism in Oman, in the region and internationally. He also supervises the promotion of the country as a destination for Cruise Tourism. His efforts have been very instrumental in the initiation of the development of the Cruise and MICE industries in Oman.

He is also representing the Ministry of Tourism as an active member in several government committees that handle important economic and social issues.

Khalid's efforts continue to contribute to establishing the Oman Convention Bureau (OCB) to be independent department under the umbrella of Ministry of Tourism in March 2016 headed by him. Today he is a member of different international associations related to MICE sector and he became Middle East Chapter Chair of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: How will the MICE sector Reverberate?

Jeff is a recognised aviation industry leader with strong interpersonal and management skills and a highly successful track record of delivering results.

Jeff’s strengths are strategic thinking and implementation; negotiation, analysis and influencing; diplomacy; advocacy and communications; change management; understanding of governments and regulatory environments; public affairs; good governance; business development; commercial, contractual and procurement; and team management, coaching, mentoring and motivation. A global traveller with many years of international business experience, Jeff is very comfortable and capable in discussions at the highest levels of governments, industry, academia, media, and the public, all with strong cultural sensitivity and awareness. He is an experienced public speaker used to high media exposure. Jeff has wide experience of serving as Board member or non-executive Director for several organisations as well as serving on high-level government, institution and industry groups and committees.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: How will the MICE sector Reverberate?

Kaan Yıldızgöz is based in Brussels and has the global responsibility of UITP membership, events, exhibitions, marketing, training, and other business services. Kaan Yıldızgöz worked as Training Director of UITP in Brussels, Senior Manager of UITP Middle East and North Africa Centre for Transport Excellence in Dubai, Loyalty & CRM Director of Turkish Airlines, Quality & Corporate Development Director and Advisor to General Manager in Metro Istanbul.

Kaan Yıldızgöz was member of Star Alliance Loyalty Strategy Committee, Advisory Board Member of International Association of Transport Regulators (IATR) and Training Advisory Board of International Road Union (IRU). Kaan Yıldızgöz lectured as part time teaching staff at Istanbul and Bahcesehir Universities and he was guest lecturer at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Kaan Yıldızgöz is the first student of Istanbul Technical University who graduated in 2.5 years from 4 years long Management Engineering Programme. He also holds a master’s degree from Marmara University in the area of International Business Administration and completed “Infrastructure in a Market Economy: Public Private Partnerships” Executive Education Programme of Harvard University. Mr Yildizgoz has his Phd studies on New Mobility Services.

Mr Yıldızgöz is also author of the books ‘Taxis in the Era of Digitalization’ (2018) and ‘Taxis in the Era of Coronavirus’ (2020).

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: How will the MICE sector Reverberate?

He is an external Advisor at The Executive Office for Organizational Transformation, Dubai Health Authority with responsibility for Health strategy development, implementation, execution and Transformation.

Prior to that, Dr Mazin Gadir led Healthcare Strategy Transformation and Digital Health Innovation at PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC Middle East, Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services Co. SEHA, Cerner UK and ME accumulating 19+ years of experience in the field of Healthcare, innovation and transformation. As a management consultant, he accumulated a depth of experience covering many global organizations in the UK, France, UAE, KSA, GCC, Australia, India and the USA.

Dr Mazin Gadir received his PhD in Quantum Electronics and Nanotechnology Innovation from The University of Leeds in the UK from 2000 to 2005. He also obtained an MSc in Management and Business Administration and BEng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 09:05 AST
Session: How to Market & Sell Venue Space for Conferences

Kadri is one of the founding board members of Estonian Convention Bureau in 2008 and has served as its Managing Director since 2011. In addition to her daily job of promoting Estonia as a meetings destination, Kadri works as a lecturer for Tartu University Pärnu College where she teaches destination marketing and conference organising. Her 24 years' activity in the meetings industry includes 13 years of work as a professional conference organiser responsible for arranging hundreds of international congresses and events. She holds a MA degree in public administration and an MBA in management and marketing.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: Trends in the MICE Segment

Mubarak Al Shamisi has over 15 years of experience in the travel and meetings industry. Since joining the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau as Director in 2014, he has strengthened the Bureau’s presence in Abu Dhabi, and facilitated growth in the congress and conferences sector. In his role he is responsible for the overall Business Events strategy and market positioning for the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Mubarak was elected Chairperson of the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) Middle East Chapter from 2018 to 2019. He is also elected as the ICCA Board Member since October 2019 to date. Recently he has been elected as a board member of International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) MENA Chapter.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 09:05 AST
Session: How to Market & Sell Venue Space for Conferences

Rich rounded 15 years’ experience in biggest multinational companies, carrying out world class Strategic & Marketing management, and achieving remarkable successes for global brands.

As SCEGA Acting CEO, he oversees establishing the new Government Authority and setting its strategic direction & mandate that aims to transform the convention & exhibition sector in KSA to an international level and activating the partnership between the private sector and government agencies.

Role Model in Leadership & attitude, excellent communication & influential.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: Trends in the MICE Segment

Mike is a destination and convention and visitor bureau specialist with 30 years’ experience in the tourism and business events industry. Since joining Gaining Edge in 2007 he has been a lead consultant on destination and convention bureau development for clients in Australia, Africa, China, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Qatar, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom & USA. Mike was the lead consultant for establishment and capability strengthening for the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau. This project included the collaboration with a university and research company to undertake an economic impact study and exhibition industry opportunity study. Mike was also deeply involved in bureau development programmes in Japan, Macao and Thailand. He has also been providing consultancy support for convention centre developments around the globe, including a number within the Asia Pacific region. In addition, Mike oversees GainingEdge's in-market sales representation.

Mike served as General Manager Sales and Marketing for the Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau. During his tenure, he was involved in the National Business Events economic impact study and Melbourne Delegate Expenditure survey in collaboration with a university and research company. He also worked in senior marketing roles with Tourism Australia helping establish their presence in the Asia market and overseeing travel trade development in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Mike was instrumental in the development of AIME, the largest MICE tradeshow in the Asia Pacific and the world’s first BestCities Global Alliance which includes Singapore as a partner. Mike is also a past Victorian State Chair and National President of Meetings and Events of Australia (MEA).

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 09:05 AST
Session: How to Market & Sell Venue Space for Conferences

Rochelle Uechtritz has achieved global recognition for not only companies and venues she has been involved with, but is internationally renowned for her expertise in the global convention and meetings industry.

Rochelle is a globally recognised specialist in the positioning and market development in the pre-opening and transition phases of international standard purpose-built convention centres, especially in green-field convention destinations. This niche expertise has now become one of her greatest passions.

An innovative and creative thinker, Rochelle’s core strengths include creation of dynamic marketing and communication strategies, brand + market development, global awareness, innovative research initiatives, development of new and emerging markets, review and reboot of existing venues, as well as creation of effective sales systems and procedures to monitor their success.

Sited as one of her most satisfying achievements, the successful collaborative "AEG Advantage" campaign to provide a united community for AEG's Convention Centre network www.aegadvantage.com was developed, produced and implemented by Rochelle, together with creative agency, Propella.

Specialties: Strategic, creative, innovative, out of the box' research initiatives, solution-finder, with a passion for education and training of the next generation of the global meetings industry, and ultimately, devotee of building long-term client relationships to achieve the goals of all entities involved.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 09:05 AST
Session: How to Market & Sell Venue Space for Conferences

Nizar Wadih Zaitoun, Founder and Managing Partner, Vice Chairperson – MENA Chapter: IAEE (International Association for Exhibitions & Events), President of Conference Committee: AUIEC (Arab Union for International Exhibitions & Conferences), Managing Partner: ARWADEX ACADEMY (Arab Water Desalination Academy). Nizar has finished his Business Administration degree from American University of Beirut in 1983 & MBA degree in Middle Eastern Studies from American University of Beirut in1986. He speaks fluent Arabic – English and French. He has published many articles on MICE industry and participated in many conferences and workshops as Speaker and Instructor since 2003. He is a member of ICCA – MPI – IAEE – AUIEC.

ExiCon International Group (International Business Unit for The Specialist Group): Founded in 1990 and with offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, Beirut, Dubai, London & Cairo, the Specialist – ExiCon International Group is one of the leading Events Management companies specialized in scientific conferences in the MENA area with over 270 Conferences in its portfolio in 16 different countries.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: Trends in the MICE Segment

Dr. Zohair is the Chairman of the Saudi Exhibitions & Conferences Association and CEO of the Specialist Group. He is also a board-member in the IAEE MENA Chapter and was a member of the previous Supervisory Committee of the Saudi Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB – now Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA)) and CEO of the Saudi Events Management Academy. He holds a PhD in Operations & Maintenance Engineering from the University of Manchester. Dr. Al Sarraj is also member of several local and regional bodies and organizations in the fields of operations and maintenance such as being the Chairman of the International Maintenance Association (IMA) and Vice Chairman of the Arab Council for Operations & Maintenance (OMAINTEC).

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 16:15 AST
Session: Competitive Bidding – Understanding the Framework

Marketing has always been my passion, starting from socializing with different kinds of Consumers & business experts up to creation of ideas, products, & campaigns. Persuing my marketing career in FMCG industry have empowered me with an In-depth consumer knowledge, innovation leadership, & practical experience of core Marketing & Business management.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 16:00 AST
Session: Wrap up Day 1

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 16:15 AST
Session: Competitive Bidding - Understanding the Framework

Anju has been based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates since 1996 and has spent a significant portion of her career working in senior positions across both the association and MICE industry, specializing in local and international stakeholder relations. She has extensive association management experience, strong professional history of association development work in the Middle East, and processes strategic knowledge. Gomes is a skilled communicator and strategist with in-depth knowledge of International & regional market conditions and local business culture.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 16:15 AST
Session: Competitive Bidding – Understanding the Framework

Let's try more...Let's do better...These are my everyday words! With 20 years of involvement in event industry and international bidding and procurement processes, I have forged new territory and solidified my niche within the events ant travel industry.

To serve clients, we use various skills to execute successful events. In this daily mix of planning and execution, we discovered that we must adopt to changes more than ever. World is a fast growing machine which will never stop!

In my private life i like to hang out with my friends and family. We don't have three lives and we should use every opportunity to make yourself full of satisfaction.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 16:15 AST
Session: Competitive Bidding – Understanding the Framework

Noor has been the ICCA Regional Director for Asia Pacific since 2009.

Under his leadership, he has strengthened ICCA’s footprint as one of the most successful international association within the region. He has played an important role in making ICCA Asia Pacific to the largest Chapter, with more than 270-member organisations spanning across 100 cities. It is also notable that he has expanded the Kuala Lumpur-based research team to a Global Research Centre status which allows for more comprehensive research projects to be achieved.

He is the face of ICCA in Asia-Pacific and has spoken in numerous events. In addition, he leads faculty in educational seminars and training workshops. He is one of the Founding Advisory Board & Ambassador for the ASAE’s initiative in Asia Pacific. With his immense works in China, he has been inducted to the China Meetings Industry Convention Hall of Fame in 2018. He has also been recognised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) as one of the key thought leaders for the China’s convention industry.

Despite all these achievements, he preserves his humble aim to help the region grow and expand ICCA’s advocacy to the community.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 2 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: How will the MICE sector Reverberate?

Emad Monshi is an expert in event and tourism management. His expertise is based on his academic qualifications including; PhD in entrepreneurship event management, master degree in tourism and hospitality (event management), master of business (international travel and tourism management), executive certificate in event management, graduate diploma in economics and bachelor of business administration (financial management). He is also involved in the Saudi tourism industry as he gave over 50 consultations in the last five years to event organisations, tourism operators, destinations and institutions, and government agencies.

Location: Riyadh
Date: 3 November 2020
Time: 15:00 AST
Session: Trends in the MICE Segment

Rob Davidson’s main areas of expertise are conferences and business travel, and over the last fifteen years he has written widely on these themes. In addition to writing books, he regularly writes articles for the professional business travel and tourism press, including Conference News.

He is regularly invited to speak at international conferences on themes linked to business tourism. Since 2002, Rob has been employed on a consultancy basis as Industry Analyst by Reed Travel Exhibitions, for whom he carries out ongoing research. At IBTM World in Barcelona each year, he launches his annual report, Trends Watch, on trends in the meetings and business travel industry worldwide.

For the past 5 years, he has been included in Conference and Incentive Travel magazine’s ‘Power 50’ – the 50 most influential people in the UK conference industry.