Lelian Chew is the celebrated founder of The Atelier & Co., with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
As a former Goldman Sachs financier to the power brokers of Asia, Lelian played advisor to heirs of family fortunes, heads of states and luminaries before making the beautiful switch to luxury event concepteur.
Combining her intimate and deep understanding of the elites of society, with her affinity for beauty and luxury, Lelian and her team deliver unprecedented expertise and creations. Lelian stars in her own BBC documentary titled ‘Million Dollar Wedding Planner’. She is awarded Harper’s Bazaar US ‘Top Planner in The World’, Luxury Travel Guide’s ‘Global Expert of the Year’, and hailed as ‘The Magic Maker’ on the cover of Tatler Asia. A fixture at international luxury speaking engagements, Lelian is a thought leader of the global luxury events industry.
Wendy El-Khoury is a trailblazing entrepreneur and philanthropist who has transformed the wedding and lifestyle industries. As the co-founder of 'This is Wondergroup' and Creative Director of Wedded Wonderland and other influential brands, she has spearheaded digital innovation and global expansion in the wedding space, while championing business opportunities for local markets on a global scale. Her vast experience as a consultant and educator has not only cultivated a thriving online community of millions but also attracted the most prestigious partners and stakeholders in the global wedding market seeking her expertise. A sought-after speaker and advocate for diversity and empowerment, Wendy's strategic vision and marketing acumen have earned her numerous accolades and recognition in esteemed media outlets worldwide.
Bryan Fafali Tachie-Menson is revered as Ghana's premier wedding and events planner. He is the team Lead at WHITECHALK GLOBAL and the lead producer at THE MAGICHOUSE, both of which are industry pioneers within the zones of wedding and event planning. His effort in making "dreams come true” cannot go unnoticed. He has been named twice to be among the top 100 most influential wedding organizers and creators across the globe by Destination Wedding Planners (DWP), the world’s biggest B2B platform for destination weddings.
Mr. Tachie-Menson’s widened portfolio speaks for itself. He has planned and designed over 700 weddings in West Africa and beyond during the stretch of his career and has won numerous awards for his work.
It is often said that, there’s nothing as a good event without Bryan’s magic touch.
He is a notable trendsetter who specializes in planning unique and exquisite weddings and is an essential figure and influencer in Ghana's modern and progressive events planning scene. He has been featured in several wedding look books, magazines, journals and blogs.
His home country, as well as the world recognizes his immense influence in the event industry. In 2022, Bryan Fafali Tachie-Menson won the highly prestigious Ghana's Forty Under40 Award under the coveted category, "Event planner of the year" and was also named among 50 most influential event personalities in Ghana by the ICS Africa (Impact Concepts and Solutions Africa), an organization set up to add value to corporate businesses all over the continent.
Correspondingly, as a senior planner at HEY MR. INTERNATIONAL PLANNER, Mr Tachie-Menson, alongside his work, has contributed greatly in the impart of his knowledge to the new generation as he strongly believes in improving the prospects of all people. He is recognized worldwide as an international conference speaker and a tutor who has spoken and taught in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, south Africa, India,China. He is an is an unparalleled expert in the realm of event planning. With experience orchestrating memorable occasions across Africa, Mr. Bryan has honed his craft to perfection, seamlessly blending creativity, precision, and cultural sensitivity. His deep and varied comprehension of African values and cultures has enabled him to appreciate his clients’ needs; this appreciation is reflected in how he is perceived on African stages to share his experiences and his skills with other persons in similar fields.
As a driving force in the African wedding scene, Bryan Fafali Tachie-Menson, as well as his highly professional team,has carved a niche as the ultimate event planner across all of Africa. Evidently, good work speaks for itself. It is hence not shocking to see the immense amount of admiration, not only from the public, but also from other event experts all over the African continent.
Cyrielle Mohara, the founder & CEO at Chic & Co is a French event producer with 10 years experience in luxury event planning.
She has been living in Asia for 13 years and speaks fluent French, English and Mandarin. She has planned exclusive destination weddings all over the world in some of the most exotic destinations, such as creating a magical wedding in Bhutan or a one thousand and one nights wedding in Marrakech.
With a keen eye for beauty & details, she infuses the French excellence to produce international events. She is one of the only foreign planners in China, bringing a unique insight to the Chinese market combined with a touch of French Chic!
Yvonne runs Designlab Experience with its creative headquarters in Dubai and a presence across the GCC. A senior business executive with experience built over a cross-disciplined 20+ year career, working in the EMEA region and across many industries ranging from communications, live events, hospitality, tourism, and leisure.
In her role as Group Chief Operating Officer, Yvonne strategically leads the organization, developing its business ecosystem and reach to deliver growth and expansion throughout the holding group. Among her broad range of skills, Yvonne is an expert in accelerating the company’s potential growth, organizational restructuring, and building, empowering, and motivating teams.
An executive producer by craft, Yvonne works closely with the DLE team, clients, and key stakeholders, in producing multi-disciplinary experiences from concept to execution that are meaningful, innovative, and exceptionally well delivered. As a keen practitioner of creative, experiential storytelling, rooted in insight and strategy, Yvonne guides the team to deliver engaging environments and narratives.
Louise Nichol is a Dubai-based journalist, consultant, and presenter with over 20 years’ experience in the fashion and lifestyle industry. Louise was the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia and Harper’s Bazaar Bride for a over decade before leaving to develop her own fitness and fashion brand. Over the course of her professional life Louise has interviewed many of the world’s most influential women, from Queen Rania of Jordan to Kim Kardashian.
Louise has a degree in politics, philosophy and English from Durham University in the UK and is a passionate advocate for women’s health, working as a fitness instructor at a boutique UAE gym and a volunteer coach for athletes of determination in her spare time. Louise is mother to three children, aged ten, eight and seven, and last year took part in a marriage vow renewal marketing campaign for a UAE hotel operator.
With over 18 years of versatile experience encompassing event management, operations, and production, he has carved a niche expertise in the realm of entertainment production & management, cultural programming, and show management/direction across Egypt and the wider region. Jimi's journey into the captivating world of Event & Entertainment Management began in 2005, and he has been passionately shaping experiences ever since.
In 2015, Jimi co-founded Jimirazz, a Cairo-based event & entertainment resourcing company. Today, Jimirazz stands as the leading booking agency in Egypt dedicated to Indie Music Artists.
Jimi's path led him to the UAE in 2018, where he joined Dubai-based Event Lab to lead the Entertainment & Culture department (now MISTIKA). MISTIKA is a unique creative consultancy specializing in cultural entertainment & performing arts in the region.
As an active Musician, since 2005, Jimi has been a prominent figure in the thriving Arab Indie Music scene, both as an artist/performer and a business person.
Director of Participation and Conformity at the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, part of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Oversees a portfolio of global strategic and commercial partnerships with the government and private sector focused on development and diversification of the economy by attracting talents globally, empowering the voice of residents and enhancing sense of belonging driving a long-lasting impact about their experience in Abu Dhabi.
Yasser has over 20 years of experience across global brands in the UAE across commercial, marketing, customer experience, product development and is a subject matter expert in loyalty, partnerships and commercial sponsorships.
Aarti's journey as an entrepreneur has been nothing short of thrilling, spanning more than two decades of trailblazing work in the travel and tourism industry. She draws upon her extensive experience in leisure travel and social events to shape Milestones to Memories, her brainchild.
Her passion for creating bespoke and unforgettable events drives her every day. Aarti's expertise extends beyond India's borders, as her team specializes in international destination weddings. For Aarti, planning a wedding or any event is not just a job; it's her personal passion.
She is best known for her exceptional attention to detail, precision, and personalized approach toward each client. Aarti's entrepreneurial spirit continues to push boundaries and redefine industry standards even today. Now she's added another feather to her cap with the launch of Team Tandem, a B2B event production company that caters to other enterprises in the wedding and event space across the Middle East. With Team Tandem she has a very able team based in Duba that provides on-ground support and efficient solutions to their clients.
Benoit Honnart joined Electra in 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Chief Executive Officer on January 1st, 2021. He started his career in Shanghai where he worked for almost 10 years before moving to Dubai, holding various Director’s positions in the field of Logistic & Events. Coming from the supply chain world, his mindset is very in line with the fast-paced industry and Electra’s mission to offer agility to its clients. Electra is a fully integrated solutions provider and production house for events, exhibitions, and environments in the Middle East.
As the Co-Founder and CEO of Wonder Group, Nicholas oversees a portfolio of companies that leverage cutting-edge technologies to disrupt the property and travel sectors. With over 20 years of experience in tech, traveltech, proptech, corporate law, investment banking, property development, and construction.
Nicholas' core competencies include global strategy, government advisory, innovation, business transformation, entrepreneurship, data, AI, digital transformation, change management, and leadership. He is passionate about solving the challenges and seizing the opportunities that arise from the convergence of technology, society, and environment. Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) , a Bachelor of Computer Science, a Diploma of Financial Services, an Advanced Diploma of Construction Management as well as completing his Chartered Financial Analyst level 1 , and being a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court NSW.
He is a member of the Mortgage Finance Association Australia MFAA, Property Investment Professionals Australia PIPA, Master Builder Association MBA, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors AICD.
Mubarak Hamad Al Shamsi, the Director of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, is a UAE national who hails from Abu Dhabi’s second city, and its heritage heartland, Al Ain. Al Shamsi is an industry expert with more than 19 years experience in the tourism industry.
He entered the sector in 2004 as an executive in the marketing department of the former Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. Since then, Al Shamsi has gained experience across a number of tourism departments including events and overseas offices and he also served for three years as the Country Manager for the Authority’s GCC market, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Since 2014, in his role as Director of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, he has strengthened the Bureau’s presence in Abu Dhabi, and facilitated growth in the congress and conferences sector. Al Shamsi was elected as a chairperson of the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) Middle East Chapter in 2018, and to the Board of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) MENA Chapter. Al Shamsi holds an M.A. in General Management from the Luiss Guido Carli University of Rome, Italy and a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, USA.
Sarah Julie Ferry is the Weddings Lead at the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, a unit under the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi. Sarah holds a B.A. in Hospitality Management and Luxury Brand Management from the CMH academy in Paris.
She has over 13 years experience in hospitality & events management in the tourism industry. She has worked in prestigious landmarks such as the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris, Fairmont the Palm in Dubai as well as the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi to name a few.
In 2019 she started her endeavors with the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau as a Senior project executive looking after the promotion and development of business tourism for the Indian market. In 2023, she has been charged with developing Abu Dhabi's Wedding strategy and anchoring the first Wedding platform for Abu Dhabi (ADWS).
A tech enthusiast with an IT Master's and Operational Research degree (early 80s), Thierry transitioned from French Artillery Lieutenant to IBM leader, becoming Global GM for MEEP after the Services division launched. After a decade,he opted to forge his own path, co-founding Dubai-based Fractal Systems. Today, they're pioneers in "Techno-Art" systems for events using AI, VR/AR, and more. His entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond Fractal. He also established the region's leading XR Studio for film production and Mantafoil, a global leader in kitefoiling products.
Digital Expert with 15 years of experience setting up startup internationally, Florian came into the wedding industry through his own experience. Since his first wedding, with his 3 times wife and partner, they founded Easy Wedding who helped over 50,000 people to start their journey.
Michael is a seasoned hotelier overseeing the iconic newly rebranded Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai, Mandarin Oriental, Riyadh and the upcoming Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai which is scheduled to open in 2024. A German/Swiss national, Michael is a leader in the hospitality industry, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge spanning over 35 years. Prior to this, he held a number of senior leadership positions at the InterContinental Hotel Group, including General Manager of the InterContinental, Doha and Cairo. He then moved to IHG’s corporate office in Dubai as General Manager, Operations Support and subsequently took on the role of Director of Operations, Levant overseeing 13 hotels by three brands.
Michael’s hospitality journey then brought him to Asia where he spent two years as Director of IHG’s Luxury and Lifestyle Resorts for Southeast Asia, responsible for overseeing pre-opening hotels, repositioning of luxury resorts and leading the full refurbishment of InterContinental Bali Resort. He returned to the Middle East in 2020 with Mandarin Oriental, and led the highly anticipated rebranding of Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi to be a part of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Michael is fluent in English, French and German and was awarded General Manager of the year – Middle East in 2016 by World Luxury Hotel Awards. He is a fan of contemporary art, culture and opera and in his leisure time, he enjoys playing cricket, badminton and travelling with his family.
Youssef is a News Anchor in the Emirates local news channel - Dubai TV. He is the lead voice actor in the cartoon Captain Khalfan that airs on Majid TV generating more than 2.1 million views so far.
Youssef hosted plenty of events in his 12-year career including The World Government Summit for 4 consecutive years, hosted live the televised address of Barack Obama – making him known locally as “The Voice of the Summit”, The Global Summit of the women speakers of parliament, and is currently hosting the World Green Economy Summit for the third time in a row and The UAE Policy Forum to name a few.
Moammar Mohammed Al Marzooqi is a UAE national who holds a bachelor’s degree in applied Sciences Business Administration – Human Resources from Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Moammar has worked 6 years in the private sector where he accumulated diverse experiences, he joined in 2015 the former Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as a senior marketing and communication executive.
In 2017, Moammar joined the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, a subdivision of DCT – Abu Dhabi. His role consists of growing the business tourism sector focusing on strengthening the Meeting & Incentive segment in 12 overseas offices.
He has been promoted in 2022 to Meetings, Incentives, & Weddings - Section Head, leading major projects among which he has been anchoring the first business tourism event platform (Abu Dhabi Business Events Week), establishing new overseas offices in key source markets and amplifying commercial activities messaging through local & international media.
Sarah Julie Ferry is the Weddings Lead at the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, a unit under the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi. Sarah holds a B.A. in Hospitality Management and Luxury Brand Management from the CMH academy in Paris.
She has over 13 years experience in hospitality & events management in the tourism industry. She has worked in prestigious landmarks such as the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris, Fairmont the Palm in Dubai as well as the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi to name a few.
In 2019 she started her endeavors with the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau as a Senior project executive looking after the promotion and development of business tourism for the Indian market. In 2023, she has been charged with developing Abu Dhabi's Wedding strategy and anchoring the first Wedding platform for Abu Dhabi (ADWS).
Parthip Thyagarajan is the CEO of WeddingSutra, India's leading wedding media company with close to 25 years of experience in the media industry. Thyagarajan is a highly sought-after speaker and strategist in the digital media and luxury events industry.
Marielou Dayoub is a prominent contributor to showcasing the grandeur and cultural richness of Gulf weddings to an international audience. Originally trained as an architect, her passion for design and luxury led her to the world of jewelry. She pursued specialized studies in this field, earned her certification, and soon founded her own brand, "The Lou Jewls." Her creations blend architectural precision with the elegance and allure of fine jewelry, distinguishing her in the luxury market.
Marielou’s fascination with luxury experiences also led her into the realm of high-end wedding coverage, where she initially worked with several wedding platforms before broadening her expertise to Khaleeji Weddings. She has attended and covered some of the most extravagant weddings across the UAE, KSA, Qatar, and Lebanon.
Today, Marielou represents Khaleeji Weddings in this forum, advancing the region’s wedding industry and supporting the platform's mission of bringing the magnificence of Gulf weddings to a global audience.
Elina Belkova is the founder of ElegantMoment, Marry Me Dubai, Rainbow Kids Events and ELEVENT. A romantic at heart, she adores cityscapes and seascapes, and planning weddings and events that are beautiful yet bespoke to each couple. She created her company 12 years ago and it reflects her passion and her soul. She always guarantees that her clients receive not just style but personalised service, a celebration unique to them.
At 49 years of age, Chetan Vohra has spent more than half of his life doing what he does best - aligning creative strategies to produce events that are awe-inspiring, effective and memorable. Having been the silent force behind many great events across the world, Chetan embarked on his journey as an entrepreneur in 2009, setting up twin brands, Line Communications and Weddingline, both well established players in the world of Corporate and Social Events.
"I am a heartiest” he says. And that is apparent when you hear him on the numerous forums he is invited to speak at and share stories around his journey. “ As human beings we feel before we think - and when you engage with your customer at a level of emotional investment, you align forces that make the journey memorable", he says. An experiential architect of repute, he is known to create social celebrations that are unique and stand out.
Timothée is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and business owner, currently the CEO of Acquisit, a growth marketing agency that offers full spectrum digital marketing in the MENA region. He comes from an investment banking background but has spent the last decade in advertising and data science.
A Senior Sales Director at Miral Destinations, with over 12 years of international experience in the aviation and tourism industries. She has played a pivotal role in shaping Abu Dhabi’s tourism landscape, including the successful launch of major attractions on Yas Island Abu Dhabi. Currently, Amal leads the positioning of Saadiyat Island as a premier luxury and cultural destination. With a strong background in global sales and a passion for creating memorable travel experiences, she is dedicated to showcasing the unique charm of Abu Dhabi around the world.
Manal Mohammad is an Emirati visionary and the Founder & CEO of Serenita, the UAE's first luxury bridal concierge service. Driven by her deep passion for weddings, fashion, and design, Manal identified a gap in bridal support in the region and sought to create a seamless, stress-free experience for modern brides. Understanding the overwhelming nature of wedding preparations, she launched Serenita to provide brides with the personalized, high-end assistance they need, from styling and etiquette coaching to luxury vendor connections. Manal’s approach embraces the philosophy of serenity and elegance, ensuring every bride’s journey is one of tranquility and joy. Under her leadership, Serenita has become synonymous with luxury bridal planning in the UAE, setting a new benchmark for bespoke wedding experiences.
Being the India's Largest luxury catering enterprise, from last 15 years working in Indian Weddings around the Globe, have done catering in more than 40 countries in exotic destinations, giving flavours of our regional Indian and world cuisine.
Since November 2020, Savino Leone is General Manager of Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort. During his 30+ year career, he has gained in-depth insight into establishing cultures of Guest Service Excellence – including leading the pre-opening, launch and performance growth of hotels in Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Osas Okonyon leads the BellaNaija Weddings team, Africa's top wedding website under Bella Online Media. She has collaborated with various wedding vendors to celebrate love and showcase African culture globally. Osas has driven impactful campaigns, including the Newly Nearly campaign with Golden Penny and the #AFreeUnion campaign with Union Bank, creating unforgettable experiences for couples. A versatile professional, she excels in creative writing, content creation, and media strategy, while also working as a voice-over artist, actor, and event host. Osas's passion for storytelling is evident in all her work. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and exploring music.
Perhaps best known as the face of the UAE’s biggest English language TV channel, Omar presents the flagship news and current affairs show, “Emirates 24/7”. Omar has hosted many of Dubai One’s prestigious live events, from the Metro launch to announcing the Expo 2020 victory live from Paris to the opening ceremonies of the 2011 and 2012 Dubai International Film Festival.
He has also MCed global events including the Forbes Global CEO Conference where he introduced His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Global Diabetes Forum where he introduced His Highness Shekih Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The World Government Summit, EXPO2020 countdown event, Abu Dhabi Sustainability week for 5 years in a row to name a few.
Since working alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Bird during the production of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Omar has been busy writing and directing his own short films. Omar is also a documentary filmmaker whose credits include HBO and two seasons of a UAE cultural program entitled "Emirati" which brought UAE heritage to an English speaking audience. In April 2013, Omar was a finalist in a month long documentary film making competition sponsored by the United Nations in Chennai, India, called "Chance of a Lifetime".
As an aspiring feature film director, Omar was a finalist in Image Nation's first annual Arab Film Studios televised competition, documenting five Emirati filmmakers as they battle it out to create their first professional short movie. His short film "Black/White" ran in competition at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and he is currently writing his first full length feature.