Debsena is a Marketing and Business Strategy professional with over 19 years of rich experience in Digital Products and Media. She assists brands leverage technology and digital solutions to grow, scale and sustain their business. She started her career with digital marketing back in 2006 when digital advertising was at its nascent. Her strong technical and analytical background helps her to look at problems quite objectively. 

Debsena has been very active and instrumental in campaigning against Ad Fraud and Brand Safety issues that are plaguing the digital ecosystem. She has successfully managed to get the right kind of attention to fight the cause, and she takes this discussion to multiple boardrooms for brands to take cognizance of it. 

I'm a marketing communications specialist whose curiosity, analytical mind and real world experience enables me to help clients and colleagues appraise risks and opportunities, and re-engineer how they operate in order to minimize risk and maximize growth in our increasingly complex, volatile world. I'm a great believer in De Bono's assertion...'If you can't do it the way you've always done it...how would you do it?" Always looking for the next problem to solve and solution to find.

James is a growth focused sales and marketing leader with over 25 years’ global experience in driving brand and revenue growth for global brands and startups. Currently the Chief Product Officer for UM MENAT based in Dubai he brings extensive digital, media, AI and CRM experience to the agency’s portfolio of local and global clients.  

James is a recognized leader in AI-driven marketing, known for shaping how businesses leverage artificial intelligence to drive growth and innovation. With a deep understanding of both strategy and technology, he has guided clients and agency teams in integrating AI into their marketing ecosystems, from developing AI-powered audiences and personas to automating workflows with intelligent agents.

As a sought-after speaker and mentor, James has delivered keynote presentations to global clients, trained MBA students at American University in Dubai on AI’s transformative impact in marketing, and led internal staff development programs to upskill teams. James' experience managing an AI engineering team in Turkey further solidifies his ability to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI solutions and real-world marketing applications.

A trusted advisor to executives and marketing professionals, James continues to push the boundaries of AI adoption, helping brands stay ahead in an increasingly data-driven and automated world.

Rani Itani, Head of Product Strategy & Operations for METAP at TikTok, leads the teams responsible for taking products from concept to scaled impact across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan. With more than a decade of experience across product management, commercial operations, and stakeholder leadership, he specializes in aligning strategy, execution, and market readiness at scale. At TikTok, Rani plays a central role in launching and operationalizing products that drive growth while meeting the unique needs of diverse regional markets. Prior to TikTok, he built and scaled product experiences in sports and entertainment streaming. He holds an MBA from IE University in Madrid, where he deepened his focus on global strategy and leadership.

Terence Kawaja is Founder and CEO of LUMA Partners, the leading strategic advisor to the Ad Tech sector. He is a seasoned investment banker with more than 35 years of experience advising on hundreds of transactions valued at over $350 billion, including some of the most pivotal deals in the media and tech industries. His advisory work is focused on the intersection of AI and advertising. 
 
Terry is both a recognized expert in digital media and a popular speaker at leading industry conferences, frequently using humor to aid his substantive presentations.

Rehan is the Head of Media for Arabia at Unilever, where he steers media strategy and social first agenda, investment governance, and performance marketing across key markets. With 15+ years of global experience across North America, APAC and Middle East, he has shaped high‑impact, ROI‑driven campaigns across CPG, F&B, telecom, and home categories. His career includes leadership roles at P&G, PepsiCo, IPG and Starcom—developing advanced digital capabilities, programmatic ecosystems, and consumer‑centric journeys. Known for strategic clarity and analytical depth, Rehan loves transforming business objectives into scalable marketing solutions, builds strong agency partnerships, and champions operational excellence to drive consistent brand and business growth.

Danial Mausoof is a global technology leader and entrepreneur with a passion for building ecosystems that merge innovation, impact, and purpose. In his corporate role as Vice President of Technology, Product, and Services for Nokia Mobile Networks in the Middle East and Africa, he oversees operations exceeding €1.5 billion annually, leading transformations in 5G, AI-driven networks, and enterprise connectivity.

Danial is equally immersed in the entrepreneurial world. He serves on the boards of two startups and is an active investor through leading angel networks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore—backing ventures that are reshaping industries and creating longterm value. He is also the founding equity-partner of a upcoming vintage car restoration brand in the GCC, bringing classic automotive craftsmanship into a modern era.

Danial’s journey spans more than 20 years across 40+ countries, where he has advised governments, inspired audiences at GSMA and ITU, and launched innovations that have expanded connectivity to millions. As host of Tech Buzzar, he continues to spark conversations at the intersection of technology, business, and society.

A believer in purpose-driven leadership, Danial also champions education and equity. Through his non-profit initiative, he has helped provide access to schooling for underprivileged children in Southeast Asia, reflecting his deep commitment to giving back. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the USA, an MBA from IE Business School, a Post Graduate in International Affairs specialised in Cyber Security and AI from King’s College London and executive certifications from INSEAD, Duke, and London Business School.

Based in Dubai, Danial is passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators—whether through technology, investment, or mentorship—and thrives at the crossroads of corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

Shayan Rahimi is the Managing Director for Bidease in MENA, where he leads the company’s expansion from the United States into the Middle East and has helped establish Bidease as a trusted programmatic performance partner for consumer brands, agencies, and app-first businesses across the region. With over 15 years of experience in the mobile and digital advertising ecosystem, Shayan has held senior commercial, product, and strategy roles at global technology companies, including Snapchat, where he built and scaled key verticals, enterprise partnerships, and go-to-market initiatives across MENA.

Today, he focuses on advancing brand-safe, AI-driven programmatic solutions through Bidease, helping app marketers transparently acquire high-value customers while navigating an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.

As Global Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at M+C Saatchi, Jackie Stevenson leads the group’s strategy, M&A, and partnerships while shaping the direction of its next-generation, AI-powered growth platforms. Working with the M+C Saatchi Consulting team, she is developing Return on Cultural Power, the proprietary AI system created with University of Oxford Saïd Business School to identify emerging

cultural signals long before they hit the mainstream, enabling brands to act with precision, authenticity, and measurable impact.

A proven entrepreneur, Jackie co-founded the award-winning creative agency The Brooklyn Brothers and, following its sale to Interpublic Group, was appointed Chief Growth Officer for IPG across EMEA. Jackie brings deep expertise across creative, media, data, and performance, having shaped integration strategies across global holding companies and driven transformational growth for some of the world’s most influential brands.

Jackie also serves as Board Advisor to Equativ, the independent adtech leader powering programmatic, CTV, and retail media innovation, and as Board Advisor to Revenge Capital, a US based VC championing female founders, investors, and emerging technologies. Her work sits at the intersection of culture, creativity, AI, and advertising’s evolving tech stack, making her a sought-after voice on the reintegration of creative and media, the future of privacy-safe addressability, the rise of cultural intelligence in AI, and the acceleration of women in technology. She brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial instinct, strategic breadth, and practical operating experience, making her a compelling speaker for any stage shaping the next era of consumer experience, growth, and innovation.

Domenic also held senior roles at Publicis Groupe and Razorfish, managing key industry partnerships and overseeing major P&Ls across sectors like retail and media. A thought leader in adtech, he contributes to top publications and advises on company boards, including ID5. Domenic holds an MBA from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Francis Stones is Global Head of Brand Safety & Responsible Media at TikTok, where he leads the company’s approach to advertiser trust, responsible growth, and industry collaboration. At TikTok, Francis shapes global strategy at the intersection of safety, media integrity, and business performance, ensuring brands can grow confidently on the platform. His career spans senior leadership roles across Europe and the Middle East, with deep expertise in advertising compliance, media verification, and scaling international operations. Before joining TikTok, he held leadership positions at BPA Worldwide, expanding its footprint across EMEA and guiding teams through a rapidly evolving media landscape. Francis holds an MBA from Imperial College Business School and brings a global perspective shaped by living and working in London, Istanbul, Dubai, New York, and beyond.