Ian Fairservice founded Motivate Publishing in 1979. With his partner H.E. Obaid Humaid Al-Tayer, the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Finance, he has developed the company to become one of the most successful media houses in the region - with more than 30 editorial titles across print and digital and a diverse range of contract publishing products.
With more than a decade’s experience in journalism, Neil King is the editor of Gulf Business magazine. Having cut his teeth at the Essex Chronicle newspaper in the UK, he went on to work for Spafax where he edited a portfolio of in-flight magazines. Moving into business journalism, Neil arrived in Dubai in 2012 before joining the Gulf Business team at the start of 2016.
Ronaldo Mouchawar is the co-founder and CEO of Souq.com, the largest online retail and marketplace platform in the Arab World. Ronaldo has more than 15 years of experience in technology and business management and was awarded in 2015 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in recognition of Souq.com’s digital influence in the UAE. He also won the Retail Business Leader of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at last year’s Gulf Business Awards.
Brandy Scott is one of the hosts of the award-winning Business Breakfast on Dubai Eye 103.8. She has worked as a journalist for nearly 20 years, across radio, newspapers and magazines – including a stint as deputy editor on Gulf Business magazine.
Hisham Farouk is the CEO of Grant Thornton in the United Arab Emirates. A dynamic leader with a professional and academic footprint in the United States, United Kingdom and across the Middle East region, Hisham has been the driving force behind many private and public organisations’ growth strategies. With almost two decades of professional and commercial experience he has led high-profile advisory engagements for some of the largest groups in the region. He sits on various boards including a renowned regional investment firm and is a patron and avid mentor for dynamic SMEs and entrepreneurial businesses.