Jon Bramley

Vice-President of Communications, GEMS Education

He is responsible for all communications for GEMS Education – digital, social media, print, broadcast and internal communications. He runs a dedicated team who work together to ensure that the GEMS organisation and all its schools around the world are promoted with positive communications to the world’s media. Jon is relatively new to education although he has three children who have all benefitted from first class learning over the years including an eight-year-old daughter who attends a GEMS school. Prior to this role, Jon worked as VP for Communications at Expo 2020 Dubai, the next World Expo, which will now be held over six months in October this year. He also was the Director for Communications for the world’s largest round-the-world yacht race, the Volvo Ocean Race, and before all this, worked for a long time as journalist in some leading global media organisations including Mirror Group Newspapers and Reuters international news agency (London Bureau Chief). He has covered seven Olympic Games and five World Cups (football and cricket) as a journalist, but says that working for GEMS is more exciting than any of them.

Jennifer Engmann-Kedissa

Regional Director – Financial + Professional Services, MENA, Hill+Knowlton Strategies

As the head of H+K’s Financial + Professional Services practice in the Middle East and North Africa, Jennifer is responsible for driving the client portfolio with standout relationships at a senior level.

In her role, Jennifer provides strategic communications counsel to some of the region’s most reputable government entities, listed companies and financial institutions. She has more than 14 years of experience in advising clients on strategic corporate communications as well as financial communications and investor relations.

Jennifer leverages her deep expertise to coach and train C-level executives ahead of mission-critical stakeholder engagements and is well versed in shaping corporate narratives and compelling investment cases. Leading trainings and workshops tailored to specific occasions, she works side by side with her clients to achieve the best possible outcome in interactions with key stakeholders and safeguard a positive reputation.

Before joining H+K, Jennifer held roles with two international communications consultancies in the Middle East. Prior to this, she worked for the leading German financial communications agency across mandates for private equity firms, banks and other financial institutions, listed companies, and government entities.

Jennifer has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Psychology from Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich, a Postgraduate Master’s degree in Advanced European Studies from University of Basel, Institute of Europe, and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from University of the Arts London.

Jennifer is a Certified Investor Relations Officer (MEIRA) and is working towards the ESG Analyst Certification by the European Association of Financial Analysts Societies as well as an Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance by the London Institute of Banking and Finance and the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Academy.

Joe Lipscombe

Regional Director of Content Strategy, PR & Influence, MENA, Memac Ogilvy

Joe Lipscombe is Memac Ogilvy’s first Regional Director of Content Strategy. He is responsible for driving and delivering the agency’s key differentiator of producing intelligent, informed, multi-format, omni-channel stories that significantly impact long-term brand growth. He assumed the role after successfully launching and growing the UAE’s multi-format content and influence team, growing it from just himself in 2015 to a fully fledged team of 13 by 2019.

In his current role, Joe is focused on growing the capabilities of the region’s strategic content offering, driving business through creative campaigns and storytelling, and inspiring clients and colleagues with his unique point of view and philosophy.

Within this, Joe leads, and has lead, on original neuroscience and behavourial science research, thought leadership, and training for clients and colleagues. His inquisitive and curious approach to brands and briefs means there’s no such thing as a normal idea — he believes in the power of compelling storytelling as a business driver and is relentless in his quest to deliver award-winning work to all Ogilvy brands. He is a member of The One Club for Creativity and a Cannes Gold Lion winner in PR.

A British-trained journalist, Joe has reported for Sky News, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, multiple national newspapers and several other television stations. As well as war and politics, Joe was a global tech reporter for a number of years, trotting the globe covering the largest IT and tech conferences for two years. He is a two-time published author, including the extended essay, The Art and Science of Better Storytelling.

Kirsty O’Connor

Director – Content, Data + Digital, METIA, Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Kirsty leads the Innovation + Creative Hub in Dubai for H+K, supporting the Middle East, Turkey, India and Africa region (METIA). She brings specialisms in social media, data and digital integration to the agency, and sits across H+K’s sector teams to support the continuous evolution of communications.

Educated in PR before moving to digital practices, Kirsty can span the newsroom with skills in both traditional and digital communications. She has previously played digital transformation roles in PR agencies in the UK, taking both traditional PR and SEO teams and transitioning them into Earned Media specialists.

During her four years in the Middle East, Kirsty has been involved in several major live events including World Athletics, World Gymnastics, Formula E, AFC Asian Cup and UFC Fight Island to lead live newsrooms from content roll-out to crisis. She has supported integrated planning for global brands including adidas, P&G and Porsche in MENA also.

Before moving to the UAE, she spent time working in the USA with the Caribbean Premier League, taking T20 cricket to the US market. She was responsible for the creation and implementation of their digital communications strategy, which saw 1.5 million social fans gained organically during the six-week live event. Prior to this, she spent four years supporting Thomas Cook to communicate their international travel packages via media relations and social media.

Kirsty holds a first-class BA Hons in Public Relations from Leeds Beckett University. She's won over 10 industry awards in the region, including most recently a MEPRA 2020 awards for Best Live Event, Best Travel & Tourism Campaign and Best in UAE. Kirsty last spoke at PRovoke MENA’s 2020 summit, leading a panel on Influencer Marketing and has been published in two textbooks on integrated communications.

Rania Rostom

Chief Communications Officer, GE International Markets

As Chief Communications Officer for GE Global, Rania Rostom leads strategic 360° communications for GE across global growth markets. She is responsible for driving commercial and customer communications programming, thought leadership, international media relations, and executive communications.

In addition to her global role, Rania leads the innovation and communications agenda for GE in the Middle East, North Africa & Turkey (MENAT). She joined GE in 2005 and has over 25 years’ experience in the fields of reputation management, brand building, and digital & marketing communications, as well as innovation and customer initiatives.

Prior to joining GE, she was Corporate Communications Manager for the BMW Group Middle East. She started her career in 1992 with a leading regional PR & Advertising agency, working with a wide range of companies such as Singapore Airlines, Nissan, Tag Heuer and Mars and critical programming initiatives such as the privatization of Coca-Cola and crisis management for Ministry of Tourism in Egypt.

Rania attended the American University in Cairo and Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, graduating with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a minor in English Literature. She established the GE Women’s Network for the MENAT region and was recently recognized as a Finalist for ‘Female Leader of the Year’ in MEED’s regional industry

Amanda Rushforth

Board Director and Ambassador Coordinator, Azraq

Passionate, Loyal, Dedicated. Home has never been just one place for Amanda Rushforth. Born in the UK, Rushforth moved to Jeddah with her family early on and was raised there until she moved back to England for boarding school. Rushforth moved back to the Middle East in 2006, after a ten-year stint in Saudi Arabia and relocated to Dubai.

In 2012, Rushforth received a BA Hons in Fashion Promotion, Fashion and Textile Design from Southampton University, England. After which, the warmer weather called to her, and she returned to the Gulf to work in public relations with both large and small scale corporate brands such as Pink Caravan, Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) and Gulftainer, to name a few. Channelling her passion for marketing and love for social media, Rushforth later moved on to become Media Content Manager, working with global brands such as Reebok, Adidas and Perrier at LIGHTBLUE, LLC, Dubai, before moving into a freelance role to allow her more time for travel and adventure. Now, Rushforth donates her time and expertise in content creation, marketing and event planning to a variety of brands, from international projects to independent local start-ups, something she is passionate about. Including Positive Planet, headquartered in Paris and locally based Azraq within the not-for-profit sector.

Growing up by the Red Sea in Jeddah, Rushforth developed a deep passion for the ocean, specifically watersports and marine life. Having seen first-hand the deterioration of the shorelines due to plastic pollution, Rushforth has become an advocate for plastic-free oceans, wardrobes and food chains. A lover of all things sustainable, she has since been plastic water bottle free for years and pushes to maintain a plastic-free household as much as possible.

A big believer in the saying “surround yourself with the right people”, Rushforth employs this notion in everything from her personal to professional life, aligning herself with like-minded people and brands to drive forward her professional work and personal growth. This shined through in her recent capsule collection launch in November 2020 with the sustainable homegrown brand, BY M.A.R.Y.

A lover of the ocean and a fervent supporter of its preservation, Rushforth had worked with Natalie Banks, a fellow ocean warrior and the founder of Azraq, a volunteer-run not-for-profit entity in the UAE for years in an unofficial capacity, before joining the organization as a member of the Board of Directors in January 2020. Founded in September 2018, Azraq, which is registered with the Community Development Authority, has been on the front lines of ocean conservation in the United Arab Emirates with exceptional groundwork and education of the community, actively involved in beach and ocean clean-ups and mangrove tree planting days as a part of the organization’s fight for cleaner oceans. Rushforth believes that Azraq has the ability to become the leading authority on marine conservation in the region, providing credible commitments that bring about real change. She works closely with the team to help with promotion through social media, as well as engaging with local ambassadors and encouraging and challenges perceptions through local talks and webinars.

Rushforth currently works with a variety of FMCG, fashion and luxury brands, helping with content creation, advertising, marketing strategies, social campaigns, influencer outreach and events. Rushforth also loves sharing her insights on sustainability and how to live consciously, with several opinion and sustainable guide pieces published in regional publications such as Emirates Woman magazine and Women’s Health Middle East, of which she graced the cover back in February 2018.

Arun Sudhaman

CEO/Editor-in-Chief, PRovoke Media

Arun Sudhaman is CEO and editor-in-chief at PRovoke Media.

In this role Arun oversees PRovoke Media's global content offering, including its analysis and insight into reputation, public relations and communications trends and issues. Since joining PRovoke Media in 2010, Arun has comprehensively redefined the title’s offering and operations, which include its digital presence and new products such as the Influence 100 compendium of key global influencers, the Global PR Agency Rankings, the Global Creative Index, and the PRovoke Media podcast. He also led the rebrand of the Holmes Report to PRovoke Media in 2020.

Arun has played a pivotal role expanding PRovoke Media's coverage into Asia-Pacific and other emerging markets, and has helped steer the company’s international events programme, particularly the Global Public Relations Summit — which has featured such luminaries as Sir Martin Sorrell, P&G’s Marc Pritchard, Chuck Porter and IBM’s Jon Iwata.

He brings to the position more than a decade’s experience as a journalist and digital content specialist, most of which has been spent analysing the media, marketing and communications industries. His career has encompassed coverage and analysis of reputation and leadership issues in numerous countries across the world, including the US and UK, Russia, China, India and South Africa.

As an industry analyst and media commentator Arun has appeared in the BBC's Asia Business Report, the Washington Post, Quartz, the Guardian, the FT, the South China Morning Post, Buzzfeed and others, along with speaking at events across the globe — including the Cannes Lions, World Economic Forum in Davos, and industry conferences in such countries as Australia, Brazil, China, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK and USA.

Prior to joining PRovoke Media, Arun spent more than seven years with Haymarket Media in Hong Kong, Singapore and London. He joined Haymarket title PRWeek UK in January 2009, after covering Asia’s media and marketing landscape at sister Haymarket title Campaign Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Before Haymarket, Arun spent one year at public relations firm Weber Shandwick during its tumultuous mergers with Weber and BSMG. During his career as a journalist he has appeared on BBC News and has also contributed to The Guardian and the South China Morning Post, where he began his career as a business reporter.

In 2015, Arun became the youngest-ever inductee into the ICCO Hall of Fame.

Speakers

Jon Bramley

Davide Del Deo

Jennifer Engmann-Kedissa

Libby Hennigar

Paul Holmes

Sunil John

Joe Lipscombe

Alex Malouf

Mazen Nahawi

Kirsty O’Connor

Maja Pawinska Sims

Paul Quigley

Rania Rostom

Amanda Rushforth

Vasuki Shastry

Arun Sudhaman

Valerie Tan

Marilyn Zakhour