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Middle East Event Show

Exhibition & Seminars: 17 & 18 June 2025
Sheikh Maktoum Hall, DWTC, Dubai
Awards: 19 June 2025
Madinat Arena, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Our Esteemed Judges for the Middle East Event Awards

We are thrilled to introduce the expert panel of senior leaders, decision-makers, and event professionals who will evaluate all award nominations for the 2025 Middle East Event Awards, one of the region’s most anticipated event recognition programmes. These judges have extensive knowledge and experience in the MICE and live events industry and have generously volunteered their time to ensure a fair and impartial evaluation of all submissions. We thank them for their dedication and invaluable contribution to the awards program.

We look forward to the results of the judges' evaluations and anticipate a successful awards ceremony. Thank you, judges, for your commitment to excellence in the event industry.

MEET THE JUDGES

Get to know the independent panel of event experts, creative leaders, and senior decision-makers who are reviewing submissions for the Middle East Event Awards 2025.

Ajay Bhojwani, Regional Managing Director at MCI Group – Judging Panel Member, Middle East Event Awards 2025

Ajay Bhojwani
Regional Managing Director,
MCI Group

Anam Ahmed, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of The Hanging House – Middle East Event Awards 2025 Judge

Anam Ahmad
Founder & Chief Creative Officer,

The Hanging House

Andy Reardon, Managing Director at Creative Technology Middle East – Judge on the MEES 2025 Awards Panel

Andy Reardon
Managing Director,

Creative Technology Middle East

Antony Parham, Executive Creative Director at LINKVIVA – Awards Judge, Middle East Event Awards 2025

Antony Parham
Executive Creative Director,
LINKVIVA

Benoit Honnart, CEO of Electra Exhibitions LLC – MEES 2025 Awards Judging Panel

Benoit Honnart
CEO,
Electra Exhibitions LLC

Bruno Marx, CEO of EventKnowHow – Senior Judge, Middle East Event Awards 2025

Bruno Marx
CEO,
EventKnowHow

Catherine Broad, Director at Venue Matchmaker – Panel Judge, MEES 2025 Awards

Catherine Broad
Director,
Venue Matchmaker

David Balfour, Co-Founder of LIGHTBLUE – MEES 2025 Judge, Middle East Event Awards Panel

David Balfour
Co-Founder,
LIGHTBLUE

Dawn Dennis, Executive Director at Pico International – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Dawn Dennis
Executive Director,
Pico International

Donna Hyland, General Manager at GES Middle East – Judge on the MEES 2025 Awards Panel

Donna Hyland
General Manager,
GES Middle East

Dr. Ray Tinston, Managing Director at Identity Global – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Dr. Ray Tinston
Managing Director,

Identity Global

Dr. Yianni Spanos, VP of Sustainability at Expo City Dubai – Middle East Event Awards 2025 Judging Panel

Dr. Yianni Spanos
Vice President- Sustainability,

Expo City Dubai

Emma Pope, Corporate Director of Lifestyle Events at Emaar Hospitality Group – Judge for MEES 2025

Emma Pope
Corporate Director of Lifestyle Events,

Emaar Hospitality Group

Fakhry Maher Alsarraj, Director of Event Bureau at Department of Culture & Tourism (DCT) – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Fakhry Maher Alsarraj
Director of Event Bureau,

Department of Culture & Tourism (DCT)

Flyn Roberst, COO at Messe Frankfurt Middle East – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Flyn Roberts
Chief Operating Officer,

Messe Frankfurt Middle East

Gemma Lennard, Head of Marketing at Staffwise – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Gemma Lennard
Head of Marketing,
Staffwise

Girish Bhat
CEO,
Eventify Entertainment

Joseph Lewis, Founder & CEO of JLC Productions Middle East – Judge on the MEES 2025 Judging Panel

Joseph Lewis
Founder & CEO,
JLC Productions Middle East

John Jossifakis, Head of Events & Ceremonies for AFC Asian Cup 2027 – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

John Jossifakis
Head of Events & Ceremonies,
AFC Asian Cup 2027 Local Organizing Committee

Kevin Brown, Event Planning & Reporting Director at GSO – Judge on the MEES 2025 Judging Panel

Kevin Brown
Event Planning & Reporting Director, GSO

Lucy Magee, Founder & CEO of West End Worldwide – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Lucy Magee
Founder & CEO,

West End Worldwide LLC

Manal Al Kiyumi, Director of Marketing & Communications at OCEC – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Manal Al Kiyumi
Director of Marketing & Communications,
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre - OCEC

Mariam Ahmed, Co-Founder of The Collective – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Mariam Ahmed
Co-Founder,

The Collective

Mark Jan Kar, General Manager at ASM Global MENA – Judge on the Middle East Event Awards 2025 Judging Panel

Mark Jan Kar
General Manager,

ASM Global (MENA)

Michail Panagiotakis, Executive Director of Events at Viola Communications – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Michail Panagiotakis
Executive Director Events,

Viola Communications

Nadine Farrag, General Manager at Weddingsonline – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Nadine Farrag
General Manager,

Weddingsonline

Naomi Warmington, Senior Sustainability Manager at Informa Global – Member of the MEES 2025 Judging Panel

Naomi Warmington
Senior Sustainability Manager,

Informa Global

Olla Abbas, Head of Mindvalley MENA – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Olla Abbas
Head of Mindvalley MENA,

Mindvalley

Rhiannon Downie Hurst, Founder of Bride Club ME – Judge at the MEES 2025 Awards

Rhiannon Downie Hurst
Founder,

Bride Club ME

Samantha Breslin, Head of Production at People – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Samantha Breslin
Head of Production,

People

Sankalp Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO at Rayqube – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Sankalp Sharma
Co-Founder & CEO,

Rayqube

Shelley Frost
Owner & Director,

The Fridge

Shenin Hamid, Founder & CEO of Inspire Events & Activations FZ LLC – MEES 2025 Judging Panel Member

Shenin Hamid
Founder & CEO,

Inspire Events & Activations FZ LLC

Sujoy Cherian, CEO & Creative Technologist at Option 1 Events – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Sujoy Cherian
CEO & Creative Technologist,
Option 1 Events


Tammy Urwin, Director at Urban Events – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Tammy Urwin
Director,

Urban Events

Tom Ralston, Regional Director at Encore Middle East – Member of the MEES 2025 Judging Panel

Tom Ralston
Regional Director, GSO Middle East
Encore Middle East

Valentina Ruffoni, Founder & CEO of The Pie Network – Judge for the Middle East Event Awards 2025

Valentina Ruffoni
Founder & CEO,

The Pie Network (People in Events)

Yvonne Hoffzimmer, Chief Operating Officer at DesignLab Experience – MEES 2025 Awards Judge

Yvonne Hoffzimmer
Chief Operating Officer,

Designlab Experience

Ziad Ghaloul, CEO & Founder of Build Up – Middle East Event Awards 2025 Judge

Ziad Ghaloul
CEO & Founder,
Build Up