Fairservice founded Motivate in 1979 with the launch of What’s On, the UAE’s first independent magazine. With a wide range of award-winning publications, including Gulf Business, Emirates Woman and Identity, MMG’s established consumer and trade brands reach an audience of over 2.5 million users per month. The group’s Books division was established in 1986 and has published more than 300 titles. As well as books and magazines, Motivate also produces content across other platforms including video, digital media, exhibitions and events, social media, influencer marketing and out of home, talent, training, and cinema.
Helen Barrett is a qualified solicitor who has been living and working in Dubai for 25 years. She is the Deputy Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai. Prior to establishing CBD Corporate Services, Barrett specialised in advising overseas investors on different aspects of foreign direct investment throughout the Middle East, including corporate restructuring, company set-up, and mergers and acquisitions.
Barrett specialises in structuring businesses across sectors such as contracting, engineering, education, training, FMCG, IT, media and tourism sectors.
Joffe has extensive international business experience in market entry across Asia, the US, and Europe, with his forte being sales and channel management, strategy mapping, and business transformation. His areas of expertise include sectors such as information communication technology, healthcare pharmaceuticals and financial services. Joffe advises clients on geographical expansion and business transformation growth. At Frost & Sullivan Middle East, Joffe oversees operations business growth and management of the firm.
Joffe holds an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School, Northwestern University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong SAR.
Gareth van Zyl is the group editor of Gulf Business, with over 15 years of experience reporting on technology and business news in the UAE and South Africa. In recent years, he has held several top editorial roles in South Africa, including bureau chief for News24’s business section, working at Africa’s largest IT publisher, ITWeb, and serving as deputy editor at BizNews.com. Earlier in his career, he lived and worked in Dubai from 2008 to 2012, where he held various roles at technology magazine Windows Middle East, 7DAYS newspaper, and The National.
An experienced entrepreneur, Mahmoud first started his professional career as a banker, working at the UAE’s top banks, namely ENBD and FAB. Following his tenure in banking, where he managed more than Dhs2.5bn within his portfolio, Mahmoud founded UNDER500, a healthy food startup. After scaling UNDER500 to a market leader with 28 locations, Mahmoud exited the business, selling it to Kitopi, a $1.6bn unicorn. Now, Mahmoud, as a seasoned entrepreneur and advisor, specialises in helping companies unlock opportunities for growth and expand into the GCC market.
Gareth van Zyl
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Manish Chopra
Rehman Shaikh
Priyadarshini Rampuria