Dubai Lynx announces top speakers for 2018 festival

The MENA region’s leading festival of creativity, Dubai Lynx, has announced its top speakers who join a programme of world-renowned experts from across the international creative communications industry.

Taking place from March 11-14 at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena and Conference Hall, the festival is a key event in the region’s creative calendar, featuring a series of talks, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, screenings, awards and competitions.

Burger King’s global chief marketing officer Fernando Machado will be one of this year’s major draws, having played a pivotal role in the brand being named Creative Marketer of the Year at the 2017 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

A firm believer in the positive contribution brands can make to society, Machado will address the Dubai Lynx audience on the power of brand purpose for good, and for business.

Also announced for the festival is Jose Miguel Sokoloff, president of MullenLowe Group’s Global Creative Council. He will be joined by Ben Knight, global creative lead at MullenLowe Open, to explore how creativity can affect change not only on a commercial level, but within governments and societies too.

As part of the event’s mission to bring fresh voices to the Dubai Lynx stage, Ilkay Gürpinar, chief creative officer at TBWA\Istanbul makes her festival debut, sharing her expertise in creating cultures that help boost creativity.

Other speakers making their first appearance include Chaka Sobhani, chief creative officer at Leo Burnett London, and John Mescall, global executive creative director and Global Creative Council president at McCann Worldgroup.

Creativity in healthcare communications is a breakout theme of the 2018 programme, mirroring the launch of the specialist Healthcare award category. Bruno Stucchi, consultant creative lead at WPP Health & Wellness Italy/Switzerland, will help marketers realise the potential of the health-related story that’s hidden inside almost every brand.

The healthcare narrative continues with a session from McCann Health – in which Robert Gibbs, creative director of McCann Health Dubai, explores design that changed the world. Another session sees FleishmanHillard global managing director Anne De Schweinitz joined by Nadine Fanous, head of communications and government affairs at Bayer Middle East, to share examples of how innovation is radically changing the patient journey.

The festival’s full programme and further information can be found at www.dubailynx.com.