Gerald Lawless

Former CEO, Jumeirah Group

Gulf Business Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (2025)

Gerald Lawless began his hospitality career with Forte Hotels, where he led operations across Ireland, the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa.

After a 23-year career with Forte Hotels, he joined Jumeirah as Group CEO in 1997, playing a pivotal role in establishing the brand as a global luxury hospitality leader, including the launch of the iconic Burj Al Arab. In 2016, having served for 18 years at the helm of the Jumeirah Group, Gerald assumed a new leadership position responsible for tourism and hospitality in Dubai Holding, the Group’s parent company. He was also elected as Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council for a two-year term. Since retiring in 2017, Gerald has remained based in Dubai, serving as a non-executive director on several boards.

Ian Fairservice

Managing Partner and Group Editor-In-Chief, Motivate Media Group

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.

Michael Champion

CEO, Tahaluf

Mike Champion is a British business leader and international events strategist, currently serving as CEO of Tahaluf—Saudi Arabia’s leading business events company. Recognised for his game-changing impact on the Middle East events industry, he has helped position the Kingdom as a major force in global trade, investment, and soft power through world-class events.

Since co-founding Tahaluf in 2022, Champion has led the company through rapid growth—scaling revenues year-on-year to well beyond $250m in 2025 with an expected growth of 35%. Champion continues to work at the intersection of business, culture, and diplomacy—shaping the future of the global events industry while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s evolving international role.

Katy Keenan

CEO, British Chamber of Commerce Dubai

Katy is the CEO of the award-winning British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCD) and in 2024 led its transition from the long-established British Business Group Dubai and Northern Emirates.

Katy is passionate about supporting British companies to develop and expand in the UAE and leverages her significant experience in international trade to connect, promote and curate for success. Drawing on her insights and stakeholder relationships within global financial institutions, government entities, MNCs, SMEs and across multiple sectors, Katy plays a key role in the UK-UAE bilateral trade corridor.

An experienced moderator and keynote speaker for the BCCD and at industry events, Katy has built her network and visibility for the betterment of the British Chamber network and British business in the UAE.

Abhay Bhargava

Managing Director and Regional Leader – Middle East & Africa, Frost & Sullivan

Abhay Bhargava is the Managing Director and Regional Leader for the Middle East & Africa at Frost & Sullivan, with over 25 years of strategic advisory experience driving economic growth across the region. He works closely with governments, multinational corporations, and regional conglomerates on investment promotion, localization, digital transformation, and mega-trend strategy across industries.

A recognized thought leader, Abhay is frequently invited to serve as a jury and technical committee member for prestigious industry awards, including ADIPEC and MESIA, and regularly moderates high-profile industry forums/conferences. His insights are widely featured in leading regional media and international industry platforms.

Mahmoud Bartawi

Serial Entrepreneur and Founder

Mahmoud Bartawi is a Dubai-based entrepreneur and investor whose career bridges institutional finance and company building. He spent a decade in corporate banking, at Emirates NBD, Al Hilal Bank, First Gulf Bank, and Noor Bank, latterly a senior manager overseeing large corporate lending portfolios. In 2016 he co-founded Under500, a healthy-food brand scaled to 28 outlets across the GCC, the UK, and the US through franchising and cloud kitchens, and acquired by Kitopi, the SoftBank-backed unicorn, in 2021. He founded and hosts BXB, a Dubai podcast on business, power, and founder psychology, in conversation with regional founders, investors, and operators, and remains an active voice in the region’s founder ecosystem. He holds a BBA from the American University of Sharjah and a Master’s in International Business from the University of Wollongong in Dubai

Gareth Van Zyl

Group Editor, Gulf Business

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.