Aankith Aroraa
Founder & CEO, Streamline Beauty India Private Limited and Saniolla Naturals
Aankith Aroraa is not just a leader, he is the force behind brands that become movements. With 22 years of experience in the beauty industry, he has built, scaled, and transformed global brands across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Mauritius. As the CEO & Founder of 3TENX and the driving force behind Streamline Beauty India Pvt Ltd, Aankith has played a pivotal role in shaping the success of brands like AVEDA, OLAPLEX, KEVIN.MURPHY, OPI, and MINISTRY OF PEDICURE. His career, which began with Procter & Gamble and Wella, has equipped him with a deep understanding of brand building, market strategy, and consumer behavior. Recognized as a subject matter expert in marketing and brand activations, Aankith brings a proven playbook for go-to-market strategies that have redened the beauty industry. Under his leadership, Streamline Beauty India Pvt Ltd has evolved into a next-generation omnichannel leader, seamlessly integrating salons, prestige retail, e-commerce, and quick commerce to create unparalleled customer experiences. Aankith doesn’t just work with brands; he builds them. His approach goes beyond launching products, he builds enduring legacies that shape industries and consumer experiences. His philosophy is simple: “Don’t just build brands, create legacies.” With an instinct for market shifts, industry evolution, and disruptive innovation, Aankith is not here to follow trends, he’s here to set them.
Ahanna Khosla
Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Ahaana Khosla is a trend forecaster, cultural strategist, writer, and editor with a background in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle journalism. She writes about shifting consumer behaviour, emerging trends, and cultural signals, with bylines in Vogue Business, Vogue India, Harper’s Bazaar UK & India, and BeautyMatter. Ahaana is also the founder of Foresight Forum, a platform dedicated to decoding the future of fashion, beauty, and hospitality through sharp insights and accessible storytelling. Her work bridges global perspectives with local relevance, helping brands and creatives stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving landscape.
Ahmad Shamieh
General Partner, Homegrown Ventures
Ahmad Shamieh is a General Partner at Homegrown Ventures, the region’s first investment firm focused on Consumer-Packaged Goods startups. With more than two decades of leadership roles at global giants like Microsoft, Danone, and Kraft Foods, Ahmad has sharpened his expertise in driving growth and innovation. He is also the co-founder of HilalFul, a cultural home lifestyle brand. Through Homegrown Ventures, Ahmad leverages his extensive knowledge and visionary approach to shape the future of consumer brands startups, fostering innovation and scalability.
Aleena Khan
Co-Founder, CTZN Cosmetics
Aleena Khan is the co-founder of CTZN Cosmetics, the award-winning, TikTok-viral brand redefining inclusivity in beauty. With the industry’s widest nude lip collection, CTZN has become a global reference point for shade diversity - spotted on icons like Beyoncé, Megan Fox, and Demi Lovato. A storyteller at heart, Aleena pioneered Culture-Torials™, merging beauty with cultural education, and has been recognized by Forbes for pushing inclusivity beyond shade ranges into meaningful representation. Born in Los Angeles, raised in the Middle East, and of South Asian heritage, Aleena embodies the “global CTZN” spirit at the core of her brand.
Alexandra Jane Reynolds
Head of CPG, Amazon Ads
Alexandra Reynolds is a seasoned media and advertising executive with over two decades of experience spanning brand strategy, client leadership, and digital transformation across the MENAT, UK, and China markets. As the CPG Industry Lead for Amazon Ads in the MENAT region, Alexandra drives growth for some of the world’s most influential brands, helping them harness Amazon’s ecosystem to deliver measurable business impact.
Prior to her current role, Alexandra led the Account Management function at Amazon Ads and served as Chief Client Officer at the Choueiri Group, where she strengthened direct client partnerships and elevated commercial performance. Her earlier agency leadership roles include Chief Strategy Officer at Mindshare and International Client Servicing Director at Starcom, where she was instrumental in crafting integrated strategies for global clients.
Alexandra brings a unique blend of global perspective and regional insight, grounded in a deep understanding of media, data, and customer behavior. She is a passionate advocate for innovation in advertising, a mentor to rising industry talent, and a strategic voice in shaping the future of brand growth across emerging markets.
Amna Abbas
Senior Consultant Beauty & Health, Luxury & Fashion, Euromonitor International
Amna is a Senior Consultant at Euromonitor International, based in Dubai. As a thought leader and industry expert in beauty, health, luxury, and fashion, her insights and analysis provide global, regional, and local brands with tactical and strategic solutions to foster company growth, with a special focus on the MENAT and Pakistan regions.
She advises clients across these industries on topics ranging from health and wellness, understanding government agendas, consumer trends, and business strategy planning. Amna is also one of the authors of the annually published "Top 10 Global Consumer Trends" whitepaper.
Along with regular interactions with major global and regional beauty and fashion industry players, she has been a proactive contributor to articles and interviews through various platforms such as exhibitions, TV, radio, and press media. Some examples include Beautyworld, CNN, Forbes, Euro News, Dubai Eye, Gulf News, and Images Retail ME.
Amna holds a Master of Strategic Marketing, top graduate, from the University of Wollongong. She has been active in the field of market research intelligence for more than a decade, bringing with her rich insights on the region compared to the world.
Andrea Nagel
Chief Content Officer, CEW
Andrea Nagel is the Chief Content Officer at CEW, the beauty industry’s most influential membership association dedicated to acknowledging, empowering, and advancing female executives in the beauty industry. With expertise in producing highly engaging digital content and best-selling programming across digital platforms, Andrea brings over 20 years of experience in strategic content curation, member engagement, and program development.
Angela Thomas
CEO & Founder, Angel Success Consulting
Angela is Europe’s #1 Scaling Expert with over 30 years of international sales and entrepreneurial experience. Based in Dubai since 2022, she has been a sought-after expert in the region since 2016.
Her career began in the beauty industry, where she earned recognition as “The One Who Digitalized the Beauty Industry.” Alongside running her own clinic in Germany, she founded a beauty school and has since trained thousands of professionals worldwide.
Angela has delivered nearly 30,000 training hours, awarded over 4,900 certificates, and mentored students from 125 countries. She is also the author of several industry books.
Today, Angela helps entrepreneurs and businesses scale sustainably by identifying growth opportunities, optimizing financial processes, and strengthening the entrepreneurial mindset. Her approach combines real-world strategies with customer-focused value creation to drive long-term success.
Anita Baker
Managing Director, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
Anita Baker joined Lush in 2007 as a Group Accountant, bringing with her a BA (Hons) in Accounting and an ACMA qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Thanks to her strong commercial and financial expertise, she quickly transitioned to the International Business Development team, where she played a key role in selecting new business partners, opening new markets, and identifying commercial opportunities.
In 2010, Anita relocated to the MENA region to spearhead Lush’s expansion, and today she is responsible for managing Lush-owned operations in the UAE and Bahrain, as well as supporting franchise partners in KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman. Under her leadership, the region has grown rapidly to encompass 40+ stores over the last decade.
Her role spans branding, PR, property strategy, training and staff wellbeing, product pricing, fulfilment, digital growth, and maintaining standards with MENA licensee partners. Anita is passionate about building sustainable local businesses that create jobs, foster personal development, and give back to communities, while staying true to Lush’s core brand principles: fighting animal testing, regenerating the environment, promoting fresh and handmade products, and ensuring everything is 100% vegetarian.
Anne Tulloch
Wellness Divisional Marketing Director, Alshaya Group
As the Wellness Divisional Marketing Director at Alshaya Group, I lead the Customer & Marketing strategy for a portfolio of global brands across the Middle East including Bath & Body Works, Ulta Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Alo Yoga, Boots, Pottery Barn, West Elm. I have over 25 years of international experience in connecting brands with customers in relevant and meaningful ways, using data-driven and customer-centric approaches. Very fortunate as well to have been part of the Grand Jury Judge for Effies MENA, Campaign Middle East Awards and Smarties Awards.
Prior to Alshaya I have successfully developed and executed insight-led integrated marketing campaigns for leading brands such as Red Bull, BSkyB, and Virgin Active.
Arun Sasikala
Senior Manager-Business Development, SGS Gulf Limited
Arun Sasikala is a dynamic regulatory and techno-commercial professional with 13+ years of experience spanning trade facilitation, compliance, laboratory operations, and business development. He has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring product compliance across global markets. By combining scientific expertise with strategic business insight, Arun drives sustainable growth while excelling in both technical and commercial leadership roles.
Ashwajeet Garg
Founder & CEO, Kheoni
Started a sustainability-led beauty brand, Kheoni. The journey started born from a need to plant a forest over a barren hill, today it is a biodiversity-awarded) site with over 40000 trees that they planted in the last 9 years. Kheoni supports over 60 communities across India to produce clean and inclusive products, ranging from the World’s first carbon-negative body butter bars to exotic ingredients from remote locations.
Kheoni’s efforts have brought considerable reductions in forest fires and deforestation of the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary, and that is where Kheoni gets its name. By giving meaningful work to native communities, their dependency on the forest ecosystems have reduced. Today, 11 magnificent tigers roam the lush forest of Kheoni, a testament to their dedication to their protection.
Ashwajeet is passionate about sustainability, and developing innovative products that challenge the status quo. Prior to this assignment, he was involved in running a chain of luxury wellness outlets, and worked as a Country Head for a major global textile leader, sourcing hospitality textiles from around the World.
Bettina O'Neill
EVP Business Development & Merchandising, SCENTBIRD
Bettina has over 25 years of beauty and fragrance industry experience, having worked for renowned retailers like Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys New York. During her tenure as VP DMM at Barneys, she spearheaded the launch of the niche fragrance category. This included exclusive brands such as Frederic Malle, Le Labo, and Byredo (who are no longer considered niche!) in the US. Now serving as the EVP of Business Development & Merchandising at SCENTBIRD since 2020, she has helped to transform the fragrance subscription platform, which pioneered the concept in 2014, into the largest fragrance sampling subscription company in the world. Bettina's mission at SCENTBIRD is to curate a diverse assortment of indie, niche, luxury and designer fragrances, catering to their 1 million subscribers. She excels at building brand awareness and driving sales by offering personalized sampling experiences, leveraging customer reviews and retargeting strategies. Bettina is dedicated to introducing new scents while reintroducing classics, ultimately helping brands achieve their goals in a mutually beneficial partnership.
Caroline Bassoni
Regulatory Affairs Director, COSMED
Bringing 20 years of experience in the cosmetic industry, mainly within Johnson & Johnson, IFF -International Flavours & Fragrances, and Boots on various product categories : skincare, hygiene, suncare, perfumes.
As part of Cosmed, the trade association federating around 1000 French cosmetic companies, Caroline drives and defends the cosmetic sector positions and interests within various French and EU organizations to anticipate and shape the future regulations.
Caroline develops and promotes as well Cosmed scientific expertise and guiding tools such as regulatory monitoring services and training programs at international level.
Carolyn Aronson
CEO& Founder, It’s a 10 Haircare
Carolyn Aronson is a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and the founder and CEO of It’s A 10 Haircare, one of the only Latina-owned professional hair care brands in the world. She announced full ownership of the company in 2017 and bought out her partner's share. From its inception, It’s A 10 Haircare was born out of Carolyn’s frustration with brands that produced dozens of products with single benefits and hard-to-follow claims. She envisioned a line that was for everyone and delivered full, salon-quality results in just one bottle. She began with a star product, Miracle Leave-In, and the line quickly rose to fame through pro hair stylists, who shared the cult-favorite product with their clients. Since then, over 10 million bottles of the Miracle Leave-In are sold annually.
Charbel Khoury
Regional Education & Development Director, Schwarzkopf Professional Middle East
Charbel Khoury has been in the education field for 22 years and in the hairdressing sector for 31 years. He joined Schwarzkopf Professional in 2021 and is now the Regional Education & Development Director for Schwarzkopf Professional across the Gulf region.
Passionate about hair artistry and his job, Charbel transmits his strong expertise and skills, along with Schwarzkopf Professional techniques and trends, with dedication and enthusiasm to the hundreds of hairdressers he meets every day in the field.
Always ready to take on new challenges, Charbel organized the backstage of many famous fashion shows, including Fashion Forward for four consecutive years and the Elie Saab Emaar Fashion Show in 2019, perfectly reflecting the unique brand value.
Moreover, he has managed and hosted many creative sessions, artistic workshops, editorial shoots, and local and international shows as a creative lead, always leaving his own mark and an unforgettable impression on the brand’s partners and his peers.
He also got the chance to work closely with top international celebrity hairdressers, which enabled him to grow and learn from the best hair artists
Claire Despagne
Founder and CEO, Day+
Before founding the skincare and beauty supplement brand Day+ in 2018, Claire Despagne worked in finance. Having used collagen throughout her life, she envisioned a product that would integrate naturally into her daily routine: the DAY+ collagen and spirulina shot. This was the starting point of Day+ a vision driven by ambition and innovation, which quickly grew into a pioneering brand.
Fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit and her determination to simplify and reinvent beauty routines, Claire created a brand designed for women who want to take care of themselves and feel confident, with products that combine effectiveness, sensoriality, and ease of use.
The result is Day+: a collection of intergenerational products with proven results, offering unique sensorial experiences and intuitive use. Through Claire’s pursuit of excellence, her sense of innovation, agility, and business vision, Day+ has become one of France’s most dynamic beauty brands, with over 300 points of sale, consistent double-digit growth, international expansion, and a thriving e-commerce business.
Cristina Nuñez
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, True Beauty Ventures
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of True Beauty Ventures, Cristina has 18 years of investing and operating experience in CPG, with the last 10 years focused on beauty and wellness. Cristina co-founded TBV to bring true sector expertise to early-stage beauty brands with investments such as K18, maude, Dieux, Youthforia, Crown Affair, Caliray, Moon Juice, and Vacation. Cristina was included in WWD’s lists of Most Powerful Women Financiers in Beauty in 2024 and Most Inspirational Women Leaders in 2023, along with Vogue Business 100 Innovators and Latino Leaders' 100 Latinas.
Prior to TBV, Cristina was an operator within beauty and wellness, at brands such as Clark’s Botanicals, Laura Geller Beauty, and Equinox. Cristina started her career in finance at private equity firms L Catterton and Tengram Capital, and UBS Investment Bank prior to that.
Daniel Leese
Founder, Andsom Skin
Daniel Leese is the driving force behind Andsom Skin, the men’s grooming brand that proved natural, high-performance skincare can compete—and win. After a severe reaction to conventional products, Daniel began formulating alternatives in his kitchen. That DIY experiment became Andsom Skin: a range of science-backed, 100 % natural formulas that now help thousands of men achieve younger, healthier skin.
Under Daniel’s leadership, Andsom Skin has championed ingredient transparency, upcycled botanicals, and eco-conscious packaging—values that earned the company the prestigious “Skincare Brand of the Year” award in 2024 in their first year business. Today, Daniel’s mission is clear: set a new global standard for men’s grooming by proving clean ingredients, sustainability, and uncompromising results can go hand in hand.
Dina Sidani
Founder & CEO, ilik
Dina Sidani is a Harvard MBA and dynamic leader with a career spanning innovation, luxury retail, and corporate finance. She began in Infrastructure Advisory at PwC, then joined Chalhoub Group, where she rose to Chief Innovation Officer. In that role, she built The Greenhouse, a hub that launched incubators, accelerators, and a corporate venture studio, placing Chalhoub at the forefront of retail innovation. She also served briefly as acting CFO at Noon.
After years in luxury, Dina turned her focus to a more personal mission: fixing the broken experience of skincare. She founded ilik Health to cut through the noise of false claims and one-size-fits-all products. Today, ilik blends medical science with the kind of customer experience you’d expect from luxury retail, delivering dermatologist-prescribed formulas tailored to each person straight to their door. Her vision is simple: skincare that actually works, and a beauty industry that finally tells the truth.
Elisavet Gogou
CEO & Founder, Glow Bar
Elisavet Gogou is the CEO & Founder of Glow Bar, one of Greece’s fastest-growing beauty chains, combining luxury salons, an accredited beauty academy, and a professional product line.
Since 2018, she has transformed Glow Bar into a leading brand in brows, lashes & nails, expanding into multiple locations across Greece and internationally.
As an entrepreneur, educator, and beauty innovator, Elisavet empowers professionals through high-level training programs and creates beauty concepts that merge luxury experience with business growth.
Eliza Gilmour
Regulatory Director, Huda Beauty
As the Director of Regulatory at Huda Beauty, I lead the global compliance and market entry across all Huda Beauty brands in the UK, Europe, Middle East and many other international markets. With over 10 years of experience in the field, I bring expertise in navigating evolving regulatory frameworks and bridging global compliance with the brand’s innovation!
Elizabeth Schmidt
Creative Director and Beauty Futurist, Former L’Oreal Creative and Founder of LluMina Studios
Elizabeth Schmidt is a beauty futurist, former L’Oreal Creative Director, and founder with over 15 years of experience shaping the global beauty industry. She spent a decade at L’Oréal as their first in-house digital designer, working across 17 brands to pioneer social-first, digital-first campaigns.
In 2020, she launched Face-Kit, a food-grade, plant-based skincare line featured in Forbes, while also building LluMina Studios, a seven-figure design agency serving the world’s top beauty brands. Today, Elizabeth speaks internationally on the future of beauty, exploring how AI can transform the industry while keeping it deeply human, inclusive, and authentic.
Elizaveta Fadeeva
Skincare Brand Development Director and Project Lead, Incenta
Elizaveta Fadeeva is a Skincare Brand Development Director and Project Lead at Incenta, a private label innovation platform inside Unicare, one of the UAE’s leading cosmetics manufacturers with over 18 years of industry experience.
She works at the intersection of high-performance skincare manufacturing, strategic branding, and commercial execution — guiding clinics, wellness businesses, and emerging retail brands through the full journey from concept to shelf. With deep insight into formulation, packaging, and consumer behavior, Elizaveta helps founders and business owners launch products that are both market-ready and brand-aligned.
Élodie Carpentier
General Manager and Co-Founder, Maison Le Rouge Français
Co-founder of La Maison LE ROUGE FRANÇAIS. A biotechnology engineer with a passion for entrepreneurship, Elodie Carpentier is behind a real plant revolution. Her career spanning more than 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry and the arrival of her daughter June led her to focus on uncompromising products for her own health and that of her child.
Passionate about the world of botany and art history, she became interested in plant pigmentation derived from dye plants with colouring properties and health benefits. In 2019, Elodie created Le Rouge Français with her husband and partner Salem Ghezaili: the first makeup and skincare brand specialising in plant pigmentation, a patented global innovation.
Elodie then embarked on the formulation of her own cosmetic products thanks to an internal Research & Development structure with BIO Cosmos Organic, Vegan certifications by PETA and without controversial ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide. A true player in French Tech and French GreenTech, its ambition is to revolutionise the colour industry as a whole by offering this plant-based alternative to other sectors such as the automotive, aeronautics, fashion or eyewear again.
Named Éclaireuse, Climate Activist of the Coq Vert community of BPI France, Elodie was also a finalist of the last BFM academy, Visage Green Vogue and Winner of the National FWE40 competition for women entrepreneurs in strong growth.
Le Rouge Français is today the first Maison to follow the regenerative economy model thanks to its positive actions for the planet, across its entire value chain, from the field to the finished product.
The brand is expanding all over the world and has established itself as a leading name in plant-based cosmetics. Recognised with prestigious international awards, the brand is present in department stores, niche perfumeries, spas, hotels and palaces, offering an exclusive experience combining excellence and naturality.
Eva Lagarde
CEO & Founder, re-sources.co
Eva has 20 years’ international experience in the Beauty Industry, in innovation and product development, and on the events and media side. Thanks to the re/sources a news and intelligence platform dedicated to beauty and sustainability, Eva is now helping beauty brand marketers develop better products with sustainability at the core.
Forward-thinker Eva always scouts the latest trends and innovations from brands and suppliers, hosting regular events to support beauty professionals in making informed decisions and building stronger brand portfolios and better “sustainable” marketing claims.
Eva holds a master's Degree in Communications and marketing from Paris II Assas University.
Eve El Gemayel
Managing Partner, House of Beauty
Eve El Gemayel is an experienced salon consultant and beauty industry professional specializing in helping salons and spas grow and thrive. With hands-on expertise in salon setup, furnishing, training, and strategic consulting, Eve supports beauty businesses from concept to completion. Previously, Eve held leadership roles at L’Oréal managing brands like Kérastase, L’Oréal Professionnel, and Essie, and served as Brand Manager at Jashanmal overseeing luxury perfume and cosmetics portfolios including Gucci, Davidoff, Bassam Fattouh, and Christian Dior. Known for facilitating major industry events and trainings such as Kérastase hair shows, she currently leads a team at House of Beauty, providing salons with end-to-end solutions including product distribution from top professional brands like Sech, Helios, Italwax, Brae, and Prohall. Passionate about driving innovation and excellence, Eve is dedicated to empowering the salon and spa community through strategic guidance and comprehensive support.
Ewelina Aiossa
Founder & General Manager, Topical Skin
Ewelina Aiossa is a visionary in inside-out beauty, renowned for her expertise in cosmeceuticals, supplements, and longevity skincare. With over 15 years of leadership in skincare innovation, medical marketing, and brand strategy, she has advanced industry giants including L'Oréal (SkinCeuticals), Pierre Fabre (Avène, Glytone), and Topix Pharmaceuticals (Replenix).
She has been instrumental in developing breakthrough cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products for brands like Clarity Rx, Meg21, Glowbiotics, DermaE, and Herb + Flora. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Topical Skin, a clean dermaceutical brand merging biohacking and longevity science to promote skin health and cellular vitality.
Aiossa is also a respected thought leader, contributing to trade journals and speaking at global forums such as Dermatological Beauty Connect, Innocos, and the Global Beauty & Fashion AI Forum. Recognized by CMO.org as a “CMO Psychic” for her ability to anticipate market shifts, she continues to deliver transformative strategies that unite wellness, beauty, and science.
Faiza Hussain
Founder and Head of Product Innovation, NEX Skincare
Faiza Hussain is an MSc Cosmetic Scientist, Founder and Head of Product Innovation at NEX Skincare, as well as the Director of The Skin Shrink. With decades of expertise in research, product development and regional safety regulations, she has formulated hundreds of award-winning beauty products for global leaders. Specialising in skin longevity, ingredient efficacy, delivery systems and tech-integrated skincare, Faiza merges science with purpose. Her work includes patent development, clinical testing and AI-driven beauty technology. She guides B2C and B2B clients through the evolving beauty landscape, offering innovative formulation ideas that stay ahead of trends and meet consumer needs. As a thought leader, Faiza has spoken at global events and conferences, judged industry awards and contributed invaluable insights to key reports, empowering brands with transformative solutions that push boundaries and spark real impact.
Flo Akinbiyi
Presenter and Communication Coach
Flo Akinbiyi is an International Presenter, TEDx Speaker and Communication Coach. He hosts corporate events, conferences, panel discussions, fireside chats and virtual formats. He has shared stages with Michelle Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Sharma and Michael J. Fox and interviewed industry experts. As a communication coach he works with government entities, high level executives and leaders of international Fortune 500 corporations.
Florence Roghe
Founder and Director, Collateral Projects
Florence Roghe is the founder of collateral projects., a project management and new product development agency specialising in the beauty industry. The agency offers fractional senior-level support, bringing the flexibility and agility modern brands need to scale smarter. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a unique blend of corporate and entrepreneurial insight, having worked with leading UK brands such as Beauty Pie, Soaper Duper, and Soap & Glory.
Through Collateral Projects, Florence has supported a range of premium and purpose-driven brands including Gallinée by Dr. Marie Drago, pioneers in microbiome skincare; MZ Skin by Dr. Maryam Zamani, a luxury doctor-led brand; and MIRROR WATER by Estée Lalonde, focused on self-care and wellbeing— along with various other brands and bespoke projects across the beauty industry.
Florence leads projects from concept to shelf, overseeing formulation, packaging, positioning, and strategy—ensuring each launch aligns with brand values and market needs. Passionate about innovation and product excellence, she helps brands build relevant products in a fast-moving and competitive landscape.
Collateral Projects offers fractional senior-level support, bringing the flexibility and agility modern brands need to scale smarter. Their approach is rooted in clear planning, strong processes, and a deep love for beauty done well.
Haifa Addas
Founder & CEO, INSTAGLAM
With a lifelong passion for beauty inspired by her mother, a makeup artist, and her grandmother, a former Miss Lebanon, Haifa grew up surrounded by glamour and self-expression. Her multicultural upbringing across Saudi Arabia, the Levant, Europe, and Canada revealed a universal truth—the desire to look and feel beautiful is timeless.
After building her career in marketing with luxury brands like L’Oréal, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, and Ralph Lauren, and working closely with celebrities for leading Pan-Arab magazines, Haifa envisioned a platform that redefines access to beauty services. This vision became INSTAGLAM—an innovative online portal connecting beauty experts with clients, making glamour accessible anytime, anywhere, while empowering artists to showcase their talent and grow their careers.
Harvey Knight
Founder & CEO, Sustainable Wealth Group
Highly regarded as an entrepreneur and investor, Harvey Knight’s Sustainable Wealth Group is reshaping the investment landscape by combining financial return with environmental and social impact. Based on the three pillars of People, Planet and mutual Profit, Harvey’s forward-looking approach to investing combines capital deployment with a goal to build legacies. A collaborative style that has seen him support dozens of founders, launch multiple ventures and scale businesses through raising funds of over £200million. Known for his vision, the world of global beauty is the latest investment area for the Sustainable Wealth Group, one that reflects Harvey’s own passion for wellness as well as their signature focus on purpose and performance. Headquartered in London the Group will soon be opening an office in Dubai’s DIFC Innovation Hub.
Ines Diogo
Founder, NES Skin
Ines Diogo is the founder of NES SKIN, a Portugal-based skincare clinic and brand known for its Glass Skin concept and personalized Korean-inspired treatments. She combines AI-powered skin diagnostics, advanced facial therapies, and high-performance products to deliver visible, immediate, long-lasting results.
Passionate about education and community, Inês is expanding NES SKIN internationally with innovative beauty products like the Glass Skin Collagen Gummies, while empowering clients to achieve healthier, more radiant skin and habits / routine.
Iryna Kremin
CEO & Founder, INNOCOS
Iryna Kremin is a longevity and beauty strategist, passionate about bridging cutting-edge science with consumer wellness. As the founder of INNOCOS, she brings a unique perspective at the intersection of aging science, biohacking, and innovation in beauty and wellness. Her work spans research translation, startup curation, and consumer education—championing longevity as the future of beauty.
Iryna also hosts the Beauty Biohacks podcast and leads the Wellness & Longevity CHOICE Awards, spotlighting science-backed products and technologies that redefine how we age.
Jana Arden
CEO and Founder, Arden Bay Advisory
Jana is the CEO and Founder of Arden Bay Advisory, specializing in leadership performance, conflict resolution, and burnout prevention. She is also the founder of the Luxury 2050 Forum, a platform shaping the future of leadership and culture in the luxury and consumer industries, reaching an audience of more than 125,000 people worldwide. With nearly two decades of experience leading businesses and teams in global luxury, and having served as a Client Partner at one of the world’s leading technology consultancies, she combines deep industry insight with advisory expertise. Jana holds an MBA from IMD Business School and a master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University.
Jane Henderson
Chair of Beauty and Wellness, Mintel
Jane Henderson is the Chair of Mintel Beauty & Wellness, an investor, strategist and brand advisor. Beginning her career in at NewsCorp before moving on to work for the UK’s leading healthcare provider, Bupa. This is where her interest in wellness and later beauty arose.
In 2005, Jane founded the beauty arm of the Mintel’s market intelligence, helping over 4000 beauty and wellness brands across the globe to build hero products.
Additionally, as an active investor and strategists for many startups, she sits on various boards, including some of the fastest growing European brands. Jane also serves on industry boards and works closely with leading associations, including Cosmetic Executive Women. Recently, creating new categories for beauty and wellness, she’s expanding the industry space. Whilst contributing to major beauty events, she is known for effectively translating consumer insights into commercial growth.
Jessica Hamati
Head of Strategy, Rite
Jessica Hamati is the Head of Strategy at Rite, a UAE-born wellness brand redefining beauty and health through science-backed supplements and functional nutrition. With a background that bridges entrepreneurship, brand building, and strategic growth, Jessica plays a key role in shaping Rite’s vision of making wellness simple, accessible, and results-driven. Passionate about the intersection of beauty, health, and longevity, she is dedicated to helping people feel as good as they look—inside and out.
Jessica Phillips
Vice President, Merchandising – Strategic Initiatives, Ulta
Jessica Phillips is Vice President, Merchandising for Ulta Beauty responsible for Strategic Initiatives such as Brand Building and International. Prior to Ulta Beauty, Jessica spent 20+ years in various Merchandising roles at Sephora, Target and Best Buy and Sales and Marketing positions with EMI Music in Los Angeles. Jessica has a BA from University of Minnesota, Morris and MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. She is also a Regent Emeritus of the University of Minnesota (1995-2001), former board member of both the Carlson School Alumni Board (2017-2023) and UMAA Board (2001-2008), and currently serving on the board for Mutual Ground, a non-profit serving individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.
John Cafarelli
President & CEO, BeautyMatter
John Cafarelli is a creator, innovator, and commercial strategist in the beauty industry. He is the Founder of the award-winning skincare brand Ernest Supplies, a pioneer in clean beauty and sustainability, and the Co-Founder and President of BeautyMatter, a leading platform for news, insights, and connections in beauty and wellness.
Previously, John served as COO/CFO of Paper Magazine, where he helped transform the legacy brand into a cultural icon and led its sale to an investment group. His career spans finance, investment, and advisory roles, including serving as a founding member of consumer investment fund Goode Partners and working on the National Economic Council under President Bill Clinton.
He has also held board positions with fashion and eyewear brands including Intermix, AllSaints, Morgenthal Frederics, and Robert Marc, and spent a decade as National Chairman of amfAR Generation Cure, supporting research toward a cure for HIV/AIDS.
Kamal Kaur
Managing Director & Principal Regulatory Consultant, The Cosmetic Regulator
Kamal is a UK & EU Responsible Person as well as an expert in UK & EU Cosmetic product regulations with over 9 years experience. Kamal has supported the launch of hundreds of products from global brands such as Scholl, Veet, Clearasil, Dettol, 111SKIN, REFY, Indē Wild & many others. Kamal provides bespoke, strategic and commercially minded solutions to ensure brands can enter and grow into new markets whilst remaining compliant. As well as providing regulatory solutions, Kamal also provides a range of product testing services to support the end-to-end development of your cosmetic products.
Katie Godfrey
Business Strategist & Coach
Katie Godfrey is a leading business strategist, best-selling author, and podcaster.
Today, Katie is the founder of multiple award-winning salons, training academies, and a professional product range. She mentors beauty, hair, and aesthetics entrepreneurs worldwide, helping them step off the salon floor, gain financial freedom, and build businesses they truly love.
She is the author of Get Off the Tools, a must-read for industry professionals ready to scale beyond the treatment room and create more freedom, income, and impact. Through her coaching, writing, and top-rated podcast The Life of KG, Katie shares straight-talking advice, proven strategies, and the mindset shifts that helped her grow a globally recognised brand, and empowers others to do the same.
Kelly Kovack
Co-founder & CEO, BeautyMatter
Kelly Kovack didn’t start in the media — she built brands. As an early executive at Bliss, she helped redefine how beauty was marketed, merchandised, and sold, paving the way for its acquisition by LVMH. She was at the forefront of the cosmeceutical movement as VP of Marketing for Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare and served on the BOD until its sale to Shiseido. She later founded Purpose Built, advising everyone from scrappy startups to Fortune 500 giants. She’s even built award-winning brands of her own, including the cult-favorite fragrance line, Odin New York, and category disruptor, Rescue Beauty Lounge.
Now, as the founder and CEO of BeautyMatter, Kelly brings her decades of insider experience to the business intelligence world, cutting through industry noise to deliver sharp analysis, strategic insight, and the unfiltered truth. BeautyMatter isn’t just reporting on the future of beauty and wellness — it’s shaping it.
Kenneth Hoellmann
CEO & Founder, MÄNN Skincare
Kenneth Hoellmann is the founder and co-formulator of MÄNN Skincare, a luxury skincare brand for men that blends science and nature to deliver high-performance, 100% natural products. With a deep understanding of the evolving beauty industry, Kenneth has pioneered a brand that goes beyond basic grooming, redefining the modern man’s approach to skincare and wellbeing.
His vision for MÄNN Skincare is centered around not just product innovation but also a shift in how men engage with self-care. As a finalist at the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2025 and with plans for expanding MÄNN’s retail presence internationally, Kenneth is at the forefront of a movement that encourages men to embrace skincare as an integral part of their holistic wellbeing.
Kenneth is also a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in the UK and the German Society for Scientific and Applied Cosmetics, contributing to his expertise in skincare formulation and the latest advancements in cosmetic science.
He brings insights into the growing demand for men's beauty products, the importance of neurocosmetic ingredients, and how brands can innovate to meet the needs of this increasingly conscious and self-expressive demographic.
Lana A Kerr
Founder & CEO, Lumisque, Inc./ CO2Lift®
Lana Kerr is the CEO & Founder of Lumisque Skincare and the creator of CO2LIFT®, the first professional-grade, non-invasive carboxytherapy gel. A global leader in age management and women’s wellness, she introduced CO2LIFT® to the U.S. in 2016, revolutionizing clinical skincare and intimate health. With over 20 years in health and beauty, Lana is a passionate advocate for confidence, inclusivity, and innovation—empowering individuals to age boldly, without needles or shame.
Laurene Joie
CEO & Founder, Gaudia Beauty
French beauty entrepreneur Laurene Joie founded Gaudia Beauty, a luxurious haircare brand born in the GCC. Gaudia combines dates and other regionally inspired ingredients with French science to create sensorial, clean, and effective formulas tailored to the climate and hair needs of women in the region.
Laurent Milet
General Manager, COSMOS-standard AISBL
Laurent Milet is the General Manager of COSMOS-standard AISBL, a Brussels-based non-profit association which owns and manages the COSMOS-standard. Laurent has a wealth of experience in the cosmetics industry, having held high-level positions with responsibilities for human resources, business development strategies, and administrative teamwork for big companies. He is now responsible for leading COSMOS-standard's strategic direction and overseeing all aspects of the business.
Laurent is a recognized speaker at numerous key industry events worldwide, where he advocates for natural and organic cosmetics.
The COSMOS signature is a trusted international consumer guarantee for organic and natural cosmetics, carried by 3 000 companies in 80+ countries in the world.
Lavinia Popescu
Chief Science Officer, Olaplex
Lavinia Popescu is the Chief Scientist Officer at Olaplex. One of the hottest haircare brands in the beauty industry, Olaplex is using disruptive technologies to create the haircare products of the future. Olaplex is a public company, operating in many countries around the world.
In her role at Olaplex, Lavinia is responsible for all aspects of the company’s Research & Development efforts. This includes innovation, ingredient & technology development, formulation development, and clinical and consumer studies. Lavinia joined Olaplex in 2020 and has developed many retail and professional products, using cutting edge technologies.
Prior to joining Olaplex, Lavinia worked as a VP R&D/PD at Moroccanoil as well as a Senior Director R&D/PD at Elizabeth Arden. Earlier in her career, Lavinia worked as Senior Scientist in R&D at Estee Lauder.
Lavinia holds a master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Bucharest, as well as an MBA from Dowling College, New York. She was also a Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Layal Akouri
Partner & CEO, Nadine Njeim Beauty
Layal is a multinational CEO, turnaround strategist, and tech-driven retail leader with over 20 years of experience in brand innovation, transformation, and global growth. She is currently Partner & CEO at Nadine Njeim Beauty, a premium Middle Eastern beauty brand known for its clean, hybrid makeup-skincare technology and rapid market ascent under her leadership.
With a strong track record in growth acceleration, turnaround management, and exits, Layal combines operational expertise with visionary leadership. She excels in identifying opportunities, mobilizing organizations, and leveraging technology-driven retail solutions to drive innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainable growth. Her hands-on approach and strategic insight make her a sought-after leader for brands navigating complex markets.
Layla Alhajjaj
Founder & Managing Director, Boho Salon
Layla Alhajjaj is a serial entrepreneur and business strategist with a corporate background in the oil & gas, government, and non-profit sectors. After transitioning from the corporate world, she built a name for herself in the beauty and service industries by founding and scaling multiple successful businesses, including:
- Boho Salon – A sustainability-driven salon concept in the UAE.
- FRQNCY Salon – A bold and innovative brand redefining the salon experience.
- SAGE Business Management & Mentorship – A consultancy that helps business owners build profitable, scalable businesses aligned with their vision.
Layla leads with transparency and authenticity, believing that a successful business isn’t just about making money—but about creating impact, culture, and a purpose-driven brand. Her expertise in leadership, operations, branding, and financial strategy has made her a sought-after mentor for entrepreneurs and business owners.
She is passionate about elevating industry standards, helping salon owners and service-based entrepreneurs navigate business challenges, and shifting the mindset from technician to entrepreneur.
Her insights on scaling businesses, leadership, and personal branding have made her a respected voice in the industry. Layla is also a speaker, frequently invited to share her expertise on business growth, leadership, and the evolving beauty industry in the Middle East.
Lina Gallagher
Managing Director, Emerce Consulting
Lina Gallagher is an e-commerce entrepreneur, consultant, and coach with about two decades of experience in the digital arena. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Emerce Consulting, a UAE-based consultancy that aids local and global brands, retailers, and distributors in launching, scaling, and optimizing their digital businesses. As a leading figure in digital business in the Gulf, Gallagher also established the Emerce Coaching global e-commerce training academy to equip individuals with the skills needed to succeed in online business.
Lina Gallagher is a mother and an advocate for women empowerment and connection within the professional community. In 2024 Gallagher co-authored Winning in the Platform Economy: For Commerce Professionals in the GCC Region with Alexander Graf. The book examines emerging e-commerce paradigms and analyzes over 30 global and GCC market players.
Lora Garrard
Lora Garrard, Head of Luxury, Beauty Solutions
With over 16 years experience in the Beauty industry for companies such as Estée Lauder, L'Oréal and Harrods, Lora is currently the Head of Luxury for GCC based distributor Beauty Solutions.
With a passion for onboarding and growing brands in the region, she believes iun great relationships, great marketing and bringing excellent execution to brands in the Middle East.
Maria Dowling
Founder, Managing Director, Creative Director, mariadowling
Renowned for intuitively creating the most natural, flattering colour for her clients, and with a successful career spanning more than 30 years, Maria Dowling has made her mark as the region’s leading hair colourist. Dubbed the ‘Queen of Colour’, Maria is a go-to expert in the Middle East hair industry and a reference point for stylists and other hair professionals in the region. Located in the Jumeirah district, her eponymous salon is a beacon of brilliance with a hand-picked team of internationally trained colourists and stylists. Indeed, the mariadowling salon has more than a dozen awards to its name and a staggering 300 five-star google reviews. In addition to her salon, Maria has successfully launched an iconic hair and scalp clay through her mariadowling brand, which is primed to launch several more industry-disrupting products in the coming months.
Mariela Marcantetti
CEO & Founder, Furless Permanent, Furless Beauty Institute, The Trading Corner
Mariela is the Co-Founder and CEO of Furless Permanent, Furless Beauty Institute, and The Trading Corner. Since launching her first business in 2016 with just one therapist, she has grown her company to six locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Riyadh with over 70 industry experts.
As a leading educator and electrolysis specialist, Mariela has built Furless Beauty Institute into the top beauty school in the UAE. She is deeply committed to excellence, responsible corporate practices, and empowering her team through continuous education and development.
Marina Fallahi
Founder, Bhive London
Marina Fallahi is the Founder of Bhive, the AI-powered platform redefining how consumers discover the right hair products. With over 14 years of marketing experience at global beauty giants including Schwarzkopf and Revlon, Marina blends deep industry insight with a personal mission: to end the confusion and overwhelm of navigating hair care.
Frustrated by the trial-and-error approach so many face, she created Bhive — a community-driven platform that leverages real user experiences and AI to deliver personalised product recommendations that truly work. At the same time, Bhive empowers brands to reach their most relevant customers with unmatched precision.
Metta Murdaya
Founder, Juara
Metta Murdaya, born in Jakarta and based between New York City and Jakarta, is the founder of JUARA, an award-winning skincare brand inspired by Indonesia’s Jamu wellness tradition. She holds degrees in Cognitive Science and Architecture from UC Berkeley and an MBA in Finance and Management from NYU Stern. Metta has worked in operations, consulting, and general management for global brands like Home Depot and Nike, and leads strategic initiatives in her family business in Indonesia. She is the author of the Gourmand Award–winning book Jamu Lifestyle, a wellness speaker, and an active member of the Global Wellness Institute and YPO.
Michael Curella
Sr Director MENAT Commercial Strategy, Marketing, CMI, Coty
Michael Curella is a tenured commercial strategist with a global track record leading business transformation across the US, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. He currently oversees Marketing, Commercial Strategy, and Insights for Coty’s MENAT portfolio.
Michael has led multimarket turnarounds, launched brands across regions and shaped global strategies that have driven sustainable growth and margin expansion. His expertise includes large-scale commercial transformation, go-to-market strategy, brand building and innovation planning
A passionate people leader, Michael has developed hundreds of professionals across regions and cultures. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of New South Wales and has served on advisory boards including Rutgers Business School.
Myriam Rezgui
CEO & Founder, Caire Solutions
I’m the Founder & CEO of Caire Solutions, a French company based in Dubai that develops intelligent virtual assistants for luxury skincare brands and aesthetic clinics.
I’m passionate about the intersection of beauty and technology. Through Caire Solutions, I help premium brands personalize their customer experience, increase conversion rates, and build lasting loyalty, all while preserving brand identity and protecting user data.
Under my leadership, Caire Solutions received the Beauty AI Innovation Award and was honored at the Women of Heart Awards for its contribution to AI in beauty and skincare.
Nadeem Qureshi
CEO, Leather & Lather
Nadeem Qureshi is the Founder and CEO of Leather & Lather, one of the GCC’s first dedicated men’s luxury grooming and lifestyle stores. In 2015, when men’s grooming across the Gulf, including major markets like Dubai was still limited to supermarket shelves or mixed retail counters, Nadeem launched Leather & Lather to bring world-class shaving, skincare, beard care, high quality leather goods and niche fragrance brands directly to male consumers.
With a decade of experience in curating premium grooming products and observing changing consumer preferences, Nadeem has developed deep insight into the men’s grooming industry in the region.
His work has helped shape a new standard for how men in the Gulf approach self-care and positioned Leather & Lather as a benchmark for niche retail in the GCC.
Nadia Kapleva
Medical Director, Lóvi
Nadia Kapleva is a certified cosmetic chemist, aesthetic specialist, and economist with an MBA-level business background, bringing over 15 years of leadership experience in the beauty and skincare industry. She is the Medical Director of Lóvi the world’s first AI-powered cosmetic & skincare scanner, capable of analyzing 13 key skin conditions and evaluating over 900,000 products for safety, efficacy, and skin-type compatibility, entirely independent of brand influence. Nadia leads R&D in skincare analysis methodologies, merging AI, dermatology, and cosmetic science.
Previously, she served as General Manager at Mesoformula Ltd and Executive Director at Mesopharm Ltd, leading professional cosmetics manufacturing, product innovation, and international expansion. An educator at heart, she has trained over 5,000 aesthetic specialists in cosmetic chemistry and formulation interpretation.
Her early career at KPMG and PwC honed her expertise in business process optimization, financial analysis, and strategic management, skills she now applies to drive evidence-based skincare innovation worldwide.
Namita Khosla
Partner, GrowthWorks
General manager with a proven track record of high performance in the beauty sector and expertise in digital marketing & ecommerce. Namita spent over 12 years at Unilever, growing world class brands such as Dove & Magnum, at L'Oreal Luxe managing Luxury fragrances and most recently managing 8 european markets for Charlotte Tilbury.
Pooja Rawat
Pooja Rawat, Director- Category Management, Chalhoub Group
9. BIO Pooja Rawat is a seasoned beauty industry leader with over 18 years of experience across cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and FMCG. She currently heads Category Management for Faces at Chalhoub Group, driving strategy and commercial performance across 70+ stores in the GCC. Her core expertise spans brand and vendor management, joint business planning, omni-channel retail, and P&L ownership.
Prior to Chalhoub, Pooja held senior leadership roles at Apparel Group (leading Inglot Cosmetics), Landmark Group (cosmetics and fragrances), and Wal-Mart India, where she launched and scaled the beauty category. She is known for delivering commercial growth, high-impact campaigns, and iconic launches including the Inglot x Jennifer Lopez collection.
Pooja holds an Executive MBA in Strategic Retail Management from the Indian School of Business and is passionate about shaping the future of beauty in the region.
Presca Ahn
Global Investment Director, BOLD, L’Oréal
Presca Ahn is Global Investment Director at BOLD, the venture capital fund of L'Oréal, and the head of BOLD in North America. Exclusively investing in beauty since 2018, BOLD has backed indie beauty brands and beauty innovation platforms from across the world, including Uni, DAMDAM, Ami Colé, Timeline, To Summer, Born to Stand Out, Deconstruct, Curl Cult, Rembrand, and Debut Biotechnology. Before joining BOLD in 2022, Presca managed investments at the private equity fund Five Arrows. In her early career, she was an operator in the art market, notably as the first CEO of the contemporary art museum M WOODS. Presca received a BA with distinction from Yale College and an MSc with distinction from the London School of Economics, where she was a Fulbright Scholar. She also holds an MBA from INSEAD.
Ritu Upadhyay
Middle East Bureau Chief, WWD
Ritu Upadhyay is the Middle East Bureau Chief for Women's Wear Daily (WWD), the leading voice in the fashion industry for over 100 years. Ritu leads WWD's coverage of fashion, beauty, and retail markets across the Middle East. She brings extensive experience to her role, providing insights into the rapidly evolving fashion and beauty landscape, including emerging designers, luxury retail developments, style trends and the growing influence of social media on regional consumer behavior. Her work has been instrumental in highlighting the region’s increasing importance in the global fashion landscape, providing valuable insights for industry professionals seeking to understand and engage with a very lucrative market. Ritu frequently speaks at industry conferences and panel discussions on the future of the industry.
Sadaf Shaikh
Head of Department : Retail Education, Artistry, Service Innovation, CX Excellence & Strategy, Tira
Dr. Sadaf Shaikh is a globally accredited beauty educator and learning strategist with over 15 years of experience across the UK, Middle East, and India. A certified doctor in cosmetology and alternative medicine, she has led transformative education journeys for leading global brands, including Estée Lauder, NARS, and Make Up For Ever. Currently heading education across Tira, Kiko Milano, and FaceGym in India, she is recognized for building award-winning learning ecosystems that elevate retail artistry, customer experience, and emotional intelligence. Her specializations span luxury beauty retail, global training standards, and human-centric learning design. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, she brings a compelling voice to the evolving intersection of beauty, education, and innovation—shaping the next generation of beauty professionals through storytelling, strategy, and soul.
Said Al-Jundi
Chief Physician, Vascular Surgery
Dr. med. Said Al-Jundi is a highly accomplished vascular surgeon with over 16 years of experience in complex vascular conditions, specialising in carotid artery surgery, aortic interventions (EVAR, TEVAR, FEVAR, IBE, TBE), peripheral and visceral artery procedures, diabetic foot and wound management, dialysis access, and cosmetic vein treatments including sclerotherapy.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Damascus, he completed extensive surgical training at top cardiovascular centres in Germany and the Vascular International School in Switzerland. He holds a PhD in Surgery (Magna cum Laude) from the University of Düsseldorf.
Dr. Al-Jundi serves as Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Petrus Hospital in Wuppertal and maintains a private clinic at ACM Königsallee in Düsseldorf. He is among 20 surgeons in Germany trained in the advanced Gore TBE branched device. Committed to education and research, he teaches at the University of Düsseldorf, leads the Endovascular Research Programme in Wroclaw, Poland, and regularly contributes to international conferences and publications.
A member of the German Society of Vascular Surgery, the European Society for Vascular Surgery, and the Association of Arab Doctors in North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr. Al-Jundi continues to advance vascular surgery through clinical innovation, teaching, and global collaboration.
Salmeh Vakilian
Head of Endemic Business, Amazon Ads
Salmeh (Sal) Vakilian is a highly accomplished advertising executive and tenured Amazonian, with over a decade of proven leadership at Amazon Ads. Sal has spent more than 12 years building impactful, data-driven, and strategic marketing solutions across multiple global markets, cementing a reputation as a trusted partner for brands and agencies alike. As Head of Endemic Advertising for Amazon Ads in the MENA region, Sal oversees a broad portfolio of categories including Consumer Packaged Goods, Consumer Electronics, Home & Kitchen, Major Domestic Appliances, Toys, and Apparel. Sal’s leadership helps brands unlock sustainable growth and measurable performance across the Amazon ecosystem.
Throughout their journey at Amazon Ads, Sal has demonstrated exceptional versatility and a global mindset, spearheading advertising initiatives across the UK, Spain, and Asia-Pacific before moving to the UAE. Her extensive Amazon tenure, paired with a unique ability to design locally relevant solutions, has been instrumental in driving innovation and revenue growth for some of the world’s most recognized brands.
Sal’s career foundation began at Zenith, where they honed strategic planning capabilities and cultivated a deep understanding of traditional and digital media integration. This experience, combined with Amazon Ads’ focus on data, performance, and audience solutions, has given Sal a uniquely holistic perspective on the evolving advertising landscape and the role of technology in reshaping consumer journeys.
An advocate for marketing effectiveness, Sal is a regular speaker and thought leader at industry events including the MENA Effies, Campaign Breakfast events, and other global marketing forums. She is passionate about elevating industry standards, fostering creative excellence, and mentoring emerging talent across the advertising ecosystem.
Sal holds a BSc from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science and brings a collaborative, human-centered leadership style to every partnership and project. Driven by a commitment to unlocking long-term brand value and creating purpose-led connections between brands and consumers, Sal is a respected voice on the future of digital commerce, endemic advertising, and full-funnel marketing in emerging markets.
Sammy Gharieni
Founder & CEO, Gharieni Group
Sammy Gharieni is known for his visionary industry leadership and his pioneering spirit. He has built an extraordinary Wellness brand based on a DNA of innovation. He began by revolutionizing the sector of treatment beds more than 30 years ago, when he founded the Gharieni Group, realizing there were important gaps in the market that could be turned into singular opportunities. Today, the Gharieni Group has a 120-country reach and is the leading company and thought leader in the area of spa, wellness, and medical treatment beds, and Mind/Body Wellness Technologies. Under its wings, the Gharieni Group now encompasses three brands: its legacy brand Gharieni, the innovative Mind/Body Wellness Technologies brand Metawell, and Bentlon, bringing a fresh approach to business ownership with midmarket products and vibrant, engaging branding.
Sammy is the recipient of the coveted ´A Life of Beauty Award’ from industry event, Beauty Düsseldorf, and ‘A lifetime Achievement Award’ from Australia’s renowned Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College. His unique perspective, having been raised between Belgium and Tunisia, together with an engineering education in Germany, fuels his passion for driving innovation. He continues to travel the globe to find inspiration and new ideas to create new business opportunities and improve existing processes. His customer-centric mindset is always looking to improve service, curate experiences, and refine processes that will deliver exceptional value and support his customers’ businesses – while delighting the consumer with unique Wellness experiences.
Sara Al Rashid
Founder, Asteri Beauty
Sara Alrashed is the founder of Asteri Beauty, a Saudi-born brand redefining desert-proof, clean, and vegan beauty. With a background in interior architecture and creative direction, Sara brings a unique design-driven approach to product development and brand storytelling. Since its launch, Asteri has rapidly expanded, opening 13 stores in just two years across the GCC, with global growth on the horizon. The brand’s pillars—truth, inclusivity, sustainability, and sisterhood—reflect Sara’s vision of building a modern beauty movement rooted in authenticity and cultural identity.
Sara Codner
Area Director, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
9. BIO UK national Sara Codner is the Area Director of Spa & Wellness, Middle East, at Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, overseeing both wellness facilities at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira and Mandarin Oriental Downtown. With more than 28 years of experience in luxury wellness, Sara has built a global career spanning London, Tokyo, Guangzhou and Dubai, shaping award-winning spa experiences across the Mandarin Oriental portfolio and championing sustainability as a core pillar of modern luxury.
At Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, Sara is curating a wellness sanctuary that blends cutting-edge therapies with the vibrancy of the city, ushering in a new era of urban wellness. Her focus includes developing bespoke wellness programmes, introducing innovative treatments, and ensuring the spa becomes a benchmark for urban luxury wellness in the region.
Sustainability has been at the heart of Sara’s leadership throughout her career. A long-time vegan and advocate for animal welfare, Sara incorporates her personal values into her professional vision, consciously championing initiatives that support environmental and ethical practices. At Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, she launched the group’s first sustainable retail concept, Kind by M.O., which raised awareness of regional conservation efforts, including the Arabian Oryx. She also spearheaded the creation of an artificial reef off Fujairah’s coast. As Sustainability Champion at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, she drove initiatives to align the property with environmental best practices, a role she has carried through to her current property.
Sara’s tenure includes managing The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; leading the pre-opening of Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou, the group’s first city hotel in Mainland China; and elevating the spa experience in Tokyo, where her focus on holistic wellness left a lasting legacy.
For Sara, wellness is about connection—to oneself, the environment and the community. At The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, she is creating a transformative space that combines Mandarin Oriental’s legacy of excellence with her passion for sustainability, setting a new standard for urban wellness in the Middle East.
Sarah Chung Park
CEO, Landing International Inc.
Sarah Chung Park is the CEO and Founder of Landing International Inc., the leading consultancy for K-Beauty brands entering the U.S. market. She is the creator of K-Beauty World, a groundbreaking discovery platform bringing Korea’s top beauty innovations to global retailers, and the author of The Second Wave of K-Beauty report. Under her leadership, Landing was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Beauty, and she was recognized as one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders of 2021 and Entrepreneur’s 100 Women of Influence. A sought-after expert in both the U.S. and Korea, she is known for her insights at the intersection of beauty, culture, and commerce.
Shari Jafari
Advisor, Mind The Beauty AG
Shari Jafari is a strategic leader in beauty, wellness, and business expansion. With nearly two decades of experience driving transformation for global brands, she has led initiatives that merge innovation, technology, and consumer insight to create lasting impact.
Throughout her career, Shari has led transformative work at the intersection of skincare, technology, and wellbeing, developing and launching brands that champion personalization, performance, and inclusivity. She played an instrumental role in bringing AI-driven personalization into skincare in the company she has Co-Founded, Simon Ourian M.D. and helped scale purpose-led beauty and wellness concepts across Europe — empowering women and fostering confidence through innovation and community.
Before founding her own advisory, Shari spent 17 years in leadership at The Estée Lauder Companies, where she spearheaded brand development, market expansion, and growth strategy across high-performing regions — including over a decade in the Middle East.
Shari has now founded, One Eleven, her boutique advisory firm dedicated to building, scaling, and transforming consumer brands.
Shiyan Zering
Senior Research Analyst, Mintel
Shiyan Zering is a Senior Research Analyst specialising in beauty and personal care across the EMEA region, with a particular focus on the UK and Middle East markets. With over six years of industry experience in makeup, she brings deep expertise in colour cosmetics, having worked in both consumer-facing roles and as a professional makeup artist. Shiyan’s unique background allows her to blend practical artistry with data-driven insights, delivering comprehensive market reports that help brands navigate evolving trends and consumer behaviors. Passionate about innovation in beauty, Shiyan’s analytical skills and hands-on experience position her as a trusted voice in the sector, committed to driving impactful research that connects market dynamics with consumer needs.
Shubham Poddar
Founder & CEO, AÏZA by Amaani
Shubham Poddar is the Founder & CEO of Amaani, a Dubai-based company building the next generation of beauty and wellness brands from the Middle East. He founded Amaani in 2023 with the vision of taking Arab beauty global, debuting with AÏZA — a brand backed by $3M from Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India) and featured in Vogue, Elle, and Cosmopolitan.
Previously, Shubham was part of Sequoia Capital India’s investment team, leading its Middle East expansion with investments in Tabby, Huspy, Foodics, and Lean Technologies. He began his career at Bain & Company in New York and graduated rank 1 from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was part of the prestigious Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business.
Simone Swafford
CEO & Founder, Vogue Regulatory
Dr. Simone Swafford is the CEO and Founder of Vogue Regulatory. She is an accomplished Regulatory Affairs professional with almost 20 years of experience in the cosmetics, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and dietary supplement industries.
Dr. Swafford has earned both her master’s degree and the only one of its kind, doctorate in Regulatory Science from the University of Southern California. She has lectured at various educational institutions and has also written the Cosmetics chapter in the USC regulatory textbook, “An Overview of FDA Regulated Products: From Drugs and Cosmetics to Food and Tobacco”.
Soraya Jouzy
Founder, Pearl Tree
Soraya’s passion for clean beauty and appreciate for nature stems from her mother, a keen botanist and her early exposure to natural remedies.
Her appreciation for wellbeing grew out of her long working hours for the Gordon Ramsay group and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts; using her knowledge of essential oils to help reduce stress, low and energy and overcome disrupted sleeping patterns.
Determined to share this knowledge with the Middle East, a region addicted to chemically induced instant results and growing obsession with cosmetic surgery, including within her own peer group, Soraya resigned from her career and found Pearl Tree distribution. Her mission – to help local women lead naturally healthier lives.
Soraya is now recognized as a regional champion for clean beauty, sustainability and holistic wellbeing regularly working with Media, Corporates and Government to help change mindsets and raise awareness across the Middle East.
She is super passionate about each Brand she distributes and loves sharing the beautiful stories of the amazing pioneers behind each of them.
Stacy Vason
Founder, Beauty Operations & AI Consultant, Vason Global Strategies
Stacy Vason is a visionary beauty industry leader, salon operations expert, and founder of Vason Global Strategies, a consulting firm bridging artificial intelligence and beauty business innovation. With over 15 years of experience—from salon ownership to corporate leadership—Stacy empowers beauty professionals to embrace AI for personalization, efficiency, and sustainable growth. Through her global perspective, passion for digital transformation, and commitment to reducing industry waste, she is guiding beauty brands toward smarter, greener futures. Her work focuses on practical applications of AI for salon operations, client care, product innovation, and waste reduction—making her a sought after voice in the evolution of beauty.
Sujata Assomull
Journalist and Author
London-born Sujata Assomull is a Dubai-based journalist and author of 100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes. A mindful fashion and pro-age advocate, she was the launch Editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar India and previously worked with Khaleej Times as their Group Fashion Editor. An international chronicler of fashion and beauty trends, she is a go-to resource in the industry for commentary on India and the Middle East’s evolving and dynamic markets. Today she is a contributing editor for Vogue Business. A columnist with India’s leading business daily, Mint, she looks at fashion and beauty through a cultural and economic lens. Her bylines have appeared in Vogue India, Vogue Arabia Business of Fashion, South China Morning Post , Khaleej Times and Arab News. A moderator at events such as Emirates Literature Festival, Retail Leader Circle, Cop 28 and other retail and culture led events.
Toufic Braidi
Founder and CEO, Antati Skincare
Toufic Braidi is a biomedical engineer with an MSc from King’s College London and the visionary founder behind Antati, a science-led skincare brand proudly manufactured in Lebanon and distributed from London.
Before launching his brand, Toufic built a loyal global following as a skincare content creator and product reviewer, with educational videos reaching over 100 million views. Known for his bold, engaging tone and unfiltered approach to beauty education, he became a trusted voice in the world of skincare, especially among Arab youth seeking science-backed, culturally relevant advice.
Today, through Antati, Toufic combines clinical expertise with a deep commitment to ethical skincare, championing ingredient transparency, simplified routines, and formulations tailored to the specific needs of Arab skin and climate. His work is rooted in cultural pride and scientific integrity, positioning him as a compelling figure in the global clean beauty movement.
With a strong public presence and growing influence in the region, Toufic continues to reshape conversations around beauty, identity, and skin health, one molecule at a time.
Valérie Kaminov
Founder & Managing Director, International Luxury Brand Consultancy
Known for her unparalleled global perspective, Valérie Kaminov’s enviable credentials in driving international expansion and propelling beauty brands to the next level has led her to be recognised as a leading authority in how to grow businesses around the world. For over 25 years she has been collaborating with Indie, Founder and Legacy brands from across beauty and wellness, and helping transform their businesses through her in-depth experience in strategic development, advisory services, new market identification and entry preparation, building organisational structure and distribution planning.
Valérie’s impressive track record of successes reflects her extensive knowledge of multiple beauty categories which include haircare, make-up, skincare, fragrances and devices. Her skilful and often innovative approach has been a key part in the transformation of names like REN Skincare, Babor, Penhaligon’s, Orveda and many more. This deep expertise comes with a passionate commitment to furthering sustainability within the beauty sector.
Highly sought after as a moderator, panellist and keynote speaker, Valérie is also an expert columnist and recognised author of market reports. With offices in London, Paris and Dubai, Valérie Kaminov and International Luxury Brand Consultancy offers a range of services across the international beauty and wellness sectors.