Khaled AlShehhi is an innovative marketing leader who has made significant contributions to the field of advertising and marketing in the MENA region. He has transformed the way the UAE government communicates by introducing original, creative, and humanizing content that has positively impacted millions of people globally.

Under his leadership, the UAE Government Media Office has received over 200 awards from some of the most prestigious creative and marketing shows around the world, including Cannes Lions, LIA, CLIO, ONE Show and Dubai Lynx. Khaled's unique approach to creativity has made him a sought-after speaker, sharing his story about how government creativity can be turned on.

He has earned leadership roles in various organizations, including the Global CMO Growth Council, New York Festival AME Advisory Council, World Media Group’s Brand Advisory Board, The Public Relations and Communications Association Executive Board and Middle East Public Relations Association Strategy Board. Khaled has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field, including winning the World Media Group Award for Content Leadership & Innovation in 2022, the Honorary Award of the 2022 Effie MENA, and being named Advertising Person of the Year at the Dubai Lynx 2023, Digital Professional of the Year 2021 by The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and Marketing Game Changer by Campaign Middle East in 2020. He has also been featured in the Arabian Business’ 2021 Power List of individuals who are shaping the future of the Middle East.

From a childhood steeped in the vibrant culture of the Dominican Republic to navigating the bustling streets of New York City, Anibal's journey has been fueled by an insatiable curiosity and a passion for understanding what connects us all. For over two decades, this drive has shaped the strategic vision of some of the world's most influential brands. His career began at Y&R, honing his Communication & Media Planning skills across LATAM, before transitioning to the U.S. to spearhead Multicultural Strategy for Heineken, Nissan, Johnnie Walker, Wendy's, and the NFL. From there, he stepped into leadership roles at some of the world's most creatively driven agencies, including Wieden + Kennedy, Droga5, 72andSunny, and FIG, where he catalyzed award-winning campaigns for P&G, IKEA, Old Spice, Google, Ketel One, Audi and more, earning recognition from Cannes Effectiveness, Effie's, WARC, One Show, and Clio's.

Today, as North America's Chief Strategy Officer at Ogilvy, Anibal leads a multidisciplinary practice at the intersection of Advertising, Connections, PR, Social, and Business Transformation. He is also the Global Strategy Lead at Ogilvy for WPP's OpenX, steering the future of brands within the Coca-Cola family. Beyond this, he champions Ogilvy's Intercultural approach, redefining how brands connect with the ever-changing fabric of America by embracing the richness of culture and perspective. His commitment extends to transforming Ogilvy NA's Integrated strategy team, building a more representative and inclusive group that reflects the communities they serve.

More than a strategist, Anibal is a natural-born storyteller and a people-first leader. He leads from the bottom up, stays close to his team's day-to-day realities, and holds a firm belief that kindness and creativity aren't soft values but the foundation of work that actually matters.

Bediz Eker is currently Chief Strategy Officer at VMLY&R’s New York office. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of strategy across brand, consumer experience and social in his business unit. Before getting relocated to New York two years ago, he worked as the Chief Strategy Officer in Y&R’s Istanbul office, where he had several noteworthy accomplishments. He was the strategy lead of the team that won Turkey's first ever Grand Prix in Cannes. He was responsible for leading his team to become Europe’s Most Effective Agency and the World’s 8th Most Effective Agency.

Prior to joining Y&R, he worked in BBDO Turkey and Alametifarika. But his career in advertising started in Paris, where he took his first agency job at Euro RSCG Worldwide’s European Business Development department in HAVAS Global Headquarters. Before finding an internship in the same department, he had no intention to work in advertising while planning to become a political communications consultant. It was his political communications project that helped him achieve French Government’s Scholarship – “Bourse d’Excellence” after his BA in Political Science and Public Administration in Galatasaray University and brought him to France where he had an MA in Management and Business Administration of Communications.

Today he gives back to academia as a guest lecturer in Baruch College and Fordham University. He’s also on the Advisory Board of Rutgers Business School’s Marketing Department. Since he moved to New York, Bediz has been writing a monthly column in Mediacat (Turkey’s best-selling marketing industry publication) to share his experiences abroad.

Originally from Ireland, Rory has worked at agencies around the globe in Dublin, Sydney, London and he currently leads the strategy department at Special Group Auckland.

He’s created highly successful campaigns for brands such as Air New Zealand, Guinness and Tourism New Zealand that has seen him win Cannes Lions, D&AD and One Show Pencils.

At AMV BBDO, where he was a Board member, he won over 100 creative awards including 10 Cannes Lions and two Gold IPA effectiveness awards for his work on the Guinness ‘Made of More’ campaign.

His recent work for Tourism New Zealand, saw Special Group win New Zealand’s first ever Global Effie award for the campaign Good Morning World along with a number of ‘Campaign of the Year’ titles.

Under his charge, Special Group has catapulted to New Zealand’s leading agency, recently being awarded Agency of the Year by Campaign Magazine, B&T Magazine and Campaign Brief.

Rory was also crowned Campaign Magazine’s Australia/New Zealand’s Strategic Planner of the Year in 2020.

Bastian Goldschmidt is Chief Strategy Officer and partner at Grabarz & Partner.

He believes in the power of emotion and simplicity to unlock the best creative solutions. A strategist at heart, he is constantly seeking impactful ways to build brands, connect them with culture and explore innovative ways to express creativity. With a strong focus on emerging technologies, this is particularly centered on major marketing transformations driven by AI.

In his career he has worked for a range of international clients such as Apple, Airbnb, Volkswagen and Porsche, helping all of them to move people and their businesses at the same time.

Having spent a decade working in multiple markets in Europe and North America AJ has developed industry recognised work, helped international brands play a meaningful role in people’s lives and held teaching positions at two UK Universities.

Schooled at McCann UK, before a stint as CSO for McCann Bucharest AJ was responsible for the regional strategic development of mega-brands such as KFC and Coca-Cola and finding a place in culture for local players.

AJ loves finding the intersections of brands and culture and has a track record of delivering both creatively awarded and commercially successful campaigns. As CSO for McCann Canada AJ is focused on delivering powerful ideas that have a real impact across Canada and beyond. AJ’s input has helped McCann Canada pick up awards in non-traditional and social creative categories, as well as being globally recognised for Effectiveness.

Awards:

IPA – Aldi Swap & Save, Aldi Like Brands

Effie inc Grand Prix + Golds -  UK [Aldi, Smyths Toys, Co-Op] , Romania [Vodafone, KFC, ROM, The Coca-Cola Company, Europe [Aldi Ireland], Canada [Wendy’s, Nestle]

Cannes Lions – ROM, Vodafone, Mastercard

WARC Effectiveness Awards – Wendy’s Canada, EDC, Nesquik

Jay Chiat – Wendy’s Canada

2025 AME Grand Jury member Nadine Müller-Eckel is the Chief Strategy Officer and Partner at Anomaly Berlin. With over 15 years of experience at leading German agencies such as Jung von Matt and Heimat, as well as global networks like R/GA and TBWA, Nadine has built a distinguished career in strategy, seamlessly blending creativity and business. She also served as CMO for the DTC start-up Sitzfeldt, further honing her expertise in driving brand growth and effectiveness.

Nadine is passionate about brand strategy, cultural impact, delivering measurable results as well as Emerging Technology. With experience across diverse industries, she has worked with global brands including Google, Nikon, E.ON, Zalando, Spotify, Ferrero, and major automotive players.

As an advocate for DE&I and the future of talent in the creative industry, Anomaly Berlin stands as one of the market's outspoken voices championing these topics. Nadine is also an active member of the German GWA Effie and Diversity Board, where she remains dedicated to shaping the industry's approach to creative effectiveness, belonging, equity, and inclusion."

Simone Pratt is a VP Strategy Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency, working on P&G products you all know and may love (Always Pads, Tampax, Puffs Facial Tissues, Bounty and Charmin). As a Strategy Director she is responsible for catalyzing and inspiring the creative process of a brand’s advertising campaign (TV, Print, Radio, Social, Digital, Billboards etc). Her role includes: cultivating consumer and category insights, developing the brand identity and persona, positioning the brand in the marketplace, creating consumer trend reports and moderating focus groups.

Simone’s career in advertising spans 25 years starting way back at Lowe & Partners/SMS with Stephani Cook and has worked for many of the largest advertising agencies in the world from Ogilvy to McCann to Grey NY where she won a Bronze Effie. Her career also includes the premier multicultural agencies Uniworld, GlobalHue and Spike Lee’s agency SpikeDDB. She has worked on brands ranging from Walmart to Cadillac to Verizon to HUMIRA to Poland Springs Water.

Simone is a servant leader, tirelessly adding value to her cultural, civic & social impact organizations that include: local politics - serving on Community Board 3 in Bed Stuy; lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated; member of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated.

A devoted lacrosse travel team mom, Simone enjoys cooking and spending time with her family (husband and teen/tween sons) in Brownstone Bed Stuy Brooklyn (or preferably her happy place Martha’s Vineyard). But in her spare time, Simone LOVES to garden, sit on a beach or binge a good true crime documentary or series.

Tahaab Rais is the first Chief Strategy Officer for Publicis Groupe in the region.

I enjoy strategy, data, ideas, effectiveness and innovation - and develop winning teams and future leaders. The company that I lead the Strategy Office for, across MENAT, is consistently ranked among the top agencies in the world for its effectiveness and strategic thinking. And my teams are stars. I also drive the company's creative excellence ambitions through initiatives and trainings.

The challenge of finding THE right solution for businesses makes me tick. Inquisitive about people - their differences, attitudes and beliefs - and the joy of helping people and brands be happier, excites me.

I possess strategic, creative consultancy, integrated marketing, data analysis and leadership experience spanning MEAT and Asia, covering Business and Data Strategy; Brand, Content and Digital Strategy; Cross-channel Integrated Solutions; Relationship Marketing and Customer Experience Management.

Enjoying being creative, I'm practical with technology and the constantly evolving world of the web. I'm anti-theory. Making things happen excites me. And the results achieved are a testament to my drive.

I've worked on Finance, Insurance, Telecommunications, FMCG, Luxury, Travel & Tourism, Retail, Automotive, Petroleum, Entertainment, Real Estate brands across MEA and Asia-PAC., such as HSBC, HSBC Amanah, Coca-Cola, Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, Mastercard, Sony, Nokia, J&J, Kraft, Nestle, Kit Kat, Reckitt, Dettol, Unilever, OMO, Knorr, AXE, Jif, Lipton, Ford, Arla Foods, Babyshop, Home Centre, L'Oreal, Nike, Harvey Nichols, UAE Government, Majid Al Futtaim, ALDAR, Microsoft, AstraZeneca, al hilal bank, Babyshop, Home Centre, Ferrari World, Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Egypt Tourism Authority, Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Jawwy, SABB, SABB Amanah, Ooredoo, Aspire, Orange, Boubyan Bank, Bank Muscat, Meethaq, Castrol, Hindustan Petroleum, Exide, Marico, Atlantis and Taj Hotels, among others.

The work has enhanced the agencies' reputation across Cannes, Effies, D&AD, Andy's, Clios, Jay Chiats, WARC, Dubai Lynx, One Show, Loeries, London International Awards, Webby's, New York Festivals, Gerety, Caples, AdFest, AdStars, AME, among others. My strategy team members are some of the most awarded ones in the world for strategy, and I'm the most awarded CSO from MENAT.

Besides being a CSO, I'm also a globally awarded film director and songwriter, and you can view my work on: https://vimeo.com/tahaab

Aside from work, I create ideas to help solve societal problems as an individual through my own personal non-profit venture. And I speak worldwide on creativity.

Joe Smith is a Strategy Partner at AMV BBDO in London. Joe started his marketing career in 2007, just before the global economy collapsed, but maintains that correlation is not causation. He has since worked in strategic roles across multiple categories, including not-for-profit, sport, telecoms, auto and FMCG. Joe joined AMV BBDO in 2018 and now leads the agency’s global strategy on Guinness, working across multiple markets, from Ireland to Indonesia.

Joe has worked on many effective and award-winning campaigns for brands including Guinness, CALM, O2 and Art Fund. He is most proud of the work that has left a mark on popular culture as well as helping the brand or organisation to grow. Most recently, this has included CALM’s ‘Invisible Opponent’ campaign and ‘Black Shines Brightest’ work for Guinness in Africa.

Outside of work, Joe has recently moved to Yorkshire in the north of England and is trying in vain to beat his dad and brother at fantasy football.

Aki (he/him/his) lives and works at the nexus of consumer culture and connected technologies. He applies data-centric, and radically-collaborative sensibilities to build creative solutions that provide value for people.

As EVP, STRATEGY  MONKS NORTH AMERICA - MANAGING DIRECTOR CASHMERE /// CULTURE.MONKS Aki marks a return back to culture-driven strategies and ideas for brands (having started his career in music marketing).  Aki is charged with honing the agency’s strategic processes for scale & growth – and ultimately linking into the broader Media.Monks and S4 Capital “API” of services.

Previously, Aki was Chief Strategy Officer at Leo Burnett/Chicago, where he helped update the strategic approach for brand, digital, and data integration at one of the most storied agencies in the world. There he introduced innovative forays in AI, Web3, and Multicultural Intelligence for brands like Kelloggs, Jim Beam, Bank of America, Samsung, Messenger, US Cellular, and more.  Aki co-led a strategic resource and accelerator for all the creative agencies across Publicis – to operationalize 'general market' teams who are increasingly-challenged with how to become more culturally-fluent in an era of an increasingly-diverse mass market. 

Aki leaves Leo Burnett having helped the agency achieve 2022 Agency of the Year at One Show, ADC and Clios, Best in Show at One Show, Addy, Communication Arts and AICP, Titanium and Grand Prix at Cannes – and more proudly – a wealth of gold, silver and bronze strategy and effectiveness awards across 2022 Effies (incl 2nd Most Effective Agency Network – Leo Burnett Worldwide), WARC Awards for Effectiveness, ARF Ogilvy Awards for Research, and Jay Chiat Strategy Awards.

Marialejandra is a highly respected professional in the advertising industry. In her over 30 years of experience in advertising, she has worked with many companies, including 3M, Ford Motor Company, Nestlé, Unilever, and The Coca-Cola Company. From 2010 to 2018, she played a significant role in developing award-winning campaigns for the Colombia Ministry of Defense, which won several prestigious awards, such as Gold and Titanium Lions and the three major Grand Prix awards: IPA, Jay Chiat, and IPA (2011).

Marialejandra's expertise in branding and marketing is backed by her in-depth understanding of human behavior, which she complemented through her master's degree in Social Anthropology. This academic background, combined with her strategic planning methods and sophisticated comprehension of people's emotions and business results, has fueled her passion for branding and marketing. It has also equipped her with a unique perspective on brands' communication and how to connect them effectively.

Marialejandra moved to the USA in 2019 to work as CSO at Dieste, specializing in Multicultural Marketing for brands such as AT&T, Goya, Dunkin’, and Genesis. She was also recognized by Advertising Age as one of the Women to Watch in advertising.

She enjoys peaceful hikes and camping with her wife outside of her work in marketing.