Eng. Issa Mohammed Al Mohannadi is a Qatari executive and engineer with more than 29 years of experience across the energy, real estate development, tourism, culture, and sports sectors. He began his career with RasGas in 1997, progressing through engineering and management roles in LNG, helium, and major energy projects. He later played a key role in the development of Msheireb Downtown Doha, one of the region’s landmark urban regeneration projects, and served as a founding executive and CEO of Msheireb Properties.

He subsequently served as Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority and held senior leadership and board positions across several national institutions and companies, including Qatar Museums, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Barwa Real Estate Group, Qatari Diar, Qatar Airways, and the Doha Film Institute. He was also the founding Chairman of the Qatar Green Building Council.

Eng. Al Mohannadi holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Qatar University and a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Gas Engineering with honors from Texas A&M University. He has also completed executive education programs at Georgetown, INSEAD, Kellogg, and Harvard.

Aurélie Bouti is a French travel content creator with over 10 years of experience and a community of more than 6 million followers across social media. Named the World’s Best Travel Influencer in 2025, she has collaborated with leading tourism boards, destinations, and hospitality brands around the world. In 2026, she returns as a judge for the Qatar Tourism Awards for the second consecutive year.

Dr. Eng. Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi is the CEO of Al Wa’ab City and an accomplished executive with extensive leadership experience across real estate development, engineering, and major national projects. His previous roles include CEO of Msheireb Properties, Managing Director of the Private Engineering Office, Advisor to the Minister of Environment, and senior leadership positions at QAFCO. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, two Executive MBAs, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has also served on several boards and professional committees, contributing to Qatar’s economic and urban development.

Dr. Hamad Salem Mejegheer, Executive Director of SME Development at Qatar Development Bank (QDB), is dedicated to supporting the growth and empowerment of Qatari businesses. He oversees the development and implementation of strategies that enable SMEs to achieve their ambitions while contributing to the economic development goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Beyond his role at QDB, he serves on the boards of several organizations, contributing his expertise and strategic insight.

Dr. Mejegheer holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Swiss Business School (SBS), complementing his extensive experience in SME development and sustainable business growth.

Dr. Rana Sobh is Professor of Marketing at Qatar University’s College of Business and Economics, where she served as Dean from 2022 to 2026. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International and previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). She is also the Founder of the MENA Business Schools for Sustainability Alliance (MEBAS).

Her research focuses on consumer culture in the GCC, with particular expertise in consumer behavior, experiences, and the cultural dimensions of markets. Her work has been published in leading international marketing journals, and she serves on several national, regional, and international advisory boards. Her distinctions include the AACSB Impactful Leadership Award (2026) and the AACSB Innovations That Inspire Award (2024). Dr. Sobh holds a PhD in Marketing from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Founder and publisher of Foof and Travel magazine, the world’s leading gastronomic travel title with six international editions across key markets. 

Marcel Leijzer is Deputy Director of International Development and Cooperation at UN Tourism, which he joined in 2006. He coordinates the development and implementation of tourism projects across areas including strategy, marketing, product development, statistics, biodiversity conservation, and human resource development. During his time at UN Tourism, he has provided technical expertise and overseen more than 200 tourism projects benefiting over 50 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.

Prior to joining UN Tourism, he worked in sustainable tourism, environmental management, and private sector development, including roles with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in Tanzania, Bolivia, and the Netherlands. He holds master’s degrees in Human Geography and Policy Science from Nijmegen University in the Netherlands.

Samer AlKharashi is a Saudi diplomat and international development professional who was appointed in June 2024 as the first Director of the UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East. Combining extensive diplomatic experience with regional tourism leadership, he works to strengthen cooperation among Member States and stakeholders, advancing sustainable tourism, investment, innovation, and inclusive growth across the region.

Ramzan Al Naimi is a global brand expert and Executive Director of Brand and Business Development at Al Jazeera Media Network, where he leads brand strategy, visual identity, creative services, and commercial development for one of the world’s most recognized media organizations. A specialist in corporate and commercial branding and communications, he brings extensive expertise in building and growing brands with international reach and impact.

He holds an MBA from HEC Paris and has completed executive leadership programs at the Qatar Leadership Center. Alongside his corporate career, Ramzan is an entrepreneur with a strong interest in fostering innovation and supporting the growth of Qatar’s business ecosystem.

Linh Vu is Principal Advisor to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism (UNWTO), a role she has held since the start of the Secretary-General’s mandate in January 2026. She brings more than 20 years of international experience in tourism and hospitality development, governance, and public-private collaboration across Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Throughout her career, she has advised governments, investors, and multilateral institutions on destination strategy, flagship projects, governance frameworks, and capacity building. She is recognized for translating strategic vision into practical outcomes in politically sensitive and institutionally complex environments. French-Vietnamese, she is fluent in French, English, and Vietnamese.