AMBER VALETTA

One of the most celebrated Supermodels of the modern era, Amber Valletta is an industry icon who has also found extraordinary success in the fields of acting, entrepreneurship, and activism. A pioneer in the world of sustainability, she was one of the first to bring awareness to ethical and environmentally conscious fashion. A supporter of critical initiatives, Valletta contributes through speaking, hosting, and moderating panels at international summits. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Environmental Media Association, the Boards of NGO’s Remake and Slow Factory and is FIT’s Sustainability Ambassador, among others.

AYA AL-BAKREE

Aya Al-Bakree brings over a decade’s experience in the arts sector in Europe and Saudi Arabia to her  role as CEO of the newly established Diriyah Biennale Foundation. The Foundation, chaired by His  Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, was created in 2019 with a mission to act as a catalyst for global dialogue between the growing art communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world. 

Al-Bakree oversees two art biennales—alternating between contemporary and Islamic art — which will showcase many of the world's leading artists in an inclusive, international platform for dialogue,  discovery and engagement.

BALQEES FATHI

Balqees Fathi is a renowned Emirati singer and daughter of the well-known musician and composer, Ahmed Fathi. From a child, she had a passion for singing. Her breakthrough into the Khaleeji art scene came through her first single titled “Masaa’la Sahla” in collaboration with HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and renowned artist Fayez Al-Saeed. With ten years of performance on some of the most prestigious stages around the MENA region, Balqees has showcased her talent for perfecting different genres and dialects of singing. Last year she released her latest self-produced studio album, “Hala Jdeeda”.

HIND SEBTI

Hind Sebti has over 20 years of experience building, leading and managing beauty brands across multiple categories. Bringing in-depth knowledge and understanding of the industry, she has previously worked at L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble. Sebti is the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Waldencast, a multi-brand beauty and wellness platform. She is an avid entrepreneur and is also the founder of many smaller beauty brands, including Whind and Glaze. Sebti is the first Arab, Moroccan woman co-founder of a NASDAQ-listed company and serves as a member of the board of directors of Cosmetic Executive Women U.K.

NORA AL SHAIKH

Nora Al Shaikh founded her namesake line in 2012. A contemporary luxury label, it encompasses apparel, accessories and perfume. Her designs reflect a cosmopolitan Arabia bridging tradition and modernity. After graduating from Riyadh's Arts and Skills Institute in 2009, she presented her first collection at Riyadh's Saks Fifth Avenue. In addition to Al Shaikh's Jeddah showroom, she launched an online store to reach her customers directly. One of three Saudi designers selected by the Ministry of Culture to contribute to the Kingdom's 2030 Vision.

CARLOS NAZARIO

Carlos Nazario is a top stylist based in New York City. Recognized by the CFDA as a key shaper of the industry, he has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion and Hollywood, including Rihanna, Zoe Kravitz, Bella Hadid, and Naomi Campbell. His biggest achievements include being the first Black stylist to style a cover for American Vogue and putting US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the cover of Vanity Fair in a look by a Black designer from her district. He is currently the global fashion director of i-D Magazine, a contributing editor at American Vogue, and the fashion director of Hood by Air.

FANNY BOURDETTE-DONON

Born in France and raised in Africa, Fanny Bourdette-Donon returned to France for college in the early 2000s. She began studying law but decided a career in fashion was for her, and she moved to Los Angeles to pursue it. She moved to New York for work, where she met Jérôme Pulis, Dior Beauty's international communications director, at a dinner where he offered her a job the next day. As the PR and Special Projects Director for Dior Beauty, Bourdette-Donon works closely with the house's brand ambassadors, including one of her best friends, Bella Hadid.

YARA ALGHOGBANI

At just 17 years old, Yara Alhogbani is Saudi Arabia’s number-one female tennis player and the first Saudi to represent the Kingdom professionally at international tournaments. Starting the sport from a young age, she entered the ITF World Tennis Rankings at just fourteen. Alhogbani hopes to earn her first WTA points after completing high school, and her passion also lies in popularizing the sport throughout Saudi Arabia. Alhogbani finds her interests at the intersection of sport and fashion and loves to connect with people through that medium.

KAREN WAZEN

In just five years, Karen Wazen has amassed a global audience of over 14 million, catapulting her to fame and landing her roles as the global face of Roberto Cavalli Fragrance and the Middle East Ambassador for Guerlain Skincare. What’s more, she has grown her business, Karen Wazen Eyewear, into an international brand, worn by the likes of celebrities Kourtney Kardashian and Demi Lovato. She has achieved all this while raising three young children, redefining the concept of ‘working-mom’. Her latest venture sees her enter the world of tech launching the UAE’s first influencer game app: Karen Wazen My World.

NORA ALANGARI

Born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nora Alangari is one of the first Saudi/GCC artists to enter the NFT world. Being early has given her privileged insight into the market's growth and evolution, which has contributed to her development as an artist. A self-taught digital artist, sculptor, photographer, and painter, she takes inspiration from the smallest details to the biggest issues. Her creativity navigates her various artistic outlets to the rhythm of her heritage, experience, and emotion.

CHARAF TAJER

Charaf Tajer is the founder and creative director of the luxury fashion label Casablanca. Born in Paris and of Moroccan descent, the self-taught designer started collaborating with brands from a young age, including working on a collection with Off White and consulting for Supreme. Tajer launched Casablanca in 2018. Inspired by his roots, the label started with menswear, fusing lux with leisurewear and often showcasing nature, meeting architecture within its designs. It soon expanded to include womenswear, gaining fans from Gigi Hadid to Kendall Jenner. Casablanca has since collaborated with fashion brands New Balance, Globetrotter and Bulgari.

MONA KATTAN

Mona Kattan is the Global President of Huda Beauty. She co-founded it alongside her sisters Huda and Alya Kattan in 2013. Today the company is valued at $1B with a line of groundbreaking products that includes everything from body foundation to lip contouring pencils.

As President, Mona Kattan continues to grow the Huda Beauty brand, overseeing brand strategy and driving new innovation. In 2018, Huda Beauty launched its fragrance line, Kayali, with a collection of four scents designed by Mona Kattan. Loved in the industry, she has appeared on the covers of WWD, Entrepreneur Middle East and Cosmopolitan Middle East.

SEBASTIAN MEYER & ARNAUD VAILLANT

Sébastien Meyer, the creative director and co-founder of Coperni, and Arnaud Vaillant, the brand's CEO and co-founder, met as classmates at fashion school in Paris. Meyer was studying fashion design, and pattern cutting whilst Vaillant took fashion business and management. Following school, Vaillant worked at Balenciaga, and Chanel and Meyer delved into various design projects before the duo launched their label. In 2015 they were appointed as Creative Directors for the iconic French brand Courrèges and, two years later, left to relaunch Coperni in 2018. The brand is most known for its Spring Summer 23 show that saw a dress sprayed onto model, Bella Hadid, in the middle of the runway.  

MASHAEL AlOBAIDAN

Mashael Al-Obaidan is a professional rally driver and the first female to obtain a rally license in Saudi Arabia. Her love for motorsports stemmed from childhood riding everything from quad bikes to street bikes before working her way to rally racing behind the wheel of a Can-Am Maverick. Her most significant achievements include making history by becoming the first Saudi woman to win the top 17 in the t3 category in the Dakar Rally, the first Arab female to race in the FIA European championship, and the first Arab woman to win the top two in the famous Rally-Raid Championship.

CHARLES LEVAI & KEVIN TEKINEL

Charles Levai & Kevin Tekinel are the co-founders behind the creative agency Maybe. Based in Paris, the duo launched the brand three years ago, working with some of the globe's most loved luxury labels. These have included concepts and campaigns for everyone from Hermès to Louis Vuitton and Gucci to The Row. Coming from different backgrounds, including working in media and production, the duo believes in taking a personal approach to every project they take on. Understanding the power of collaboration, they also take a multidisciplinary approach to branding. 

YARA ALNAMLAH

Yara Alnamlah is a 23-year-old beauty and fashion influencer based in Saudi Arabia. Starting posting on social media from 16-years-old, she quickly caught the eye of the industry for her bold makeup looks and contemporary style. Passionate about art and having studied architecture at Prince Sultan University, she enjoys playing with colors and textures in both her beauty and fashion looks. Alnamlah is also a passionate entrepreneur launching SoMatcha cafe in Riyadh and working on an upcoming project dubbed Treat.

HELENA TEJEDOR

Helena Tejedor was born in Madrid and raised in the South of France. At 19 years old, she moved to Paris to study fashion at ESMOD and hasn’t left. Her editorial work has graced the covers and pages of several Vogue magazines, Dazed and Confused, and Interview US. Her commercial clients include Louis Vuitton, Coperni and Miu Miu. She also consults for the brands Coperni - notably working on their SS23 show, which featured a dress sprayed onto Bella Hadid in real time - and Casablanca. She has also collaborated with various artists, including Mert & Marcus, Mario Sorrenti, Collier Schorr and Gaspar Noe.

CEDRIC HADDAD

Cedric Haddad, is a personal and celebrity stylist. His client roster includes Arab stars, Balqees Fathi, Yasmin Sabri and Yousra amongst other renowned names. He began his career in the field of advertising, campaigns and TV and now heads styling for MBC TV shows, including The Voice, Arabs Got Talent, Arab Idol and The X Factor. Traveling around the GCC he hosts training sessions for luxury brands and teaches a “Personal & Celebrity Styling” course at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and Dubai Fashion Institute.

NOOR TAHER

Noor Taher is the co-founder of Good Intentions, a global creative movement she established with Grammy award-winning producer Swizz Beatz. Her background includes working with Giorgio Armani, Nike, The Louvre and multinational agencies, JWT, and TBWA. She brings her understanding of cross-cultural experiences to her home, Saudi, through projects such as the Jeddah Art Promenade, Women to Women with Alicia Keys and Princess Reem Bint Bandar, Amazon Alexa, and her latest, AlUla on Wheels. Taher’s philanthropic initiatives include participation in Cash & Rocket, an international all-female car rally, celebrating the lifting of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia in 2018.

AYA & MOUNAZ ABDEL RAOUF

Born and raised in Cairo, sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf's fascination with fashion began at a young age. Aya Abdel Raouf studied communication and media arts with digital arts and design, and Mounaz Abdel Raouf studied marketing and art. As a skilled painter, Mounaz also exhibited her work in galleries in Egypt and Paris. The sisters launched their label Okhtein in 2014 and opened their first store in 2017. The brand specializes in luxury fashion accessories and has been worn by the likes of Beyonce, Kourtney Kardashian and Cardi B.

SALWA RADWI

A pioneer in the world of digital, Salwa Radwi is the Founder & CEO of Nuqtah, Saudi Arabia’s first NFT Marketplace and Web3 builder. As an award-winning photographer, Radwi has become a Web3 and NFT enthusiast. She believes in the power of Blockchain for creatives. Her company Nuqtah promotes the intersection between culture, heritage and art from Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world. Rawdi believes with Nuqtah that Saudi Arabia can spearhead technology advancements but needs a locally adapted Web3 and NFT infrastructure in the region to lead this space.

HALA ALOBAIDALLAH

Hala Alobaidallah graduated as the first female engineer from Alfaisal University in Saudi and was a founder of the Engineering Department. She is now a Senior Engineer for the Circular Carbon Economy at The Ministry of Energy in Saudi and a co-founding member and advisor of SDM, an AI start-up. Alongside her work, she is a member of the Saudi Triathlon Federation's female committee, an ISSA fitness coach, a yoga instructor, and an RCCA Running coach. In her spare time, Alobaidallah is also a philanthropist with more than ten years of experience and service.

LARA AKKARI

Lara is a Strategist and Brand Building expert specializing in luxury and fashion. A contributing writer and brand consultant, she is an advocate for sustainable fashion and challenging the conventional standards of beauty and agism. Personable and unconventional, she brings a sprinkle of wit and a particular point of view to create elevated, intelligent narratives for readers and brands alike.

HESSA ALAJAJI

Hessa Alajaji is a pro makeup artist at the forefront of a new wave of creatives in Saudi. Artistic from a young age, she has never been afraid to stand out from the crowd, redefining minimal fresh-faced looks by adding bold splashes of color. This vibrant creativity has seen her play a huge part in leading editorial campaigns across the UAE and landed her a loyal following. Alajaji has recently launched her makeup brand HAN. Her aim is to make professional quality makeup brushes and lashes accessible for all.

OSAMA CHABBI

Based in Dubai since 2018, the Tunisian-French creative has worked with some of the most renowned brands and retailers in the region and internationally, such as Amina Muaddi, Bvlgari, Prada and Farfetch, among other notable names. His extensive knowledge of the industry and unique digital-first approach, juxtaposed with a penchant for storytelling, have put his seasonal fashion reviews at the forefront of contemporary fashion analysis. A leading authority on the next generation of fashion discourse, Chabbi’s acclaimed social media format has caught the attention of storied maisons, including Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Jacquemus. By explaining the ins and outs of the industry to newcomers and offering in-depth analysis to insiders, the rising fashion critic has become a Fashion Week fixture, making him a key voice in the region and beyond.

SARA TEYMOOR

Sara Teymoor Banaja is the Co-Founder & CEO of AMUSED, a platform that connects buyers and sellers of authenticated pre-owned luxury fashion in Saudi Arabia. As a serial entrepreneur, she is focused on projects that have a sustainable social impact in the MENA region. Teymoor's vision and mission are to make luxury authentic and accessible to everyone. She has been recognized as a pioneer in Saudi Arabia's circular fashion movement and is carving a new industry where fashion meets technology.

GRACE LADOJA

Grace Ladoja is bringing Africa's rich style history into the future of fashion. She co-founded Metallic Inc, a global culture studio and management company that helps fun creatives with grants, programs, and mentorships. The aim is to give Black and POC designers a better chance of success by helping to shine a spotlight on aspiring talent in these creative industries. She also established the Homecoming festival that showcases African talent to the world through pop-up shops, workshops, and live shows in Lagos, Nigeria.

SARAH FARHOUD

Dr Sarah Farhoud is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist and sports enthusiast. She provided inspiration to thousands of girls by becoming the official physician for the Saudi Delegation at the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020. She strives to rehabilitate people with illnesses or disabilities in their environment and always aims to encourage women of all ages not to give up on their goals. Dr Farhoud is also the Captain for Adidas Runners Riyadh and finds joy in teaching Yoga and running with her women's crew.

NORAH AL EISA

Norah Al Eisa is a Saudi fashion stylist, creative director, and content creator. Known for her effortlessly elegant approach to styling and keen eye for detail, Norah AlEisa works with storied high-jewelry Maisons such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard, and Chaumet. Her work has graced the covers and editorials of notable publications like Hia, Sayidaty, Zahrat Alkhalij, and Vogue Arabia. 

Blending her historical fashion knowledge with talent for visual storytelling, Norah AlEisa regularly takes part in various creative endeavors, most notably working on the costume design for the Saudi historical drama Born a King. These days, she utilizes her expertise to consult brands on their regional strategies as well as educate her audience on fashion, film, and fine jewelry.

SOUHA HAMED

Souha Hamed is the Luxury & Lifestyle Editor for Hia Magazine. She has worked with the publication for most of her professional career, which spans over 25 years. During this time, she has covered launches and events worldwide, from fashion shows to jewelry and watch launches, perfume and makeup launches to renowned exhibitions, including BaselWorld & Watches & Wonders. Born in Kuwait and now based in London, Hamed has interviewed everyone from CEOs to celebrities around the globe. These include Bernard Fornas, previously at Cartier and Catherine Rénier at Jaeger-LeCoultre to designers Tom Ford and Stella McCartney.

CYNTHIA KATTAR

Cynthia Khattar is an Editorial Director with 13 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include interviewing international designers and celebrities alongside managing a team of editors. She creates content for both digital and print platforms relevant to the GCC and Levant region.

DARIA SHAPOVALOVA

Daria Shapovalova is the first woman who successfully put Ukraine on the world's fashion map. She is the former creative director of Kiev Fashion Days and the founder of fashion tech company DressX and showroom More Dash. Called 'Kiev Fashion's Queen Bee' by Vogue UK, even with the political turmoil and conflict with Russia plaguing her native Ukraine, she is still trying to showcase her country in a positive light by shining a spotlight on the country's many talents. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe and BOF 500 Most Influential People.

DIMA & TANIA NAWBAR

As the children of generations of jewelers, Dima and Tania fondly remember growing up playing dress-up adorned in their father’s and grandfather’s designs, which created a strong love for jewelry and the longing to design like their family has done for four generations. Today, they are the first female jewelers in the Nawbar dynasty, and carry their legacy with pride as they continue their family tradition.

Their forte is creating modern day heirlooms that transcend generations and speak the universal language of art. Together they dedicate themselves to designing magical collections whilst also managing the family business. While Tania takes charge of all Business Development, and Dima of Client Servicing, this dynamic duo has conquered the jewelry world both nationally and internationally.

JAMILA HALFICHI

Jamila Halfichi is the fashion editor for Asharq Al Awsat, a leading pan-Arab newspaper founded “off-shore” in London in 1978, where she and the publication are still based today. In 2004, Halfichi launched Asharq Al Awsat’s Fashion & Style section. She wasted no time making it stand out by widening what was considered “luxury”. In 2013, she was the first Arab journalist to join the list of the BoF’s 500 people shaping global fashion. She also works as a freelance editor for titles including Arrajol and Hia for many years.

BILAL ALLAF

Bilal Allaf is a Saudi contemporary performing artist and artistic director from Jeddah. Growing up in Germany, Bilal started his journey with dance and movement in 2006, studying in numerous dance companies and academies. He also studied Design and Film Production and was trained as a film director at Le Femis Paris. While developing a body of work as an emerging Saudi contemporary performing artist, he’s been commissioned by national art institutes and international commercial entities. These include MISK Art Institute, MOC (Ministry of Culture), Diriyah Biennale, Apple inc., Alula Films, SAC (Saudi Art Council), and Destination Jeddah.

EDVIN THOMPSON

Edvin Thompson is the founder and designer behind the contemporary clothing brand Theophilio. Based in Brooklyn in, New York City, the brand celebrates Thompson's culture with his designs fusing nostalgia from his juvenile years in Jamaica with New York City's progressive culture. Cultural identity has been essential in implementing Thompson's ideology. At the root of his designs, there's a focus on the celebrations of life after overcoming obstacles. He believes we all should look and feel good facing our adversities. As an immigrant himself, Thompson champions the voices of those alike, making Theophilio a wearable biography.

PATRICK MCDOWELL

Patrick McDowell's namesake label is an independent brand based in the heart of London at Professor Jimmy Choo's, JCA | London Fashion Academy. Here, Patrick is a Designer in Residence and Sustainability Ambassador. Founded in 2018, the brand has solidified itself as a leading voice on the global fashion stage that embodies the designer's mission for reinventing luxury through a sustainable mindset. Underpinning all that McDowell does is the designer's critical belief in the power of community and craftsmanship. Combining traditional techniques and designing with moral practice, it enables brands to have the tools they need to create lasting change.

NIRVANA ABDUL

Nirvana is a Saudi/Yemeni lifestyle influencer and stylist who is passionate about ethical fashion. Nirvana aims to increase awareness in the Middle East region on ethical fashion and sustainable lifestyle through her platforms by showcasing how to wear sustainable and stylish clothes on repeat. She shares her journey of a conscious lifestyle across Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Her aim is to create consumer awareness in the region on the negative effects of fast fashion on the planet. She is admired for helping her viewers in achieving a conscious wardrobe through various tips and tricks.

JEAN-BERNARD GRASSET

A self-taught designer, Jean-Baptiste Grasset began his career at the technology company IBM. His passion for digital design came from his first Commodore 64 and Amiga computer in the 80s when he was a graphic designer. In 2005 he co-founded ultranoir, a digital agency that won several awards before creating Monochrome, a high-performance 3D studio focused on immersive technologies (VR / AR / Installations) and real-time 3D in 2015. After Covid, Monochrome joined the event agency Profirst to continue serving luxury brands with the sole objective of gamifying CRM through a strategy aimed at turning customers into a community.

MAYA SABBAH

Maya Sabbah is a journalist who works between Dubai and Paris. Part of the Hia team, she heads up the fashion section online and works on editorial for the magazine too. She has interviewed many high-profile personalities such as CEOs, designers and celebrities in Dubai and has covered events including EXPO Dubai, World Art Dubai and Fashion Forward. Representing Hia in Paris, she covers all of the fashion weeks alongside attending events for luxury brands.

HRH Pr DEEMAH BINT MANSOUR BIN SAUD ALSAUD

HRH PR Deemah Bint Mansour bin Saud AlSaud is the founder of Personage SA, and a pioneer in the regional fashion and art landscape. Launched in 2017, Personage is one of Riyadh's first immersive retail stores and creative spaces. It celebrates and represents local and international designers and creators. With a focus set on building local talent and supporting the creative community, PR Deemah has sought to develop experiences like immersive exhibitions, presentations, pop-ups, and more. Personage has grown into a community and cultural hub closely connected to the incredible and rich local landscape of artists, designers, and innovators

SOPHIE HILL

After graduating from Leeds & Harvard universities, Sophie Hill started her career in Buying and Merchandising roles at HQs of some of the leading fashion retail brands. This exposure to retail inspired her to launch Threads, with a vision to pioneer a new luxury shopping experience for the next generation of consumers. What began as a personal shopping service soon relaunched as a social and chat-commerce platform in 2014, by 2019, income reached £30.8 million ($42.1 million), up 74 percent from a year earlier, and doubled its revenue since the start of the pandemic. With her team, Sophie is now dedicated to continuing to lead in this space and pioneer the next generation of retail; Threads joined Future Fifty in 2017 and is now in Tech Track 100 as owner of one of the UK’s fastest growing tech growth companies.

NADIA BSAT

Since 1997 Nadia Bsat has had a career working as a producer and an anchor for many well-known Arabic TV stations, including MTV, LBC, Future TV, Dubai TV, and Al Hayat TV. She currently works with Asharq Bloomberg. Bsat has prepared and conducted thousands of interviews with prominent political, social, and medical figures from all over the world, covering issues from politics to social-cultural events. She has also received several awards and citations for her work from the Red Cross Lebanon, Notre Dame University Lebanon, and Women in Politics Lebanon, among many others.

DR MARIAM SALEH BINLADEN

Saudi national Mariam Saleh Binladen is an advocate for the plight of the Syrian refugee children, who are currently bearing the brunt of the ongoing war. A dentist by profession, she pairs her passion for swimming with their cause. Not just a hobby, she is a certified endurance swimmer who has participated in major international competitions and initiated her own events to support the cause. Dr Saleh Binladen has also partnered with the United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and through her swims, she works to raise awareness of the hardships and burdens being faced by these young orphans.

ABDULAZIZ ALBRAIK

Born in Riyadh, Abdulaziz Albraik has lived in Khobar, Warsaw, Manama, and New York City and now resides in Riyadh. His past work experience includes advertising, media management, and working on films such as Dunya’s Day (Sundance 2019), Black Sand, and The Perfect Candidate (Venice Film Festival 2019). He currently works in Arts and Cultural Programming, organizing international exhibitions such as Bienalsur 2019, Artificial Intelligence and Intercultural Dialogue, Kandinsky Exhibition, and Bienalsur 2021. He is developing cultural infrastructure projects such as Black Gold Museum, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum and Research Centre.

ABEER AL ESSA

Hailing from Saudi Arabia, Abeer Alessa is an entrepreneur and professional marketeer. She is the Co-Founder and General Manager of The Bold Group, which houses three independent units specialized in brand building, communication, and digital experiences. The company sets a benchmark in the region for the industry and has an upcoming venture that takes it into the metaverse. The Bold Group is just one of Alessa's entrepreneurial success stories. In 2017 she also became a member of the Advertising Committee at the Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh and a member of the Saudi Women Leadership Circle at UNICEF in 2019.