Imran Amed, Founder & Chief Executive of The Business of Fashion. Imran Amed is one of the global fashion industry’s leading writers, thinkers and commentators, and is founder, chief executive and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion, a modern media company and the authoritative voice of the global fashion and luxury industries. Imran holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.Com from McGill University. He was born in Canada and holds British and Canadian citizenship. Previously, Imran was a management consultant at McKinsey & Co.

Louise Nichol, journalist and presenterFormerly the Editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, a role she held for a decade, Louise Nichol has been working with luxury brands across the Gulf since 2005.

As Chief Executive Officer and Member of the board of directors of ELIE SAAB Group, Elie Saab Jr is involved in major corporate decisions including the management of the company’s overall operations. From a very young age Elie Saab Jr was initiated into the fashion industry and exposed to the different facets of the business through the mentorship of Mr. Elie Saab, the Chairman, with whom he works closely on the group’s development and strategy.Graduated with a double major in Business and Marketing from Geneva, he then obtained a Masters in Fashion & Luxury Brand Management in Milan while setting up the New Media department, where he defined, implemented and managed the House’s digital projects. Soon after, he moved to Paris where he managed ELIE SAAB France and led the Marketing and Business Development of the ES Group.

Lynn Al Khatib is Group Head of Communication at Chalhoub Group, the largest retailer and distributor of luxury brands in the Middle East and North Africa. She brings over 15 years of corporate and brand communication experience to her current role, which includes building the Group’s corporate brand and communication strategy, managing social media channels, keeping team members informed through internal communications, crisis management, as well as managing external communications and stakeholder relationships.Lynn holds a Master-Degree in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut.A proud mother of two boys, Lynn’s personal passion is to help people lead healthier and more active lives.

Kuwait born and raised, Rachad Tabiat is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of AlOthman & Tabiat General Trading company, which owns AlOthman Fashion. The store, Kuwait’s first multi-brand high-end store, was founded by his late father Mr. Habib Tabiat in 1956 and was a pioneer in bringing European brands to the Middle East. Today, AlOthman offers both luxury designer brands, contemporary fashion labels, bridal gowns and unique lifestyle products. The store is instrumental in nurturing emerging talent by providing a platform for local designers to showcase their designs.

Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, Najla Maatouk paved a series of firsts for women and fashion around the world from the very beginning of her career spanning over five decades.In recognition of her achievements, Maatouk has been awarded the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity and Altagamma honorary membership. She has been featured in the Business of Fashion (BoF), The Sunday Times and many other international platforms as one of the most prominent buyers from the Middle East and one of the key players to shape the fashion industry worldwide.