For the past 25 years, Michael has worked as a consultant to banks, retailers, technology companies, telecoms, and even governments in more than 30 countries. He has delivered a variety of successful projects ranging from business strategy to the launch of fully transformed organizations.

Michael is most known for his extensive experience and successful project delivery in the area of customer experience, relationship management, and loyalty in banks. Digital and business model transformations have become a specialty for his career.

He is also known for large-scale projects driving organizational transformation from product-centric to customer-centric, and even relationship-centric business models with a methodology designed to create significant and sustainable results.

His work portfolio includes projects for brands such as Abbey National (Santander), Alfa-Bank, Atlantico (Millennium BCP), BNP-Paribas, CBRE, Citibank, Europolis, Georgian Ministry of Justice , Home Credit, IBM, ING, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Megafon, Telefonica, VTB, Wembley Stadium, and many others.

Michael is a regular keynote speaker and guest lecturer at Skolkovo Business School, UNLV, Financial University, BAI, EFMA, Lafferty, ICSC, MECS+R, as well as many other international conferences and corporate events. As well, Michael has authored dozens of educational courses in the areas of strategy, digital and business model transformation, leadership, customer experience, corporate culture development, gamification, customer relationship management (CRM), and others with over 30,000 participants since 2004.

Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and is fluent in Russian and Spanish in addition to his native English.

With a career spanning 38 years in the retail industry, David is a regular contributor to local and international newspapers including Gulf News and Khaleej Times and numerous Magazines with articles on topics associated with current retail industry trends, commercial real estate and residential property challenges and opportunities. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Dubai One, Dubai City 7 TV, Selfie TV and Dubai Zee television as a retail expert in the MENA region. In radio, on Dubai Eye 103.8, David is regularly on air as the retail industry expert, retail property market commentator and guest.

A Canadian, resident in the UAE for fifteen years. David has held leading roles in the region with major shopping centre development companies and advisory firms before taking over in 2013 as the CEO of the MECS+R.

Greg is an international retail leasing professional with over 32 years’ experience. Most recently, Greg was the director of the leasing program for Gulf Related’s 2 million square foot super-regional shopping centre The Galleria, Al Maryah Island developed in the financial district of Abu Dhabi.

Greg gained his shopping centre experience in Canada and honed it through 17 years’ international experience, which included launching market dominant retail properties in Poland, Greece, Egypt, the UAE, Syria and Lebanon. Greg directly contributed to the success of stand-out properties including Wola Park, Warsaw; CityStars and The Mall of Egypt, Cairo; The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and Mirdif City Centre, Dubai and most recently Beirut City Centre, Beirut.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Canada’s Lakehead University and a Post Diploma in Human Resources Management from Greater Toronto’s Seneca College. He is an International Council of Shopping Centers’ Certified Leasing Specialist and Certified Shopping Center Manager and has a Real Estate Property Administrator Certificate from the Building Owners and Management Association.

Hussain is an ICSC Certified Shopping Centre Leasing Specialist and Shopping Centre Manager. He is a seasoned shopping centre industry professional who understands the fine nuances of the retail business coupled with the practical hands-on knowledge and experience in Retail Leasing, Shopping Centre Management and Operations.

He initiated his career within the Middle East Retail industry in the Year 2000 with Giordano Fashions LLC and after 11 years of mastering the skill of retail business, Hussain switched lanes to the work with Line Investments & Property LLC which is one the biggest shopping mall developer in the UAE and in the region, currently he heads Mall Operations in the Biggest and Most Exciting Shopping & Leisure Destination, in the Sultane of Oman, “Mall of Muscat” which not only houses many notable international brands but also home to the Only Public Aquarium in the Country “Oman Aquarium”

Hussain is also a keen learner who believes in constantly updating and upgrading his skills and knowledge and is also passionate about sharing the knowledge and experience he has acquired for the benefit of others. His practical no-nonsense approach to sharing knowledge is sure to hit the right chord with all students of the GVS and we hope that you will not only enjoy his modules but also learn some practical tips to help you enhance your knowledge and understanding of the Leasing Process and Mall Operations

A passionate and dynamic professional, Samar Akkou has heavily involved in the retail real estate industry for the past twelve years between Lebanon and the GCC. Being an active member of Super-regional and Regional Shopping Centre’s Leasing and Retail Brand Committees has given her immense insight into the industry and confidence to manage most challenging situations. She has successfully negotiated Lease Agreements with major international anchor brands in the Fashion, F&B, Supermarket, Department Stores, and Cinema Theatres categories. Moreover, she has successfully attracted and recruited international brands with a market debut within her portfolio of projects.

Samar is a CSM and CLS holder, being the first lady in the Middle East to achieve the “CSM” Designation. She is a dynamic member and active participant in MECSC+R/ICSC’s local and international committees. In her position as MECSC+R Regional Representative for Lebanon, she is spreading MECSC+R’s vision and mission at her local chapter. She is a constant contributor to several regional business publications and to MECSC+R’s “Retail People Magazine” with over 15 publications to date. Finally, as a trainer, she is continuously passing on her experience and expertise to uprising professionals within the industry.

Sanjay is a senior Retail Professional with 35+ years of enriching life experiences across North America, Europe and the Middle East. He leads and contributes to the growth and development of organizations by actively managing key functions and assignments with: (1) Strong Leadership, Passion and Values; (2) A ‘can do’ Attitude; (3) Strategic thinking and Team building.

Sanjay is an experienced Retailer (Merchant and Operator), Business Development Manager, Leasing Manager, Coach and Mentor with a unique leadership and management style that breaks through all aspects of cultural diversity and focuses on the Strengths and Opportunities.

Working with Tamdeen Group since 2007 in Kuwait mainly in Leasing function. He took a break in 2016 to do an independent work in Shopping Centres Advisory & Consulting Services, to sharpen the skills and explore new opportunities. He joined Tamdeen in 2019 to head the F&B Leasing function.

An international retail marketing professional with over 17 years’ experience, Amy Johnstone is the Founder & Managing Director of Verve Communications.

Verve is a UAE based communications firm that partners locally & globally with both agencies and businesses, delivering customised integrated communications programs across retail stores and online.

Amy has both international and local experience having held strategic marketing roles and delivering successful marketing campaigns on a number of iconic retail developments in key retail markets including, Sydney, New York, London & the UAE.

In 2012, Amy was appointed the position of Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing for Gulf Capital and Gulf Related, delivering the corporate communications and branding program for both companies. During this time, projects also included a number of strategic marketing plans for a diverse range of real estate projects including, the consumer launch of The Galleria Al Maryah Island, a luxurious retail and dining precinct, the development launch of Al Maryah Central, a 450 shopping & dining destination and Antara, a luxury residential project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Amy held the position of Development Marketing Director for Westfield Shopping Malls, and throughout her 10 year tenure held strategic marketing roles in key global retail markets including Sydney, New York and London.

Managing Director of Ninth Space (a highly specialised brand and design consultancy) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Habib Beaini is a brand expert with over 25 years of experience helping organisations to grow their businesses internationally into successful, impactful and valuable brands.

Habib began his career in 1996 with Getty Images (a global leader in visual content) where he kick-started and grew the brand in the Middle East. In 2003 he moved over to agency-side where he was Managing Partner of what became the region’s most successful design consultancy to a team of over 90 professionals, commanding annual revenues of over 15$m with clients across the entire GCC and South East Asia. In 2007, the agency was acquired by WPP’s Fitch for a premium and in 2009, Habib moved independently to create his own practice.

His list of clients and experience transcends sectors and geographies to include strategic and holistic brand building work for the UAE government, Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments, Oman government, Mubadala, Jumeirah Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Marriott and Starwood Hotels, Rotana Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim, Emaar Properties, Aldar Properties, Khazanah Nasional (Malaysian Sovereign Fund), Berjaya Group, AirAsia, and star architect Shigeru Ban.

His work is a fusion of forensic methodologies with intuitive creative breakthroughs that have been honed and refined into a well-articulated and structured format. These principles are now being utilised as the core for Véa workshops and masterclasses. His belief that brands are fundamental to the betterment and evolution of everyday life is the underpinning of his purpose, which he wants to pass on as actionable knowledge to all his clients and participants.

Vanessa is a retail marketer with a career that spans 19 years in delivering strategy, brand development and retail asset management across MENA, the UK and Australia.

Currently, as General Manager of Marketing for Nakheel Malls, one of the UAE’s largest mall groups, Vanessa is responsible for the 15-strong mall portfolio marketing strategy including future pipeline mixed-use expansions, with a focus on infusing the Nakheel brand with purpose, and inspiring the retail organisation. Prior to joining Nakheel, Vanessa represented Al-Futtaim Malls in the UAE, Mirvac Group and Westfield in Australia.

Vanessa is a strong advocate for the customer experience in the retail environment. Vanessa has also won marketing industry awards both for innovation and best-in-class retail, sales and emerging technology campaigns.

Vanessa Hinton received a BA Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and a MBA from London Business School. Vanessa is also a member of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and a member of The Marketing Society.

Shannon has spent her entire 20+ year career in the business of shopping centre management. Her extensive experience encompasses most asset types – from community centres to regional malls to boutique luxury project – in both developed and developing markets. Having grown up in the business, she brings a unique and instinctive insight in her approach to any project.

Throughout her career, Shannon has worked on both client and advisor side on projects as diverse as Jantzen Beach SuperCenter in Portland, Oregon; 2 Rodeo in Beverly Hills, California; Vremena Goda in Moscow, Russia and Istanbul Cevahir in Istanbul, Turkey. Additionally, she acted as Development Director for a major Russian fashion retailer, thus, gaining perspective from the merchant point of view.

A fervent believer in the power of positive customer experience to build loyalty, drive traffic and increase sales and value, Shannon has conceived and implemented programs incorporating strategic design, staff training and innovative marketing that enhance customer journey and the quality of customer communication. The result – an increase in dwell time, visits and, ultimately, revenue.

An active and long-time member of International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Middle East Council of Shopping and Retail (MECS+R), she is a founding member of the Russian Liaison Committee and can often be found teaching on a variety of subjects for MECS+R’s and ICSC’s Schools for Professional Development.

Magnus Roxner is a partner and Chief Operating Officer at SAFE Shopping Centers, a global risk advisory and certification body for retail, hospitality, and mixed-use assets.

Magnus has more than 15 years of senior management experience from the shopping center industry and has been developing, managing, and operating shopping centers and mixed-use portfolios in the Nordics, Russia, and the middle east. In the UAE he has served as head of retail and mixed-use assets at ASWAQ in Abu Dhabi and later at Dubai Properties.

As COO at SAFE Shopping Centers, Magnus is advising industry organizations, asset owners, and asset operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa on risk and resilience framework, operational risk strategies, and operational excellence.

Francis Loughran, specialising in Retail Food and Food Service Management, is the founding Director of Future Food and has been involved in the food service industry for 40 years. Francis has built a wealth of knowledge and experience in concept development, food service strategic planning, design, retailing, food service management, spatial planning and assessing, hospitality placemaking and restaurant consulting using a customer-centric focus.

His work has taken him around the world and includes a diverse list of projects, involved in the planning and development of shopping centres, waterfront developments, restaurants, cafes, food courts and fresh food markets along with food service solutions for restaurant precincts, stadia, airports, clubs, mixed-use developments, leisure and entertainment precincts and corporate office towers.

Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts (Catering Administration – Ulster), Master of Science (Tourism Development – Strathclyde), professional trade qualification in food production & service from City and Guilds of London, and professional management qualification from the Hotel, Catering & International Management Association, London

Shannon Alter is an expert in the management, operations and leasing of shopping centers and office buildings, with over 25 years of experience. She is now taking the leadership strategies she developed and used to other businesses on a global scale, helping leaders improve in three critical areas: employee engagement, employee retention and client retention. From increasing client and customer satisfaction to developing successful marketing solutions to creating and retaining exceptional teams, Shannon’s programs have been used throughout the United States and internationally by organizations of all sizes.

She has created and developed property and asset management departments for a developer, an anchor retail tenant and a 1031 syndicator, both regionally and nationally, overseeing a 35 million square foot portfolio. Her experience includes the leadership role of Regional Vice President for a nationwide community management company with over 180 branch offices.

Shannon is a CPM ® (Certified Property Manager®) and National Instructor for both the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) and the American Management Association (AMA). She has trained professionals both nationally and internationally, including courses in Russia, India, Ukraine, the Republic of Georgia, Canada, China, South Korea and South Africa. She has held the volunteer position of Regional Vice President for IREM. Working with 2,500 members in California and Hawaii. Shannon is a Past President of IREM Orange County.

She is the author of two books, “Say it With Success: Foolproof Ways to Enhance your Presentation Skills” and “Strategies for Working With Small Tenants”, leadership white papers and numerous industry articles, including a long-time column for the Journal of Property Management.

With over 12 years of a proven track record within Specialty Leasing and the Media Industry working on strategic initiatives to maximize sales, improve effectiveness and drive revenue generation. quality of standards.

A reliable, focused, and self-motivated team player with the ability to interact with others at all levels to ensure goals are achieved. Excellent analytical design and problem-solving skills. Dedicated in maintaining high quality standards.

The creation of popular retail destinations that generate strong returns for investors and profitable businesses for retailers is at the heart of the McARTHUR Retail Development Specialists approach to shopping centre and mixed-use development. As an independent consultant, Phil McArthur, the Founder and Chairman, is an internationally experienced shopping centre specialist with over 39 years in the industry across Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa and North America.

Our strategy is to add real financial value to each retail development project. Our team is well experienced in shopping centre investment, finance, development planning, marketing, as well as retail leasing and management.

We understand retail real estate and shopping centres and what it takes to achieve successful new centres or reinvigorate centres that require new energy. We work closely with global retail chains to assist with cross-border expansion needs.

McARTHUR Retail Development Specialists believes in well-planned, highly popular shopping destinations with long-term financial growth in value. Our philosophy is to use international best practices combined with local knowledge of retail markets and shopping influences to meet each project’s goal.

Throughout his career, Phil McArthur has been instrumental in assembling teams to deliver some of the most successful developments in the region including: City Centre Deira, UAE; City Centre Muscat, Oman; City Centre Ajman, UAE; City Centre Sharjah, UAE; Mall of the Emirates, UAE; Citystars, Cairo, Egypt; Dubai Festival City, UAE; Mall of Qatar, Qatar

Phil has served as Senior Vice President, India for the global real estate investment giant, Ivanhoe Cambridge. Phil lead the firms' efforts to understand India organized retail market and develop development partner relationships.

From 2007-2017 Phil was an adjudicator for the prestigious International Council of Shopping Centers VIVA Global Design and Development Awards.

In 2011, Phil conceptualized and executed the start-up firm, McARTHUR + COMPANY Shopping Centre Specialists, a Dubai based consultancy where he directed all aspects of branding, business development strategy, marketing and leasing services and provided valuable strategic advice to over 150 projects in over twenty countries and territories including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, India, Malaysia, Monaco and South Korea.

In 2020, Phil established McARTHUR Retail Development Specialists, a Dubai based strategic advisory and planning consultancy. McARTHUR provides comprehensive programs to assist developers, managers and owners of retail real estate with improvement programs focusing on market competitive position, design, leasing, operations and marketing.

Colin is Founder and Managing Director of Limelight Creative Services, a boutique strategy and design consultancy based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Colin brings a 20-year record of success to Limelight including strategic consulting, design concept development, competitive analysis, brand positioning and program implementation for Fortune 500 retailers, developers and brands in North America, Europe, China, the Middle East and South America.

Prior to founding Limelight in 2009, Colin was the Managing Director, Far and Middle East for Watt International based in Toronto Canada. While with Watt Colin led an international expansion program that included opening offices in Dubai and Shanghai.

Throughout his career, Colin has been active with international design associations, presenting his ideas on branding, marketing and design for high profile organizations such as the Retail Council of Canada, National Retail Federation, Food Marketing Institute, China Chain Store and Franchise Association, IIDEX/NEOCON, India Retail Forum, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Colin has an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Business Council and is a guest design critic at the American University of Sharjah.

With a career spanning 38 years in the retail industry, David is a regular contributor to local and international newspapers including Gulf News and Khaleej Times and numerous Magazines with articles on topics associated with current retail industry trends, commercial real estate and residential property challenges and opportunities. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Dubai One, Dubai City 7 TV, Selfie TV and Dubai Zee television as a retail expert in the MENA region. In radio, on Dubai Eye 103.8, David is regularly on air as the retail industry expert, retail property market commentator and guest.

A Canadian, resident in the UAE for fifteen years. David has held leading roles in the region with major shopping centre development companies and advisory firms before taking over in 2013 as the CEO of the MECS+R.

Managing Director of Ninth Space (a highly specialised brand and design consultancy) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Habib Beaini is a brand expert with over 25 years of experience helping organisations to grow their businesses internationally into successful, impactful and valuable brands.

Habib began his career in 1996 with Getty Images (a global leader in visual content) where he kick-started and grew the brand in the Middle East. In 2003 he moved over to agency-side where he was Managing Partner of what became the region’s most successful design consultancy to a team of over 90 professionals, commanding annual revenues of over 15$m with clients across the entire GCC and South East Asia. In 2007, the agency was acquired by WPP’s Fitch for a premium and in 2009, Habib moved independently to create his own practice.

His list of clients and experience transcends sectors and geographies to include strategic and holistic brand building work for the UAE government, Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments, Oman government, Mubadala, Jumeirah Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Marriott and Starwood Hotels, Rotana Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim, Emaar Properties, Aldar Properties, Khazanah Nasional (Malaysian Sovereign Fund), Berjaya Group, AirAsia, and star architect Shigeru Ban.

His work is a fusion of forensic methodologies with intuitive creative breakthroughs that have been honed and refined into a well-articulated and structured format. These principles are now being utilised as the core for Véa workshops and masterclasses. His belief that brands are fundamental to the betterment and evolution of everyday life is the underpinning of his purpose, which he wants to pass on as actionable knowledge to all his clients and participants.

Zaib Shadani is the Founder and Managing Director of leading PR and social media agencies, Shadani Consulting and www.thecommsroom.academy. She is a PR and digital marketing specialist with over a decade of experience in helping brands unlock their full potential to fast track their way to success.

Lead strategist and PR consultant to some of the world’s most iconic brands including: TAG Heuer, Christie’s Middle East, Aston Martin, Dubai Design & Fashion Council, Unilever, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Max Factor, MB&F and Louvre Abu Dhabi, to name a few.

Nominated as “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Arabian Business at their Start-up Awards 2016.

Public speaker and commentator for the PR and digital marketing industry.

Serial entrepreneur and Founder of Shadani Consulting, a leading full service communications agency and Thecommsroom.academy, an e-learning platform.

Regular contributor to publications for op-eds and thought leadership features in Arabian Business, CEO Middle East, Gulf Business and Campaign Middle East

Hussain is an ICSC Certified Shopping Centre Leasing Specialist and Shopping Centre Manager. He is a seasoned shopping centre industry professional who understands the fine nuances of the retail business coupled with the practical hands-on knowledge and experience in Retail Leasing, Shopping Centre Management and Operations.

He initiated his career within the Middle East Retail industry in the Year 2000 with Giordano Fashions LLC and after 11 years of mastering the skill of retail business, Hussain switched lanes to the work with Line Investments & Property LLC which is one the biggest shopping mall developer in the UAE and in the region, currently he heads Mall Operations in the Biggest and Most Exciting Shopping & Leisure Destination, in the Sultane of Oman, “Mall of Muscat” which not only houses many notable international brands but also home to the Only Public Aquarium in the Country “Oman Aquarium”

Hussain is also a keen learner who believes in constantly updating and upgrading his skills and knowledge and is also passionate about sharing the knowledge and experience he has acquired for the benefit of others. His practical no-nonsense approach to sharing knowledge is sure to hit the right chord with all students of the GVS and we hope that you will not only enjoy his modules but also learn some practical tips to help you enhance your knowledge and understanding of the Leasing Process and Mall Operations

Ritesh Mohan is a passionate retail professional with over 19 years in the retail sector, handled some of the biggest brands in beauty, fashion and fragrances sector. He has been instrumental in the growth of some of the regional brands as well in Middle East region.

He specializes in Retail management, Product development, Brand management, retail operations, sales management, Franchising & empowering business owners with his wisdom & experience of around two decades in the industry.

Charles Mallice, MCiiSCM, is a British security consultant and experienced training designer and instructor, who served with a specialized unit of the British Army and has operated worldwide in nearly every continent on operations and as an advisor and trainer to Police Forces, Military Units, Governments, Corporations and Private Clients.

With over 35 years of practical combined military and private security hands-on experience in high and low threat environments, he offers a wealth of knowledge in the security and crisis management fields. He is regularly called upon to design and manage security operations as well as write and implement security and emergency plans for projects.

One of his personal interests is in the management of security for international events and public areas using state of the art technologies along with physical security to ensure a safe and controlled environment and in many cases reduce budgets.

Senior retail real estate professional with over 13 years of experience in the MENA region and 20 years of global experience across Europe, US and South Africa in commercialization and Specialty Retail.

Managing partner and co-founder of Upscale Retail since 2006 and POP Retail, since 2011 - Rachel has worked with all major shopping mall developers and retail groups focusing on the homegrown in UAE, GCC and International brands that need a point of entry.

Having graduated from Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland, Abdul Kader joined the Sogeres company part of a leading catering group. Abdul Kader spent over six years with the company in Paris. He started on the operational side of the business then moved on to head office to cover the commercial, internal auditing, purchasing departments and finally achieving the position of Manager of international developments.

Moving back to the UK in 2001 Abdul Kader joined the MARC restaurant group as project manager. After 4 successful years, 3 restaurants were opened of which two were granted the Michelin Star recognition. From 2005 and to 2007 Abdul Kader invested and focused on turning around a restaurant chain with 3 outlets in London. In 2008 Abdul Kader moved to the UAE, Dubai and set up Glee Hospitality Solutions by the end of 2009.

Now in it is 10th year of operations, GLEE Hospitality Solutions successfully launched over 80 concepts, opened over 60 outlets across the region and by end of 2020 will be managing a team of nearly 300 employees in the UAE and KSA.

An international retail marketing professional with over 17 years’ experience, Amy Johnstone is the Founder & Managing Director of Verve Communications.

Verve is a UAE based communications firm that partners locally & globally with both agencies and businesses, delivering customised integrated communications programs across retail stores and online.

Amy has both international and local experience having held strategic marketing roles and delivering successful marketing campaigns on a number of iconic retail developments in key retail markets including, Sydney, New York, London & the UAE.

In 2012, Amy was appointed the position of Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing for Gulf Capital and Gulf Related, delivering the corporate communications and branding program for both companies. During this time, projects also included a number of strategic marketing plans for a diverse range of real estate projects including, the consumer launch of The Galleria Al Maryah Island, a luxurious retail and dining precinct, the development launch of Al Maryah Central, a 450 shopping & dining destination and Antara, a luxury residential project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Amy held the position of Development Marketing Director for Westfield Shopping Malls, and throughout her 10 year tenure held strategic marketing roles in key global retail markets including Sydney, New York and London.

With a career spanning 38 years in the retail industry, David is a regular contributor to local and international newspapers including Gulf News and Khaleej Times and numerous Magazines with articles on topics associated with current retail industry trends, commercial real estate and residential property challenges and opportunities. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Dubai One, Dubai City 7 TV, Selfie TV and Dubai Zee television as a retail expert in the MENA region. In radio, on Dubai Eye 103.8, David is regularly on air as the retail industry expert, retail property market commentator and guest.

A Canadian, resident in the UAE for fifteen years. David has held leading roles in the region with major shopping centre development companies and advisory firms before taking over in 2013 as the CEO of the MECSC.

Francis Loughran, specialising in Retail Food and Food Service Management, is the founding Director of Future Food and has been involved in the food service industry for 40 years. Francis has built a wealth of knowledge and experience in concept development, food service strategic planning, design, retailing, food service management, spatial planning and assessing, hospitality placemaking and restaurant consulting using a customer-centric focus.

His work has taken him around the world and includes a diverse list of projects, involved in the planning and development of shopping centres, waterfront developments, restaurants, cafes, food courts and fresh food markets along with food service solutions for restaurant precincts, stadia, airports, clubs, mixed-use developments, leisure and entertainment precincts and corporate office towers.

Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts (Catering Administration – Ulster), Master of Science (Tourism Development – Strathclyde), professional trade qualification in food production & service from City and Guilds of London, and professional management qualification from the Hotel, Catering & International Management Association, London

Greg is an international retail leasing professional with over 32 years’ experience. Most recently, Greg was the director of the leasing program for Gulf Related’s 2 million square foot super-regional shopping centre The Galleria, Al Maryah Island developed in the financial district of Abu Dhabi.

Greg gained his shopping centre experience in Canada and honed it through 17 years’ international experience, which included launching market dominant retail properties in Poland, Greece, Egypt, the UAE, Syria and Lebanon. Greg directly contributed to the success of stand-out properties including Wola Park, Warsaw; CityStars and The Mall of Egypt, Cairo; The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and Mirdif City Centre, Dubai and most recently Beirut City Centre, Beirut.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Canada’s Lakehead University and a Post Diploma in Human Resources Management from Greater Toronto’s Seneca College. He is an International Council of Shopping Centers’ Certified Leasing Specialist and Certified Shopping Center Manager and has a Real Estate Property Administrator Certificate from the Building Owners and Management Association.

Managing Director of Ninth Space (a highly specialised brand and design consultancy) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Habib Beaini is a brand expert with over 25 years of experience helping organisations to grow their businesses internationally into successful, impactful and valuable brands.

Habib began his career in 1996 with Getty Images (a global leader in visual content) where he kick-started and grew the brand in the Middle East. In 2003 he moved over to agency-side where he was Managing Partner of what became the region’s most successful design consultancy to a team of over 90 professionals, commanding annual revenues of over 15$m with clients across the entire GCC and South East Asia. In 2007, the agency was acquired by WPP’s Fitch for a premium and in 2009, Habib moved independently to create his own practice.

His list of clients and experience transcends sectors and geographies to include strategic and holistic brand building work for the UAE government, Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments, Oman government, Mubadala, Jumeirah Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Marriott and Starwood Hotels, Rotana Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim, Emaar Properties, Aldar Properties, Khazanah Nasional (Malaysian Sovereign Fund), Berjaya Group, AirAsia, and star architect Shigeru Ban.

His work is a fusion of forensic methodologies with intuitive creative breakthroughs that have been honed and refined into a well-articulated and structured format. These principles are now being utilised as the core for Véa workshops and masterclasses. His belief that brands are fundamental to the betterment and evolution of everyday life is the underpinning of his purpose, which he wants to pass on as actionable knowledge to all his clients and participants.

Hussain is an ICSC Certified Shopping Centre Leasing Specialist and Shopping Centre Manager. He is a seasoned shopping centre industry professional who understands the fine nuances of the retail business coupled with the practical hands-on knowledge and experience in Retail Leasing, Shopping Centre Management and Operations.

He initiated his career within the Middle East Retail industry in the Year 2000 with Giordano Fashions LLC and after 11 years of mastering the skill of retail business, Hussain switched lanes to the work with Line Investments & Property LLC which is one the biggest shopping mall developer in the UAE and in the region, currently he heads Mall Operations in the Biggest and Most Exciting Shopping & Leisure Destination, in the Sultane of Oman, “Mall of Muscat” which not only houses many notable international brands but also home to the Only Public Aquarium in the Country “Oman Aquarium”

Hussain is also a keen learner who believes in constantly updating and upgrading his skills and knowledge and is also passionate about sharing the knowledge and experience he has acquired for the benefit of others. His practical no-nonsense approach to sharing knowledge is sure to hit the right chord with all students of the GVS and we hope that you will not only enjoy his modules but also learn some practical tips to help you enhance your knowledge and understanding of the Leasing Process and Mall Operations

Magnus Roxner is a partner and Chief Operating Officer at SAFE ShoppingCenters, a global risk advisory and certification body for retail, hospitality, and mixed-use assets.

Magnus has more than 15 years of senior management experience from the shopping center industry and has been developing, managing, and operating shopping centers and mixed-use portfolios in the Nordics, Russia, and the middle east. In the UAE he has served as head of retail and mixed-use assets at ASWAQ in Abu Dhabi and later at Dubai Properties.

As COO at SAFE Shopping Centers, Magnus is advising industry organizations, asset owners, and asset operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa on risk and resilience framework, operational risk strategies, and operational excellence.

For the past 25 years, Michael has worked as a consultant to banks, retailers, technology companies, telecoms, and even governments in more than 30 countries. He has delivered a variety of successful projects ranging from business strategy to the launch of fully transformed organizations.

Michael is most known for his extensive experience and successful project delivery in the area of customer experience, relationship management, and loyalty in banks. Digital and business model transformations have become a specialty for his career.

He is also known for large-scale projects driving organizational transformation from product-centric to customer-centric, and even relationship-centric business models with a methodology designed to create significant and sustainable results.

His work portfolio includes projects for brands such as Abbey National (Santander), Alfa-Bank, Atlantico (Millennium BCP), BNP-Paribas, CBRE, Citibank, Europolis, Georgian Ministry of Justice , Home Credit, IBM, ING, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Megafon, Telefonica, VTB, Wembley Stadium, and many others.

Michael is a regular keynote speaker and guest lecturer at Skolkovo Business School, UNLV, Financial University, BAI, EFMA, Lafferty, ICSC, MECS+R, as well as many other international conferences and corporate events. As well, Michael has authored dozens of educational courses in the areas of strategy, digital and business model transformation, leadership, customer experience, corporate culture development, gamification, customer relationship management (CRM), and others with over 30,000 participants since 2004.

Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and is fluent in Russian and Spanish in addition to his native English.

A passionate and dynamic professional, Samar Akkou has heavily involved in the retail real estate industry for the past twelve years between Lebanon and the GCC. Being an active member of Super-regional and Regional Shopping Centre’s Leasing and Retail Brand Committees has given her immense insight into the industry and confidence to manage most challenging situations. She has successfully negotiated Lease Agreements with major international anchor brands in the Fashion, F&B, Supermarket, Department Stores, and Cinema Theatres categories. Moreover, she has successfully attracted and recruited international brands with a market debut within her portfolio of projects.

Samar is a CSM and CLS holder, being the first lady in the Middle East to achieve the “CSM” Designation. She is a dynamic member and active participant in MECSC+R/ICSC’s local and international committees. In her position as MECSC+R Regional Representative for Lebanon, she is spreading MECSC+R’s vision and mission at her local chapter. She is a constant contributor to several regional business publications and to MECSC+R’s “Retail People Magazine” with over 15 publications to date. Finally, as a trainer, she is continuously passing on her experience and expertise to uprising professionals within the industry.

Sanjay is a senior Retail Professional with 35+ years of enriching life experiences across North America, Europe and the Middle East. He leads and contributes to the growth and development of organizations by actively managing key functions and assignments with: (1) Strong Leadership, Passion and Values; (2) A ‘can do’ Attitude; (3) Strategic thinking and Team building.

Sanjay is an experienced Retailer (Merchant and Operator), Business Development Manager, Leasing Manager, Coach and Mentor with a unique leadership and management style that breaks through all aspects of cultural diversity and focuses on the Strengths and Opportunities.

Working with Tamdeen Group since 2007 in Kuwait mainly in Leasing function. He took a break in 2016 to do an independent work in Shopping Centres Advisory & Consulting Services, to sharpen the skills and explore new opportunities. He joined Tamdeen in 2019 to head the F&B Leasing function.

Shannon has spent her entire 20+ year career in the business of shopping centre management. Her extensive experience encompasses most asset types – from community centres to regional malls to boutique luxury project – in both developed and developing markets. Having grown up in the business, she brings a unique and instinctive insight in her approach to any project.

Throughout her career, Shannon has worked on both client and advisor side on projects as diverse as Jantzen Beach SuperCenter in Portland, Oregon; 2 Rodeo in Beverly Hills, California; Vremena Goda in Moscow, Russia and Istanbul Cevahir in Istanbul, Turkey. Additionally, she acted as Development Director for a major Russian fashion retailer, thus, gaining perspective from the merchant point of view.

A fervent believer in the power of positive customer experience to build loyalty, drive traffic and increase sales and value, Shannon has conceived and implemented programs incorporating strategic design, staff training and innovative marketing that enhance customer journey and the quality of customer communication. The result – an increase in dwell time, visits and, ultimately, revenue.

An active and long-time member of International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Middle East Council of Shopping and Retail (MECS+R), she is a founding member of the Russian Liaison Committee and can often be found teaching on a variety of subjects for MECS+R’s and ICSC’s Schools for Professional Development.

Vanessa is a retail marketer with a career that spans 19 years in delivering strategy, brand development and retail asset management across MENA, the UK and Australia.

Currently, as General Manager of Marketing for Nakheel Malls, one of the UAE’s largest mall groups, Vanessa is responsible for the 15-strong mall portfolio marketing strategy including future pipeline mixed-use expansions, with a focus on infusing the Nakheel brand with purpose, and inspiring the retail organisation. Prior to joining Nakheel, Vanessa represented Al-Futtaim Malls in the UAE, Mirvac Group and Westfield in Australia.

Vanessa is a strong advocate for the customer experience in the retail environment. Vanessa has also won marketing industry awards both for innovation and best-in-class retail, sales and emerging technology campaigns.

Vanessa Hinton received a BA Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and a MBA from London Business School. Vanessa is also a member of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and a member of The Marketing Society.