TLP Dubai - MENA Effie
MENA Effie Awards

MENA Effie Thought Leadership Program

Rethinking
Media Effectiveness

Traditional, Digital, And Beyond — Finding The Right Mix

14 May, 2025 | 1 PM – 7 PM

Conference Hall, Dubai Knowledge Park

Roxy Cinemas, City Walk, Dubai

Reserve your seat

ABOUT THE EVENT

The media world is evolving fast—and so is the challenge of making the right impact.
Is traditional media still relevant? Has digital taken over? Or is the real power in finding the right mix?

At the 2025 MENA Effie Thought Leadership Program, we’ll explore how to master media effectiveness—from building awareness to driving results. Expect bold insights, sharp strategies, and case studies across traditional, digital, and emerging platforms like podcasts and streaming.

 

Inside the experience

Why attend?

  • Hear from leading voices shaping today’s media landscape.
  • Learn how to craft a media mix that drives full-funnel results.
  • Gain real-world insights backed by data and top case studies.
  • Wrap up the day with a surprise movie night for relaxed networking.

Who will be there?

150+ C-Level, Directors, Heads and Managers of:
Marketing, Commerce, Data, Brand, Product, Content, Digital, Experience, Advertising, Strategy, Creative, Media, Operations.


Topics of discussion
  • The Full-Funnel Formula: Choosing the Right Media for Maximum Impact — From Awareness to Action
  • Breaking Through the Noise: Is Traditional Media Making a Comeback?
  • Digital Overload: Cutting Through the Clutter for Better Engagement
  • The Media Balancing Act: When and How to Mix Traditional & Digital
  • The Hidden Power of Emerging Media: Podcasts, Streaming, and Beyond
  • Rethinking ROI: Measuring Media Effectiveness in a Fragmented Landscape
  • Media Strategy for the Future: Where Do We Go From Here?
Speakers
Amol Ghate - Kantar

Amol Ghate - Kantar

CEO, MENAP

Catherine	Bannister - TBWA RAAD

Catherine Bannister - TBWA RAAD

Chief Strategy Officer

Kishore Kumar	Pandurangan - Snap

Kishore Kumar Pandurangan - Snap

Group Manager, Marketing Science

Nidhi Varma Srivastava - Kantar

Nidhi Varma Srivastava - Kantar

Head of Analytics, Middle East & Africa

Antonio Mara - Porsche

Antonio Mara - Porsche

Digital Marketing Lead

Christine Harb - OSN

Christine Harb - OSN

Chief Operating Officer

Layla Tamim - Warner Bros

Layla Tamim - Warner Bros

Ad Sales Director

Nisrine Ghazal - Rotana Media Services

Nisrine Ghazal - Rotana Media Services

Vice President for Digital

Ashok Namboodiri - Zee Entertainment

Ashok Namboodiri - Zee Entertainment

Former Chief Business Officer

Fatimah Kassab - Cheil MEA

Fatimah Kassab - Cheil MEA

Media Lead

Leslie Paul - Amber Communications Dubai

Leslie Paul - Amber Communications Dubai

Executive Creative Director

Ramy Al-Kadhi - Anghami & OSN+

Ramy Al-Kadhi - Anghami & OSN+

Head of Commercial

Asiya Ali - MKV Digital

Asiya Ali - MKV Digital

Founder and MD

Karim Fouad - Talabat Egypt

Karim Fouad - Talabat Egypt

Head of Brand & Media

Nadeem Ibrahim - Brew Bytes

Nadeem Ibrahim - Brew Bytes

Digital Thought Leader/Podcast Host

Richard Fitzgerald - We Are Augustus

Richard Fitzgerald - We Are Augustus

CEO and Co-Founder

Simon Ornelis - Du

Simon Ornelis - Du

Director - Brand Development & Corporate Identity

Tareq ElSarw - Al-Futtaim Automotive

Tareq ElSarw - Al-Futtaim Automotive

Senior Manager Digital Marketing

Tahaab Rais

Tahaab Rais

Chief Strategy Officer

Publicis Groupe ME&T

Agenda
  1. 1.00 - 2.00 PM

    Registration and Networking

  2. 2.00 - 2.10 PM

    Opening

  3. 2.10 - 2.30 PM

    Keynote Session - Measuring Media Effectiveness

    In an age where data privacy enhancements and signal degradation pose significant challenges to measuring media effectiveness, marketers must adapt to stay ahead. This keynote will explore how fundamental marketing concepts remain crucial amidst these changes and how a holistic measurement strategy can yield superior insights, as evidenced by recent Bain research. Attendees will learn how to evolve their measurement strategies to better quantify and optimize their marketing efforts’ impact on their company’s bottom line.

    Kishore Kumar	Pandurangan - Snap
    Kishore Kumar Pandurangan - Snap
  4. 2.30 - 3.00 PM

    Panel Session: Media Mastery: Cutting Through the Noise & Driving Impact

    In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, marketers must make strategic choices to cut through the clutter and drive meaningful results. With audiences fragmented across traditional and digital platforms, finding the right mix is more critical than ever. Should brands stick to tried-and-tested traditional media for reach and credibility? Go all-in on digital for precision targeting? Or is a hybrid approach the key to full-funnel success?

    Asiya Ali - MKV Digital
    Asiya Ali - MKV Digital
    Tareq ElSarw - Al-Futtaim Automotive
    Tareq ElSarw - Al-Futtaim Automotive
    Nadeem Ibrahim - Brew Bytes
    Nadeem Ibrahim - Brew Bytes
    Antonio Mara - Porsche
    Antonio Mara - Porsche
    Nidhi Varma Srivastava - Kantar
    Nidhi Varma Srivastava - Kantar
    Simon Ornelis - Du
    Simon Ornelis - Du
  5. 3.00 - 3.30 PM

    Get Pissed Off: Rethinking the Role and Value of Media Thinking

    Let’s face it. Media thinking has become the designated driver at the creative party. Sober. Predictable. Format-driven. Dashboard-addicted. Always arriving on time. But media isn’t just a placement game. It’s power. It’s persuasion. It’s the stage, the script, and the surprise. What if it didn’t just drop the work off… what if it owned the party and rewrote the playlist? This talk is a rallying cry to get pissed off – at the box, at the missed opportunities, and the expected role media plays. It’s time to reframe media as a creative weapon, not just a delivery system, and to start demanding more magic, mischief, and meaning from media (and as media).

    Tahaab Rais
    Tahaab Rais
  6. 3.30 - 3.40 PM

    Coffee Break

  7. 3.40 - 4.10 PM

    Panel Session: Breaking Through the Noise: Is Traditional Media Making a Comeback?

    In a world where digital media dominates, traditional channels like TV, radio, and OOH are quietly regaining their influence. This discussion will explore why traditional media is proving to be a powerful tool in the modern marketing mix, how its lower clutter compared to digital platforms is driving higher visibility, and whether brands should reconsider investing in these channels for mass impact.

    Nisrine Ghazal - Rotana Media Services
    Nisrine Ghazal - Rotana Media Services
    Karim Fouad - Talabat Egypt
    Karim Fouad - Talabat Egypt
    Leslie Paul - Amber Communications Dubai
    Leslie Paul - Amber Communications Dubai
    Catherine	Bannister - TBWA RAAD
    Catherine Bannister - TBWA RAAD
    Ashok Namboodiri - Zee Entertainment
    Ashok Namboodiri - Zee Entertainment
  8. 4.10 - 4.40 PM

    Navigating the Media Maze: Strategies for Maximizing Media Investment Impact

    In a world where media complexity continues to grow, how can brands ensure their investments deliver real results? This keynote unpacks the essential principles for media effectiveness, drawing on Kantar’s extensive data and global insights. Learn how to cut through the noise, harness evidence-based strategies, and drive smarter, more impactful marketing outcomes.

    Amol Ghate - Kantar
    Amol Ghate - Kantar
  9. 4.40 - 5.10 PM

    Panel Session: The Hidden Power of Emerging Media: Podcasts, Streaming, and Beyond

    As consumer habits evolve, so do the opportunities in new media channels. Podcasts, YouTube ads on TV, and streaming platforms are reshaping the way brands connect with audiences. This session explores how these emerging media formats provide unique advantages, including longer attention spans, niche targeting, and deeper brand storytelling. Learn how to leverage these platforms before they become oversaturated.

    Christine Harb - OSN
    Christine Harb - OSN
    Richard Fitzgerald - We Are Augustus
    Richard Fitzgerald - We Are Augustus
    Fatimah Kassab - Cheil MEA
    Fatimah Kassab - Cheil MEA
    Layla Tamim - Warner Bros
    Layla Tamim - Warner Bros
    Ramy Al-Kadhi - Anghami & OSN+
    Ramy Al-Kadhi - Anghami & OSN+
  10. 5.10 - 5.15 PM

    Closing and Networking

  11. 5.15 PM - 7 PM

    MOVIE TIME - The Pursuit of Happyness

Sponsors

AR Partner

Social Media Partner

Media Partner

PR Partner

Interested in speaking & partnership opportunities or have an inquiry?

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(Subsidiary of Akama Holding)

Media City, Zee Tower, Office 206,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
P.O. BOX 72184
Tel: +971 43697573

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