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

    Reserve your seat

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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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