TEDxEmirates Hills

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Capt Dr. Pradeep Singh

  Founder & Chairman of Aethon Group and Karma Developers

  "Capt. Dr. Pradeep Singh is a Master Mariner, entrepreneur, author, and lifelong advocate for the global seafaring community. Rising to become one of the youngest Merchant Ship Captains, he believes the ocean is the world’s greatest leadership classroom—teaching resilience, humility, courage, adaptability, and decisive leadership under pressure. These lessons became the foundation for building global enterprises across shipping, real estate, technology, and investments through Aethon Group and Karma Developers, with operations spanning multiple countries. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Capt. Pradeep is an alumnus of Alliance Manchester Business School and Harvard Business School, and has pursued advanced academic and executive education across business, finance, law, and leadership. He is also the bestselling author of No Map, Just Vision and The Asset Play, where he shares insights on leadership, wealth creation, and long-term thinking.

• Dr Sumayya Falke

  Physiotherapist & Global Healthcare Education Leader

  Dr. Sumayya Falke is a physiotherapist, healthcare education leader, and Founder of Learnovate Healthcare, an award-winning platform that has trained more than 20,000 healthcare professionals across the GCC, India, Malaysia and beyond. Her work explores the space where pain, clinical science and lived experience meet. She believes that when investigations cannot fully explain a person’s suffering, the limits of medical evidence should never become the limits of that person’s credibility. Through education, clinical practice and international collaboration, Sumayya equips healthcare professionals to move beyond treating symptoms alone and understand the person experiencing them. Her mission is to advance physiotherapy education and help build a more evidence-informed, psychologically aware and deeply human future for healthcare.

• Dr. Sana Minhas

  Neuro-science based Leadership University Professor and Executive Education Faculty | Researcher & Author

  " Dr. Sana Minhas — university professor, executive‑education faculty, researcher, and author — reframes leadership through rigorous study of leaders, well‑being, and happiness. Her 12+ years working in the tech industry with Fortune 500's such as LG, Microsoft, Google, and Samsung informed her doctoral research and continue to shape her ongoing research, which she translates into evidence‑based teaching for university students and executive programs and authorship. Her mission is to make leaders and people happier so they can perform better, personally and professionally. "

• Joe Nicolas

  Marketing executive & advocate for the responsible evolution of media

  "Joe Nicolas is the CEO of UM MENAT, the region's leading media agency, recognized by RECMA for the eight consecutive years under his leadership. With over 17 years of industry experience, Joe has built an exceptional career marked by record-breaking growth and transformative success at UM. His leadership is defined by humility, composure, and openness, qualities that have made him a respected and influential figure in the industry. Joe's deep understanding of the MENA media landscape, combined with his passion for creativity and innovation, has been instrumental in UM's sustained growth and success. He has expertly led teams and driven transformation across digital, tech, and data, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment creativity and innovation. What truly sets Joe apart is his unwavering dedication to mentorship and talent development. He has fostered a culture of continuous learning and growth within UM, helping to shape the next generation of industry leaders.

• Osama Qadan

  Managing Director

  Osama Qadan is a technology executive working across the Middle East and Africa in ICT, data centers, and IoT. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer of Tech964, where he leads the group’s commercial and strategic initiatives. He holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, a Master’s from Georgia Tech, and an MBA from Johns Hopkins. His career began in the United States at Intelsat and Astrolink International in satellite communications, followed by a senior role at OPNET Technologies. In 2005 he founded Equinox International, a systems integrator delivering ICT infrastructure for government and enterprise clients across the region. Equinox was acquired by Fiber Misr, later Benya Capital in one of the most strategic deals in the MEA ICT sector, in 2018, after which he served as Chief Commercial Officer of Benya Group and worked on large-scale projects including the national fibre-optic network in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• PRATIK KACHROO

  Executive Director Khamas Hospitality

  At just 27 years old, Pratik Kachroo is making remarkable strides as a young leader in the Middle East hospitality industry. A proud graduate of the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education with a Master’s in International Hospitality Business Management, Pratik combines academic excellence, strategic foresight, and sharp operational acumen with a relentless drive to create lasting impact. As the Executive Director for Khamas Hospitality, Pratik oversees a diverse portfolio of six hotels in the UAE and two international properties, in addition to two pre-openings and one pipeline project. His portfolio features distinguished brands such as Marriott, Accor, Hilton, and Ennismore, as well as standalone properties including Seaview Hotel, Royal Ascot, and Ascott. Internationally, he also manages renowned landmarks such as Thornbury Castle in the United Kingdom and Grand Hotel Campione in Italy.

• Youssef Merjaneh

  International business leader and former professional basketball player

  "Youssef Merjaneh is an international business leader and former professional basketball player who has lived and worked across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Throughout his career, he has held senior executive and CEO positions in multinational organizations, leading businesses, major infrastructure projects, and large teams across diverse cultures. His journey has been shaped by constant change, from adapting to new countries, industries and organizations to rebuilding after numerous sports injuries and surgeries. Drawing on experiences from business, sports, and life, Youssef explores what it means to start again, give up certainty, and continue growing, even after achieving success."

• Zeenat Lakdawalla

  Spiritual Artist & Transformational Energy Practitioner

  Zeenat Lakdawalla is a Spiritual Artist, Transformational Energy Practitioner, and Founder of SoulSearch®️. Her journey began through her own experiences in relationships and health, which led her to question why lasting change can remain elusive even when the desire to change is genuine. That search gradually evolved into more than fifteen years of exploring the deeper patterns that influence our relationships, health, choices and lived experiences. Guided through Cosmic Intelligence, this exploration has evolved into an original body of work, including the creation of the world's first Light Language Sacred Geometry Crystal Grids. Alongside her work, Zeenat brings nearly two decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy and digital transformation. This background continues to influence the clarity, structure and communication of her work, enabling complex ideas to be translated into meaningful and accessible experiences.