09:30 AM
This panel brings together visionary founders who dared to imagine what comes next.
10:25 AM
It’s the age of consolidation for users who want to do more with less. With apps occupying prime real estate on phones, brands are looking to diversify their offerings to retain customers for longer. It’s a fact that unified platforms collect richer customer data across services. But what does it take to go from app to ecosystem?
10.45 AM
Traditional AI in marketing has focused on repetitive, rules-based tasks—automating push notifications, segmenting audiences, or running A/B tests. Enter the age of Agentic AI which doesn’t just execute instructions; it decides what to do next based on goals, context, and outcomes. Are brands ready for an intelligent agent orchestrating the user journey in real time?
11:00 AM
11.30 AM
11.50 AM
Disruptions in the customer journey may be inevitable, but they don’t need to be relentless. Understanding where the friction lies can help cross-functional teams enable proactive outreach through digital interventions at critical moments. Helping users navigate the app to find what they are looking for, or adding more value through personalised journeys starts with a clear view of where users are at, and where they want to be.
12.05 PM
Mobile and app marketing is under more scrutiny than ever. Rising acquisition costs, fragmented attribution models, and users who churn soon after install are exposing weak links in campaign strategies. This panel brings together leading experts to dissect the most common red flags in mobile and app campaigns;
12.35 PM
High-performing creatives do more than just drive installs — they improve ROAS for advertisers, which in turn helps publishers lower churn and strengthen long-term monetisation by bringing in users who engage more consistently, leading to higher ARPDAU and improved retention.
12.55 PM
01.55 PM
If you misuse push, you lose push. Trust is fragile, and every irrelevant notification puts opt-in rates at risk. Push should feel like part of their environment: ambient, helpful, contextually intelligent. If a notification doesn’t create immediate benefit, it will 100% be dismissed as noise. So, what does it take to ace push notifications?
02.15 PM
There’s a seismic shift in the marketplace. A move towards a world in which AI anticipates consumer needs, navigates shopping options, negotiates deals, and executes transactions, all in alignment with human intent yet acting independently via multistep chains of actions enabled by reasoning models. How does this interface between users and marketers fundamentally transform how marketers will plan their strategies?
02.30 PM
The paradox is clear: AI makes it easier to build and create, but exponentially harder to stand out. The bottleneck shifted from production to attention. Content creation is exploding, product development is accelerating, and creative variations are multiplying, but the audience remains the same. More marketers now compete for the same pool. Where does one go from here?
03.20 PM
Shoppable video ads seamlessly combine the power of video storytelling with direct ecommerce functionality, offering a unique opportunity for brands to engage consumers at various points in their shopping journey.
03.35 PM
04.05 PM
Globally, most apps will lose 70–80% of new users within a week if onboarding is weak. A frictionless first experience can change that. For example, the use of progressive disclosure — introducing features gradually rather than overwhelming users — has proved to be more intuitive to user behaviour, and aids in making them feel comfortable in seeing the value before being asked to commit. How can marketers show early value to users who download the app?
04.25 PM
04.45 PM
05.15 PM

Vibha Thusu is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with over 21 years of experience at the intersection of technology, brand strategy, and business growth. She has worked across diverse industries including IT & Services, FMCG, Energy Management, Electrical, & Industrial Automation. She currently serves as the Global Marketing & Communications Program Leader (Industrial Automation E-commerce) at Schneider Electric, where she drives strategic communications, demand generation, and cohesive internal engagement across IA Distribution & eCommerce Lines of Business. A Schneider Electric veteran of 16 years, she previously led global marketing, communications, and e-commerce for an independent brand under the SE umbrella, accelerating market expansion and brand equity across more than 65 countries.

Suad Merchant is the Global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at GEMS Education, where she leads global marketing, brand strategy, and communications. In this role, she reinforces GEMS Education’s reputation as a trusted, family-run institution delivering world-class education with heart and vision. Her mandate goes beyond communications, she is a key driver of business growth and impact, ensuring GEMS continues to lead in a sector critical to regional and global development.
Previously, Suad was the Global Head of Brand & Growth Marketing, Partnerships, and Corporate Communications at Mashreq, the UAE’s oldest bank with a presence in 15 countries. She defined and executed the bank’s global brand and marketing strategy, corporate communications, strategic partnerships, and ESG marketing. Suad also played a pivotal role in shaping Mashreq’s strategic vision, acting as brand custodian, and steering its customer-centric digital transformation. Under her leadership, Mashreq was recognized as the fastest-growing brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance in 2024.

Ravi Raman, a TEDx speaker and no stranger to a stage, is a media professional with more than two decades of content strategy, brand marketing and team leadership experience.
He launched the regional editions of world-renowned brands such as Wired and Bloomberg Businessweek, and his reach has extended to other leading publications from the New York Times to India Today.

Hazem graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The American University in Cairo in 2002. Since then, he has developed a passion for and built a career in connecting the business world with technology.
He has led projects across all areas of the digital mix including web platforms, mobile solutions, social media, content, performance marketing, search engine optimization and marketing, paid digital advertising and programmatic, data and analytics, CRM, and ecommerce… making him not only an advocate but also a hands-on practitioner of omni channel marketing. He has been a consultant to many brands, defining and implementing their digital transformation strategies, and implementing complex MarTech solutions to influence data-driven customer engagement comms throughout their lifecycle.

Harsha is a seasoned marketing professional with over 18 years of experience in global digital and traditional media marketing.
She has left a lasting impact on consulting, professional services, travel, and consumer products sectors. Notably, she established PwC’s digital marketing practice in the Middle East and led digital marketing for UAE’s cybersecurity firm DarkMatter (now Digital14).
Currently, at KPMG Lower Gulf, Harsha is driving the transformation of the firm’s digital marketing and enhancing customer experiences, showcasing her enduring commitment to innovation and excellence in the field.i and is the founder of WOA (Work Of Arts), a boutique consultancy and concept studio. He also supports early-stage ventures and owns hospitality businesses in Asia.

Aamir Allibhoy is the General Manager at SRMG | Labs, leading innovation and strategic growth initiatives within one of the region’s most influential media groups.
Aamir’s career spans more than two decades across marketing, creativity, and brand transformation. Prior to joining SRMG, he spent 21 years with Impact BBDO, where he served as General Manager for Saudi Arabia and worked with leading global brands including PepsiCo, Emirates, P&G, YUM, and others. He also played a key role in establishing the award-winning BBDO Pakistan office.

Gregoire is a senior innovation and customer experience leader with more than 20 years of experience transforming major organisations across Retail, Luxury, Government, Real Estate, Hospitality, and Mobility. Most recently, Group VP of Customer Experience & Innovation at Majid Al Futtaim, his career also includes senior roles at Chalhoub Group, Emaar, Air Liquide, Rexel, and Orange.
An entrepreneur and investor, he co-founded the European mobility startup Otoqi and is the founder of WOA (Work Of Arts), a boutique consultancy and concept studio. He also supports early-stage ventures and owns hospitality businesses in Asia.