The Changemakers Conference 2026: Ambition | Dubai
UAE
8:00am to 4:30pm GST // 5 November 2026
Register now
CHANGEMAKERS CONFERENCE: AMBITION
A rallying cry for marketers to reclaim their rightful place at the heart of business growth, leadership and societal progress. This is not ambition in its outdated, aggressive form, but ambition rooted in purpose, culture and collective progress. It's about leaders who drive growth while shaping organisations, brands and societies for the better.
"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." Michelangelo
WHY AMBITION?
Marketing sits at the heart of business growth, leadership and societal progress - yet too often underplays its own impact.
In a time of uncertainty, transformation and pressure, ambition reconnects confidence with responsibility.
Ambition is about aiming higher - for our businesses, our careers, our industries and our communities.
It’s about restoring pride in what marketing can achieve and telling those stories more boldly.
Ambition gives marketers permission to be confident about their role in shaping the future.
Growth, innovation and progress don’t happen by accident - they require belief, drive and the courage to set meaningful goals.
The Changemakers Conference puts ambition on the table to reset expectations, reframe leadership and challenge our industry not to aim too low — and reach it.
Ambition for our careers.
Ambition for our brands and businesses.
Ambition for the future of work and growth.
For marketers who mean business.
The Speakers
Liam Findlay
Rania Masri El-Khatib
Jason Leavy
Samira Cutts
Azeem Rafiq
Gush Mundae
Abdulla Al Nuaimi
Elias Walid Bassil
Stevi Lowmass
Lucy Bradley
Ghansham Pindoria
Venue
Museum of The FutureSheikh Zayed Rd - Trade Center Second - Dubai
Date
5 November 2026Time
8:00-4:30pm GSTDress Code
Smart CasualMADE BY MEMBERS
Made by Members is a celebration of The Marketing Society community – these sessions are created for Members, with Members, by Members. As part of the Changemakers Challenge Conference, these short but powerful five-minute sessions, will spotlight three inspirational Members who will each share a deeply personal story of what challenge means to them. Honest, human, and thought-provoking, these moments are designed to remind us that the strength of our Society lies not just in the big ideas from the stage, but in the lived experiences of the Changemakers amongst us.
Terry Kane
A Journey to Everest Base Camp
Terry and his 12-year-old daughter embarked on a challenging 17-day trek to Everest Base Camp, covering hundreds of kilometres on foot and reaching an altitude of 5,364 metres in temperatures as low as -35°C.
Together, they navigated basic conditions, extreme altitude and very real risks. While Terry faced severe altitude sickness, his daughter showed extraordinary resilience—not only completing every step through her own grit and determination but also looking after her father when he needed her most.
As part of our Made by Members section, Terry and his daughter will share the story behind their unforgettable adventure and the lessons they learned about preparation, perseverance and pushing beyond perceived limits.
Ebaid Albast
From Big Idea to Brooklyn: Building Ramblin’ Chick
What began with a simple thought - “In search of the great American burger, it turns out it might be chicken” - became Ramblin’ Chick, a restaurant and brand launched by Ebaid Albast in Brooklyn, New York.
Turning an idea into a real business required bold decisions, constant adaptation and navigating the messy realities that emerged once the doors opened and real customers walked in.
As part of our Made by Members section, Ebaid will share the story behind Ramblin’ Chick and the lessons he learned about entrepreneurship, building a brand from the ground up and having the ambition to bring an idea to life.
FULL AGENDA
WELCOME - DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION
Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Chief Marketing Officer, Dubai Future Foundation
PRIMARK
Ghansham Pindoria - Vice President, Primark, Alshaya
THE AUDACITY TO BECOME
What if the thing holding you back is the thing that’s working?
In a world that rewards proven success, ambitious organisations know when to question it. Through TikTok’s story, this session explores how comfort and ambition can coexist. Real examples reveal how bold ideas and familiar approaches can drive business outcomes. Discover when to challenge convention and when to trust what you know. Explore how to distinguish promising possibilities from distracting novelties. Rethink what success has taught you to stop questioning—and unlock your next chapter of growth.
Elias Walid Bassil - Regional Head of Business Marketing, METAP, TikTok
MADE BY MEMBERS
Made by Members is a celebration of The Marketing Society community – these sessions are created for members, with members, by members. As part of the Changemakers Conference themed Ambition, these short but powerful five-minute sessions will spotlight three inspirational members, each sharing a deeply personal story of what ambition means to them. Honest, human and thought-provoking, these moments explore the aspirations, bold decisions and defining experiences that shape our journeys, reminding us that the strength of our Society lies in the lived experiences of the Changemakers amongst us.
Aoife Kane
Terry Kane Managing Director MENA, The Trade Desk
FINDING COURAGE. CHANGING THE GAME.
Speaking up cost Azeem Rafiq more than most could imagine - but his courage forced one of Britain’s biggest sporting institutions to confront uncomfortable truths.In this powerful conversation with Sophie Devonshire, Azeem explores resilience, leadership and why brands must use their influence before a crisis forces them to act. An unfiltered discussion about challenging broken systems, replacing performative advocacy with meaningful action and finding the courage to create change.
Azeem Rafiq - Speaker & Leadership Advisor
Sophie Devonshire – Chief Executive Officer, The Marketing Society (Host)
COFFEE BREAK
THE COGNITIVE ATHLETE: TRAINING FOR AMBITION
Ambition gets you started. Your mental performance determines how far you go. Jason Leavy and Samira Cutts of Prime Performance Labs explore why, in the age of AI, leaders need to train their brains just as athletes train their bodies. Discover how to unlock innovative thinking, why the “simmering six” is the kill zone of high performance, and how to recognise when ambition is pushing you towards burnout.
Samira Cutts - Head of Brain Health & Performance, Prime Performance Labs
Jason Leavy - Founder, Prime Performance Labs
MADE BY MEMBERS
Made by Members is a celebration of The Marketing Society community – these sessions are created for members, with members, by members. As part of the Changemakers Conference themed Ambition, these short but powerful five-minute sessions will spotlight three inspirational members, each sharing a deeply personal story of what ambition means to them. Honest, human and thought-provoking, these moments explore the aspirations, bold decisions and defining experiences that shape our journeys, reminding us that the strength of our Society lies in the lived experiences of the Changemakers amongst us.
Ebaid Albast - Founder of Blacklight venture
MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE 2.0
Brendan McGretrick - Creative Director Museum of The Future
THE GIVING MOVEMENT
Rania Masri Al-Khatib, Chief Executive Officer, The Giving Movement
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
Life doesn’t wait - and neither should you. The son of immigrant parents, Gush Mundae turned vulnerability into ambition, building the world’s largest independent brand agency. Then a life-changing moment transformed what success meant to him. Expect an unfiltered conversation exploring ambition, adversity, living without ‘what ifs' - and why giving back may be the greatest measure of success
Gush Mundae- Founder, Bulletproof
LUNCH
25,000 BARS FROM CLOSURE
When 95% of your revenue disappears overnight and you’re left with 25,000 bars of soap, what do you do? Do you hide away, or rally your community?
When The Camel Soap Factory faced the very real threat of closure, they chose to fight back. Their bold “Save Our Soap” campaign gave customers a reason to rally behind a home-grown UAE business, turning a commercial crisis into a powerful community movement. The result? 27,358 bars sold. Discover how a clear message, a compelling call to action and the power of community helped save a business - and what it takes to make marketing move people when everything is on the line.
Lucy Bradley - Brand Commander, Plug Operation Design
Stevi Lowmass - Founder, The Camel Soap Factory
Amina Taher - Chief Brand and Communications Officer - Majid Al Futtaim - Holding
FROM VISION TO GLOBAL DESTINATION
Liam Findlay - Chief Executive Officer, Miral Destinations
Amina Taher - Chief Brand & Communications Officer - Majid Al Futtaim - Holding
MADE BY MEMBERS
Made by Members is a celebration of The Marketing Society community – these sessions are created for members, with members, by members. As part of the Changemakers Conference themed Ambition, these short but powerful five-minute sessions will spotlight three inspirational members, each sharing a deeply personal story of what ambition means to them. Honest, human and thought-provoking, these moments explore the aspirations, bold decisions and defining experiences that shape our journeys, reminding us that the strength of our Society lies in the lived experiences of the Changemakers amongst us.
Emma Cantwell- Advisor
GRADUATION SCHOLARS 2026
EVENING DRINKS - MI AMIE , JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS
5+ Hours of inspiring, actionable content
15+ Ambitious Speakers
400+ Likeminded marketers who mean business. The opportunity to pause and connect
Ticket & Prices
Member Plus
Your complimentary ticket is included in your package. Please claim it using the link at the top of the page.Member Standard
395 AED - Please book using the link at the top of the page.Non Member
995 AED - Please book using the link at the top of the page.UAE The Marketing Society Changemakers Conference 2025 | Highlights
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