Organising Committee

Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi currently serves as the CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Prior to that, she held the role of Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority from 2018. Shaima graduated from the Dubai Leaders Programme in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development in November 2021. She also obtained two certificates from MIT, business process design for strategic management, and accelerating corporate innovation, as well as a certificate on ‘Business Strategy’ from Harvard Business School. In 2023, she also completed the ‘Women on International Boards’ Programme that was held in collaboration between Dubai Women Establishment and the Institute of Directors in London. She also pursued her MSc in Big Data, Business Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence at ESCP Business School, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Business & Policies at Georgetown University.

Maitha Ali Al Blooshi is a visionary creative leader with extensive experience advancing innovation across culture, art, technology, and marketing. As Director of Emerging Arts at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, she leads Dubai’s digital arts agenda, spanning immersive digital arts experiences, game development, culinary arts, and creative technology while nurturing and enabling talent and strengthening the emerging arts ecosystem. She successfully led the international bid for Dubai to host the International Symposium on Electronic Art/Emerging Art 2026 (ISEA 2026), positioning the city as a global hub for emerging and digital arts. Maitha holds a BA in Arts and Creative Enterprises from Zayed University and an MBA in Project Management. She served as a judge at the Global Prompt Engineering Championship during Dubai AI Week 2025 and is a certified foresight professional and a 2021 graduate of the UAE Government Executive Leaders Programme, delivered in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

Saleh Shukri Al Breiki is the Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, where he leads the Authority’s brand strategy, corporate communications, and integrated marketing agenda in alignment with its 2026–2033 vision. He oversees digital platforms, campaigns, sponsorships, stakeholder engagement, and high-profile cultural activations, ensuring cohesive positioning across arts, heritage, literature, and the creative economy. Working closely with executive leadership, Saleh supports strategic initiatives through narrative development, change communications, and brand governance. With a strong background in both public and private sector marketing, he is committed to advancing Dubai’s cultural identity and strengthening its position as a global creative capital.

Valerie Herring is a communications & partnerships manager at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, contributing to strategic initiatives and the development of cultural programming. With a background in corporate communications and public affairs, she supports high-impact partnerships and international engagement. Previously, she worked at Kekst CNC across Dubai and Riyadh and held roles at APCO Worldwide and BCW Global. Valerie holds dual Master’s degrees from LSE and SOAS and is fluent in German, English, and French.

Esra Ozkan is a curator and cultural manager specializing in AI, digital, and media arts. As a Digital Art Consultant at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, she contributes to initiatives that bridge technology and artistic practice. Previously, she served as Artistic Director of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival and led Turkey’s first Digital Art Museum (X Media Art Museum). Esra holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration in Emerging Technologies, focusing on Generative AI.