Dubai Lynx Debrief, which is set to take on Tuesday, 8 April at the Dubai Knowledge Park Conference Centre, will bring together Dubai Lynx Awards Jury Presidents as well as global industry leaders for an insights-packed morning intended to dive into the trends, strategies and creative breakthroughs shaping the industry today.
As such, Dubai Lynx Debrief will offer attendees the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the most innovative creative work emerging from the MENA region.
Taking place the day before the Dubai Lynx Awards, attendees at the debrief event will get a sneak-peek into the minds of the very people judging the MENA region’s most creative work and hear how top campaigns are balancing craft, storytelling and effectiveness to drive real-world insights.
Agenda of the Dubai Lynx Debrief
Starting at 9am, the event include three sessions covering craft, impact and what separates good work from groundbreaking, culture-shifting creativity.
Session 1: Craft Unwrapped
The Jury Presidents will offer an inside look into the defining trends in craft from the 2025 entries.
From regional craftsmanship to the impact of AI and technology, this session will unpack what’s elevating MENA’s creative work on the global stage.
Speakers:
- Chris Beresford-Hill, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at BBDO Worldwide
– Radio & Audio/Print & Publishing/Film Jury President - Aisha Blackwell, Head of Production Services at Serviceplan MAKE
– Film Craft Jury President - Mayuri Nikumbh, Head of Design at Conran Design Mumbai
– Creative Effectiveness/Creative Strategy Jury President - Moderated by Thea Skelton, VP Events at LIONS
Session 1: Creative Impact 101
What makes creative work truly effective?
Jury Presidents and industry leaders will discuss the strategies, insights and trends driving real impact for brands, as revealed through this year’s standout entries.
Speakers:
- Fiona Johnston, CEO – Client, Media & Commercial, Dentsu
– Media Jury President - Vanessa Ho Nikolovski, Chief Client & Growth Officer, Asia Pacific at Weber Shandwick
- Moderated by Anup Oommen, Editor at Campaign Middle East
Session 3: Story of the Win
Moderated by Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, this conversation will follow the format of a fireside chat with Chafic Haddad, Chief Creative Officer of VML MENA and Dubai Lynx’s 2025 Advertising Person of the Year.
Haddad will share share what it takes to craft award-winning campaigns, push creative boundaries and leave a lasting industry impact.
The Dubai Lynx Debrief aims to be a creative playbook for the year ahead.
Whether attendees are looking to fine-tune their craft, gain deeper strategic insights or simply get inspired by the region’s best work, this is where they can unlock the knowledge to create better, bolder and more impactful campaigns.
To find out more or register, visit the official Dubai Lynx Debrief site.
