Trevor McFarlane is the Founder and CEO of Emerging Markets Intelligence & Research (EMIR), an exclusive boutique advisory and research firm that leverages the network effect of Boardroom by EMIR. An expert in geopolitics, macroeconomics, and government policy, he advises visiting global CEOs and politicians on how to succeed in the Middle East. Over 2,000 regional CEOs and business leaders subscribe to his analysis.

Having built the most influential intelligence network in the Middle East, Boardroom by EMIR, Trevor sits at the center of a web of globally respected EMIR advisory partners who undertake future-shaping transformational projects for select clients.

Before founding EMIR, McFarlane worked at The Economist, where he supported corporate leaders through its advisory division. Prior to that, he covered the Middle East & Africa for The Economist Intelligence Unit. With nearly two decades of experience in the Middle East—living and working in Istanbul, Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai—Trevor and EMIR’s team of advisory experts are trusted advisors to CEOs, boards, and ministers.

Trevor’s analysis has been featured by the BBC, CNN, CNBC Arabia, The Economist, and the Financial Times. He formerly co-hosted Dubai Eye’s award-winning Business Breakfast Radio Show and has been invited as a guest lecturer at prestigious educational institutions, including the Ivy League’s Wharton School.

Inati Ntshanga is an African aviation consultant. He served as the former CEO and Executive Director of South African Express Airways from September 2010 to March 2017. Prior to that, he was in charge of strategy, business development and commercial including airport operations.

Inati has over 18 years of aviation expertise ranging from strategy, business development,
project management, sales and marketing. He has held executive management roles at South African Express Airways in strategy, airport operations, and commercial airport operations.

He also held senior leadership and executive positions at Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice and was a consultant at Bain & Company. He holds an Economics degree from Harvard University, and has certificates from the Gordon Institute of Business where he was enrolled in the Global Executive Development and Board Leadership Programme. He is a board member at Ukuvula Investments Holdings.

Inati was a member of the Executive Committee of AASA (Airlines Association of Southern Africa) from 2011 to 2017 and became chairman from 2015 until he left SA Express. He also served as First Vice Chairman on the Executive Committee of African Airlines Association for 3 years.

Inati is passionate about African aviation and aviation skills required by Africans. His current project is to ensure that such skills are acquired by young people.

Jason Ming is a passionate and experienced strategy consultant who has spent more than a decade driving transformational change across large multinational organisations in the Asia Pacific region. He is part of the Global Airport and Airline Practice for ThoughtWorks, a global technology consulting firm where he is working closely with industry leaders to explore emerging technology, grow innovation, deliver high-value strategic programmes and uplift organisation agility – enabling his clients to rapidly respond to a changing market.

Prior to joining ThoughtWorks, Jason worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia, where he led the delivery of transformation initiatives and provided strategic advisory services across key accounts. He holds a Bachelor of Computing Science from the University of New South Wales, Australia and was recognised as a Finalist for the Young Professional of the Year by Professions Australia.

Andrea Belardini joined Dufry following the company’s acquisition of Nuance, and was appointed CEO for Asia, Middle East and Africa in January 2016.

In July 2009, he was appointed CEO for Nuance’s European operations and took the role of Global Chief Commercial Officer in 2013, in addition to his regional CEO role. During his tenure, Andrea delivered a significant improvement in profitability and acted as key driver for the company innovation agenda. He oversaw a multi-million CHF investment in Nuance’s European operations, incorporating the refurbishment and development of more than 10,000 square metres of retail space. He led the conception and delivery of the Duty Free Store concept, setting a benchmark for Nuance’s core category operations, as well the launch of new formats and brands in Specialty categories.

Prior to joining Nuance, Andrea spent nine years at Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), initially as EVP Strategy and Development, later taking the role of EVP Commercial Business. In his tenure the commercial business of ADR went through a major transformation, with significant improvement in EBITDA and customer satisfaction.

Andrea has also worked for the Accor Group’s Carlson Wagonlit Travel division with a number of different roles including Controlling, Head of Reengineering and VP Operations Southern Europe.

Andrea graduated with Honours (Magna cum Laude) in Business and Economics from the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, where he also held lectures after graduation.

Andrea is married with three children. He enjoys sports including tennis, skiing, kitesurf, cycling and running, and is also a keen photographer.

Jay Tuck is a journalist, television producer and founder of Airtime Dubai Ltd, an international media company serving the Arab world.

For over thirty years he held positions of major editorial responsibility at ARD, Europe’s largest television network. As Executive Producer he later produced the weekly technology magazine “Understanding Tomorrow” (عن كثب) for the Al-Jazeera Network in Arabic.

His articles appear in leading publications throughout Europe, including Focus, Le Point, Playboy, Stern, Welt und ZEITmagazin.

He is author of the widely acclaimed book on electronic intelligence activities High-Tech Espionage, published in fourteen countries. His current best-seller Evolution Without Us examines the potential and perils of artificial intelligence.

Philip Haine is the Regional Sales Director Middle East, Near East & Africa for Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Travel Retail. Based in Dubai, Phil and his sales and marketing team manage JTI’s travel retail business across the Middle East, Near East, Africa & Turkey.

2023 marks Phil’s 18^th year in tobacco and 15^th in travel retail. Phil started “carrying the bag” in the UK’s domestic market before moving to travel retail covering the UK & Ireland. After his first chapter in travel retail, Phil widened his scope to the International Key Account team in Geneva, before moving to Singapore where he was responsible for various domestic and duty free markets in the sub-continent and Central Asia

Outside of work Phil is a proud father to Ben and does his best to play as much golf as possible in between business trips and acting as Ben’s personal chauffeur.

Stewart Dryburgh is the General Manager of Nestlé International Travel Retail S.A.

After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, Stewart worked in commercial roles for GlaxoSmithKline and Pepsi’s UK business before joining Nestlé’s UK confectionery business in 1998.

Stewart first joined the Nestlé International Travel Retail team in 2002, as General Manager. During this period he was influential in growing the size of the total confectionery category in the channel and was a strong supporter of driving Trinity partnerships, playing a key supporting role in the first Trinity Forum in 2003.

In 2006 Stewart became General Manager of Nestlé’s fast growing confectionery business in South Asia, before moving in 2009 to the position of Global Marketing Manager in the group’s head office in Switzerland, overseeing Nestlé’s leading confectionery brand KitKat, among others. Here he played a leading role in accelerating the global growth of KitKat and establishing it as one of the world’s leading FMCG brands in digital marketing.

Dryburgh returned to the travel retail category in April this year as Nestlé’s General Manager and is relishing the challenge of continuing to grow the company’s business in the channel, and the confectionery category as a whole.

Sinead el Sibai joined Dubai Duty Free in 2000 after working for a leading PR agency in Dubai since 1988. During her time at the company she has worked on Dubai Duty Free’s extensive marketing campaigns that incorporate major international events, including the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. She has been at the forefront of the operation’s major sponsorship agreements and their activation, including the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Sinead’s role also extends to Retail Marketing, Public Relations and Media Relations.

Sinead was named Senior Vice President for Marketing in September 2016.

With a 25-year international career in the world of art and luxury goods, Luis Gasset currently holds a dual position as Senior Vice President of Qatar Duty Free. He is responsible for strengthening and growing Qatar Airways and its thriving duty free business, based in Doha.

Luis has held various senior roles with some of the world’s leading luxury brands, including Loewe, Carrera y Carrera, Folli Follie and most recently Bulgari, where he served as Chief Executive Officer in Spain and Middle East and Africa for almost a decade.

Luis has a keen interest in fine art and previously founded Fondos de Arte Siglo XVII, an institution specializing in 17th century Spanish painting.