Milika joined Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in Malawi in 2016 as the company’s Regulatory Affairs and Engagement Manager. In 2020 she moved to Geneva as part of a newly created Agile Team, managing a diverse portfolio of Corporate Affairs disciplines spread across regulatory advocacy, sustainability, and external engagement. Milika has recently relocated to Dubai, where she will manage JTI’s Corporate Affairs and Communications under the Global Travel Retail portfolio, covering the MENEAT and Eastern and Northern Europe regions.
Prior to JTI, Milika held several positions within international organizations, primarily as a Development Economist with the European Commission, Delegation to Malawi, and with the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Network in Washington DC.
Milika holds a degree in Economics and Development Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, UK, and a Master’s in International Economic Development from the University of Reading, UK.
Waleed Khalaf is the CEO of Smart Way Consultancy, a Bahraini multidisciplinary advisory firm that specializes in smart technology and sustainability.
Waleed has over 40 years of experience in telecoms and technology. He started his career in Batelco at 1987 as a controller marine communications. He then progressed to various managerial positions within Batelco, including Manager of Call Centers (1992-1995), Manager of Customer Services Department (2000-2004) and Manager of Public Relations (2004-2005). In 2005 he joined Mena Telecom as VP Sales and Marketing.
Waleed then moved on to establish T-Linx Technology Solutions & Telecoms Advisory in 2008. T-Linx is the only specialized firm of its kind in Bahrain offering bespoke turnkey technology solutions to its clients in the residential, commercial and hospitality sectors covering automation, integrated systems and new digital media.
In 2017, Waleed founded Smart Way Consulting to focus on providing consultancy solutions and advisory on smart technologies and sustainable solutions for smart cities. Waleed also chairs the steering committee for the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit annual event which is curated and organized by Smart Way Consulting since 2016 and serves as a platform for sharing expertise on smart and sustainable solutions for cities and a catalyst for creating new opportunities for smart and sustainable projects.
Currently Waleed is a Board member in Bahrain Internet Society. Waleed is also an independent advisor to the Information Government Authority (iGA) Bahrain International eGovernment Forum 2018 steering committee.
He holds an MBA from University of Wales (1992) and a BSC in telecommunications from South Shields College of Technology (1987) in the UK.
Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah is the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Airport Company WLL (BAC), which has been responsible for managing, operating and developing Bahrain International Airport since 2010.
On joining the company in 2012, driven by a clear vision to elevate and position Bahrain International Airport as a friendly and efficient regional hub, Mohamed has led the team working jointly with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to deliver the $1.1bn Bahrain International Airport Modernization Program, with the aim of enhancing the airport’s infrastructure and sustaining the growth of Bahrain’s aviation sector in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Mohamed is also Chairman of BAC Jet Fuel Company WLL, developer of the airport’s aviation fueling depot and associated infrastructure, and the Chairman of Hala Bahrain Hospitality SPC, a passenger services subsidiary of BAC.
Mohamed was recently appointed to the Airport Council International (ACI) World Governing Board, and he is also a Board Member of the ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Board. He also serves on the ACI World Audit Committee.
Mohamed is a founding member of the Bahrain Green Building Council and currently serves as its Chairman.
Mohamed holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Business Administration. He is married with three children.
Mazen joined Mars Wrigley International Travel Retail in 2017, having extensive travel retail industry experience in the Middle East, Levant, and North Africa market, previously with Diageo. Mazen has developed strong customer relationships for Mars travel retail in the MEA region. He is also passionate about travel retail business and the support that MEADFA provides for its members. Since 2021, Mazen has been representing Mars Wrigley travel retail on the MEADFA board and represents the Confectionery members on the MEADFA advocacy committee.
Outside of work, Mazen is an aspiring aviation geek, is a fan of Formula 1 which he shares with his 2 boys.
Dr. Munif Mohammed is the CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail KSA and Middle East. Munif joined Lagardère Travel Retail in 2011, as a Financial Consultant in the Pacific region, where he later became Chief Business Officer. Munif moved to Saudi Arabia in 2017 and has been instrumental in developing the group’s activities in the country, in structuring various enterprises in the region and in establishing the Duty Free Shared Services Centre in Dubai in 2019.
Munif holds a BA in Economics from Auckland University and an MBA in Corporate Strategy from UNSW Business School. He also holds a Doctorate in Business Administration & Sustainability from the Business School of Lausanne.
PRESENTATION
Roger Jackson is the Managing Director of Organico Solutions, one of the largest travel retail distributors in the Middle East and Africa. Roger has an extensive experience across travel retail in brand building and sales transformation. He is also an active Board Member at MEADFA and the association’s Advocacy Working Group.
Previously, Roger has held senior leadership roles from the top 10 FTSE companies such as Diageo and Coca Cola.
Marcus Hudson is the Sales Director for Mars International Travel Retail, having been appointed to the role in January 2022. Marcus joined Mars in 2016 as its Customer Effectiveness Manager in ITR and was promoted to Global Customer Director in 2019.
Marcus’s achievements in travel retail are varied and includes the implementation of Mars Wrigley’s current customer-centric structure. He has a passion for confronting new business realities within the travel retail ecosystem and a deep-rooted belief in the power of partnership with fellow industry stakeholders.
Marcus began his career in the travel retail industry with BAT in 2007 as Trade Marketeer for Global Travel Retail.
In his spare time, Marcus’ interests include rugby, current affairs and politics.
Surafel Saketa is the Country Manager of Qatar for Ethiopian Airlines. He has extensive experience in the aviation industry, covering airport operations, corporate planning, aero-politics and strategic and equity partnerships. He works with existing and potential equity partners and assists them to successfully mobilize the necessary resources from Ethiopian Airlines Group.
Surafel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Dilla University. He holds several Master’s degrees in marketing and project management from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He is married with three sons.
Shivani Sathasivam is the Founder and Lead Consultant at New Normal Consultancy in Bahrain. Shivani created a social awareness campaign to educate the local community about health and climate change and founded New Normal Consultancy that specializes in plant-based business and provides strategic consultancy with research driven models to build and grow modern businesses.
Shivani received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from the London School of Economics.
Kojo Bentum-Williams is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Africa’s leading travel and tourism magazine, VoyagesAfriq Travel Magazine and Media. He is a communications professional with more than 12 years working in travel and tourism. His experience in the industry includes working as PR official at the Ghana Tourism Authority and as Press Secretary to Ghana’s Former Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.
Kojo is currently the Senior Expert for Communications in Africa for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and aide to the Secretary General. His company VoyagesAfriq Media Limited has transcended the borders of Africa to be one of the leading voices for tourism news and information.
