Charles Szar is the President of AeroTransCargo FZE, a UAE-based Boeing 747F cargo airline.  Charles is responsible for maintaining financial, operational, and maintenance oversight of a fleet of 11 B747F and will be inducting two 777F Boeing factory freighter aircraft in Q3 on 2025.  In addition to leading a staff of over 300 he develops the strategic vision for the airline focusing on growth, modernization, and value generation.  

Charles was previously the Managing Director of Supreme Aviation FZE, accountable for a $750M aviation business unit leading a multinational staff of over 550, dispersed over four continents.  Supreme Aviation FZE operated seven daily UAE to Afghanistan B-747F flights and over 100 daily intra-Afghanistan flights providing just-in-time delivery of food and critical supplies to over 227 locations with a fleet of over 40 rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.  He was instrumental in safely integrating civil aircraft in conflict areas, developing complex end-to-end multimodal supply chain solutions.      

Prior to his civilian career, Charles served over 23 years as a commissioned officer and military aviator.  He had the unique experience of serving in both the US Army flying Assault Helicopters and the US Air Force as a Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot.  He held leadership positions at all levels in both services, and additionally served as an Instructor/Evaluator Pilot and Flight Safety Officer. Charles also redesigned the Program of Instruction for the US Army Flight School and developed Safety-Systems for experimental prototype aerospace vehicles in the Air Force.  In addition to completing US Army Flight School and several aircraft qualification courses, he completed US Army Airborne School, US Army Pathfinder School, Korean Ranger School, and Level C-SERE school.  Charles served across the globe including multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.     

Charles graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in History and Psychology from Excelsior University and a dual Master of Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation/Aerospace Management and Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems.   

Melitsa Mizrahi is an accomplished HR leader with two decades of

experience helping organizations grow and people thrive in their

careers. Throughout her career, Melitsa has been instrumental in driving

organizational success through strategic business partnerships,

leadership development, change management, and culture

transformation.

After working in the technology and telecommunications sectors, she

joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2006 and has held key roles in HR

covering diverse business geographies spanning Europe, Turkey,

Caucasus, Central Asia, Pakistan, Israel, the Middle East,and North Africa. During her recent role as the HR Director for Eurasia and the Middle East, she influenced major organizational changes and pioneered transformative talent initiatives across 25 countries. Under her leadership, the region achieved remarkable outcomes, including a 90% engagement rate. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Melitsa successfully led efforts to achieve a 50:50 gender ratio and was one of the first to sign the UAE Gender Pledge, ensuring equal opportunities at all levels.

She holds her Bachelor's & Master's from Bogazici University, Turkey, and has completed executive Strategic HR Management & HR Transformation programs at Cornell University.

Melitsa is the Co-Chair of the HR Committee of the Turkish Business Council, the biggest Turkish NGO in the UAE. Based in Dubai, Melitsa continues to shape the future of work, leveraging her extensive background in design thinking, coaching, and consulting services.

Executive Director | Inspirational Leader | Change Maker

Recognized as one of the Top 50 Global Inspirational Women to Look Out For in 2025, H.E. Aisha Rawert is a trailblazing Emirati executive with a career spanning over two decades in public service, business, and non-profit sectors. She has excelled in diverse industries, including tourism, telecommunications, metals and mining, media, and government.

As an Executive Director in the Abu Dhabi Government, H.E. Aisha has spearheaded transformative initiatives across media development, digitization, governance, compliance, and operational excellence. Her leadership has significantly enhanced organizational efficiency and positioned her as a champion for sustainable development and innovation.

H.E. Aisha’s academic credentials include a Master’s in Big Data and Business Analytics from ESCP Business School, an LLM in Business Law from Panthéon-Assas University, and an ongoing MBA from Georgetown University. Her certifications in coaching, agile practices, and leadership development further underscore her commitment to fostering talent and empowering teams.

Her accolades include multiple awards in women empowerment and leadership, such as the Middle East Riise Achieving Women Award. She is a founding member of gender balance initiatives and has been instrumental in advancing the UAE’s sustainable development goals.

Cagdas is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in sales, trade marketing, and business development across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. 

Currently serving as the General Manager of HARIBO Middle East & North Africa, he has played a key role in driving market expansion, restructuring sales organizations, and implementing strategic growth initiatives.

 With a strong background in FMCG, he has held leadership roles at BEL Group, Danone, and BP, managing large teams and delivering significant business growth. 

A graduate of Middle East Technical University, he is fluent in English, with proficiency in German and Turkish.

 In addition to his corporate achievements, he has contributed as a writer for Forbes Middle East and Harvard Business Review Turkey and served as a guest lecturer at Özyeğin University.

Murat Bozfakioglu completed his high school education in Italian Highschool, Istanbul Turkey and graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), MA, USA as an Industrial Engineer in 2003. He further advanced his academic credentials with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Koc University.

Fluent in Turkish, English and Italian he had 19 years of international career assuming key marketing, sales and strategic partnership roles in 3 different multinationals as Pirelli, Bridgestone and Nissan across the globe.

His expat experiences based in Milan, Italy and most recently in Dubai, UAE further enriched his international business perspective and skills where he could represent and promote global corporate brands successfully.

Currently based in Dubai, UAE office, he is leading the Global Mobility Solutions division of GSC International.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/muratbozfakioglu/ 

Dr.Reem Abdelhadi is a dedicated dentist with 25 years of experience in family dentistry, with a special affiliation in cosmetic and prosthetic dentistry and dental surgery.

Graduated from Damascus University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Dentistry degree and completed training in Implant dentistry in “ University of Bern” in Switzerland in 2010.

Running a successful Medical Center in Dubai since 2004, Dr.Reem is an award winner of “ I Love my Dentist” competition held in 2023 under the supervision of Dubai Health Authority.

Dr.Reem proudly helped thousands of patients regain healthier smiles and better lives. 

Staying up to date with the latest technologies in dentistry is a daily mission for DR.Reem.

Fern McGahey launched her business in Dubai in 2021, offering personalized home and home office organization services. With a Bachelor's degree majoring in Interior Design and a passion for creating functional spaces, she successfully established and managed the business independently. 

She has experience and knowledge in starting a small business, getting licensed as a business owner with the DED trader license, building a website, and creating content for social media.

Fern is also a high school inclusion teacher at DAA. She has 20 years of teaching experience, a Master's Degree in Special Education, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Education through Endicott College in Massachusetts.

I am greatly looking forward to presenting my career journey at the 13th Annual Career Conference at DAA. My career journey has been quite adventurous, and diverse.

I am a happy, healthy person who has had an interesting life of work culminating in a successful, and enjoyable, career in Education.

I began working at the age of twelve, and I haven’t stopped since! Working has given me insights, and experiences, that have heavily formed my personal philosophy.

I have two degrees, and a diploma, and understand that study, and knowledge acquisition, is very important too. Plus, studying is actually fun.

Perhaps, in my 25-minute presentation, I can show a varied perspective to how work and study can contribute to a successful life.

Seif is a management consultant with over 20 years working for consulting companies and financial services companies. Seif helps organizations solve their most decisive strategic and management decisions. He does that by helping companies develop strategic plans to createst the highest value for their shareholders while building world-class organizations for employees. 

Seif’s career has taken him across multiple geographies including the US, Canada, UK and UAE. Seif currently resides in Dubai and works across the GCC.

I graduated from the American University in Cairo with a BA in Integrated Marketing Communications.

I also earned my MA from the same university in TV Journalism.

I was trained as a news reporter in “New York One” TV network, after which I worked as a reporter and a field producer in several networks like Orbit, and OSN.

I also taught Mass Comm courses in New York Institute of Technology, Cairo campus.

I worked in advertising and PR with “Promoseven” where I led several projects to raise awareness about health issues in rural Egypt with the US AID.

Nur is a PhD economist with over ten years of work experience in UK, Italy, Spain, and UAE. She held research positions at various European universities including University of Oxford, UK. Her research has been published in leading journals and awarded with a scholarship by American Economic Association and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. While in UK, she worked as a senior economist at cebr London, gaining extensive experience in the consulting sector.

She is currently working as a senior economist at Jacobs, UAE, where she leads and conducts economic analyses for various projects in the education, housing, energy, health, and transport sectors.

Sanaa Ahmed is a dynamic HR leader at L'Oréal, one of the world's leading beauty and cosmetics companies. Based in Dubai, she directs talent acquisition for the Middle East and North Africa region, helping L'Oréal find and develop the best people to drive their business forward.

Sanaa has over 10 years of experience in human resources, working in various roles and countries, including Pakistan and Tanzania. She's passionate about creating a positive work environment where people can grow and succeed. She led many HR initiatives, from implementing new technologies to fostering a culture of learning and development.

Before joining L'Oréal, Sanaa worked at Telenor , another multinational company. She holds a degree in Business Science with a major in Finance from NUST.

During the pandemic, Tara moved back to Niagara Falls and was unable to secure work as a teacher and decided to pursue an old hobby of shopping for vintage clothing and turning it for profit as a way to make some money. After a few hugely successful "flips" she decided to turn her hobby into a full time job, Tara opened an on online vintage store called A Magpie's Emporium in November 2020. She successfully attended several fairs, markets and showcases as a pop-up booth within her extended community and was selected to attend the Toronto Vintage Fair in July 2023 as a vendor.

In October 2022, Tara was offered a position back at DAA as a HS SEN teacher, she moved back to Dubai and continues to run AME from both Canada and the UAE as a passion project. In this section students will learn about the importance of a broad educational foundation, skill utilization, the bonus and challenges of changing careers and starting up a small business. Students will have the opportunity for a question and answer period and any time left over will be spent discussing vintage clothing characteristics and profit margins.

Manish Vakil is the founder of two companies committed to enhancing children's well-being and fostering innovation. He established Tumbles Kids Health and Wellness years ago focusing on promoting healthy habits and fitness among children. Furthermore, Manish founded Metamorphosis, a company specializing in Machine Learning and Computer Vision Data analysis to create a radiation free scanning solution for Scoliosis as a preventative measure.  

Manish has over 20 years of experience of being an entrepreneur.   Currently overseeing operations from the United States to the Middle East and now expanding into India, he has built a business with team members being completely remote throughout the world.

Outside of his work, he enjoys playing tennis, watching movies, traveling and is part of a few volunteer organizations that help foster entrepreneurship.

With over 25 years of experience in HR leadership across India, Singapore, Japan, and UAE, Jyoti Chaturvedi has led HR functions for large-scale global operations. She has successfully navigated multiple economic cycles, including transformation, globalization, divestitures, spin-offs, star-up and acquisitions. Known for building strong senior business partner relationships and developing leadership succession pipelines, she has been recognized as in the list of Asia’s Most inspirational women in leadership.

Jyoti now lives with her family in Dubai and leads Human Resources for Africa Middle East India and Oceania. She relocated to Dubai within Nissan 18 months back after spending 6 years at the Global Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. Prior to this, Jyoti was the Global HR director with Hewlett Packard and was based in Singapore for close to 15 years. She started her career with GE in the rotational HR leadership program. Her career spans country, regional and global roles in HR

Beyond work, Jyoti is passionate about bring women back to workforce and has extended her personal time to supporting, coaching and mentoring women across cultures and geographies. 

Besides her work and passion, Jyoti enjoys time with her family and in pursuits like Yoga and Reiki.

Taher Alkhateeb is the Chief Technology Officer - Insurance Products - at Azentio, overseeing the development of cutting-edge technology solutions in the digital insurance sector. With over 18 years of experience in software architecture, programming, and product innovation, Taher has led numerous successful projects. Prior to joining Azentio, he founded Pythys Software and launched key products such as iMotor and Pysurance, which were acquired by Azentio in 2024. An active member of the Apache Software Foundation and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII), Taher’s career has been driven by his passion for leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and transform the technology landscape. 

Mike Gilmour is the Deputy Superintendent at Dubai American Academy. He has extensive international education experience, having worked in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Mike was previously the Elementary Principal at DAA and worked in leadership positions in Singapore for 11 years before moving to Dubai.

Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Advanced Educational Leadership.

Mike is a published author, having written his first book, The Power of Rapport, in 2019. He looks forward to sharing his journey with the DAA high school students at this event.

Mariam has been a People & Culture leader for over the last two decades in the region and beyond transforming teams and leaders to achieve their business goals. Her focus has been on high tech industries having held leadership roles in Nokia in the early days of her career and then later on at Souq.com before leading the diligence and entry of Amazon in the region. Currently she is the CHRO at e& enterprise leading their B2B vertical. Mariam has led large scale merger and acquisitions in the region and advises passionately entrepreneurs and founders in the region. Mariam in her role and beyond works closely on topics of inclusion and her two boys give her perspective on the needs and wants of youth in today’s era. 

Dr. Yara Chaaban is a Lebanese certified pediatrician at Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, bringing extensive experience in providing compassionate care to children of all ages. She earned her medical degree from the University of Balamand and completed her residency at Saint George Hospital University Medical Center.

Dr. Chaaban has over 10 years of pediatric experience, having worked with the Ministry of Health at government hospital for four years before transitioning to private healthcare. She then served at the American Hospital of Dubai, Al Barsha Satellite Clinic for over 4 years where she was actively involved in pediatric conferences and continued education initiatives.

She has a well-rounded skill set and strong foundation in outpatient care, pediatric ward management, and emergency pediatric care.  Recognized for her thorough clinical examination approach and solid diagnostic skills, Dr. Chaaban is well versed in planning individualized care plans tailored to each child's unique needs.  She is also a strong advocate of preventive care and wellness education, regularly advising families on nutrition, hygiene, and physical activity.

Dr. Chaaban is an active contributor to research studies and pediatric care and a regular participant in community outreach programs focused on pediatric health and awareness.  She is also a member of the organizing committees for leading pediatric medical conferences in the UAE and has participated in lecturing and teaching pediatric residents, reflecting her commitment to advancing pediatric practice and education.

As a mother herself, Dr. Chaaban treats every child as if they were her own, always going the extra mile to ensure their health and well-being. Her multifaceted, child friendly approach focuses on building trusting relationships with families, monitoring child development through regular checkups, and fostering transparent communication.

In her free time, Dr. Chaaban enjoys spending time with her family, reading and exercising. She is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care, and is known for her dedication to her patients and their families.

Daniel Santos is a dynamic and strategic business development leader with over 16 years of experience in construction technology, technical management, and digital transformation. Currently serving as an Enterprise Account Executive at Cupix Inc., Daniel specializes in 4D reality capture technology, BIM integration, and SaaS solutions for the construction and engineering industries in the Middle East.

With a track record of securing high-value contracts and building strategic partnerships, Daniel has successfully driven digital adoption across major infrastructure, data center, and commercial projects. His expertise spans enterprise sales, AI-powered reality capture, and digital twin solutions, helping organizations optimize project management and asset tracking.

Prior to Cupix, Daniel held leadership roles at BI Worldwide, HILTI, and STENA-Envac, working across the U.S., Middle East, and Europe. He has advised C-level executives, developed enterprise SaaS solutions, and led multi-million-dollar projects in construction automation, environmental technology, and industrial engineering.

Daniel holds an MBA from HULT International Business School and a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Fluent in English and Spanish, he actively participates in industry events, mentoring initiatives, and alumni networks. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, Daniel continues to shape the future of construction technology and digital transformation in the region.

Aleena leads all design projects and is a central figure in all client relationships. Whether it’s a residential or commercial project, getting to know clients, understanding their needs and preferences, winning their trust, and collaborating with them is at the heart of Aleena’s work, and it’s something she finds particularly rewarding.

Of course, no two clients have the same lives, tastes, or dreams, just as no two interiors have the same light, proportions, history, or personality. Each and every client is different, and so, too, is each and every space. Aleena’s interiors therefore differ markedly from one another. However, they all reflect her personal aesthetic—her predilection for light, air, and space; her pursuit of both simplicity and refinement; her emphasis not only on restraint but also on softness; and the importance she attaches to materials and to texture.

Moore Ibekwe is the Commercial Sales Director responsible for commercial airplanes sales and marketing activities in East, Central and West Africa. He started his career at Boeing in Structures Engineering, where he served in various capacities on the Boeing 777 aircraft as a stress analyst.

Moore transitioned from engineering into commercial airplane marketing before joining the sales organization. He served in several capacities within the marketing organization, covering North America, Europe, China, Northeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Australia and the Middle East. Moore was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from the University of Washington. He is married with two children and currently lives in Dubai, UAE. 

In addition to leading High School Music at DAA; Dave Holland has spent his professional career as a freelance session saxophonist. He has performed with a host of international artists including, John Legend, the Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, and toured with Kelly Clarckson, the O’Jays and more. He has opened for J.Lo, Alisha Keys, Kanye West and Lauren Hill to mention a few and written music for TV. 

This session is a discussion about the importance of engineering yourself to be in the right place at the right time and how to secure opportunities to elevate your career.

Ghida joined Introspect Capital’s investment team with over twelve years of experience at leading financial institutions. She began her career in 2008 as a Relationship Manager at Bank Audi, Lebanon’s largest bank. In 2011, Ghida transitioned to Audi Capital, the bank’s asset management arm, where she initially worked as a sell-side Equity Analyst for one year before moving to the buy-side as an Equity Analyst, a role she held for over three years. Prior to joining Introspect Capital, Ghida served as Senior Investment Analyst at Al Dhabi Investment, where she led the group’s fundamental investment research.

In 2006, Ghida completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and in 2008 completed her Masters in Political Economics from Université Saint-Joseph, Lebanon. From 2014 to 2016, Ghida lectured part-time, teaching CFA candidates Economics. Ghida is a CFA® charter holder and a member of the CFA institute.