Alasdair Dickinson is Director for Asia, Middle East and Africa at Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits. He joined the Suntory group in 2011 and has held numerous commercial and brand advocacy roles spanning the globe.

Alasdair joined the world of travel retail in 2015, supporting the set-up of the newly formed Beam Suntory GTR function.  Recently, Alasdair has relocated to Singapore where he heads up the commercial strategy and execution for Asia and MEA.

Believing the driving force of any organization to be people, Alasdair is also a passionate advocate of DE&I and co leads Beam Suntory’s mental fitness workstream with a focus on resilience, energy management and well-being.

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.