Music Executive, Artist Manager, Entrepreneur, Author, Professor and Cancer Survivor

Author, professor, lecturer, motivational speaker, music executive, artist manager, entrepreneur, fighter and cancer survivor would be the words used to sum up the life and career of Mathew Knowles. Mathew has helped to architect the careers of Destiny's Child, LeAndrea Johnson, Beyoncé and Solange, just to name a few.

XP22 SESSION: Reinvention & Relevance: Building Longevity in Your Career with Mathew Knowles

Artist

No matter what lines, borders, or boundaries separate us, songs bring us back together. Elyanna unites listeners worldwide around a sizzling signature style steeped in Arabic music, pop, and R&B. Singing in Arabic and English, the Palestinian-Chilean singer, songwriter, and performer instantly enchants with both soul and spirit..

XP22 SESSION: Pro XPerience

Artist

Born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Lil Eazy is one of the region’s most talented rising hip hop stars. His unique and alluring vocal style quickly set him apart from the pack in the region, with hits like “Millionaire,” “Mathaher,” and “Thabet Ma Ameel” opening the doors for collaborations with major brands like Nike, New Balance, FIFA, and Coca Cola.

XP22 SESSION: Creating a Hit Song: Formula Vs.Trend

Artist, CEO & Label Owner

Dutch DJing superstar and Revealed Recordings founder Hardwell has staked his claim as one of the scene’s most exhilarating acts since his debut in 2007. His storied career has seen tracks like “Spaceman,” “Apollo,” and “Run Wild” catapult him to the forefront of the industry, playing a major role in Hardwell being crowned the World’s #1 DJ in 2013.

XP22 SESSION: Wellness for the Constantly Creative Mind

DJ & Founder, Kwench Records (UK)

With decades of DJing experience and as the Founder of Kwench Records, England’s Cassy has asserted herself as one of the UK clubbing scene’s most trusted and reputable musical forces.

Artist (KSA)

Cosmicat (real name Nouf Sufyani), is one of Saudi Arabia’s most exciting rising DJs and producers, having played her vibrant melodic house and techno-inspired productions at global events like Tomorrowland, Soundstorm, and Exit Festival.

Artist (TZ)

Aisha Bakary, known by fans as Hijab DJ, is a native of the islands of Zanzibar, and is widely considered to be the region’s very first female DJ. In 2019, she received support from Norway’s Women Future organization, named as a woman of hope for future generations, as well as the Entertainer of the Year by the Zanzibar Youth Awards.

Host & Presenter, Balearica Radio (ES)

With a proven background as a radio and TV presenter for events like Awakenings Festival and IMS. Now, Katie Knight is one of the leading voices behind Balearica Radio and also hosts her podcast ‘Can U put me On Guestlist?'.

Musician & Educator, Cobblestone Jazz (CA)

Mathew Jonson is widely known as a solo artist and for his work with Cobblestone Jazz, but it’s his efforts in musical education and mentorship that are making waves in recent years. His new venture, titled Freedom Engine Academy, aims to use music education as a common denominator in creating a community of free spirit musicians.

General Manager, Boomplay (TZ)

As General Manager of Boomplay Tanzania, Natasha Stambuli is a driving force in elevating black culture and music to the forefront of the industry. Named The CEO Of The Year by Tanzania’s Top 100 Executives List, Natasha has defined herself as one of the region’s most eminent and respected minds to date.

Nicolas Matar – Owner, Cielo/Output/EDITION (US)

Known worldwide for his trendsetting clubs, Nicolas Matar has expressed his love for electronic music culture through a lifetime of dedication. While his clubs such as Cielo and Output worked to define New York’s electronic music landscape for a matter of decades, Nicolas has now expanded from coast to coast with new standout venues in both Miami and West Hollywood.

Artistic Director, Conservatorium of Haarlem (NL)

Richard Zijlma made his first mark in the industry as the General Manager of the infamous Amsterdam Dance Event between 1999-2018. More recently, Richard Zijlma has taken on the role of Artistic Director at the Conservatorium of Haarlem, where his responsibilities include expanding the range and inclusivity of the courses offered, as well as internationalizing the appeal of the Conservatorium.

Journalist, The National (UAE)

Saeed Saeed is a features writer for The National, reporting on all things arts and culture happening in the UAE, as well as internationally. With a focus on music and Arabic pop culture, Saeed has interviewed some of the biggest singers in the region and the world, from Jennifer Lopez and David Guetta, to Nancy Ajram and Quincy Jones.

Founder, Meow Wolf / Spatial Activations (US)

Vince Kadlubek is the Founder of the award winning experiential art collective Meow Wolf, as well as Spatial Activations, the innovative new digital platform to further infuse these boundary pushing and immersive artistic experiences into everyday life.

Founder & CEO, International Consulting Network for the Arts and Culture (ES)

Georgia Taglietti is a natural born strategist and highly respected consultant, most known for current work with Laurent Garnier and her past 25 years spent as the Communications & Digital Director for Sónar Festival before leaving and creating her own consulting firm ICNAC. While much of her career has been spent in the music industry, Georgia has also applied her industry know-how to start ups in the range of sustainability, non-profit activities, arts & culture, and circular economies.

Co-Founder & Director, Bye Bye Plastic Foundation (NL)

Camille Guitteau is the Co-Founder & Director of Bye Bye Plastic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating single-use plastics from the music industry and events in general. Throughout the last 4 years, Bye Bye Plastic grew from its initial Eco-Rider viral momentum to an international operating team of change-makers, initiating future-forward & durable change on the world’s dancefloors.

Senior Booking Agent, Selected Music (AU)

Casey O’Shaughnessy is a senior booking agent at Select Music, Australia’s largest independent agency. In 2021 she was nominated for Booking Agent of the Year at the Industry Observer awards, and represents a roster of Australian and NZ artists that includes Amy Shark, The Veronicas, Skegss, Ruby Fields, Kimbra, Stella Donnelly, King Stingray, The Beths, The Chats, and more.

Founder & CEO, Paradise Worldwide (DE)

Ralph Boege is the CEO and founder of Paradise Worldwide, the leading digital music and video aggregator with offices in Berlin, San Francisco, New York, Mexico, Johannesburg and Shenzen.

Today, Paradise Worldwide is working on creating a more equitable and transparent music rights supply chain, combining instead of dividing rights and enabling emerging markets to change the longstanding and now outdated structures of the music industry.

Artist/Entrepreneur (TT)

Christopher Leacock is a Trinidadian entrepreneur who uses music, food, and technology to examine the often-unexplored relationships between the Caribbean and the diaspora. In addition to his work with consumer brands and startups, Christopher Leacock is also known by his stage name, Jillionaire, where he earned billlions of plays as a solo artist and as part of the influential Major Lazer.

Talent Director, Astronauts Lab (KSA)

As the Talent Director of Astronauts Lab, Alaa Aloweiny has built a sterling reputation for developing and supporting the next generation of stars from Saudi Arabia's underground music scene. With a knack for not only discovering talent, but an innate ability to connect with, brand, and promote their visions, Alaa has played a pivotal role in the development of the Saudi Arabian music scene.

Chief Commercial Officer, Chartmetric (UK)

Chaz Jenkins is Chief Commercial Officer at Chartmetric, the world’s leading market analytics service for the music industry. He previously founded several Grammy Award-winning labels, an artist management company, and was VP International Marketing at Universal Music Group.

Artist & Founder, KNZ Records (KSA)

JEME is a DJ, producer, and label owner born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Over the years, JEME and his label KNZ Records have explored how dancefloor productions are able to tap into and guide the emotions of audiences and listeners worldwide.

Artist (KSA)

The Jeddah-based Nasser Alshemimry is an audio-visual artist known by his stage name, DesertF!sh, an alias that represents his Najdi roots and upbringing on the Red Sea coast.

After serving the art scene as a consultant, Nasser began creating his own pieces with the aim of presenting the region’s audio-visual art in a new light, focusing on human awareness of space and time and the human condition in relation to technology.

CEO, PRS for Music (UK)

Andrea Czapary Martin is the CEO of PRS for Music - the world leading Collective Management Organization representing the rights of over 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers globally. She is also a Board Member of ICE, the world’s integrated licensing and processing hub, enabling songwriters and publishers to be compensated internationally.

Musical Composer (KSA)

Agent Whiskers, AKA Essam Alghamdi, is a Saudi-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and composer specializing in the modern games industry. Leveraging his inspiration from ‘80s and ‘90s video games, as well as the colorful genre of progressive metal, Agent Whiskers has written and released 4 full length albums and numerous singles, spanning multiple genres from electronic and orchestral to rock and metal.

CEO, SAMPRA (SA)

Pfanani Lishivha is a results-driven business executive with more than 15 years’ experience in executive management. He joined the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) as CEO in 2017, quickly asserting the organization as a key, rising player on the global stage of today’s music industry. During his professional career, Pfanani has specialized in the field of collective rights administration, and specifically, the rights of South African recording artists

Editor-in-Chief, Esquire Middle East (UAE)

Nasri Atallah is a British-Lebanese writer, editor and producer. He is the Editor-in-chief of Esquire Middle East, the region’s longest-running men’s lifestyle brand. With more than 15 years in the media industry, Nasri has been a driving force in helping amplify voices from the Middle East.

COO / Music Producer, Outlaw Productions (BH)

A music producer, sound engineer, and label COO, Sarah Nabil is the first femaleR&B/Hip Hop producer and mix engineer from Bahrain. She started production at the age of 17 working with DJ Outlaw, her mentor and eventual partner in the Bahrain-based record label Outlaw Productions. Sarah also manages the label’s artist roster, including Lil Eazy, Daffy, and Flipperachi, single handedly influencing the mainstream sound coming out of the region.

General Partner & Co-Founder, Plus Eight Equity Partners (US)

Rishi Patel is General Partner and Co-founder of Plus Eight Equity Partners, an early stage venture capital firm that has partnered with electronic music industry leaders to invest in startups at the intersection of entertainment & technology.

Former Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar Art / Harper’s Bazaar Interiors (UAE)

Rebecca Anne Proctor is the former Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Art and Harper’s Bazaar Interiors, a role she held since 2015. Rebecca is a highly in-demand speaker at cultural and art events throughout the Middle East, Europe, and the US, where she argues that art and culture are means to bring about cross-cultural dialogue and socio-economic change.

Founder & CEO, Anom Group (CA)

Mona Halem is the Founder and CEO of Anom Group, the Toronto-based hospitality and lifestyle company known for its lavish events and unforgettable experiences.

Mona has been a staple in Toronto’s live events and hospitality scene for the past 20 years, curating the first all Hip-Hop VIP events in Toronto, with trend setters, industry professionals, artists, professional athletes, award winning musicians, and leading entertainers regularly gracing the lists of her prominent events.

Strategist, Ministry of Culture (KSA)

Khulood Turkistani is an experienced strategist, new-age government SME with extensive knowledge on public sector proceedings as well as regulations, and an early-stage arbitrator with a demonstrated history of working in management consulting in various government sectors. She currently works in the Ministry of Culture as a licensing and advisory director, supporting the growth and development of its 16 sub-sectors.

Curator, Sonar+D (ES)

Antònia Folguera curates festivals, conferences, podcasts and radio shows. Her work moves across the terrains of digital art and culture, communication and electronic music. She curates Sónar+D, Sónar Festival’s Creative Technologies Conference, and she is part of the curatorial teams of Eufònic Festival (Terres de l’Ebre, Spain) and STRP (Eindhoven, Netherlands). Antònia is also part of XRCB (Barcelona Community Radio Network) an ethical and community based podcasting platform where, among other things, they prototype and research the radio of the future. She makes podcasts and live radio in Barcelona, also speaking, moderating, and hosting all types of cultural and technological events.

Director of A&R, Sony Music Entertainment Middle East (UAE)

Karima has been a driving force at Sony Music Entertainment Middle East since 2017, officially becoming their Director for Artists and Repertoire in 2021. Here, she is responsible for signing A-list artists and partners, successfully bringing on Egyptian superstar Hamaki and production power house Craft Media, whilst developing exciting new talents including Barry and BAWS.

Co-Founder, VibeLab (DE)

Lutz Leichsenring has been an entrepreneur, advocate and consultant in nightlife since 1999 and is one of the world’s leading advocates on protecting nighttime economies. He is co-founder of the consultancy agency VibeLab and initiator of the cultural impact study "Creative Footprint." During the Covid-19 crisis, Lutz initiated "United We Stream," a global music streaming platform and donation campaign to create awareness about club culture affected by the epidemic, as well as nighttime.org to support nighttime governance.

Executive Director, Nightlife and Chair, Electronic Music Conference Advisory Board (AUSTRALIA)

From artist management to assisting in the development of progressive music tech, Leanne de Souza has proven herself as one of the Australian music scene’s most trusted and ambitious leaders. As Co-Owner and Executive Director of Nightlife Music and Chair of the Electronic Music Conference Advisory Board, Leanne de Souza is working day in and day out to lift music to new heights.

Head of Cultural Programming, The Arts Club Dubai (UAE)

Sybel Vazquez is the Head of Cultural Programming at The Arts Club Dubai, where she runs and operates the Club’s cultural mandate through its series of talks, institutional collaborations and cultural projects. Sybel has been an art practitioner in the region for nearly a decade and was previously Head of Exhibitions at The Third Line gallery.

Dj/Producer Label Owner, The Other Side (ES)

American born, Palestinian DJ Maher Daniel is no stranger to the international dance circuit. After cutting his cloth at Canada’s hottest regional clubs, Maher took his talents worldwide, establishing his record label The Other Side on the global scale, leading to collaborations with the renowned likes of Ricardo Villalobos and the equally regarded (a:rpia:r) label.

Is a British-born Egyptian entrepreneur, writer, creative director, and co-founder of MO4 Network, a leading Middle Eastern creative agency and media network with a portfolio of 11 impactful publications including SceneNoise, the region's biggest music publication, Web3 magazine NFTYScene, and digital art marketplace NFTYArabia.

Festival Director (SZ)

Jiggs Thorne is a performance poet, artist, and visionary art and festival director with a strong pedigree of creating, developing, and promoting African arts and culture. Jiggs is the Founder and Director of House on Fire, The MTN Bushfire Festival, Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival, as well as a founding member of IGODA, a Southern African Music Festival Circuit.

Senior Agent, LIttlebig Agency (DE)

Alma Ernst is a certified and respected music industry professional with over 30 years of experience serving as a booking agent, artist manager, promoter, and label owner. Alma is currently the senior agent at Littlebig Agency, with a highly respected roster including representing artists like KiNK, Perel, Robert Henke, and Todd Terje.

Project Manager, MDLBEAST Records (KSA)

Munira AlMuammar established the record label at MDLBEAST and now leads operations and strategies for the WTR sub-label, MDLBEAST Records’ home for ethereal and organic house music. Always looking to tackle new challenges, Munira is one of the driving forces in the MENA region’s surging electronic dance scene

Founder, PIP Den Haag (NL)

Steven van Lummel is a multifaceted artist, innovator, and founder of the cultural hotspot and nightclub PIP. In founding PIP Den Haag, Steven created a place where creative young talent are given a space to work, play, and last but not least, fail.

Founder, Triangle Agency / GroundedTheory (DE)

Michael Müller is a Berlin native who was raised in the city’s infamous 90s rave scene. He used his experience working at institutions like WMF, 103, and Arena Club to assert himself as an active participant in the development of the clubbing culture and scene, springboarding to success as a co-founder of the booking and artist management company, Triangle Agency, as well as the founder of the now-lauded event series GroundedTheory.

CEO, Malahi Entertainment (JO/CA)

Shermine Sawalha is a visual and performance artist, producer, curator of arts and culture, and entrepreneur. Her projects include the production, booking, and management company, Malahi Entertainment, the Jordan-based, women-focused experimental label Malakat Records, and Ctrllab, a Montreal art gallery, event space, and broadcast station that aims to disseminate the work of emerging and established artists worldwide.

Lymm (KSA)

Improving the quality of life in Saudi and developing it as an epicenter of tourism lie at the core of Abdulrahman Bakhsh professional efforts. By offering strategic direction and operational excellence, Abdulrahman brings a deep experience in event management and a comprehensive understanding of the region’s entertainment ecosystem.

Founder & CEO, Nacelle (EG)

Tito El Kachab is the founder and CEO of Nacelle, a leading Egyptian event organizer that tailors specific concepts to each brand and venue that they work with. Under Tito’s leadership, Nacelle is now responsible for several of the region’s most exciting festivals, including the world-famous Sandbox Festival, ultimately giving him the opportunity to evoke the change that he wants to see in the events sector.

Music Writer & Editor, Scene Noise (EG)

Based in Cairo, Maha ElNabawi is the managing editor of Scene Noise, one of the leading music publications out of Egypt. She is also a contributing author to the book Ten Cities, an exploration of culture through the lens of dance music and clublife, as well as the co-creator of Katalog, an Arabic podcast featuring musicians from the MENA region.

Chief Executive, Night Time Industries Association (UK)

Michael Kill is a true specialist in marketing, operations, licensing, logistics, and system implementation, now standing as the Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association. Recent times have seen Michael work alongside festivals and live venues, shaping operational efficiencies and best practices on a regional level as well as in conjunction with the police and local authorities.

Emaan - Artist (US)

The American born, Omani raised artist Emaan holds the title of being one of the only women from Oman to publicly perform contemporary western music, as well as the first Middle Eastern artist to create their own crypto-currency, breaking cultural and traditional boundaries, while paving a new path for a modern music scene in the city of Muscat.

Art Director & Deputy CEO for Art and Marketing, Sensorium Corporation (CH)

Sasha Tityanko is the Art Director and Deputy CEO for Art and Marketing at Sensorium Corporation.With a proven record for representing top artists, including the Eurovision awarded, leading pop singer, DimaBilan and the internationally renowned band t.A.T.u., Sasha plays a vital role in finding the right content partners and negotiating their participation at Sensorium Galaxy.

Professor, Parsons School of Design (US)

A Dubai born and bred cultural strategist, Saadia Zahid is a notable contributor to the region’s cultural fabric. Currently based between New York and Dubai, she is a part-time professor at Parsons School of Design, Strategic Design BBA Program. Saadia is also a contributor to the development of Fashion Forward Dubai, a pioneering fashion platform for Middle East designers and the cultural placemaking strategy for Dubai Design District.

Label Manager, STMPD RCRDS (NL)

Steven Hiemstra has been the label manager for Martin Garrix’ esteemed label, STMPD RCRDs for the past 5 years and now works as part of Martin Garrix’ management team. Before taking a leading role at STMPD RCRDS, Steven spent years in a multitude of roles, finding experience as a record producer, worldwide touring DJ, A&R consultant, and creative manager.

Founder and Creative Director, MILLE World (UAE)

Born and raised in Tunisia, Sofia Guellaty brings her communication knowledge and passion for Arab culture together on a daily basis. After spending four years at the helm of Condé Nast’s first launch in the Middle East: Style.com/Arabia, Sofia went on to found MILLE World, a digital platform and creative agency focused on Arab Youth.

CEO, The Media Nanny (NL)

José Woldring founded The Media Nanny at the age of 23, and in a short five years, the media maven had grown the business from a one-woman operation into a globally operating PR Agency. Currently The Media Nanny provides boundary-pushing PR campaigns to A-list artists, festivals and event promoters, and leading brands like Porsche, KEF, Audermars Piquet, and Havana.

Founder & CEO, Sangha “Estidama Hub” (KSA)

Raghad Fathaddin is a Y20 Saudi delegate, the founder & CEO of Sangha “Estidama Hub,” and an internationally certified holistic health and wellbeing coach. Through Sangha, Ragahd uses her growing professional experience and innate passion to play a leading role in supporting the transition of Saudi Arabia towards an economy of wellbeing.