DICM 2023 Session Program

Nadine Samra

Chief Business Officer, Weyyak | United Arab Emirates

Nadine Samra, Chief Business Officer for Weyyak. Has 20 years of experience in digital business and technologies. Awarded “Female broadcast executive of the year” by BroadcastPro in 2020. She has launched two OTT Arabic platforms, currently runs “Weyyak.com” and have managed “Shahid.net” earlier in her career. Previously the head of digital operations of MBC Group. Known speaker in MENA region and digital media subject matter expert.

Yann Colleter

Founder, The Streaming Lab | United Arab Emirates

Yann is the Founder of THE STREAMING LAB, a streaming media consultancy focused on premium content distribution, market intelligence, content marketing, business representation and OTT/CTV Advertising. He is also the writer of a newsletter about streaming in MENA gathering 1,800+ streaming professionals: thestreaminglab.com Previously, he was the Head of Sales Middle East & Africa at Grey Juice Lab, a premium OTT content aggregator specialised in Hollywood studios distribution. He has helped build content strategies for brands like StarzPlay, Mobily, Telkom, Celcom, Cablevision, Telekom Slovenia, Globe Telecom, etc. Yann was the Co-Founder of ChatFood, a powerful mobile ordering and marketing solution for leading hospitality brands that got acquired by a European unicorn. He started is career helping the French Telecom company Orange acquire one of the internet’s most popular streaming service, Dailymotion.

Shujah Farooq

Global Sales - EMEA Director of Business Development, OTTera | USA

Shujah is an entertainment executive with extensive international experience in OTT, film, music & games distribution as well as in content acquisition. He has been in the content industry for over 10 years; always in companies bringing new technical innovation to the content market, Shujah built several VOD services across Europe, before spending 5 years as the European content partnerships manager at Huawei where he launched Huawei Video in Europe. Prior to that, he worked for various tech companies servicing telcos all around the world. Shujah joined OTTera in October 2020, expending OTTera’s FAST and apps launches on CTV in Europe, Africa and MENA, as well as expending OTTera’s collaboration with local advertising companies and media agencies in EMEA.

Fares Sayegh

Chief Executive Officer, Roya Media Group | Jordan

Fares M. Sayegh is the chief executive officer and shareholder of Roya Media Group (RMG), the largest and leading privately owned media company in Jordan. A group of specialized platforms and companies synergized to provide multiplatform services. Prior to holding this position, Sayegh was the GM of WTV, which was acquired by Sayegh Group in 2009 and re-launched on January 1st, 2011, as Roya TV, one of RMG platforms. Between 2005 and 2011, the young entrepreneur held several executive roles in the industrial sector, including working as the Owner Representative, GM and shareholder of National Paints in Romania, and as the GM of National Canning Industries in Jordan. Sayegh is also a member of the board of directors at Sayegh Group and board of trustees at the Royal Health Awareness Society. In 2020, Sayegh received the Deutsche Welle (DW) Freedom of Speech Award, as Roya TV "contributed to providing up-to-date information on COVID-19." Before entering the workforce, Mr. Sayegh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in System Industrial Engineering from Ohio State University (2004).

Yuliya Fischer

Director Drama, ZDF Studios | Germany

After completing her studies in German, French and Economics at Treves University in 2010, Yuliya Fischer began her professional career as a Production Assistant and Trainee at Broadview TV in Cologne, Germany. In 2012, she started working for ZDF Studios and held various positions in general distribution and the department of children’s and junior programs with responsibility for program sales to Spain, Benelux, French-speaking territories, and Latin America. In 2013, Yuliya took on the position of sales executive in in ZDF Studios‘ drama department. Parallel to her work, she studied at the University of London International Programmes and graduated with a diploma in management in 2018. The same year, Yuliya Fischer was promoted to Director Drama and has since been in charge of acquisition and sales in Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Nathalie Habib

Co-Owner & Executive Producer, Blink Studios | United Arab Emirates

As Co-Owner and Executive Producer, Nathalie continues strengthening Blink Studios’ positioning as the Middle East's premier film and animation studio since its inception in 2005, maintaining a globally recognized standard of quality-driven production for children and family content. Blink Studios is among the select Middle East studios that successfully delivered co-produced shows to global audiences through partnerships with BBC, Turner Broadcasting, and Sesame Workshop. Today, Blink Studios proudly operates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with presence in Los Angeles and Houston. Nearing a two-decade legacy of service work, co-productions, and development of original IPs, Blink is fast approaching in producing the “firsts” of children and family originals from the heart of the Middle East that will entertain international audiences and generate global returns on investment.

Houda Koussa

Founder and Managing Director, Archers | United Arab Emirates

Houda Koussa is the founder and managing director of Archers, a brand and research consultancy agency. She has a proven track record in developing insight based actionable business, media, marketing and advertising solutions. Houda manages research projects & guides communication and Programming planners to develop effective strategies based on actionable insights. Her guidance to develop business, marketing and communication strategies is done via insight-based workshops.

Badih Fattouh

CEO, Creative Venture | United Arab Emirates

Badih Fattouh has been working in the TV broadcast industry in MENA region since the 90s when he participated in launching New TV & Future TV in Lebanon. In 1999 he joined MBC group where he worked for 13 years becoming the group’s director of content overlooking Arabic content acquisition and commissioning in addition to international format acquisition. In 2012 he briefly headed CBC in Egypt as the network’s CEO before establishing Creative Venture out of Dubai as a boutique production and distribution company. During his network’s career he participated in bringing to the screen numerous successful shows (Bob El Hara, King Farouk, Al Barnameg, The Voice) to name a few. Creative Venture produced and co-produced several shows such as: Sak El Bamboo, Khalsana Be Shayaka, AI: The Future is Now Beauty Match among others.

Nathalie Habib

Co-Owner & Executive Producer, Blink Studios | United Arab Emirates

As Co-Owner and Executive Producer, Nathalie continues strengthening Blink Studios’ positioning as the Middle East's premier film and animation studio since its inception in 2005, maintaining a globally recognized standard of quality-driven production for children and family content. Blink Studios is among the select Middle East studios that successfully delivered co-produced shows to global audiences through partnerships with BBC, Turner Broadcasting, and Sesame Workshop. Today, Blink Studios proudly operates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with presence in Los Angeles and Houston. Nearing a two-decade legacy of service work, co-productions, and development of original IPs, Blink is fast approaching in producing the “firsts” of children and family originals from the heart of the Middle East that will entertain international audiences and generate global returns on investment.

Seyed Vahid Olyaee

Creative Producer, Dream Farm Studios | United Kingdom

Seyed Vahid Olyaee, born on April 23, 1979, is a multi-award-winning art researcher, acclaimed film producer, linguist, script doctor, and musician. His extensive portfolio boasts numerous prestigious awards for artistic achievements, alongside a notable track record of organizing international workshops and seminars, primarily centered on the profound influence and global significance of storytelling. Vahid has consistently emphasized a fundamental aspect of artistic expression: the global aim of conveying messages through storytelling. He strongly believes that all forms of artistic manifestation, spanning from primitive cave paintings to avant-garde contemporary creations, share a common overarching purpose - to engage, inspire, fascinate, and enlighten audiences. Given the excessive spread of AI and its deep integration into everyday life, especially among children, Vahid's recent conferences have concentrated on the manipulation and subsequent inculcation of role models, values, and ethics into young minds, addressing the crucial need to navigate the challenges posed by AI's omnipresent influence.