The UAE is making its strongest-ever showing at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity with sixteen jury members selected to judge the world’s top creative work at the 72nd edition of the awards, running from June 16 to 20, 2025.
Cannes Lions has announced its 2025 Awarding Jury, a prestigious panel of industry experts from across the globe, tasked with setting the gold standard in creativity and innovation. This year, the UAE’s remarkable representation highlights the country’s rising influence on the international creative scene.
Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, emphasized the importance of the jury’s role:
“The Cannes Lions Awarding Jury is essential to defining global creative excellence. This diverse group of respected leaders will shape the future of creativity, showcasing the power of innovative ideas to drive real business transformation.”
Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner at Motivate Media Group, celebrated the UAE’s record participation:
“Having sixteen UAE professionals on the jury is a proud moment for our creative community. Their expertise and vision will contribute significantly to the global conversation on creativity and innovation. This milestone reflects the UAE’s dynamic growth as a creative powerhouse.”
The UAE jury members span a wide range of disciplines, underscoring the region’s versatile talent pool:
- Leila Katrib — Global Executive Creative Director, Incubeta (Audio & Radio Lions)
- Natalie Shardan — Managing Partner, Serviceplan Middle East (Brand Experience & Activation Lions)
- Fabio Silveira — Managing Director, Havas Middle East (Creative Business Transformation Lions)
- Karim ElFiqi — SVP and CMO, PepsiCo Africa, Middle East & South Asia (Creative Data Lions)
- Dani Richa — Group Chairman, Impact BBDO UAE (Creative Effectiveness Lions)
- Dida Atassi — Managing Director, Accenture Song UAE (Design Lions)
- Paulo Engler — Senior Creative Director, FP7 McCann UAE (Digital Craft Lions)
- Aricio Fortes — Chief Creative Officer, VML UAE (Direct Lions)
- Manasvi Gosalia — Executive Producer, Dejavu UAE (Film Lions)
- João Camacho — Executive Creative Director, Saatchi Wellness ME (Health & Wellness Lions)
- Lara Assouad — Executive Creative Director, Landor Middle East (Industry Craft Lions)
- Seyoan Vela — Chief Creative Officer, Livingroom/LRDXB MENA (Innovation Lions)
- Ramzy Abouchacra — Media Practice President, Dentsu MENA (Media Lions)
- Alok Gadkar — CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Tuesday UAE (Pharma Lions)
- Khaled AlShehhi — Executive Director Marketing & Communication, UAE Government Media Office (PR Lions)
- Vidya Manmohan — Founder & Chief Creative Officer, V4Good Global (Sustainable Development Goals Lions)
As anticipation builds, the shortlist of the jury panel will be announced soon, promising another year of groundbreaking creativity and inspiring work.
For full details on the Festival and Awarding Jury, visit www.canneslions.com.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan proudly serve as the official UAE representatives for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
