The third annual Dubai International Advertising Festival takes place next week (March 15-16) and is set to attract advertising and communications industry players from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Staged at The Palladium, a new state-of-the-art venue in Dubai Media City, Dubai Lynx brings together 32 international creatives and clients from 25 companies, presenting seminars and workshops. 

This year’s speakers include: 

• Ahmed El-Azizi, vice-president Marketing of PepsiCo MEA
• Barry Cupples, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific
• Carter Murray, CMO, Worldwide Account Director Nestlé, Publicis Worldwide
• Chuck Porter, co-chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky
• David Nobay, creative chairman, Droga5 Australia
• John Hunt, worldwide creative director of TBWA\ Worldwide
• Mark Fiddes, executive creative director, Draftfcb London
• Mark Tutssel, chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide
• Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman; regional executive creative director, Asia Pacific of McCann Worldgroup, India

Delegates at Dubai Lynx 2010 will be able to view an exhibition of winning advertising pieces from Cannes Lions 2009, Eurobest 2009, Spikes Asia 2009 as well as the Dubai Lynx 2010 shortlist. The latest Dubai Lynx winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony and dinner, which takes place next Wednesday. 

Steve Lane, Dubai Lynx festival director, said: "We are very excited about this year’s Dubai Lynx programme. It’s an intense agenda with some hot topics presented by a host of world-class speakers. We’ve also injected the fun element by introducing some equally important networking opportunities central to this business."