Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu to grace 3rd Annual Middle East Business Achievement Awards

"These testing times demand leaders who will rise up to the challenge and overcome difficulties. The jury panel for the third edition of MEBA will look at how leaders of companies and family enterprises have creatively and bravely responded to the crisis, and made their organisations stronger amidst the challenges," said Lucy Mountain, Project Director, Leaders in Dubai Business Forum, which will be staged during the Leaders in Dubai Business Forum.

Among those selected to sit in the judging panel are internationally-recognised and respected personalities from a variety of industry sectors and disciplines, who were carefully chosen for their integrity and outstanding achievements in their respective fields of expertise.

This year's panel includes Alan Patching of Alan Patching & Associates; Brett King, CEO International of the American Academy of Financial Management; Jennifer Harwood, Business Champion of Direct Incite Pty Ltd; Tim Walmsley, Regional Director of Impact Porter Novelli; Maher Hasbini, Managing Director, MEA Operations & GSP Planning & Development, Middle East, Africa and Indian Sub-Continent, FedEx; Aubrey Ghose, Managing Director and CEO, ais>Brandlab; and Tariq Qureishy, CEO Vantage and Board Member, Intel Capital.

This year's edition promises to be an interesting competition, given that both the global and regional economic landscapes have changed.

It aims to recognise leadership excellence and outstanding achievements shown by individuals, companies and family businesses in various categories, as follows Marketing Strategy of the Year, Recommended Employer of the Year, Environmental Contribution of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Leader of the Year, Best Small Business of the Year, Best Family Business of the Year, Best New Company of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year.