Tim Sebastian for 'Entrepreneurs in Dubai'

Sebastian, now based in Qatar where he moderates the monthly Doha Debates - a series of open forum discussions tackling important regional issues - will introduce keynote speeches from marketing guru Liz Jackson, logistics king and one of the region's most successful entrepreneurs, Fadi Ghandour, confectionery supremo Debbi Fields and serial entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of no-frills airline easyJet.

'Entrepreneurs in Dubai' - the International Entrepreneurship Forum and Exhibition - is set to attract a regional audience of 1,500.

Jessica Sutherland, General Manager of event co-organisers IIR Exhibitions, said: "Tim Sebastian is one of the most admired and revered international broadcasters. He has interviewed some of the world's biggest names in business and politics, making him an ideal candidate to introduce this impressive set of speakers."

Renowned for his direct, no-nonsense interviewing technique, Sebastian was awarded the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Richard Dimbleby Award in 1982 and was named Television Journalist of the Year by the Royal Television Society. He has also twice won Royal Television Society's Interviewer of the Year Award for his HARDtalk interviews.

A graduate of Oxford University, he is fluent in Russian and German and is the author of eight novels and two non-fiction books.

Sebastian is the second British television journalist to sign up to the event, after Fiona Ross, the former Political Editor of Scottish Television. Ross, who has interviewed every British Prime Minister since 1976, will host the second day of the ground-breaking event.

Entrepreneurs In Dubai, which will run from May 23-25, will feature a speaker platform of over 30 of the world's and the region's most renowned business men and women and will also have an associated exhibition at which over 100 international companies will showcase their products and services. A quarter of the revenues from the event will go to a charitable organisation which supports entrepreneurial initiatives in developing markets.

Apart for the speakers to share the stage with Sebastian on day three, the unrivalled speaker line-up includes: Former US Senator and Vice-Presidential nominee, John Edwards, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop; Dr. Reuben Singh, Founder, alldayPA and British Ambassador for Entrepreneurship, Robert Brozin, Founder and CEO, Nando's Chickenland and Donald Trump, Chairman of The Trump Organization, who will address the forum via videolink.

IEFE is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board, Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders. IIR Middle East is organising the event in co-operation with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment. It is endorsed by the United Nations Conference On Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and oil giant Shell Markets Middle East, and services consultants Deloitte are headline sponsors.

The International Entrepreneurship Forum and Exhibition has attracted AME Info, Flip Media, BBC World, Gulf Business, Arabian Radio Network and Dubai Radio Network as Media Partners.