The Stevie® Awards are delighted to announce the five distinguished professionals who chaired the judging committees of the 2025 (6th annual) Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards competition.

The 2025 Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards, sponsored by the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, are an international business awards competition that are open to all organizations in 18 nations in the Middle East and North Africa.  The focus of the awards is on recognizing innovation in all its forms.  

This year more than 1,000 nominations were considered in the judging process by more than 150 professionals, whose average ratings determined the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners who will be announced in in January. 

Stevie winners will be presented their awards at a gala banquet at the Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 22 February.

The five committee chairs were invited to chair based on their professional experience and expertise. Judging chairs helped to form their committees, each of which is comprised of other professionals from around the globe. Learn more about the Stevie Awards judging process here. 

Meet this year's judging committee chairs:

Corporate Communications/Public Relations & Publications Awards Judging Committee

Chair: Murat Avalin, Founder of CANVAS Strategy & Creativity, Istanbul, Türkiye

Murat Avalin is the founder of CANVAS Strategy & Creativity. He has over 25 years of experience in public relations and marketing strategies. He managed the communication strategies of leading companies and global brands in different sectors. 

His areas of expertise are public relations, strategic marketing, media relations, crisis management, leadership communications and digital communications. After graduating from Bosphorus University Physics and Philosophy departments, he completed the Strategic Marketing Program of Cornell University Johnson Graduate School, New York.

Human Resources & Individual Awards Judging Committee

Chair: Mayada Maged, Managing Partner of Staff Arabia HR Outsourcing /Group, Giza, Egypt

Mayada Maged, Managing Partner for Staff Arabia, is a leading HR Outsourcing Global Service Provider acting as a one-stop shop partner for Clients in all HR, staffing, payroll & personnel compliance outsourcing on 18+ countries. With more than 20 years of experience in the HR field and outsourcing industry, Mayada establishes and develops Human Resource teams and infrastructure for global companies such as Vodafone, Amazon, Concentrix, McDonald’s & Technip Italy & others to effectively support rapid business growth & her passion is always towards people development as the main asset of any organization & not only Business but also Social Corporate responsibility. With a career spanning two decades, she is at the forefront of modern HR practices, Bringing fresh ideas to the MENA outsourcing Market!

Mayada is Six Sigma and Balance Score card Certified, and a certified Entrepreneur by the American University in Cairo (AUC). She also holds a PGD in Global Management from Eslsca Business School Paris, and an HR Diploma from AUC, and she is currently obtaining her MBA Degree in Global Management. She always raises women empowerment & sustainability models all over the global activities, Performance Management, employee recognition & Business Management as well as strategic HR practices, and she is currently dedicated to scaling up the organization to Unicorn, practicing human resources in a variety of industries as well as volunteering on charitable activities, women empowerment communities, and with big achievements in Social Corporate responsibilities.

Management, Customer Service & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee

Chair: Dr. Feda Shahin, CEO, FIDELITY4ALL, Bournemouth, Dover, United Kingdom, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Feda Shahin is the founder and CEO of Fidelity4All, a consulting firm known for driving impactful, sustainable change. She previously co-founded Knowledge Horizon Ltd, growing it from a startup to a multi-million-dollar business with global reach.

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics, an MBA in Finance, and advanced research in International Finance at Warwick Business School, Feda has expertise in leadership, organizational development, corporate social responsibility, and excellence frameworks. She is an EFQM consultant and assessor for international awards. As an education consultant, Feda has worked with organizations like Cambridge International Examinations to design leadership programs and curricula. She has also tutored and supervised research at top universities. Feda has played an active role in Corporate Social Responsibility and entrepreneurship, supporting initiatives across the Middle East and globally. developed Cisco Entrepreneur Institute and has mentored women in technology through the TechWomen program, an initiative under Hillary Clinton’s leadership.

Bilingual in English and Arabic, Feda is recognized for her ability to combine academic knowledge with practical consulting experience to drive organizational excellence.  Her journey serves as an inspiration to women worldwide, proving that determination and resilience can break barriers and lead to success.

Marketing, Media (Apps/Events/Video/Websites) & Social Media Awards Judging Committee

Chair: Hitesh Bhogal, Marketing Leader for Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Hitesh Bhogal is a seasoned marketing leader with over a decade of experience crafting strategies that drive growth through innovation, creativity, and precision. Currently heading marketing efforts at Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC, Hitesh excels in leveraging omnichannel approaches to create impactful campaigns, build brand equity, and drive customer engagement.

"Innovation paired with strategic creativity and precise execution unlocks unparalleled growth" is the philosophy that guides Hitesh’s professional journey. His expertise spans branding, strategic communications, content marketing, online sales, digital transformation, and customer lifecycle management. With a proven ability to integrate cutting-edge technologies and adapt to evolving trends, he designs seamless user experiences that connect brands with their audiences effectively. During his tenure at SALAMA, Hitesh played a pivotal role in launching high-performing campaigns, including the award-winning "Kind Beings of Dubai" initiative. His contributions helped SALAMA secure multiple accolades, including being named “Takaful Operator of the Year.” These achievements reflect Hitesh’s talent for combining strategic insights with creative execution, ensuring that campaigns meet and exceed business objectives.

Hitesh’s ability to simplify complex solutions is one of his standout strengths. In a world increasingly driven by digitalization, he collaborates with business teams to develop frameworks that prioritize clarity, impact, and efficiency. Whether through search and voice marketing, social media strategies, or e-commerce optimization, Hitesh’s integrated marketing expertise ensures success across platforms.  Academically, Hitesh holds a Master’s in Global Business with a specialization in Marketing Management from SP Jain School of Global Management and a B.Tech in Computer Science from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. This blend of technical knowledge and strategic insight positions him uniquely to address the demands of modern marketing.  As a mentor and industry advocate, Hitesh is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of marketing professionals. He believes in the power of collaboration and innovation to unlock new opportunities and consistently encourages teams to think outside the box to deliver exceptional results. Hitesh’s leadership and vision inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and celebrate the creative spirit that defines the marketing industry. His role in the Stevie Awards reflects his belief in the power of exceptional storytelling to connect, influence, and leave a lasting legacy.