Join Shelter as we take the lid off gaming in the gulf, exploring an industry that is rapidly expanding, with new players and new games continually emerging. Going beyond the typical gaming convention, audience members will have a chance to interact with experts and leaders in the regional gaming industry, gaining insight, inspiration and motivation to inform and expand their perspectives. 

About the Speakers:

Abbas Jaffar Ali – Publisher, Tbreak Media

The Tbreak team likes to call him 'founding father', having set up the Tbreak network all the way back in 1996. Abbas tends to play fantasy and RPG games where he can escape the many perils of being a parent. His greatest achievement to date is going against the argument that 'video games make children evil' - after all, he turned out just fine.

Abbas is a UAE National who has always been a tech enthusiast. His articles have been featured locally in publications like Gulf News and international tech websites such as Engadget and Slashdot. He is also a reputed industry expert and is often invited to speak as a tech/gaming expert on local TV and radio stations.

Hitesh Uchil – Director, Tbreak Media

Hitesh started his career at the age of eighteen as a sub editor for the Khaleej Times. He later spent six years at ITP working on titles such as Time Out Dubai, ITP.net, Time Out Tickets, Ahlan! and Mumtazz.

He founded Middle East Gamers, the region’s first video games website – a project that started off as a hobby only to soon turn into a commercial entity owing to all the interest it received from the video game industry and advertisers in the region.  Having kickstarted the project as editor, salesman, marketing manager, web developer and designer for ME Gamers, Hitesh now overlooks the Tbreak Sales Team.

Robert Fisser - General Manager Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, Sony

As SCEE’s (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) General Manager Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, Robert has been appointed to drive and manage the continuous growth of the PlayStation business throughout one of SCEE’s most diverse and evolving regions. Robert joined SCEE in 1997, joining as manager of Third Party Relations.  

Over the following 14 years, Robert worked throughout the SCEE business in various capacities, most recently as Vice President of Sales & Commercial Development EMEA & ANZ.  In this role, Robert was responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies to maximize SCEE’s market penetration and profit.

Ahmed Ibrahim - Regional Multimedia Product Manager, Virgin Megastore

Ahmed has been working in the multimedia and gaming industry for the past 12 years. In his ninth year at Virgin Megastore, Ahmed is the Regional Multimedia Product Manager with a focus on Apple products and the gaming business. Ahmed travels around the globe attending shows, exhibitions and conferences to stay current in the industry and pioneer the latest gaming trends in the Middle East and North African market. Beyond his daytime job, Ahmed has been an avid gamer for the past 15 years and has an exceptional passion for football games influenced by the UAE’s gaming culture.

Image available under CC License by Sherif Salama http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazboot/2290223478/