Communicate: Abu Dhabi

Agenda

• • From 9:00
  • Welcome Breakfast & Registration
• • 10:00
  • Welcome Note
• • ADQ Qommunity: Uniting People, Empowering Purpose · More info

    In 2025, the UAE Year of Community, we are called to strengthen connections, build relationships, and unite in a shared purpose under the “Hand in Hand” initiative. This vision extends beyond national efforts—it begins within organizations like ours.

    Qommunity is our digital embodiment of this mission. Designed to connect ADQ associates across our diverse portfolio of companies, Qommunity will serve as the central hub for collaboration, engagement, and innovation. It will break down silos, ensuring that employees—regardless of company or location—can work together, share knowledge, and build relationships.

    By enhancing engagement, streamlining knowledge sharing, and fostering a culture of connection, Qommunity aligns perfectly with the values of the Year of Community. As a fully accessible, mobile-friendly platform, it will ensure that every employee has the opportunity to contribute, connect, and thrive—anytime, anywhere.

    Together, we will make 2025 a landmark year for ADQ, transforming the way we communicate, collaborate, and celebrate our shared identity—hand in hand.

• • Community in Action: Elevating Engagement at Etihad
• • Roundtable Discussion​: Rewriting the narrative: How is Internal Comms really perceived? And how should it be?
• • 11:20
  • Networking Break & Headshot Cafe
• • APCO Expert Panel: Employer Value Proposition and the Employee Voice​
• • Mubadara - Investing in Ideas
• • 12:55
  • Networking Lunch & Interact Demo
• • Roundtable Discussion: AI in Internal Comms: Smart support or strategic superpower?
• • Fireside Chat with Mia Khalil: Leading with Influence and Building Relationships That Drive Results · More info

    With over a decade of communications experience in the UAE, Mia shares practical tips and insights on how to secure stakeholder buy-in and unlock budget when building an internal comms function from scratch.

• • 2:45
  • YAS Marina Circuit Venue Tour (45 min)

Speakers

Jonathan Bosch

Director, Strategic Planning & Org Development - Mubadala

Jonathan was born in Saudi Arabia and lived there until 1996 when he moved back to the US with his family. Following a return to the region in 2008, he held numerous leadership roles in healthcare, finance and higher education prior to moving to Abu Dhabi in 2016 to join Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Jonathan currently leads Strategic Planning and Organizational Development at Mubadala Investment Company and he holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt University. As the father of two daughters (Selina & Yasmine), Jonathan is on the Board of Trustees of American Community School of Abu Dhabi and enjoys spending as much time as a family outside of work as possible, ideally camping or on the beach.

Mia Khalil

Internal Communications Lead, IMEA – Oliver Wyman

Mia is an internal communications strategist with 15+ years of experience shaping employee experiences that drive engagement, trust, and business impact. She helps leaders communicate with clarity, build credibility, and connect teams to purpose. As the Internal Communications Lead for Oliver Wyman in IMEA, Mia specializes in executive visibility, change management, and employee engagement, ensuring that communications don’t just inform but inspire action. She has worked in communications across consulting, government, FMCG, technology, and real estate, developing strategies that turn business priorities into meaningful conversations that employees want to be part of. A champion of workplace wellbeing and an expert in the GCC, Mia advises on programs that resonate and create real connections across teams. A trusted advisor to senior leaders, she brings a data-driven approach to storytelling, ensuring messages land with the right people, in the right way, at the right time.

Bhanu Allamsetty

VP, Internal Communications - First Abu Dhabi Bank

Bhanu Allamsetty is a Communications leader with over 15 years of experience in Asia and MENA. He is the Vice President & Head of Internal Communications at First Abu Dhabi Bank. He developed communication strategies at Amazon, HSBC, and AXA. Bhanu strongly advocates for IC teams to be viewed + valued as trusted advisors and strategic partners. At Amazon India, he led Communications for 100k+ employees across 275 offices in 7 languages. He won ‘Just Do It’ award from Jeff Bezos office for his ‘Amazon Radio’ project in 2017. Bhanu is passionate about mentoring and a certified mentor at mentoring-club.com.

Brett Smyth

CEO - The Engage Group

I believe that communication moves people, and people move organisations. I am the proud Founder and CEO of the Engage Group, an employee communications agency dedicated to delivering strategic and creative employee engagement. Based in the heart of Dubai, our award-winning team works across every industry, with a core focus on the Middle East. For over a decade, we have been delivering impactful and meaningful communications. Our diverse client base includes both government entities and private sector companies such as Canon, Danone, Coca-Cola, Dubai Airports, and many more. In addition to my work at Engage, I specialise in building policy and partnerships for impactful action. My expertise lies at the crossroads of business, government, and civil society, working closely with all stakeholders to foster collaboration and innovative solutions to address the world's most pressing challenges.

Tim Walmsley

Practice Head, Change Management & Internal Communications - APCO

Tim heads up the Transformation, Change Management and Internal Communications Practice at APCO Worldwide, driving centres of excellence in the UAE and KSA for a portfolio of government, consumer and industrial clients. Alongside his 10-strong team, he focuses on programme design and delivery to accelerate return on change through change management communications, organisational design and development. His experience spans fmcg, energy, real estate, technology and finance in both the public and private sectors. With over 25 years’ of total business and communications experience, Mr. Walmsley has built up a formidable body of expertise in behaviour change programmes, as well as in specialist areas such as advocacy advertising, digital-first multidisciplinary campaign management, and issues and crisis handling.

Jill Weymes

Senior Manager, Internal Communications & Events - Etihad

Jill Weymes is a communications strategist with over five years of experience at Etihad Airways, where she leads the Internal Communications and Events team. With expertise in corporate communications, employee engagement, and executive messaging, Jill is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies that enhance employee engagement and drive organisational culture. She also oversees high-profile internal events designed to foster collaboration and inclusion across the company. Jill provides senior leadership strategic counsel, shaping the executive team's messaging and visibility across various platforms to ensure alignment with corporate values and objectives.

Jana Single

Director, Internal Communications - Abdul Latif Jameel

Jana Single is a communications professional with nearly twenty years’ experience spanning internal communications, brand, and employee engagement. She is currently Internal Communications Director at Abdul Latif Jameel, where she creates messaging and content that connects people across Abdul Latif Jameel’s network of businesses. Prior to this, Jana held senior communications roles at the London Stock Exchange Group and Thomson Reuters, leading strategic initiatives across digital channels, content, and global campaigns. With a strong belief in the power of storytelling, she brings a people-centered approach to communications, creating connections to support strategic growth.