PROJECT DIRECTOR

Jacqui has been working in Stage and Production Management for the last 25 years. with a major focus on Conservatoire training. She has taught at several conservatoires and is a Master of Education and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2018 Jacqui joined the senior leadership team at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy to design and implement a Conservatoire performing and production arts undergraduate training, the first of its kind in the MENA region.

Jacqui has worked with professional companies such as National Theatre Wales, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Shared Experience. She has toured the UK extensively, produced Rep seasons in the West End, and internationally worked in Shanghai; World Expo, Berliner Festspiele, and Paphos; City of Culture. Jacqui also enjoys producing work with her and her husband’s company, We Made This.

Jacqui was one half of Stand By Please, the stage management podcast and is currently writing a book to be published by Routledge "The Art of Collaboration".

PROJECT LEADER

David is a Production Manager with 36+ years of experience collaborating with creative and technical teams to successfully deliver productions across Europe, Asia, Australia and the UAE. He has managed a diverse range and scale of productions.

Most recently David production managed 'Varuna' at the Bali Marine and Safari Park, Indonesia. Career highlights include production managing at Scottish Opera (UK), stage musicals ‘Crazy for You’ and ‘Cats Goes to the Circus’ (Australia) Large scale events such as Citrawana (Malaysia), Indigenous touring productions (Australia), concerts featuring Frank Sinatra, Joes Carrera and Sarah Vaughan and numerous arts festivals (UK and Australia). Project managing exhibitions such as Madame Tussauds (Hong Kong) ‘Spiders’ touring exhibition and UNIMA World Congress (Australia).

David is also an educator who over the past 12 years has been teaching and leading production arts students to deliver shows and events across the globe.

SCENOFEST PRODUCER

Ambika is a creative producer, curator, and writer. She has worked in the curatorial department at Sharjah Art Foundation and in the Indian and Islamic Department at Christie’s, London. Her writings on Asian modern and contemporary art have appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, Aesthetica, Asian Art Newspaper, frieze, and other publications. Ambika also works as a creative producer, contributing her skills to various videos, commercials, and artistic projects. With experience in the UAE, UK, India, and Germany, she brings a dynamic approach to her multifaceted career. Additionally, she is the founder of the UAE’s first artisanal hot sauce brand, which has collaborated with Michelin-starred restaurants and been featured in BBC Good Food, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The National. Ambika holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.

JURY COORDINATOR

Wafa is delighted to introduce herself as the Jury Coordinator for World Stage Design 2025. She serves as the first point of contact for any inquiries about the Exhibition. She has completed her B.A. in Mass Communication/Public Relations & Advertising from Ajman University. 

She is a dedicated and adaptable professional with over 8 years of diverse experience across customer service, administrative, and support roles. Skilled at efficiently managing a wide range of responsibilities, from handling inquiries and maintaining records to providing administrative support and delivering exceptional client service. She excels at prioritizing tasks, problem-solving, and working collaboratively within dynamic team environments. The opportunity to contribute her skills and expertise to this innovative and creative field is fascinating, and she looks forward to being a part of the World Stage Design community that continues to grow and evolve. 

MARKETING & PARTNERSHIPS

Ancy is a strategic communications professional with over 15 years of experience in the UAE, specializing in developing and managing communications campaigns for local, multinational, semi-government, and government organizations.

She teaches communications modules at the University level as an adjunct lecturer. She is also a writer catering to diverse business audiences. 

In addition to her professional background, Ancy has been championing dance and performing arts with a disability—Cerebral Palsy. She advocates for the rights and inclusion of People of determination through adaptive dance, writing, and public speaking. 

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR

Sean studied theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art, graduating in 1985, over the past 35 years he has designed over 200 productions for companies across UK and Europe. He became Head of Design at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1999 and in 2011 became Director of Drama.

He was Chair of the Society of British Theatre Designers between 2011 and 2019 and Chair of the Association of Theatre Design Courses UK between 2001 to 2008. Sean was elected to OISTATs executive committee in 2013. He has been a member of the Linbury Prize advisory committee since 2002. In 2007, Sean was Project Leader and Co-Designer for the Prague Quadrennial Scenofest and in 2013, as the Project Leader for World Stage Design 2013 he helped bring 13,000 exhibitors, practitioners, and visitors to Cardiff. He is both educator and practitioner, allowing both pursuits to inform his practice in each area.

TRANSLATOR

Hana is a UAE-based content writer, translator and performer. She is a holder of two Bachelor’s degrees in Multimedia Journalism and in Musical Theatre. Her writing work spans journalistic pieces, copywriting content, and scripts. Hana played many roles as a singer-actor in plays, musicals, concerts, short films, and TV series. Hana believes in the power of storytelling and the arts to help people connect and live in a better world.