A new series of sessions taking young professionals through PR journeys across different industries

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2 September 2026: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Youth Board has introduced “Time Machine: PR Edition”, a new initiative connecting emerging PR talent with senior industry leaders.

Held as fireside chats hosted by a Youth Board member, each session walks through a Strategy Board member’s career journey in a specific PR industry, exploring their key learnings, what they would have done differently, and their advice for young professionals looking to enter that field.

Tania Kteily, President of the MEPRA Youth Board and Associate Director at Weber Shandwick MENAT, said: “As the Youth Board, a key part of our role is to bridge the gap between students and young professionals, with industry leaders. We’re strategically positioned to do so, leveraging the Strategy Board’s deep expertise, our audience of emerging talent, and our own experience to connect the two. While fundamentals are similar, PR can vary between industries, but it’s also a field where passion can be lived every day. We also know there’s no shortage of trainings and webinars out there, so we wanted to create something less generic and more human, and that could resonate differently. That’s why we launched this initiative: taking industry experts back to the start of their careers, almost like a time machine, yet this time equipped with decades of knowledge, to give emerging talent the insights they need to succeed in that industry.”

Phase One sessions are as follows:

  • 23 September 2026 – Retail & Fashion Edition:
    Guest speaker: Lynn Al Khatib, Member of the MEPRA Strategy Board and VP Brand & Communications at Chalhoub Group.
    Hosted by: Tania Kteily, President of the MEPRA Youth Board and Associate Director at Weber Shandwick MENAT.
  • 14 October 2026 – Automotive Edition:
    Guest speaker: Rasha Ghanem, Member of the MEPRA Strategy Board and Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Ford Motor Company, Middle East and North Africa.
    Hosted by: Sarah Al Salem, Member of the MEPRA Youth Board and Communications Manager at Uber Middle East.
  • 12 November 2026 – Hospitality & Tourism Edition:
    Guest speaker: Gehan Sidky, Member of the MEPRA Strategy Board and Head of PR & Communications at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).
    Hosted by: Alexandra Richards, Member of the MEPRA Youth Board and Associate Account Director and Head of Atelier Division at Gambit Communications. 

All sessions will be held virtually and are open to all, though registration is required. Attendees will also have the floor for questions.

Please visit mepra.org for additional information and registration.