The Programme - Global Travel & Tourism Summit

ProfilesThe ProgrammeGOVERNMENTHE Mubarak Hamad Al MuhairiDirector GeneralAbu Dhabi Tourism AuthorityMubarak Al Muhairi completed his studies in Civil Engineering at the UAE (UnitedArab Emirates) University before going on to earn his master’s degree in EngineeringManagement at Portland State University in the USA.Mr Al Muhairi worked for several years in real estate investment with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority(ADIA). He was then appointed Director General of Al Ain Economic Development & Tourism PromotionAuthority, a government body responsible for the marketing and development of the Eastern Region of theAbu Dhabi Emirate.Mr Al Muhairi was appointed Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) on its creationin September 2004. Working closely with the Authority’s Chairman, HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon AlNahyan, he has wide-ranging responsibilities for the promotion and development of the emirate’s tourismsector.Mr Al Muhairi holds various board member positions with authorities such as Abu Dhabi Authority forCulture and Heritage (ADACH), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and Abu Dhabi MediaCompany (ADMC).The creation in April 2005 of the ‘Tourism Development and Investment Company’ (TDIC), saw Mr AlMuhairi take on the additional role of Managing Director, where he oversees the creation of many prestigiousAbu Dhabi development projects such as Saadiyat Island which feature the Cultural District, the world largestcluster of cultural institutions containing the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museums.The Honourable Onkokame Kitso MokailaMinister for Environment, Wildlife and TourismBotswanaHon Onkokame Kitso Mokaila became Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourismof the Republic of Botswana on November 9th, 2004. As the Minister for this portfolio,he provides political and executive leadership to the Ministry and advises the Head of State on Environmentand Tourism issues. Most recently he was nominated as the Best African Tourism Minister by AI AfricaTourism Magazine.Minister Mokaila previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of several High-Tech Multi-NationalCompanies operating in Botswana, among others; Hyundai, Unisys Group and International ComputersLimited. Over the last ten years, Minister Mokaila was also Board Chairman for several companies amongstthem, a government agency responsible for recommending to government, changes in statutory andadministrative framework regarding the investment and export climate of Botswana. Minister Mokaila has abroad range of board-room experience.Minister Mokaila earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the College of OsmaniaUniversity in India and a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Swaziland College of Technology.42