CNN announces first key speakers for ‘Global Perspectives: In Doha’ event

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 10, 2026

CNN has announced the initial speaker lineup for its first Middle East Global Perspectives event, set for October 29, 2026, in Doha, featuring leaders from politics, business, culture, and innovation. The conference will focus on exploring hidden forces shaping global systems and the critical role of creativity and leadership amid increasing automation.

CNN has revealed the initial roster of speakers for the first Middle East edition of its Global Perspectives series, scheduled to take place in Doha on October 29, 2026. The event aims to convene influential figures from political, business, cultural, and innovation sectors for a one-day program centered on “The Invisible World.” This theme will explore the underlying forces transforming global systems, the dynamics of attention control, and the growing importance of human creativity and leadership in an increasingly automated world.

Among the confirmed speakers are Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, chief executive officer of Qatar Investment Authority; Alex Mashrabov, CEO of Higgsfield; Ester Baiget, president and CEO of Novonesis; and Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN. Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv and chair of the Association of Ukrainian Cities as well as a former world heavyweight boxing champion, will also join the lineup. Additional notable participants include actress and singer Yasmina El Abd; Julie Uhrman, co-founder and principal advisor of Angel City FC; Courtney Powell, COO and managing partner of 500 Global; and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana.

The event will also feature Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council; Mutaz Barshim, Qatari Olympic and world champion high jumper; and Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and executive vice president for Sustainability at Mastercard.

CNN anchors and correspondents from across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States will moderate the discussions. The roster of presenters now includes high-profile names such as Wolf Blitzer and Bijan Hosseini, joining established figures like Christiane Amanpour, Richard Quest, Becky Anderson, and Eleni Giokos.

Ellana Lee, Group Senior Vice President, General Manager APAC, and global head of productions at CNN, described the event as a platform bringing together some of the region’s and world’s most influential voices. The forum intends to offer in-depth perspectives on how unseen factors shape economic systems, communication networks, and daily life in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

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