ALSERKAL ADVISORY
Fiza is a cultural strategist and producer who has played a pivotal role in establishing Alserkal Advisory as the region’s leading cultural consultancy. Since joining Alserkal Initiatives in 2014, she has spearheaded transformative projects, including exhibitions, festivals, residencies, conferences, and public art commissions. Known for her unconventional approach, Fiza sees culture as a tool to address contemporary challenges, reimagining responses to critical global issues.
With more than a decade of experience in events in the middle east, Libby is a successful and industrious project coordinator that is driven to find high quality solutions for all production requirements. Having started a Dubai-based production company in late 2013, Libby developed her confident and sensitive interpersonal skill set through executing professional productions across the Dubai theatre scene.
Sarah is a curator, researcher, and writer whose work bridges creative conceptualisation with hands-on execution. She thrives on projects that defy boundaries, from experimental exhibition design to reimagining artist management and programming rooted in social practice. Sarah holds a Master’s in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art, London and a BA in Economics and Theatre from NYU Abu Dhabi.
Maha is an artist, writer and curator with expertise spanning anthropology, critical theory, and contemporary art. Her multidisciplinary approach blends cultural insights with strategic programme development at the Advisory. Before joining, Maha contributed to the UAE National Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia, worked with the Weisman Art Museum, and collaborated on experimental theatre projects with the City of Beloit in Minnesota.
Reem specialises in arts and film programming, as well as festival and exhibition curation. With expertise in research and project development, she delivers innovative solutions for clients in the cultural and social impact sectors. Trained as an anthropologist, her work focuses on cities, spaces, and societies across the MENA region. Reem holds an MA in Migration & Diasporas from SOAS and a BA in Politics & International Relations from Queen Mary, London.
Praveenkumar leads operations, overseeing the management and delivery of exhibitions, events, and interiors. He handles event logistics, supplier sourcing, permits, and ensures flawless execution across diverse projects. With a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Anna University, he excels in coordinating complex tasks to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner.
Fathima Syed manages operations, playing a key role in aligning project and finance efforts. With a strong foundation in commerce, she brings expertise in multi-disciplinary programming, client management, and budget control. Fathima holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (B.Com) and is currently pursuing the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) qualification.
Shilpa Alakkal is an event management professional with over a decade of experience in operations, logistics, speaker and supplier management, budgeting, and production. She specialises in imagining and executing seamless physical, virtual, and hybrid events. A Master’s graduate in Events & Exhibition Management from Birmingham City University, she has delivered over 100 events, including landmark projects for ADNOC, HIPA, and EXPO 2020 Dubai.
Nikoo Ghiasvand is a seasoned culture and arts manager specialising in project management, exhibition curation, and public art commissions. With over a decade of experience, she has held key roles at Alserkal Arts Foundation, Meem Gallery, and The Third Line in Dubai, where she co-led the development of 20 exhibitions and participated in 17 international and regional art fairs. Nikoo holds a BA in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins, London.
Athija contributes to the delivery of client programming, with a particular focus on content and project planning. She has experience managing artist residencies, research grants, and public programs through her roles at the Alserkal Arts Foundation and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Athija holds a BA in International Studies from the American University in Dubai and an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex.
Ali is a research associate who approaches cultural projects by exploring emotions, identity, and socio-cultural phenomena. Specialising in sociology, he combines a deep understanding of human experiences with a passion for cultural analysis. Ali holds an HBA with a double major in Sociology and Communication, Culture, Information & Technology from the University of Toronto, as well as an MA from the University of Chicago.
Alserkal Initiatives
Vilma joined Alserkal in 2012 and has been instrumental in the evolution and growth of Alserkal and its initiatives, including Alserkal Avenue, Alserkal Arts Foundation, and Alserkal Advisory.
Kevin was instrumental in strategising and articulating the Alserkal brand. As part of his brand strategy responsibilities, he created a content strategy for the brand and curatorial guidance for programming.
Extended Team
Aquamarina is a Cultural Strategist and Advisor with 12 years’ experience in the cultural sector. She led the development of public programmes, interdisciplinary artistic commissions, artist residencies, and the strategic development of new cultural organisations and initiatives in the Middle East.
Roxani is a Project Manager for the Global Co-commission A Feral Commons for Alserkal Advisory as well as a Programs Advisor for the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) and Producer at Quaternaire, a producing and international booking agency.
Imogen has 14 years’ experience working on cultural projects with significant experience in strategic cultural consultancy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
