Alia Al Assaad is a French-Lebanese art historian based in Paris, where she works at contemporary art gallery Almine Rech. After completing her studies at the Courtauld institute in London, with a thesis on the international acclaim of Lebanese artists, Alia pursued a career in the auction house field. She then joined the Almine Rech team in 2024 and has recently been appointed as the gallery’s representative for the Middle East. In this role, Alia is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between the gallery’s global network and the dynamic artistic landscapes of the MENA region. She works closely on the development and expansion of Almine Rech’s program across the Middle East, with a particular focus on supporting and amplifying the gallery’s visibility.  Alia is committed to pursue Almine Rech’s vision of cultivating a truly international and inclusive platform for contemporary art.

Almine Rech, founded in Paris in 1989, is an internationally recognized gallery renowned for its dedication to minimal, perceptual, and conceptual practices. With spaces in Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Shanghai, Monaco and Gstaad, the gallery continues to expand its global presence through art fairs and diverse artistic programs, upholding its distinctive curatorial vision. It is proud to have placed a significant number of its artists in major institutional and private collections worldwide.

Kavita Chellaram is the founder of kó, an art gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria, specialising in modern and contemporary art in Africa, and the founder of Arthouse Contemporary, an international art auction house. Born in India, Mrs. Chellaram studied at Heathfield and Bedford College, University of London before moving to Nigeria. An avid art collector, with private collections in Mumbai, London and Lagos, Mrs. Chellaram was inspired to open an auction platform in Nigeria to provide a base for the transparency in price and structure of the art market. She has been a major force in developing the modern and contemporary art market in Nigeria. Her exhibitions and projects over the years have contributed to the global recognition of numerous modern African masters. In 2015, Chellaram founded the Arthouse Foundation, a non-profit artist residency programme in Lagos which has organised over thirty artist residencies. In 2020, Mrs. Chellaram opened kó, which organises a rigorous programme of exhibitions at its gallery in Lagos and has participated in numerous international art fairs, including Frieze Masters, Frieze Sculpture, The Armory Show, Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, 1-54 New York, 1-54 Marrakech, 1-54 Paris at Christies, EXPO Chicago, Art X Lagos, and Untitled Art Fair Miami Beach. Mrs. Chellaram is a member of the African Acquisition Committee of the Tate Modern and served as a Trustee of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts.

Heba El Moaz is an art advisor and curator dedicated to advancing the contemporary art scene in Egypt. She has played a pivotal role in fostering meaningful connections among artists, galleries, and collectors, thereby strengthening the cultural ecosystem from within.

Through Iris Projects, a contemporary art gallery based in MiZa, Abu Dhabi, Maryam Al Falasi represents leading regional artists, manages multiple art and cultural projects throughout the UAE, and is a trusted advisor to top collectors. Through her work, she aims to bridge regional artists with international audiences. In addition to her professional achievements, she is a renowned art collector and is dedicated to preserving the history of the UAE through her personal archive, which has significantly enriched exhibitions and museums across the UAE. She holds a Bachelor's degree in History of Art and Archaeology from Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi and has completed multiple courses at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Maryam is an influential speaker on the regional art scene, having participated in panels organised by Christie's and FIKR Institute. In 2022, Maryam was recognised as one of the 50 Emirati Women Achievers by StartAD. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Skira and Museum Studio, and is a member of Young Arab Leaders.

Ece Köksal is the Gallery Director of Art On Istanbul, a leading contemporary art gallery based in Istanbul, where she is responsible for the gallery’s curatorial vision, institutional partnerships, and international programming. She has played a central role in developing exhibitions, educational initiatives, and cross-sector collaborations that foster dialogue between artists, institutions, and audiences on a global scale. Prior to entering the art world, Ece built a distinguished career in corporate finance, holding senior positions in major financial institutions in both Turkey and the United Kingdom. Her background in finance, combined with her art historical expertise, informs a distinctive approach that bridges strategic management with cultural production.

Ece holds both undergraduate and Master’s degrees in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, where her research focused on Islamic and contemporary art. A dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Turkey, she is particularly interested in the intersections of art, economy, and cultural diplomacy, and continues to contribute to the development of contemporary art ecosystems through curatorial projects, institutional collaborations, and public programming.

Esra Sarıgedik Öktem is professionally immersed in curatorial practices, institutional leadership, and arts management both locally and internationally. In September 2017, she founded BüroSarıgedik, an artist management office in Turkey, representing leading artists from Turkey. Formerly, Sarıgedik Öktem was the senior director at Rampa Istanbul between 2013 and 2017. Between 2008 to 2010, she was the Project Manager at the British Council, where she led “My City,” a large-scale art project in public space in five different cities in Turkey. Sarıgedik Öktem served as a research curator at Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, NL between 2005 to 2007. She curated “A Dream ... but not Yours: Contemporary Art from Turkey” at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC in 2010 and co-curated the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s “Atlas of Events” in 2007, an international exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the foundation. Sarıgedik Öktem worked as an assistant curator during the 9th Istanbul Biennial and the 3rd Berlin Biennial. She was one of the junior curators at the Rooseum Center for Contemporary Art in Malmö in 2002. Between 2001 to 2002, she served as coordinator for the exhibition, talk, and screening programs at Platform and ICAP (Istanbul Contemporary Art Project).  Situating the needs of the artists she represents at the center of her management office, Sarıgedik Öktem is currently developing novel support structures via local and international projects at BüroSarıgedik.  

Elvin Gürenli is an art professional with a strong background in modern and contemporary art. She earned her BA in Art History from Istanbul University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in the same field. During her studies, she focused on Turkish modern art and produced articles and presentations on Fahrelnissa Zeid, exploring how Zeid’s cosmopolitan life and cultural hybridity shaped her artistic language and legacy.