BRIDGE Summit 2025, the inaugural edition of the world’s largest debut event for media, content, and entertainment, has unveiled its guest lineup with a second wave of global leaders in thought, creativity, and influence.This announcement adds major figures from government, philanthropy, and media to its already stellar roster, including HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majid Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies; Rt. Hon. Lucy Frazer KC, former UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Michael Piwowar, PhD, former Acting Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission; and Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President of Forbes.
They are joined by the CEOs and founders of some of the world’s most influential media brands, including Justin Smith of Semafor, Shekhar Gupta of ThePrint, Uche Pedro of BellaNaija, and Andrew Sollinger of Foreign Policy, further establishing the summit’s position as a definitive global destination for thought leaders.
With the unprecedented convergence of 400 icons of industry who will define the future of the content economy, this second-wave announcement deepens the summit’s expertise across its seven core tracks of: Media, Creator Economy, Music, Gaming, Tech, Marketing, and Picture; bringing unparalleled perspectives on philanthropic investment, and the business of media and journalism.
Organized by BRIDGE, the summit will transform over 1.65 million square feet of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) into a dynamic hub connecting leaders, creators, and innovators across the global content economy. From December 8—10, the three-day event will host more than 60,000 participants, 300 exhibitors, and 300 activations, including 200 talks and panels and 50 interactive workshops. Designed as a global platform for collaboration, discovery, and innovation, BRIDGE Summit 2025 will explore how creativity, technology, and commerce converge to define the next era of communication and culture.
Global voices shaping the media sector
The Media Track is powerfully amplified with a cohort of speakers representing a truly global cross-section of the industry, from strategy and philanthropy to pioneering news brands.
From the Middle East and Africa, the track welcomes HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majid Al Saud, a global philanthropic leader from Saudi Arabia; Uche Pedro, Founder of Nigeria’s leading digital media company, BellaNaija; Dr. Julie Gichuru, Founder and CEO of the Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute in Kenya; and Ahmed Hussain, a senior executive at the BBC and Head of its BBC Asian Network, who is a key figure in the UK’s South Asian community. They are joined by Abdul Karim Abdullah, Founder and CEO of Culture Management Group and the visionary behind the AfroFuture Festival in Ghana; and Ken Ansah, Chief Operating Officer of Multimedia Group Limited, both representing Africa’s expanding creative and broadcast industries.
The North American perspective is delivered by Andrew Sollinger, CEO and Publisher of Foreign Policy; Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President of Forbes; Justin Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Semafor; and Earl Wilkinson, Executive Director and CEO of the International News Media Association (INMA). Attendees can also look forward to appearances by Keith Bonnici, President and COO of The Daily Beast; Eric Schurenberg, founder of the Alliance for Trust in Media and former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company; and Gregory Galant, Co-Founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a leading AI-powered platform transforming global PR and journalism workflows.
Rounding out the global view from Europe and South Asia are Rt. Hon. Lucy Frazer KC, who brings her experience from the UK Cabinet overseeing national cultural and media strategy; Sir Liam Fox, former UK Secretary of State for International Trade and Defence; and Shekhar Gupta, award-winning journalist and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of India’s ThePrint. Adding further European depth, Horst Bente, private investor and third-generation member of the Adi Dassler family who famously founded Adidas; and Christoph Sonnen, Co-Founder of LEAD Sports & Health Tech Partners, will explore the intersection of sport, legacy, and innovation in media and entertainment.
Together, this group represents a formidable force in shaping media proficiency, business models, and trustworthy journalism worldwide.
Navigating the future of AI governance and next-gen tech
The Tech & AI Track gains strategic depth with Michael Piwowar, PhD, former Acting Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC), who will explore the intersection of financial systems and emerging tech. He is joined by Pooja Bagga, Chief Information Officer of the Guardian Media Group; Larry Adams, Founder and CEO of Chromatics.ai and Adweek’s 2023 AI Innovation of the Year; Casey Craig, a leading communications strategist in the crypto and Web3 space; and Sam Englebardt, Co-Founder and Partner at Galaxy, a pioneer in digital assets and interactive content. Joining them is Vuk Vuković, PhD, CIO and Founding Partner of Oraclum Capital, bringing data-driven investment and network theory perspectives to the evolving dialogue on AI and financial intelligence.
Building the business of content and connections
The Marketing Track welcomes Sarah Meron, who leads Corporate Affairs & Brand at IBM; and Matt Higgins, venture investor, Shark Tank star, and Co-founder of RSE Ventures, who will dissect the evolving relationships between brands, consumers, and technology.
The Creator Economy Track expands with the addition of Aryeh B. Bourkoff, Chairman and CEO of the merchant bank LionTree, whose strategic advisory has shaped the media and tech landscape, offering a unique investor’s perspective on the value of creator-led ventures.
New voices in the Picture Track include Shahid Khan, Global Head of Media, Entertainment, Sports, and Culture at Arthur D. Little; a seasoned operator and entrepreneur with deep expertise in content production and distribution.
With the addition of these renowned and globally acclaimed voices, BRIDGE Summit 2025 will establish itself as a comprehensive exploration of the forces transforming global media; and as the summit continues to build momentum towards its December debut; further speaker announcements and programme details will be revealed in the coming weeks
