GLOBAL DUBAI TEA FORUM

Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading international business district in 2025 with over 25,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 90,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.

Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.

Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).

The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016. Mr Bin Sulayem was reappointed Chair of the KP for a historic second time in 2024, and has continued his leadership role with the position of Custodian Chair in 2025.

Feryal Ahmadi

Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, DMCC

Feryal Ahmadi serves as the Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of DMCC, playing a pivotal role in cementing its status as the world’s leading authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.

Feryal oversees DMCC’s long-term strategic growth, driving corporate governance excellence and fostering initiatives that amplify global trade flows through Dubai. She has been instrumental in shaping and managing the development of DMCC’s flagship Uptown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) business districts, as well as spearheading the innovative DMCC Smart and Sustainable District Strategy.

As an official DMCC spokesperson, Feryal represents DMCC on global platforms, engaging with local and international media to elevate the organisation’s profile and champion Dubai’s thought leadership credentials on the world stage.

An advocate for sustainability and inclusivity, Feryal is a committed member of the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) committee, established by UN Global Compact and UN Women. She leads DMCC’s comprehensive sustainability programmes and actively contributes to a number of semi-governmental boards across the UAE.

Feryal holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the American University of Sharjah and an Executive MBA from Harvard University.

Anil Cooke

Managing Director, Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC

Anil R. Cooke is the Managing Director of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC Group, a leading Broking and Logistics company in Sri Lanka. He is a professional tea taster and marketer of tea throughout his career of more than 40 years.

He chairs the Colombo Tea Traders Association’s Ceylon Tea Road Map 2030 Initiative and serves on Sri Lanka Tea Board, Ministry and CTTA committees. He has been closely associated with digitalisation of the Colombo Tea Auction since inception, and he is a member of the CTTA’s E-Auction Platform Steering Committee.

Anil Cooke has been Chairman of the Colombo Brokers’ Association, Director of the Sri Lanka Tea Board and committee member of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association many times over the years.

He is an international judge and Director of the World Tea Master Cup, an initiative that promotes development of and competition amongst Tea Sommeliers around the world.

Bala Sarda

Founder and CEO, VAHDAM India

Bala Sarda is the Founder & CEO of VAHDAM® India, a globally acclaimed wellness brand bringing India’s finest teas, herbs, and botanicals to consumers worldwide. Born into a family with over 90 years in the tea industry, Bala combined his deep-rooted legacy with a modern D2C approach to launch VAHDAM in 2015, with a mission to eliminate middlemen and deliver high-quality Indian produce directly to global consumers.

Under his leadership, VAHDAM has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing wellness brands, shipping to over 145 countries. The brand has been endorsed by icons like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. Bala himself has been featured on prestigious lists including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Fortune 40 Under 40, Businessworld 40 Under 40, and GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians.

Bala is passionate about building a homegrown Indian brand that stands out globally for its quality, storytelling, and sustainability. Through VAHDAM’s ‘TEAch Me’ initiative, 1% of revenue goes toward the education of tea growers’ children. The brand is also proudly Climate Neutral, Plastic Neutral, and a certified B Corp.

At the Dubai Tea Forum, Bala shares insights on building global trust, scaling ethical sourcing, and championing India’s agricultural heritage in the wellness era

Daniel Bolton

Founder, Tea Journey Magazine and Tea Biz

Dan is a distinguished publisher and content creator dedicated to fostering genuine connections within the tea community by facilitating informed, captivating discussions among thought leaders. His career spans 55 years, encompassing roles as a reporter, writer, editor, publisher, podcaster, and blogger. He has edited urban daily newspapers, published Animation Magazine and Below the Line, a film and video magazine, and served as CEO of California Beverage Publications.

Dan has worked as editor and publisher of Tea Magazine and as editor and publisher of World Tea News (2010-2020), managing editor of STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine, editor-in-chief of Specialty Coffee Retailer, and founding editor of Natural Food Magazine (San Francisco). He led the successful crowdfunding of Tea Journey Magazine in 2016. He launched the Tea Biz Blog in 2013 and has hosted the Tea Biz Podcast on a weekly basis since 2021, producing 225 episodes to date. He resides in Winnipeg, Canada, with his wife, Susan.

George Omuga

Managing Director, East African Tea Trade Association

George Omuga is the Managing Director of East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) and is accomplished in Corporate Management, delivering over 20 years of unprecedented success in leadership and Agribusiness Management specialising in business planning, operations, sales and marketing, and project management in the food and beverage industries (Tea and Coffee sector).

He holds a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science Degree in Agriculture from Egerton University with other areas of expertise including; Association management, Ethical leadership, Operations Management, Financial Planning & Analysis, Business Development, Procurement & Supplies Management, Project Management Human Resource, Strategic planning, Resource Optimization, Process Improvement, Regulatory Compliance and Organizational Development. I have uerved in the tea sector for over 24 years across the tea value chain

James Suranga Perera

Executive Director, International Tea Committee

James Suranga Perera is the Executive Director of the International Tea Committee (ITC) and has been actively engaged in the global tea industry for over three decades. He began his career in Sri Lanka as a tea taster and broker with Forbes & Walker Ltd, later continuing at Asia Siyaka Commodities. He went on to serve as CEO of Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC. His career as a tea broker has given him the rare opportunity to work across the whole value chain in a producer country, gaining deep insight into the practical challenges faced at every stage.

James also contributed to maintaining high standards in the industry as a member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board's tasting panel. Now based in London, he has broadened his experience by working with tea trading companies, giving him a comprehensive understanding of both producer and consumer challenges.

Today, he leads the work of the International Tea Committee, an organisation at the heart of the global tea trade. ITC provides data to the worldwide tea industry and fosters collaboration across the international tea community.

In addition to his role at the ITC, James shares his knowledge as a tutor at the UK Tea Academy and as a judge at The Leafies, London's international tea awards.

Kurush Bharucha

Former Global Tea Expertise Director, Lipton Teas and Infusions

Kurush Bharucha has spent 40 years of his professional life in Tea, almost all with Unilever (Brooke Bond and Lipton). He is a specialist tea taster and judge, buyer and blender, trainer and educator, product innovator and developer, sommelier and storyteller. He started his career in 1985, working across all 6 auction centres in North and South India, He often tasted upto 1000 cups of tea each day (yes !), as per his mentor's adage 'Practice makes perfect, so Perfect your practice'. After 20 years in India, Unilever moved him overseas - 8 years in Dubai (in Supply Chain) and 12 in the UK (in R&D). As the Company's Chief Tea Quality Custodian, he 'aspired to inspire' - generously sharing knowledge, instilling belief, and helping build a tea culture. He is now a freelance Tea Industry advisor and consultant. In addition, he teaches at the UK Tea Academy, speaks at Global Tea events, judges International Tea cupping Competitions.

Mohit Agarwal

Director, The Asian Tea Group

Mr. Mohit Agarwal comes to us with over 30 years of experience in the tea industry.

He owns the single largest fully certified bio-organic tea plantation in the world, Cha de Magoma which is located in Mozambique and is also one of the larger tea producers in Assam owning several tea estates spread across the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra valley.

He is actively involved with buying, blending and packing operations in major tea growing centres of the world and with a presence in Kolkata & Coimbatore (India), Mombasa (Kenya) and Fuzhou (China) which gives him a unique perspective and insight into the global dynamics in the Tea Industry

A tea taster by profession, he is well versed with deep rooted knowledge about tea cultivation and manufacturing.

He spearheads the Asian Tea Group and handles around 30 million kg’s of teas annually across the world.