Accessible Qatar conference to host high-profile speakers

A line-up of high-profile personalities are set to share the stage at the upcoming first Accessible Qatar conference, the organisers have said in a statement.Taking place on Monday and Tuesday, the conference will bring together local, regional and international leaders, policy makers and experts in the accessibility field. It is aimed at raising awareness about accessibility, encouraging knowledge-sharing and influencing project developers towards making existing and future venues accessible.The event is being held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, introduced by international integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol under its CSR initiative - ‘Accessible Qatar’, and powered by Project Qatar, the 14th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition.Local speakers at the conference include Nasser al-Maslamani, director of planning and quality, Qatar Tourism Authority; Najla al-Obaidan, senior architect, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; Ameer al-Mulla, executive director, Qatar Paralympic Committee; Abdulla G Ali, senior manager - Terminal Operations, Hamad International Airport; Mohamed al-Fehaida, Mada communications and marketing officer; Mike Park, e-accessibility expert, Mada Center; and Ahmed Habib, policy expert, Mada Center.Regional speakers are Morné Fourie, vice-president, DXB Entertainments - the parent company of Dubai Parks and Resorts, the UAE; and Issam Azouri, communications adviser; while the line-up of international speakers comprises Martin Heng, accessible travel manager and editorial adviser at Lonely Planet; Hideto Kijima, president of Japan Accessible Tourism Center; Isabella Menichini, head of Tourism and Marketing at Milan Municipality; Mark Todd, principal accessibility consultant, expert to Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016; Guy Davies, managing director, Disability Solutions (Pty) South Africa; Bill Forester, founder, TravAbility Travel, Australia; and Jane Stoneham, director of The Sensory Trust.  The speakers at the conference will shed light on topics such as accessible tourism for all: examining global concepts and identifying new approaches and initiatives for sustainable accessible tourism; Eden project case study - accessible architectural designs and implementation; importance of accessibility and the role of media in promoting it; how to improve fan experience for people with disabilities; case study on different elements and new development ideas on making World Cup 2022 accessible for all; accessibility inside the workplace; and theme park accessibility: case study of accessibility implementation best practices. Project Qatar is the leading construction exhibition in the country organised by IFP Qatar, a member of IFP Group (International Fairs & Promotions).