About

Maliha Aqeel, PMP, SCMP, MC, is an award-winning brand marketing and strategic communication professional with a proven track record of delivering results for global brands in the financial and professional services industry, such as APCO Worldwide, EY and Fix Network World.

A well-connected global professional and thought leader, she is Chair of IABC’s international board of directors. In 2021, Maliha was recognized as IABC Canada’s 61st Master Communicator, a lifetime achievement award for contributions to organizational communication in Canada.

She has worked in corporate and agency roles for almost 20 years, connecting the dots between strategy and marketing to drive business objectives. She has extensive experience in advising C-suite and senior executives, co-creating solutions with her clients to achieve business results and bring their brand purpose to life with a focus on content, customers and culture.

Maliha is a regular speaker at industry conferences and has won several international awards for brand development, content marketing, publications and internal communications, including two IABC Gold Quill “Best of the Best” awards for employee engagement and for COVID-19 crisis response management and communications.

She holds a Master of Business in Strategic Marketing from University of Wollongong, Australia and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP).  

She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Royal Roads University. Her research focuses on the link between social purpose brands and customer engagement in the context of sustainable business strategies.

Nora Zriak, is a strategic communications and PR consultant with 12 years of experience working in communications agencies and in corporate positions. She’s an expert in planning and executing integrated communication plans with an impressive track record of campaigns that engage and build brand awareness. 

Nora advised multiple international clients while working with a communications agency in Dubai, including Roche pharmaceuticals, Michigan Ross School of Business, Heidrick & Struggles, and others.

As a founding member of the communications department at The Public Works Authority in Qatar, the authority in charge of building the country’s infrastructure, Nora played a significant role in designing its communications strategy and key messages, in addition to developing and improving internal procedures to enhance operational efficiency. 

Prior to that, Nora worked with Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Qatar where she delivered results for big names such as the Qatar Olympic Committee, Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, Qatar Financial Centre, Virgin Health Bank and many others.