Our Esteemed Panel of Judges-2024
The Judges for the Awards are prominent hospitality professionals, and these champions will be invaluable in helping us to encourage entries from beyond the UAE, and judge them fairly. The Judges will help us reach the final list of nominations for each Category that will be opened for online voting.Panel of Judges:-
Andy Cuthbert
President, Emirates Culinary Guild
, GM at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Madinat
Jumeirah Conference & Events, Continental
Director Africa Middle East Worldchefs, Worldchefs
Congress Chairman
Arriving in Dubai in 1992, Andy transitioned his management skills for Jumeirah in 2000. Looking after Jumeirah Hospitality Operations, the outside catering division of Jumeirah Group, he was then appointed as the Executive Assistant Manager at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. In 2010, Andy was appointed as the General Manager of Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa. Following his appointment as General Manager for Jumeirah Mina A’ Salam in June 2016, Andy Cuthbert made a move to Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in August 2018 whilst he continues oversees the aforementioned luxury hotel as well as Zero Gravity and Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events, Jumeirah Hospitality of which he was appointed General Manager in 2011. Andy Cuthbert is also one of the founding members of Emirates Culinary Guild and is an active member of the World’s Association of Chefs Societies, and he is the Continental Director, Africa Middle East for WorldChefs.
Uwe Micheel
Past President, Emirates Culinary GuildChef Uwe Micheel is Past President of Emirates Culinary Guild. The German born, award winning 5 star Chef has more than two decades of experience as a Chef in Dubai and a huge list of credentials to follow his name.
He joined Emirates Culinary Guild in 1993 and became Emirates Culinary Guild General Secretary from 1994, ECG Chairman from 1996 and President from 1999 until 2023.
Chef Dwarika Bhatt
Dubai Chairman, Emirates Culinary Guild
Executive
Chef, Zero Gravity
Dubai
Chef Dwarika Bhatt is Dubai Chairman of Emirates Culinary Guild & Executive Chef of Zero Gravity Dubai. Chef Bhatt has been with Zero Gravity since the start. Award winning chef Dwarika Bhatt was born and raised on the scenic foothills of Dehradun in India. He had served the industry as a chef for more than 2 decades & currently Focusing on mentoring & developing the next generation of chefs with emirates culinary guild.
Chef Majed Al Sabagh
Director of ‘Chef International Hospitality Education and Training Centre’
F&B Consultant at Sharjah Ladies Club.
Chef Majed Al Sabagh is not only the Vice President of Emirates Culinary Guild but also is the President and Founder of Syrian culinary Guild. He is an award winning chef with numerous impressive credentials to his name. He is WACS approved judge since 2012 and is being judging various cooking competitions around the world. He is the Director of ‘Chef international Hospitality education and training Centre’. Teaches culinary art and food safety in University in Ajman.
Manoj Abraham Mathew
Director – Studios & Events at Dubai Studios, Dubai Media
Manoj A Mathew is the Director – Studios & Events at the newly launched Dubai Studios of Dubai Media, the official Government of Dubai’s media network. In his current role he heads the set up and operations of Dubai Studios and the events vertical.Previously, he was the Executive Vice President & Territory Head of Americas & MENAPT and a Regional Board Member at Zee Network. Manoj had been with Zee Network since 2004 handling various portfolios which included Chief Operating Officer; Chief Content & Creative Officer; SVP & Business Head – South Asian Channels; Vice President – Marketing & Convergence; and Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Communications. He is hands-on with content creation, technology, revenue management, distribution, licensing, marketing, and advertising business.
Manoj has chaired many content, marketing and business forums and has spoken on various panels spanning content business, production, technology, anti-piracy, distribution. He was awarded ‘Broadcast Executive of the Year” in 2021; GCC’s 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2014 and Powers Brand Hall of Fame in 2012. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Member & Juror of the International Academy of Television Arts & Science (International Emmy’s).
K.A. Chandana Prasad
Director Of Culinary
Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, UAE
WACS Certified Judge
Vice President East Coast for Emirates Culinary Guild in UAE
Founder East Coast Salon Culinaire in UAE {WACS Certified}
Culinary Diploma Holder & was born and raised in Sri Lanka, An industry veteran for more than 25 years and a UAE resident for past 20 years.
Ibrahim Yaqoot
Executive Director-HR/Training Solutions
DTCM
Ibrahim is an Executive Director with specializations in Human Resources, Training and Development in the areas of service and Excellence in tourism and hospitality industry.
Ibrahim supervises the Emiratization Task Force for Hotel Industry in Dubai. He is a Member of the international concierge group (UICH) and supervises the les Clefs d’Or-UAE (Dubai Chapter) in Dubai hotels and hospitality industry. Also member of the International front office group (AICR) and supervising AICR- Dubai Chapter in Dubai hotels and hospitality industry.
Chef Atim Suyatim
VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC RELATION EMIRATES CULINARY GUILD
Chef with over 27 years’ experience in culinary industry, including hotels, restaurants and catering from pastry, bakery and hot kitchen operation.
Attends Worldchef congress event from Korea, Norway, Greece, and Malaysia.
Atim has been Judge in many international event for the culinary competition for over 8 years and including Global Final Challenge Culinary competition by Worldchefs in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in 2018.