Dr. Ray Tinston: "Two Ears, One Mouth - We Should Listen Twice as Much as We Speak"

Recorded on May 2nd 2026, Asian 5 - One Central, Dubai Dr. Ray Tinston - Managing Director Middle East, Identity In our debut episode, Michael sits down with Dr. Ray Tinston to explore the evolving role of events in economic development, destination positioning and strategic stakeholder engagement. Drawing on decades of international experience, Ray shares insights into the future of major events across the Middle East and the opportunities shaping the industry's next chapter. Time Stamps 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Building a Career in Events 03:05 - Leadership Lessons from Global Events 05:20 - Hiring Great Event Professionals 07:55 - The Future of the GCC Events Industry 10:15 - Why Live Events Will Never Disappear 13:10 - Why Dubai Leads the Global Events Industry 15:45 - What's Next for Dr Ray Tinston? 17:20 - Finding Opportunity During Economic Uncertainty 18:45 - How Skateboarding Became a Billion-Dollar Industry 20:50 - Growing Identity Middle East 22:10 - Closing Remarks Follow Dr. Ray Tinston LinkedIn -   / drraytinston   Website - https://www.theexperienceme.com/ Visit Our Website https://thebackdroppodcast.com/ Follow our Channels LinkedIn -   / the-backdroppodcast   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebackdrop...