JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 11, 2026
APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading multi-award-winning, pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, has announced the appointment of Rania El Rafie, Vice President of Public Relations & Strategic Communications, as Chair of the Public Sector & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee for the Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards.
The Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards (https://apo-opa.co/4rNgXy4) are among the world’s most respected business awards, recognising innovation, leadership, and impact across sectors within the MENA region.
As Chair, Rania personally selected a judging committee comprising senior leaders with deep expertise across corporate communications, government relations, commercial strategy, and multinational operations. Together, the panel brings a combination of regional insight and global perspective, shaped by hands-on experience navigating complex environments and culturally nuanced markets. The judging committee comprises:
- Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications & Marketing Services Director at Canon Middle East & Central and North Africa
- Sean Muir, Director of Public Relations for the GITEX Portfolio at Dubai World Trade Centre
- Laila Bastati, Chief Commercial Officer at APO Group
- Mohamed Elwagih, Group Corporate Communications Manager at Mantrac Group
Commenting on her appointment, El Rafie said: “Chairing a Stevie® Awards judging committee is a professional honour – for myself and for APO Group. Effective communication programmes must navigate trust, accountability, and measurable impact. In assembling this committee, it was important to bring together leaders who understand the complexity of operating across diverse markets and stakeholder groups, while upholding the highest international standards for submissions. I look forward to working with them to identify the region’s success stories.”
With more than 22 years’ experience across multiple markets and sectors, Cairo-based El Rafie has led high-impact, award-winning communications programmes for clients such as Emirates, Canon, Nestlé, TikTok, Marriott, Afreximbank, GITEX, MSD, and Western Union. In 2024, she became APO Group’s first internally appointed Vice President. In 2025, she was named Most Innovative Woman of the Year at the Stevie® Awards and recognised among Africa’s Top 50 Outstanding Women in Communications.
El Rafie’s appointment speaks to her standing as one of the region’s most respected communications leaders, and to APO Group’s depth of experience advising high-profile clients across multiple countries and sectors.
