APO Group, the award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, has announced the appointment of Rania El-Rafai, Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, as Chair of the Public Sector and Thought Leadership Jury for the Stevie® Awards Middle East & North Africa.
This appointment highlights APO Group’s growing influence in shaping standards of excellence in strategic communications across Africa and the Middle East.
Stevie® Awards: Recognizing Innovation and Leadership
The Stevie® Awards Middle East & North Africa are among the world’s most prestigious business awards programs, honoring innovation, leadership, and measurable impact across diverse industries throughout the region. Each year, the awards recognize organizations and individuals demonstrating outstanding professional achievement and best practices.
A Jury Panel Combining Regional Insight and Global Perspective
As Jury Chair, Rania El-Rafai selected a distinguished panel of senior leaders with extensive expertise in corporate communications, government relations, business strategy, and multinational operations.
The jury brings together deep regional understanding and global strategic vision, grounded in hands-on experience managing complex business environments and culturally diverse markets. The panel includes:
- Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications & Marketing Services Director, Canon Middle East, Central & North Africa
- Sean Muir, PR Director, GITEX Portfolio, Dubai World Trade Centre
- Leila Boustati, Chief Commercial Officer, APO Group
- Mohammed Al-Wajeeh, Group Corporate Communications Director, Mantrac Group
Rania El-Rafai: Trust, Accountability, and Impact at the Core
Commenting on her appointment, Rania El-Rafai described chairing the Stevie® Awards jury as a professional honor for both herself and APO Group. She emphasized that effective communications programs must address trust, accountability, and measurable impact with clarity and rigor.
She noted that assembling a jury capable of navigating complex, multi-market environments and engaging diverse stakeholders was essential to ensuring adherence to the highest international evaluation standards. El-Rafai expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with the panel to identify and celebrate the region’s most compelling success stories.
A Distinguished Career Across Global Brands
Based in Cairo, Rania El-Rafai brings more than 22 years of experience across multiple markets and sectors. She has led high-impact, award-winning communications programs for leading global brands including Emirates Airline, Canon, Nestlé, TikTok, Marriott, Afreximbank, GITEX, MSD, and Western Union.
In 2024, she became the first Vice President appointed from within APO Group. In 2025, she was named “Most Innovative Woman of the Year” at the Stevie® Awards and was also recognized among Africa’s Top 50 Women in Communications.
Reinforcing APO Group’s Strategic Communications Expertise
El-Rafai’s appointment further cements her position as one of the region’s leading communications executives and underscores APO Group’s depth of expertise in advising high-profile clients across multiple countries and sectors.
This press release was distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.
Sign up for our mailing list to receive the latest news.
Follow us also on the tech news portal in the Egypt