Greetings Polkadot!

My name is Angelina, I’m based in Dubai, UAE where I’ve had the great opportunity to represent Polkadot & Kusama within the Crypto community. I joined the Polkadot ecosystem in 2022 and since then, I've dedicated myself to driving growth and engagement within Dubai’s vibrant crypto community. My contributions have focused on event management, community building, and representing Polkadot at various high-profile crypto events in Dubai.

Background and Expertise

As the regional Ambassador for Polkadot in the Middle East, I leveraged my experience in growth marketing, project management, and social media to grow the community and increase awareness in the Middle East. By connecting with other Web3 communities, fostering educational initiatives, and hosting events including mini-hackathons, I’ve been an enthusiastic ambassador sharing my passion for Web3 innovations.

Current Activity

Currently, I’ve been focused on expanding Polkadot's presence in the UAE and the broader MENA region. Here are some of my key activities:

• Event Management: I have successfully organised and hosted numerous Polkadot events in Dubai, starting with the first event in 2022. These events have ranged from ‘Polkadot - Dubai Ecosystem Meetup’ to ‘Dubai Polkadot Fireside Chat - Working in Web3’ on X spaces (link here) and a Mini-hackathon to name a few.
• Community Building: I’ve supported ambassadors from other regions in planning events, and set the agenda that is tailored to the audience in Dubai. With 328 members signing up to our meetup page attendance for real life (IRL) has grown significantly over the past few years. I’ve created and designed marketing materials myself and posted these on our Dubai Telegram group. Telegram has been a great channel for the community to stay up to date on future events. As the admin & moderator of this group, I’ve been continuously updating and communicating with the community.
• Representation at Crypto Events: I have represented Polkadot at various high-profile crypto events in Dubai, including Dubai Blockchain Week, World Blockchain Summit, and Future Blockchain Summit. I’ve attended Women in Crypto events sponsored by Binance event where I spoke to leading women about the Polkadot & Kusama ecosystem. See link to that specific event.
• Involvement in Other Ecosystems: I've helped grow the Polimec community as a regional ambassador for Dubai, UAE. As an attendee, I have met with other leading chains with a huge presence in Dubai (e.g. Cosmos/ATOM Dubai and Solana etc). These social events have allowed me to increase my network of venues and seek more growth opportunities (e.g. co-hosting and future collaboration).

Future Plans and Vision

As the Head Ambassador, I would like to:

• Increase Community Engagement: Organize more frequent events with financial support, ensuring consistent engagement and growth of the Polkadot community. These events will include workshops, hackathons, and collaborative sessions designed to educate and inspire community members. I’d also be keen to present Polkadot at major conferences in Dubai.
• Strengthen Partnerships: Build stronger relationships with local and international blockchain organizations, and enterprises to boost awareness and engagement with the Polkadot ecosystem. More specifically:
• Governments: We’ve already signed an MOU with the Dubai Blockchain Association - this was a great milestone, but the partnership has been put on hold due to financial commitment from Polkadot. Future events will be advertised on a larger scale, so catering to these people needs to be well-planned and executed. This requires time and resources. Additionally, we have ambassador candidates across the Middle East and in the capital city Abu Dhabi. Dubai government hosts events about the future of technology e.g. Dubai AI & Web3 Festival., where given the opportunity I'd present about Polkadot as interoperability and the decentralised web is a big topic on the agenda.
• Other Ecosystems: Enabling cross-chain collaboration and mutual growth, promoting interoperability and shared learning is a priority. (e.g., Cosmoverse, Superteam UAE, ETHDubai, etc.)
• Software Engineering Groups: As part of my network, I’ve spoken to local engineering communities who have not explored Web3 or attended the mini-hackathon we ran due to the timing. I’d like to increase awareness and access to a local talent pool by hosting engaging events and workshops in collaboration with engineering groups (Dubai Software Engineering Managers).
• Educational and Advocacy Initiatives: I will launch comprehensive educational programs and resources to empower our community, advocate for decentralization at major crypto events, and leverage my Web3 gaming experience to create innovative opportunities within the Polkadot ecosystem. My efforts will ensure that Polkadot remains at the forefront of blockchain technology and community growth.

Why vote Aye!?

By voting "Aye," you're supporting a leader who has significantly boosted the Polkadot community's growth across the UAE, represented the network at numerous high-profile events, and is committed to expanding our reach even further. Based full-time in Dubai, I will also support other local ambassadors who have helped run events, co-hosting with the Budapest, India, and Arts DAO communities to continue the great foundations we’ve achieved.

Other reasons to vote AYE:

• Grew the Polkadot community by +50% across the UAE.
• Represented Polkadot at over 25 key events in the UAE and the Middle East.
• Organized and hosted 10+ successful Polkadot meetups and hackathons.
• Formed strategic partnerships with major blockchain organizations.
• Managed community social channels (i.e., Telegram, Twitter - PolkadotDubai, and Discord Middle East).

"Together we can achieve more."

Thank you for your support!