Afnan Al-Shuaiby, chair of the Arab International Women’s Forum

Time: 16 December 2020

Afnan Al-Shuaiby

Dr. Afnan Al-Shuaiby has recently been appointed as chair of the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF).
Al-Shuaiby, founder and CEO of FNN International, will assume her new role at AIWF on Jan. 1, 2021.
AIWF was set up as a development organization based in London to support women’s leadership and social and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa.
Al-Shuaiby is a senior management executive with over 20 years of experience and a successful track record of providing fiscal, strategic, and operational leadership in uniquely challenging situations in Saudi Arabia, the wider Arab world, the UK, and the US.
She has held the position of director general of international relations at the Ministry of Culture.
Previously, Al-Shuaibi was the secretary-general and CEO of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in London, where she was the first woman to assume this position. Al-Shuaibi served as CEO of the ABCC for 11 years, between 2007 and 2018.
Prior to this, she was an adviser to the president of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council in Washington, DC, between 1998 and 2007.
She also served as an adviser for government affairs and business development at Qorvis Communications, and assistant adviser at Abu Dhabi Investment Agency.
Al-Shuaiby holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from King Saud University in Riyadh, a master’s degree in educational administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and a Ph.D. in leadership administration from George Washington University.
She has a certificate in executive education from the Harvard Kennedy School and a certificate in peace and conflict resolution from the American University, Washington, DC.
Al-Shuaiby is also a member of the advisory commission at King Khalid University, an executive committee member of B20 Saudi Arabia, and a board member of AIWF.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Mona Obaid, medical director for KSA at Eli Lilly and Co

Time:15 December 2020

Mona Obaid

Dr. Mona Talib Obaid was recently appointed medical director for KSA at Eli Lilly and Co. She has become the first Saudi woman to hold a top leadership position in the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical sector.
Obaid received her MBBS from King Saud University in 2001. She is also board certified by the Saudi Internal Medicine Board.
Obaid completed a fellowship at the Royal College of Physicians in the UK in 2006.
She received certifications from the Canadian Board of Adult Neurology. Obaid then completed two fellowships. The first was in movement disorders from the University of Alberta, Canada, and the second in deep brain stimulation from the University of Joseph Fourier, France.
Obaid, who is a board member of the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the Saudi Neurology Society, was a consultant neurologist at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh. Moreover, she is also a scientific member on the neurology board at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Obaid has also worked with the Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group.
In September 2020, she attended an executive women’s leadership program, called Pioneer, designed by the Healthcare Leadership Academy for senior women leaders.
Its purpose was to build and sustain the leadership and change management knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to support the transformation agenda facing the health sector. The program was the first of its kind in the Kingdom.
In 2014, she was honored as the most compassionate physician at KFMC’s National Neuroscience Institute. She also received a letter of recognition for her active participation in the Saudi Parkinson Society three years later.
Obaid recently participated as a speaker at the virtual Congress 2020 of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), a professional society of clinicians and healthcare professionals.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Dr. Emtinan Al-Qurashi, assistant director at Philadelphia’s Temple University

14/12/20

Dr. Emtinan Al-Qurashi is the assistant director of educational technology at Temple University’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching in Philadelphia, US.

Al-Qurashi obtained a bachelor’s degree in translation and interpreting at the University of Salford, UK. She received a master’s degree in digital technologies, communication and education from the University of Manchester.

Al-Qurashi joined the King Abdul Aziz University as an English language instructor in 2011, where she remained for two years.

In 2014, she enrolled in Duquesne University (DU), US to pursue a Ph.D. in instructional technology and leadership. At DU, she started as a graduate research assistant before moving on to become an instructional consultant until her graduation in 2017.

Al-Qurashi then joined Temple University as a senior instructional technology specialist. She was promoted to assistant director of educational technology where she oversees the university’s branches in the US, Italy and Japan.

She has been recognized for her work by the Professional and Organizational Development Network and chosen as their Innovation Award Finalist for 2019.

In the same year, she received the “Division of Distance Learning Award” from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology in recognition of her quantitative research.

Al-Qurashi has written several research papers and books on education, educational technology and distance learning.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Dimah Al-Sheikh, executive manager of Misk Values

Time: 02 December 2020

Dimah Al-Sheikh

Dimah Al-Sheikh has been executive manager of Misk Values at the Misk Foundation since March 2018. Chairing the recent inaugural summit of the Values 20 (V20) group, Al-Sheikh expressed her gratitude to organizations around the world that helped form the V20. She underscored the important milestones achieved by the group in a short time period amid the coronavirus pandemic.
She added: “The jewel is the people in the V20 community who have made this effort together, and who have all agreed to commit 100 percent to being part of the V20 next year.” Al-Sheikh said she “hopes the same seeds bloom” under the Italian presidency in 2021 and “blossom” under the Indian presidency in 2022.
Al-Sheikh received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from King Saud University in 2007. She also completed an MBA at Al-Faisal University. Moreover, she attended several executive courses on entrepreneurial leadership at the University of Oxford, a strong leadership course at Ashridge Business School and designed participant-centered training at the World Bank. Al-Sheikh also completed a diploma in cultural transformation tools at Barrett Values Centre, the Empretec program of UNCTAD, among other training courses.
Al-Sheikh, who has more than five years’ experience in promoting values and cultural transformation in Saudi Arabia, was a part-time president of the Al-Ghad Center for Values Development at Al-Ghad Youth Association from 2015 to 2018. There, she led a multidisciplinary team of professionals and volunteer experts to engage public and private entities, including ministries, quasi-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and private sector institutions in evaluating and developing values.
Al-Sheikh received the “Best Citizenship Award” from Al-Faisal University in 2014 and “Distinguished Performance Award” from Riyadh Specialist Rehabilitation Center in 2010.
The Misk Foundation executive manager is a member of several advisory boards and a certified trainer in business incubation management at the World Bank. She is also certified to evaluate and implement value-based transformation tools in organizations as a consultant.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Reham Bahauddin drives Ascott Sari to success

Time: 26 November 2020

Reham Bahauddin, operations manager, Ascott Sari Jeddah.

Spearheading the operations at Ascott Sari Jeddah, one of Saudi Arabia’s elite serviced properties, Reham Bahauddin, the operations manager, is a woman of substance and intellect. Having accomplished an educational background in biology and neuroscience, Bahauddin broadened her forte as a liberal arts alumnus through prestigious international institutes, and has managed multiple projects across the US, Spain, Morocco and Egypt prior to her stint with Ascott since May 2018. Her unrelenting passion to explore rewarded Bahauddin with a managerial stature at the age of 27.

Extending the group’s support to Saudi Vision 2030, and in alignment with the aims of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ascott introduced a regional talent project “Saudi Graduate Program” in 2019. The program empowers national talents, whereby high-achieving Saudis are trained for managerial leadership positions within the Ascott group. Bahauddin is a success story of this very initiative.

Part of Ascott’s portfolio, Ascott Sari Jeddah is a boutique luxury property on Sari Street in Jeddah. Home to short-stay guests and long-stay residents, the property offers studios, and one- and two-bedroom serviced spaces, adorned in exquisite Parisian décor. Complemented with global lifestyle amenities and business facilities, the property is locally renowned for its international standards of hospitality.

Under Bahauddin’s leadership since July 2019, the property has accomplished elevated rates of occupancy. Her managerial potential was applauded mid-year at the peak of the global COVID-19 crisis, where Ascott Sari Jeddah remained open and well-operational under her supervision, during the tense lockdown period. Bahauddin was also instrumental in the implementation of Ascott’s global safety program “Ascott Cares” at Ascott Sari Jeddah, elevating the property’s international safety protocols. The hotel received the Ascott Cares Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label by Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services. BV conducted field audits at the property to ensure that the nine commitments under Ascott Cares met the stringent requirements of BV’s inspection program.

An inspiring leader to her team and a successful hotelier, Bahauddin’s work and proactive approach has led the property to achieve numerous accolades.

On a personal front, she enjoys a well-balanced lifestyle as a recreational diver and an environmental enthusiast. She is also actively part of several nonprofit projects catering to the environment and street children.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Maha Al-Wabel, general supervisor of the Municipal Innovation Center in KSA’s Eastern Province

22/11/20

Maha Al-Wabel is the newly appointed general supervisor of the Municipal Innovation Center in the Eastern Province municipality.
She is a member of several prominent organizations, including the board of the Deanship of Community Service and Sustainable Development at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, the Al-Wud Charity, the Saudi Management Association, the International Public Relations Association (Gulf branch), the Dammam Cultural Center, and the International Women’s Contact in The Hague.
Al-Wabel is also a certified trainer in administrative development, an ambassador for social responsibility and an official of public relations and media.
She is known for her work as a prolific opinion writer for Al-Riyadh newspaper, as well as the author of multiple published books in both English and Arabic. She also has bylines in Saudi newspapers Al-Youm and Al-Watan.
She also founded the national, nonprofit initiative “Nisaa Al-Watan,” the first initiative to document the names, achievements and histories of Saudi women since 1999. The initiative also published a book in 2008.
Al-Wabel is committed to giving back to the community. In 2017, she established the “Shahrazad Al-Dhahran” book club, and from 2014-2015, she conducted a program to teach Arabic to expatriate students in The Netherlands.
She has also held several workshops for students and parents on how to write children’s books and offers free courses and workshops in business.
Al-Wabel holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from King Saud University and a master’s degree in public relations and mass media from Ahlia University in Manama, Bahrain.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Adwa Al-Arifi, undersecretary of planning and development at the Ministry of Sports

21/11/20

Adwa Al-Arifi

Adwa Al-Arifi has recently been appointed as undersecretary of planning and development at the Ministry of Sports.
She attended Al-Yamamah University in Riyadh, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2011. As an undergraduate student, Al-Arifi founded the Al-Yamamah Female Football Club in 2007 and acted as president of the university’s student council.
In 2008, she founded the Riyadh Female Football Committee, with the aim of developing regulations and rules for football leagues, management and planning, as well as training and referee workshops.
Al-Arifi started her journey with Saudi Fransi Capital in 2012 as part of an asset management rotation program for fresh graduates and was recruited a year later as a portfolio officer in that department. Between 2014 and 2016, she served as a fund manager, building up her expertise in the stock exchange and in asset relativity across different markets.
Halfway through 2016, she consulted for Portas Consulting, where she focused on project analysis and strategy implementation in Saudi Arabia’s sports scene. In 2019, Al-Arifi joined the Ministry of Sports as an investment director.
Having accumulated 10 years of experience in the Saudi football scene, she is making history with her accomplishments in the Kingdom’s sports sector.
Al-Arifi was nominated to become a member of the Saudi Olympics Council by the Saudi Olympic Committee. In December 2019, she became a board member.
Earlier that same year, she was the first Saudi woman appointed to the Saudi Football Federation, joining a seven-member committee.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Saudi G20 presidency empowered civil societies, Secretariat member says

21/11/20

G20 Saudi Secretariat member Reem Al-Faryan speaks at a media briefing on November 20,2020. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

Al-Faryan said the new department was created to allow engagement groups to maximize participation
The engagement groups had over 200 interactions with the G20, she said

DUBAI: The Group of Twenty (G20) presidency of Saudi Arabia has empowered civil societies by creating a support group that is making sure they have access to crucial resources throughout the summit, a G20 Saudi Secretariat member said.
Reem Al-Faryan said the new department, the first of its kind, was created early in Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency to allow engagement groups — from civil societies to private sectors — to maximize their participation.
“The role of our team was to provide them with access to information and meetings,” she added.
Al-Faryan, who spoke at a briefing ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh, said the Saudi G20 presidency has placed a high value on providing engagement groups access to G20 discussions.
“If you want to empower them, give them access to the discussion table,” she said.
The engagement groups had over 200 interactions with the G20, which included top officials participating in meetings and events hosted by the groups, according to Al-Faryan.
She also noted the active participation of the engagement groups through a high volume of policy recommendations and public statements.
Al-Faryan said Saudi Arabia’s commitment to these engagement groups reflected the Kingdom’s vision to empower vulnerable sectors of society, including women and youth.
“This is how our leadership would like to see the people of Saudi Arabia — empowered,” she emphasized.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Turfah Al-Mutairi, first Saudi woman to obtain a license from GAMI

Time: 18 November 2020

Turfah Al-Mutairi

Turfah Al-Mutairi is the first Saudi woman to obtain a license from the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) for a military outfit factory.
Al-Mutairi has a bachelor’s degree in arts and design from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, where she majored in textile design. She has also attended training programs on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at Leipzig University, Germany, and on promoting industrial innovation and technological facilities from the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). She has also received qualifications from UNIDO in industrial policies and planning strategy.
From 1999 to 2009, she worked as an educationalist at Al-Riyadh Schools. She is now the founder and CEO of the Sondos Al-Dibaj Trading Co., the Sondos Advanced Manufacturing Co. and the Sondos Al-Dibaja Factory for Civil and Military Textile Industries. She also has a factory producing medical products and equipment.
Al-Mutairi’s military outfit factory is among the first of five companies to receive licenses from GAMI. The factory works with international companies specialized in localizing production of military equipment.
Al-Mutairi, who is the deputy head of the businesswomen’s committee at the Riyadh Chamber, is planning to build partnerships with more international companies to develop the field, quoting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who said: “The sky is the limit.” She has had meetings with Chinese and Greek industrial companies, and said she will work with any company that wishes to enter the Saudi market.
According to Al-Mutairi, she employs some 170 workers in her factory, most of whom are women, and will hire a further 213 new employees as part of its expansion strategy.

This article was first published in Arab News

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Dr. Razan Baker, chairperson of the International Bowling Federation’s (IBF) Women in Sport Committee

16/11/20

Dr. Razan Baker of Saudi Arabia has been appointed chairperson of the International Bowling Federation’s (IBF) Women in Sport Committee by IBF President Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah.
Baker currently serves on the Saudi Bowling Federation (SBF) board. She is also director of international communications for the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee.
Growing up in a family of sports enthusiasts, Baker followed her dream of becoming a sports columnist for Arab News. Noticing the limited number of sports role models for young women in Saudi Arabia, she embarked on an initiative to support Saudi women bowlers. With the support and guidance of President of the SBF Bader Al-Alshaikh, she is working to further develop women’s sporting skills so that they may play at the international level.
A breakthrough in this initiative came in 2019 when, for the first time in Saudi sports history, the SBF sent a women’s team to compete at the World Bowling Women’s Championships in Las Vegas. Baker served as the team manager. Over the past two years, the SBF has more than quadrupled its athlete membership, an achievement realized through the outstanding work that the federation has done to support women in sports.
Sheikh Talal said: “Baker has been a big part of this success and therefore her appointment to lead the IBF’s Women in Sport Committee was not a difficult decision. I and the IBF executive board look forward to working with her in the future to champion our female athletes to the next level.”
Baker will lead a team of committee members in establishing strategies that advocate for the increased participation of female athletes in bowling and in leadership positions within the IBF and its member federations.