Hear inter-generational perspectives on diversity and why a woman’s place is in the boardroom. 

• Welcome note: Leena Al Olaimy, Cofounder of Diversity On Board, Executive Chairperson, 3BL Associates. 

• Welcome note from Diversity Champion: Reem AlBanna, Chief Risk Officer, HSBC UAE. 

• Keynote: ‘A Woman’s Place is in the Boardroom’, Caroline Fattal Fakhoury, Founder of Stand for Women, Forbes Middle East ‘200 Most powerful Arab Women in Business’.

• Intergenerational Fireside chat: Rawan Maki, Environmental Engineer and Fashion Designer & Elham Hassan, first female partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Middle East, Forbes ‘Most Influential Women in the Middle East’, Chairwoman of Taaheal Healthcare. 

Session Recording: Opening Plenary

Two-thirds of the MENA region’s population is under the age of 35; should we have age diversity in the boardroom? 

• H.E. Sara Al Madani, entrepreneur, board member at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  

• Fatema Ebrahim, Founder of Andra Public Relations, board member at Bahrain Economic Development Board.  

• Aysha Abdulla Mutaywea, Resident Partner of MENA Chambers, member of the International Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).  

Moderator: Tariq Al Olaimy, Cofounder Diversity On Board, Managing Director, 3BL Associates.  

Session Recording: Panel: Age Diversity in The Board Room 

S.H.E.Strategy – Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered – what does it mean, and why should you care? THIS is how you take up space, are noticed (for the right reasons) and remembered.  So the next time there’s a board position you’re perfect for, you get the call, and are chosen.  But that’s not all – the key to your success is your ability to sustain it.  Join Nima to find out more! 

Session Facilitator: Nima Abu Wardeh, Founder of S.H.E.Strategy

Session Recording: Live Masterclass: Lean into Your Power, Showcase Your Brilliance

Men and women chairing boards provide insights to aspiring board candidates on the qualities, skills and characteristics they value in the boardroom. 

• Dr. Ossama Hassanein, Chairman of Rising Tide Fund, entrepreneur, mentor, and venture capitalist. 

• Noura Alturki, Vice President of Nesma Holding, Vice President of Saudi Shooting Federation. 

• Rana Ghandour Salhab, People & Purpose Partner, Member of the Executive Committee, former member of the Board of Directors at Deloitte ME; 30% Club Founding Chair.  

Moderator: Mariam Farag, Founding Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, MBC Group. 

Session Recording: Panel (Arabic): What I Look For in a Board of Directors

The dragonfly is one of just two species with 360-degree vision. Why are diverse boards pivotal to providing the insights needed to navigate in crisis? 

• Dr. Ashraf Gamaleldin, CEO of Hawkamah, Institute for Corporate Governance. 

• Captain Stephan Reckie, Astropreneur, Executive Director, GEN Space. 

• Amal Dokhan, CEO of Global Entrepreneurship Network- Saudi Arabia. 

• Loty Salazar, Corporate Governance Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group. 

 Moderator: Leena Al Olaimy, Cofounder of Diversity On Board, Executive Chairperson, 3BL Associates. 

Session Recording: Panel: Dragonfly Boards: Resilience & Agility in Times of Crisis

IFC Research study on ESG and female business leadership and other program materials. 

In a storytelling series of short (5-minute) videos, male and female board members reflect on how they landed their first board position and give tips to first-time board seekers.

Session Host: Dominique Ghazar, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Bank Middle East.  

Session Recording: How I Got My First Board Position

The pathway to the boardroom is not always a straight one. In an open fireside chat, join Sabrin as she shares her personal journey, learnings and insights on taking advantage of opportunities ahead.   

Session Hosts:  

• Sabrin Rahman, Head of Sustainability, MENAT, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. 

• Dominique Ghazar, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Bank Middle East. 

Session Recording: Fireside Chat: Pathway to the Boardroom

Learn how your startup can set up its board for growth, including how to structure the board, regulations and different provisions, how best to consider advice from investor board members, and other essentials.  

Facilitated by: Sameer Sortur, Director of Founder Institute- Dubai Chapter 

Session Co-Host: Founder Institute  

Session Recording: Masterclass: Set Up Your Startup Board for Growth

Founders share how they selected their board members, what characteristics they considered, how the board helped them succeed, and how to avoid potential negative impacts of the board. 

• Amena El-Saie, co-founder, President & CEO, Helm Egypt 

• Walid Daniel Dib, co-founder and CEO, Addenda 

• Marc R. Aoun, CEO/General Manager, Compost Baladi 

• Yasser Abdulaziz, Founder and CEO of Malaeb 

• Zied Tayeb, CEO and Founder of Myelins 

Moderated by: Pakiza Abdulrahman, Head of Startups, Bahrain Economic Development Board, board member of GEN Bahrain. 

Session Co-Host: Startup Bahrain 

Session Recording: Panel: Founders On Board With Diversity

The impact of gender diversity on financial performance remains debatable. Hear the different perspectives on whether women really are the ‘superheroes’ that boards (and countries) need, and the influence of gender on family business boards in the GCC. 

• H.E. Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner of KPMG Bahrain, First Vice Chairman of Bahrain Shura Council. 

• Dr. Basmah Omair, Researcher, Founder & CEO of BMO Management Consulting, Board member of Saudi National Women’s Council, Chairwoman of W20 Female Labor Market Inclusion Committee.  

• Noor Adhami, Regional Head of Global Liquidity and Cash Management, HSBC UAE. 

• Ellecia Saffron, Vice Chair 100 Women in Finance, Founder & Managing Director of Maysaffron, Chairman of the Australia Middle East Business Group Association.  

Moderated by: Leena Al Olaimy, Cofounder of Diversity On Board, Executive Chairperson, 3BL Associates. 

Session Recording: Panel: Does Board Diversity Really Drive Financial Performance & Economic Growth? 

What does the long and transformational journey of diversity and inclusion look like, and how can we unlock trillions in value? 

• Keynote: Wafa Obaidat, CEO and founder Obai & Hill and Women Power Summit. 

• Keynote: ‘From 2,000 Women in Tech, to 14,000 Women in Silicon Valley & Beyond’, Shannon Gordon, CEO, theBoardlist.  

• Keynote: ‘Best Practices to Improve Board Diversity in MENA’, Rima Assi, Senior Partner, McKinsey, Abu Dhabi. 

Session Recording: Plenary: The Journey of Diversity & Inclusion

Finding a position on a board is not easy—especially for women, so you need to hone your value proposition. This masterclass covers: 

• When is the right time in your career to consider board service? 

• Changing perspective – the view from the board. 

• Getting yourself prepared. 

• How do you get started? 

Facilitated by: Jane Valls, Executive Director, GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI) 

Session Recording: Live Masterclass: Your Board Value Proposition

• Maya Rahal, Managing Director, MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab

Masterclass Recording: Steps to Structuring A Successful Board

• Sharif El-Badawi, Managing Partner at 500 Startups MENA

Masterclass Recording: The What, When and How of Startup Boards

• Heather Henyon, Founding General Partner at Mindshift Capital

Masterclass Recording: Boards for Early Stage Start-Ups