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Global Leaders, Grand Attendees and Glittering Awards Mark the Conclusion of the 17th Global Women Leaders Conference


With an envious group of royal family members, renowned dignitaries and global women leaders’ presence, the 17th Global Women Leaders Conference concluded successfully at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE. The 17th edition of the conference carved yet another niche and created yet another benchmark in its history with some excellent case studies, top-notch speakers, and the 14th Middle East Women Leaders Excellence Awards ceremony marking the end of the 2-days women leadership extravaganza leaving unique experiences and ubiquitous success galore.

Celebrating the 104th International Women’s Day, the 17th edition of Woibex was embellished with some renowned personalities— H.H Princess Ameera Al Taweel, H.E. Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Ms. Almas Jiwani (President of UN Women National Committee of Canada), , Ms.Elise Bijon (Partnerships and Business Development, Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, UNWFP) and many more.

The event, sponsored by First Gulf Pharmaceuticals Centre, Saudi German Hospitals, SLS (Syrian Ladies Society) and partnered by Coca-Cola, Almarai, Unilever, Patchi, Glenda, MicaBeauty Cosmetics, Swiss Arabia, Emirates Women Police Association, Beit Al Arab, Meydan Theatre, Lily Pond , Umm Suqeim Model School, Positive Cancer Foundation, and Al Foah witnessed the coming together of superlative women leaderships from across the globe and connecting women business leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, professionals, and government leaders in the past 2 days.

Day 2 began with the presentation of Dr. Ahmed Tahlak, President & Chairman of LEVENBERT on ‘Women Leaders Economic and Knowledge Management Development Strategies’ who presented his views on women leaders’ role in 21st century knowledge management. He emphasized on the modern management approach and the significance of educating and developing tomorrow’s young leaders.

It was followed by a presentation on ‘Challenges Facing the 21st Century Women Teachers and Education Professionals’ by Mrs. Noora Saif Al Muhiri, Principal of Umm Suqeim Model School & Secretary General, Advisory Board, Dubai Educational Zone. She elaborated on the need for empowering more women professionals towards the teaching and education field and also discussed the various challenges and opportunities facing women leaders in achieving senior positions in ministry of education and other departments.

Ms. Hanan Abdulla Al Mehairi, Assistant Manager - Knowledge Management from Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) presented her views on Women Leaders Challenges and Opportunities in Economic and Knowledge Management Development wherein she elaborated on the characteristics of knowledge based economy and creation of opportunities for organizational learning and greater collaborations. She also focused on the necessity for shift o knowledge economy and presented her research and objective of KM studies and statistics.

Dr. Mariam Al Marshoudi, Founder and CEO of First Gulf Pharmaceuticals Centre presented a case study on ‘GCC's Position in Pharmaceutical Research and Practice’. She elaborated on the GCC pharmaceutical market current scenario and its changes on a global scale and explained the lifestyle of the GCC region, their increased life expectancy and high income pro capita. She then addressed the necessity to maintain cultural identity and heritage while adopting best practices from the West. The coffee break and networking session was followed by a case study on Unilever’s Business Case for Diversity by Ms. Nihal El Daly, Vice President, Marketing Operations, North Africa Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus region, Unilever.

It was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Global Brands Sales Future in GCC Region: Empowering Women Leadership in the World Economy’ chaired by Ms. Nihal El Daly; Ms. Miriam Farshoukh, Public Relations Lead of Microsoft Gulf; Ms. Asil Attar, CEO of Lead Associates; Ms. Firdaus Shariff, Vice President - Marketing of SAP Middle East and Africa.

Ms.Elise Bijon, Partnerships and Business Development, Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia from United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) presented a keynote speech on ‘The United Nations World Food Programme’ that emphasized on empowering vulnerable women and mothers through humanitarian assistance, development aid and CSR and our opportunity and responsibility in that regard – Highlighting the UAE as a potential role model in that area. She also focused on the WFP’s primary targets (along with children) and how gender drives WFP’s food assistance efforts.

Drawing towards the end of the conference, honorable H.H Princess Ameera Al Taweel graced the occasion of the 14th Middle East Women Leaders Excellence Awards. She presented a keynote speech on the awards ceremony, talking about empowering, inspiring, and encouraging the present and next generation women leaders in attaining superlative leadership benchmarks. Her thought-provoking and inspiring speech streamed down as quite a motivation for all the women leaders present in the ceremony. Middle East Excellence Awards Institute honored Her Highness with the Middle East Women Leadership Model Award. Her Highness also recognized the winners of the ‘14th Middle East Women Leaders Excellence Award’.

The winners of the 2014 Women Leaders Excellence Awards are as follows;

1. Middle East Women Leadership Role Model Excellence Award

   Her Highness Princess Ameera Al Taweel

2.Woman Leader in Business and Economic Development Excellence Award

   Her Excellency SheikhaBodourbint Sultan Al Qasimi

   Chairperson of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq

3.Women Leader in Engineering Excellence Award

   H.E. Engineer Jameela Mohammad Khalfan Al Shamsi

   Director General, Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme

4.Women Leader in Corporate Management Excellence Award

   Ms. Laila M. TaherFaridoonDirector

   Chairman Office/Executive Office, Roads & Transport Authority

5.Woman Leader in Media and Communications Excellence Award

   Ms. Somayya Al JabartiEditor-in-Chief, Saudi Gazette

6.Woman Leader in Banking and Finance Excellence Award

   Ms. Huda Abdulla

   Executive Vice President & Head of the UAE Nationals Segment, First Gulf Bank

7.Woman Leader in Aviation Excellence Award

   Eng. Maryam Al Balooshi

   Director of Environmental Studies - General Authority of Civil Aviation

8.Women Leader in Art & Fashion Industry Excellence Award

   Ms. KhuloodThaniFounder/ Designer "BINT THANI"

9.Woman Leader in Oil and Petroleum Industry Excellence Award

   Ms. AbeerSadekChairman, Planning & Strategy, Kuwait Petrochemical Company

10.Woman Leader in Sports Excellence Award

   Ms.Mona Al-Harmoudi

   Deputy Chairman,Chess Committee Al Ain Club & Member of Chess Competitions & Events The International Chess Federation

11.Woman Leader in Pharmaceutics Excellence Award

  Dr. Mariam Al MarshoudiFounder and CEO First Gulf Pharmaceuticals Centre

12.Woman Leader in Protecting and Developing a Safe Society Excellence Award

   Major.Amna Al Baloushi

   chairperson of the Emirates Women Police Association (EWPA)Ministry of the Interior, Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

13.Woman Leader in Education Development Excellence Award

   Noora Saif Al MuhiriPrincipal UmmSuqeim Model School, Secretary General, Advisory Board, Dubai Educational Zone

14.Woman Leader in Education Excellence Award

   Ms.Nouf Al KhalifaDirector, London Business School, Dubai Center

15.Woman Leader in Medicine and Healthcare Excellence Award

   Dr. Reema OsmanCEO, Saudi German Hospita


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