Dear members,
Welcome to our latest quarterly newsletter. On behalf of GCC BDI, I extend warm wishes of Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family. The commencement of this year has been marked by a bustling first quarter, filled with significant achievements and milestones for GCC BDI. We are thrilled to be honoured and delighted to announce that GCC BDI has been named 'Best Corporate Governance Institute UAE 2024' by International Business Magazine for the second consecutive year! This recognition reaffirms our dedication to setting the highest standards in corporate governance. Thank you for your continued support.
In addition, GCC BDI and Nasdaq, in collaboration with APCO, have published a report with the objective of offering comprehensive insights into the existing corporate culture landscape in the GCC region. This report addresses various challenges combated by companies and offers guidance on adopting culture stewardship practices. For more detailed information on our findings, insights, and recommendations, we encourage you to download the report here.
Empowering Women: Fostering Equality and Inclusion in Boardrooms
The theme for this newsletter is “Empowering Women: Fostering Equality and Inclusion in Boardrooms”. Empowering women in boardrooms is a pivotal step towards fostering equality and inclusion in corporate governance. By ensuring diverse representation at the decision-making level, companies benefit from a broader range of perspectives, ideas, and experiences. Furthermore, empowering women in boardrooms sends a powerful message about gender equality, breaking down barriers and inspiring future generations of women to pursue leadership roles. Ultimately, promoting women's empowerment in boardrooms isn't just about justice; it's a strategic imperative for building more resilient, sustainable, and successful organisations in today's global landscape.
We are delighted to showcase enlightening interviews in this edition authored by esteemed members of GCC BDI, including Barbara Riccardi, Managing Director at Natixis (accessible here); Basmah Omair, CEO of Behavioral Consulting (here); Aya Al Atrash, Regional Director of Human Resources at Americana Restaurants International PLC (here); Maryam Ficociello, Chief Governance Officer at The Red Sea Development Company (here); and Nada Alharthi, Founding Member and Board Director at Rofaida Women’s Health Organisation (here).
GCC BDI was thrilled to partner with ZeeArts in its 7th celebration on International Women's Day of Art Connects Women, showcasing 108 wonderful exhibits from 108 international female artists, including from our region.
Additionally, you can explore the article "Embracing Diversity for a Better Tomorrow" by PwC here and "Addressing the Need for Women Directors" by Heidrick & Struggles here.
Events
I cordially invite you to join me at the Marcus Evans Conference on May 21 in Dubai, where we will look into the theme of "ESG-Centric business strategy post-COP 28: Empowering your board to lead with purpose and resilience in the era of sustainable governance." Our panel of esteemed speakers includes Bushra Abu-Salem, Abdullah Algamdi, Dr. Waddah Al Hashmi, and Redwan Ahmed, with myself serving as the moderator. Find out more here.
Furthermore, I will also be facilitating a thought-provoking discussion on "National Visions Towards Sustainable Economies in the Region: Where Are We?" at the upcoming Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) conference on April 29 in Doha, hosted by the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE).
As part of our ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, GCC BDI is offering sponsorship packages for companies dedicated to advancing corporate governance standards. Your participation in our flagship Annual Board Chair Summit Q4 2024 (date to be confirmed soon) would significantly contribute to discussions on critical governance issues shaping the economic landscape in the GCC region. If your company is interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities, please contact Noor Barghouthi at noor.barghouthi@gccbdi.org or visit our website for more details here.
Membership
The imminent launch of the Bahrain and Dammam, as well as Jeddah and Western Province Membership Chapters, marks an exciting milestone in our organisation's expansion and outreach efforts this year. Watch the space for more information.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Riyadh Chapter event scheduled for May 1, 2024, at the Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. We extend an invitation for you to join in a distinctive debate—a pioneering event poised to reshape the contours of professional discourse and networking. Secure your spot by registering here.
We are also introducing our exclusive LinkedIn private group tailored specifically for GCC BDI Members & Fellows. This is designed to serve as a premium platform for curated job vacancies, upcoming events, and specialised services. Join us to stay updated on the latest developments and connect with fellow members here.
Employee spotlight
We've introduced a dedicated segment in our newsletter to offer glimpses into our exceptional team members who contribute significantly to GCC BDI. Our inaugural spotlight shines on Lucy Turner, our Deputy CEO, who has been an integral part of GCC BDI for over six years. Throughout her tenure, Lucy's role has evolved, and she has made substantial contributions across various aspects of our organisation. Discover more about Lucy's insights here.
Team updates
GCC BDI continues its growth journey, and we are thrilled to share news of our team's expansion. It is our pleasure to introduce Dr. Lisa Gulesserian as Head of Professional Development, spearheading the team responsible for delivering a range of governance programmes including all certification programmes, bespoke governance training & projects. We welcome Lisa to the GCC BDI family.
Eid Mubarak greetings
In anticipation of Eid al-Fitr, we extend our heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to all our esteemed members. May this special day bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity.
To draw to a close, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to each of you for your continued support and engagement with GCC BDI. Together, we are making strides towards building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future for corporate governance in the GCC region.
Yours sincerely,
John Gollifer