TDP Participated in the Qatar Business Women Forum held at the Ritz Carlton on the 17th & 18th of May. TDP's Managing Director, Judith Barton led the afteroon session in Leading with Emotional Intelligence with QBWF's 600 particpants.

PRESS RELEASE 17 May 2011

600 participant for second Qatar businesswomen forum

DOHA: Nearly 600 participants are slated to attend the Second Qatar International Businesswomen Forum (QIBF) to be held at the Ritz-Carlton Doha on May 17-18.

The Forum, held under the auspices of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, promises to be a milestone on the regional conferencing calendar, and the second edition will resume on the work of its predecessor and further expand the discussion of leading issues of the hour on the economic empowerment of women in the Arab world.

Aisha Al Fardan, Vice-President, Qatari Business Women Association, said: “The importance of this forum cannot be underestimated. The whole ethos of what will take place in the forum from Tuesday is about the empowerment of women in the business world and, as we have so much to contribute, then it’s understood that this is a forum that is of benefit not only to women, but to everyone who is business-minded.”

A forum is defined by its participants, and QIBF’s roster of speakers confirms Al Fardan’s optimism. Attendees will see proceedings opened by Lebanese journalist and television personality Giselle Khoury and thereafter share in the knowledge and experience of, to name but a few, H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief of the Emiri Diwan; H E Dr Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Secretary General – General Secretariat for Development Planning; Lebanese Member of Parliament Bahia El Hariri, and Jordanian Senator Suhair Al Ali. The forum will pay tribute to the four prominent personalities as a sign of appreciation for their contributions to economy and society.

Delegations

High profile delegations are convening from Saudi Arabia headed by Princess Haila bint Abdurahman Al Saoud, and Princess Al Anood bint Faisal Al Saoud and an Emirati delegation led by Fatima Al Jaber, COO of Al Jaber Group; a Lebanese delegation led by MP Bahia Al Hariri and a large Turkish delegation of 40 representatives led by Nilufer Bulut, the Chairman of Turkish Businesswomen Association.

In addition delegates will come from Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, US, Russia, Ukraine, France, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, South Africa, Cyprus, and Germany led by the German TV anchor Astrid Frohlof.

“The international flavour of the Forum is both vital and evident, and the registered participants until this date has reached 600,” added Al Fardan.

Thye forum will focus on the aim of exploring the growing role of women in business and other spheres of economic activity, the challenges and obstacles women face in an evolving regional business environment and business issues specific to the Gulf countries and the Arab world at large.

The first session of the forum will discuss the advantages of optimising the role and the potential which businesswomen’s society has, and the impact of this role on converting current economical challenges into opportunities. It will also focus on women employment in the gulf region and its impact on boosting up economic recovery process. It will be moderated by Chairman of Jordinvest Ahmad Tantash and attended by Suhair Al Ali, Jordanian MP Reem Badran and Nilufer Bulut, and Dr Sabah Abdel Rasoul Al Tamimi, Head of the Iraqi delegation.

Other topics of discussions include facing economic uncertainties – turning challenges into opportunities, the challenges of accessing capital, leading with emotional intelligence and performing within cultural boundaries and limitations.

Raed Chehaib, CEO of Interactive Business Network, the Forum organisers, said: “In its second edition, the forum has a slogan ‘Women Counted, Challenges Become Opportunities’, stressing on the leading role of women in the Arab region and the world. We have a stellar roster of speakers, participants and delegates.”

QIBF’s high profile event has attracted a number of ‘blue chip’ sponsors, including RasGas as Strategic Partner, QIB as Platinum Sponsor, Ahli Bank, UDC and QDB as Gold Sponsors, CBQ and IBQ as Silver Sponsors and QSTP and Qapco as Bronze Sponsors. This is in addition to other partners including Alfardan Automobiles, Commercial Bank, British Council, Qatar Airways, PC One, Katara and the Qatari Businessmen Association.