Under the theme ‘Make it Happen’ Shell joined the celebrations of the International Women’s Day in Abu Dhabi on 3rd March at the Beach Rotana Hotel.
The event was held under the patronage and presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi Minister of International Cooperation and Development.
Five Business Groups – International Business Women’s Group (IBWG), Australian, British, French and Canadian Business Groups – joined together to celebrate this special event, to highlight the significance and magnitude of the day.
Sana Bardawil – Shell Communications Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was the keynote speaker at a panel joined by CNN Anchor Becky Anderson. The panel discussions addressed the importance of media and communications in the digital age, and the role of women as leaders and influencers in such domains in a fast moving world of information and the challenges faced.
Authenticity and honesty were key words expressedby Becky Anderson as she described managing her role as a female journalist in challenging locations. Voicing the same, Sana Bardawil also stressed the importance of communications, whether in Oil and Gas or other sectors, and how it plays a role in portraying stories to the public domain and the key messages required to be disseminated. She also mentioned the vast opportunities women have in the UAE and the role they can play to achieve great goals in various sectors, compete with others and find plausible solutions.
The forum was very successful, attended by more than 400 people with the presence of HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi as well other VIPs of various organizations, business women, members of embassies and employees of companies.
Shell Abu Dhabi is a sponsor of the International Business Women’s Group (IBWG) – the main organizer of the event. The IBWG of Abu Dhabi is a non-profit organisation founded in 1995 by a group of expatriate business women looking to promote and support the capabilities of professional women in Abu Dhabi. The IBWG membership is open to women of all nationalities doing business in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Collaboration with various entities and the role it plays in enhancing good stakeholder relations with various organisations is a cause supported by HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi as well as various female figures and female leaders to encourage and enhance women’s professional presence as a whole and the role they can play for the future.
The event was featured on Abu Dhabi TV.