Asharqia Chamber and SABIC conclude the training program for the Leaders Initiative.
Asharqia Chamber represented by the Women Empowerment Center in collaboration with SABIC and its national initiative 'Nassand,' concluded the training program for the Leaders Initiative on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The program, titled 'Empowering Women's Role in Boardrooms,' took place over three days and was hosted at the Asharqia Chamber Tower.
Throughout the three days, the program featured participation from various leadership figures who shared their experiences. Prominent female leaders from diverse sectors and organizations attended the event, including Agarid Abdeljawad, a board member of the Chamber, Nevina Shastri, the Vice President and General Counsel at SABIC, Dr. Wajih Moghrabiya, the Executive Director of Local Workforce Solutions and Business Development at SABIC, and Abdullah Al-Balwi, the General Manager of SABIC's office in Dammam.
On the first day, several topics related to the objectives of the board of directors and corporate governance were discussed, including the importance of board formation and the need to empower women in boardrooms. Jen Vals, the CEO of the Gulf Cooperation Council Boards Institute, spoke about these topics. Additionally, Lina Zaza, a partner at Khashim & Partners Law Firm, discussed the duties and responsibilities of board members. Walid Al-Sinani, the General Manager of Global Corporate Governance at SABIC, also presented the governance issues related to the Eastern Province.
On the second day, Randa Bou Hassoun, a Senior Associate at the Gulf Cooperation Council Boards Institute, talked about understanding the roles of the board of directors. Jen Vals, the CEO of the Gulf Cooperation Council Boards Institute, discussed board committees, board structure, effective board formation, board operations, and protocols. Basma Fadlallah, the Secretary of Nesma and Partners, discussed the role of the secretary in the board. The roles of the chairman, CEO, and the dynamics of the board of directors were also discussed. Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Othman, the former Governor and Chairman of the Board of the General Authority for Investments, and Shaila Al-Ruwaili, the CEO of Wusool International Investment, a subsidiary of Aramco, were part of the discussions.
On the third and final day, Saed Al-Jammal, the financial consultant and internal audit expert at the Saudi Association of Internal Auditors, conducted a workshop on the importance of internal auditing and the key differences between internal and external auditing. He also discussed the role of the audit committee. Naif Al-Ayed, the Vice President for Local Content and Business Development at Nassand Investment in SABIC, provided a series of tips to support the activation of board members' roles. The program's final day also featured Eng. Najib Al-Sahati, the Vice President of the Sahati Group, who shared his group's experience.
It's worth mentioning that the Asharqia Chamber aims to expand the awareness and knowledge of businesswomen regarding the duties and responsibilities of board members, as well as the structures and operations of boards, among other topics such as governance, whether in terms of its trends, practices, and the importance of both internal and external auditing.
