Arab International Women’s Forum LAUNCH of the AIWF 2006 PROGRAMME

Building Bridges, Building Business Between the City of London,
the Arab World and the international Community

BUSINESS FORUM AT THE SHELL CENTRE
April 19th 2006

5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DINNER
at the Mansion House April 20th

In the Presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan

Hosted by the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Brewer CMG

Supported by SHELL International

 

5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DINNER
Building Bridges, Building Business Between the City of London, the Arab World and the International Community

Welcome and Address by Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani, Chairman AIWF

Address by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of London. Alderman David Brewer CMG

Address by HH Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of the Economy and Planning, United Arab Emirates

Concluding Remarks by Dr Gavin Graham, Vice President New Business Development, Middle East Shell

5th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet

MEDIA ARTICLES
(English) (Size:712Kb)    (Arabic) (Size:2000Kb)

The AIWF 2006 Programme Launch was comprised of two events. The venue for the main event on Thursday 20 April 2006 was the Mansion House in the City of London for the 5th AIWF Anniversary Dinner when guests attended from 35 countries. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al - Abdullah was the Guest of Honour. Ms Cherie Booth, QC was a guest at the reception, on this occasion.

The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Brewer CMG Invited AIWF to celebrate its 5th Anniversary at the Mansion House in a special dinner hosted by the Lady Mayoress and himself. In his address the Lord Mayor highlighted the achievements that women are making in the Arab world and paid tribute to the work of AIWF in this regard.

Guest Speaker, HH Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of the Economy and Planning, United Arab Emirates and AIWF Founder Board Member gave an animated address, which highlighted the theme for the 5th Anniversary programme of Building Business Building Bridges. Her success, in her public life, in becoming the first woman to succeed to this important cabinet post is an achievement of which AIWF members feel very proud.

Dr Gavin Graham, Vice President New Business Development. Middle East Shell offered his congratulations. AIWF acknowledged with pleasure the continuing commitment of Shell as a Global and Programme partner of AIWF and especially the Supporter for this launch programme.

Mrs Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, AIWF Chairman recorded the achievements of the first five years. The plan was to face the challenges ahead, exploring how to turn those challenges into opportunities for the future growth of the region. The future growth of the region must be built on making better use of all its resources, human and natural with women as an integral force. AIWF was well placed to pursue this and linking the Arab world, the City of London and the international community was part of the strategy for the 2006 programme regarded as a force for positive change.
 

Images from the Celebration Dinner at The Mansion House



 

Our other important event  was held on April 19th, hosted by our annual partners Shell at the Shell HQ Building when AIWF welcomed more than 70 guests for a Business Forum “Building Bridges, Building Business: Increasing Business Links Between the City of London, the Arab World and the International Community”. The four guest speakers on the panel were Dr Mohammed Smadi, Secretary General and Chief Executive, The Arab British Chamber of Commerce, Dr Assia Bensalah Alaoui, Ambassador at Large of HM, the King of Morocco, Ms Roxanne Decyk, Director Corporate Affairs, Shell and Mr Jeremy Carver, Consultant and Head of International Law, Clifford Chance with concluding remarks by Dr Gavin Graham, Vice President New Business Development, Middle East, Shell.

Their diverse comments on the aspects of global influences, reform, diversity and economic stability brought forward spirited discussion from the audience as our distinguished speakers approached the theme from different angles. Prospects of expanding business, increasing employment, ensuring that women were in the talent pool for corporate positions and recognising that mindsets and society at large must change, if reforms are to be effective were some of the issues raised in the discussion. This was truly a discussion on global citizenship and its responsibilities in today’s society, regardless of the sector, gender or sect that was represented.
 

ARAB INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM 2005 AIWF PROGRAMME WOMEN AS ENGINES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE ARAB WORLD

Ten Years After the Barcelona Process:
Empowering Women as a Catalyst for Economic Development
7-8 April 2005
at European Parliament, Brussels


Women and Integrated Rural Development
12-13 June
at the League of Arab States, Cairo


The Barcelona Process: Women As Engines Of Economic Growth
Conference Recommendations
29 September
at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London


With the valued co-operation of

The League of Arab States, The European Parliament
The European Commission, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The World Bank
And the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament

With the support of Corporate Partners

    

In collaboration with
Instituto de Empresa Business School, Spain
Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura
No Peace Without Justice

Women’s Strategy Group of Egypt’s International Economic Forum

•  Launch of the AIWF 2005 Programme Report & Recommendations, FCO, London

AIWF 2005 Programme Report & Recommendations
Women as Engines of Economic Growth in the Arab World

Special Address Launch of the AIWF 2005 Report by the Chairman of AIWF
(English) (Size:86Kb)    (Arabic) (Size:2445Kb)
Special Message by the Secretary General of the League of Arab States (Size:39Kb)
Special Address by Dominique Dellicour, European Commission (Size:25Kb)
Press Release
(English) (Size:43Kb)    (Arabic) (Size:154Kb)

• Ten Years After the Barcelona Process, Brussels

Speakers Presentations
Conference Programme (English) (size: 150Kb)
Press Release (English) (size: 385Kb)
Press Release and Conference Programme (Arabic) (size: 422Kb)
Conference Executive Summary (size: 72Kb)

• Women & Integrated Rural Development

Conference Programme in English (size: 109Kb)
Conference Programme in Arabic (size: 163Kb)
Speaker Presentations
Press Releases

The Arab International Women’s Forum hosted two-linked conferences as part of the 2005 AIWF programme, Women as Engines of Economic Growth in the Arab World. Starting with the first conference, Ten Years After the Barcelona Process: Empowering Women as Catalysts for Economic Development, held 7-8 April 2005 at the European Parliament in Brussels with the valued co-operation of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the League of Arab States, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the World Bank marking the anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

Empowering Women as Catalysts for Economic Development focussed on women’s role in business, in professions, corporate life and in creating small and medium sized businesses in order to foster economic growth and development. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, or “Barcelona Process”, was launched in November 1995 during the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Barcelona. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership comprises 35 members, 25 EU Member States and 10 Mediterranean Partners.

The 10th anniversary of the “Barcelona Process” is the right moment to analyse what has been achieved for women’s empowerment in the region and to explore what mechanisms should be put in place to enhance the economic empowerment of women. This international conference will play a significant role in advancing the agenda of women in the Arab world and will contribute to discussions that will lay the ground-breaking work for the Barcelona II Process. As importantly, it was an opportunity to widen those crucial business and professional networks across the region and into Europe and to share success stories with distinguished guests.


This landmark event between Arab and European women around the status of women and economic development gathered high-level policy makers and business leaders, representatives from leading international institutions, academics, media, and members of civil society.

The Arab International Women’s Forum worked closely with a number of valued partners. The programme was supported in Brussels by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament in collaboration with Instituto de Empresa Business School, Madrid, as the academic partner and with the full cooperation and advice of No Peace Without Justice, an international NGO. The AIWF 2005 Programme is also supported by corporate partners Shell and IBM.

For details on the programme and copies of Guest Speaker remarks please view the links.

The AIWF programme continued with the valued co-operation of the League of Arab States and the support of the European Parliament, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the World Bank. AIWF hosted the second conference, Women and Integrated Rural Development, on 12-13 June 2005 at the prestigious headquarters of the League of Arab States, in Cairo. We were pleased that the Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura, a leading organisation in Spain renowned for its work with NGOs and rural associations in the Euro-Mediterranean region, were our programme partners along with the Women’s Strategy Group of Egypt’s International Economic Forum, as our local partners.

We will be following up both conferences with a third event in London at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 29 September at the time of the UK Presidency of the European Union. In London, we will be presenting the Conference Reports and priority recommendations put forward by the Brussels and Cairo conferences.

The Arab International Women’s Forum continues to lead with sound and timely initiatives that increase the understanding of gender issues, explore the common challenges faced by women in Europe and the Arab world and give Arab women a stronger voice. As we move ahead towards gender equality, equal opportunities and tapping into the largely, unexplored economic potential of women, AIWF also provides important networking opportunities for members and associates to connect and connect Arab women with leaders in international institutions who shape public policy.

For more information, kindly contact:


Arab International Women’s Forum
4th Floor, 45 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4Jl, United Kingdom
Telephone: 44 (0) 20 7409 7788
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7409 7575

Email: info@aiwfonline.com     Website: www.aiwfonline.com
 

 

ARAB INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM With the valued co-operation of The League of Arab States the THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004    Women in the Arab World:  Partners in the Community and on the World Stage    المرأة في العالم العربي  شريك في التنمية وشريك في التواصل مع المجتمع الدولي    6-9 June 2004    at the Headquarters of  The League of Arab States  Cairo

Web Site: League of Arab States
 

Click for:

Conference Summary
(English (size: 24Kb)) (Arabic (size: 112Kb))

Conference Recommendations
(English (size: 11Kb)) (Arabic (size: 53Kb))

Conference Programme
(English (size: 73Kb)) (Arabic (size: 127Kb))

Speakers Remarks and Presentations

List Of Confirmed Speakers (58Kb)

Conference Brochure (size: 204Kb)



After two successful conferences in the United Kingdom, the Arab International Women’s Forum held the Third Annual Conference, Women in the Arab World: Partners in the Community and on the World Stage, in Cairo, 6-9 June 2004.

There were many “firsts” for this conference making it truly a landmark event! This was the Arab International Women’s Forum’s first conference to be held in the Arab world and we were delighted to be working in close co-operation with the League of Arab States. It was the first time that the League of Arab States co-hosted a women’s conference in the main Chamber of their headquarters – a prestigious and significant venue which reinforced the powerful messages about the calibre of speakers and timeliness of the topics.

Her Excellency Mrs Suzanne Mubarak officially opened the conference with a valued Keynote Address setting the tone for our distinguished Guest Speakers. His Excellency Mr Amre Moussa, Secretary General, in his Special Address emphasised the role of the League of Arab States in its quest to increase the participation of women in public life, in business and in civil society.

With the valued support of His Excellency the Secretary General and all section heads of the League of Arab States, AIWF planned and directed the conference programme and managed conference logistics. We would like to offer, again, our special thanks to His Excellency.

The Arab International Women’s Forum developed a strong programme featuring five plenary sessions which defined new realities of public and private sector partnerships at the local, pan Arab and international levels. This conference explored challenges, identified best practices, profiled international organisations and provided ample opportunity to share experiences. During the conference, Guest Speakers highlighted the remarkable progress that is now taking place in the Arab region concerning women and showcased the diversity of both the Arab and international communities.

We are indebted to the very many excellent Guest Speakers who participated in the programme taking time from exceptionally busy schedules and at their own expense. Leaders in their respective fields, our distinguished panellists came from as many as 20 different countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Brussels, and Denmark. The calibre of presentations and remarks was a testament to their experience and dedication to gender-related issues, building bridges and creating partnerships.

Over 200 participants from as many as 35 countries were in attendance at the Third Annual AIWF Conference. Participants came from all walks of life – women in government, in business, students and academics from universities, as well as women leaders in NGOs and with international organisations. Added to the participants list were many special guests – Ambassadors and heads of Special Agencies – invited to the Opening Session.

In addition to the conference plenary sessions, the conference social programme allowed participants the opportunity to forge new friendships and network among a highly motivated group of women. The Arab International Women’s Forum greatly appreciates the wide and valued support from our hosts. Sir Derek Plumbly, British Ambassador to Egypt, and Lady Nadia Plumbly kindly hosted the Conference Opening Reception at their residence which was the perfect start to the conference.

We were honoured that His Excellency Mr Amre Moussa, was the Special Guest at the Official Conference Dinner at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.

His Excellency Mr Mamdouh El Beltagui, Minister of Tourism, generously hosted an exclusive “Sound and Light” show at the Giza Plateau followed by an Egyptian cultural night.

AIWF was greatly supported by Conference Principal Contributors: Orascom, Procter & Gamble, Shell, IBM and HSBC. AIWF welcomed our sponsors and their delegations as active partners.

The media coverage in advance of, during and following the conference has been remarkable. It is estimated that over 7.1 million people were exposed to the conference through readership circulation figures and broadcast estimates and the coverage continues.

The Third Annual AIWF Conference 2004 has been a great success! We have continued our valuable work in profiling the diversity and success of women in the Arab world and providing important links to key local, pan-Arab, and international networks. We have triggered a keen interest by the general public in AIWF as we consistently deliver crucial messages that Arab women are playing an important role in business and public life. We have again demonstrated that the Arab International Women’s Forum, a non-profit organisation, is the voice of Arab women showcasing their development, breaking stereotypical images and creating greater public awareness of their success and prospects within an international context.

Second Annual Conference
Arab International Women’s Forum

Women in the Arab World:
Windows of Opportunity Opening Wider in Business & Public Life

المرأة في العالم العربي
التوسع قي نوافذ الفرص في مجالات الحياة الاقتصادية والحياة العامة

22-24 October 2003

Conference Official Booklet

Conference Brochure

Conference Programme with Conference Speakers

Speakers Presentations

Guest Speaker Profiles

Press Releases
 

The Second Annual AIWF Conference, Women in the Arab World: Windows of Opportunity Opening Wider in Business & Public Life was held at The Carlton Tower, London on 22-24 October 2003. It followed the tremendous success of AIWF’s first conference last year.
 

Windows of Opportunity in Business and Public Life combined a series of informative and stimulating sessions and panel discussions as well as offered participants the crucial opportunity to network with a wide array of speakers, members and sponsors. Her Excellency Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Her Highness, Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty The King of Bahrain, Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Women were Guests of Honour among an impressive list of distinguished speakers.
 
Windows of Opportunity in Business and Public Life explored issues in human resource development including education, life-long learning, skills and training. In a session on employment strategies, speakers focussed on creating greater career opportunities and moving up the corporate ladder. A special panel on “Leadership, Politics and Civil Society” highlighted challenges and opportunities facing women and their participation in public life. Lastly, this conference looked at building networks and outreach activities.
 
The outstanding calibre of presentations by all our speakers greatly contributed to the success of the Second Annual Conference. The programme was chosen with the greatest care ensuring that participants could take advantage of the diversity, knowledge and experience of successful women in business and public life. AIWF members and delegates very much enjoyed the substantive issues raised, the discussions and, equally, the opportunity to meet each other and form long-lasting relationships.
 
Among our special guests speakers we were delighted to hear from: Mervat Tallawy, Secretary General, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Lebanon; Hon Patricia Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, USA; Dr Haifa Al Lail, Dean, Effat College, Saudi Arabia; Dr Zahra Shojaie, Advisor to the President, Centre for Women’s Participation, Iran; the Rt Hon Baroness Shirley Williams, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, UK; Dr Faiza Al Kharefei, Professor of Chemistry, University of Kuwait; Bineta Diop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarité, Switzerland; Denise Kingsmill CBE, Deputy Chair, Competition Commission, UK; Celia de Anca, Director, Instituto de Empressa, Centre for Diversity in Global Management, Spain; Maire Brankin, Oxford Executive Coaching, UK; and Haruko Fukuda OBE, Former President, Rokia Rahman, President, Women Entrepreneurs Association, Bangladesh; Hanan Heakal, Head of Diversity, Procter & Gamble; Monira Al-Ghamdi, Deputy Director, Women’s Centre, Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority; Niki Tzavella, Vice President, Intracom SA Hellenic, Greece; Mona Sabry, Chief Financial Officer, IBM EMEA Systems Group Finance, France; Fatma El Mallah, Director, Department of Environment & Sustainable Development, League of Arab States; and Sabah Khalil Al Mouyyed, Member of the Supreme Council of Women, Bahrain.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS
 
We would like to acknowledge the growing partnerships with Conference Sponsors, Pepsi International, Procter & Gamble and Jumeirah International. Their support and participation are greatly appreciated.
 
The continued success of AIWF, its members and, most importantly, the increased opportunities of women in the Arab world, is very much linked to the growing partnerships of, and collaboration with, such distinguished organisations as global sponsors/partners. AIWF looks forward to working more closely as these relationships expand.