What inspired you to embark on your journey in Healthcare? My passion & drive has been, is and continues to be to positively impact and improve lives and to play a big role/part in helping people to live happier, healthier, self-empowered, fuller lives with a tool that not only helps people but unites them too and that is what healthcare is all about this drive continues to speed the engine of passion within me and continues to inspire me to wanting to do more and more toward this goal. As a healthcare executive, I think it’s very important to create a healthcare-related diplomacy where the world can be united by helping each other through healthcare as well. Also, I believe, Healthcare brings together all aspects, all fields (tech, legal, pharm, engineering, etc) and all stake holders together for a worthy cause – to help improve the quality of life. In my eyes, Healthcare is also universal and has no borders or boundaries across age religion ethnicity, it in essence can be the common denominator that unites the world together. What do you believe are the main skills/traits one must possess to thrive in their professional life? And in the field of Healthcare in particular? In general, I think it’s important to have the expertise, perseverance, agility, networking and patience. Being a visionary for healthcare in particular is very important –to think big, really big. You have to be a dreamer and a doer to make that moon shot happen. In your opinion, what structural, social, and economical advantages can women inclusion bring to the table in the world of healthcare? Healthcare, fortunately, is amongst the first to have accepted women in the workplace very quickly and very early on (as nurses and doctors). So, it stands at a unique position to continue to be a leader in including women – by now implementing more inclusive policies for work-life balance, maternal leave, etc. – at the policy level. Equity in pay for the economic level and by having more women leaders in healthcare – the structural level is one of equity and inclusion. With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution and digitalization occurring in health systems, it’s important that technology also is produced in ways that women are not inadvertently left behind. Mixed teams –with women and men are needed to sit together to create technological advances that prevent any gender bias from occurring in systems and technology. What is the leadership style that you developed through merging all of your experiences? There are many different styles of leadership and each brings its own value for the work place ecosystem, personally, I have adapted two leadership styles that have blended together: Empathetic Leadership and Transformational Leadership: where as an Empathetic Leaders, it’s essential to look out for the wellbeing of those around us while not missing a beat in moving forward but with a good work culture. This along-side, transformational leadership that can inspire teams to think in new ways which is essential in an era of every changing “the future of work”, business processes to improve productivity and profitability. Personally, I think the best way to utilize this blended style of leadership is to look for ways to better shape and impact the future not just the present. Why is this leadership style is good for the team: The blend of the two of Empathetic & Transformational Leadership has become an essential post pandemic era when a majority of people in the workplace experienced burn outs and started quite quitting. This blend of two leadership styles inspires employees to grow and think big and do big. This is a highly encouraging form of blended leadership where employees are supported and encouraged to see what they’re capable of. When starting a job with this type of leader, all employees might get a list of goals to reach and deadlines for reaching them. The goals might begin quite simple, but as employees grow and meet their goals, leaders will give them more agility to grow further and take on more challenges to conquer as they grow with the company and at the same time think of newer examples and ideas which will be accepted and acted upon. What are your thoughts on Women Inclusion? With the ever-evolving new technologies, the world needs to work ten times harder now more than ever to bring equity and inclusion on the table in a sustainable manner. According to IMF, with the advent of automation, 26 million women’s jobs in 30 countries will be at high risk for displacement from technology within the next 20 years which means there is a greater need for women to break the glass ceiling and be involved in the forefront of this technological 4th industrial revolution. You were selected and recognized as one of the Top Seven Most Talented Emerging Female Health Leaders of the MENA region and also are the recipient the Forbes Health Leadership Award. You were also listed as one of the top 20 women in the Nation in the United States of America for your achievements making it into the Who’s Who in America List. What was the added value that these listings/awards brought upon you on both personal and professional levels? I am humbled and honored to have been selected for the various awards for my achievements and accomplishments. With every achievement and award, the responsibility increases on my shoulders, and the responsibility imposes on me to move forward and develop others… It encourages me to showcase even more passion in my work so that it inspires the youth to follow my example. When someone follows suit, we can make an impact on the lives of others in a positive and beautiful way. My achievements serve as a reminder to myself to continue to improve my performance and to continue to do more because we live as caliphs
The Power of Determination
There is no such thing as called superwoman. There is an ordinary woman who chose to live her inner power through extraordinary decisions that transformed her life. Christine Aoun chose to speak up her message bluntly not to show off her accomplishments, but to introduce herself; the real lady she is. Who she is, remains more important than what she knows. Her transformational journey started when she decided to enroll in a university in her late thirties. But the whole story started much earlier. Throughout her first ten years as a full-time housewife and mom, she always wanted more out of life. Despite her gratitude for the family she has, she always felt that she can be more and do more. She had an inner instinct that she can be an added value to her community through the contribution of her passionate personality and energy. As qualifying herself was essential as a start, she decided to go for studies. So, she completed two years of vocational degree when the opportunity aroused to work in an NGO. Then she took courses in computer literacy and language to upskill and expand her capabilities. She worked hard to improve herself. She also embraced the opportunity of working in a supportive environment to fly and climb the professional ladder. But her desire for more led her to dream of a university degree in PR, the profession she gained eight years of experience throughout her occupation. However, dreams alone don’t work out, especially since she had no high school certificate that qualifies her for college enrolment. She proudly said “but when you want something badly, you do the impossible for what you want.” As she was so determined for what she wanted, she transformed her dream into an action plan that required a lot of sacrifices and hard work. She dedicated herself for a yearlong to studying with her son for the baccalaureate certificate. Can you imagine! The small boy that she used to teach in his early school years became her teacher in his last year of school. She admits that it wasn’t an easy year for both of them, but the long nights and perseverance for reaching great heights paid off and the outcome was rewarding for both of them. Then, she jumped into another three-year challenge for an undergraduate degree where she was competing for high grades with classmates of the age of her son and submitting projects to professors of her age. Finally, the farfetched dream became a reality and she graduated with high distinction. That success made her aim for the extra mile and here again she completed another two years of Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications. Combining her passion for communications along with her qualifications and expertise in the field, she also founded CA COMMUNICATIONS – her very own communication agency- to utilize the power of communication in bringing positive change for businesses and individuals looking to enhance their communications, and marketing strategy and implementation. Perusing educational, professional, and personal development might seem ordinary for many, but it’s surely extraordinary for a Middle Eastern woman who decided to go for a real transformation despite her responsibilities as a wife, a mother, and a working lady. Not to mention what life threw on her through her journey. No matter how challenging and exhausting these past few years were, she feels pride in how influential her life-changing experience is on women around her. While she’s grateful for how far she came, she looks forward to how further she wants to go. This is her! This is CA! your Communication Expert and Motivational Speaker. To know more about Christine Aoun you can follow her on Instagram, Linkedin, Facebook and Youtube: Christine Aoun Boutros
Catina Aghayan
Catina Aghayan is the Chairman of the boutique consultancy KK and launched niche service called green communication. She is a senior advisor for business strategy & corporate communications, offering over 20 years of experience in the area of business development, CSR, corporate communication strategy, international relations, reputation management and public affairs. Catina offers her clients a visionary and holistic approach to developing communication strategies that are both effective and efficient. She is a distinguished public speaker and innovator for “Business with Value” & “Circular Economy”. Sustainability has been a passion the recent years, orchestrated various national and international pioneer projects and community-based awareness campaigns, tackling the diplomatic circle, government entities, NGOs, Education industries and private sector. The passionate entrepreneur presents a strong portfolio of outstanding global success stories in different industries and sectors of sustainability, logistics, NGOs, Telecommunication, Cultural Affairs, Diplomacy and Governments. Mrs. Catina is renowned for her extensive work with United Nations / UPU / UNDP / UNESCO / Governments / Asian Games Doha 2006 / World Postal Congress 2012 / various Ministries / FIFA 2022. Moreover, Catina Aghayan offers a vast global network in addition to her “savoir-faire of cosmopolitan cultures and mix layers of communication in Gulf, Middle East & Europe regions. She has the purpose of helping leaders to develop innovative strategies for business and brands successfully in a rapid shifting global economy. Driven by her passion for environmental sustainability, community, and wellness, Catina works exceptionally well with business and community leaders that share her vision and values. Finally, she offers different services of which Strategic communication advisory consulting, Business Strategy & Management, National & Global Project Management, Multi Mix Media Mass Communication, Corporate Communication Strategy, Corporate Reputation & Image Management, Public Identity & Brand, Positioning, Crisis Communications, Event Management & Business Value added, Project Concept Creation, International Relations Government & Public Affairs.
Courage can be coached
Coaching will help you reach the quality of mind that enables you to bravely face difficulty, danger, and pain, which is defined as courage.
Ismahan Al Saad Biography, Co-Founder & COO, PLAYBOOK
Ismahan Al Saad Biography Co-Founder & COO, PLAYBOOK With over 20 years of experience in Finance and Investments, Ismahan is the former General Manager of AlSaad Power Projects, an A Grade Electrical Contracting – a family business enterprise of 300+ employees. Since 2013, Ismahan has achieved major restructuring of the company, facilitating an upgrade of internal infrastructures, including the Accounting and Finance Department, Marketing activities, Human Resource management, ISO & quality systems, and safety and operations.She has also been in charge of Business Development, diversifying the company’s activities and operational specialities towards increasing income sources. Prior to her career at the Family Business, Ismahan’s professional expertise lay in Banking and Finance, where her experience spans 12 years in BNP Paribas. Her career at BNPP tracks growing recognition, where key positions include Syndication Originator & Senior Banker. An asset to the Bank’s holding in the region, she represented the Bank in devising financing strategies, leading negotiations, raising funds and closing deals for regional clientele & multi-billion dollar government & private projects. She presently leads operations, finance and investment at the edutainment platform PLAYBOOK, as the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer.
Be the change
Who/what has significantly impacted your life the most? My childhood and upbringing, along with my family environment were all pieces of a puzzle that came together to make me who I am today. I would believe a lot of people have influenced my life but naturally, my parents had been a guiding light through all the phases. The values they taught, molded me to the person I am today. There are my two wonderful boys who have come to be successful and inspirational young men paving their way through life, and friends who have become like family throughout my never-ending journey. Additionally, to the people surrounding me, my international exposure has clearly influenced my embracing of different cultures and societies. And finally, my community activities left very deep feelings of reflection and heartfelt impact. Working with less privileged people has some very personal imprints on your soul. Each one has certainly impacted me in their very own tailored ways to who I am today. How have you managed to being assigned for the re-opening of LV at the Avenue Montaigne and subsequently being appointed Marketing Director Louis Vuitton Germany? I would tend to believe that it was a subtle combination of factors of which, recognition of my work and commitment to the company, my disposition to be open for new opportunities, having always worked in multicultural work environments, my command of French as a foreign language and most likely representing the company’s culture commensurate with their values as a Luxury Brand. These have certainly been some key factors to be assigned both the most exceptional roles, re-opening the flagship store in Paris and the senior role as Marketing Director LV Germany alike. Hard work, integrity and dedication always pay off. What was your main challenge through your path and how did you overcome it? I am not a big believer in the solidity of the word “challenges”. Where some see cracks and holes in their journeys, I tend to see opportunities and progress. No matter what life throws at us, there are always actions one can take and decisions that will shape you in the right direction. Challenges can perfect your skills, senses, courage, and self-growth. There had been several occasions that come indeed into my mind such as having accomplished my professional diploma at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne which was the biggest milestone and tread towards my professional career. The time of having achieved at the age of 28 the first GM role in a beautiful boutique hotel in France. There is my first public speaking outside the workplace and my first published article, both events that still make me exceptionally proud. An imperative milestone was the appointment as the first female GM at Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in Beirut ever since its inception in 1961. Above all, there are personal milestones that also impacted my professional life such as the birth of my two children, the passing away of my mom and most importantly, having found my personal path when life challenged me the most. In every aspect of life and besides certain beliefs, there is no perfect or ideal scenario to achieve your goals and to get where you want to be in life – it’s a mindset. You can have it all, but not all at once. How did you achieve a work-life balance, between your career and your motherhood? It needs a thorough organization at a private and professional level to combine it all and succeed. The support from my family helped tremendously in the earlier days when the children were still young and needed me the most. You cannot be a parent-in-absentia. However, where there is a will there is a way. It needs all stakeholders to play an integral part in making it happen, family and employer alike. I was very fortunate to have been able to proceed my career path whilst looking after the family as sole bread earner. Agility, flexibility, strong work ethics and a huge portion of serenity are sound base pillars to manage it all. The real concept of balance is being mindful and devoting time to what really matters most at any given time. Can you mention some major turning points in your life? My mother had always been my tower of strength. She passed away at a young age after over a decade of suffering which accompanied my high school years. And whilst still trying to digest the loss, it has brought into sharp focus what is important in life and where my priorities lie. Difficult times make you very humble and grateful. Until today, kindness and gratitude are my key beacons. Not everything in my life went according to plan and the toughest times and failures were in hindsight the most valuable experiences. As such I might be able to say that all experiences joyful and challenging have deeply shaped me. Tell us more about your experience as the first female GM at InterContinental Phoenicia ever since its inception in 1961, Beirut Lebanon. Having fallen in love with the country, its people and its deeply rooted culture it was an outstanding honor being appointed (Cluster) General Manager for InterContinental Phoenicia, the landmark hotel of Lebanon and known as the Grand Dame. This beautiful property is symbolic of the rich history of the country and has in time be renowned as one of the best luxury hotels in the Middle East. Being a hospitality establishment with vast historical background and having been assigned with the mission to infuse a more modern creative approach to such an establishment was a most intriguing undertaking. More importantly has been the first female GM ever since the hotel’s inception led to a different, most inspiring awareness in the local community. I loved every single moment of leading this beautiful property with its mainly local talents and international clientele. A female perspective at times is a wonderful icebreaker as it values not only competition
The precarious economic restructuring of a “failing state”: Case of Lebanon
Although Lebanon’s economic situation recovered after the civil war (1975-1990), the country has experienced a gradual decline in its economy since 2011-2012, which caused the bubble to burst in 2021. Impoverishment has affected almost 80 percent of the Lebanese population. A field study was mandatory in order to detect this breakdown and find solutions to the crisis that are difficult to achieve while the political and religious axes are still at odds. In addition to the negative impact of GDP, the rapid hyperinflation, the lack of foreign exchange reserves at the Bank of Lebanon (BDL), which no longer responded to the stabilization of the local currency, beyond a cyclical profile of the various productive sectors in recession, has added an almost total collapse of the financial sector. Several attempts have been made to determine the distribution of losses between the State, the Central Bank, and the commercial banks, but the latter has not been determined to date. The confusion in the losses calculation is due to the differential exchange rate compared to the US dollar. While the official rate was 1507 LL, the Central Bank created platforms in order to identify several exchange rates on different products which were in one way or another subsidized by the latter. A loss of more than US $15 billion was recorded in less than two years because of the lack of control over fraud, malpractice and smuggling in the re-export of the same subsidized products, beyond a parallel market qualified as – black market – uncontrollable by the monetary authorities and whose rate alone determines the true value of the exchange rates (at the time of writing the dollar is above LL 30,000 for a single US dollar). This collapse proved to be the result of excess government expenditure and contractions in budget revenues. This is due to the exorbitant expenses incurred by the State without any control by the competent authorities: the crowding of civil servants (politicians), the oversupply of credits, the immoderate contracts in the operation of electricity (more than US $40 billion in recent years for a two-hour supply of electricity), the superfluous expenditure on travel and advertising, the bonuses to thousands of virtual associations, the dilapidation of public funds. All this has meant that the state budget has been in deficit over this period at more than US $5 billion annually. The State has been obliged to resort permanently to borrowing through the issuance of treasury bills and Eurobonds at huge interest rates, both on the local and international markets… One of the direct causes of this crisis was the official waiver by the former government of the payment of creditors of the borrowing State. This has undermined the country’s local and international confidence and credibility. The withdrawal in the settlement of debts affected the commercial banks, which in turn stopped the repayment to depositors of their debts when they did not fail to transfer large sums of money belonging to CEOs, members of their boards of directors, politically and financially influential persons, to corresponding foreign banks; this has obviously further deteriorated the cyclical situation in the country, especially since to date no legislation on capital control has been passed by Parliament. These alarming economic flashes that are close to the cataclysm have prompted the government to resort to the International Monetary Fund so that the latter will force it to restructure all sectors failing and allow the country to regain its place on the international stage. However, this remains uncertain in such a complex and deteriorating economic situation. The implementation of an exit plan depends on a comprehensive program drawn up jointly by the IMF and the Lebanese Government; this at more than one level: A new financial arrangement in the State budget would oblige the government to reprogram its expenditure and above all its revenue (customs duties, VAT, direct and indirect taxes, the obligation of all political forces to submit to the various tax instruments). The overhaul of the banking sector through mergers and acquisitions, leases and leases, refinancing of their own funds, and guarantees of good governance. The restructuring of BDL as well at the level of the assets (internal and external assets) as well as its management and relations with the State on the one hand, and commercial banks on the other, without forgetting the confidence that must be given to it by both Lebanese and foreign investors, particularly those from the Gulf countries. Question-key remains to know in what measures is Lebanon capable of moving negotiations forward with the IMF, after more than a year of equivocation relating to the count of the State and to those of BDL? The answer is not easy. It requires all actors involved in this crisis to be subject to IMF conditions. Without this obligatory passage, there will be no salvation for Lebanon…. This unprecedented situation in the country therefore requires urgent solutions that can only come from outside, and more specifically from the IMF, with internal officials unable to undertake any initiative on their own. From the above, we must keep in mind that the true imbalances in the Lebanese economy, reflecting a political side in a state of collapse, stem from the fact that the country in all its components has been living for decades beyond its means within the framework of unconventional national policies and mismanagement that would have dragged on for a long time. This situation has become so degraded and untenable that risk of an implosion of the system and therefore of the country itself could arise at any time. There is therefore an urgent need for fundamental and structural solutions to eradicate the causes of this probable bursting of the bubble. Without being either pessimistic or optimistic, however, shouldn’t salvation come from a political agreement necessary to the survival of any State? [1] The World Bank estimates that the current crisis in Lebanon could be the third most serious in world economic history – only Chile in 1921 and
Rola AL-AMINE
With 20 years of experience in Marketing and business development, Rola El Amine amassed a unique combination of expertise in a variety of industry sectors. Throughout her journey, which started by building brand equities with multinational advertising agencies (Publicis group, BBDO), and led her to one of the top retail banks in Dubai (RAKBANK) to manage its advertising and product design strategies, Rola followed her passion for humanity and belief in the equal financial opportunities for every individual so she entered the world of financial inclusion by joining Vitas group, the financial provider for micro, small and medium enterprises. Rola utilized all of her previous experience and capacity to lead on the development and implementation of strategic Marketing, PR and CSR plans for Vitas Iraq as well as heading strategic group-level initiatives such as Vitas branding, customer centricity & market research unit, and gender diversity. She also served as People and Capability Builder by engaging and motivating individuals and teams to maximize their performance, and unleash their capacities. After developing long years of operational and customer experience with Vitas, and acquiring a strategic vision towards business growth, Rola was designated to join the digital transformation team at the headquarters level as the manager of digital business innovation lab. The innovation lab was developed as part of the digital transformation strategy by Vitas Group to design innovative business models, promote design thinking and support identifying new business use cases that address customers pain points. Through building digital-first partnerships, the lab created a double bottom line impact on the business and social growth in areas of gender, environment and more. The lab works in a sandbox environment to accelerate the design, prototyping and scaling of new business models for all the subsidiaries of Vitas group. The passionate entrepreneur never passed up an opportunity to learn and share her extensive experience. She has participated as panelist in several conferences, recently in Sanad’s webinar on “How to fill the gender gap”, in SEEP Annual Conference, DC 2017 on “Financial Inclusion of People with Disabilities”, CGAP Customer Centricity and Digitization conference, Tanzania 2016, panelist in CGAP webinar on “Business resilience strategies in conflict areas”, 2016 and as a trainer in Sanabel Microfinance Network conference, Dubai 2014 on “Best Practices in Marketing strategies to target youth”. Finally, Rola has just received her INSEAD certificate with distinction, completing the online program “Building Digital Partnerships and Ecosystems”. To crown all of her achievements, Rola Al Amine is fully dedicated to make a change and support businesses for sustainability which will create a bigger turnkey digital & social impact globally, by contributing to innovation through partnerships & alliances, and detecting the potential and the overall journey of each entrepreneur. All of this has already resulted in several success stories in different industries, markets and segments.
Billie Teshich
With a 25 year career in construction across Croatia, New Zealand and Qatar under her belt, Billie Teshich is no stranger to working in the world’s most male-dominated industry. In fact, she loves it. That’s why in 2019, Billie established and now leads the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in Qatar – part of a global organisation that champions the advancement of women across the industry. Because Billie’s on a mission to reach the next generation of women and show them the world of opportunities construction has to offer. That same world of opportunities has taken Billie all around the world. From her home in Europe to a life in New Zealand and finally, to her dream projects right here in Qatar. A qualified civil engineer, Billie spent her early career in one of Croatia’s leading construction firms (Dom). Working her way up from the factory floor, she was typically the only woman on-site and had to navigate the rigours of operating in an almost exclusively male domain for many years. But those years also afforded Billie the chance to work directly on all kinds of developments – commercial, industrial, retail, public spaces. She also excelled at construction cost engineering and went on to become a skilled quantity surveyor and project manager. Billie used these skills to win a very important contract for Dom at the conclusion of the Croatian war of independence (1991-1995). The United Nations had proposed a programme of work to reconstruct the country’s kindergartens, schools, gymnasiums and community buildings. Through this work with the UN, Billie got the chance to help rebuild her hometown. A few years later, Billie would get to put this rebuilding experience to work in New Zealand – the country she’d moved to in order to raise her family. After major earthquakes struck the city of Christchurch in 2011, parts of the city centre had to be rebuilt and Billie was invited by one of the country’s largest construction firms to contribute her expertise to this. During her time in New Zealand, Billie also earned her Masters in Construction Project Management and provided consultancy services to a range of high profile businesses, real estate agents and developers, regional banks and global insurance companies. She then added to her portfolio of work in the public sector – initially as senior project manager for international giant AECOM and later working with New Zealand’s Ministry of Education (to upgrade a NZD$1bn portfolio of educational facilities) and Ministry of Business and Innovation (to regenerate rural housing). Then came an opportunity to relocate to Doha in 2016 as a Senior Project Manager with world-leading global professional services consultancy, Turner & Townsend. And it was an opportunity very close to her heart. Many years ago, Billie had dreamed of working in the Middle East. She wanted to make her mark on some of the world’s most outrageous, extravagant, beautiful and luxurious mega developments. And since arriving in Qatar, that’s exactly what she’s done. Ascending from Project Lead to Associate Director to Project Delivery Director in a few short years, Billie’s been a driving force behind some of Qatar’s most iconic projects. One example is the Galeries Lafayette Doha – a flagship store for the Galeries Lafayette Group in the Middle East. This stunning 15,000m2 Parisian-inspired high-end luxury retail department store has become one of the most popular shopping experiences in Qatar. Along with the build itself, Billie’s team was also responsible for coordinating tenancies and fit-out for this exclusive development, which is now home to 400 global fashion and cosmetic brands. Another was a multi-billion QAR development spread over 1,150,000m2 of land in Lusail. This included 5-star luxury accommodations such as the Palais Vendome, Le Royal Meridien Marriott Hotel and Residences – as well as Qatar’s largest mall, the Place Vendome. With opulent French architecture, dancing outdoor water fountains and a water canal running through the mall – the Place Vendome delivers an unforgettable shopping experience. It’s also home to 600 stores spread over four levels – everything from high-end luxury to high-street fashion, with scores of entertainment, food and beverage brands as well. Billie was then recruited to work directly with Al Asmakh Real Estate – the world-class development company behind many of Qatar’s most iconic builds. In her role as Projects Director, Billie led the landmark Qatar Entertainment City (QEC) infrastructure development and a number of high-rise residential and commercial projects. As you can see – the scale and complexity of Qatar’s mega developments leverage the best of Billie’s civil engineering background, quantity surveying expertise, project leadership skills and 25 years of experience successfully delivering construction projects around the world. This is why Billie’s new construction consulting firm, Omnivision, is already in demand. As Managing Director of Omnivision, Billie’s able to provide professional project services to some of the biggest players in Qatar’s real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. This is the challenging work she loves – and as she confirmed in her recent keynote speech at Qatar’s Women in Construction Conference, “there’s no place I’d rather be”. But it’s through her role as President of NAWIC Qatar that Billie wants to help like-minded women blaze their own trail and become Qatar’s next generation of women in construction Leveraging the experience of Billie and other female leaders, NAWIC Qatar works to educate employers and advocate for greater diversity, equality and inclusivity. NAWIC also provides the support, training, mentoring and development women need to succeed in all areas and at all levels of the industry. Because it is possible to thrive in a man’s world – and there is a world of opportunity waiting out there for women willing to take on the challenge.
ART DUBAI PRESENTS EXPANDED GALLERY LINE-UP FOR 16th EDITION TAKING PLACE 1st to 5th MARCH 2023
Art Dubai 2023 will take place from 1st to 5th March at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai 16th edition will feature more than 130 exhibitors from over 40 countries including more than 30 participants Expanded second edition of Art Dubai Digital, this year curated by Singapore-based Clara Che Wei Peh Increased participation from leading African and South Asian galleries More exhibiting galleries and artists than ever before from Dubai, reflecting the city’s growing importance as an international art world hub Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 3 February 2023 – Art Dubai presents the final list of exhibiting galleries at its 2023 edition, which will take place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai from 3rd to 5th March 2023, with previews on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd March. The leading global platform for art and artists from the Middle East and Global South, Art Dubai’s 16th edition will present over 130 presentations from 43 countries across four gallery sections: Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba and Art Dubai Digital. The 2023 fair will include over 30 first-time participants and more than 60% of the gallery programme is drawn from the Global South, reaffirming Art Dubai’s position as the leading marketplace for art from this region. Art Dubai’s Artistic Director Pablo del Val commented: “Art Dubai is a global fair, and the strength of the applications we received for our 2023 edition reflect Art Dubai’s increasing importance as the region’s premier art event, the gateway to the Global South and the maturing of the art market here in Dubai. We’re particularly pleased to welcome so many first-time exhibitors into the Art Dubai family. Dubai is rapidly developing into a global financial and technology hub – the city is booming, and is a place that generations of people from all over the world call home.” View the list of galleries participating in Art Dubai 2023 here Art Dubai is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event is held in partnership with A.R.M. Holding. The fair is sponsored by Swiss Wealth Management Group Julius Baer. Culturally rich developer HUNA is a partner of Art Dubai. The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is the fair’s strategic partner. Madinat Jumeirah is the home of Art Dubai. Art Dubai Contemporary presents the very best in cutting-edge contemporary art from 76 galleries from 34 countries, with particular focus on art and artists from the Global South. For our 16th edition, we are pleased to welcome 14 first-time exhibitors, including Art: Concept (Paris), Barakat Contemporary (Seoul), First Floor (Harare) and kó (Lagos), Piedras (Buenos Aires), Shrine Empire (New Delhi), and Barbara Thumm (Berlin). We welcome more South Asian and African galleries than ever before, and we also welcome back 12 galleries who are returning to Art Dubai after a hiatus. These include ALBAREH ART GALLERY (Manama), Ruth Benzacar Galería de Arte (Buenos Aires), Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai), Taymour Grahne Projects (London), GVCC (Casablanca), October (London), and Project 88 (Mumbai). The 2023 edition of Art Dubai will feature 24 Dubai-based galleries, more than ever before, reflecting the continued growth of Dubai’s artistic ecosystem and the Emirate’s increasing importance as a global creative and cultural hub. Art Dubai 2023 sees the return of Art Dubai Digital, which launched to critical and commercial success at the 2022 fair. This physical section of Art Dubai provides an annual 360-degree snapshot of the digital art landscape, building bridges between the art and technology worlds, and exploring how artists are utilising new, immersive technologies to collapse the boundaries of the traditional art world. The Art Dubai Digital programme will also feature an extensive talks and education programme. Curated by Singapore-based educator and arts writer Clara Che Wei Peh, the expanded 2023 edition of Art Dubai Digital welcomes galleries with innovative new media programmes, as well as digital platforms building virtual art spaces, alongside artist collectives, Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) and traditional bricks and mortar galleries that challenge and push forward new models for artistic production and support. The selection is drawn from across 6 continents, reinforcing Art Dubai’s commitment to presenting global perspectives and diversity, and inviting audiences to look beyond traditional art centres, and mapping out the key agents and platforms leading the way. In close dialogue with the region’s pioneering approach to digital economies and worlds, Art Dubai was the first art fair to initiate a dedicated digital section and to build a new home for artists working across a broad spectrum of digital mediums. Highlights for 2023 will include Window Project (Tbilisi); Afrofuturism (Ikoyi, Lagos); Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Les Moulins, Havana, Rome, São Paulo, Paris, Dubai); 6529 (Digital); Unit London; and Dubai-based UAE NFT and Morrow Collective. Bangkok-based Vipash Purichanont curates the 2023 edition of Art Dubai’s Bawwaba section. Meaning ‘gateway’ in Arabic, Bawwaba exclusively features artworks made in the past year or specifically for Art Dubai, and comprises solo presentations by 11 artists hailing from across the Global South. Across a variety of mediums, from painting and tapestry to filmmaking and performance, this section explores how contemporary artists from the Global South bring forth concerns within their worlds, from socio-cultural issues such as the tension between rapid urban development and traditional values, the legacy of colonisation on environment, human relationships in the age of hyperconnectivity, or personal concerns around the meaning of language and void. Participating galleries and artists include: Circle Art Gallery (Nairobi) with Dickens Otieno; PARLIAMENT (Paris) with Achraf Touloub; Silverlens Galleries (Manila / New York) with Gregory Halili; Yeo Workshop (Singapore) with Maryanto; and Hunna Art Gallery (Abu Dhabi Sharjah) with Moza Almatrooshi. The 2023 edition of Art Dubai Modern is curated by Paris-based critic and curator Mouna Mekouar and Italian art historian Lorenzo Giusti (director, GAMeC, Bergamo) and features solo presentations by the region’s Modern masters, reinforcing Art Dubai’s commitment to curatorial scholarship and art historical research. The selection focuses on the pioneers of contemporary art
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العربية