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The Rt Hon Baroness Symons Of Vernham Dean
Chairman at ABCCThe Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean is a senior Labour member of the House of Lords and a business leader. Formerly Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Symons was a Minister in the UK Government from 1997 until stepping down in 2005. Among her government posts she was Minister for the Middle East, Minister for International Trade and Minister for Defence Procurement, and the Prime Minister’s envoy to the Gulf.
Previously a trade union general secretary, she was an Equal Opportunities Commissioner and a governor of the London Business School. As well as working closely with DLA Piper, Baroness Symons is now involved with a number of other commercial organisations, including roles as a non-executive director of British Airways, and as an advisor to other companies, including those with strong Middle East links, and with a number of not-for-profit organisations, including the International Red Cross.
Mr Bandar Reda
Secretary General & CEO of ABCCMr Bandar Ali Reda joined the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, on 1st March 2019, as Secretary General and CEO, becoming the fourth person to lead the Chamber since its foundation almost five decades ago.
As CEO, Mr Reda contributes his expertise by drawing on his wealth of experience as a diplomat and extensive time spent in the private sector to ensure the Chamber moves to the next level.
Mr Reda has a distinguished professional career of more than a decade in banking and corporate industry at SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia, prior to senior positions in the diplomatic service of his country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he served as Commercial Attaché in the UK & Europe, based in London, and in Italy and as part of the Saudi delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.
Mr Reda holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Orlando, USA. He has been an Executive Member of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, the Council of Saudi Chambers; a Member of the Business Youth Committee, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce; a Member of the Saudi Economy Association; and a Member of the Saudi Arabian legal accountants. Mr Reda has demonstrated his experience and abilities in his roles in both public and private sectors.
Since taking up his post, Mr Reda has successfully steered the Chamber throughout the difficult months of the pandemic and lockdown, a period which presented unprecedented challenges for international trade and the business community. Under Mr Bandar Reda’s guidance and leadership, the Chamber not only continued all its activities uninterrupted but extended its services during this period and has reinforced its reputation as the leading strategic business services organisation in the UK dedicated to strengthening Arab-British trade and building closer business co-operation.
Khalid Al Marzooqi
Vice President International Business Development at Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi KEZAD GroupKhalid Al Marzooqi is a seasoned business development professional with more than 15 years of experience in the field. Since 2007, Khalid has been leading the international business development for Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi KEZAD Group.
He is also responsible for creating and developing sales channels, strengthening the presence of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in KEZAD, managing mega industrial projects and enhancing relations with government agencies.
From 2013 - 2018, Khalid was a senior sales manager at the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), responsible for the Asia Pacific region, where he managed six overseas JAFZA offices.
During his time with JAFZA, Khalid attracted a number of companies to the free zone, including several Global Fortune 500 companies. Khalid also held the position of acting head of the business development department at DP World, where he managed KPIs, the budget and was the regional manager for Europe and America.
Khalid holds a Master of International Business from Wollongong University in Dubai and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah.
Sulaiman Alamro
Director of Sector Planning at Saudi National Center for Waste ManagementAn environmentalist who’s interested in sustainability and circular economy, highly educated in environmental engineering (MSc & MRes), skilled in research with in-depth analysis, and experienced in project planning and development.
Dr Rachel Gavey
Director & ESG advisor of Sustain:ableDr Rachel Gavey is the cofounder of global ESG and emissions advisory company sustain:able.
With an extensive background in the oil & gas and low carbon energy industries, Rachel has worked for numerous service, operator, and research companies around the world. She is currently the Vice President of the Scottish Energy Forum, encouraging active debate and discussion across the energy industry.
Sustain:able supports organisations in the oil & gas, low carbon energy, shipping, mining, and other hard-to-decarbonise industries, to reduce their negative impact, optimise their operations, and honestly and transparently communicate their progress.
Rachel and her team guide companies through a thorough review and understanding of their ESG-related impacts and risks. This is used to inform new strategic approaches to the way organisations are run, helps set up emissions reduction and mitigation plans, all with the vital support needed for implementation.
Sustain:able:
• Risk - materiality assessment, risk analysis and mitigation, regulatory and framework reporting i.e. TCFD, ISSB, GRI.
• Emissions - accounting for Scope 1, 2 and 3, forecasting and scenario analysis, impact reduction initiatives.
• Engagement – ESG / climate awareness sessions, stakeholder relationships, building effective company culture.
Abdeslam El-Idrissi
Deputy CEO & Secretary General of Arab British Chamber of CommerceMr Abdeslam El-Idrissi is proud to have served the best part of over 36 years with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, serving both as Director of Trade Services, Acting General Manager and now his present position as Deputy CEO and Secretary General. During this time, he has cultivated strong relationships with British Chambers, Government bodies, educational institutions, NGOs across both the Arab world and the UK regions, as well as the UK-Arab business communities as a whole.
To this end, Mr El-Idrissi is in much demand across the regions as a keynote speaker and as one of the UK’s leading experts on UK-Arab trade relations.
He is also a key member of the Institute of Export where in the past he has held the position of Vice Chair of the Institute of Export, London Branch for a period of 7 years.
Rabih El Fadel
CEO of ZEF Concepts, CEO & Co-Founder of Phyla EarthRabih is a pioneering figure in sustainability, with over 25 years of experience. He anchors ZefLab's business direction and is the CEO & Co-Founder of Phyla Earth. Through his company, Zef Concepts, he's shaped sustainable solutions across the built environment. His expertise spans low-energy designs, low-carbon initiatives, and comprehensive environmental frameworks. Rabih's projects span Europe, the Middle East, USA, and Africa, marked by ethical considerations and adaptability. Notably, he's been instrumental since 2014 in conceiving the Great Green Wall of Africa, showcasing his enduring commitment to transformative ecological projects.
Stephen Humphreys
CCO at FlorasStephen is CCO of Floras. Floras is an innovative solutions that gives consumers choice and a voice in the race for Net Zero. The company brings together corporations and consumers to bring environmental change. Floras also helps companies offset the carbon footprint of their products, services and activities. Consumers can select sustainable projects they want to support through their purchases.
Stephen has over 25 years experience of the global loyalty & incentives market having worked in Europe, North America and the Middle East. His first business focused on sales and corporate incentives and was sold to WPP associate Grass Roots Group in 2004 which in turn was acquired by Blackhawk Network in 2017. In 2011, he co-founded an early digital rewards solution that was successfully launched with United Airlines, Coke Rewards & Marriott. He successfully exited the business in 2015 when it was acquired by a NASDAQ listed incentives company. Stephen continues to work with a number of international loyalty solutions providers.