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H.E Ms. Kholoud M. Saqqaf
Minister of InvestmentMs. Saqqaf holds a Master's degree in Economics and has more than 25 years’ experience of banking, finance and financial regulation. Currently, she serves as the Minister of Investment. Ms. Saqqaf began her career at the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company’s Research & Development Department for four years. She then moved to the Central Bank of Jordan where she held several positions during the periods 1993 – 2004, 2006 - 2012 including Executive Manager of the Banking Supervision Department and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan; thus, being the first Arab Woman to occupy such a regulatory position. Ms. Saqqaf has a strong background in Corporate Governance, Internal Control and Islamic Banking, she prepared Corporate Governance guidelines, including preparation of Banks’ Directors’ Handbook of Corporate Governance / 2004, as well as establishing Internal Control regulations addressed to banks operating in Jordan.
Ms. Saqqaf gained quite good experience in the insurance industry as she served as the Director of the Research Department at the Insurance Commission of Jordan during the period 2004-2006. In 2012, she joined Arab Bank as Executive Vice President, Country Manager of Jordan & Palestine then she was appointed as Executive Vice President, Group Risk Management in Nov. 2013 until October 2018. Between 2018 - 2022 she served as Chief Executive Officer/ Vice Chairman of the Board of Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF). Ms. Saqqaf served in different capacities on the Boards of the Central Bank of Jordan (Vice Chairperson), Jordan Mortgage Refinance Company (Chairperson), Social Security Corporation, Insurance Commission, SSIF Investment Board (Vice Chairperson), Royal Jordanian Airlines Company, the Center for Strategic Studies Arab National Leasing Company and on the National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing. Moreover, she served as Vice Chairman on the board of the first Jordanian Credit Bureau Company CRIF- Jordan, Ethmar Islamic Microfinance Company, Business Development Centre. She also served as the President of the Board of the International Women's Forum – Jordan Chapter (2018-2021).
Currently, Ms. Saqqaf sits on the board of the World Union of Arab Bankers, in addition to serving as the Chairperson of the Arab Women Empowerment Commission emanating from the World Union of Arab Bankers.
Manar Dabbas
Ambassador at Jordanian EmbassyHis Excellency is a high-ranking diplomat who has served his country at home and abroad in numerous senior capacities within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan. He was recently appointed to the post of the Kingdom’s Ambassador in London.
In his distinguished career, he has been private advisor to H M the King of Jordan, Director of the Office of H M the King and previously Director of the Office of H R H the Crown Prince. He was First Secretary at the Embassy of Jordan in the USA from 1999-2004. He was a member of the Jordanian Delegation to the UN General Assembly sessions in the years 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2004. His Excellency served as Private Secretary to the Jordanian Prime Minister in 1996-97.
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.