This is a past event. Registration is closed. View other Arab-British Chamber of Commerce events.
H.E Prof. Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan
Minister of Education at Ministry of Education - KSAYousef Abdullah Al-Benyan is Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SABIC, the world’s third-largest diversified petrochemicals company. Prior to his current position, Mr. Al-Benyan held the following positions: Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and CFO; Executive Vice President, Chemicals; and Executive Vice President, Corporate Human Resources.
Mr. Al-Benyan joined SABIC in 1987, just eleven years after the company’s formation. His first role was as a business development specialist before joining corporate communications. Mr. Al-Benyan relocated to Stamford, Connecticut as Operations Manager, then in 1994 to Houston, Texas as Commercial Manager for SABIC in the USA and Latin America. In 2002, he was promoted to General Manager of SABIC Asia, headquartered in Singapore. He returned to Houston in the fall of 2005 as General Manager of SABIC Americas.
His other positions include Chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), as well as Chairman of the Boards at Yanbu National Petrochemical Company (Yansab), the Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company (SAFCO) and Saudi Iron and Steel Company (HADEED), which are manufacturing affiliates of SABIC.
Mr. Al-Benyan holds a degree in economics and a Master’s degree in Industrial Management, in addition to several specialized executive management courses.
Abdulrahman Al-Hajri
Deputy Minister for Investment at Ministry of Education - KSAAbdulrahman Al-Hajri is a Board Member, IEN TV - Ministry of Education Channels Network.
Previously, Engineer Abdul Rahman Al-Hajri was Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Saudi Centre for International Strategic Partnerships (SCISP).
He holds a Master’s degree in Science, Engineering & Management, Cranfield University (2007-2008)
He is currently completing a PhD in Public Administration, King Saud University (2022-2026).
The Rt Hon Baroness Symons Of Vernham Dean
Chairman at Arab British Chamber of CommerceThe 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 Arab British Chamber of CommerceMr 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.