A supreme jury made up of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of Economics and Planning, and the country’s first woman minister; Dr Amna Khalifa, Professor at the Faculty of Education of UAE University, Al Ain, Dr Rawdha Al Mutawa, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, and Mrs. Hessa Tahlak, Quality Executive at Dubai Quality Group has finalised the names of winners of the prestigious Emirates Business Women Award (EBWA) 2006. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell and Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Chairman of Dubai Quality Group served as non-voting members on the judging panel.
The supreme jury met recently in Dubai to select one winner each in the Business Owner and Professional categories of the annual Award, launched by Shell and Dubai Quality Group, to recognise the role of women entrepreneurs and professionals in the UAE’s socio-economic development and celebrate their successes. The winners will be announced at a formal ceremony on May 21.
Al Mahmoudi said: “Shell is committed to encouraging women to take on the role of entrepreneurs and assume positions of leadership and senior management in the corporate world. Shell values women’s contribution to its organisation and to society at large, and considers it a key ingredient for the future success of its business.”
“As a partner in the communities in which we operate, Shell believes it has a responsibility to promote initiatives that transcend industries, cultures, economics and local, regional and national boundaries. This belief is integral to our corporate culture and is exemplified in the EBWA, which honours women achievers for making a difference with their leadership and skill, and holds them up as role models for other women to emulate,” Al Mahmoudi added.
The fourth edition of the EBWA, which enjoys the continued patronage of H. E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Group, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Patron of the Dubai Quality Group, received 76 applications from National and expatriate women from across the UAE, from among whom the finalists were shortlisted.
“Ensuring quality across the industrial, business and service sectors is DQG’s primary objective. Quality breeds excellence, excellence promotes growth, which in turn, leads to further progress and prosperity. Women constitute a significant and sizeable presence in today’s workplace and the business world. It is therefore important that society recognises their contribution to the development process and aids their empowerment,” observed Ali Abdul Qader.
“Dubai Quality Group is delighted with the enthusiastic response the EBWA 2006 has elicited from women in the UAE. The Award fulfils our objective of promoting innovation, improving quality, developing professional and managerial expertise, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information, and inspiring women to give their best,” he added.
Judith Barton, Chief Assessor for the Award said: “Once again the Emirates Business Women Award 2006 has benefited from an extremely capable panel of members and their rigorous and transparent approach to the assessment process. The Supreme Jury chaired by Sheikha Lubna ensured the assessment process was challenging and highly effective, with winners clearly meeting the objectives of the Award. This will in turn help us attract high calibre applicants for the Award’s next edition in 2007."
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 145 countries with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of Liquefied Natural Gas and Gas to Liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects including wind and solar power. For further information, visit http://www.shell.com
