Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) recently hosted a roundtable session to tackle current issues affecting women and discuss career opportunities for women in the transportation and energy industries.

Raja Al Gurg, president of DBWC, and its board members, were joined by Susan Kurland, assistant secretary for Aviation and International Affairs of the US Department of Transportation; Justin Siberell, US consulate general; Anne Wylie, economic officer, US Consulate; Tania Spencer, US consulate representative; and Julie Abraham, US consulate staffer, a statement from the council said.

Also at the event were Dr Fiona Rennie, VP, aviation and occupational medicine, Emirates Airline; Lisa Williams, legal advisor; Alison Ward, vice president of recruitment, Emirates Group; Rania Khbays and Shaima Al Qasimi from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; and Heather Astbury, head of public relations at Fly Dubai.

The discussions revolved around finding ways to encourage young girls and women to join the transportation and energy sectors, the statement said.

The participants proposed trading intern programs between the UAE and US in the transportation field, and also encouraging companies in this sector to take middle school students on field visits to give them a better understanding of the industry.

“The Dubai Business Women Council has done a commendable job in promoting the welfare of women and creating opportunities for them to enhance their socioeconomic contributions to the society. The roundtable session is a great example of their proactive efforts that are certainly making a huge difference on the lives of women in Dubai and across the UAE,” Kurland said.

“We constantly look for personalities who can inspire and motivate women to be achievers and be more productive in their chosen fields of expertise. The DBWC is therefore deeply honoured to have been joined by such widely accomplished career women who shared their experiences and offered invaluable advice during the roundtable session. Transportation and energy are two of the most important economic sectors in the UAE and we were certainly eager to explore exciting opportunities that are available to women during the discussions,” Al Gurg said.

Founded in 2002, DBWC motivates women to be productive members of the society, while encouraging role models to rise up from the ranks and inspire other women around the world, especially in the Arab region, to discover their true potential, the statement said.

The council organises the high-profile monthly event, ‘Majls Business’, to provide information about the latest knowledge, skills and best practices for women entrepreneurs and leaders, it said. – TradeArabia News Service