An elite group of  international women leaders and insightful thought-leaders from around the region will deliberate on topics related to board leadership and case for diversity at the upcoming 'Arab Women Leadership Forum' in Dubai.

Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the president of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy PM and Minister of Presidential Affairs, will chair the forum to be held from November 19 to 20 at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.
 
It is one of several initiatives organized by Dubai Women Establishment aimed at empowering and supporting Emirati women in their pursuit of playing a more prominent and impactful role within the growth and development agenda of the UAE.

Commenting on the forum theme, “Board Leadership & the Case for Diversity”, Sheikha Manal said the issue of greater gender equitability was extremely regionally relevant in current times. "Today, women make up only 1.5 per cent of regional boards," she stated.

According to her, the forum will offer a powerful platform for discourse on a topic that is increasingly gaining attention in the region.

"Today, more than ever before, it is becoming strongly evident that no nation can expect to progress without the contribution of its most talented individuals, both men and women. Today it is a competitive necessity for nations to use 100 per cent of its potential resources and talent pool as opposed to only half of it," she added.

The forum, which is supported by Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance and Mudara - The Institute of directors, will see an elite group of national and international women leaders and insightful thought-leaders from around the region deliberate on topics related to Board Leadership & the Case for Diversity.

Over the course of two days, the speakers will also share practical ideas to stimulate the participation of women in the region’s male-dominated boardrooms in addition to discussing plans to shape positivecorporate governance practices in the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service