news bites
An Expert Appointment
Global brand consultancy, Industry, has appointed Abdullah J Wallace as strategic adviser for the Middle East and North Africa region, based in Bahrain. Abdullah was previously an adviser to the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) and started The Bahrain Banker, a quarterly publication promoting the Kingdom as a regional banking centre. He has more than 45 years’ experience of publishing and consulting throughout the Middle East, specialising in economic development, business, banking and Sharia-compliant finance. His most recent book, A Guide to Islamic Banking & Finance, is generally regarded as a ‘must read’ for all those interested in this complex subject. He comments: “I am delighted to have joined Industry, which brings a robust and strategic focus to the branding process. I am excited at the opportunity to work with such a dynamic international team who are quickly developing a strong reputation in the region.”
Environmentalist in Hawaii Bahrain Women Association (BWA) representative Mahnaz Kadhemi participated in the recent International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress which took place in Hawaii with the theme ‘Planet at the Crossroads’. During the opening ceremony, the IUCN president touched hearts with an emotional but realistic speech, referring to the status of our planet, the consequences of human acts and the need to move Earth from tipping point, to turning point. Joining in various sessions Mahnaz noted the issues of climate change, consumption, global warming and other crucial and persisting environmental concerns. She presented a short film produced by BWA called Environmentalist by Nature showing the role of local communities and indigenous peoples in deepening the values and principles that support nature preservation both for them and the coming generations.
Shaikha Raises Women’s Issues Falak Consulting invited a high-powered leadership team for the third quarterly Falak Power Lunch 2016 with guest of honour Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa. The main discussions centred on issues related to women’s empowerment and also touched upon the progress of the women’s movement in Bahrain along with its impact on opportunities for women members of the working population. Shaikha Hessa shared highlights of some of the successful projects undertaken by the Supreme Council for Women, which included the special housing scheme for divorced women, which has so far reached 300 beneficiaries, and the awareness campaign amongst women with regard to their sharia marriage rights, updating of the marriage contract process and distribution of information 50 November 2016
booklets to women prior to their marriage. The attendees also talked at length about the progress made by Bahraini women in reducing workplace discrimination, the
importance of family support in making a success of their careers and the need for women professionals to pursue higher and more specialised education. www.bahrainthismonth.com