Shell celebrates International Women’s Day

Shell in Dubai hosted an event to recognize   successful women from around the UAE in celebration of International Women’s Day today. This year’s event, held at Aston Martin’s showroom on Emaar Boulevard, focused on bridging the gap on women in the workplace. 

The event was organised by the Shell in Dubai’s Women’s Network and featured a panel discussion of senior leaders including Executive Vice President, Company Secretary & General Counsel for Emirates NBD, Lubna Qassim, Chair of the Emirates Environmental Group, Habiba Al-Marashi, MENA Talent Leader for Ernst & Young Rachel Ellyard, , Shell Vice President, Hans Nijkamp, Partner and Regional Head of Employment, Al Tamimi & Company Samir Kantaria and Partner Finance, Middle East, Clifford Chance Deborah Walker

Speaking with reference to the occasion, Sana Bardawil, Shell’s General Manager of External Relations for both Upstream Operated and Joint Ventures in the Middle East and North Africa, discussed Shell’s commitment to furthering diversification and inclusiveness in the workplace as a key pillar of the company’s value proposition. She added that “the importance of hosting and participating in events like today’s, to celebrate International Women’s Day reflects Shell’s long-term commitment to the development of women and ensuring they are given the opportunities to further develop and grow their careers.”

Sarah Mahony, Chair of the Shell Dubai Women’s Network commented, “In the Shell Dubai Women's Network committee, we were all very passionate about putting together an inter-company networking event in celebration of International Women's Day that raises the topic of gender inequality in a constructive and positive way; while engaging all of the population - men and women - in the debate. We look forward to forming long lasting connections as a result of today and for all of us to work towards a gender-balanced workplace that brings better results.

The event’s discussion focused on the theme of “Pledge for Parity”, a topic centered on the WEF’s estimates on gender equality in the workplace. The 2015 report by WEF ranks over 140 economies based on how well they are leveraging their female talent pool, as per economic, educational, health-based and political indicators. 

Discussing the topics following the panel discussion Lubna Qassim explained, “It is a time to celebrate women’s achievements globally and planning for a better tomorrow for women around the world. Women have beautifully flourished over the decades and achieved so much professionally, however the story has begun in the right direction and so much more to be done in this space. We are looking for a future which is diverse, inclusive and successful. In UAE we are extremely privileged because our Leadership understands and appreciates including and empowering women for a strong and a prosperous economy.”

According to their research, the slow pace of progress in bridging the gap in economic opportunity between women and men means that women are only now earning the amount men did in 2006. Extrapolating this trajectory, the WEF suggests that it will take the world another 117 years – or until 2133 – to close the economic gap entirely.

Although this may be the case globally, today across the Gulf more and more women are taking on senior roles in leadership such as H.E. Lubna Al Qassimi as Minister of Foreign Trade (previously Minister of Economic Planning); H.E. Reem al Hashemi as Minister of State and Managing Director of 2020, and new appointees to positions of Minister of Happiness and Minister of Tolerance, illustrates the growing trend which has been building momentum in the region. Other notable women in the Gulf who head noteworthy positions are Saudi Arabia’s Lubna Olayan of Olayan Finance, and Qatar’s Sheikha Hanadi bint Nasser Al Thani, a known champion of women’s rights and progress.

Shell’s International Women’s Day event coincides with the International celebration of the global Women’s Day which originated in the early 1900’s. The event is hosted annually in a number of Shell offices across the world where the Women’s Network has a strong support base. Shell currently has over 20 Women’s Networks globally, with Shell in Dubai having close to 250 women who are part of the network. Shell in Abu Dhabi has also hosted a successful International Women’s Day event which was hosted in conjunction with the International Business Women’s Group in Abu Dhabi. The event took place on March 2nd, at the Beach Rotana Hotel and featured notable guests H.E. Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, and Zainab Salbi, Founder and former CEO of Women for Women International, and host of the TV show Nida’a.