Asharqia Chamber and SABIC launch the training program for the initiative of female leaders titled 'Empowering the Role of Women in Boardrooms
On Sunday, October 8, 2023, the Eastern Province Chamber, represented by the Women Empowerment Center in collaboration with the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), represented by its national initiative (Nassand), launched the training program for the initiative of female leaders titled 'Empowering the Role of Women in Boardrooms.' The event was attended by Agarid Abdel Jawad, a board member of the Chamber, and Nevena Shastri, Vice President and General Counsel at SABIC.
The program, which witnessed significant participation from influential women leaders in various sectors and entities from different regions of the Kingdom, discussed different topics, including the formation of boardrooms and the importance of women's presence in them, the duties and responsibilities of board members, corporate governance, as well as the key roles of the board of directors, its structure, processes, and protocols, and the interactive relationship between oversight and the board of directors.
At the program launch, the Secretary-General of the Chamber, Abdul Rahman Al-Wabel, and the Executive Director of Local Workforce Solutions and Business Development at SABIC, Dr. Wajih Moghrabi, were present. Also in attendance was Abdullah Al-Balwi, the General Manager of SABIC's Dammam office. The program, which runs until Tuesday, also featured the participation of Jane Valis, the CEO of the Boards Directors' Institute (BDI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Additionally, Saied Al-Jammal, the Financial Advisor from the Saudi Institute of Internal Auditors, participated on the program's third day.
Agarid Abdel Jawad, a board member of the Chamber, stated: 'Through this program, we aim to explore the best mechanisms and practices to enhance and activate women's presence in senior leadership positions and boardrooms, achieving better economic participation by supporting their roles in decision-making centers.'
She emphasized that Saudi women have received significant attention from our wise leadership over the past years, allowing them greater participation in the developmental process. They are considered essential components and partners in achieving the vision's goals and aspirations. Many decisions have been made that strengthened their role in the national economy. They have become increasingly important and influential in the business community, playing a significant and growing role in our country's comprehensive development efforts across all sectors.
The program aims to expand the awareness and knowledge of businesswomen regarding the duties and responsibilities of board members, including the structures and processes of boards of directors, as well as other topics such as governance, both in terms of its trends and practices. It also covers internal and external auditing and its significance. Despite the achievements made by Saudi women and the ongoing efforts to enhance their roles and strengthen their presence in the national economy, and despite the growing effectiveness of their leadership roles in society and the economy, with many attaining memberships in various corporate boards and becoming decision-makers in numerous entities and institutions, there is still a need for a greater understanding of the roles of directors, mechanisms to improve performance, decision-making processes, and ways to enhance their opportunities within boards of directors. This understanding also includes being familiar with the challenges that may be faced and devising appropriate solutions for them.
