OPENING REMARKS

Ahmed Aboul Gheit Is The Secretary General Of The League Of Arab States

Before being elected as Secretary General in July 2016 and being reappointed in 2021, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt from 2004 to 2011. Aboul Gheit previously served as the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, from 1999 to 2004. Between 1992 and 1996, he served as Egypt’s Ambassador to Italy, Macedonia, San Marino and Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.

He served as Chef de Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt twice, from 1996 to 1999, and 1989 to 1992, and was the Political Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1990. Prior to this, Mr Aboul Gheit was Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1987-1989); Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1985-1987); Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Egypt (1984-1985); and Political Adviser to the Minster of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1982-1984). After joining the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1965, Mr Aboul Gheit was an Attaché/Third Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy in Cyprus in 1968, where he served until 1972.

He later served as a member of the staff of the Adviser to the President on National Security Affairs (1972- 1974); Second/First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1974-1977); Counsellor, Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Aide (1977-1979); and Political Counsellor, Embassy of Egypt in Moscow (1979-1982). Born on 12 June 1942 in Heliopolis, Egypt, Mr Aboul Gheit obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics at Ainshams University, Cairo. He is married with two children.

H E SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN JASSIM BIN MOHAMMED AL THANI, CHAIRMAN, QATAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, a prominent member of the ruling family in the State of Qatar, has held the Chairmanship of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) since May 2006. Under his chairmanship, QCCI has flourished and developed into one of the most active chambers in the Gulf Region, playing a decisive role in representing, promoting and safeguarding the interests of the Qatar business community.

HE Sheikh Khalifa also chairs the International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar). His efforts in promoting the country to foreign business people and investors have strengthened Qatar’s trade with countries around the world, providing Qatari companies with valuable opportunities. A firm believer in free trade and laissezfaire economics, HE Sheikh Khalifa has worked tirelessly to identify new business opportunities, create strategic partnerships and cultivate existing relationships.

H E was the recipient of the prestigious International Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Merchant of Peace’ award in March 2017, in recognition of the role he played in the creation of ICC and QCCI’s World Trade Agenda Initiative. H E Sheikh Khalifa has participated in G20 summits, in Amiri and Ministerial delegations to foreign countries, and hosted the 8th World Chambers Congress.

H E Sheikh Khalifa holds a BSc in Economics and Political Science from Portland State University, USA. After his graduation, he held several senior government positions. He currently holds the positions of Head of the “Protect competition and Prevent Monopolistic Practices’” Committee at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry ; Chairman of Al Dar Exchange Company; Chairman of General Takaful Insurance Co.; First Vice Chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce; Vice Chairman of the Arab French Chamber of Commerce, First vice chairman and member of the Executive Committee of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Qatar General Insurance & Reinsurance Company; Member of ICC Executive Board, Member of ICC G20 CEO Advisory Group, Member of the ICC Global Network Committee (NetCom); Member of the Board of Trustees of the Arbitration Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Active Board Member of several Arab-Foreign Joint Chambers of Commerce and the Union of Arab Chambers. Second vice-chairman of the Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce (FGCC). H.E also chaired the Federation of Gulf Chambers of Commerce (FGCC) from 2014-2016.

MR SIMON PENNEY, HER MAJESTY’S TRADE COMMISSIONER FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

Mr Simon Penney is Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai.

Mr Penney was appointed HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East in May 2018 and in January 2021 he was also appointed as HM Consul General to Dubai.

He spent many years in the banking sector with extensive experience leading corporate and financial institution groups and teams across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

His previous roles in the Middle East include Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at First Gulf Bank and CEO, Middle East and Africa, the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Mr Penney has also worked for ABN AMRO Bank in South Africa and the UK, as a consultant at PwC and in project finance within the construction industry.

He holds an MBA from Nottingham University and a construction management degree from Reading University.

THE RT HON BARONESS SYMONS OF VERNHAM DEAN, CHAIRMAN, ABCC

The Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, the chairman of the ABCC, is a senior Labour member of the House of Lords and a prominent business leader in the UK and known across the Middle East. Formerly Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Symons was a Minister in the UK Government from 1997 until 2005. Among her posts in government, she was Minister for the Middle East, Minister for International Trade and Minister for Defence Procurement, as well as the Prime Minister’s Envoy to the Gulf.

Baroness Symons has a wide range of experience, in the Middle East in particular, and is an adviser to a number of commercial organisations including DLA Piper, the CCC Group, Blenheim Capital and Protection Group International. She has been a non-executive director of British Airways.

The Rt Hon Baroness Symons is Honorary President of the Saudi-British Joint Business Council, Chairman of the British Egyptian Society and she sits on the Advisory Board of British Expertise, among other organisations, including a number of not-for-profit organisations, such as the International Red Cross.

Previously, Baroness Symons has served as general secretary of the Association of First Division Civil Servants, as an Equal Opportunities Commissioner and as a governor of the London Business School.

MR BANDAR REDA, SECRETARY GENERAL & CEO, ABCC

Mr Bandar Ali Reda joined the Arab British Chamber of Commerce on 1 March 2019 as Secretary General and CEO, making him the fourth person to lead the Chamber since its foundation almost five decades ago. As CEO, Mr Reda contributes his expertise by drawing on his wealth of experience as a diplomat and extensive time spent in the private sector to ensure that the Chamber moves to the next level.

Mr Reda has a distinguished professional career of more than a decade in banking and corporate industry at SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia, prior to senior positions in the diplomatic service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he served his country as Commercial Attaché in the UK & Europe, based in London, and in Italy and as part of the Saudi delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.

He has been an Executive Member of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, the Council of Saudi Chambers; a Member of the Business Youth Committee, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce; a Member of the Saudi Economy Association; and a Member of the Saudi Arabian legal accountants. Mr Reda has demonstrated his abilities in his roles in both public and private sectors.

Since joining the ABCC, Mr Reda has successfully steered the Chamber through the difficult months of the pandemic and lockdown, a period which presented unprecedented challenges for international trade and the business community.

Under Mr Bandar Reda’s guidance and clear leadership, the Chamber not only continued all its activities uninterrupted but extended its services during this period and thereby reinforced its reputation as the leading strategic business services organisation in the UK dedicated to strengthening Arab-British trade and building closer business co-operation.

Mr Reda holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Orlando, USA.

MR TOM WINTLE, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE UK-GCC FTA NEGOTIATIONS, DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Mr Tom Wintle is the UK Department for International Trade’s Chief Negotiator for the UK-GCC FTA Negotiations. Since joining the DIT in 2018, Mr Wintle has led the UK’s transition to independent membership of the World Trade Organization, represented the UK in G20 trade discussions, and delivered the inaugural G7 Trade Ministerial track.

Prior to joining the Department for International Trade, he held a variety of Senior Civil Service roles in the Cabinet Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industry, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change, leading teams on internationally focussed issues.

Tom Wintle worked as a financial management consultant before joining the civil service and has a degree in Biological Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.

H.E. DR. NAYEF FALAH M. AL-HAJRAF SECRETARY GENERAL, GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC)

His Excellency Dr Nayef Falah M Al-Hajraf took up his position as Secretary General of the GCC on 1 February 2020.

He was formerly Minister of Finance of Kuwait from December 2017 to November 2019.

In a distinguished career in both public and private sectors, H E Dr Nayef Falah M Al-Hajraf has served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Managing Director of the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA) from September 2014 to December 2017.

He was Kuwait’s Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education from February 2012 to January 2014.

He was also Acting Minister of Finance, Kuwait, Chairman of the General Investment Authority, Kuwait, Chairman of the General Organization for Social Insurance, a Member of the Supreme Council for Planning, Member of the Civil Service Council, a Member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.

He became a Member of the Board of Directors of Bahrain and Kuwait Bank in January 2014. His Excellency was awarded a PhD in Accounting and Finance by the University of Hull in 2002.