The importance of corporate governance continues to be recognised by the private sector as a fundamental component of business operations, growth, and resilience. This coupled with the effective implementation of risk, compliance, and integrity measures, helps improve organisational control, while also reducing liabilities, siloed operations, and redundancies.
A common future trend observed, is the introduction of Environmental, Social and Governance “ESG” metrics, referring to sustainable and social impact of an organisation and encompasses strategies to optimizing benefits for both business and society across the Gulf and beyond. With companies trying to further their social responsibility and enhance their impact towards their stakeholders, the integration of ESG has come to the forefront of business strategies. A strong ESG proposition helps companies tap into new markets and expand within existing ones. When governing authorities trust corporate actors, they are more likely to award them the access, approvals, and licenses that afford fresh opportunities for growth.
The “governance” part of the ESG equation has found its way more regularly and systematically into companies’ business risk, compliance, and operational integrity – through corporate governance procedures, codes of conduct and policies, especially relating to legal and regulatory matters.
Introduction
Ranya Saadawi Opens the Session and Introduces the Speakers
Start Date: 15/03/2022 Start Time: 16:00:00 End Time: 16:05:00Panel Discussion
Panel Commences, shedding light on the below themes:
- Corporate Governance within Business Operations
- Integrity, Compliance and Risk as Fundamental Components of Corporate Governance
- Effective Integration of ESG Practices and Metrics
Q&A
Start Date: 15/03/2022 Start Time: 16:50:00 End Time: 17:00:00Danish Shamsi
Designation: Regional Business Development Manager - ACCA Middle East
Danish Shamsi is the Regional Business Development Manager for ACCA Middle East. A seasoned corporate sales professional, Danish works across multiple functions, including spearheading the regional employer strategy at ACCA, being the voice of the ACCA members and is responsible for supporting small- to medium-sized accounting practices in the region. Skilled at identifying new opportunities, Danish upholds the mandate of the organization to grow the global profile of accountancy in the region, profiling ACCA’s services, features and benefits within new and existing markets, whilst continually developing and nurturing strategic relationships.
Based currently in Dubai, Danish, a passionate mixed martial arts enthusiast, is a graduate of the University of Surrey and holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics.
Ali Alhazzani
Designation: Corporate Governance General Manager - Legal Affairs
Passionate about Organizational Transformations, with 10+ years of experience in Organization Development, Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at stc
- Bachelor degree of Industrial Systems Engineering, from King Fahad University of Petroleum & Minerals.
- 10+ years of experience in different levels and domains (Organization Design & Development, Process Re-engineering, Human Resource Management, Policies & Corporate Governance).
- Managed/Participated multiple transformational projects, working with variety of specialized global consultants in Business Transformations, Organization Development, Corporate and Investments Governance, and Human Resources.
- Certified & trained in Organization Development, HR Strategy & Management, Saudi Corporate Governance Laws, and Organizational Leadership.
- Currently working as the General Manager of Corporate Governance at stc.
Marwan Abdul Hak
Designation: Director - Governance Dynamics
Marwan is a Director at Governance Dynamics. He is a GRC Expert, Experienced Trainer, Facilitator, and Certified Instructor. As a GRC Specialist, Marwan delivers a wide variety of customized Governance, Risk Management, Internal Audit, and Fraud Deterrence professional qualifications, training workshops, and services. Marwan has 21 years of experience working with the Big 4, corporate and government environments in Internal and External Audit where his last full-time job was as a Chief Audit Executive with Massar Solutions PJSC for 8 years before he dedicated himself to lecturing, training, public speaking, and consultancy.
Marwan has built many Audit departments from scratch and developed them, and he is an expert and innovator in Board and Senior Management, Compliance, and External/Internal Audit Relationship Establishment. Also, Marwan had worked through his career on Enterprise Risk Management Implementation, led complex Fraud Investigations, and provided high-caliber Consulting and Advisory services in Operations, Strategies, and Governance frameworks. He participated in QA projects regarding Audit Management, and the functions he managed were proudly subject to successful QA projects conducted externally and internally.
Entities served are within various industries such as land and marine transportation, telecommunication, mega construction and industrial projects, hospitals, universities, financial institution, medical and pharmaceutical and hospitality within GCC region.
Education & Qualifications
- BS in Accounting, Notre Dame University
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
- GRC Professional (GRCP)
- GRC Auditor (GRCA)
- Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors
- Member of the Association of Fraud Examiners
Belinda Scott
Designation: Vice President & Head of Corporate Sustainability - First Abu Dhabi Bank
Belinda Scott is VP and Head of Corporate Sustainability at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). She is responsible for developing and implementing the bank’s group wide sustainability strategy which includes ESG and oversight for the management of the bank’s Green Bond, and Equator Principles. She also acts as the sustainability adviser to the bank and its group businesses.
Belinda represents FAB on a number of committees, including the UAE Climate Change & Environment Council, the UAE Private Sector Advisory Council on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Sustainable Finance Consultative Working Group, the ADGM Gender Equality Working Group and the World Future Energy Summit Technical Committee. Through her membership of the Sustainable Finance Steering Committee, supported by UNEP FI, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the UAE Central Bank, she contributed to the development of the Dubai Declaration on Sustainable Finance.
Belinda is currently undertaking a Fellowship in Climate Safe Lending. She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and in 2020 completed the Sustainable Finance programme with the London Institute of Banking and Finance through the ADGM Academy.
Hanifa Ymer
Designation: Head of Sustainability Services MENA, Jones Lang LaSalle
Hanifa heads up JLL’s Sustainability Consulting Services practice across MENA. She brings extensive experience and knowledge in sustainability, with 20 years of experience across the full suite of sustainability services, and across a broad spectrum of issues including climate change and energy; water management; health, safety and wellbeing; human rights; diversity and inclusion; responsible investment; responsible banking; and many other areas.