Shell and Dubai Quality Group (DQG) announced today (Sunday, December 10, 2006), the launch of a series of workshops as part of an intensive campaign to encourage a greater number of women to participate in the fifth edition of the prestigious Emirates Businesswomen Award (EBWA). The workshops will be conducted to familiarise potential applicants with the goals, objectives, eligibility criteria and rules of application for the Award.
Workshops will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah following the launch of the award in November 6th, 2006 and preceding the deadline for submitting applications on the March 4th, 2007. The workshops, backed by a direct promotional campaign, will invite businesswomen and women professionals of all nationalities to send in their entries for the Award.
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell said, “Shell’s sponsorship of the EBWA is driven by its global corporate philosophy that gives priority to the empowerment of women. We are confident these workshops will highlight the benefits of participating in the Award and the networking opportunities it offers, thereby motivating a larger number of women entrepreneurs and professionals to apply for EBWA 2007.”
In addition to explaining the criterion and categories of the awards to the attendees, the workshops will also give participants an overview of the major benefits of winning the Emirates Businesswomen Award, such as the opportunity to network with women achievers from various fields, thus enabling them to broaden their circle of business contacts.
The campaign itinerary will see workshops being held at the Al Murooj Rotana in Dubai on 11th of December, the Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi on the 12th of December, the Millennium Hotel in Sharjah on the 10th of January and the Millennium Hotel in Abu Dhabi on the 5th of February 2006.
Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Dubai Quality Group said, “Dubai Quality Group is committed to nurturing and developing the professional and managerial expertise of individuals in a bid to raise performance and quality standards in local organisations and build a healthy business environment. The Emirates Businesswoman Award is an important initiative that furthers this objective.”
“Women, either as entrepreneurs or as professionals, have worked hard to excel in their respective fields and have contributed much to making the UAE a leader in the regional economy. The Emirates Businesswoman Award honours their achievements and the workshops will help us to attract more women into participating in the programme,” he added.
Judith Barton, Chief Assessor for the award and Managing Consultant of The Development Partnership said, “The Award is open to Nationals and expatriates and is awarded in two categories – Business Owners and Professionals. To qualify for the Business Owners category, the applicant must currently own a business located in the UAE that has been in operation for a minimum of three years and the applicant must be primarily responsible for the current performance of her business.”
“To qualify for the Professional category, the applicant may be employed in any professional sector in the UAE and must have worked in the country for a minimum of three years. All candidates for the 2007 Award will be given the advantage of mentorship from winners of EBWA 2006,” explained Barton.
Launched in 2003 by Shell in cooperation with Dubai Quality Group, the Award recognises the contribution of women entrepreneurs and professionals to the UAE’s socio-economic development and celebrates their successes. It also provides an effective networking forum for women entrepreneurs and professionals to further their businesses and careers and holds up women achievers as role models for other women to emulate.
