Burak Altunay

H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak
inaugurates Women as Global Leaders
Conference

Over 2000 delegates from 60 countries
from all sectors including education,
government, and nongovernmental
organizations all around the world will
attend the bi-annual three day Women As
Global Leaders Conference.
Organized by Zayed University, and scheduled to be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai ,under
the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak President of Family Development
Foundation, President of General Women’s Union, President of Arab Women Organization,
under the theme :’Learning Leadership’ .

H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific
Research and President of Zayed University, will inaugurate the third Women as Global Leaders
Conference which aims to build bridges that unit female students from around theworld as
participants meet with internationally renowned women leaders, share ideas, and engage in
debate on ‘Learning Leadership’.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim Vice President of Zayed University stressed the importance of The
Women as Global Leaders conference as it focuses on women’s emergent and current
leadership roles across the globe as well as the practice of educating students for and about
leadership, with each other and with some of the most prominent leaders in the world today, in
addition to creating a connection between the emerging generation of leaders through discussing
the issue of women empowerment.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim emphasized the importance of the upcoming conference in determining
ways of preparing young women as future global leaders, as it includes presentations by
prominent world leaders and personalities sharing ideas on the topic of leadership and
interacting with submitted papers, presentations, simulations and workshops, in addition
to the key women figures sending a message to the attending students and their fellow women
on how to equip themselves with knowledge and determination to be more prominent in positions
of leadership and have their own vision and commitment which will make a difference.
The first day will also host a moderated discussion panel between the keynote speakers which
will include audience participation, while the next two days will involve academic sessions about
women and different roles of leadership, in addition to learning and mastering the tools of
becoming a leader.

The 3rd day will host the Arab Women’s Panel which will discuss the topic ‘ Mentoring the next
generation: A personal perspective’. He added that Rosalyn Higgins President of International Court of Justice will also be attending the conference which will be a great opportunity for
students to learn from her experience in women’s leadership. Although President Rosalyn
Higgins was appointed in 6th of February 2006 , her experience in international law gained
global admiration.

President Higgins received an honorary doctorate of the University of Paris (1980), University
of Dundee ( 1992), University of Birmingham and University of Glascow (1997), . She also
received the 1995 Certificate of Merit of the American Society of International Law for Problems
and Process: International law on how we see it, in addition t o the Wolfgang- Friedman Medal
for services to International law, Colombia University (1985). He added that Rosalyn Higgins
President of International Court of Justice also authored various worked and articles on
international legal theory, United Nations law, the use of force, State and diplomatic immunities,
human rights and international petroleum law.

Dr. Al Jassim added that the conference aims to create educational and cultural and social
bridges between students of Zayed University and others different universities all over
the world. The conference will also receive a number of keynote speakers which include:

-His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research, President of Zayed University

-Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai
Women Establishment, Wife of H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of
Presidential Affairs

- Her Excellency Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State, U.A.E.

- Jane Fonda, Award-Winning Actress and Humanitarian

- Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, CEO, Advocate, Philanthropist and Author

- Carol Bellamy, Former Head of UNICEF, CEO of World Learning, and President of the School
for International Training

- Anousheh Ansari, First Female Private Space Explorer, Chairman and Co-Founder, Prodea
Systems, Inc.

- Helen Thomas, Journalist and Author

- Mary Sue Coleman, President University of Michigan

- Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann, President and Founder, World Security Network Foundation

- H.E. Najla Mohammed Al Awar, Secretary General for the U.A.E. Cabinet, Board Member of
Dubai Women’s Club, U.A.E.

- Luluwa Al Qatami, Founder of the Women’s Committee, Kuwait

- Salma Hareb, CEO, Jebel Ali Free Zone, U.A.E.

- Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, U.A.E