Nominations for the CBC Executive Committee - Nominee Profiles

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Barnard Gregory
6 years ago
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Serving on the CBC EC for the last year has been an honor and privilege. When we were elected, we inherited a business council that was built on solid foundations.

As the youngest member of the EC, I had the honor of serving along experienced professionals of our community and the privilege of learning from them.

1 Serving on the CBC EC for the last year has been an honor and privilege. When we were elected, we inherited a business council that was built on solid foundations. This gave us the confidence to put in place programs intended to further develop the CBC, as well as cement old ties and build new ones. As the youngest member of the EC, I had the honor of serving along experienced professionals of our community and the privilege of learning from them. I was also fortunate to be able to present different a perspective of the issues we face and voice some of the concerns of our members. Adeeb Jouhar Legal Counsel Aramex This past year, I had the pleasure of looking after the legal portfolio where we performed various corporate secretarial works, oversaw legal compliance and set up the contractual framework with some of our partners today. In addition, we set up the emerging leaders of the CBC, a segment that provides professional support to our younger members and which led to new memberships. I would like to be re-elected to the CBC EC in order to see through these duties and initiatives and continue supporting my fellow members. Al joined the Government of Dubai and Dubai's Investment Development Agency in May 2014 as the Group's Advisor. Al is from Toronto, Canada and has spent 12 years as the Area Director MENA Region for the Ministry of Economic Development & Trade, Government of Ontario, with responsibility for promoting trade and investment on behalf of the government in 21 countries. This crossed into many sectors including ICT, Life & Health Sciences, Infrastructure,Oil & Gas, and Renewable Energy. Al Hinton Advisor Dubai Investment Development Agency In 2013, the Dubai Government approached him to come to Dubai to work. Obviously they were successful! Al has been a member of the CBC for approximately 15 years through the Province of Ontario and now with the Dubai Government. Over the years, he has promoted the CBC through the partnership of many events which offered profile building for the CBC. Al continues this commitment as a member of the Executive Committee, elected to the Board in 2016, carrying the Membership Director portfolio. Al is very active in the CBC and participates in many events. As the Membership Director, Al has contributed immensely to the growth of the Council to its largest membership base of 528, a 5% growth over the previous year. Page 1

My goal for the current year is to institutionalize and embed the CBC s initiatives targeted towards younger members and new Canadian arrivals through the Emerging Leaders group.

Roulette event. Sustaining momentum and striking a balance between the needs of younger members and CBC s positioning as a place to learn and conduct business will be critical.

2 My goal for the current year is to institutionalize and embed the CBC s initiatives targeted towards younger members and new Canadian arrivals through the Emerging Leaders group. I have been deeply involved with Emerging Leaders over the last year, during which we have hosted 4 new events including workshops on entrepreneurship, personal branding, and an innovative Mentorship Roulette event. Sustaining momentum and striking a balance between the needs of younger members and CBC s positioning as a place to learn and conduct business will be critical. Aneerudha (Ruda) Borkotoky Business Development Director Carlease Rent a Car Prior to arriving in Dubai, I had a successful career in management consulting in Toronto, first as a Manager (among the youngest in Canada) in Deloitte's Financial Advisory practice, then as a management consultant at StrategyCorp Inc, a boutique consultancy focused policy development and advocacy led by senior political advisors to government (a former StrategyCorp Partner is currently Canada s Ambassador to the US). I have been the Business Development Director at Carlease since 2014, where I have spearheaded a number of initiatives related to marketing, sales, operations and finance functions. Carlease has been a member of the CBC since 2015 and was a Finalist at the MEED-Gulf Capital SME Awards in 2015 and Colin is Founder and Managing Director of Limelight Creative Services, a retail strategy and design consultancy based in Dubai, and has a 25-year record of success in design including strategic consulting, design concept development, competitive analysis, brand positioning and program implementation for Fortune 500 retailers, developers and brands in North America, Europe, China, the Middle East and South America. Colin Beaton Managing Director Limelight Creative Services Prior to founding Limelight in 2009, Colin was the Managing Director, Far and Middle East for Watt International based in Toronto Canada. While with Watt Colin led an international expansion program that included opening offices in Dubai and Shanghai. Throughout his career, Colin has been active with international design associations, presenting his ideas on branding, marketing and design for high profile organizations such as the Retail Council of Canada, National Retail Federation, Food Marketing Institute, China Chain Store and Franchise Association, IIDEX/NEOCON, India Retail Forum, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Colin has an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto and has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Business Council for 5 years including the role of Chairman in Page 2

It is with great excitement that I seek to be re-elected to the CBC board in 2917-2918.

3 It is with great excitement that I seek to be re-elected to the CBC board in Eric Koeman Director of Development, Training Middle-East SKUworld I had the extreme privilege of handling the sponsorship portfolio last year where we introduced a new strategy to allow sponsors to commit to a long term 3 year partnership investment. This will allow us to secure the sustainability of our sponsorship revenue and strengthen our CBC's financial health as a direct consequence. I've had the chance to work closely with our key partners to promote the benefits and we are currently monitoring our progress. I wish to continue this important work as a board member once again next year. Thank you in advance for your support and confidence. Jason Gibb, born and raised Canadian, a Uvic grad, joined the Director s Guild of Canada and Hollywood at Creative Artists Agency and Warner Bros. Since 2004, a Canadian real estate developer with several real estate director positions in the UAE at RAK FTZ and JRD Group. Cofounded CCREE Investments with buildings leased to Tim Horton s and Service Canada. MBA at London Business School, Certified Management Accountant, and member of the Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals and the Dubai Real Estate Institute. Jason Gibb President CCREE Investments Inc. I am motivated to serve the success of the membership by maintaining the highest standards of good governance as we grow our community. I add value aligning to the fun and serving attitude I have witnessed in the areas of: 1. Finance managing the bookkeeping, reports and tax filings of many Canadian businesses and GST audits; and I can transfer this experience to CBC VAT tax compliance. 2. Marketing campaigns from inception, defining customers, highlighting benefits and USPs in online communications through testimonials resulting in customer action and feedback loops to keep customers engaged. I am approachable and listen to all voices with an intention to provide clear and accurate communications with high standards of transparency. Page 3

Dear CBC members, I am experienced business professional with 20+ years of global experience in payments industry.

Kamal Kant VP-Head of DCC & Digital Initiatives Network International LLC. Along-with my family, 4 years ago, I moved to the UAE. My wife is a teacher and we have two lovely boys 11&8.

With my industry connections and ideas generation capabilities from teams around me; I will continue to generate the value for CBC board.

4 Dear CBC members, I am experienced business professional with 20+ years of global experience in payments industry. At NI, I have: Ownership around NI s digital and strategic initiatives to support growth of SMEs and businesses Grown the business by 43% in an industry which is declining 10% YOY globally/regionally Kamal Kant VP-Head of DCC & Digital Initiatives Network International LLC. Along-with my family, 4 years ago, I moved to the UAE. My wife is a teacher and we have two lovely boys 11&8. I am a Canadian citizen. Additionally, I served on EC of CBC for past one year and directed on events, cost optimisation for payments processing, and guidance on improvement of user experience. With my industry connections and ideas generation capabilities from teams around me; I will continue to generate the value for CBC board. If opportunity provided, I will continue to commit my time to your prestigious association to support our Canadian businesses to grow here in the region. Kind regards, Kamal Kant I am an engineering graduate from the American University of Beirut who has spent over 25 years working in the fields of technology and business. After starting my career with IBM, I joined Thomson Reuters as Chief Engineer in 1993, working in a variety of roles across the Middle East, Africa and Russia/CIS, until I was appointed MD of Thomson Reuters Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Nadim Najjar Managing Director MENA Thomson Reuters As the MD of a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto, I am seeking to foster ties and create stronger links with other Canadian companies in the region. As a member of the board, I would be particularly interested in supporting the marketing and communications activities of the CBC with the help of the Thomson Reuters marketing solutions business. I am eager to get involved in CBC events which will be held throughout the year, and would be willing to commit the time and energy needed to raise the profile of the CBC with key stakeholders through targeted marketing and communications. Page 4

Middle East, Africa and some European markets from scratch. Pierre received Canada s Export Award in 1997. Pierre Chamas Senior Advisor Rhenus Logistics Pierre joined the CBC as a member in 1993.

5 Pierre Chamas is a veteran of the FMCG and the Food industry and is currently a senior advisor to Rhenus Logistics. Prior to this assignment Pierre has spent 25 years working for McCain Foods in Canada and in Dubai building the business, distribution networks, brand and team presence in 45 markets across the Middle East, Africa and some European markets from scratch. Pierre received Canada s Export Award in Pierre Chamas Senior Advisor Rhenus Logistics Pierre joined the CBC as a member in He has been elected to the CBC boards during , first as Director of Partnership and as Chairman during the fiscal year , injecting stronger management skills & practices and initiating with the Executive Director and the Board a Strategic Plan for the CBC. In 2000, Pierre completed a Senior Management Program in the University of Western Ontario. Fluent in English, French & Arabic, Pierre has a deep knowledge of the Middle East history, and its economies. Pierre is passionate about travel, reading & jogging. A business graduate from USA (1999) and CPA, Samir hails from a Business Family spread in many countries and excels in Management & Tax Consulting. He is Director of Alliott Hadi Shahid Chartered Accountants. Samir Shahid Director Alliott Hadi Shahid Chartered Accountants Mr. Shahid is a Certified Public Accountant from the Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Pakistan and Chartered Business Consultant from the Chartered Association Business Administrators- Canada, Certified Financial Consultant from Institute of Financial Consultants- Canada, a member of the Accounting and Auditing Association-UAE and a member of the Certified Public Accountants Association - UK. Mr. Shahid is active member of number of Business and Professional Councils in UAE and former Vice President of PBPC (Pakistan Business and Professional Council), Abu Dhabi. Member Board CPA, UAE Chapter, Member Advisory committee Professional Forum. He has represented his Company in various conferences locally and in many countries of the world. Page 5

6 It is my distinct pleasure to run for the Board. If elected, I will work tirelessly to take the Canada brand to the next level and empower our Canadian businesses to thrive in the UAE. Taufiq Rahim Executive Director Globesight Born and raised in Vancouver, I moved to the UAE in the Fall Today, I run a think-tank consultancy, Globesight, working with leading philanthropic organizations on issues such as refugees, education & health. Previously I worked at the Dubai School of Government, McKinsey & Company, the UN, and the Aga Khan Foundation. I obtained my M.P.P. from Harvard University and B.A. from Princeton. Throughout my career, I have engaged on Canadian issues. Fast forward to today, Globesight is a lead sponsor of Canada 150 in Dubai. I co-founded, YVR-DXB, an initiative to link Dubai and Vancouver. And this year, I served as Vice-Chair of the Terry Fox Run (Dubai). Thank you for your consideration. Page 6

Nominations for the CBC Executive Committee - Nominee Profiles

Nominations for the CBC Executive Committee - Nominee Profiles I currently hold the position of Senior Legal Officer with H. H. The Ruler's Court The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, where I advise various local governmental entities on their legal and