ADGAS 93rd Board Meeting

Transcription

1 Volume 26 - No May 2011 ADGAS 93rd Board Meeting

2 Contents Congratulations Cover Story H.E. ADNOC CEO visits Das Island 4-5 ADGAS 93rd Board Meeting 6-7 A Monthly newsletter issued by the Corporate Communications & Public Relations Department in the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company LTD (ADGAS) for company employees Correspondence should be addressed to the Editorial Board, Corporate Communications & Public Relations Department, ADGAS at: PO Box: 3500 Editor s Telephone : Fax: baradey@adgas.com All rights Reserved. No part of this newsletter shall be re-produced in any other form without at least attributing the same to its source. Successful presence for ADNOC & its Group of Companies at the OTC Awarding ADGAS for Sponsoring Abu Dhabi Industrial Award 23 ADGAS organizes the Media and Crisis Management workshop The Management and employees of Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Ltd (ADGAS) Extend their sincere congratulations to The Management and employees of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO) on winning Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (Diamond Category) And also to The Management and employees of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) on winning Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (Golden Category) Wishing Both Companies Continuous Progress, Excellence and Prosperity for the Common Good Of ADNOC and its Group of Companies Invitation ADGAS News is your voice, and it welcomes any contribution to its content from its readership among Company employees 2 ADGAS News ADGAS News 3 and their families. The Editorial Board, however, retains the right to edit such contributions as per the editorial policy and the technical requirements of the newsletter.

3 Cover Story H.E. ADNOC CEO visits Das Island H.E. was accompanied by two senior officials from ADNOC, Mr. Awaidha Murshed Al Murar, Civil Projects Manager and Daham Faisal, SPC s Manager of Admin. & Coordination Division/Manager of Production and Export Control Division. The delegation was accompanied to Das Island by members of ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO s senior managements, led by Mr. Fahim Kazim, CEO and Mr. Ali Rashid Al-Jarwan, ADMA-OPCO s CEO. On the Island s airport, the guests were received by Mr. Mohamed Saqr Al Shehhi, VP (LNG Plant), Mr. Mohamed Al Tameemi, Administration Manager Das and other senior officials from both ADGAS and ADMA- OPCO. standards while also insisting on quality and good performance in whatever they do. OAG/IGD Projects The delegation also visited the OAG and IGD sites and discussed with the projects team the present state and the ongoing works of the IGD project. H.E., the CEO, highlighted the strategic importance of the IGD project for ADNOC Group and for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in general, calling on all employees and contractors to show utmost commitment to safety and timely execution of the project. He also visited ADGAS Plant s Central Control Building (CCB) and got briefed by Mr. Khaled Al Ameri, Operations Manager, on the role of the CCB and it advanced equipment used to operate the plant. He expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the CCB staff. Touring Das Training Center H.E. ADNOC CEO moved to take a tour in Das Training Center, and got briefed about the state-of-theart training and testing facility that is designed to meet the training needs of both ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO, especially in the technical field, but also to conduct training within ADNOC s CAMS program. H.E. visited some classes and training courses and commended the efforts of both trainers and students alike. H.E. expressed his satisfaction at the A tour to Das Island Development Project H.E. the CEO started his visit by a field tour to the Das Island Development (DID) Project where Das expansion and reclamation works are going on to accommodate future projects for both ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO. He was briefed by the site and project managers on the progress made till now and the way forward. H.E. gave his directives to the project s staff to meet the set deadlines and always demonstrate agility and compliance with the highest safety tour in the lap As part of ADNOC s continuous follow up of ongoing projects on Das Island, H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef, SPC General Secretary and ADNOC CEO, visited Das Island on May 9, 2011, to follow up on the progress of current projects on the island, review execution plans and streamline any obstacles facing them. In conversation with Developees in Das Training Center great progress achieved in terms of providing all necessary requirements for the training and habilitation of local talents to prepare them for leading positions within the UAE oil and gas sector. He noted that special interest should be taken in administering the CAMS program adopted by ADNOC to qualify new recruits for rewarding jobs within the Group. The tour was concluded by a presentation by CAMS graduate Mr. Saif Al Shamsi, who spoke about his training and all the support and commitment he has received from the Center and the Learning & Development Department. 4 ADGAS News ADGAS News 5

4 Cover Story ADGAS 93rd Board Meeting ADGAS held its 93rd Board meeting on Tuesday 31st May at the Company s headquarters. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef, AD- NOC CEO and Chairman of the Board. Representatives of ADGAS shareholders, (ADNOC, Mitsui & Co., BP and Total), attended the meeting. The General Management team, headed by Mr. Fahim Kazim, CEO, was also present. ADGAS 93rd Board Meeting The 48th Finance Sub- Committee (FINCO) meeting was held on 16th May 2011 and discussed Year 2010 audited Financial Statements of the ADGAS. The meeting was chaired by Mr. P. Hughes, BP, with full representation from the Shareholders. ADGAS was represented by Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President (A), other senior members of the Management Team. The 51st Board Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, which was held on Das Island on 24th Board Advisory Committee Shareolders Performance Review Meeting operation. Their tour took them also to the recently inaugurated Das Training Center where they had the chance to see the various facilities and sophisticated equipment used in the Center. The Shareholders Performance Review meeting for for 1st Quarter 2011, was held on 16th May 2011 chaired by Mr. Nasser Al Shammari, Advisor, ADNOC and attended by ADGAS SVP (A), SVP (C), SVP (T), and in the presence of rep- ADGAS Board of Directors reviewed the Company s corporate performance and achievements for the 1st Quarter of 2011, and discussed the progress of various major schemes and projects scheduled for completion during the year. During the Meeting, MITSUI s representative passed TEPCO s gratitude on the stand of ADGAS and its shareholders to support them and Japan through the earthquake and Tsunami disaster which hit Japan last March. H.E. the Chairman, replied by noting that TEPCO is not a client but a business partner and thanked all shareholders for supporting the decision to demonstrate our solidarity with TEPCO and Japan. The Board commended the Company s performance and achievements for the 1st Quarter 2011, and congratulated ADGAS General Management and all employees for their efforts. The Board meeting was preceded by a series of other meetings of: The 32nd Technical Sub- Committee (TSC) meeting, on 10th May 2011 chaired by Mr. Fahim Kazim, ADGAS CEO. The meeting was also attended by shareholders technical experts and ADGAS key technical staff. Through a series of presentations and briefing papers, they deliberated HSE, Production and Integrity and Reliability Performance along with a review of strategic initiatives and progress of various projects. Shareholders commended ADGAS on its high standards, robust systems and continuous improvement in the HSE performance trends and achievements. The meeting was concluded with specific input and recommendations by Shareholders for ensuring sustained performance on the long run. May 2011 and chaired by Dr. Saif Al Nasseri, Planning Division Manager, ADNOC, in the presence of representatives of ADGAS Shareholders and ADGAS CEO, SVP(A), SVP (C), SVP (T), VP (P), and other senior ADGAS officials. ADGAS presented the yearto-date performance of the company in respect to its targets. ADGAS took this opportunity to review and evaluate the major business events during The Shareholders endorsed ADGAS Five Years Business Plan assumptions ( ) and congratulated ADGAS Management and its employees for all their hard work and efforts and wished the Company continued improvement for the remainder of the year. BAC Committee members having tour in the Control Room After finishing their meeting, the BAC Committee members took a tour to the Das Development Project and were briefed about work progress in the project. The BAC members visited also the Plant s Central Control Building (CCB) and were briefed about its resentatives of ADGAS Shareholders, and discussed the Company s overall performance in comparison to the targets agreed in the 2011 Performance Contract. The Five Years Business Plan Assumptions ( ) were presented at the meeting. 6 ADGAS News ADGAS News 7

5 Good Old Days ADNOC 2010 HSE Awards ADNOC CEO: Spreading the culture of safety As part of its policy on stressing the significance of strict compliance in all the Group s operations with the highest safety levels and standards, ADNOC maintains the practice of organizing an HSE annual competition in which specimen projects in this field are presented and highlighted by specialized members of staff of the Group s companies. In 2001, ADGAS won ADNOC s HSE Award in the Safety category. H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef handed out the award to Mr. Rashed Al Jarwan, then ADGAS CEO in this 10-year old photo. Below is a group picture of ADNOC HSE Award winners in H.E. ADNOC CEO Awards ADGAS CEO and his team H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef, SPC General Secretary and ADNOC CEO, inaugurated the annual ceremony of ADNOC HSE Awards for 2010, which was held in May 31, 2011 at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi. In his opening speech in the ceremony, H.E. said that ensuring the safety of our employees and protecting our environment are of fundamental importance to us. Talking about the unfortunate incidents that took place in 2010, H.E. said that most of these incidents could have been easily avoided had ADNOC Codes of Practice been followed and strictly adhered to. For our HSE procedures and standards to work, we have to create a culture where every employee shares our vision and expectations and where every employee is committed to promoting ADNOC HSE and sustainability practices and procedures, H. E. went on to say. Twenty of ADNOC companies and organizations had submitted a total of 192 projects and applications as submissions to compete for this annual competition in five main categories: Health, Safety, Environment, HSE Performance, Sustainability and Innovation. ADGAS had submitted 15 projects and initiatives to compete for the awards. One of these projects won the runner-up Award in the sustainability category. The winning project is HSE Merits of OAG1 Project: Looking at the future of Abu Dhabi s Offshore Oil and Gas Business. The award was received from H.E. ADNOC CEO by Mr. Fahim Kazim, CEO, who was accompanied by the project team. Mr. Kazim has recently received letters of congratulation for this achievement from ADGAS shareholders as well as other ADNOC Group companies, commending ADGAS commitment to the issues of HSE and sustainability in general and wishing ADGAS further achievements in the future. In turn, Mr. Fahim Kazim has also congratulated several companies within the group for their achievements and for the HSE awards they received recently, always stressing our common commitment to the policies and procedures adopted by ADNOC and its Group of Companies. 8 ADGAS News ADGAS News 9

6 Senior Management in Korea for IGD Follow-up As part of the continuous follow up of the strategically important Das Island Package of the Integrated Gas Development (IGD) Project, Mr. Fahim Kazim, ADGAS CEO, Mr. Ali Al Shamsi, ADNOC Offshore Division Manager and Mr. Bader Almohamadi, ADGAS SVP(T) visited Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) headquarters in Ulsan, South Korea on May 12th This most recent visit was quickly arranged to raise ADNOC and ADGAS concerns to HHI most senior management with respect to delays to the Civil & Marine works of the IGD Das Project, potentially affecting the overall project, highlighted to HHI by ADGAS during the Project Steering Committee Meeting held in Abu Dhabi on April 19th During the visit, ADGAS and ADNOC Senior Management first met with HHI President and CEO, Mr. J. S. Lee and Offshore & Plant Division COO s at HHI main yard in Ulsan to discuss their concerns and to obtain assurances of HHI commitment to speedy recovery and maintaining the original project completion date. In the discussion with HHI President, Mr. Fahim Kazim and Mr. Al Shamsi highlighted the strategic importance of the IGD Project to ADNOC and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and stressed to Mr. Lee the necessity to complete the project safely, timely and to the required standards of quality. This meeting concluded with HHI President and CEO giving the visiting senior officials assurance and commitment that HHI will implement immediate remedial action to ensure the timely completion of IGD Das Project. The meeting was followed up by a tour to observe the current progress of IGD Project module fabrication works at HHI yard where general highlights where provided by the Project team to the visiting delegates. Finally, prior to concluding the visit and departure from Korea, the Senior Management accompanied by ADGAS IGD Project Managers attended a second meeting with HHI Offshore and Plant Divisions; Mr. C.J. Kang and Mr. I. S. Chun respectively. The meeting was to highlight specific concerns and give ADGAS recommendations of improvements based on ADGAS experience and previous lessons learned. ADGAS CEO stressed the importance of HHI capturing and utilizing the depth of ADGAS expertise and experience residing in its project team in areas including Das Island logistics, site work permitting procedures and risk assessment and mitigation which could be used to improve work execution, safety and performance. Additionally, Mr. Almohamadi emphasized a few elements of current delays and gave specific recommendations including use of suitably qualified subcontractors, the importance of Project leadership, the presence of HHI Project Manager and expediting all early works, specifically Brown fields. HHI management appreciated the visit and assured ADGAS of implementing the required recovery plan and associated remedial actions. ADGAS Team s Business Visit to HHI (Korea) An audit visit was completed From 2nd - 13th May 2011 at the IGD EPC Contractor Home Office in Ulsan; Korea by the ADGAS Team including members from the Engineering, IT and Maintenance departments. The purpose of this visit was to assess and ensure IGD Project compliance to the various ADGAS Engineering requirements as specified normally for all new Projects and installations. ADGAS Team in group photo During the tour at HHI yard to observe current progress of IGD project During the visit, the visiting team had extensive discussions and meeting with both IGD Project team and HHI to address the ongoing detail engineering activities and deliverables, furthermore the following topics were examined: Reassurance of the EPC Contractor, Vendors and Subcontractors understanding and compliance towards ADGAS document numbering and tagging philosophy. Correct development of the engineering database schemas. Discuss the issues of document handover strategy and ways to facilitate cooperation during the project stage. Random checks on Project Engineering deliverables of HHI and vendors and raise recommendations for improvements and compliance as applicable. Follow up remaining action items from the first audit visit held in March/ April 2010 The above visit is part of the continued coordination and quality assurance that the above ADGAS departments are exerting with IGD Project division to ensure relevant lessons learnt from the previous project are implemented, to expand the development, execution & supervision of plans, software s and practices that control, deliver and enhance the value of engineering data and information of the plant assets. The visit was concluded with several findings and recommendations which will be consolidated report to the Management with detailed highlights on objective, findings and recommendations. 10 ADGAS News ADGAS News 11

7 Successful presence for ADNOC & its Group of Companies at the OTC 2011 The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) pavilion at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2011) which concluded recently at Reliant Centre in Houston, Texas, USA, got overwhelming responses from enterprises and visitors, making it a grand success. Held under the theme Making Safe, this year s edition of OTC attracted around 65,000 attendees and 2,055 exhibiting companies representing more than 110 countries. A high-level delegation of ADNOC and its Group of Companies including CEOs and senior executives attended the four-day event. Delegates from ADNOC and its Group of Companies made presentations at the OTC conference, mainly tackling issues related to offshore operations. Among the presentations was a paper titled ADNOC Major Offshore Development: Opportunities and Challenges by Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, Manager of Offshore Division, ADNOC. ADNOC Group also exhibited in the OTC show in a large stand that reflects the size of the Group and depicts the overall development witnessed by the UAE. Visitors of the pavilion were introduced to the latest developments in the oil and gas sector in the UAE as well as the strategic programs and projects carried out by ADNOC & its Group of Companies in the various fields of oil, gas and petrochemicals. ADNOC & its Group of Companies delegation which included a large number of engineers working in different exploration, production and petroleum services sectors visited the pavilions of other countries exhibiting at the OTC. They also held meetings with senior executives ADNOC Stand in the exhibition Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi recieves award on behalf of H.E. Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, ADNOC Deputy CEO from global oil and gas companies to acquaint themselves with the latest technological and technical developments in the oil and gas industry. ADNOC was also this year s Visionary Leadership Award recipient. The award is given to companies that demonstrate a commitment to enhancing business and education ties between the United States and Arab world. delegation which included a large number of engineers working in different exploration, production and petroleum services sectors visited Side of exhibition the pavilions of other countries exhibiting at the OTC. They also held meetings with senior executives from global oil and gas companies to acquaint themselves with the latest technological and technical developments in the oil and gas industry. ADNOC was also this year s Visionary Leadership Award recipient. The award is given to companies that demonstrate a commitment to enhancing business and education ties between the United States and Arab world. Over 800 attended BUSACC s reception, including delegates from Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Also in attendance were U.S. Department of Commerce commercial officers from the MENA region and Washington D.C. and State of Texas officials from the Senate and Railroad Commission and the Mayor of the City of Houston s Office. BUSACC Board member, Rob Franklin, President ExxonMobil Upstream Ventures, Handed out the Award to Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi, ADNOC s HR and Administration Director, on behalf of H.E. Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, ADNOC Deputy CEO. Past recipients of this award include Aramco, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. A company s commitment to US- Arab trade isn t only counted in monetary contribution. Support is most valuable when it is measured in access, explained Aida Araissi, President of BUSACC. Also on the sidelines of the OTC, a reception and dinner was hosted by the US-UAE Business Council in honour of the UAE delegation. Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA- OPCO) delivered keynote remarks on behalf of the UAE delegation. 12 ADGAS News ADGAS News 13

8 With 13 Standing Committees ADGAS responds to the needs of its staff Alongside its efficient organizational structure, ADGAS has more than a dozen standing committees addressing different topics and areas that add value to the Company s business and to the welfare and interests of its employees. Having decided to explore the responsibilities and roles of these committees in ADGAS News, we wanted to start first by a general overview of these committees and the main areas they cover. To this end, ADGAS News met with Mr. Fouad Al Wahedi, Strategy and Corporate Development Division Manager, and asked him to give our readers an idea about ADGAS standing committees and how do they address the various issues that fall within their scope of responsibility. Here are some highlights from the interview: ADGAS News: Mr. Al Wahedi. How do standing committees in ADGAS complement the work of our divisions and business units? Mr. Al Wahedi: Standing committees are committees that mainly include members from various divisions or from the most relevant divisions, to perform a set of activities and deliver certain added value across the company. To give a few examples, we have three committees that are concerned with the commercial aspect of our work. One is the Main Procurement and Contracting Committee (MPCC), the other is the Local Procurement and Contracting Committee (LPCC) and finally the Tender Opening Committee. The aim of these committees is to ensure that all purchase and contracting activities performed in compliance with ADGAS and ADNOC s policies and procedures, that they are based on complete and accurate information and carried out with utmost fairness and transparency in the selection process. In such committees, we usually try to introduce new members every couple of years, allowing new members to get experience and share knowledge we call Moubadara Scheme, which is an umbrella that embraces two subcommittees so to speak: Moubadara itself, which is a suggestion scheme that encourages employees to think and come up with improvements in every aspect of our business, and rewards those suggestions that are viable and applicable. The other sub-committee is what we call Production Business Improvement Suggestions (PROBIS), which focuses on suggestions related to the technical aspect of our work. It addresses industrial issues, process improvements, etc. Now, when we receive a suggestion in Moubadara, we look into it and if it is related to technical or industrial issues, we forward it directly to PROBIS, if the suggestion is HSE related, we route it to the HSE Committee and so forth. ADGAS News: We feel that you have left an important committee, which is Tarahum Fund, to the end of the list for a purpose! Mr. Al Wahedi: In fact I wanted to give this committee some more focus because I feel that it is still widely unfamiliar to our employees. Tarahum Fund is a relief scheme to help employees in such cases that may not be covered by the policies and procedures in force. And the idea was well received and admired by our shareholders and sister OPCO companies alike. The Fund, which is fed by subscribing employees, has its own guidelines and terms of reference, and it really helps those in emergencies and urgent need by granting up to AED 50,000 that are later repaid on monthly bases and without any interest. We feel that such an excellent as the idea wasn t properly promoted and explained to our employees as we have only 100 members in the fund. Efforts are now being made to promote the services of the Fund and attract more employees to it. ADGAS News: Well, Mr. Al Wahedi. This was a very good overview of our committees, and we are going to expand on each one of them in our coming issues. We appreciate the time you have given for this. Thank you Mr. Al Wahedi: Not at all. You are always welcome. Residential Utilities Reduction Incentive Awards In line with the Company s corporate commitment to environmental protection and in the larger interest of Sustainability initiatives, an Incentive Scheme was devised and launched by the Abu Dhabi HSE Committee on a pilot scheme basis during 2010 to promote the habit of optimizing, and thereby reducing, the consumption of water and electricity at homes. Mr. Fouad Al Wahedi, Strategy and Corporate Development Division Manager ADGAS News: What about the HR function? We know that there are several committees there as well. Mr. Al Wahedi: Yes, indeed. One of these committees is the Job Evaluation Committee whose job is to review and evaluate the proposals that come from division managers on the changes made on certain jobs and their roles and responsibilities, new job descriptions, etc., to ensure the HR policies and procedures are well performed in terms of grading, benefits and categories. Another one is the Contractors Recruitment Panel, which reviews the recruitment of contractual staff to ensure that proposed contractors are well qualified and suitable for the job. ADGAS News: Maybe not all employees are aware of all these committees, because when you usually say ADGAS Committees, the mind always jumps to ADGAS Social and Recreational Committee (ASRC), whose activities are more seen and publicized. Mr. Al Wahedi: That s right. The ASRC, previously known as Baunounah Club Committee, is very well known for organizing all sorts of social events and functions, in terms of sport, leisure and entertainment. They organize fishing competitions, adventures, trips, language and skill enhancing courses, etc. And there is an equivalent committee on Das Island, namely, Das Island Social and Welfare Committee, which organizes activities that ensures the welfare and entertainment of our Das employees. Another equally important and known committee is the HSE Committees in both Abu Dhabi and Das Island. This committee is responsible for supervising all HSE issues and activities in the Company and organizing campaigns and events to highlight ADGAS commitment to HSE issues. They also monitor incidents and record near-miss reports, suggest HSE procedures and policies, etc. Besides these, there are a number of committees that address specific issues in ADGAS, like the Flaring and Emission Reduction Working/ Advisory Committee, and this committee monitors ADGAS performance in terms of flaring and emissions, review the programs that reduce flaring and emissions and suggest certain courses of action. Another important committee is what In order to determine the percentage of reduction achieved, a baseline of utilities consumption and payments made by employees over a 6-month period from April to September 2010 was used for comparison with the same period of the previous year. Eighty six employees living in Company leased residential accommodation have achieved reduction in utilities consumption Group photo of awardees ranging from 5% to 39%. Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President (Administration) presented Incentive Awards to the Winners. The award presentation function was attended by Mr. Abdullah Al Dhaheri, HR Division Manager, Mr. Salem Al Ameri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi HSE Committee and the Committee Members. Mr. Al Marzooqi appreciated the remarkable efforts made by the employees in reducing consumption of electric power and water, and encouraged continued commitment to reduce energy consumption, stressing that this commendable initiative launched by the HSE Committee will significantly contribute to the Company s Sustainability drive, Mr. Al Marzooqi added. 14 ADGAS News ADGAS News 15

9 ADGAS organizes the Media and Crisis Management workshop In cooperation with the National Media Council and the College of Media at Shrjah University, ADGAS Corporate Communication and Public Relations Department organized a workshop on Media and Crisis Management at Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel on May 25, Dr. Mohamed Ayish delivers Presentation way that reinforces trust and supports good reputation. He stressed that the positive and proactive approach to deal with a crisis requires us first to admit it, to provide the media with sufficient information about it so there won t be any room for rumors, to define stakeholders and how to deal with each one of them and provide legislative bodies with the right and correct information. In all cases, honesty and transparency would convince the public and retain their loyalty to the organization. Dr. Mohamed Ayish Emirates Airlines example Dr. Khayrat Ayyad, Associate Professor at the College of Communication, Sharjah University, presented a sample of professional handling of a crisis, reviewing how Emirates Airlines dealt with the volcanic ash crisis which plagued north Europe and caused huge disruption for air traffic, hundreds of cancelled flights and tens of thousands of passengers who filled Europe s airports, thus plunging the world s major airlines into a complicated crisis and losses. Emirates Airlines, which travel to 23 destinations in Europe, was able to turn this crisis into an opportunity. Through its state-of-the-art crisis management room, well trained staff and proactive approach, the company quickly responded by stopping or rescheduling the flights that were coming from Asia with passengers crossing Dubai in their way to Europe. It took the passengers that accumulated in Dubai airport to prestigious hotels, giving them full board facilities, with daily telephone calls to their families overseas, organizing trips inside the UAE for them and keeping two of its staff in each hotel to handle inquiries and complains. Through mobilizing its huge capabilities and putting in place a ready, well-devised strategy the company won the respect of stakeholders and passengers alike and greatly boosted the carrier s reputation, resulting in record profits after the crisis. Dr. Khayrat Ayyad Lively discussion After the three presentations, and a brief break, the workshop resumed with a session that was dedicated for interactive discussions between the audience, mostly PR and Media professionals, and the three academic presenters. The discussions stress the paramount importance of early preparedness for crises as this can be a matter of fatal implications for organizations. Many participants, especially from ADNOC Group of Companies, argued that similar workshops should be held regularly, involving the Groups senior managements. The workshop was concluded by handing out appreciation certificates of attendance to participants. The workshop was attended by Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A), Mr. Jamal Naser, CEO of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and senior media, Mr. Ali Jasim, MCPR and communication officials in ADNOC Group Companies. Several reporters from WAM were also present. In his opening speech, Mr. Al Marzooqi said that this workshop is discussing one of the key issues of concern for public and private organizations in a world where sources of threats are increasing. The revolution of information and communication puts any crisis or accident under extensive light instantly and for the whole world to see. This makes the role of the media even greater and more vital in the common endeavor to minimize risks and mobilize efforts to face challenges through enlightened media and honest, balanced coverage. Our CC&PR Department was right to choose this subject for its workshop, reflecting growing awareness of its vitality, especially for the oil and gas industry which is the backbone of our economy, said Mr. Marzooqi. The National Media Council s support to this workshop is just an excellent example of knowledge sharing practices across our national organizations, academic institutions and public and private bodies to integrate their efforts, and in this occasion I should thank the media professors at the Sharjah University who share with us their insights and experience today, concluded Mr. Marzooqi. In an introductory speech, Mr. Jamal Naser conveyed the compliments of H.E. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the National Media Council, to the workshop participants, stressing the Council s readiness to work together with all national organizations to ensure the progress and prosperity of the country. Handling and managing crises is one of the strategic subjects that received great interest from the UAE starting 12 years ago. And I believe that if we failed to deal properly with the media at times of crisis, the results could be doubled, Mr. Naser concluded. Three presentations The workshop consisted of three presentations/papers and a plenary session. It started with the presentation of Dr. Mohamed Ayish who helped in the organization of the workshop. His presentation gave a definition of the crisis and how to deal with it in a way that reduces damage, promotes public trust in the organization and ensures that this crisis will not happen again. Dr. Ayish listed what he called golden rules for communication in time of crisis. These include: don t hide the problem but move quickly to face it, don t be over-cautious with the media, don t overact, involve all stakeholders, be proactive rather than reactive, try to gain the support of the public through honesty and professionalism. Dr. Ayish stressed that in the digital age of mass social networks information can no more be controlled, which requires a more open approach. Professor Mohamed Kirat, Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah, presented a paper on Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity. He reviewed the techniques of turning crises into opportunities whereby organizations can deal with negative accidents in a highly professional and responsible ADGAS honors Earth Hour photographers Twenty Photographers from around the UAE were honored at the Earth Hour Award Ceremony that was held on the 11th of May, 2011 as a follow up to the Photography Competition 60 & Beyond Abu Dhabi which ADGAS has organized in conjunction with the Wednesday Photography Group. The ceremony was inaugurated by a word from the Senior Vice- President (Administrative) Mr. Hassan Al Marzouqi who also awarded the winners along with a representative from EWS-WWF Ms. Muna Al Ameri who also emphasized the importance of such events and competitions and the value it adds in creating awareness toward the environment. Attendees included the Chairman of ADGAS Abu Dhabi HSE Committee Mr. Salem Al Ameri as well as some members of the HSE committee and the Baynounah Club Committee. The winners were awarded in four main categories: Earth Hour Category, Beyond the Hour Category, Celebration Category and the Youth Category. The Earth Hour 2011 Event was celebrated on many cities around the world. In Abu Dhabi, it was celebrated on Abu Dhabi Corniche at 08:30 p.m. on the 26th of March, The event was organized by EWS-WWF in partnership with the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City and sponsored by many local companies. ADGAS participated in that event, and organized this photography competition. 16 ADGAS News ADGAS News 17

10 ADGAS Management honors CAMS graduates Members of ADGAS Senior Management, led by the CEO, Mr. Fahim Kazim, in addition to some division/department managers and representatives from ADNOC and ADMA-OPCO, have all attended the annual graduation ceremony of the Competency Assurance Management System (CAMS), organized by the L&D Department on May 4, 2011 at ADGAS Baynounah Club in Abu Dhabi. Their stories the personal and professional levels as he acquired so many technical skills related to his job, while the program has helped him develop distinguished work relationships with his colleagues. I have learnt how to handle the tough issues that face me in performing my job duties, how to overcome difficulties and how to get the proper information from reliable sources, added Mr. Ali. Mr. Saeed Al Sabousi, Electrical Engineer (Dev.) first had the impression that CAMS program was a document of several pages with different questions that should be answered by trainees. However, with the passage of time, he came to realize the importance and benefits of the program. It enabled me to gain knowledge, information and skills from my trainers and experienced colleagues, He said. CAMS graduates were then called on to receive their awards, certificates of appreciation and commemorative gifts from the CEO. Trainers, supervisors and coaches were also honored for their efforts to develop and support the developees throughout the program. At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Fahim Kazim Awards Ms. Fatima Al Qubaisi attendants gather for a group photo with the Senior Management before they were invited to a lavish dinner. ADGAS News would like to seize this chance to congratulate CAMS graduates and to wish them a successful and rewarding career in ADGAS. And directly interacts with ADGAS developees The ceremony started by a recital from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome note from Mr. Abdulla Al Dhaheri, HR Division Manager, who welcomed the attendees and praised the efforts put by the General Management to develop the skills of employees and empowering them to do better in their jobs as they are the Company s most valuable assets. As part of the ceremony, two CAMS graduates addressed the meeting, thanking ADGAS Management for its genuine interest in enhancing the technical and the personal skills of developees through in-house and outside training courses and programs. Talking about his own experience with CAMS program, Mr. Ahmed Ali, Operations Controller (Dev), said that the program was a great help on both Group photo of General Manegment with CAMS graduates Mr. Fahim Kazim Awards Mr. Salaheldin Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Since its inception in ADGAS in 2004, the Competency Assurance Management System (CAMS) has been greatly developed and modified to accommodate the learning and training requirements of developees both in Abu Dhabi and on Das Island. General Manegment Directly Communicates with ADGAS HQ Developees 18 ADGAS News ADGAS News 19

11 ADGAS Sponsors Al Noor Center Annual Ceremony ADGAS CEO During live discussion with Das Island Developees To ensure the effectiveness of the program, ADGAS Management has always maintained a close follow-up of this development process. With this end in mind, the Company s Management, headed by Mr. Fahim Kazim, conducted two communication sessions with CAMS developees in Abu Dhabi and on Das Island. Abu Dhabi s session was held on May 18, 2011, and attended by Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A), Mr. Abdulla Al Dhaheri, HRD Manager and Mr. Moosa Al Murawwi, Learning and Development Department Manager, in addition to scores of developees. A similar communication session was held on Das Island on May 23, 2011, attended also by the Senior Management and the Plant s Management. Such company-initiated session accentuates the corporate policy of opening direct communication channels between the Senior Management and employees in order to discuss their CAMS in-job training progress. The session also aimed at receiving developees feedback and suggestions concerning possible ways for program development and improvement, where appropriate, so as to further enhance its effectiveness and efficiency for the majority of developees involved. During the session, developees openly exchanged their views about CAMS with ADGAS Management. They highlighted their experience within the program and how useful it has been to them in developing their skills and acquainting them with the activities of ADGAS other functions. Challenges facing developees and preventing them, sometimes, from completing the training program conveniently were also discussed. Additionally, some developees raised some useful suggestions for program development, to enhance its flexibility and efficiency. The Learning and Development Department will soon launch an awareness campaign for CAMS, including introductory sessions, booklets and brochures for employees, updating the L&D web page on the portal, etc. The L&D Department welcomes all suggestions and remarks that would help develop its training programs, said Mr. Said Al Shamsi, Career Development Team Leader. At the end of the session, the CEO expressed his thanks for developees for their attendance and for sharing their views with the ADGAS CEO Meeting with some Officials in Das Island Senior Management about ADGAS training programs. He stressed the importance of maintaining open and effective communications with the management, by suggesting new ideas that would help in the overall development process. ADGAS management instructed all concerned departments to take all necessary actions to streamline the training process to achieve the best results. Later that evening, Mr. Fahim Kazim, CEO, held a direct communication session with officials representing the functions of Public Relations, Learning and Development and Accommodation on Das Island to discuss the activities of these departments and to share ideas that would improve the services they provide to the ADGAS employees on Das Island. Under the sponsorship of ADGAS and Bin Hamouda, the final ceremony for the academic year of Al Noor Center for Special Needs was organized on May 4, 2011 at the auditorium of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A), a Mr. Al Marzooqi During the Ceremony number of representatives of ADNOC Group of Companies, along with the students of Al Noor Center and the American International School in Abu Dhabi (AISA). With a rich and diversified program, the party started with the National Anthem and a recital of some Quranic verses. Then, Mr. Salem Rashed Al Junaibi, Chairman of Al Noor Center, gave an opening speech in which he welcomes attendants and expressed his gratitude for the contributions of national organizations whose social responsibility and active role complement the governmental endeavors to integrate people with special needs into the community and empower them. On the Center s behalf, Mr. Al Junaibi honored ADGAS and other corporate donors. Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A) received from Mr. Al Junaibi a certificate of appreciation commending ADGAS support to the programs and activities of the Center. Other ADNOC Group Companies were also honored for their contributions. Students and attendants enjoyed the various performances presented by the Center s students and the students of the AISA, including some traditional activities, fashion shows and music items, to name but a few. Representatives from the Community Policing have also participated in the ceremony. 20 ADGAS News ADGAS News 21

12 HCT honors its sponsors Awarding ADGAS for Sponsoring Abu Dhabi Industrial Award H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, attended the ceremony organized to honor the winners of the 8th round of Abu Dhabi Industry Award, held in May 24, 2011 at the auditorium of the HCT s Abu Dhabi Women Campus. Attended by ADGAS Corporate Communication & Public Relations Department, the ceremony was to honor 45 distinguished students who were the top 10 percent of students in the degrees of Master, Bachelor, High Diploma and Diploma in the HCT s 16 colleges across the UAE. In a keynote to open the ceremony, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan commended the distinguished academic achievements of those students and thanked those who contributed to organize this event. He expressed special thanks to the representatives of public and private organizations and businesses, the members of academic advisory committees, HCT s academic and administrative staff and the winners themselves. These awards aim at recognizing academic excellence and performance of the HCT students whose distinction stands as a clear evidence of their ability to set and achieve high goals and to plan their own personal expectations and shoulder their way to achieve them, the Minister said. This recognition is an example of student-focused approach to creativity and innovation that is based on independent learning and work. The winners have met the academic criteria and conditions set by a group of experts from the HCT s academic staff and representatives of sponsoring companies to nominate students every year, H.E. concluded. A long-time supporter of social and educational issues, ADGAS has been a constant sponsor of Abu Dhabi Industry Award, along with a group of leading organizations across the country. Mr. Ali Jassem, MCC&PR, received a trophy from H.E. the Minister in appreciation of ADGAS support for Abu Dhabi Industrial Award. H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Awards Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A) Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, HCT s Abu Dhabi Women s College hosted Tamayyuz: Partnership Celebration, in the College s Emirates Hall. ADGAS was represented by Mr. Hasan Al Marzooqi, SVP (A). In addition to honoring the HCT partners within the community, the ceremony provided an occasion to honor the first graduates from HCT s Master s of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. His Excellency delivered a keynote address in which he commended the HCT s community supporters and presented the Tamayyuz Partnership Awards to organizations which have played a significant role in sponsoring various activities for Abu Dhabi Women s College students in Support has included sponsorship of international trips for students, work placement assignments, and contributions and donations for several student projects. Awards were given to ADGAS, National Bank of Abu Dhabi; Sorouh Real Estate; Securities and Commodities Authority; Takreer; Abu Dhabi Police; Al Noor Hospital; Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce; BrandMoxie; Al Afaq Model School; Abu Dhabi Terminals; Embassy of Japan; Embassy of the USA; Hewlett Packard; SEHA and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. ADWC s students have had an outstanding year, both academically and in their extracurricular activities. They owe much of their success to the support of these significant community partners. We are pleased to have an opportunity to acknowledge our partners contributions and to say thank you., said Dr. Bradley Cook, ADWC s Director. ADGAS Representatives during the ceremony 22 ADGAS News ADGAS News 23

13 ADGAS female employees attend the 4th Forum on Women and Society A group of ADGAS female employees attended the Working Women: Opportunities and Challenges conference in Abu Dhabi on April 27, 2011 at the General Women Union (GWU s) auditorium in Abu Dhabi. The event was organized under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Nahyan, Head of GWU, Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. The event was attended also by H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, along with other senior officials and scores of UAE working women from various economic sectors. Vast strides However, Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, pointed out the pre-eminence of women in government employment and applauded their achievements in UAE society, describing them as extraordinary. He told the participants that women represented more than 65 per cent of the Emirati workforce in the federal ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO enjoy a social get-together As part of the social activities on Das Island, and to further boost the close ties between the employees of ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO on Das Island, the two companies organized a social get-together for their employees at Al Dana Reception Hall on May 17, From ADGAS, the evening was attended by Mr. Mohamed Saqr Al Shehhi, Vice President (LNG Plant), Mr. Abdulla Al Dhaheri, HR Division Manager and Mohamed Al Tameemi, Administration Manager (Das). Attendants from ADMA-OPCO included Mr. Fathi El Wardany, Operations Manager (Das), Humaid Al Yammahi, Manager Das Corporate Services. Scores of officials and employees from the two companies were also present at the event. Opening the evening, Mr. Al Shehhi welcomed the attendees, highlighting the significance of such social gettogethers for better relations and stronger ties between the employees of both companies. After spending quality time socializing and networking, attendants were invited to a lavish dinner. Mr. Mohamed Saqr Al Shehhi with some seniors, officials and employees from ADGAS and ADMA-OPCO ADGAS Celebrates Administrative Professionals Day government, 75 per cent of the workforce in the educational sector and around 75 per cent again in the health sector. The UAE had four woman ministers and nine woman members of the Federal National Council in the last round, and more than one woman ambassador, he said. Emirati businesswomen have become key components of the UAE economy, the minister added. Around 11,000 women run 30 per cent of our small and medium businesses, he said. Audience during the Forum A survey of women s needs In an effort to identify the needs of the female workforce in the federal government, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources conducted a survey that sampled 7,876 UAE females. Of these, 72 per cent held university degrees and were between 24 and 35. The survey showed that there was no provision for women to work parttime in 82 per cent of the institutions where the sampled women worked, while 72 per cent of women were in favor of this system. Flexible working hours were also not implemented in 69 per cent of the institutions where the sampled women worked, even though 91 per cent of the women were in favor of the system. The conference discussed several social issues that reflect the needs of UAE women working in the government sector with the aim of achieving a supportive work environment that would help women adapt to their social, professional and household duties. To mark the Administrative Professionals Day, which is observed on the Wednesday of the last full week of April, a lunch party was organized for ADGAS office administrators on April 28, 2011 at Yas Hotel on Yas Island The initiative came in recognition from ADGAS to the efforts and hard work of the Company s administrative staff to support their colleagues in their daily work. Certificates of appreciation and mementoes were handed out to the administrators. The idea began in 1952, with Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association, now called IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals), and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation. They served Group photo of ADGAS Administratives on a council addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a National Secretaries Week. 24 ADGAS News ADGAS News 25

14 ADGAS Cricket Team end of 2011 season dinner ADGAS Cricket Team held its end of 2011 season dinner at Baynounah club on 20th May The intent of the event was to celebrate the 2011 cricket season s achievements and to acknowledge the performance of the players. Chairman of the ADGAS cricket team, Dr. Mohmud Mohamed made a speech thanking the Baynounah Committee and the ADGAS Management for their valuable support extended to the cricket team since the initiation of the cricket team 15 years ago. He appreciated all the team members for their commitment and efforts which helped ADGAS in putting two teams for the inter-oil cricket tournament. This is the first time in the 17 years of the tournament s history that a company has been able to put 2 teams for the competition. Both teams competed in two different groups and reached the semi-final stages. ADGAS-A team which competed in the A Group (consisting of professional teams) won 5 out of 6 matches in the preliminary round, lost to NPCC in the semifinals. Apart from inter-oil cricket tournament, ADGAS participated in 4 other tournaments organized by Abu Dhabi cricket council and played over 50 games during the season. Even though we could not win any of the tournament titles, the Chairman concluded that the team s performance this year was excellent and expressed the confidence that it will get better in the next season. In the 17th inter-oil cricket tournament Mr. Mohd Qasim won the player of the tournament award, while Shahid Afridi won the best batsman award. As a token of appreciation gifts were presented to players who performed well in the cricket tournaments. ASRC ongoing activities ADGAS Social and Recreational Committee (ASRC s) activities during the month of May have tapped the adrenaline of many adventure-loving employees. ASRC s Adventure Committee organized two functions in May, The first was a sailing day, organized on the 7th of the month, involving a group of employees who spent quality time practicing, or trying to learn, the art of sailing. The beginners amongst them were eager to learn how to control the boat and direct it by manipulating the direction of the wind. The other activity organized by the Adventure Committee was a clay shooting activity for those who are obsessed by shooing. The function took place on May 14, 2011 at Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. 26 ADGAS News