Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) held its Annual General Meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, highlighted by the re-election of several current committee members and the addition of four new committee members for a 2-year term. BBBF Deputy Chair Paula Boast opened the proceedings and Khalid Al Zayani OBE, BBBF Chairman, gave his annual report summarising the forum’s achievements during the year and outlined the BBBF’s financial highlights for 2018.
The executive committee members for the next two years are:
- Khalid Al Zayani OBE, Chairman
- Paula Boast, Vice Chair
- Phillip Solarski, Treasurer (new)
- Nasser Al Arayedh, Honorary Secretary
- Ava Garbutt, Committee Member
- Mark Gravener, Committee Member
- Kirsty Fielding, Committee Member (new)
- Mike Jackson, Committee Member (new)
- Zee Bassila, Committee Member (new)
- Dena Wales, BBBF Executive Manager
- Mohamed Ismael, British Embassy Representative
During 2018 BBBF continued to cement its position as the largest business group in Bahrain, with new members joining from all business sectors and industries. The forum’s monthly networking events were extremely successful during the year, frequently attracting over 100 members and guests at each function. The BBBF’s meetings featured high profile speakers from local businesses and government entities, including ministers, business and community leaders, and visiting trade delegations from the UK.
2018 saw increased activities for the BBBF’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) led by Mark Gravener. The SIGs offer members a valuable medium for connecting with industry peers, exchanging knowledge and discussing topics relevant to a specific sector. The groups currently incorporate projects & construction, banking & financial services, ICT and legal sectors, hospitality, leisure & tourism, and oil, gas & energy industries. Women in business and young professionals also have their own groups. Two new sector groups are under consideration for 2019.
Khalid Al Zayani OBE said in his address: “Year after year the BBBF continues to strengthen its position as the largest and most active business group in Bahrain, attracting many new members from all facets of the business community. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse our membership is, and how many great business leaders and entrepreneurs we are fortunate to have as members. We really do have representation from every corner of the marketplace, which makes our meetings so interesting and enjoyable to attend.”
Mr. Al Zayani expressed his appreciation and thanks to the forum’s Executive Committee, Special Interest Group leaders, and sponsors CharlesRussell Speechlys, Etihad Airways, Gulf Brands International, Euro Motors, OAK Group Holdings, AXA Insurance, Streetlight and Yoiku PR.
“I would also like to thank our extremely supportive British Ambassador, H.E. Simon Martin CMG, and the rest of the team at the Embassy for their unwavering support. The committee looks forward to making 2019 an even more successful year,” concluded Mr. Al Zayani.
During the meeting, a business class ticket to London donated by Etihad Airways was raffled between the members present. Etihad Airways representative Ammu Maria Abraham presented the ticket to the lucky winner Mark Gravener.