June 7, 2021

Advisor To The Bangladesh PM, Top Indian Parliamentarian And Leading UAE Businesswomen To Feature At The Sixth Edition Of The ABLF Talks Virtual Conclave In 2021

Top leaders from Asia and around the world will convene virtually at the Sixth ABLF Talks Virtual Conclave of 2021 on June 8, 2021. Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy, the monthly leadership series, that brings together the most prominent voices of Asia in dynamic dialogues focusing on post-pandemic socio-economic recovery, will be held at the cutting-edge virtual venue, the ABLF City, developed by SMART IEDEA.

This month’s ABLF Talks Virtual Conclave will see an impressive lineup of Speakers including Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament, New Delhi Constituency, India; Muna Al Gurg, Director, Retail, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, UAE; Chairwoman, Young Arab Leaders, UAE Nadia Zaal, Co-Founder and CEO, Al Barari and Zaya Group, UAE; Sean Kidney, CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative and Sujata Keshavan, Founder and Creative Director, Varana, India.

Along with Platinum Partner Aditya Birla Group, the global Indian Conglomerate and Fortune 500 company, this month the ABLF Talks Virtual Conclave is joined by DP World, the UAE-based multinational global supply chain solutions provider.

Here is a brief profile of the speakers:

Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, world-renowned historian, academician and former editor of Contemporary South Asia, Professor Dr Rizvi’s session will discuss strategies that Asian economies ravaged by the impact of COVID-19 can adopt to stage a recovery. Professor Dr Rizvi has worked at Oxford University, the University of Warwick, the University of Canterbury, Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Virginia and has also been the Representative of the Ford Foundation in Delhi.

Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament, New Delhi Constituency, India; Chairperson, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019

As the future of globalisation comes under scrutiny, the Chairperson of the Joint leading lawyer of the Supreme Court of India, Meenakshi Lekhi will discuss ways in which nations can leverage the benefits of multilateralism to resolve pressing socio-economic issues. The notable lawyer-activist actively advocates for women and children’s rights and is an integral part of organisations that fight for women’s rights.

Muna Al Gurg, Director, Retail, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, UAE; Chairwoman, Young Arab Leaders, UAE

Known for her visionary leadership, entrepreneurial prowess and philanthropic initiatives, Muna Al Gurg’s session will explore the potential for a youth-focussed, digital-empowered and sustainable financial model to return to pre-pandemic levels of growth. As Chairwoman of the Young Arab Leaders, a not for-profit organisation, she facilitates initiatives focussed on education, entrepreneurship and youth development in the region.

Nadia Zaal, Co-Founder and CEO, Al Barari and Zaya Group, UAE

The UAE-based real estate titan, known for launching the prestigious Zaya Nurai Island, a boutique luxury resort hotel that adopts the best practices in sustainability, will share key inputs to enable leaders to reach their full potential amidst the current unpredictability. Ms Nadia Zaal passionately promotes sustainability at the island, introducing public solar lighting throughout the area and use of electric buggies for transportation.

Sean Kidney CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative

The CEO of the international NGO working to mobilise global capital for climate action, Sean Kidney’s session will focus on promoting investment in climate, green bonds and the ways and means to mobilise capital for climate action. Mr Kidney’s initiatives are directed at advising banks, investors, governments and NGOs about structuring programmes to maximise the leverage of public sector resources including green investment banks and green securitisation.

Sujata Keshavan, Founder and Creative Director, Varana, India

Award-winning designer Sujata Keshavan has redefined the use of traditional heritage crafts in luxury fashion with the launch of her exceptional and sophisticated label, Varana. Her session will explore the future of sustainable fashion and her plan to promote Asian fashion on the global stage. Known for her ground-breaking work for over 25 years in graphic design and branding, Ms Keshavan has transformed top brands, earning her a place among India’s most powerful women in business.

The Virtual Conclave is also supported by a prestigious line-up of partners including Etisalat as the Official Telecom Partner and Associate Partners Aster DM Healthcare and MAA & Partners, as well as Strategic Partners, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry), Dubai Cares and Singapore Business Council (SBC) UAE.