Profitability & Board Leadership
Welcome to the Board Leadership Forum
Hosted By
Shane Phillips - CEO of The Phillips Group
Dr. Ashraf Gamal - CEO Hawkamah
The Board Leadership Forum : “Boards & Profitability”
February 24th Monday 3pm to 5pm
Join us for our quarterly Board Leadership Forum (BLF) where we explore board’s and their role in driving revenue and net profit growth.
BLF will get together once a quarter with top board members from around the region to hear how the outliers, those boards that deliver extraordinary financial results, deliver their alpha!
Who Should Attend
Boards members of publicly listed companies, board members of private businesses, and aspiring board members.
Speaker Line Up & Schedule
We have an electric line up of maverick Board members, all of whom are known for delivering revenue and net profit growth. This quarters upcoming event is described below.
Structure
The Board Leadership Forum will meet once a Quarter and will feature international speakers and world though leaders on the latest approaches to board management. The Board will meet in person twice a year once in May, and once in November.
Leadership Structure
The Board Leadership Forum will be led by a volunteer group of advisory board members who will help choose topics for discussion and will be engaged in the arrangement of guest speakers for the forum.
Upcoming Event
February 24th Monday 3pm to 5pm
The Board Leadership Forum
Join us for our quarterly Board Leadership Forum (BLF) where we explore board’s and their role in driving revenue and net profit growth.
BLF will get together once a quarter with top board members from around the region to hear how the outliers, those boards that deliver extraordinary financial results, deliver their alpha!
3pm to 3:45 pm
Creating Value and Driving Results
Mr. Mishal Kanoo - Chairman, The Kanoo Group
Mishal Hamed Kanoo is the chairman of The Kanoo Group. Mr. Kanoo has been recognized on multiple occasions as one of the most powerful Arabs (including Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2017, Power 100, Rich List 2009, and The World’s Richest Arabs). Mr. Mishal Kanoo is one of the most iconic business figures in the Middle East and has a reputation as a futurist and strategist with a strong track record in forecasting economic developments in the region. Mr. Kanoo
currently serves as the Chairman of The Kanoo Group, one of the largest, longest running and independent family-owned groups of companies in the Gulf region. Mr. Kanoo has two MBAs, one in finance from the University of St. Thomas, in Texas, and one from the American University of Sharjah.
Dr. Ashraf Gamal El Din - CEO, Hawkamah - Co-Host
Dr. Ashraf Gamal El Din, FCG, CEO of Hawkamah, the DIFC’s Institute for Governance, is a Fellow and Certified Governance Expert from the Chartered Governance Institute, UK. He chaired the Arabia CSR Award jury and previously led Egypt Post as Executive Chairman. Prior roles include Deputy Executive Director at the Egyptian Banking Institute and founder of the Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center. Dr. Ashraf, also a Professor at Cairo University, holds a PhD from Manchester University, a Master’s from Carleton University, and a bachelor’s with highest honours from Cairo University.
Shane Phillips - CEO, The Phillips Group - Co-Host
Shane Phillips is the CEO of The Phillips Group and specialises in Board and CEO placement. He is a board member at Ownmycareer.com, the online career management site, and is also a Board Member at Digital Analytica, the digital transformation company. Phillips’ has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the London Business School. He also authored the books “CEO Assessment & Selection” and “Get Your Dream Job”.
3:45 pm to 4:20 pm
Speaker Topic: “The Board’s Role”
Dr. Nasser Saidi - Chairman, Saif Al Ghurair Group
Dr Saidi was the Minister of Economy and Trade and Minister of Industry of Lebanon between 1998 and 2000. He was the First Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon. Dr Saidi is Chairman of the regional Clean Energy Business Council. He has been named among the 50 most Influential Arabs in the World as well as one of the 500 Most Powerful Arabs in the world by Arabian Business. He is Chairman of the Saif Al Ghurair Group, Board Member of National Bank of Kuwait, Board Member of Berytech, Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee at Majid Al Futtaim Trust, and holds other board positions. Dr Saidi holds a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester in the USA, a M.Sc. from University College, London University and a B.A. from the American University of Beirut.
May Nasrallah - Executive Chairwoman, PJT deNovo
May Nasrallah is a prominent financial executive with extensive experience in investment banking and advisory services. She founded deNovo Partners in 2010, leading it to become a top boutique advisory firm in the Middle East, advising on over 100 transactions, including two of the region’s largest private-sector M&A deals in 2024. Previously, she spent over 15 years at Morgan Stanley, where she held senior roles globally and established the firm’s MENA investment banking operations. Ms. Nasrallah has served as Non-Executive Chairman for BlackRock in the Middle East and is an Independent Board Member for The Dubai International Chamber, YBA Kanoo Holding, and various non-profits. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen, she holds three degrees from MIT, including a Master’s in Finance
Dr. Dina Hasan AlNahdy - Founder and Chairwoman, CES Consulting
Dr. Dina Hasan AlNahdy is a leading figure in sustainability and circular economy, boasting over 25 years of experience. With a Master’s in Environmental Management and an honorary doctorate, she founded and chairs CES Consulting, supporting partners from strategy to implementation, aligning with Vision 2030, SDGs, and ESG frameworks. Dr. Dina Al Nahdy serves as Vice Chair of UN Global Compact KSA and on Alinma Bank’s sustainability committee. An lumna of INSEAD & ESADE, she’s also a Misk 2030 Leader and Saudi Leaders Majlis member. Her impactful “Hand in Hand” initiative broke a Guinness World Record, earning her numerous awards.
Alison Rehill-Erguven - Chief Executive Officer, Cenomi Centers
Alison Rehill-Erguven boasts over 25 years of international experience in the shopping mall and real estate industry, spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. She has successfully managed companies, joint ventures, and globally prominent assets, establishing herself as a leader in developed and emerging markets. Before joining Cenomi in 2022, she served as CEO of Pradera Retail Asia (acquired by Brookfield) and Managing Director at Pradera Limited. Rehill-Erguven holds an MSc in Organizational Leadership and a BSc in International Trade and Marketing. She currently serves as a non-executive board member of ESAS Gayrimenkul.
4:20pm to 5:00 pm
Panel Discussion: “Chalhoub Group”
Mr. Patrick Chalhoub - Executive Chairman, Chalhoub Group
Patrick Chalhoub is the Executive Chairman of Chalhoub Group, a creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. With over 16,000 professionals across eight countries, the Group boasts ten owned brands and represents over 950 international brands in luxury, beauty, fashion, and art de vivre. Chalhoub has received prestigious awards, including the French Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, and the Lebanese National Order of the Cedar, Grade Officer. He serves on the boards of the UN Global Compact, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the UAE’s Circular Economy Council.
Official Event Partner
Hawkamah is the advisor of choice and the reference of good governance for all enterprises in the public and private arena throughout the MENA region. They are the region’s gold standard for Board Governance.
If you are looking to upskill your board members or become a Certified Director please send me an email at shane@tpgleadership.com.