RIYADH — In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), the British Council Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the British Embassy, held an event on March 4 under the banner of “Enabling Future Leaders”.

The celebration brought together female professionals, early career graduates, alumni and students, the British Council and British Embassy to celebrate female participation and contributions to Saudi Arabia’s workforce, community and society.

During the event, inspirational Saudi women shared their experiences, discussed challenges and opportunities and celebrated success.

Dr. Nouf Al-Numair, advisor to deputy minister of planning and transformation, Vision Realization Office (VRO), Ministry of Health, chaired a discussion between Ms. Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, managing director of the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), Dr. Moudhi Al Jamea, general manager of digital technology at STC Academy, and Ms. Hajar Alnaim, film director and producer.

Following the panel discussion, attendees engaged in networking while considering on how we can collectively work together to deliver the IWD’s slogan: An equal world is an enabled world.

During the conversation, Al-Husseini discussed her career path in the sports sector in Saudi Arabia and the importance of increasing female participation in sport.

Al-Husseini noted that the SFA has strong female representation: “We have a minimum of one female on each board of our federations; having a voice. Princess Reema Bint Bandar‘s role was the first female role in a leading position — deputy of planning and development — in sport, and now the SFA team is 50% female.”

The participants have all clocked impressive firsts in the Kingdom: Dr. Al-Numair is one of the first Saudi scientists majoring in molecular genetics and programming biologic information, Dr. Al Jamea is one of the first Saudi woman holding an executive role at telecom giant STC, while Ms. Alnaim is one of the first members of the Saudi Film Council. – SG