Shell has sound business reason for backing women

Shell is honoured to be invited to work alongside His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Patron of Dubai Quality Group, and Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chairman of Dubai Quality Group, in support of the Emirates Businesswomen Award.

Shell is also proud to be involved in an award scheme which is aimed at publicly acknowledging-and-rewarding-the work that is being carried out by businesswomen in the UAE today by identifying and recognizing outstanding business prowess.

Shell is backing women in business for two sound business reasons

Women make up half the worlds population. They have long been a powerful force in economic decision - making all over the world, particularly in purchasing within the consumer market, and have contributed on the world scene in many fields, but in business progress has been slower. However, as a global player Shell fully acknowledges the fact that women are also developing as business leaders and will, increasingly, go on to hold business positions at the highest levels of decision-making and corporate leadership.

This will be true whether it is within Shell's own organization or outside in the larger global business arena.

The second good business reason why Shell is backing businesswomen is that, as a global employer, we need to attract the best and brightest people into our talent pool - regardless of gender and from whatever ethnic or social background they come from.

To that end, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies announced in August 2000 a new Diversity and Inclusiveness Standard that is being uniformly applied throughout its businesses. One of the prime objectives of the new Standard is to increase the representation of women at senior levels within Shell. In fact, Shell aims to achieve the goal of having 20 percent of senior executive positions filled by women by 2008.

Through this Award, we are delighted to be able to make a tangible contribution to the role of women in business, and by so doing be able to raise the profile of businesswomen working in the UAE today.

Many are an inspiration to us all. They are certainly an inspiration to the young women of today in the UAE, who through the trailblazing work of their predecessors will be able to look forward to careers in business and to making a valuable contribution to the business world of tomorrow.

Iain Everingham
Chairman
Shell Companies in Dubai and Northern Emirates