Mona AL MARRI Chairperson of Dubai Press Club (UAE) Mona Al Marri is the chairperson of Dubai Press Club and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JiWin PR - the Middle East affiliates of global communications consultant, Burson Marstellar. Widely respected as a role model for contributions that women of the United Arab Emirates are making today, Mona Al Marri is the Vice President of Dubai Ladies Club and a Board Leader of the Young Arab Leaders. She is also a Board Member of Dubai Media Incorporated. She was recently appointed Chairperson of the Dubai Women’s Establishment instituted by HH Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai to enhance the leadership capacities of UAE women and highlight their active role in society. After graduating in Business Administration from the Higher Colleges of Technology in 1996, Mona played a leading role in establishing the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) as a major annual cultural and retail event. In 1998, her contribution to the DSF was acknowledged when she was made Project Manager for the Dubai Summer Surprises. Subsequently, she was appointed Executive Manager of the Dubai Press Club, with a mandate to place Dubai on the international journalism map. Within three years, she spearheaded the launch of two major media projects - the Arab Journalism Award and the Arab Media Summit. She also initiated the formation of the International Association of Press Clubs with 20 press clubs from around the world. Mona Al Marri was nominated the Secretary General of the International Association of Press Clubs, and Dubai became the permanent secretariat of this body. Keen on promoting communication and synergy with the international press, she has invited several well-known media figures as speakers to the Dubai Press Club. These include Thomas Friedman of New York Times, and Bill Bradley, vice-president of the Washington Post. Mona Al Marri holds key international and regional positions including the Executive Director of the Arab Media Forum and the Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Award. She was also a jury member of the 2002 International Emmy Awards. In recognition of her efforts to encourage the UAE women’s participation in the development process of the country, she was conferred with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Outreach at the Middle East Women’s Achievement Awards. She has also been named The Best Government Employee for Achieving Excellence in Government Performance in the Dubai Excellence Awards. Mona Al Marri feels she is not doing a good job unless there are challenges to overcome. She epitomizes the new generation of UAE women that believes in contributing their full potential for the benefit of the national economy.