UAE Minister of Development and International Cooperation Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, will join a panel discussion on the role of women in the gas and oil industry during this year's Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec). The topic will come under the spotlight at the region's largest gas and oil event, which will be held on Nov.10-13 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Entitled “A Journey to Leadership”, the panel will address the challenges associated with female empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated industry by highlighting the careers of women who have succeeded despite inherent obstacles. Sheikha Lubna said: “Encouraged by the UAE's wise leadership, the success of women in business in the UAE emphasizes a collective desire to break down barriers to female empowerment. Most of the challenges I have faced during my career have involved convincing people that a woman can truly succeed in a man's world.” Once voted among the world's most influential women by the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine, Sheikha Lubna says attitudes are changing toward women in the workforce and the UAE plays a leading role in that transition. She added: “Today, women in the UAE are empowered to serve their country and encouraged to be aspirational through provision of greater opportunities and the removal of restrictions that might hinder their participation in any sector.” “Around the region, you can see more and more women occupying key positions both within the public and private sectors, with many of us having achieved success in male-dominated professions such as economics, entrepreneurship, science and law. But there is more work to do and events such as this to organize in order to pave the way for the development of women.” Adipec will also highlight the role of women in gas and oil during the ADIPEC Awards, which for the first time will feature the “Empowerment of Women in Gas and Oil Industry”. Sheikha Lubna will be joined on the panel by Marie Haga, Executive Director, Global Crop Diversity Trust and former Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and Sumayya Hassan-Athamani, the CEO of Kenya National Oil Corporation. The panel will be moderated by Eithne Treanor, a specialist energy consultant. Welcoming energy ministers, CEOs and leading executives from all over the world, Adipec 2013, takes place under the patronage of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The event is supported by the Ministry of Energy, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Abu Dhabi Chamber.
