The University of Strathclyde Alumni Association Dubai Group hosted a bumper annual event for the Strathclyde UAE community on February 9 at the 5-Star Le Meridien Dubai. The event included the launch of the Strathclyde UAE Entrepreneur Advisory Board (SUEAB), as well as a panel discussion on the topic of 'Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Business and Management'.
The programme began with the launch of the SUEAB, a board of Strathclyde UAE alumni with senior management and/or entrepreneurial experience, which has been established to offer pro bono advice to Strathclyde UAE alumni and student entrepreneurs during the challenging start-up period. The board has received support from the Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network and is being integrated into the University's Enterprise Partners Programme.
Following an introduction from the Board Chairman Mohammed Johmani, each board member provided a brief introduction to themselves and the value they could add to the board. Dr Katerina Nicolopoulou, Senior Lecturer at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, then presented the outcomes of her engagement interviews with board members as the basis for establishing an entrepreneurship and innovation research agenda in Dubai. The launch culminated with the viewing of a short animated explainer video, produced by Mohammed Johmani's O2 media company. A number of Strathclyde entrepreneurs attended the launch and the board has since taken on its first UAE client.
After a networking interval, the programme resumed with Keynote Speaker, Tariq Qureishy providing a presentation on the key developments and controversies surrounding AI, which was followed by a context setting presentation expertly delivered by Strathclyde alumnus, Samer Joudi, Artificial Intelligence Manager at Dubai RTA. The ensuing panel discussion, which generated an extremely lively and animated exchange with the audience, also included third guest speaker, Mohammed Shamia from EY Advisory and was moderated by Strathclyde alumnus, Mohammad Johmani, CEO of Eniverse Technologies.
The panel discussion was followed by a buffet and a raffle with prizes donated by alumni business, the Physical Health and Healing Center, and by Six Senses Zighy Bay. The event was also sponsored by alumni business, Mobility MEA, and by alumnus, William Peden, The Unstoppable Coach™.
Feedback received by the committee from students, alumni and faculty was overwhelmingly positive with many remarking that it was the best annual event yet in terms of speakers and quality of content. Dubai alumna, Ganga Govind, commented, "The topic of AI and the discussion was excellent and a real eye opener. All the guest speakers were superb. I got the opportunity to meet a few of my old MBA classmates and I met a few business entrepreneurs as well. The venue was excellent and the food was awesome. Altogether a fantastic evening - kudos to the organisers!"
Strathclyde Business School congratulates the organising committee on a very successful annual event, which also received Alumni Group funding for supporting the University's commitment to nurturing entrepreneurialism and extending the University's entrepreneurial support system to alumni around the world.
For further info about the Strathclyde UAE Entrepreneur Advisory Board, contact Karen Ryan at karen.ryan@strath.ac.uk