NAMA’s Inspirational Eve platform will organise panel discussions and inspirational talks to underscore its actions and achievements so far

Sharjah, September 27, 2022: NAMA Women Advancement (NAMA) and its affiliates, Sharjah Business Women Council and Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, will spotlight the power of good government communication in expanding the scope of women’s expertise in various domains during the 11th annual International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2022) on September 28 - 29 at Expo Centre Sharjah. 

NAMA will bring together businesswomen and female entrepreneurs at its Inspirational Eve platform to shed light on the challenges and accomplishments of women in the public and professional spheres. At this platform, NAMA will also host inspiring sessions and speeches that address ways to change stereotypical images of women in the media, and the role of traditional crafts in highlighting peoples’ identities and enhancing communication between them.

Communication Biases 
The session,  ‘Breaking Biases in Communication’, is designed to help attendees adopt a more critical view of gender representation in content. It intends to change negative perceptions and stereotypes regarding women in the media, promote gender-sensitive messages, and debunk gender biases. The session will also address several aspects of media content across visual, verbal, and written communication. It will further educate participants on the usage of a more inclusive language through real-life examples and provide guidance on dos and don’ts for creating bias-free communications industries.

The session, moderated by Noura Almulla, Senior Executive - Programmes, NAMA, will host panellists Jawaher Abdelhamid, Interim Head of Public Policy, Twitter MENA; Shahir Sirry, Global Creative Director at Aramex; and Linda Sabbarini, Gender Consultant, NAMA.

Overcoming challenges
At a special edition of #SBWCTalks, the challenges faced by women-owned media companies in procurement and operational processes will be highlighted. The session “#SBWCTalks – Stating Challenges Faced by Women-Owned Media Companies” will be moderated by Jessy El Murr, Certified Media Trainer & Public Speaker and host panellists Iman Ben Chaibah, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Sail Publishing, and Sharifah Alhinai, Founder of Sekka Magazine.

Crafts as an influential gateway 
The session titled “Crafts as an influential gateway to government communication strategies” will bring together Fatima Ghali, CEO, Azza Fahmy Jewellery; Alya Al Midfa, Senior Executive, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Irthi; and Badria Salem, Founder, Abdar Jewellery,  to discuss artisanal heritage as a medium for government communication. The session will explore how craft provides an insight into different societies and civilisations, and help reveal common features and attributes to form deep connections. Nada AlShaibani, media and television expert, will moderate the session.

A Success Story: How Communication Got Us Here
At the panel discussion, “A Success Story: How Communication Got Me Here”, Irthi artisans Sheikha Al Dhuhoori, Fatima Mahmoud, and Fatima Al Naqbi will discuss how successful communication has helped showcase their skills and talents on local and international levels. The session will be moderated by Sharifa Al Dhuhoori, Manager, Bidwa Social Development Centre.

IGCF 2022 is organised by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), an initiative of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB). The two-day event will feature discussions, inspiring speeches, workshops, interactive platforms, and other activities. Senior public officials, thought leaders and experts will come together to highlight the role of government communication in overcoming local and global governance challenges as well as social and economic crises and projecting the opportunities arising out of them.

-ENDS-