|
Martina Strong
United States' Ambassador to the UAE
Martina Strong is honored to lead the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates. A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Strong previously served as Chargé d’Affaires in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bulgaria. Her diplomatic career has spanned 27 years and included two assignments in Iraq, as the Political Minister Counselor in Baghdad and as the U.S. Army’s Political Advisor in Basrah. Earlier in her career, Ambassador Strong was posted in Poland, the Czech Republic, Barbados, Bosnia Herzegovina, and France. She spent two years as Director on the National Security Council at the White House, where she headed the U.S. government’s multi-agency effort to organize the 2004 G-8 Summit in Sea Island, as well as two other G-8 Summits and various multilateral meetings. Ambassador Strong is the recipient of the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, numerous Department of State awards, and both the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Superior Civilian Service Award for her service in Iraq. In Bulgaria, the Defense Minister conferred on Ambassador Strong the Meritorious Service Medal for her contributions to the U.S.-Bulgarian security partnership. Ambassador Strong is married to Colonel (ret.) John L. Strong, and they have one daughter.
Rola Abu Manneh
UAE CEO, Standard Chartered Bank
Rola Abu Manneh is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank UAE, a role she has held since August 2018. She was the first Emirati woman to head a bank in the UAE. In her role, Rola has been responsible for transforming the UAE business into one of the biggest five markets for the Standard Chartered Group. Before joining Standard Chartered Bank, Rola was the Head of Corporate & Investment Banking for Abu Dhabi at First Abu Dhabi Bank. Over the years, Rola has championed women empowerment and female entrepreneurship through different initiatives and is committed to supporting the wider community through the Bank and external Partners. As a testament to her efforts, in 2022 Rola was recognised as ‘one of the most powerful and influential’ in the ‘Women Business Leaders – Middle East List ’ by Arabian Business. In 2021, Rola was awarded Banking Leader of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards and, for the past three consecutive years, Rola has been featured as one of the ‘Middle East’s Power Businesswomen’ by Forbes Middle East. In 2021, Rola became a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Chamber, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai.
Saleha Osmani
CEO and Founder, Falconbridge Advisors
Saleha Osmani, Founder and Managing Director of Falconbridge Advisors, is a distinguished finance professional with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in strategic advisory for private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds, focusing on asset raising and expansion in the Gulf region. As a consultant, her expertise extends to sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and endowments in the Middle East, with a focus on alternative investment strategies. Saleha made a mark in institutional investment banking, particularly in the alternatives sector, and was the youngest female Managing Director at Societe Generale, leading the Abu Dhabi office. Recognized globally among the top 50 women in hedge funds, she is a strong proponent of diversity in finance and co-chairs the Middle East committee of 100 Women in Finance. Holding a Master’s in Global Diplomacy, Saleha is also a devoted mother of two, balancing her professional and family life in Dubai.
| 
