NNA – The Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB), with support from the British Embassy in Lebanon, hosted a high-profile conference at Mövenpick Hotel Beirut to mark International Women's Day. The event brought together 120 participants to discuss the representation of women on corporate and public sector boards in Lebanon.  

In an official statement, LLWB described the gathering as a milestone event in its advocacy efforts for greater female representation on boards, with a particular focus on publicly listed companies and public institutions.  

The conference featured a panel discussion and the presentation of two research studies that played a pivotal role in shaping a draft law on gender representation in corporate governance. These studies provide evidence-based recommendations supporting legislative amendments aimed at improving gender diversity in leadership.  

The event attracted prominent figures, including Members of Parliament Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba, Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine, Dr. Ghada Ayoub, Dr. Halima Kaakour, and Dr. Firas Hamdan, alongside ambassadors and representatives from various embassies in Lebanon. Also in attendance were UN Women representatives, senior officials from UN agencies, government directors-general, heads of public institutions, leaders from international organizations, university presidents, key LLWB partners, civil society representatives, trade union officials, media professionals, and experts who contributed to the research.  

The forum also welcomed leading women serving on corporate and institutional boards, policy advisors, LLWB founders, and members of the Women’s Board Representation Committee, who have been championing this initiative since its inception in 2016.  

LLWB Vice President and Head of Advocacy, Abeer Shbaro, opened the conference by emphasizing the unique opportunity to institutionalize female representation in governance.  

"With numerous vacancies in the public sector, we have a rare chance to ensure that women’s representation is no longer a subject of debate but a tangible reality. The research we conducted will serve as a benchmark for monitoring appointments and holding decision-makers accountable to achieve real progress," Shbaro stated.  

She concluded her remarks with a rallying call: "Together, we have built momentum."  

Shbar’s speech was followed by an address from Victoria Dunne, UK Deputy Ambassador to Lebanon and Director of Development at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), representing Ambassador Hamish Cowell. Dunne reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting women’s rights in Lebanon.  

The first session of the conference showcased a collaborative initiative between LLWB and two universities—the Arab Open University (AOU) and the Lebanese American University (LAU)—supported by the British Embassy. The project, titled "Supporting Women in Trade Unions, Universities, and Organizations," spanned eight months and focused on strengthening women’s leadership in governance.  

Speakers in this session included:  

- Dr. Yara Abdullah, Director General of AOU  

- Dr. Salpi Gondorian, Representative of LAU President  

- Carole Khattar, Representative of LAU’s Arab Institute for Women (AIW)  

- Badri Maoushi, Representative of the Director General and Dean of ESA Business School  

They highlighted how the project enhanced the skills of women from various sectors, preparing them for leadership roles on boards. The session also introduced a roster of highly qualified women identified through LLWB’s capacity-building programs, advocating for their inclusion in top-tier governance positions.  

Following the opening speeches, LLWB Executive Director Rita Chamali moderated a policy discussion in which legal and policy expert Lara Saadeh presented key findings from two studies on women’s representation in public and private sector boards.  

Saadeh revealed stark statistics:  

- Only 5.3% of board seats in Lebanese public institutions are occupied by women.  

- Women hold just 6.3% of board positions in publicly listed companies.  

Saadeh went on to stress that these studies could serve as a roadmap for the government to adopt policies ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership.  

The panel also featured insights from:  

- Dr. Zeina Zeidan  

- Jouelle Abou Farhat, an independent board member of publicly listed companies  

- MP Najat Aoun Saliba  

They shared personal experiences, offering practical recommendations on how gender equality can be promoted through policy reforms and strategic initiatives.  

The conference concluded with remarks from LLWB President Corine Kiame, who reaffirmed LLWB’s commitment to sustained advocacy and a participatory approach in refining the draft law.  

"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in Lebanon’s journey toward gender equality in leadership," Kiame declared.  

The event closed with the official presentation of the draft law aimed at securing at least 30% female representation on the boards of publicly listed companies by 2030. The draft was distributed to MPs and policymakers, marking a significant step toward institutionalizing gender diversity in corporate governance.

===========R.H.