African & Middle Eastern Capacity Building Workshop: How can African and Middle Eastern Business Schools Implement Sustainable Practices?

Tunis city. African & Middle Eastern Capacity Building Workshop
Tunis city. African & Middle Eastern Capacity Building Workshop

Sustainability has become one of the most talked about topics worldwide, especially in Africa and the Middle East; these severe challenges must be addressed from population explosions, access to safe water supplies, food security and desertification.

Business schools, as the region’s hubs of knowledge and managerial training, now have a choice to train professionals and conduct research to address these challenges with the help of following the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hands growing a young plant
Young African Man Presenting at Ecology Conference

The principles of SDGs are a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet that schools can leverage. However, there are multiple challenges in following and addressing them due to their broad scope and nature.

In this workshop, the second dedicated to African and Middle Eastern business schools, speakers will delve into their professional experiences in implementing sustainable practices in their business schools and how business schools can leverage the SDGs to play an instrumental role in addressing societal and environmental challenges.

Meet the speakers

Ali Awni

Professor of Practice, and Director
 JD Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business

Ali Awni

Ali Awni is a Professor of Practice at the Business School and Director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business, The American University in Cairo (AUC). He teaches operations management courses at the undergraduate and MBA level. His research interests are operations and supply chain innovations for SMEs and the pyramid’s base. As a director of the Gerhart Center, he led the centre’s transition to the School of Business, including the addition of a responsible business theme.

Awni serves on many boards. Awni serves on the Board of the Egyptian Company for Medical investments (An Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority’s company). He serves on the board of the Egyptian Food Bank. He serves on the board of advisors of the Center of African Philanthropy and Social Investments (CAPSI) at Wits School of Business, South Africa. Awni is a representative of Africa and the Middle East on the Civil Society Advisory Body, UNEP FI Principles of Responsible Banking.
Ali Awni holds a BS in Computer Science & Statistics from Kuwait University, an MS in Systems Science from the University of Ottawa, and a PhD in Operations Research from North Carolina State University.

Helmi Hammami

Senior Advisor for
Knowledge Transfer
Rennes School of Business

Helmi Hammami

Professor Helmi Hammami is a full professor of Accounting at Rennes School of Business, France. He currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Knowledge Transfer at the same Business School. In particular, his portfolio covers research valorization and making research more entrenched in society and societal issues.

Before joining Rennes SB, Prof. Hammami worked for several years at Qatar University, where he was active in university reform. He held the position of Head of the Department of Accounting and Information systems, with a portfolio of responsibilities covering several facets of the school’s academic affairs.

Helmi led several committees related to quality assurance, faculty affairs and accreditations. With good knowledge of the North American, French, Middle Eastern, and African education systems.

Jane Usher

Head of Department: Postgraduate Studies
Milpark Business School

Jane Usher, speaker for the African & Middle Eastern Capacity Building Workshop for Business Schools

Dr Jane Usher is an experienced, innovative Head of Department of Postgraduate Studies (MBA, PGDip in BA and PGDip in PA) at Milpark Business School.  She has extensive experience in transformative education, research, recruitment, and corporate strategies within academia and businesses. She is a recognised expert who has resolved challenges in the areas of leadership practice, people empowerment, ethics, operational processes, and strategic business growth. She possesses an excellent track record in identifying opportunities that inspire growth as well as leading a motivated team to achieve results. 

Jane has obtained a D.Phil in Leadership Performance and Change from the University of Johannesburg, an M. Phil in Personal, Interpersonal, and Professional Leadership, a B. Ed Honours in Education, Training, and Development (Cum Laude), a Diploma in Remedial Education (Cum Laude), and a Higher Diploma in Education (Distinction). She has a great passion and extensive knowledge in all aspects of leadership development, women development and improving performance.  

Jon Foster-Pedley

Dean and Director
Henley Business School 

Jon Foster-Pedley is dean and director of Henley Business School in Africa, part of the Henley Business School UK, a leading global business school with campuses in Europe, Asia and Africa. He is the chair of the Association of African Business Schools.

Jon’s career includes roles as educator, dean, corporate executive, airline pilot, writer and speaker. He has 45 years of international working experience. He has been a professor of innovation, MBA director, director of executive education, designer and director of numerous executive education programmes and lecturer in strategy, innovation and executive learning. His interests are economic and educational transformation, sustainability and business evolution.

Jon has driven a number of initiatives such as #CorporateActivism, #NoMoreBribes, #InformedDemocracy and #FamilyFriendlyMBA. He is the founder of Henley EARTH–Environmental Activism through Research & Training at Henley. He is chair and founder of MBAid, an NPO that seeks to turn the energies of business schools to social good, which has worked with over 350NGOs.

Speakers are from BGA school members:

MEMBER
MILPARK BUSINESS SCHOOL logo

MILPARK BUSINESS SCHOOL

MEMBER
RENNES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS logo

RENNES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MEMBER
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO logo

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO

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Total number of African business schools that hold BGA membership

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Total number of Middle Eastern business schools that hold BGA membership

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For questions about BGA membership, please contact:

Victor Hedenberg

Membership Director

Victor

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