Our Directors are the most accomplished in their relevant fields of practice and business. They have each built solid, and impressive, reputations in their own right.
They come from all parts of the world and have one thing in common and that is a passion for the SME sector which is the backbone of the global economy.
Dr. ABDULHASAN AL- DAIRI
Bahrain
Dr. Abdulhasan Al-Dairi is the Chairman of Bahrain SMEs Society since 2006, and a founding member and shareholder of various companies. He is a researcher and practitioner in the field of entrepreneurship and SMEs development for more than 20 years.
With a PhD in Entrepreneurship and MBA in Marketing Management, in addition to his family business background, Dr. Al-Dairi enjoys a wealth of experience in private and public sector.
DR. ATEF ALSHABRAWY
Bahrain
Dr Atef is a global innovation, SDGs, and MSME finance leader with 30 years of experience in shaping entrepreneurship & economic inclusion ecosystems in several countries.
Dr Atef is currently Economic Advisor at the World Bank, MSME Expert at UNDP Iraq, and Senior SME banking consultant to KSA Manshaat. Before, he served as SDG’s and Islamic Finance expert at UNDP, founder-CEO of Family Bank-Bahrain, Social Development advisor to Bahrain Government, SMEs general manager at Bahrain development bank and director at social fund for development-Egypt.
DR NOOR COUTTS
New Zealand
Dr Noor Coutts is an international education consultantn. Noor was Academic Advisor on the Polytechnics International New Zealand start-up team to establish Bahrain Polytechnic. Previously she was a Secondary School Principal and Polytechnic Director in New Zealand.
She is an experienced quality auditor currently working in UAE to support school improvement initiatives. Research interests include: Innovation, Sustainability, Employability, Entrepreneurship, Drop-out, and Problem Based Learning.
SIMON HARRISON
Australia
Simon Harrison is a Major Projects Lawyer based in Australia and the Middle East and the Chairperson of our Legal and Finance Committee.Simon is also a Chairperson of various international Business Councils and an Honorary Consul.
ADAM JOHNSON
United States of America
Adam S. Johnson is a former Diplomat of the United States of America, based in New York City. Adam has founded or co-founded 7 organizations (for-profit and non-profit) internationally since 2014, including UNISMO.
OZAN SONMEZ
Turkey
Ozan is a serial founder of SME’s & some startups. He is an experienced angel investor, startup mentor with +10 years of global experience in Larger Middle East North Africa + Turkey & Silicon Valley.
VINOD K WUTHOO
India
Vinod Kumar Wuthoo is a serial entrepreneur turned investor in Small and Medium Enterprises and leads India’s Largest Non Profit Organisation, India SME Forum (with over 98000 members) as it’s President.
MNINA BOUSSAOULA
United Kingdom
Dr Mnina Boussaoula is the Chairwoman of Alghayda For Investment & Sustainable Development Foundation.
Dr J S JUNEJA
India
Dr. J S Juneja has a unique experience in the public & private sector management. He is former Chairman of National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) – A Government of India Enterprise and Past President of All India Management Association (AIMA) & Chairman of SME Committee (AIMA).
He is Vice President and Director on the Board of WUSME (World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises).He has worked, and written, diligently for entrepreneurship and SME development, policy formulation & advocacy, institutional capacity building, creativity & Innovation & restructuring for over three decades.
Dr LULWA
Bahrain
Dr. Lulwa is currently a member of Capital Municipal Council of Kingdom of Bahrain after having an exciting career in both private and public sectors acquiring high level of knowledge and expertise. She established and led private businesses such as Golden Trust Business Consultancy, Golden Trust for Training & Consultancy (Training Institute) and Golden Bio Trading which contribute to economy and ensure knowledge sharing and transfer.
Dr. Lulwa holds a Ph.D. in Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, USA, an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Oxford Association of Management, UK . She received many awards and contribute voluntarily to many local, regional and international organizations. Dr. Lulwa is one of the founder of Bahrain Small & Medium Enterprises Society in Bahrain and First President and currently a Board member of Unismo. She is an SMEs Consultant and Certified Coach and Mentor.
FAIZ ASKARI
India
Faiz Askari is a business communications professional and founder of SMEStreet. With over two decades of experience in business media and corporate, Faiz holds special interest and understanding of the Small business sector. Travelled over 12 countries for technology /small business events, Faiz also presented India’s MSME issues at the United Nations’ International South South Cooperation Expo 2018 at the UN Headquarters, New York.
ABDULRAHIM ABDULLAH FAKHROO
Bahrain
Abdulrahim Abdullah Fakhroo is The Vice President of the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society.
Abdulrahim is also a researcher and practitioner in the field of entrepreneurship and SMEs development for more than twenty-five years.
WINSTON CHAN
Canada
Winston Chan is an entrepreneur in the health sector, G20 Business Employment and Education Taskforce member, Founding President of Young Leaders Circle of International Economic Forum of the Americas, Former President of the board of Quebec Federation of Young Chambers of commerce.
Dr IFEANYI UBA
Nigeria
Ifeanyi Uba is a Training Consultant and director of Operations at Sasuke Ventures Limited.
He is also a published author with over 15 years experience in Financial services. He is also the chairman of the Marketing Committee for UNISMO.
MIRSAD JASARSPAHIC
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mirsad is the President of the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He is member of Mediterranean Advisory Board of Plastics Europe, member of Energy council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, member of Business Council of the Sarajevo School of Economics and Business, member of Management Board of Engineering chamber.
SUSHMA MORTHANIA
India
Sushma works passionately for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs as the Founder Director General at the India SME Forum: including advising various government agencies and institutions to strategize and deal with current issues and future challenges. Apart from day to day overseeing and leading extensive research and analysis of linkages, growth potential and market factors of MSMEs she is also involved in over 29 clusters across 11 Sectors.