Mrs. Haifa Al Kaylani,

Chairman Founder, Arab International Women Forum UK  

HAIFA AL KAYLANI
Chairman/ Founder
Arab International Women Forum,
United Kingdom

Highly recognized globally as a strong voice in Women’s Arab leadership, I n December 2014, She received the Excellence in Life Award presented by the Global Thinkers Forum in Dubai. Before setting up AIWF, Mrs Al kaylani was the President of the Federation of International Women’s Associations in London.

Mrs. Haifa Al Kaylani was born in Palestine, was raised and educated both in the UK and Lebanon, where she studied Economics at the American University of Beirut and later returned to earn a masters degree in economic development. She completed a diploma in the same subject at Oxford University and then took up the post of junior economist for the United Nations for a period of two years. She is a vocal advocate for structural policies for the empowerment of the woman in the workplace and society.

Mrs. Haifa Al Kaylani holds senior roles in several organisations in the UK and internationally as well as seats on the boards of cultural and educational institutions and NGO’s. She is Vice President International of The Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University. Mrs Al Kaylani serves as Advisory Board Member of London Middle East Institute, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Advisory Board Member, Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, Lebanese American University, Beirut, and in April 2012, became the first Honorary Member of the Euro Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development. Mrs Al Kaylani is a Board Director of the EastWest Institute; a Board Member of the MENA OECD Business Council and serves as a Freeman and Liveryman of the City of London.

In 2006, Haifa Al Kaylani received recognition as one of 21 Leaders for the 21 Century by Women’s eNews in New York. In February 2007 Haifa Al Kaylani was named as one of The Muslim Power 100 Leaders in the United Kingdom and received the Education Excellence Award. Mrs Al Kaylani has been named recipient of the 2008 World of Difference Lifetime Achievement Award presented by The International Alliance for Women. In 2009 Mrs Al Kaylani was named one of the 20 leading Muslim women in the UK when The Equality & Human Rights Commission announced The Muslim Women Power List 2009 and in 2011, 2012 and 2013 Mrs Al Kaylani was named one of the hundred most powerful women in the Arab World on the Power 100 List, compiled by Arabian Business Monitor.  In January 2013, Haifa Al Kaylani received the Muslim Woman of the Year Award for 2013 in the United Kingdom and in April 2013 was recognized on the Arabian Business Power 500 List published by Arabian Business Magazine which included her in the highest ever recording of 118 women in a list of Arab men and women leaders.

In June 2013, Mrs Al Kaylani was presented with an Award for an Outstanding Contribution as a Women Leader of Palestinian Origin. In November 2013 Mrs Al Kaylani was honoured by the Qatari Businesswomen Association and presented with an Award for her contributions to the growth and development in the Arab region.

Mrs Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Chairman AIWF, received the GTF 2014 Award for Excellence in Life in recognition of her “exceptional work for Arab women and her commitment to opening new pathways for Arab women worldwide, given her lifelong, tireless efforts at the highest standards”. The Awards Gala for 2014 took place in Dubai on 28 November 2014 under the theme ‘Arab Women as Changemakers – A Celebration of Achievements’ in the presence of 240 select guests and international VIPs.

Mrs. Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman, Arab International Women’s Forum is well known in international government and business circles as a high-impact change agent focusing on leadership in cultural and gender issues.