The Saudi British Society - Membership

COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE SAUDI-BRITISH SOCIETY

HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud

HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud was born on 22 May 1953 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and at present is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Prince Mohammed was educated at The Capital Institute High School in Riyadh. He is a graduate of The School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington DC and carried out postgraduate studies at the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is President of the Harvard Alumni Association of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Mohammed worked for the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu for two years before transferring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he first worked in the Minister’s Cabinet before being promoted to Inspector General at the Ministry.

In 1995, Prince Mohammed was appointed as Ambassador to Italy and Malta. In 1998 he was elected as President of the Council of Administration for the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy. He was Dean of the Arab Ambassadors’ Corps.

In December 2005, Prince Mohammed was appointed as Ambassador of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Prince Mohammed is married to HH Princess Fadwa bint Khaled bin Abdallah Al-Saud. They have five children

The Rt Hon Lord Denman, CBE, MC, TD,

The Rt Hon Lord Denman was born on the 7 July 1916 in Cumberland, England and at present is Senior Advisor to the Merchant Bridge & Co. Ltd.

The Rt Hon Lord Denman joined the Territorial Army in 1936 and remained there until 1945. He served in the United Kingdom, India, Iraq, Egypt, North Africa and Dodecanese Islands. During his military service he attended Staff College and attained the rank of Major.

On demobilisation he joined C Tennant & Sons Merchants and became Director. This company was bought by Consolidated Goldfields (London & South Africa) and Lord Denman remained Director until 1985. Meanwhile he was also a Director of Marine and General Mutual Life Assurance Society from 1983 till 1985. He was a Chairman of Goldfields Mahd adh Dhahab, which developed the Saudi Gold mine of that name and a Director of British Water and Wastewater Ltd, which modernised the Cairo water and sewage services. In 1990 he became Director of Al Baraka International Bank and the Saudi British Bank.

At present, Lord Denman is Chairman of the Trustees at the Arab British Chamber Charitable Foundation. He is a Governor of Windlesham House School and President of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of World Traders and a Member and Chairman of the Committee for Middle East Trade and of the Committee on Invisible Exports.

Lord Denman is Vice-President of the Middle East Association and a Vice-President of the Saudi British Society.

Sir Alan Munro, KCMG,

Sir Alan Munro joined the Diplomatic Service in 1958 on coming down from Clare where he read history. He went to Lebanon to learn Arabic, and subsequently worked in Lebanon, Kuwait, Libya and Brazil as well as in the Foreign Office. He had a spell in the Ministry of Defence looking after military cooperation with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, before going to Algeria as ambassador in 1974. He was subsequently Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East and Africa and was British ambassador in Saudi Arabia from 1989 to 1993, a period which coincided with the Kuwait crisis.

Since leaving the Diplomatic Service he has advised a number of firms on the Middle East region. He is chairman of the Saudi-British Society and a vice-chairman of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Saudi-British Business Council and advises the Ministry of Defence on the UK/Saudi Al Yamamah Economic Offset Programme. He is also a director of Middle East International magazine and writes and broadcasts on Arab issues. He is author of a book, ‘Arab Storm’, on the politics and diplomacy behind the 1990-91 Kuwait crisis, which has just reissued in paperback.

He has also been a governor of Imperial College in London and vice-chairman of the British Red Cross Society.

Sir Alan Munro was awarded the Order of King Abdul Aziz by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War.

Mrs Susan Crane

Mrs Susan Crane is currently Assistant Representative in the European Office of The National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia. She first joined the bank in March 1998 as Office Manager and Company Secretary of SNCB Securities Ltd. Her current responsibilities consist of support to the marketing of NCB services in Europe and the ongoing activities of SNCB Securities, specifically development of business in Capital Markets activities with European institutions.
In addition, she supports senior executives of the Bank in all aspects of their business in London and the frequent interactions with the Saudi business community.

Mrs Susan Crane has a particular interest in the progress and development of women in business in Middle Eastern countries.

Mr Christopher Owen Jones

Mr Christopher Jones is responsible for the petrochemical and heavy industry activities of the British Offset Office in London. He holds degrees in Chemistry and Business Administration and most of his career has been spent in the chemical and process industry. Over the last 25 years, the focus of his work has been Saudi Arabia.

His association with the Kingdom began in 1981 when he worked for a large Jeddah group with responsibility for business development. In 1984, he moved back into the chemical industry and worked for the SABIC affiliate in Yanbu Industrial City. During his time at Yanbu, the company moved from late construction into full commercial operation. Since the early 1990s, Mr Christopher Jones has been with BAE SYSTEMS and is now a member of the joint Ministry of Defence/BAE Systems team in London. He has watched the chemical industry grow in the Kingdom with great professional interest and considerable admiration.

Mr Ionis Thompson

Ionis Thompson lived with her husband in Riyadh for a total of 12 years, during the 1970s and early 1990s. While there she wrote "Desert Treks from Riyadh" and "Riyadh Handbook", published by Stacey International.

On her return to London she maintained her interest in Arabia, through the Society for Arabian Studies of which she is also the Honorary Secretary and the Saudi-British Society. As a History graduate, she has a particular interest in Arabian history and archaeology and has taken part in University of London excavations in the region.

Mr Khalid H Al Balawi

Mr Al Balawi was born in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia in 1956 and educated at the Royal Technical Institute in Riyadh. He is a graduate of City University in Seattle, Washington, which was followed by a MA in Business Administration at the University of New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

In 1978 Mr Al Balawi joined Saudi Arabian Airlines and worked across a range of departments at the Airport in Riyadh. He was then promoted to Duty Manager of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. He was transferred to Manila in June 1992 where he became the Station Manager and was subsequently promoted to: Manager responsible for the Philippines, South Korea and Brunei.

In October 1995, Mr. Khalid Al Balawi transferred to London to become the UK Manager for Saudi Arabian Airlines. He is responsible for all aspects of the airline’s operation within the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia and Finland. Mr Al Balawi is a member of the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK and of the Foreign Airlines Association.

Mr Mohammad Al-Shammary

Mr Mohammad Al-Shammary is currently the Managing Director of Saudi Petroleum Overseas, Ltd - a UK based affiliate of Saudi Aramco. Mr Al-Shammary’s main role is to provide the sales and marketing services for a total of 18 oil and product customers in Europe and North Africa. Mr Al-Shammary is also responsible for the total vessels chartering for the crude oil to the United States and North-West Europe. Mr Al-Shammary also provides the logistical support and advisory for a total of 300 students in the United Kingdom sponsored by his company.

Mr Mohammad Al-Shammary has been with Saudi Aramco for 25 years. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1986 with a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering. He has worked in the upstream side of the business which includes drilling, oil production facilities, engineering and projects. From 2000 until 2004 he had the opportunity to manage a mega project which involved the design, construction and the operation of oil production facilities with a capacity of 800 000 barrels per day. Currently he has changed the mode of operation and he is responsible for the sales and marketing of crude oil and products.

Mr Anthony Bailey, OBE, KCSS,

Mr Anthony Bailey is Chairman of Eligo International, a public affairs company, which advises government, diplomatic and corporate clients on a wide range of communications disciplines including lobbying, media relations, economic, trade, tourism, culture promotion, issues and crisis management.

Anthony is active in Arab and Muslim affairs and advises both professionally and personally numerous high profile organisations across the region. He is also Special Counsel to the King Faisal Foundation and to The Arab Thought Foundation in Saudi Arabia.

From 1999+ Anthony has been appointed Chairman of the Painting & Patronage royal initiative which in 2000 and 2001 brought together HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia,(Governor of Mecca Region and previously Governor of Asir) in what became the largest-ever cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As on ongoing initiative, the further Painting & Patronage programmes took place between 2005 and 2007 in Portugal and Saudi Arabia under the High Patronage of HE The President of Portugal and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Further programmes are scheduled for South America and Europe.

Since 2002, Anthony has been advising the Department of Children, Schools & Families (previously the Department of Education and Skills) on the development of the British Government's Academies education initiative. In 2004 Mr Bailey was appointed a member of the London Chanelege Ministerial Task Force. In 2007Anthony was appointed a member of the Ministerial Task Force for Gifted and Talented Education. Anthony is a Board Director of the United Learning Trust. In May 2006 Anthony was appointed Chief Policy Adviser to the Board of Directors of the Foreign Policy Centre.

In the field of inter-faith and inter-church dialogue and understanding, Anthony was appointed in 2006 as the Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter- Religious Relations of the Roman Catholic Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East, The Maimonides Foundation, and the Path to Peace in Balkans Foundations.

Anthony has been honoured with numerous royal, state and religious decorations in recognition of his professional, charitable and interfaith activities. In June 2008 Mr Bailey was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Other awards and honours include those from the Governments of Bulgaria, the Holy See, Portugal, Morocco, Costa Rica, Panama, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

Mr Hassan Khayat,

Mr Khayat has a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the California State University, Fresno.

He was appointed in 1983 as Assistant Head of the Procurement and Contracts Department at the Jeddah Municipality until 1985. Afterwards, he moved on to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jeddah Branch where he served in various positions. In 1995 he was appointed by the Ministry to serve as the Commercial Attaché based at the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Turkey until 1998.

Mr Khayat returned to serve at the Ministry of Jeddah from 1998 until 2003 and held several executive positions, including the overseeing of companies’ performances shareholders AGMs, consumer protection and trade contracts. He also contributed to the Jeddah Tourist Authority’s promotion campaign in 1999.

From 2003 to date he has been serving as Saudi Arabia’s Commercial Attaché in London with responsibilities involving Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United Kingdom and other European counties.

Mr Michael Robert Brigden, BSocSc, ACIB,

Mr Michael Brigden is currently the Chief Representative in the European Office of The National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia. He is responsible for running the European marketing department within the bank. He first joined the bank in April 2002 after working for The National Commercial Bank in Saudi Arabia as Manager in the Products and Trade, International Division from April 1998 until July 2001.

Mr Brigden was previously employed by The National Commercial Bank as Head of Correspondent Banking from January 1996 to July 1997. Prior to joining The National Commercial Bank, he worked for 29 years for The National Westminster Bank in the United Kingdom in a number of roles, including: Head of Sales and Marketing, International Trade Services, Head of Correspondent Banking, and a wide range of other positions, mainly in International Banking. He had spent six years in Singapore, three of which were as Regional Head of South East Asian Business.

Mr Brigden has 10 years experience as a part-time Adult Education Teacher, including running NatWest’s revision courses, and acting as an Examiner.

Mr Brigden has a Bachelor degree in Economics, Politics and Sociology form the University of Birmingham and has been an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers since 1970.

Brigadier Nicholas Cocking,

Nicholas Cocking joined the Army in 1954 and retired in 1992. During that time he served for four tours of duty in the Middle East. First was in 1960-61 when he was seconded to the Trucial Oman Scouts, where he first learnt Arabic at the British Army Language School in Aden. In 1963-64 he returned to the Arabian Peninsula with his Regiment (4RTR) where they were, inter alia, involved in the Radfan campaign in the Aden Protectorate. He joined the staff as GSO2 Intelligence to Commander British Forces Gulf in 1970-71. Finally he was seconded to The Saudi Arabian National Guard as Commander of the British Military Mission from 1984 to 1991 shortly after the War of Kuwait Liberation. He was awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal on his departure. Since retiring he has been active commercially within the Kingdom. He is a member of Chatham House and is active with their Middle East Forum, particularly when focused on Saudi interests.

Mr. Mu'awiya Derhalli,

Mr. Mu'awiya Derhalli has a Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Education, and won a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained his MA in Modern History and Political Science. Thereafter he had a variety of careers in many fields: academia, broadcasting, personnel, education, and general management and prepared cross-cultural and country-based (mainly Middle Eastern countries) briefings.

His occupations include: Lecturer in Arabic and Tutor in University College, Durham University, Presenter, talks producer of The BBC Arabic Service, and Arab countries national days programme producer and interviewer.

Mr Derhalli has occupied a variety of executive positions with the Kuwait Oil Company (BP and Gulf Oil) for sixteen years in Kuwait. They include: Principal of the Arabic Centre, General Superintendent of Training and Education, Director of Career Development and Personnel Manager (personnel, training, company schools and community affairs) and a member of the Management Committee. He also spent eleven years in the BP Head Office in London in the Personnel department providing University sponsorships, training services for Group and overseas associates. In addition he is a trustee of the Overseas Student Trust and a member of Sir Peter Parker's Committee.

Mr Derhalli was a deputy Director, Course Coordinator and Director of Middle East briefing programmes for ten years at the Centre for International Briefing: Farnham Castle.

He has published a number of articles and book reviews in English and many short stories and radio programmes in Arabic. He has visited the Arab countries of the Gulf, for which he provided training services.

Mrs Caroline Montagu

Mrs Caroline Montagu, Countess of Sandwich was a business journalist on the Middle East from 1979 and specialised in Saudi Arabia from 1981. In 1985 published Investment in Saudi Arabia, Opportunities for Joint Ventures, funded by COMET (Committee for Middle East Trade), which was the first British in-depth analysis of industrial development and of our EC partners’ positions on Saudi Arabia. In 1987 wrote the European Commission research report entitled: Industrial Development in Saudi Arabia. Mrs Montagu has been writing on Saudi Arabia and on specific Middle Eastern topics for a wide range of publications and consultancies since the mid 1980s. In 1980s she wrote many of the EIU’s publications on Saudi Arabia including editing the flagship Saudi Arabia Monitor. In 1991 she wrote The Private Sector in Saudi Arabia, a COMET report. In 2001 she wrote Saudi Arabia: On the Road to Reform, funded by the DTI. In 2002 and 2003 she wrote reports for the MOD Economic Offset Department on Saudi British Offset and other topics and later in 2003 she wrote on Saudi women’s NGOs for the British Council. In 2005 co-authored report for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on Needs and Capacities of the NGOs in Saudi Arabia.

Mrs Montagu is currently specialising in social and women’s issues in Saudi Arabia and studying for MA (London) on Middle East Politics & Society. She has a MA from Cambridge University.

Mrs Montagu is currently a Committee member of the Saudi British Society, a member of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce’s Consultative Committee on the Middle East; a member of the Saudi British Joint Business Council and a senior adviser for Women in Business International.

Mrs Montagu is currently a Member of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s South West Committee and a Member of the HHA Tourism & Commercial Development Committee. In addition, she is a Patron of the Beaminster Festival, Bridport CAB and President of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society.

Mr Lawrence Edward Walker, LVO, OBE,

Mr Lawrie Walker joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1960 and was posted to Lebanon in 1963 to study Arabic at the Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies. Since then he has spent nearly all his Diplomatic Service career in the Middle East, promoting British exports.

His postings include: Kuwait from1965 to 68 and from 1991 to 1992, Libya (1970-74), Bahrain (1976-1980), Iraq (1980-84), Turkey (1988-91) and Saudi Arabia where he served as Consul-General in Jeddah (1992-97).

He retired from the Diplomatic Service in 1997 and has been working ever since at the Middle East Association covering GCC countries, with a particular interest in Saudi Arabia. He has led several Middle East Association trade missions to Saudi Arabia and to the Gulf States in recent years. In 2003-2004 he was seconded from the Middle East Association to the Dept. of Trade and Industry as the Export Promoter for Saudi Arabia, advising and encouraging British companies in their efforts to undertake the Saudi market.