Manama, Bahrain: Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) yesterday hosted its monthly business networking meeting featuring Dr Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, the General Manager of the new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (Bahrain IECC), as the keynote speaker. BBBF Chairman, Khalid Zayani OBE, welcomed Dr Stanford- Kristiansen, the BBBF members and their guests to the full to capacity meeting at the Gulf Hotel.
In her address, Dr. Stanford-Kristiansen outlined the latest developments at the new centre, due to open later this year. The new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre is set to boost Bahrain’s position as a leading meetings and events destination, attracting future tourism investment and events to the region. With 95,000 square metres of exhibition space over 10 halls, a 4,000-seat tiered auditorium, 95 meeting rooms, Royal & VIP Majlis and a 250-seat restaurant, the centre will be the largest venue of its kind in the Middle East.
“I’m truly honoured to have been appointed as General Manager of the new Bahrain IECC and to work closely with our owner; Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority to develop and grow the international MICE business and to create a long-term legacy for Bahrain and to have the privilege to help mentor, develop and build the talent and skill set of young Bahrainis for generations to come,” said Dr Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen.
“We are delighted to hear about the latest developments and future plans for the new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. We’re positive the centre will firmly place Bahrain on the meetings and events map in the Middle East, attracting world class events to be held in the kingdom,” said Khalid Zayani OBE, BBBF Chairman.
The new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre is managed and operated by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management and event services company, connecting people through the power of live experiences. Dr Stanford-Kristiansen who has lived and worked in the Middle East for 17 years, was appointed as the General Manager of the new centre last April. She has most recently been nominated for the Global Women in Leadership Award 2022, awarded Most Inspirational Woman in Middle East Entertainment 2021, ranked in the Top 30 Most Inspirational Women in the Arab World 2019 and Middle East Female CEO of the Year 2018, and has a long and distinguished career in the MICE tourism, exhibition, events and entertainment industries.
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About BBBF
The BBBF was set up in 1995 and has grown to over 470 members today. It aims to promote trade and investment between Bahrain and Britain in a non-discriminatory, non-political and non-profit making manner. The BBBF is widely recognised in Bahrain and the UK as a leading impartial business sector group. The Forum works to create and sustain a favourable business environment. The BBBF strives to assist and introduce new trade and investment to both countries to benefit and enhance the common economic interests of our member companies.
About Dr Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen
Dr Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen is an accomplished leader with more than 30 years of International experience in Venue Management, MICE Tourism, Events & Entertainment industries with the last 16 years spent working in the Middle East. Dr. Debbie is a leader with an extensive understanding of public, government and private sector organisations with a proven track record of driving growth and successful business development.
Debbie holds an Honorary Professional Doctorate in Global Leadership and Management from EIU, Paris, France. Her career started under the leadership of MICE Tourism Industry legends; Ray Bloom, Paul Flackett and John Haynes in 1988 with Regent International Exhibitions and the launch of EIBTM Geneva, Switzerland. Following the sale of EIBTM to the world’s largest Exhibition Organiser; Reed International Exhibitions, Debbie took on the role of Group Director of Sales; MICE Global Events until re-joining Ray Bloom in 2001 as Vice President Global Sales with the launch of IMEX Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, she moved to the Middle East to help establish the Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority, and later assuming the roles of Acting CEO and Deputy CEO for the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, she went on to become the CEO of events@bahrain, a company established under the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.
From June 2013 until February 2021 she relocated to Dubai where she held the position of CEO Novo Cinemas, a well-respected brand that Dr. Debbie launched together with her team in May 2014 and which has since turned into the multi-award winning household entertainment brand that it is today with more than 23 locations and 238 auditoriums across 4 countries in the GCC, including the UAE and Bahrain. Dr. Debbie’s vision and commitment have transformed Novo Cinemas into the regional go-to film entertainment & events hub it is today, featuring unparalleled film and AV technology, diverse content, world class design and comfort, all of which are served up to customers with gourmet concessions and the highest level of customer care.
It is this level of leadership that has landed her the – 2021 Top 50 Inspiration Global Women to look out for in 2022, Most Inspirational Woman in Entertainment Middle East 2020, Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World 2019, Middle East Female CEO of the Year 2018 and UAE Woman of Substance 2018, among LinkedIn’s 500 Global Influencers and Top 50 Women in Global Cinema for the past five consecutive years.
Respected by her peers and her partners, she has established successful partnerships with leading global brands such as Coca-Cola, HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, Emirates Airline, American Express, Mastercard, Etisalat, IMAX, Dolby, Mashreq Bank, The Bolshoi Ballet, Ooredoo and BeinSports.
Awards and Accolades include:
♣ 2022 – Top 50 Global Inspirational Women to Look out for in 2022 – Prodigy Global Network & Titanium Magazine
♣ 2020 Most Inspirational Woman in Middle East Entertainment - Corporate Today Magazine
♣ 2020 Top 50 Women in Global Cinema & Entertainment – Box Office USA and Celluloid Junkie
♣ 2020 LinkedIn 500 Global Influencer
♣ 2019 – CEO of the Year – Technology Innovation in Entertainment by SMB Summit
♣ 2019 – Most Inspirational Woman in Entertainment Middle East
♣ 2019 – Cinema Group of the Year Middle East
♣ 2019 – CEO of the Year - IQPC 5th Annual Theme Parks & Entertainment Development Forum Middle East
♣ 2019 – Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World
♣ 2019 – Top 50 Women in Global Cinema & Entertainment – Box Office Magazine USA in collaboration with UNIC
♣ 2018 – Middle East Female CEO of the Year Awards – CEO Middle East Magazine
♣ 2018 – UAE Woman of Substance – Khaleej Times
♣ 2018 – MEA Award – Best Cinema Theatre Chain 2019 and 2018 Middle East and Most Innovative Entertainment Experience - GCC
♣ 2018 – Top 50 Women in Global Cinema by Film Journal International & Celluloid Junkie
♣ 2017 – Top 25 Women CEO’s in the Global Cinema Industry by Celluloid Junkie
♣ 2016 – Top 25 Women CEO’s in the Global Cinema Industry by Celluloid Junkie
♣ 2016 – MENA Digital Awards Best Use of Social Media
♣ 2015 – Asia Retail Leadership Award
Mentorship Programmes:
♣ 2020-2021 – Mentor – Dubai Women’s Establishment in collaboration with the Scandinavian Embassies of Denmark, Sweden, Norway & Finland
♣ 2020 – Mentor – UNIC Women in Global Cinema Leadership Programme
Media Contact:
Sari Mabire
Yoiku PR
E: sari.mabire@yoikupr.com
© Press Release 2022
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