Meet our advisory board of GCC Directors Association 

Fouad Makhzoumi is a Lebanese businessman and politician, founder of the National Dialogue Party in Lebanon. Makhzoumi co-founded Future Pipe Industries, Future Pipe Industries is a Dubai-headquartered fiberglass pipe system design and manufacturing company, active in the oil and gas, water and industrial sectors.[1]

Fouad and his wife May also founded Makhzoumi Foundation is a National, private, not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Established in Lebanon in 1997, out of a strong desire to help empower the community in Lebanon to achieve self-sufficient independence via improved prospects.

He has bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University

Régis joined Indosuez Bank in 1981, working at the Risk Management Division in Paris, then as Head of Large Corporates in Chicago, Director of Asset Based Financing in New York and then as Director of Equity Risk in Paris. After serving as Chief Operating Officer of Indosuez WI Carr Securities Hong Kong from 1997 to 2000 and Chief Exectuvive Officer from 2000 to 2002, he was appointed Country Officer at Crédit Agricole Indosuez and then Senior Country Officer in the UK at Crédit Agricole CIB. He then became Head of InternaI Audit and Inspection, and joined the General Management team to lead Crédit Agricole CIB’s transformation plan until December 2011. In July 2018, Régis was appointed Deputy General Manager, and later became Chairman Investment Banking.

In September 2023, Regis is appointed Vice Chairman CIB Middle East for BNP Paribas. He is based in Dubai.

Régis has a law degree from the University of Sceaux and is a graduate of HEC International Business School.

Lo’ai Bataineh is a seasoned and successful investment banker with over three decades’ track record in commercial banking, investment banking, asset and wealth management. He was the founding CEO of Ubhar Capital SAOC, a full service investment banking firm headquartered in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Prior to Ubhar Capital, Lo’ai established the Investment Banking business within Oman Arab Bank SAOC back 1998, which became the top-ranked investment banking outfit in Oman. He has previously served on the boards of several companies and funds. He has advised, raised funds and successfully delivered over 50 corporate finance and advisory transactions, valued at over US$ 8 billion.

He has a BA in banking from Yarmouk University and a Master in Investment from the university of Cambridge.

Dato Sri Michael Yeoh was appointed to the Board on 21 October 1996 as an Executive Director. He graduated from University of Bradford, United Kingdom in 1983 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil & Structural Engineering Degree. Dato’ Sri Michael Yeoh is primarily responsible for YTL Group Manufacturing Division which activities involve cement manufacturing and other building material industries. He serves as Managing Director of Malayan Cement Berhad and Executive Director of YTL Corporation Berhad, both listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and Managing Director of YTL Cement Berhad. He also serves on the boards of other public companies such as YTL Land & Development Berhad, YTL e-Solutions Berhad, YTL Industries Berhad and a private utilities corporation, YTL PowerSeraya Pte Limited in Singapore.  He sits on the board of Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) since 14 October 2021. He was a director of The World Cement Association from 22 January 2020 to 22 October 2021.

Kawthar Bin Sulayem is an expert strategic advisor and serial entrepreneur, who specialises in strategic communication and public policy advisory to high profile individuals, government entities and private organisations. In addition to her role as Founder and CEO of KBS Communications, Kawthar Bin Sulayem is an expert strategic advisor and serial entrepreneur, who specialises in strategic communication and public policy advisory to high profile individuals, government entities and private organisations.

She began her endeavors in The Executive Office of the UAE Vice President, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where she assumed responsibilities for media, marketing, crisis communications and reputation management. After moving on from her role in The Executive Office of the UAE Vice President, Kawthar received a personal mandate from H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to continue to serve her country through her profile and professional undertakings. Kawthar remains dedicated to this mandate, striving to help develop innovative, hard-working, ethical companies, regardless of their size; which leaves her constantly searching for new opportunities to bring the best to the UAE. She has a BA from New York university in Media and Communications.

Lena Janina AlFalasi is the founder of a consulting and marketing company in Dubai, where she works with a broad spectrum of clients; from Emirati motorsport drivers, global talents and high end luxury brands. Lena is also the creative designer of Janina Jonee, a sustainable fashion brand that works to support artisanal craftswomen across Mexico. 

Lena is on the Organizational Committee Board for the Pink Caravan breast cancer awareness campaign under the Patronage of The Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan AlQasimi and Her Highness Sheikha Jawahar.  Long a campaigner for breast cancer, this is a charity close to her heart and one that brings free breast cancer screening to all seven emirates, in a week-long campaign throughout the country. 

A passionate advocate for women of all backgrounds, Lena worked with the former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver on what was the world’s largest Women’s Conference; receiving a letter of recognition for her excellence from the First Lady. Lena has lived in the UAE since she was a child and has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the Emirates, the US and Mexico; using her extensive network of contacts in all 3 countries, to build bridges culturally and economically. 

Lena has an MBA from the Hult International Business School in Boston; where she founded and was the President of the Women in Business Association for Dubai, London and Boston - where she still serves as an advisor. Lena also has a Bachelors from California State University, Craig School of Business, CSUF in International Business, as well as a supporting degree from the Hong Kong Baptist University in Strategic Management.

Bassam works since 30 years at Jan De Nul group, one of the biggest players in the dredging and Marine and offshore services. Amongst others: Capital dredging and maintenance, reclamation, Rock dredging in open sea conditions. Dredging of shore approaches and trenches for offshore pipelines and outfall. Bassam is responsible for the ME, and a large part of Africa and Asia. Jan de Nul group worked on many illustrious projects, The palm jebel ali, the suez and Panama canal etc…

Bassam studied in Switzerland.