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I build strategic partnerships, develop industry growth strategies and bring together the people and resources to grow a business. In more than 20 years in international business development across the UK, the UAE and the wider GCC, I’ve helped companies enter new markets, built a technology incubator and helped grow a consulting practice. I enjoy bringing people together when an opportunity is emerging and the way forward is unclear. At PwC Middle East, I worked with the firm’s industry leaders to develop growth strategies for eight industries and led a team of 12 supporting that work across 12 countries. We used market intelligence to identify emerging demand, agree commercial priorities and decide which opportunities to pursue together across service lines. Earlier, I helped build PwC’s Ventures practice and develop its commercial pipeline across financial services, fintech and technology. I secured a 12-month memorandum of understanding with DIFC Innovation Hub and helped the practice win invitations to bid for innovation work. Through origination and delivery, I contributed to initiatives that together generated more than AED 20 million in new revenue. I also led PwC’s climate technology initiative for COP28, where we selected 50 ventures and engaged more than 200 clients and alliance partners. As Innovation Director at Tech Manchester, I launched and grew an incubator that supported more than 500 start-ups. I built a network of mentors and investors that founders could turn to for advice and introductions. When our main sponsor withdrew, I led the turnaround and brought together a consortium of employers to win public funding. Across that award and a subsequent bid, we secured the equivalent of approximately AED 2.8 million in grants. I hold an MBA from Warwick Business School, where I researched how leaders of service and technology SMEs use local knowledge and partnerships to expand internationally. I’m building on my COP28 experience through the Climate Solutions and Strategies course at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute, with a particular interest in how climate technologies are financed. I’m studying Modern Standard Arabic, completing Pimsleur Level 1 in September 2026. I’d welcome conversations about leadership opportunities in strategic partnerships, international business development and industry programmes, particularly in Abu Dhabi. If your work brings companies, investors and government together to help businesses enter new markets, I’d be glad to hear from you here on LinkedIn.
Led cross-industry strategy, market intelligence and commercial planning across eight sectors in the Middle East, supporting senior leadership in identifying growth opportunities, strengthening market positioning and translating strategic priorities into execution. Key contributions • Directed a 12-person, multi-country team supporting eight industries, aligning senior partners around sector strategies, market priorities and commercial opportunities. • Synthesised market intelligence, client insights and industry trends to identify market gaps, emerging growth opportunities and potential areas for strategic collaboration. • Supported industry and account planning through opportunity identification, cross-sector coordination and analysis of market-entry and business development potential. • Designed and delivered strategic planning forums for more than 100 senior partners, helping establish shared priorities and clearer accountability for implementation. • Strengthened cross-industry governance, performance tracking and executive reporting to improve visibility of opportunities, delivery progress and strategic risks. • Worked across financial services, government, sovereign wealth funds, technology, energy and other industries, developing a broad understanding of regional economic priorities and commercial market dynamics.
Helped build PwC Middle East’s Ventures practice through business development and strategic partnerships across financial services, fintech, sustainability and technology. • Originated a cross-border delivery partnership for a Saudi entrepreneurship programme. I secured an international partner’s commitment to deploy staff, shaped the scope with them, negotiated pricing as part of the commercial team and executed the partner contract. Across two cohorts, participants developed 200 minimum viable products. • Helped the practice earn invitations to bid for innovation work and win its first projects in that area. Through origination, client delivery and practice development, I contributed to initiatives that generated more than AED 20 million in cumulative new revenue. • Built a commercial pipeline through international scale-up programmes and European networks. I qualified opportunities in Salesforce and worked with colleagues in sales leadership meetings to agree how to progress individual prospects. • Built an initial network of Saudi and international venture capital firms for an entrepreneur community. I secured three strategic partnerships and around ten partnerships offering benefits to entrepreneurs. • Secured a 12-month memorandum of understanding with DIFC Innovation Hub and connected fintech founders with corporate partners and investors. My wider market-entry work included advising UK and Irish companies exploring Middle East expansion and arranging access to a panel of ten UAE investors for a separate market-entry programme. • Led PwC’s climate technology initiative for COP28. We sourced more than 500 ventures and selected 50. The programme generated a merger advisory opportunity that PwC Deals subsequently won and delivered.
Led innovation ecosystem development, strategic partnerships and organisational growth initiatives focused on technology entrepreneurship, business support and regional economic development. Key achievements • Launched and scaled an inclusive technology incubator supporting a community of more than 500 startups and entrepreneurs. • Developed business growth and strategic management programmes supporting more than 250 business leaders. • Led organisational turnaround and secured £2 million in public-sector funding to support technical skills, employment readiness and inclusive economic development. • Built relationships across government, industry, education and technology ecosystems to support innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth. • Designed and delivered innovation events and stakeholder engagement programmes, connecting businesses with knowledge, resources and commercial networks. • Led strategic communications and market positioning initiatives to strengthen organisational visibility and stakeholder engagement.
Led the design and delivery of Tech Equity, an employer-led digital workforce initiative that secured £500,000 through a competitive tender, followed by a formally awarded further £100,000 COVID-related funding addition. Led the bid end to end, including identifying and shaping the opportunity, securing delivery partners, forming and coordinating the consortium, managing the tender submission and overseeing the successful award. • Identified the opportunity to respond to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund and developed a scalable employer-led model to address hard-to-fill technology roles. • Built and secured the delivery consortium, bringing together employers, training providers, technology organisations and community stakeholders. • Developed strategic relationships with technology certification and training organisations, including CompTIA, Red Hat, Pearson and the Linux Professional Institute, securing their participation as key partners in the consortium bid. • Managed the full tender process, including bid strategy, partner coordination, written submission, governance, quality assurance and final submission. • Secured £500,000 in initial project funding, followed by a formally awarded further £100,000 COVID-related funding addition, bringing total funding secured to £600,000. • Designed and delivered 12-week and 16-week technical development programmes covering Linux, cybersecurity, computer networking and professional skills. • Coordinated government stakeholder engagement, reporting and programme continuity during COVID-19 restrictions. • Connected industry expertise, recognised certifications and practical training to support workforce development, employment readiness and regional economic inclusion.