Perspectives: Women in Leadership, Riyadh – October 2024

Amy is Deputy Chief Executive of Jersey Finance. Amy joined Jersey Finance in 2011, becoming Chief Operating Officer in January 2014 and assumed her current role in September 2017. Amy also retains an active position leading the Strategy and Research team which undertakes projects and initiatives to develop the financial services industry in the Island.

An joined Jersey Finance in May 2016 as the Business Development Director for Asia and is now based in our Middle East Regional Hub office, in the DIFC in Dubai.

An studied law in Belgium at the University of Leuven including one Erasmus exchange year at Queen Mary and Westfield College in London. She subsequently did an LLM in international business law at Trinity College Dublin.

Raya Alkhatib is a Corporate partner and will be heading the Corporate practice in Bird & Bird’s Riyadh office. Her experience includes advising international and local clients on various corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, general corporate advice, formation of companies, initial public offering transactions, rights issue and real estate investment funds. Before joining Bird & Bird, Raya worked as General Counsel, Governance Officer and Board Secretary at American Express Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Her three roles included advising on day-to-day legal affairs, such as general corporate matters, debt collection, employment legal issues, finance and payment services, co-brand agreements, on-boarding Amex cards as a form of payment on multinational and local websites and advising on partnerships with local banks. She was also in charge of supervising, ensuring and enforcing compliance with the corporate governance regulations.

Lynda has been in Dubai for over 20 years and has developed a very strong sense of cultural differences, regional sensitivities and the importance of long-standing relationships built on trust in these markets. During her time in the region Lynda has worked with clients and intermediaries in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, and Egypt. As Commercial Development Director, Lynda is responsible for maintaining and enhancing Ocorian’ s existing relationships and client base in the Gulf and identifying new business opportunities – with particular focus on delivering wealth structuring and governance solutions to UHNW families and Family Offices around the region. Lynda has a 1st class Honors Degree in Business Studies and holds an Islamic Finance Qualification and Investment Advice Certificate.

Kim has over 15 years’ experience advising families and the owners of multi generational family businesses across all industries and geographies in the Middle East and worldwide. She specialises in understanding the specific challenges families face and supports ultra high net worth private clients, private businesses and family offices in navigating the increasingly complex global tax landscape. Kim is experienced in designing bespoke asset ownership solutions to achieve families’ long term objectives (such as asset protection, wealth preservation, succession planning and tax optimisation) and in the creation and optimisation of global ownership structures and family offices, including the use of corporate entities, trusts and foundations across multiple jurisdictions. Kim graduated with first class honours from the University of Durham (UK) and has completed the Northwestern University Kellogg Family Business Advanced Education Program (US).

Katarzyna Lupa-Nowicka is the Head of Operations - Middle East, Private Markets at SS&C Technologies. With a wealth of experience acquired from her tenure in Luxembourg, Kasia has honed her expertise in team building, governance, and client relations within the realms of mutual, hedge, and private equity funds. Her impressive career includes pivotal roles in esteemed global financial institutions in Poland and Luxembourg, such as BNY Mellon, State Street, and Credit Suisse.

Louise started her career with Thomas Eggar (now Irwin Mitchell) before spending four years in the international private client team at Gateley Legal. In July 2023, Louise joined Trowers & Hamlins LLP's private wealth department to further pursue her international interests, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Louise is based in London (but often spends time in the Gulf and the Channel Islands) and provides a wide range of UK private client services to HNW and UHNW UK-tax resident and non-UK tax resident clients and their fiduciaries (trust companies, banks, family offices etc.). Louise is STEP qualified and has been recognised in the "top 35 under 35" UK private client practitioners.

SS&C is a leading innovator in technology-powered solutions and operational services for the global investment management industry, with particular expertise in the full range of alternative investments, including hedge funds, private equity, funds of funds, real estate, real assets and direct investments. We are also the industry’s largest global fund administrator, entrusted with $2 trillion in alternatives assets under administration. SS&C serves a worldwide clientele and for fund managers in the Middle East, SS&C offers a full complement of fund administration, operational services and cloud-based technology solutions, delivered by an experienced, on-the-ground team with local knowledge.

Praxis is an independent, leading provider of bespoke private wealth, corporate administration and yacht services to companies, individuals and families across the world.

Our clients’ interests are at the forefront of everything we do, and we are focused on adding value at each opportunity. This approach has shaped our reputation for innovation and service for over 50 years.

The Group’s expertise and experience are sustained by recruiting and retaining the brightest and best, and creating a culture that allows them to thrive.

We take the long-term view, knowing that the ongoing success of our business rests on the trust we build by nurturing lasting relationships.