Our Story: Omani female techmakers going global

 Under the theme “Telling Our Story”, leading Omani women in entrepreneurship and technology will speak tonight (Thursday) as part of a Google supported global program.

Six Omani women will lead the “Global Techmakers” program, which is student-organized by GUTech’s Computer Science Club. The event organisers hope to empower women in technology by highlighting prominent individuals in society and their experiences. 

Among the speakers is Amna Al Sinani, who graduated as a computer engineer from SQU. She had experience working for the Research Council, as well as currently serving as the ICT research specialist for the Programs and Research Office.

Jihad Al Busaidi, who is also slated to speak, is head of the Food Chemicals Lab at the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology, at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 

Al Busaidi uses social media platforms to highlighting volunteerism, and inspires youth with her activities. In 2013 she was awarded with the Sultan Qaboos Prize for her volunteerism, and her outreach efforts.

After much deliberation, Ashwaq Al Maskri, who is another speaker for Women Techmakers, found herself creating content for her personal YouTube channel. Through her videos, she aims to changes perspectives by bringing down cultural barriers. She was part of the first YouTube FanFest in the Middle East as a speaker in Jeddah, and she also participated in the first YouTube female event, Batalat YouTube, in Riyadh.

Huda Al Habsi, a speaker at the event, has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. She served as team leader for the technical support team in IT when the internet was first introduced in Oman by the Oman Telecommunications Company. She eventually rose to the position of a general manager heading the IT Division, making her the first woman to achieve senior ranking in Omantel. She serves as a director at Shell Oman Marketing Company SAOG’s Board of Directors, and as a member of the Shell Oman Marketing Audit Committee since 2012.

The fifth speaker at Women Techmakers is Sayyida Basma Al Said, who is a psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist. She has recently founded her mental health clinic, Whispers of Serenity. She regularly organizes community and professional events. Her “Not Alone” Mental Health Awareness initiative is an ongoing effort to create societal awareness on mental well-being.
Finally, the sixth speaker is Hala Al Turki, who is the founder and CEO of Kwn Digital. Al Turki is a leading technologist, entrepreneur and educator.
 

Though her career began in the construction and oil industries, she progressed to the consulting sector, where she worked for international consulting houses, advising corporates and governments in the region. She has also founded a number of successful companies in leadership development, vocational training and recruitment, the latest being Kwn Digital. Al Turki is a well-known public speaker and author of a number of books.

The event will be hosted in Bar Al-Jissah Resort and Spa, and starts at 7pm on Thursday.

Source: Timesofoman