On 25 June 2020, Egypt Branch was represented by Prof Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Chairman, and Dr. Waleed El Nemr, Vice-Chairman and Education and Training Officer, at the MENA Branch Chair Meeting with Ms. Catherine Dixon, CIArb Director General. The meeting was conducted to investigate the views of the MENA branches within the CIArb review of its strategy to make the CIArb more effective when working with branches and members.
The meeting approached 5 questions relating to the CIArb opportunities in the in area, concerns of Branch members, members response to the COVID-19 challenges, strategic objectives of the CIArb, improving communication between the Branch and the headquarters (HQ). MENA chairs raised issues related to their regional concerns, including, inter alia, the need for online platforms to enable online training, the need for supporting young members, and the need for branches to communicate with each other and enable branch- HQ communication. The Director General outlined the current strategic aims of the CIArb based on constructive resolution of disputes, inclusiveness and diversity. In response to the concerns of branch chairs, the CIArb introduced changes related to improving the CIArb website, flexible delivery of courses, training for Branch committee members, and enabling more communications between branches and HQ.