Bapco CEOs celebrate Bahraini women’s contributions

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini Women’s Day, established by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, celebrates the contributions of Bahraini women to the country’s development. Mark Thomas, CEO of Bapco Energies, and Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, CEO of Bapco Refining, praised the achievements of women in the energy sector and beyond.

Thomas congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and HRH Princess Sabeeka. He highlighted Bahrain’s reform project and the National Action Charter of 2001, which gave Bahraini women full legal and political rights and strengthened their role as equal partners in national development.

“Bahrain has led the way in introducing laws that protect women’s rights and creating opportunities for them to excel,” Thomas said. He commended the Supreme Council for Women, led by HRH Princess Sabeeka, for advancing women’s progress through the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women.

Dr Jawahery added, “Bahraini Women’s Day is a valued occasion, observed across the country to honour women’s efforts and their role in driving prosperity.” He praised HRH Princess Sabeeka’s dedication to ensuring equal opportunities and enabling women to take leading roles in Bahrain’s future.

Leadership roles

Thomas noted that women now make up 42 per cent of Bapco Energies’ workforce, with 21 per cent in leadership roles — a notable rise from the previous year and above the global average of 16 per cent for women in the energy sector. “This year’s theme — “Women, worthy partner in nation building” — aligns with our ongoing efforts to support women in the workplace and celebrate their achievements,’ he said. Thomas also pointed to flexible workplace policies introduced by Bapco Energies to help women balance professional and personal responsibilities.

Diverse perspectives

“We aim to create a workplace where women’s skills are valued across all roles and specialisations, strengthening our workforce with diverse perspectives,” he added. Dr Jawahery praised the contributions of Bahraini women in industry, particularly in oil and gas. “Our female engineers are now operating advanced refinery units with exceptional skill. We are proud of the talented women whose leadership continues to inspire us all,” he said.

Climate objectives

Thomas also recognised Bahraini women’s efforts in advancing clean energy and environmental protection, aligning with Bahrain’s climate objectives. He extended his congratulations to all female employees at Bapco Energies and its subsidiaries, wishing them ongoing success.