Serco Middle East celebrates International Women's Day with the graduation of Marwa Al Mansoori
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Serco proudly celebrated International Women's Day (8th March), by marking a milestone in its nationalisation journey—the graduation of Marwa Al Mansoori from its Graduate Programme. This achievement underscores Serco's commitment to developing national talent and empowering women to become future leaders in the UAE and beyond.
As a forward-thinking business, Serco continues to prioritise gender diversity and the advancement of women within its workforce, with the statistics from 2024 to prove it, including:
50% of the executive leadership team being women
Women hold 33% of critical roles
35% of Serco's divisional management team are women
49% of nationals in new roles are women
As Serco continues to develop women and national talent, Marwa Al Mansoori's success is a testament to the company's commitment to shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Reflecting on her graduation, Marwa Al Mansoori, Health and Safety Assurance Officer at Serco Middle East, comments:
'This milestone is incredibly meaningful to me, not just as a personal achievement but as a reminder of how far I've come. Graduating from Serco's programme on International Women's Day makes this achievement even more special. It represents growth, resilience, and the power of opportunity, reinforcing that women can thrive in any industry.
'From the beginning, I was drawn to Serco's graduate programme because I wanted to work in a field where I could make a tangible impact—where my contributions would improve safety, quality, and efficiency. The programme provided me with hands-on experience, incredible mentorship, and exposure to real-world challenges. It reinforced my desire to make a real impact, and Serco's programme provided the perfect platform. The experience has strengthened my leadership skills, broadened my perspective, and given me the confidence to take on greater responsibilities.
By accelerating action, breaking barriers, and fostering an environment of opportunity, Serco remains dedicated to empowering women and driving meaningful change across the region.
Commenting on this year's International Women's Day theme of 'Accelerate Action', Marwa had this to add: ' Women in the UAE are driving change by stepping into leadership roles, excelling in diverse industries, and challenging outdated stereotypes. They are not waiting for permission—they are creating opportunities, innovating, and proving their capabilities in fields like engineering, aviation, and public services. The support from the UAE government and private sector has also played a huge role in accelerating this progress.'
Marwa's achievements serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that education, mentorship, and equal opportunities have in shaping the future. As such, Serco's commitment to supporting women and national talent is empowering colleagues to contribute to the broader goal of creating a more inclusive, diverse, and forward-thinking workforce. In doing so, Serco is not only building the leaders of tomorrow, but is also contributing to the region's vision for a more inclusive and prosperous future.
'Believe in your abilities and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,' concluded Marwa when reflecting on the advice she would give to other young women who are looking to pursue a career in the industry. 'Entering the workforce may seem challenging, but you bring unique strengths and perspectives that are needed. Seek mentors, ask questions, and never stop learning. Your voice and contributions are valuable, and with determination, you can make a real impact.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Some firms allow working from abroad for up to a year; eligible roles revealed
Some UAE companies allow their employees to work for a certain period from abroad in order to retain the best talent and as part of remote work policies. In the post-pandemic period, companies have become more flexible when it comes to remote work, especially for certain roles in technology and consultancy sectors. In March, the UAE government allowed remote work systems for government entities outside the country, which would open up access to global talent without additional costs. Hana Abu Kharmeh, chief operating officer of Serco Middle East, said they offer global mobility opportunities that enable employees to work remotely from abroad, provided business needs are met and relevant tax and legal obligations are addressed. 'We've supported remote international working across a variety of roles and departments. This includes client-facing positions, such as advisory — where clients have agreed to the arrangement — as well as internal functions like HR and growth. These flexible models have allowed us to retain top talent, offer diverse career development pathways, and respond effectively to evolving workforce expectations,' she added. 'While there is no one-size-fits-all policy, the duration is typically agreed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the role, performance, operational requirements, and compliance considerations. Some arrangements have been formalised for six to 12 months at a time, with the option to extend where appropriate,' Hana added. Serco Middle East's COO noted that the purpose is to create 'a high-performance culture that supports both individual aspirations and operational excellence.' While speaking during a panel discussion at an event recently, Nasser AlBlooshi, managing director for UAE at Chalhoub Group, said the company allows staff to work four weeks every year from abroad if employees can sustain regular work hours. Mahesh Shahdadpuri, CEO of Tasc Outsourcing, said working from home became a huge possibility because of Covid-19 and technology and certain companies in the UAE allow employees to work from abroad. 'Going forward, individual companies have their own policies. We have seen in the US certain companies asking people to come back to work. Here in the UAE, certain firms do it differently. The essence is what your workforce wants, where are you in the evolution of your company, your objectives are clear, your culture is great, then it doesn't matter where people work from,' Shahdadpuri said. Hana added that the services sector such as advisory and consulting often lend themselves to remote arrangements due to their project-based nature. 'Similarly, technology and digital roles — including software development, data analytics, and IT services — typically allow for effective remote contribution. Corporate functions like HR, marketing, finance, and strategy also tend to support such flexibility, as do creative fields such as content development and design,' added Hana.
Web Release
13-05-2025
- Web Release
Serco's Climatize and ExperienceLab transitions into +impact
Serco has announced that Climatize, its sustainability and engineering consultancy, and ExperienceLab, its leading design and innovation agency, will transition into +impact, Serco's advisory business. This move marks a significant milestone in the consolidation of +impact's advisory capabilities, strengthening its focus in providing customer experience, design-led, and operational transformation solutions. Climatize is anticipated to complete its full integration into +impact in the UAE by the end of 2026, while the transition has already been successfully completed for the KSA and global markets. As part of the move, Rena Baba, previously Director of ExperienceLab Middle East, has been appointed to the role of Director of Experience Design and Innovation at +impact in the Middle East, and Engi Jaber, who heads Climatize, will become Associate Partner – Sustainability at +impact. The creation of the new positions underlines the key roles the two will play in driving the evolution of +impact going forward. Launched by Serco in September 2024, +impact brings together expert advice with proven delivery experience, offering practical, sustainable, and user-centric solutions for government, critical infrastructure and regulated businesses. It is led globally by Phil Malem, who also serves as CEO of Serco in the Middle East, reflecting the region's growing leadership in innovative advisory, sustainability and customer experience solutions. The integration of both Climatize and ExperienceLab aligns with +impact's commitment to delivering advisory services grounded in real-world operational expertise. It also reinforces +impact's commitment to delivering top-tier sustainability and environmental services both within and beyond the built environment sector, following the integration of Climatize into the +impact portfolio after its acquisition by Serco in February 2024. Phil Malem, CEO of +impact and Serco Middle East said: 'Integrating Climatize and ExperienceLab into +impact reflects our commitment to continuously evolving and strengthening the way we help clients achieve lasting transformation. This move allows us to blend creative design with operational insight, ensuring that our advisory services are not just strategic, but also deeply actionable. It will also enable us to continue bringing our end-to-end capabilities to the Middle East to empower governments and businesses to achieve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and impact a better future. 'In essence, we are creating a 'first in market' offering, blending the best of our capabilities and expertise with the specialist skills and real-world operational experience of ExperienceLab and Climatize. By combining this diverse expertise, we're positioning ourselves to offer tailored, impactful solutions that help clients to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.' Paul Bogan, +impact Partner said: 'Climatize and ExperienceLab have both played a pivotal role in shaping the region's approach to customer experience, sustainability, and human-centred design. By integrating their expertise into +impact, spearheaded by Rena and Engi, we are strengthening our ability to help clients navigate complex challenges with practical, real-world solutions. This move consolidates our advisory offering under one brand, ensuring we continue to deliver transformative, people-centred, sustainable and innovative climate-orientated solutions at scale for the citizens and communities in which we support.' Over the coming weeks, all advisory-related brands will transition under the +impact umbrella, reinforcing Serco's position as a leader in delivering advisory services that combine strategic insight with operational and implementation experience. For more information on +impact please visit
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Zawya
Serco's Climatize and ExperienceLab transitions into +impact
Move reinforces +impact's regional leadership in innovative advisory, sustainability and customer experience solutions with 'first in market' offering Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Serco has announced that Climatize, its sustainability and engineering consultancy, and ExperienceLab, its leading design and innovation agency, will transition into +impact, Serco's advisory business. This move marks a significant milestone in the consolidation of +impact's advisory capabilities, strengthening its focus in providing customer experience, design-led, and operational transformation solutions. Climatize is anticipated to complete its full integration into +impact in the UAE by the end of 2026, while the transition has already been successfully completed for the KSA and global markets. As part of the move, Rena Baba, previously Director of ExperienceLab Middle East, has been appointed to the role of Director of Experience Design and Innovation at +impact in the Middle East, and Engi Jaber, who heads Climatize, will become Associate Partner - Sustainability at +impact. The creation of the new positions underlines the key roles the two will play in driving the evolution of +impact going forward. Launched by Serco in September 2024, +impact brings together expert advice with proven delivery experience, offering practical, sustainable, and user-centric solutions for government, critical infrastructure and regulated businesses. It is led globally by Phil Malem, who also serves as CEO of Serco in the Middle East, reflecting the region's growing leadership in innovative advisory, sustainability and customer experience solutions. The integration of both Climatize and ExperienceLab aligns with +impact's commitment to delivering advisory services grounded in real-world operational expertise. It also reinforces +impact's commitment to delivering top-tier sustainability and environmental services both within and beyond the built environment sector, following the integration of Climatize into the +impact portfolio after its acquisition by Serco in February 2024. Phil Malem, CEO of +impact and Serco Middle East said: 'Integrating Climatize and ExperienceLab into +impact reflects our commitment to continuously evolving and strengthening the way we help clients achieve lasting transformation. This move allows us to blend creative design with operational insight, ensuring that our advisory services are not just strategic, but also deeply actionable. It will also enable us to continue bringing our end-to-end capabilities to the Middle East to empower governments and businesses to achieve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and impact a better future. 'In essence, we are creating a 'first in market' offering, blending the best of our capabilities and expertise with the specialist skills and real-world operational experience of ExperienceLab and Climatize. By combining this diverse expertise, we're positioning ourselves to offer tailored, impactful solutions that help clients to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.' Paul Bogan, +impact Partner said:"Climatize and ExperienceLab have both played a pivotal role in shaping the region's approach to customer experience, sustainability, and human-centred design. By integrating their expertise into +impact, spearheaded by Rena and Engi, we are strengthening our ability to help clients navigate complex challenges with practical, real-world solutions. This move consolidates our advisory offering under one brand, ensuring we continue to deliver transformative, people-centred, sustainable and innovative climate-orientated solutions at scale for the citizens and communities in which we support." Over the coming weeks, all advisory-related brands will transition under the +impact umbrella, reinforcing Serco's position as a leader in delivering advisory services that combine strategic insight with operational and implementation experience. About +impact +impact is an advisory business that draws on real world experience to find not just innovative but practical, sustainable and user-centred solutions. By delivering the highest-quality advice coupled with operational expertise. +impact partners with its customers at all stages of their project journey to find answers to some of the world's most complex problems. +impact will only advise where Serco has successfully delivered - no untested theories, just proven results. We're different because we Do. +impact is owned by Serco plc. About Serco Serco brings together the right people, the right technology and the right partners to create innovative solutions that make positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern world. With a primary focus on serving governments globally, Serco's services are powered by more 50,000 people working across defence, space, migration, justice, healthcare, mobility and customer services. Serco's core capabilities include service design and advisory, resourcing, complex programme management, systems integration, case management, engineering, and asset & facilities management. Underpinned by Serco's unique operating model, Serco drives innovation and supports customers from service discovery through to delivery.
