Mishael Al-Ansari

Mishael Al-Ansari is Board Member of the Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA).

How are you advocating for the advancement of the role of women in Qatar’s society and economy?

I was the first Qatari woman to become a senior staff member at QAPCO, an oil and gas company that was male-dominated back in the day. After I was appointed at a senior level, policies began to change to cater to female employees and their needs. I was then appointed HR manager, which enabled me to play a significant role in advocating for women. When I later became a board member of QBWA, I had the opportunity to work with amazing professionals to create a platform to empower businesswomen and unlock the potential of future generations. At QBWA, we support our members emotionally, mentor and guide them, help them fulfill their ambitions, and enhance their contribution to the country’s economic activity. The association also has its own role models most notably in our chair, Sheikha Al Anood Bint Khalifah Bin Hamad Al Thani, and other prominent businesswomen who have a history of success across various sectors. Together, these women have delivered several key initiatives that support and promote Qatari women such as the Qatar Businesswomen Award, the Qatar International Businesswomen Forum, and the QBWA Takreem Awards.

You have been involved in the establishment of the first anti-doping lab in the GCC. What has been your experience in this achievement?

When I was asked to join the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar (ADLQ), I jumped at the opportunity. We were tasked with setting up the first anti-doping lab not only in Qatar, but the Middle East and west Asia. Qatar is moving toward being a leader on the global sports and sports tourism landscape, and the anti-doping lab was the last, but incredibly important, piece of the puzzle. We closed the circle of the sports’ industry, making Qatar one of the strongest countries to compete in hosting global sporting. ADLQ, which is both a doping lap and major research center employing highly skilled researchers and scientists, is one of the world’s 33 elite anti-doping labs working to fight doping in sports. In line with Vision 2030 and its Human Development pillar, ADLQ also believes greatly in investing in Qatari youth. The talent management department operates on providing scholarships for emerging talent.