Dubai Design and Fashion Council Announces New CEO
It’s a brand new era at DDFC
After the departure former CEO and Bazaar columnist Nez Gebreel last year, the Dubai Design and Fashion Council announced today that Jazia Al Dhanhani has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer.
Previously holding the position of Executive Director of Industry Development and Marketing, Emirati national Jazia brings a wealth of experience to the role and will lead the development of the Council’s mission to support emerging regional talent in five key design segments – fashion design, product design, architecture, interior design and graphic design – whilst developing Dubai as an international fashion and design destination, in line with the objectives set out by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
New DDFC CEO Jazia Al Dhanhani
Joining the Dubai Design and Fashion Council in early 2016, Jazia has already overseen the creation and development of many of the Council’s projects including the successful Mentorship and Internship Programmes which provide direct learning opportunities and business access to creatives from all over the region, giving them a platform to develop and hone their skill sets. Speaking about her new position, Al Dhanhani commented, “DDFC has made a significant contribution to bringing Dubai to the forefront of the international design community. Our goal for 2017 is to maintain the sustainable growth of the design industry in Dubai. Going forward, we will focus on initiatives for emerging and established designers to build their careers, implement new strategies that create long-term value for the community, and expand our reach within and outside the UAE.”
Previously, Jazia held leading positions at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), SmartCity, and Emaar and her appointment has been widely praised by board members of DDFC, including Chairperson Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, who commented: “We are pleased to welcome Jazia Al Dhanhani as DDFC’s Chief Executive Officer. Jazia has been an integral member of the Council’s development team. Her contribution to the design community, including, most recently, the launch of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, has been invaluable. With Jazia’s appointment, we are looking forward to continuing to create platforms to support the design industry in Dubai and develop Emirati and regional creative talent.”