Judging Panel

Jawad J. Abbassi, General Manager, Arab Advisors Group

Mr. Abbassi has more than 14 years experience in the telecommunications, Internet and datacommnications fields. Mr. Abbassi founded the Arab Advisors Group in 2001. As General Manager of Arab Advisors Group, Mr. Abbassi directs the research and consulting activities of the company in addition to steering its marketing operations. Mr. Abbassi is also a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars related to technology and communications in the Arab World.

On September 14, 2005, the Arab Jordan Investment Bank (AJIB) and Arab Advisors Group concluded an agreement by which AJIB buys a 55% stake in Arab Advisors Group. The cash transaction will allow AJIB and the Arab Advisors Group to leverage strategic synergies to enhance the quality and scope of services of Arab Advisors Group. Arab Advisors Group -a private shareholding company registered in Jordan- will now be owned by the Arab Jordan Investment Bank (55%) and Mr. Jawad Abbassi (45%).

Before founding Arab Advisors Group, Mr. Abbassi's career experience includes working as a senior telecommunications and technology consultant with the Yankee Group in Boston - USA. Between 1998 and 2000, Mr. Abbassi was a Senior Analyst with the communications research arm of the Economist Intelligence Unit in Boston.

Before his work in Boston, Mr. Abbassi worked as a corporate accounts manager for Jordan's leading Internet service provider (NETS). With NETS, Mr. Abbassi led and coordinated the work needed to establish its first international leased line with Cyprus. Mr. Abbassi also worked for Apple Computers dealership, in addition to being a weekly columnist on Information Technology in Jordan's leading English weekly.

Languages:
Mr. Abbassi is fluent in English in addition to being a native speaker of Arabic. Basic French.

Education:
Mr. Abbassi received a BSc in engineering from the American University in Cairo (Egypt – 1993) and his MSc in information systems from the London School of Economics (United Kingdom - 1998).

Memberships and affiliations:

• Member of Jordan's Engineers Association
• Member of The Arab Business Forum for Information and Communication Technology ABFICT. Elected to the board in 2005.
• Member of the steering committee for UN ICT Task Force of the "Wireless Internet and the Arab-World" series.
• Member of Jordan's information technology association (int@j). Elected to the board in 2004.
• Chosen to be in the Young Arab Leaders Organization.
• Bishop's school (Amman), AUC (Cairo) and LSE (London) Alumni associations

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