Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of the Arab International Women’s Forum, is well known in international government and business circles as a high-impact change agent focusing on leadership in cultural and gender issues. A development economist and graduate of the American University of Beirut and Oxford University, she brings a wide range of skills and experience to her personal mission of encouraging greater cultural understanding between Arab and international communities, supporting a strong role for women in that process.

Al Kaylani holds senior roles in several cultural, commercial and educational UK and international organizations. These include: Board Member, The Women's Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School; Advisory Board Member, The Middle East Institute, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; Advisory Board Member, The Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, Lebanese American University, Beirut; Board Director, EastWest Institute, and Board Member of The Arab British Chamber of Commerce in London. Al Kaylani also serves on The Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance. She became the first Honorary Member of the Euro Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development (2012) and serves as a Freeman of the City of London.

Al Kaylani was included in the Power 100 List, compiled by Arabian Business Monitor and recognized on the Arabian Business Power 500 List published by Arabian Business Magazine and placed in the highest ever recording of 118 women in a list of Arab men and women leaders. She was inducted in 2013 by the Centre of Economic Leadership & Development into The Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame as a distinguished achiever and symbol of female achievement globally. Al Kaylani received The Excellence in Life Award presented by The Global Thinkers Forum in Dubai December 2014.

In January 2017, she became a Fellow of the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University as one of 46 global leaders selected for an intensive, multi-disciplinary program and yearlong Fellowship to research and address significant social problems. She has devoted over three decades of her life—the empowerment and advancement of Arab women and youth through job creation, entrepreneurship, education and economic empowerment in the MENA region and internationally.

She was featured in Forbes Middle East’s LeaderBoard: Standing Out list of High Achievers in July 2017, recognized for her leadership of AIWF and her commitment as Founder Chairman to encouraging cultural exchange and understanding between communities and promoting gender equality around the world. In August 2017, she was invited to join the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work, as the only Commissioner from the Arab world to contribute to this timely and valuable Centenary Initiative to realize the vision of a future working world that empowers young people to progress and prosper.