Dr. Juman is an accomplished director with over 40 years of expertise serving on the boards of various reputable companies in Bahrain. He currently sits on the board of Venture Capital Bank as an independent director.
With his extensive experience, Dr. Juman has been an active member of multiple board committees. He lends his knowledge by being on the boards of companies such as Royal University for Women, Bahrain, TIG Software, Bahrain, Mena Aerospace Enterprises, Bahrain, Pan Arabian Gourmet, and The Malls Real Estate Company, Bahrain.
Dr. Juman is a fellow of renowned professional bodies - the Royal Aeronautical Society and the British Computer Society. He is also a senior member of the prestigious Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
As a well-regarded professional, Dr. Juman has developed a strong understanding of governance, risk management, and technical operations through his decades of experience. He leverages his expertise in guiding companies towards sustainable growth. Overall, his diverse background allows him to provide valuable perspectives to the boards he serves.
Dr. Altawari is a seasoned finance professional with an impressive track record in the banking and capital markets industry. Currently, he is the Founder and Managing Partner of Newbury Economic Consulting.
His journey in the financial world began at Arab Banking Corporation in Bahrain, where he gained valuable experience in commercial banking. Subsequently, he transitioned to the corporate finance domain at ABC Islamic Bank, rising to become Associate Director for syndications and marketing.
His expertise is further underscored by his extensive board memberships in various companies and funds across the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Additionally, he is a sought-after speaker at Islamic banking conferences and seminars, sharing his insights and perspectives with industry peers.
With a distinguished academic background, including a Doctorate of Business Administration from Durham University Business School, an MBA from the University of Hull, and executive education from esteemed institutions: Harvard Business School and Henley Management College, Dr. Altawari brings a wealth of knowledge and scholarly acumen to his work.
Mr Robert Wages is an accomplished professional with around 4 decades of extensive global experience across major regions worldwide. He leverages his expertise that spans beyond Bahrain in his leadership roles.
He began his career in private equity with Castle Harlan, a leading New York-based middle market buyout firm, where he rose from an Associate to Managing Director. After this, he was Executive Director, Private Equity at the government-owned Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD), and then Head of Private Equity with Emirates International Investment Company, the proprietary investment arm of National Holding, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Next, he joined VCBank in Bahrain as Head of Post-Acquisition, also became Head of Investments, and was eventually appointed CEO. He has extensive global experience in sourcing, executing and managing institutional direct private equity investments across multiple industry sectors, spanning the US, Europe, MENA and Asia.
Robert holds a Master’s degree in Computational Finance & Risk Management from the University of Washington, USA; and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Princeton University, USA. He holds CFA, CAIA and FRM certifications..