Prominent Qatari entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani has been made a member of the Advisory Board of the Business, Society and Public Policy Initiative of the Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
The initiative, with James P Moore, Jr, at the helm as managing director, will serve as an academic catalyst, both locally and globally, in addressing the intersection of business with government and society in the 21st-century, the Washington DC-based prestigious university said.
Besides Sheikh Dr Khalid, the advisory board comprises “proven leaders” in business, government and the society, and will provide direction to the initiative.
They include Tom Daschle, chair, Center for American Progress, Democratic leader of the US Senate (1994-2005) and US Senator (1987-2005); Thomas Farley – president, New York Stock Exchange; Carly Fiorina, chair, Good360 and Unlocking Potential Project and CEO of Hewlett Packard (1999-2005); Robert J Flanagan, executive vice-president, Clark Enterprises and chair, Federal City Council; Vincente Fox, President of Mexico (2000-2006) and CEO of Coca-Cola Mexico (1975-1979); Jon Huntsman, chair, Atlantic Council, Governor of Utah (2005-2009) and US ambassador to China (2009-2011); Lady Barbara Judge, chair, UK Pension Protection Fund and chair emeritus, UK Atomic Energy Authority; Aleksander Kwasniewski, chair, International Center for Policy Studies, Kiev, Ukraine, and Georgetown Distinguished Scholar and President of Poland (1995-2005); Robert A Mosbacher, chair, Mosbacher Energy Company and president and CEO, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (2005-2009); Eric F Trump, executive vice-president for development and acquisitions, Trump Organisation, and chair, Eric F Trump Foundation (St Jude’s Hospital); Ann M Veneman, executive director, Unicef (2005-2010) and US Secretary of Agriculture (2001-2005); and Anthony Williams, senior strategic advisor and independent consultant, McKenna, Long and Aldridge and mayor of the District of Columbia (1999-2007).
“The Business, Society, and Public Policy Initiative will allow us to capitalise on our unique location in Washington, DC – the nexus of global business and policy,” said David A Thomas, dean of the McDonough School of Business.
“This initiative will ensure that the themes of business, society, and public policy are woven through the student experience by enhancing connections among students, faculty, and thought leaders in both the classroom and business world.”
Sheikh Dr Khalid is the chairman of Ezdan, a real estate firm with extensive commercial and residential holdings in Doha, London, and other overseas markets.
He has also long chaired International Islamic and as founder of the Medicare Group, Sheikh Khalid has overseen the largest privately held healthcare company in Qatar.
He is also the chairman of Vodafone Qatar, the country’s second telcommunications company.
Sheikh Dr Khalid holds both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in industrial management and technology from Central Michigan University and a doctorate in business and economics from the United Kingdom.
