Team - British Centres for Business

The BCB’s in-house regional trade and investment specialists bring together a unique collection of expertise and more than 100 years combined GCC experience.

Meet the Team

Joe Hepworth

Founder & CEO

joe.hepworth@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

Yorkshire

How long in the UAE?

12 years

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I spent 8 years in container shipping after university so I have always worked in trade. It’s rewarding being involved in making international business work.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

It’s a shame that so many of our projects are confidential! But some of the companies we’ve worked on for Capita Scaling Partners are very cool: the current one – London Dynamics – is really interesting.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Apart from ‘talk to the BCB?’ No, have patience & persistence. It’s not the sort of market where business falls into your lap. Be prepared to chip away; success will take time.

Vineetha Sony

Head of Trade Services

vineetha.sony@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

India

How long in the UAE ?

14 years

Sectors covered:

Construction, Healthcare, Engineering & Manufacturing, Oil & Gas

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

It was a happy accident! My background is in Literature and Journalism, but the world of Trade and Investment fascinated me as it is such a dynamic field. I love that no two projects are the same and how many pieces of a puzzle come together when I am supporting companies and Export Development Organisations develop their investment and export strategy.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

The investment arm of the Dubai Government has developed an initiative to build up a wholesale trade hub across 3 specific sectors given Dubai’s centrality. I am working with them to develop their marketing strategy and help attract anchor tenants to this space.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

You have to keep at it! Doing business in the UAE needs a fair amount of time, money, energy and patience. Take your time to build out connections in-country and of course reach out to us to guide you through the journey.

Ricky Shah

Head of Consulting

ricky.shah@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

United Kingdom

How long in the UAE?

2 years

Sectors covered:

Government and third sectors, including central and local government, transport, healthcare, trade and development agencies – I’ve worked in traditional management consulting roles, helping to plan and deliver major programmes in the UK and Middle East

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

Economic development has been a long-held interest for me, reaching back to my days at University – I love this area because it’s a tangible way to impact on peoples lives at both the macro (by working with governments to define strategy and policy) and micro (by helping empower individuals and companies through new skills and opportunities) levels

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I supported the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2022 – it was a fantastic experience and great to see the inner workings of a world-renowned major event. I also had the pleasure of creating a Project Management Office for the Marketing Department, working as part of the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA Club World Cup 2020

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Understand the local cultures, and be prepared to bring the best of your international experience and adapt it to local needs.

Zehra Fattah

Senior Project Manager

zehra.fattah@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Germany with Turkish roots.

How long in the UAE?

10 years

Sectors covered:

ICT, Financial Services, Tech, Tourism, Education and Manufacturing

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

Throughout my career I have always worked very hard, and I am blessed that every position was a steppingstone for the next one to come.

My role in a professional services firm has taught me the fundamentals of working in a regulatory environment, supporting investors to set foothold in global jurisdictions. I had closely worked with the public sector back then and joining a government entity after this work experience had been a natural career progression for me. It gave me the opportunity to develop business in order to attract investment opportunities to a respective country.

Other than thoroughly enjoying working with clients from all over the world and getting to know their customs and culture, I took a particular interest in economic development and FDI and how our work could have a positive impact on the ecosystem by attracting foreign companies to create more job roles and ensuring future stability and growth for the respective country. This aspect of working in the sector of Trade and Investment inspires me the most as I believe that through our joint efforts, we can make a difference for future generations to come.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

Having represented the Bahrain Economic Development Board during the GITEX exhibition in the UAE has been very exciting. As part of a vibrant team I was officially representing the agency at the Kingdoms dedicated Pavilion, and besides having organised and participated in several very interesting government delegations and events, I got the chance to meet and collaborate with a number of innovative companies, that now shape the ICT industry with their recent innovations.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Out of experience, the most valuable advise I can give a company looking to expand their operations to the Middle East, is to do sufficient research and get to know the environment. I understand that this is not always easy especially with the most recent travel restrictions but there are a number of companies that can be valuable partners to support the transition, and I would advise to utilize this as regional knowledge and ‘know- how’ is crucial and investing in this will most certainly pay off in the long run.

Wuraola Ogundimu

Trade Manager

wuraola.ogundimu@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

Nigeria

How long in the UAE?

6 years and counting

Sectors covered:

Food & Beverage and Consumer & Retail

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

The passion started growing us for me as I watched my mum try to do business. I never realised how that impacted me until I moved out of my home country and watched other SME’s try to survive. I instinctively want to help as I had supported my mother.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I don’t have a favourite. Each project is unique with its challenges.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Keep knocking; the door will open

Abbey Salako

Trade & Marketing Manager

abbey.salako@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

Nigeria / UK

How long in the UAE?

2 years

Sectors covered:

Construction, Healthcare, Building materials and Consumer & Retail

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

Always been interested in connecting with people from all walks of life and working globally, whilst being locally stationed.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

There have been a few but would have to say, the redevelopment of the BCB’s marketing collateral (website, brochure, etc) as well as working on District 2020 (legacy project of Expo).

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Patience & perseverance! The market is rewarding but lots of hard work is required before one can start reaping the benefits of one’s efforts.

Rana Abu Nemeh

Project Manager

Rana.Nemeh@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

Jordan

How long in the UAE?

3 Months

Sectors covered:

Tech, Education, Healthcare, Aviation, International Development, NGOs

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

Having been born and bred in Jordan, I was exposed to the challenges facing developing nations, from socio-economic injustices, poverty, and lack of opportunity despite talents’ availability, just to name a few. This has driven me to pursue a career that helps me understand the incentives, barriers, and levers for change rather than relying on assumptions or conventional wisdom.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

As a Project Coordinator for Halcyon Incubator leading international social economic leaders, I managed to motivate a diverse set of entrepreneurs from around the globe to disrupt humanitarian action for the better. To do this, I used the innovation cycle to design, scale and iterate solutions to the sectors most complex challenges. Starting with research and analysis to identify the exact problems we were seeking to solve, and facilitating ideation sessions and design sprints, we implemented big and small agile projects to reach our goals. Using this approach, I successfully increased the effectiveness of one of the fastest angel network funds in the world to release funding in less than 72 hours, developed new systems to bring on more community-based organizations, and made governance and decision making more consistent across the Network.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

The Arab market is one of the largest with many blooming businesses and a great geographical location that serves an access to European, Asian, and African markets, while investment policies can seem challenging, but they are not impossible, with the right network, and the help of professionals in the region, the experience will be highly rewarding.

Diana Takorabet

Consultant

diana.takorabet@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

France & Algeria

How long in the UAE?

1 year and a half!

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I am passionate about international relations and doing business across borders is one of the best way to bring people together.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I have helped provide strategic analysis on industry sectors for the Saudi Arabian Inward Investment Authority (SAGIA) to help Saudi Arabia diversify its economy away from oil, marking a new era for the country and its people.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Every country in the region has its own way of doing business. What is acceptable in Dubai, might not be in Doha or Amman. Considering the Middle East as a group of markets instead of one single market is essential.

Danilo Batinga

Consultant

danilo.batinga@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Philippines

How long in the UAE?

1 year + 4 months

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

You can call me a generalist who wants to cover multiple different sectors or themes and Trade & Investment is one of those areas that allows me to do that.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

Worked with a government agency in Saudi to improve pilgrims experience when doing Hajj and Umrah

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

With UAE’s diverse people and culture, it is very important to understand your market to build an effective operating business model.

Komal Noronha

Admin & Project Support Assistant

komal.noronha@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

India

How long in the UAE?

26 years

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

Opportunity to be a constant learner and being able to get exposure in various multiple sectors.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

There is no specific project to describe, but my role as a project support assistant always gives me an opportunity to learn something new on the projects that I work along with the Trade Managers.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

It’s a competitive market so one needs to have the time, put in a lot of hard work, have the patience for things to materialize & money to invest.

Noha Aldhahri

Consultant

noha.aldhahri@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Saudi Arabia

How long in the UAE?

2 years

Sectors covered:

Healthcare, Life Sciences and Technology

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

It’s the most dynamic field out there allowing you to get exposure and insight into a multitude of fields and people from various backgrounds!

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

Industrial Cluster’s Investment Attraction Programme (Saudi Arabia)

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Pick up on some Arabic words and phrases! “Ahlan” (Hello) to get you started!

Nitin Antony

Analyst - Trade & Investment

nitin.antony@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

India

How long in the UAE?

Been in the UAE since 1997

Sectors covered:

Oil & Gas, Security & Defence, TMT, F&B, Healthcare, E-commerce

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

The opportunity to work with international companies from different sectors; gain knowledge from experts from different fields; and the excitement to help them grow within the GCC.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

Every project is unique and exciting, But I cant deny the fact, working with Military and defence companies was intriguing, as it’s something you don’t come across on a daily basis.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

3 P’s – Patience, Perseverance and Persistence

James Hills

Senior Manager

james.hills@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

I grew up in Australia.

How long in the UAE?

I’ve been coming to and from the UAE for nearly 10 years but my hands-on work experience here is 5+ years. I lived here from 2015-17 and again from 2023 onwards (though wouldn’t want that level of precision online!).

Sectors covered:

Social and impact investment, law reform, rule of law, economic development, franchising, FMCG/retail

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I genuinely believe in the catalytic role of investment and trade. Improving capital flows to impactful assets (and investor understanding of these assets), increasing trade opportunities for MSME’s and building new opportunities for business will have a transformative effect on society.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I was privileged to spend a good deal of the last year working with the UK government’s impact investor, British International Investment plc.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

For me, the most important thing is relationships. Business relationships in the region should not be purely transactional. It takes time to build trust and mutual respect. Once those relationships are strong, you can achieve anything together.

Fatoumata Tall

Analyst - Trade & Investment

fatoumata.tall@bcbuae.com

Origin country:

Mali

How long in the UAE?

7 years (counting)

Sectors covered:

Healthcare, F&B, Education & Learning, Construction, Automotive, Aerospace, Hospitality, Sports and Fashion.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I was born for it! Intrinsically, I have had a passion for international relations and markets since I was a kid – to be fair when I was 11 years old, my dream job was to become an “ambassador” which I’d believe was strongly linked to my organic love for interpersonal relationships, multiculturalism, and travel.

Then, I grew up being a perpetual learner and researcher – about anything and everything there is to know from: arts, books, environment, management, or finance – topped with a background in International Business, Trade and Investment feel like it was designed for my professional journey. It is fascinating to love your job beyond the day-to-day and get to enjoy how every single project is unique and as interesting as the next.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

With most governments diversifying their economy, I have worked on some super interesting projects for a trade mission based on Entertainment, Arts and Fashion industries.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Be ready to embrace diversity. It should help to understand collectivist cultures and time complexities (hint: Trompenaars and Hofstede).

How has CV19 changed your job in the last 6 months?

A lot of videoconferences and hybrid events (virtual and physical) – Evidently, it has been a new-to-all learning curve.

Finish this sentence. On Friday mornings, you can usually find me…

Reading a (physical) book while enjoying a good morning.

When travel opens up again, where’s the first place you want to go to & why?

Covid-19 didn’t help as my bucket list keeps extending and all continents are inclusive. Nevertheless, a trip to see my favourite & most loving great-grandmother in Senegal was my plan before the covid-19 lockdown. Currently? I would say anywhere in the world for the culture and nature (let’s say Bali or Kenya?)

Kathrin Lemke

Country Manager (Qatar)

kathrin.lemke@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Berlin, Germany

How long in the Middle East?

I started traveling the Middle East as a university student. From 2010 onwards I started exploring more specifically the Gulf region as part of my job. Then, 2012 I was given the opportunity to move to the UAE, and by the end of 2016 another job offer in Doha, Qatar came up. So, I am looking at my 10^th year in the region.

Sectors covered:

Pretty much every sector, but during my time in the UAE I have specialised in industrial setups. Lately, I have been working with companies from the ICT, Tech, and security technology sector.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I studied political science and middle eastern studies. So, my interest in the region has somehow accidentally led to a career in investment and trade promotion, which I am very thankful for!

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I enjoy most working directly with companies. I am often impressed with the technologies, products and services entrepreneurs create and it’s a great feeling if I can help them become successful in the region. I also love creating investment opportunities through strategic partnerships. Sometimes the non-obvious can create amazing things.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

Dedicate a good amount of your time being on the ground. Trying to enter our markets remotely is almost impossible. Also, everything is possible!

Kilian Cawley

Trade Director (UK & Ireland)

kilian.cawley@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Ireland

How long in the UAE?

Thanks to Covid virtually 1.5 years, supporting the Team from Ireland

Sectors covered:

I cover a wide range of sectors, including public and private. My main focus is with small and medium enterprises from all sectors who are innovative and ambitious.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

With my background in Business Banking supporting companies to grow and my own experience as an owner of a small company, I know what it is like to be a Managing Director or a CEO, the challenges they face daily, and how crucial international trade is to successful companies. I wanted to use my experience to help companies grow internationally and add real practical value to our clients international growth ambitions.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I have been lucky to have worked on so many projects in the past year. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, the most exciting was a start-up company called CameraMatics based in Dartford and Dublin, who despite the international pandemic and inability to travel, continued to work with the BCB & OCO Global to assist with their international growth strategy by using our team of experts on the ground in our international offices to represent them in new markets, including Joe and our team in UAE.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

The advice is simple, get advice! Get advice from experts in the market, get market research completed, data and intelligence is valuable, develop a clear strategy for your company a plan is essential, know what your value proposition is and who your customers are, have sufficient financial resources available, have patience and make connections and get more advice. The BCB & OCO Global Team in UAE should be the first step on your Middle East business journey and your partner throughout.

Dariga Zhanaburshinova

Consultant

dariga.zhanaburshinova@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

Kazakhstan

How long in the UAE?

1 year

Sectors covered:

Investment, Agriculture, Financial services, Trade and Environment

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

An exciting opportunity to make a substantial impact on economies, particularly in emerging markets. I am eager to support high-level decision-makers, foster economic development, and contribute to global connectivity. This field allows me to combine my passion for business with my desire to create positive change on both local and international scales.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

Developing 10x FDI attraction strategy for DIFC.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

I would advise obtaining a deep cultural understanding of the region and thoroughly studying the legal and regulatory aspects. Doing so will provide invaluable insights and help you navigate the complexities of conducting business in the Middle East successfully.

Morgane Esnault

Consultant

morgane.esnault@ocoglobal.com

Origin country:

France

How long in the UAE?

I will be moving to UAE at the end of August.

Sectors covered:

Cybersecurity, Agriculture & Consumer Goods

What inspired you to pursue a career in Trade & Investment?

I have more a consulting background and I am working for the consulting division in the Dubai office too. I would say that I like discovering different projects and never be bored with new challenges.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in the last year?

I would say that the most exciting project I worked on last year was for Extrahop. It was very interesting to explore the subject of cybersecurity, which has experienced strong growth with covid. I was just back from Boston University, so it was pleasant to work for an American client.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone interested in doing business in the Middle East?

I will be able to answer this question in a few months I guess 😉