DHAKA: Tamara Hasan Abed, managing director of BRAC Enterprises and member of trustee board, was elected as new chairperson of the Brac University trustee board. 

She replaces Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founding chairperson of BRAC University, which was effective from 25 July 2019.

Tamara Abed is on the Board of Trustees of BRAC University since January 2011 and a member of the syndicate since March 2011 and Chairs the Board Finance Committee since December 2016, said a press release.

She has headed BRAC's 13 social enterprises, including Aarong, BRAC Dairy and BRAC Seed & Agro Enterprise, since 2014.

Tamara Abed brings with her extensive experience in investment banking, entrepreneurship and social enterprise, with a career spanning over two decades across diverse sectors. Leading by example, she has carved a respectful position as a senior leader in traditionally male- dominated industries and has inspired more women to come forward and make a mark. She is passionate about driving value-based business models, operating at the intersection of social good, sustainable business and inclusive growth.

She began her career in 1995 at Peregrine Capital Ltd, a Hong Kong-based investment bank, in Dhaka in corporate finance. Her experience exposed her to leading private sector companies in Bangladesh, including Pacific Bangladesh Telecom, ACI and Rahimafrooz, dealing with raising equity and restructuring. After Peregrine, she joined BRAC's Urban Development Programme, mobilising slum-based women entrepreneurship groups. Simultaneously, she started her entrepreneurial venture through a cafe. Later she moved to New York and worked in Goldman Sachs in Mergers and Strategic Advisory.

She joined Aarong in 2002 as General Manager, Design and Product Development and later took charge of the Export Division of Aarong and started the Marketing Department. In 2005, she was promoted as the Head of Aarong and Ayesha Abed Foundation. Under her leadership, Aarong has gone from strength to strength, celebrating 40 years in 2018 as Bangladesh's most popular lifestyle retail chain.

She has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University and completed a BSc in economics at the London School of Economics. She was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2010 and is also an Asia 21 Young Leader. In 2014, Tamara received the Outstanding Women Leadership Award from the World Women Leadership Congress.

Tamara Abed said, "I feel honored to be elected Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of BRAC University. It is a privilege for me to serve the Trustees, the Vice-Chancellor, the administration and the current and alumni and to work for the development of this wonderful university. The basic goal of BRAC University is to develop knowledge and education and create future leadership in order to build a prosperous Bangladesh. The Board of Trustees of BRAC University is committed to achieving that goal. ”

BDST: 1847 HRS, SEP 22, 2019
RS/SMS