Who’s Who: Carina Lanfredi, executive director at Diriyah Gate Company Limited

Dr. Carina Lanfredi
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Updated 30 June 2024
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Who’s Who: Carina Lanfredi, executive director at Diriyah Gate Company Limited

Dr. Carina Lanfredi is an executive director at Diriyah Gate, a position she has held since May 2023.

She is responsible for revamping and restructuring the group’s procurement contract and claims management function, aligning local needs with core corporate objectives, and enhancing governance and redefining process flows.

In addition, she contributed to strengthening partnerships and resolving large-scale claims and disputes.

Before taking on this role, she worked as a contract and claims management consultant between 2020 and 2023 and lead a team of five on cross-sector projects in five countries.

Some of her duties included providing strategic consultancy and guidance, as well as advice to improve business efficiencies.

Lanfredi was the group executive director of Veon Procurement in the Netherlands from 2018 to 2020. Her duties included restructuring contract management functions on three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia.

During the period between 2002 and 2017, she worked at Thyssen-Krupp, Bilfinger AG and Siemens in Germany in several leadership roles where she established a comprehensive global contract and claims management function, transformed the group contracting process, and managed politically sensitive litigation, among other responsibilities.

Lanfredi received a certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship from Stanford University in 2020; professional training in leading high-performing businesses from the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin in 2017; and professional training in general management from the executive development program at the University of Mannheim in 2014.

Lanfredi earned a dual doctorate in business administration in 2010 from Universidad Mayor in Chile and a master’s degree in engineering law and international dispute resolution from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK in 2007. She is fluent in five languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German.

 


Saudi Arabia inaugurates main building of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority

Updated 17 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia inaugurates main building of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority

  • Prince Turki stressed the need to continue to maximize efforts to support the Kingdom’s royal reserves and confront environmental challenges

RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Saudi minister of state and chairman of the board of directors of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, inaugurated the main building of the authority in Riyadh, the state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

During his tour of the building, he was briefed on its designs and offices, “which were compatible with environmental considerations and took into account energy efficiency,” SPA said.

Prince Turki also chaired the first meeting of the second session of the authority, expressing his thanks and appreciation to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the chairman of the Council of Royal Reserves, on the issuance of the government’s approval to reconstitute the authority’s board of directors.

He wished success to all board members in achieving the goals and ambitions of the authority and extended his thanks and appreciation to the board in its first session for its tangible efforts since the founding of the authority.

The new council members include the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, as well as Moaz Al-Husseini, Bandar Al-Zamil, Anas Al-Sheikh, Ahmed Darwish, Alaa Al-Ruwaiba, Adel Al-Zahrani, and Ibrahim Al-Askar.

During the meeting, Prince Turki praised the authority’s achievements in developing vegetation cover, resettling and multiplying endangered species, and promoting eco-tourism through events such as the Darb Zubaydah Winter Festival, and providing accommodation options and accompanying activities.

He stressed the need to continue to maximize efforts to support the Kingdom’s royal reserves and confront environmental challenges.


Saudi FM, Blinken discuss Gaza, Sudan 

Updated 04 July 2024
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Saudi FM, Blinken discuss Gaza, Sudan 

RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, received on Wednesday a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and Sudan.

Separately, Prince Faisal congratulated Badr Abdel Aaty, Egypt’s newly appointed foreign minister, on assuming his new post.

In a call, Prince Faisal expressed his keenness to work together to build on the deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two countries, and to continue cooperation and coordination in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples. 


Saudi foreign minister arrives in Madrid for meeting of European Council on Foreign Relations

Updated 04 July 2024
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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Madrid for meeting of European Council on Foreign Relations

  • The prince is taking part in the meeting of the pan-European think tank

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Madrid on Wednesday ahead of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, which will take place on Thursday and Friday.
He will discuss with the members of the council the latest regional and international developments, sources said, in particular the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The prince is taking part in the meeting of the pan-European think tank at the invitation of the council. Other topics for discussion will include the results of last month’s European elections.


Saudi crown prince holds talks with US Senator Cory Booker in Jeddah

Updated 04 July 2024
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Saudi crown prince holds talks with US Senator Cory Booker in Jeddah

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a visit from US Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat who represents the state of New Jersey.

During their meeting in Jeddah, the crown prince and the senator, and the latter’s accompanying delegation, reviewed relations and cooperation between their countries, and other issues of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Others at the meeting included Princess Reema bint Bandar, the Saudi ambassador to the US; Musaed Al-Aiban, Saudi national security adviser, minister of state and Cabinet member; and Michael Ratney, the US Ambassador to the Kingdom.


Saudi metal band set to make history at German festival

Updated 03 July 2024
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Saudi metal band set to make history at German festival

  • Wasted Land will perform at Wacken Open Air next month; crowd of 100,000 expected

JEDDAH: Saudi heavy metal band Wasted Land will perform at what metalheads describe as “one of the most prestigious (music) festivals on the planet.”

Wacken Open Air, the annual hard rock and heavy metal festival which attracts nearly 100,000 headbangers to the eponymous town in Schleswig-Holstein, will be held from the first weekend in August with bands from all over the world.

Wasted Land won the Middle East Wacken Open Air Metal Battle in Jeddah in early May, earning the opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia in the festival’s international finals for the first time in history. The event was supported by the German Consulate and European Music Week in Saudi Arabia.

The band will perform on the same stage as some of the best-known metal bands from around the world, including Scorpions, Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, In Extremo, Pain and Beast In Black.

Band members are vocalist Emad Mujallid, founders and guitarists Ayman Al-Ghamdi and Ahmed Khoja, bassist Mahmoud Al-Tayeb, and drummer Tameem Helmi.

Speaking to Arab News, Mujallid, Al-Ghamdi and Khoja said it was “unreal” and “like a dream come true” to perform at Wacken Open Air.

“With an opportunity like this, it actually brings it to reality that you could do what you love,” Mujallid said.

Al-Ghamdi added: “Yesterday, we were dreaming (of finding) tickets to attend this big festival. Now, in (a) few days, we will be standing on the stage with (the) best in the world. Just being there is an achievement for the first-ever Saudi metal band.”

“For any metal band, playing at Wacken Open Air is a dream of all time. It’s the ultimate stage where legends are gathered,” said Khoja. “We are honored to represent Saudi Arabia at such a huge global event.”

Wasted Land was formed in 2004 and was at the forefront of the battle to prove that heavy metal could exist in Saudi Arabia. The band’s sound is a unique blend of melodic death metal and groove metal. It draws on inspiration from metal bands such as the Suidakra, from Germany, and In Flames from Sweden.

Their journey from Jeddah’s low-key music scene to performing at Wacken Open Air is one of highs and lows, breakup and reconciliation. The members have survived “a crazy amount of lineup and management changes” — but each time they face a challenge, they continue to strive for success.

Khoja described 2004, when he started to gather the band together, as a testing period.

“Times weren’t always so rosy,” he said, referring to the departure of some band members and issues around performing live, releasing songs on streaming platforms, and promoting themselves to their community.

“Basically, our identity was hidden and our musical plays were kept in the basement,” he added. Happily, things have changed.

“The Saudi music scene today is in its best era and the reforms also provided a path for other businesses in the entertainment industry to thrive,” Al-Ghamdi said. “I hope all types of music gets the same attention and support.”

Mujallid added: “I think that Saudi Arabia’s music culture is flourishing right now, and I hope that they will be more open to supporting all genres of music rather than focusing on a few and ignoring others, like rock, jazz, blues, and even heavier music like metal.”

The band members also expressed their appreciation to the German Consulate in Jeddah for its backing, and especially to German Consul General Dr. Eltje Aderhold who will attend the festival to support this remarkable milestone.

Wasted Land is one of the first metal bands to play in Egypt and Dubai and have also opened for international bands like Lacuna Coil and Moonspell.

They were featured in Saudi filmmaker Abdulrahman Sandokji’s documentary “Underground,” which followed the Saudi music scene. The band has also released an album, along with several singles and videos.