How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

In the process of aligning the legal strategy with the broader business strategy, which is critical for surviving times of crisis, one must fully understand the revenue-generating sources of the business, its relationships with critical stakeholders, distribution, supply chains, and the like. Issues that are key to the business and its survival would have been identified, allowing you to set priorities for the legal function and deploy resources and efforts to areas most needed during times of crisis.

What is a topic of business (or otherwise) that you are passionate about?   

Traditionally, women have been underrepresented in the mining sector. As part of its inclusion and diversity drives, Ma’aden Legal has, over the last few years, increased the percentage of female Saudi lawyers in our department from zero to more than 60%, the majority of whom are between zero- and three-years’ post-qualification experience. The first two new female Saudi law students successfully graduated and went through a 12-month professional development programme in the Ma’aden corporate legal department. They are now in legal counsel positions within the department. Additionally, we identified and promoted a Saudi female employee from the human resources department into the first paralegal position in Ma’aden. We have ambitious plans for the future to further recruit, develop, and promote young Saudi legal talent.