The American University of Bahrain (AUBH), the first American-style University in the Kingdom, has been honored by The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship with the selection of Founding President Dr Susan Saxton as a member of the judging panel for its 4th Edition. Dr Saxton will sit alongside renowned business and community leaders including Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Director, INJAZ Bahrain; Mr. Hassan AlJarrar, CEO, Bahrain Islamic Bank; Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO, Bahrain Bourse; and Ms. Najla Al Shirawi, CEO, SICO Bank. Dr Saxton is well-placed to take on this role, as among the entrants to this year’s edition of the award are several notable educational start-ups which could potentially put Bahrain on the map for education technology and support services.

Speaking on her gratitude at being included in such an esteemed panel, Dr Saxton commented: “When I was invited to be a part of this award, I was immediately struck by how closely its aims fit with the philosophy of education at AUBH. We are all about creating a different kind of graduate who has the potential to change the game in their chosen field, and we focus on the soft skills which enable this entrepreneurial spirit and creative thinking. I am impressed with the caliber of winners from the previous 3 editions of this award, and this year’s finalists are of an equally high standard, with some of them being regional firsts in their fields. I am sure that in future editions of the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship I will be seeing many AUBH students and graduates, as we make sure that all our students exploit their potential to be outliers – I know I will not be disappointed.”

Dr. Saxton has over 25 years of educational expertise, with a focus on transformational leadership, corporate strategy and academic program management, all of which have seen her in multiple C-suite roles in international markets. In her role as President of AUBH, Dr. Saxton leads a hand-picked global faculty in delivering a unique style of American education, leveraging the potential of every student by providing a holistic experience that stretches beyond classroom learning into real-world application. As AUBH’s Founding President she brings a spirit of creativity and independent thinking to the institution that complements the University’s holistic approach to academia.

Now in its 4th Edition, The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship is under the Patronage of HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, celebrating entrepreneurial spirit and inspiring innovation across all sectors to highlight the success and outstanding performance of entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Award encourages creativity, supports enterprising ideas and elevates the entrepreneurial standards of award winners enabling them to contribute to the economic development in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s economic vision. Dynamic and innovative Bahraini business owners are awarded across various categories including Start-Up of the Year, SME of the Year, Micro-Entrepreneur of the Year and Sustainability in Business.