Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development hosts BP Oman President at Blue Ocean Forum

The new session of the Blue Ocean Forum focused on the theme "Project Management and Lessons from the BTC Pipeline," which had Townsend discussing his exploits and the project management strategies he deployed when he took charge of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline from 2001-2006 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Blue Ocean Forum is a quarterly networking event that promotes discussion on challenges and opportunities faced by private and public sectors from a global point of view.

"The participants of the Young Leaders Program certainly picked up several important lessons and pointers from Mr. Michael Townsend, who is a widely experienced and successful corporate leader. The partnership with Mr. Townsend has been part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development's strategy to invite successful business leaders who are renowned for their hands-on leadership skills both on the field and in the corporate board room."

said Adel Al Shared, CEO, MBRPLD.

Moza Al Akraf, participant, commented:

"Being able to interact at a personal level and discuss topical issues with successful top-level corporate executives and leaders such as Mr. Michael Townsend has been a very gainful experience. Each session with the Blue Ocean Forum has really created a significant impact on the outlook of the participants and their ability to lead a society as dynamic and as highly demanding as Dubai. We are pleased that MBRPLD has opened this tremendous window of opportunity for all participants to contribute more significantly to the sustained development of Dubai and the UAE."

Michael Townsend, who holds an honours degree in Engineering and an MBA with distinction, has held various senior roles with BP since 1979.

Prior to being appointed President of BP Oman, Townsend was based in Baku, Azerbaijan where he was the CEO for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline from 2001-2006, overseeing all of BP's onshore upstream projects and operations in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

A total of 30 participants attended the Blue Ocean Forum, which is one of the components of the Young Leaders Program, a level of MBRPLD that aims to qualify young leaders through training programs and workshops, in line with the strategic plans and aspirations of Dubai.

The other components of the Blue Ocean Forum are Executive Programs; Work Projects; Workshops; Personal Development Plan; Personal Coaching; and Virtual Learning Resource Centres.

Previously known as the Young Leaders Networking Event, the Blue Ocean Forum is held up to four times in a year.

The Young Leaders Program is open to junior Emirati executives in the 28 - 34 age bracket.

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university, proven academic excellence, strong employment potential, working knowledge in both Arabic and English, and a genuine dedication and commitment to the region's human and socioeconomic progress.

MBRPLD has been established in line with the vision and directions of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; the initiator of the MBRPLD initiative who has underscored the critical importance of a highly competent national professional workforce to ensure the country's global sustainability.