Understanding The Future Of Leadership With The APM Webinar: “Celebrating Diversity In Project Teams”

The Butterfly was delighted to join the Association of Project Managers (APM) UAE Regional Network for their Pathway to Leadership webinar, Celebrating Diversity in Project Teams, held on 30 July. The session drew strong interest, reflecting the growing importance of this topic.

Moderated by Mishiel Ayub, Project Manager and Assistive Technology Specialist, the panel included Chris C. Dimal, Communications Associate of The Butterfly; Sarah Christensen, Founder of Christensen Consulting and Ciaran Sloan, Senior Project Manager at CSQ.

The discussion explored inclusive leadership, male allyship in project environments, and the value of neurodiversity in the workforce. Panelists shared perspectives on the future of inclusive and sustainable leadership, recognising privilege to be an ally, and supporting neurodivergent professionals.

It was an insightful exchange with practical takeaways for cultivating holistic leadership. We thank APM for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation.  

You can view the recorded webinar through the following link: https://www.apm.org.uk/news/pathway-to-leadership-series-celebrating-diversity-in-project-teams/  

Screenshot of a virtual panel titled “Celebrating Diversity in Project Teams,” showing (top left) Miriam Al-Alawi, (top center) Misheil Ayub, (top right) Ciaran Sloan, (bottom left) Sarah Christensen, and (bottom right) Chris Dimal, with the event title in the center.

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An Exciting Time With The Kids Club Play Day 

The Butterfly recently hosted its first Kids Club Play Day in collaboration with WonderTree, a platform offering augmented reality games for children of determination, and The Journey, a center for social rehabilitation and counseling. The event is part of our new Community Partner Program, which builds partnerships to enhance the lives of People of Determination and foster inclusion.

Children enjoyed WonderTree’s AR games designed to develop cognitive, behavioural, and motor skills while having fun. We welcomed 12 children and 10 parents from our Dubai community, all actively joining in the activities.

A special highlight was the announcement of one lucky child winning a year’s free access to WonderTree games, generously sponsored by Serco, who also supported the entire event. We look forward to many more collaborations with our Community Partners and IEE organizations. 

Members of The Butterfly, WonderTree and The Journey as well as attendees of the Kids Club Play Day posing and holding logos, hosted by The Journey

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The Butterfly’s Role In Abu Dhabi’s Next Chapter For People Of Determination 

On 21 July, key stakeholders gathered for a workshop to help shape the Abu Dhabi Disability Strategy 2.0, a refreshed roadmap to improve accessibility, healthcare, empowerment, and independent living opportunities for People of Determination (PoD). 

The session brought together public and private sector leaders, third sector organizations, PoDs, and their families to identify ongoing challenges, propose solutions, and co-create a renewed vision and mission for the strategy. 

We are proud to share that The Butterfly will continue its pivotal role as an enabler of the Employment Pillar, driving inclusive employment initiatives through the Inclusive Employment Ecosystem (IEE). 

Stay tuned for further updates as the Department of Community Development finalizes the strategy’s new directions and initiatives. 

^{Image description: A promotional graphic from The Butterfly with the text “Enabler of the Employment Pillar.” On the right is a booklet cover for the “Abu Dhabi Strategy for People of Determination 2026–2030 Stakeholder’s Workshop” by the Department of Community Development, featuring a half orange, half black-and-white photo of a smiling child. The Butterfly logo with a blue butterfly icon appears at the top left, and the website “www.thebutterfly.ae” is at the bottom.}