Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh (Arabic: طلال أبوغزاله) is the chairman and founder of the international Jordan-based organisation, the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org). Dubbed as the godfather of Arab accounting, Abu-Ghazaleh has also been credited for promoting the significance of Intellectual Property in the Arab region.[1]
Biography
Born on April 22, 1938 in Jaffa, Palestine, Abu-Ghazaleh eventually moved to the Lebanese village of Ghaziyeh.
Whilst still an undergraduate, he worked as a teacher and translator. His first job after graduating was in an audit firm.
In 1969, upon hearing a speech on intellectual property (IP) at a Time-Warner conference in San Francisco, USA, Abu-Ghazaleh decided to launch a career in the fields of Intellectual property rights (IPRs) and accounting.
In 1972, two firms - Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Company (TAGCO) and Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) - were set up, specializing in the fields of accounting and IP respectively. Since then, Abu-Ghazaleh founded a total of fourteen professional service firms specialized in various sector fields such as management, consulting, legal services, IT and much more.
Over the years, Abu-Ghazaleh managed to establish close partnerships with global organizations such as the UN and the WTO.
On April 4, 2007, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appointed Abu-Ghazaleh, as deputy chairman of the UN Global Compact during its second meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York. [2]
On October 24, 2007, Abu-Ghazaleh was inducted to the IP Hall of Fame in Chicago, USA, to become the first expert from outside the G8 countries to join the world's most prominent figures in IP.[3]
On June 17, 2009, UN appoints Abu-Ghazaleh Chair of UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development. After receiving a letter from the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) HE Sha Zukang inviting him to lead the Alliance, composed of representatives from public, private and civil society sectors as well as international organizations.[4]
On November 25, 2010, HE Senator Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) was appointed a member of the Upper House according to a Royal Decree by His Majesty King Abdullah II . [5]
Selected Honors
- Honorary Award, The Arab Federation for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (AFPIPR), Jordan, 2009.
- The International Lifetime Achievement Award, Dubai, UAE, 2008.
- IP Hall of Fame Inductee, IP Hall of Fame Academy, Chicago, USA, 2007.
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Canisius College, New York, USA, 1988.
- Decoration of the Republic of Tunisia, 1985.
- Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, France, 1985.
- Coat of Arms of the Kuwaiti Association of Accountants and Auditors, 1983.
- Gold Mercury International Award, Bahrain, 1978.
- Decoration of Independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Jordan 1967.[6]
Selected Chairmanships
- Chair, Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), New York – USA (2009).
- Chairman, The Afro-Asian Knowledge Society Council- Egypt (2009).
- Chairman, Encyclopedia of Excellence and Civilization Committee, Riyadh – KSA (2008).
- Vice Chairman Board of Directors, UN Global Compact, New York – USA (2007–2008).
- Deputy Chair, Evian Group Governing Body, Geneva – Switzerland (2006–present).
- Chair, Evian Group-Arab Region (EGAR) (2006–2009).
- Vice-Chair, Global Alliance for ICT and Development, New York – USA (2006–present).
- Chairman, Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC),Paris - France (2006–2008).
- Chairman, Board of Trustees, Perspective Europe, Paris – France (2005–2007).
- President, Arab Intellectual Property Meditation Society (AIPMAS), Amman-Jordan (2003–present).
- Chairman, Advisory Committee on Internet Governance, United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), New York – USA (2003–2004).
- Chairman, The International Chamber of Commerce Task Force (ICC TF) on Internet Governance, Paris – France(2003–2004).
- Chair, Commission on E-Business, Information Technologies and Telecoms, International Chamber of Commerce(ICC), Paris – France (2001–2008).
- Vice-Chair, United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), New York – USA (2001–2004).
- Chairman, The Arab Regional Network of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), New York – USA (2001–2004).
- Chairman, The Working Group on Human Resources and Capacity Building (HRCB) of the United Nations Information and Communications Technologies, (UN ICT TF), New York – USA (2001–2002).
- First chairman of the Arab Internet Names Consortium (AINC), Amman- Jordan, (2001).
- Chairman of the Founders Meeting of the Arab Internet Names Consortium (AINC), Amman- Jordan (2001).
- President, Licensing Executives Society-Arab Countries (LES-AC), Amman-Jordan (1998–present).
- Chairman, U.N. Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR), New York – USA (1995–1996).
- Chairman, United Nations Committee of Experts on Professional Qualifications Standards, Geneva (1995–1998).
- Chairman of the Committee for the Newly Industrialized and Developing Countries Affairs, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) (1989–1992).
- President, Arab Knowledge and Management Society (AKMS), New York – USA (1989–present).
- President, Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), Munich (1987–present); in consultative status to the World Intellectual Property Organization, (WIPO).
- President, Arab Society for Certified Accountants (ASCA), London (1985–present); in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC).[7]
Selected Board Memberships
- President of the Board of Directors, Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) (2010-2012)
- Vice-Chair, United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, New York, USA (2006-2009).
- Chair, United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), New York, USA (2009-2010).
- Chairman, the Afro-Asian Knowledge Society Council, Egypt (2009).
- Chairman, Encyclopedia of Excellence and Civilization Committee, Riyadh, KSA (2008).
- Board of Directors, UN Global Compact, New York, USA (2006–2008).
- Advisory Board, Evian Group, Geneva, Switzerland (2005–Present).
- Chair, Evian Group-Arab Region (EGAR) (2006- 2009).
- International Advisory Committee, E-City for King Hamad Ibn Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain (2009).
- Honorary Board Membership, Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization (2008).
- Executive Board, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris- France (2007–2009).
- Board of Trustees, Arab Anti Corruption Organization (2007–Present).
- Board of Directors, King Hussein Foundation, Washington, USA (2005–Present).
- The International Consultative Board, the World Coalition, New York, USA (2005).
- Board of Directors, World Links Arab Countries Advisory Council, (2004–2005).
- Public Sector Consultative Group, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), New York-USA (2003–2006)
- Board of Trustees, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, Jordan (2003–2006)
- Board of Trustees, National Music Conservatory (NMC), Amman, Jordan (2003–2005).
- Board of Directors, World Links Worldwide, Washington, USA (2003–2004).
- Knowledge Economy Community, Development Gateway, World Bank, Washington, USA (2002–2005).
- Advisory Board, United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), New York, USA (2001–2004).
- Advisory Board, Industry Advisory Commission, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva, Switzerland (1999–2000).
- Board of Advisors, Middle East Council of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Washington, USA (1995–1997).
- Member of the Board, International Federation of Accountants Council (IFAC), New York, USA (1992).
- Member of the Board, International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), London, United Kingdom, (1988–1990).
- Member of the Board, International Auditing Practices Committee (IAPC) of IFAC, New York, USA (1987–1990).
- Board of Governors, Keck Center for International Strategic Studies, Claremont, California, USA (1985–1988).
- Board of Trustees, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (1980–1982).[8]
Music Patronages
- Patron, The Second Modernity: The Artistic Collaboration of Fairuz and Ziad Rahbani Conference, Anis Makdisi Program in Literature, American University in Beirut (AUB), Lebanon (2006).
- Patron, Walid Gholmieh Symphonies (2006).
- Patron, L’Association pour le Rayonnement de l’Opéra National de Paris (AROP) (2004–present).
- Patron, Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) (2003–present).
- Board of Trustees and Chair, National Music Conservatory (NMC), Amman, Jordan (2003–2005).
- Private Concert by Ramzy Yassa & Ghada Ghanem Concert, Cambridge, UK (2004).
- Patron, l'Opéra de Paris, France (2001–present).
- Private concert by the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (2000).
- 28th General Assembly for the International Music Council, Petra, (Jordan) (September 1999).
- TAGO Golden Jubilee concert, London, UK (July 1997).[9]
- Private concert by Ramzi Yassa, Seattle, USA (1994).
- Patron, Freunde der Salzburger Festspâele, Salzburg, Austria (1976–present).
Statements on Zionism and Jews
In an interview with Decision Makers TV which aired on July 14, 2010 (as translated by MEMRI), Abu Ghazaleh alleged that:
In this day and age, Zionist power controls the decision-making centers. I always say that just like us Arabs, the US is a victim of Zionist influence, which often – if not always – steers US decisions against American interests, and in keeping with Zionist interests at all times...Hence, global Zionism created the notion of an enemy called “the terrorist Islam” ... Zionism, which has been plotting all this time, came across an historic opportunity, and convinced the US administration that this was an opportunity for it as well.
He further stated that "the research centers – albeit quietly and in secret – realize that the US sank into this quagmire, as a result of the Jewish hatred for Americans. Whoever thinks otherwise – believing that the Zionist enemy loves America, and acts in its best interests – is wrong."[9][10][11]
In May 2010, the Journal of Turkish Weekly reported that Abu-Ghazaleh had announced plans to launch an intellectual movement that "aims at returning Jewish refugees currently residing in Palestine to their homelands." Abu-Ghazaleh explained that:
"...the Jewish existence in Palestine, which is a political asylum that will end by the return of the refugees to their homelands in a process that should be easy and civilized...It may seem that these Jewish groups left their homeland voluntarily, but in fact they were forced to leave their homelands after suffering all types of psychological, economic and social pressure not only in Europe, but also in America...there is a necessity to establish a national or international fund to finance the return of the Jewish refugees by providing their travel expenses and costs and their settlement upon their return to their homelands." [12]
References
- ^ arabianbusiness.com (April, 2009). "Talal Abu-Ghazaleh". http://www.arabianbusiness.com/power100/profile/1044?clr=2&sort=rank.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ [8]
- ^ #2553 - Jordanian Businessman Talal Abu Ghazaleh: 9/11 Was Carried Out by the Taliban, Part of a Zionist Scheme; US Sank in Quagmire as a Result of "Jewish Hatred of Americans", MEMRI clip 2553 - (Interview with Talal Abu Ghazaleh), Decision Makers TV (UAE) - July 14, 2010.
- ^ Jordanian Businessman Talal Abu Ghazaleh: 9/11 Was Carried Out by the Taliban, Part of a Zionist Scheme; US Sank in Quagmire as a Result of "Jewish Hatred of Americans", MEMRITV, Clip No. 2553, Transcipt - July 14, 2010.
- ^ Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Jordanian Businessman and Vice Chairman of the UN Global Compact: 9/11 was Carried Out by the Taliban, Part of a Zionist Scheme; How Come We Do Not Talk About Catholic Terrorism?, MEMRI - Special Dispatch No.3113, July 21, 2010.
- ^ Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Launches an International Initiative to Secure the Return of the Jewish Refugees to their Homelands By Esmat Al-Musawi, The Journal of Turkish Weekly, May 18, 2010. (This interview is a translation from the original Arabic article which was published in Bahrain's Al Ayam newspaper on Thursday 13 May 2010 - the original article in Arabic is available here. طلال أبو غزالة يطلق مبادرة عالمية لتأمين عودة اللاجئين اليهود إلى أوطانهم الأصلية
External links
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