On 26 May 2025, industry leaders convened at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown for the inaugural Gulf SQAS Workshop

Industry leaders from the chemical, petrochemical and logistics sector gathered at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown for the inaugural Gulf SQAS Workshop.

Held under the theme “Elevating Sustainability in the Petrochemical Supply Chain with Gulf SQAS”, the event brought together key stakeholders to discuss the evolving landscape of safety, environmental responsibility, and operational efficiency.

The workshop provided a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing among industry pioneers.

Saleh Al Suwaiti, CEO, Fahss/TUV, set the stage with an Opening address. His message of innovation and collaboration was followed by a compelling session by Rashid Al Jehani, Logistics Manager, SIPCHEM, who emphasized the need for extending Responsible Care® beyond the fence to reinforce product ownership.

Further enriching the dialogue, Srinivasalu Sridhar, Group HSEQ Manager, TRISTAR, and Waleed Esam Himdy, Analyst, Compliance and Product Stewardship, SIPCHEM, presented case studies on a “Driver Performance Improvement Campaign” and the “Product Stewardship Code”.

The workshop continued with a session on “Organizational Behavior Management” led by Robert den Broeder, MD, OBM Dynamics, before transitioning into a critical discussion on “Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road”. As part of this session, experts Rami Karout, Senior Adviser, Middle East & North Africa, IRU; Ivan Schmelczer, DGSA, CDGP, Institute of Hazardous Material Management; and Amer Badarneh, GM, MELI, examined the role of governments and industries in ensuring safety and efficiency within the transport supply chain.

Amador Brinkman, Principal Consultant, Technique Works, and Chairman, G-SQAS, GPCA, then shared strategic insights into uplifting EHSSQ performance, followed by knowledge-sharing sessions on advocating Gulf SQAS from assessors’ perspective by Sajjad Khan, Gulf SQAS Assessor & IMS Auditor, Certification Global, and Andreas Goebels, Head of Operational Excellence, RSA Talke, who discussed the importance of a behavior based safety program.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to sustainability, compliance, and operational excellence.

The Gulf SQAS Workshop showcased the petrochemical sector’s dedication to enhancing supply chain integrity through collaboration, best practices, and continuous improvement.

As the industry moves forward, initiatives like Gulf SQAS will continue to play a vital role in shaping a safer, more responsible future.