ANTOINETTE AHMED
London/Accra Citizenship: British
Summary
Government Relations and Corporate Affairs professional with 5+ years managing strategic stakeholder engagement across emerging markets including UAE, West Africa, and international multilateral institutions. Proven track record building relationships with government Ministers, regulatory authorities, and C-suite executives across government and private sectors. Previous Dubai experience (2017-2018) managing HNWI relationships and navigating UAE regulatory frameworks. Demonstrated expertise in regulatory compliance, crisis management, and public-private partnerships within energy, extractives, technology, and global growth sectors. Strong understanding of GCC business culture combined with multilateral policy experience (UN Security Council).
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Government Relations & Corporate Affairs Consultant
Independent Consultant
03.2025 - Current
- Lead regulatory strategy and government affairs for international energy company entering new African market, securing Ministry approvals and navigating national regulatory frameworks
- Manage crisis communications and stakeholder engagement for national gold mining refinery navigating legal and reputational challenges across multiple jurisdictions
- Provide integrated corporate affairs and political intelligence services to extractives sector clients, advising on regulatory compliance and political risk
- Develop government partnership strategies for private sector clients operating in complex regulatory environments
Corporate Social Responsibility Consultant
Vult Digital Finance
02.2025 - 03.2025
- Developed immersive financial literacy initiative integrating VR technology and interactive brand activations for emerging market context
- Secured Minister of Communications as keynote speaker for fintech brand activation, demonstrating government relations capability in technology sector
- Led stakeholder engagement across government ministries, financial regulators, and private sector partners
- Applied behavioral insights to financial inclusion communications across diverse demographics
- (FinTech)
Strategic Communications Consultant - Youth, Peace & Security
Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to United Nations Security Council
New York
04.2024 - 12.2024
- Designed national Youth, Peace & Security Action Plan 2024-2025, securing endorsement from multiple UN agencies and positioning country as regional policy leader
- Coordinated high-level diplomatic engagements including presidential meetings with Heads of State during UN Security Council presidency
- Managed complex cross-cultural communications and diplomatic protocol for UNGA proceedings with 500+ international stakeholders
- Developed communication frameworks supporting multilateral policy objectives across government ministries and UN agencies
Strategic Communications Consultant
Ministry of Agriculture
Sierra Leone
11.2023 - 04.2024
- Led nationwide stakeholder perception analysis identifying policy barriers for government flagship agricultural transformation initiative
- Orchestrated multi-stakeholder collaboration across government entities, private sector, and civil society
- Secured high-profile national cultural ambassador through strategic relationship management
- Sierra Leone
Strategic Communications & Government Relations Consultant
West Africa Blue / The Africa Conservation Initiative
Sierra Leone
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Secured formal MOUs with Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, and National Protected Area Authority for first-of-its-kind conservation finance project
- Facilitated high-level strategic roundtables with Presidential Initiative and Environmental Protection Agency, aligning public-private partnership objectives
- Achieved 92% community consent across 47 communities through stakeholder engagement and FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) compliance
- Developed ESG communications strategy supporting $20M+ carbon revenue trajectory and $4.2M international donor funding
Strategic Communications & Fundraising Consultant
Rainbo Initiative
Sierra Leone
03.2021 - 12.2022
- Repositioned organization following Presidential declaration of national emergency, demonstrating rapid policy response capability
- Secured $70K+ in private sector sponsorships through corporate partnership development
- Led stakeholder engagements with British High Commission, UNFPA, UNICEF, and FCDO, securing donor commitments
- (Leading Gender-Based Violence Organization)
Portfolio Manager
Solon Property Partners
Sierra Leone
11.2018 - 02.2021
Portfolio Manager, Super Prime Homes
Espace Real Estate
Dubai Marina
05.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed 6-person team overseeing luxury residential property portfolio in Dubai Marina for HNWI clients including government officials, royal family members, and corporate executives
- Navigated UAE regulatory frameworks ensuring compliance with RERA, Dubai Land Department, Emaar, and DMCC regulations
- Cultivated relationships with government stakeholders and developed deep understanding of GCC business protocols
- Managed complex stakeholder relationships in multicultural environment, demonstrating cultural agility across diverse nationalities
Portfolio Manager
A2Dominion
London
12.2013 - 10.2016
Education
MBA - Strategic Management
University of Plymouth
UK01.2015
BA (Hons) - Politics & International Relations
Queen Mary University of London
UK01.2013
Skills
- Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs
- Stakeholder Management
- Crisis Communications & Reputation Management
- Public-Private Partnership Development
- ESG & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Strategic Communications & Policy Advocacy
- Cross-Border Regulatory Navigation
- Ministerial Relationship Building
- Risk assessment and media crisis management
- Regulatory compliance
- Policy analysis
- Stakeholder mapping
- Ministerial engagement
- Media relations
- Executive briefings
- Strategic messaging
- FPIC compliance
- Community engagement
- ESG reporting
- UAE regulatory frameworks
- GCC business culture
- UN multilateral processes
Technical Skills Languages
Regulatory compliance, Policy analysis, Stakeholder mapping, Ministerial engagement, Crisis communications, Media relations, Executive briefings, Strategic messaging, IFC Performance Standards, FPIC compliance, Community engagement, ESG reporting, English (Native), UAE regulatory frameworks, GCC business culture, West African political systems, UN multilateral processes
Accomplishments
- Ministerial Partnerships: Secured 3+ formal MOUs and partnerships with government ministries across Finance, Environment, Mines, Agriculture, and Communications.
- Crisis Management: Led multi-jurisdictional crisis communications for mining operation facing international legal challenges.
- Regulatory Navigation: Guided international energy company through market entry approvals and compliance.
- Government Relations: Designed national policy framework adopted by government and endorsed by UN agencies.
- Community Engagement: Achieved 92% stakeholder consent across coastal communities for complex infrastructure project.
- Fundraising: Mobilized $70K+ corporate sponsorships and $4.2M international donor funding through strategic partnerships.
- Dubai Experience: Managed luxury property portfolio for HNWI clients while navigating UAE regulatory frameworks.
Nationality Availability
British Citizen - No UAE visa sponsorship complications., 05/17-06/18 - Familiar with UAE living and working environment., Immediate Availability for UAE relocation (Dubai or Abu Dhabi preferred)., Demonstrated across London → Dubai → West Africa → New York., Clean background with professional references available upon request.
Location
Current: London/Accra. Ability to relocate to UAE. British Citizen.
Regional Expertise
Previous Dubai residency (05/17-06/18) with hands-on experience navigating UAE regulatory frameworks (RERA, Dubai Land Department, free zones) and managing HNWI relationships in a multicultural GCC environment. Understanding of regional business protocols and government engagement approaches., Established relationships across Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria with multiple ministries (Energy, Finance, Environment, Mines, Agriculture, Trade, Communications). Direct family connections to ministerial leadership providing insight into government decision-making processes., UN Security Council, UNGA, UNFPA, UNICEF, British High Commission, World Bank., Fintech government relations, digital financial inclusion, regulatory engagement for technology companies., Energy, extractives (mining, gold refining), conservation, carbon credits, financial technology, infrastructure, agriculture.
Personal Information
Citizenship: British
Timeline
Government Relations & Corporate Affairs Consultant
Independent Consultant
03.2025 - Current
Corporate Social Responsibility Consultant
Vult Digital Finance
02.2025 - 03.2025
Strategic Communications Consultant - Youth, Peace & Security
Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to United Nations Security Council
04.2024 - 12.2024
Strategic Communications Consultant
Ministry of Agriculture
11.2023 - 04.2024
Strategic Communications & Government Relations Consultant
West Africa Blue / The Africa Conservation Initiative
04.2023 - 04.2024
Strategic Communications & Fundraising Consultant
Rainbo Initiative
03.2021 - 12.2022
Portfolio Manager
Solon Property Partners
11.2018 - 02.2021
Portfolio Manager, Super Prime Homes
Espace Real Estate
05.2017 - 06.2018
Portfolio Manager
A2Dominion
12.2013 - 10.2016
MBA - Strategic Management
University of Plymouth
BA (Hons) - Politics & International Relations
Queen Mary University of London