Majid Al-Sadi
Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Rev. Cannon, Lord Mayor, Honoured Guests, Graduates and Graduands.
Dr. Majid Al-Sadi is Chairman and CEO of Eastern Holding which is a British company based in Jordan. Founded in 1993 the Eastern Group supports nine businesses with interest ranging from environmental services, hotels, aviation and security. The success of Eastern Holding is also the personal success of Majid Al-Sadi. He is a most gifted businessman. In 16 years he has created a global organisation, employing some 800 people, delivering investment and services around the World.
In addition to this he is a talented Engineer, which for me makes him special anyway. His first business venture was developing and selling specialised deep well hydraulic pumps. He later developed interests in aerospace engineering and aviation, controlling ALPHA possibly the world’s most successful airline catering company, developing the Jordan Airline Training and Simulation company which is the largest independent training establishment for pilots and cabin crew, and recently with HRH The Prince Andrew launching a Private Helicopter Medical Evacuation company unique in the Arab world and the wider Middle East.
Two years ago his interest in Aerospace Engineering translated to Coventry University when he provided support for a suite of student aircraft simulators, including one fitted to our Harrier aircraft. This year the Royal Aeronautical Society awarded Charlotte Collins, a final year Aerospace student, overall first prize in the annual ‘It Flies’ simulation assessment beating entries from 10 other top Aerospace Universities, and ‘best individual prize’ to Tom Breen, another final year aerospace student. In the history of these awards, no University apart from Coventry has won the overall prize more than once. Majid your investment in simulation has translated directly to the education of our students – I know you care a great deal about this.
Dr. Majid Al-Sadi cares about Coventry’s students because he has been a Coventry student which with all graduating today makes him very special indeed. The ‘folklore’ says it was whilst a student at Coventry that he began his business career selling in Coventry’s market to earn enough to keep his studies going. However what provides any University with the greatest satisfaction is not simply the education and understanding passed on through assessment and personal contact, but the use and the benefits our graduates deliver to others after graduation. Three years ago Dr. Al-Sadi established the Majid Al-Sadi Foundation to support International post-graduate students from around the World to study at Coventry. Some of the recipients of this Foundation are graduating today. His interest in teaching practice, quality education and concepts of a 21st century University saw him accept the invitation to become a Patron for the new Engineering and Computing faculty building, and I know of his passionate interest in the role architecture plays particularly with regard to the design of Universities and training centres.
So Majid, we recognise you as an outstanding businessman, we recognise you as a gifted Engineer and we recognise you as one of our own who has delivered on the promise and potential shown whilst a student at Coventry University. However we do not honour you today for any of these things. Instead we look to another aspect of your quite amazing career. In your recent ‘You Tube’ interview for the Mineseeker Foundation you made two important points. First your view that individuals who have achieved great things are ethically compelled to give back to others, and second your strong view that aid must be directed not simply to feeding but to creating jobs, to developing education and to sustaining people long after the TV cameras, the reporters and the armies have moved on.
You are not an armchair humanitarian. Early in your career you worked on a Food Aid programme for Africa and Iraq, and later with the Vatican on a Christian Aid programme also in Iraq. More recently as an Executive Member of the Development Commission for the reconstruction of Basra, particularly involved in Education, Infrastructure and Investment, as a member of the Youth and Employment Committee with particular responsibility for business start-ups, and your lead on the reconstruction for Baghdad and Basra airports with implications for all airports in Iraq and Iraqi airlines - you are active.
Beyond Iraq your are the main sponsor of the Jordan River Foundation supporting H.M. Queen Rania in her work to empower society, especially women and children, your support to H.R.H. Princess Basma in her work with the Hashemite Fund for Human Development - you are active.
Beyond the Middle East your recent elevation to be a Patron of the Mineseeker Foundation joining former patron Nelson Mandela, and current patrons Queen Noor of Jordan, Lord Richard Attenbourough, Sir Richard Branson, Dame Graca Machel, John Paul DeJoria and Brad Pitt in their work to find, to identify and to remove the world’s 100 million landmines, to help those people who have been affected by landmines including the 6 people killed or maimed on average around the world in the time we have spent celebrating this graduation and by returning hundreds of thousands of acres to farming and building a sustainable future – you are active.
To close I return to this “You Tube” interview. The reference in the programme to your country of birth - Iraq, the three terrible wars ordinary Iraqis have had imposed upon them which have devastated lives, families and whole communities. The need for peace, reconciliation, reconstruction and lasting development is uppermost in your mind. It is quite fitting that this University, in this cathedral setting, in this City which has also known the madness that war brings should honour your work to date, and your work to come to see the people of Iraq, and communities around the World benefit from the success of your life’s achievement, and to enjoy the basics of human dignity and opportunity that you hold so important.
As a consequence of all this and in recognition of his contribution to humanitarian work, regeneration and education in Iraq and the Middle East, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa, on Dr. Majid Alsadi