The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has appointed Professor Ghassan Aouad, vice president for Academic Affairs at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) as its 111th president.

The inauguration took place at the CIOB’s AGM in Doha, Qatar.

“It is a privilege to be presiding over an Institute that’s the world’s largest and most influential body for construction management and leadership,” said Aouad, who succeeds the outgoing president Peter Jacobs.

“I am fortunate to start my tenure as President in Qatar, a country that is very close to my heart that has undergone major development through creative and innovative construction and infrastructure projects in recent years.

“However, we shouldn’t shy away from the well-publicised problems that face construction workers here and throughout the Gulf. And during my Presidency it is my aspiration to help stimulate change and promote a culture of respect for people and professionalism in our industry globally,” he added.

Prior to his role at GUST, Aouad spent 20 years at the University of Salford holding several roles including Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation.

Ghassan was born and raised in Lebanon where he first studied for a degree in Civil Engineering at Beirut Arab University. He has worked and trained extensively in both the UK and Arab markets and has been recently named as one of the top ten academic leaders shaping education in the Middle East by the Middle East Economic Digest. – TradeArabia News Service