The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has named Dana Kamal as Director, International Business Development, who will oversee regional planning, direction, coordination, and support of the association’s international development functions in the Middle East and North Africa.
Kamal, an engineer with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare business development and operations, will cultivate meaningful alliances throughout the GCC states (the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf), implementing new strategies with existing and new stakeholders, and representing NFPA in regulatory, legislative, and technical circles.
In 2017, NFPA established a Middle East North Africa (MENA) Advisory Committee with most members residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Advisory Committee works to expand safety and enforcement efforts and enhance communication between private sector leaders and government authorities. Kamal, who recently served as NFPA advisor to the MENA region, will work closely with the Committee and others to champion building, life safety and fire protection standards, and promote effective code compliance in the built environment.
In addition to sharing NFPA resources and expertise, Kamal will serve as an authoritative representative for media, government, and other decision makers, and work to make training more accessible to local leaders and professionals in the region.
She will also assist with the translation of NFPA codes for local use. Her technical review work with Professor Abdullah Al-Mhaidib, Faculty of Engineering at Kings Saud University, for NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, in Arabic, for example, was an important step for the association in the advancement of codes and standards in the local language.
Jim Pauley, NFPA president and CEO, commented on Kamal’s appointment: “NFPA has a long-standing presence in the Middle East, working closely with government officials and private entities conducting business in the Gulf region.
“The region has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years therefore, it is critical for authorities, the workforce, and the public to ensure safety practices keep pace with progress. The experience and knowledge Dana Kamal brings to this role is vital to the work we do to provide relevant resources in Arabic for those charged with protecting people and property.”
Kamal holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Ajman University of Science & Technology in the UAE and a master’s degree in healthcare management from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in Dubai. In addition, She also holds numerous certifications in the areas of emergency management and fire safety, hospital planning, and design.
Kamal began her career at GME Company as a biomedical engineer overseeing the setup of radiology and cardiology operating theatres. She later joined Dubai Health Care City (DHCC) to work on one of the largest health information systems projects in the country, connecting patients’ identification and records under one network for more than 13 government hospitals and 80 ambulatory service centers.
Kamal later joined the DHCC business development department to assist in the launch of the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai and the Boston University Dental Health Center Dubai, a state-of-the art medical facility offering expert dental education, research, and care in the Gulf region. She went on to enlist her managerial and technical knowledge toward the commission of The Dubai Mall Medical Center and other community-based clinics under Emaar Healthcare Community Services. Most recently, Kamal worked as senior manager of facilities systems and program support at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, strategizing and managing utility systems and life safety and clinical education programs for more than 10 years.