Dr. Abdulla receives award for encouraging workplace innovations and ensuring employee wellness at work
For his inspirational leadership in helping transform the work culture at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA received the prestigious Corporate Wellness Leader of the Year Award at the recently concluded Daman Corporate Health Awards.
Dr. Al Karam is credited with his hands-on approach in developing and implementing activities under the corporate wellness initiative of the KHDA, including the ‘Thrive’ programme, which comprises a set of evidence-based actions that help transform the working environment and encourage employees to focus on their physical, nutritional, emotional and cognitive health, in order improve their wellness at work and at home.
“Dr. Al Karam is an exemplary leader in corporate health and wellness; he is passionate about making KHDA a pioneer in the field of employee wellness and has demonstrated this by pioneering and implementing many workplace wellness initiatives that have benefitted KHDA and its employees,” says Dr. Michael Bitzer, CEO, National Health Insurance Company-Daman.
Dr. Al Karam leads from the front, setting an inspirational example to all at KHDA to embrace health and wellness at work. On a practical level he has ensured that the office space encourages employees to think about health and wellbeing. He paved the way for the office’s physical work environment to be extensively restructured to create an open, barrier- and status-free area that encourages social connection. A ‘chill-out’ room, outdoor working areas and a dedicated ‘Thrive Activity Room’ have been built and fitness equipment integrated in all office spaces and meeting rooms to create a dynamic and innovative atmosphere.
Through Dr. Al Karam’s own active engagement in the Thrive events, he demonstrates his conviction that the health, wellbeing and happiness of employees is vitally important and links directly to the achievement of corporate goals. Healthy and happy employees lead to a more creative and productive work environment, which in turn improves the service we can provide for our customers.
“Under Dr. Al Karam’s leadership, KHDA has emerged as one of the UAE’s more influential organisations in the field of corporate health practice. His keen interest in looking after overall welfare of his staff is indeed worthy of recognition and a shining example for others to follow,” says Becky Crayman, Head of Awards, MEED.
KHDA is keen to share the successes of the Thrive programme and is considered a role model for best practice in the region and a ‘must see’ benchmark for education institutes and organisations wishing to improve their workplace health and wellbeing projects.
- MEED.
