On 5 February 2026, ArbitralWomen convened its community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for an event held in collaboration with Corporate Subscriber Clyde & Co. as part of Riyadh International Disputes Week. The event, titled “From Vision to Impact: Women Driving Change in International Disputes,” brought together practitioners from across the disputes community for a morning focused on leadership, professional development, and the evolving role of women in international dispute resolution.

The program opened with welcome remarks from ArbitralWomen President Rebeca Mosquera, who reflected on the importance of building institutions through mentorship, professionalism, and leadership, and on the responsibility of creating spaces where experience and impact are shared across generations.

The opening remarks were followed by a fireside conversation with Cherie Blair CBE KC, Co-Founder and Chair of Omnia Strategy LLP, moderated by ArbitralWomen Board Director Nesreen Osman (Partner at Corporate Subscriber Pinsent Masons). The discussion offered candid reflections on leadership, professional resilience, and the importance of sustaining long-term engagement within the legal profession.

The session then continued with a panel discussion examining the influence of female leadership in international disputes. The panel, moderated by ArbitralWomen Board Secretary Nata Ghibradze (Counsel at Corporate Subscriber Hogan Lovells) featured:

• Paula Hodges KC (Independent Arbitrator);
• Fatima Balfaqeeh (Managing Partner at Balfaqeeh Advocates & Legal Consultants); and 
• ArbitralWomen Member Sara Aalamri (Partner at Corporate Subscriber Clyde & Co and Vice Chair of the ICC Saudi National Committee for Arbitration and ADR).

The discussion explored practical pathways to leadership, regional and international perspectives on professional growth, and the importance of mentorship and institutional support in strengthening diversity within dispute resolution.

The event concluded with networking among participants and continued exchanges on professional collaboration and future initiatives in the region.
 
The strong response to the event underscored the importance of continuing to create forums where experiences and perspectives can be shared openly, strengthening both the profession and the institutions that support it.
 
View additional photos here:



 *Certain photos in this event report were taken by and published in The Law.
 
Submitted by ArbitralWomen President Rebeca Mosquera (Senior Counsel, ARAMCO)