Shamama Tul Amber Arbab

Shamama Tul Amber Arbab is an accomplished entrepreneur, corporate and public-sector governance professional, and advocate for women’s economic empowerment, with over three decades of experience spanning entrepreneurship, corporate governance, economic development, institutional strengthening, policy advocacy and inclusive leadership. 

She serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) and is the Chairperson of the Human Resource & Nomination Committee (HRNC). She is also a member of the ESG Committee, Risk Management Committee, and BDOC Committee of the OGDC Board, contributing to the Company’s governance, sustainability, human capital, risk oversight and business development matters. 

Ms. Arbab has held a number of significant board and leadership positions across Pakistan’s public, corporate and development sectors. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) and has been associated with the boards and governing bodies of institutions including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development & Management Company (KPEZDMC), Utility Stores Corporation, FATA Development Authority, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women. She served on the Senate of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Women University for three terms and has held governance and advisory roles with the KP Board of Investment, National Skills University Advisory Council, and other economic and entrepreneurial development institutions. 

Her leadership experience includes serving as Chair of WeCreate Pakistan, a platform focused on advancing women’s entrepreneurship, and serving on the board of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). She has been associated with the South Asian Women Entrepreneurs Network and has represented the interests of women entrepreneurs through her leadership and longstanding association with the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Peshawar, where she served as President. 

Ms. Arbab has represented Pakistan internationally on numerous occasions as a distinguished speaker. A strong proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion, she has championed the advancement of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors. At OGDC, she played a leading role in the introduction of the Company’s first Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Policy and supported initiatives to increase women’s participation in the management and operational workforce, including the introduction of OGDC’s female Management Trainee Program. 

Her academic and professional development includes a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Peshawar. She has further undertaken executive education and professional development programs at internationally recognised institutions, including Harvard University’s Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP), Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Turin, and LUMS. She is also a Certified Director of the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) and has undertaken specialised training in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). 

With a career built around entrepreneurship, governance and inclusive economic development, Ms. Arbab brings to the OGDC Board a distinctive combination of public-sector governance experience, private-sector entrepreneurship, human capital leadership, ESG awareness and extensive experience in advancing women’s participation in the economy.