Najah Ashry ^Leaders

Ashry joined King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2008 when she was appointed founding Senior Assistant Provost charged with building the university’s graduate affairs division and supporting the development of KAUST’s unique strategic vision.

In 2011, Ashry founded the Saudi Initiatives division to focus on advancing the university’s mission to contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy. In 2017, she guided the division’s expansion to encompass a greater strategic scope for enhanced impact aligned to Saudi Arabia’s transformation priorities. Through this new expanded division, Ashry oversees a broad portfolio of strategic priorities ranging from talent development and management to corporate social responsibility; and from institutional communication – both national and global – to institutional advancement and strategic outreach.

Prior to KAUST, Ashry served as head of the 40,000-student women section of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Saudi Arabia. Reporting directly to the President of KAU, she provided vision and strategic direction to two campuses, nine colleges and faculties, seven deanships, and a number of centers, institutions, and administrations.

A hallmark of Ashry’s work has been her holistic approach to developing and guiding strategy for both established and emerging organizations, initiatives, and programs. Areas of focus include higher education, leadership, communication, technology and people, and the management of intellectual capital and social resources.

She has served on numerous key Saudi and international boards, including the Board of Directors for the Center of Planning & Strategic Studies for the Principality of Makkah Region; the KAU Board; Women National Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers; the Saudi Management Association-Western Province; MoE’s Board of Directors of Scientific Centers; and the Dow Chemical Company Sustainability External Advisory Council.