On Wednesday, February 12, the Australian Arab Business Council’s Annual General Meeting kicked off at La Castelle in Bankstown. Former AABC Vice President George Bousamra began the event with a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the many business leaders and guests attending the event, including Elie Kaltoum and Batoul Khayat. Bousamra’s uplifting introduction set the stage for a great night full of networking , key announcements, and inspiration.  

Ms. Reem Borrows from Dream Coaching and Consulting gave an uplifting short speech bringing an inspirational energy to the night. Furthermore, a key highlight for the night was AABC President Mr. Radwan Hamdan stepping down as President of the Council, with George Bousamra becoming the new President of the AABC, marking a new chapter for the council.  

The event also attracted Elie Kaltoum, Business Principal of Town and Country Real Estate Merrylands, who pointed out that they have been in business for 35 years. Kaltoum attended the meeting with the intention of networking and sharing ideas.

“I’m trying to learn new ideas. Now we’re at the beginning of 2025 so I wish everybody well this year. We’re trying to learn from them what target they’re trying to achieve, so if we have a goal and we’d like to achieve this goal, trying to learn from them what their goals are and how to achieve it,” Kaltoum emphasized. For Kaltoum, AABC’s values of authenticity, trust, growth, camaraderie and contribution represent unity. “We need to be together; we like to because if we give business to each other and this is what networking is about it would be good,” Kaltoum said. 

Batoul Khayat, Operations Manager at KPR Solutions, also attended the event. A board member of the AABC last year, she now serves as Secretary of the AABC. “ I was one of the board members from last year and to announce the new board members, I wait for that anticipation,” Khayat said. The values of the AABC for Khayat mean unity of the various businesses across the Arab World coming together and networking. “So we can have that one common goal to grow together so that value, that’s mainly what the foundation of our Australian Arab Business Council values are.” Khayat pointed out.  

After a night full of networking and marking a new chapter for the AABC, the night concluded with dinner, dessert, and the announcements of the next AABC event, the Ramadan Family Iftar at Summerland Restaurant in Bankstown on March 12.