Since 2003 when it launched, Al Arabiya have built an enviable reputation in the Middle East and is rated by the BBC and its Middle Eastern audiences as one of the top pan-Arab news channels. Amongst other honours, it was TV station that President Obama chose to deliver his first formal interview as President on.

Unitas CEO said, “Unitas are delighted to be delivering services on behalf of one of the Middle East’s biggest broadcast media outlets. We hope and feel sure we will further strengthen Al Arabiya’s already strong brand.”

Stephen is currently Chair of Barts and The London NHS Trust, which in April 2012 merged with Whipps and Newham University Hospitals NHS Trusts.

In October 2012, the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, appointed Stephen O’Brien to lead a taskforce to draw up a strategic plan for mental health in society.

Some of Stephen’s other positions include - Vice President of Business in the Community and a former Chairman of London First, the influential business campaign group which works to support and shape London’s future.

He is also President of Proshanti a new charity promoting the construction of a health centre in Bangladesh, a Trustee of the Mayor’s Fund for London, Barts and the London Charity, Sports and Health Partnership, International Health Partners, Young Working London and is Deputy Chairman of Woods River Cruises and Water City Developments.

Previously, Stephen was Chairman of Barts and The London NHS Trust, NHS Tower Hamlets, Teach First, NCH Leadership Board (now Action for Children) and the Board of Governors of University of East London.

Stephen O’Brien said: “I am very pleased to receive this honour. It has been my privilege to work with the people of east London for many years and I hope to continue doing so for many more”.

Muddassar Ahmed, CEO of Unitas Communications said “Stephen has dedicated himself tirelessly to serving the wider community.  His commitment to making a positive social change was invaluable to Unitas’ inception and growth. Everyone from the Unitas team congratulates him on an achievement he thoroughly deserves.”

The keynote speakers at the event were Conservative Party MP, Brooks Newmark, Chief Political Columnist for The Daily Telegraph, Peter Oborne, Foreign Affairs Editor of the Daily Telegraph,Con Coughlin and Chair of Pakistan’s Rural Support Programme Network, Shoaib Sultan Khan.

The event was themed on ‘a journey into the northern areas of Pakistan’, focusing on the work of the Rural Support Programmes Network in alleviating rural poverty in Pakistan. The British Pakistan Foundation were official sponsors for this event

Unitas will be supporting the delivery of training, consulting and civil society strengthening programmes.

Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed said, “working within the MENA region for the purpose of strengthening civil society in the aftermath of the Arab Spring is something that fits perfectly with Unitas’ ethos. This is a project we’re delighted to be delivering. As a result of our work, I’m sure Unitas will develop an even stronger presence in the MENA region.”

Unitas will be representing a number of Rural Support Programmes in the UK and USA.

Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed said “RSPN do some great work in Pakistan and we’re delighted to be building on the success of our previous work in strengthening the RSPN brand here in the west.”

The retreat brought together over 50 leading figures from the highest echelons of corporate, political, media, academic, and non-profit sectors of society. Delegates included parliamentarians, business leaders, civil society leaders and senior media journalists from Europe, North America and the Middle East.

“We’re thrilled to have pulled off another successful Concordia Forum in a new location,” says the CEO of Unitas Communications and Concordia Forum Chair Muddassar Ahmed. “We’re committed to having the Concordia Forum provide thought leadership on pressing current and emerging global issues. At this Forum we continued to drive debate, develop strategies, and inspire a network of leaders to work with one another to deal with these issues.”

Unitas’ responsibilities will include managing the APPG’s Parliamentary events, co-ordinating the APPG’s online presence and delivering administrative functions.

Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed said, “Unitas is dedicated to supporting the APPG Pakistan’s goals of building stronger economic, cultural and historic ties between the UK and Pakistan. Through Unitas’ strong links with the UK Pakistani Diaspora community, its experience in providing secretariat support to the APPG Arab League and its communications experience, Unitas are aptly placed to support these objectives.”

The event will provide an excellent opportunity for members of the public to present their policy ideas on issues around Justice/Constitutional Reform. The top policy will be selected by vote.

The event will take place from 7-9pm at the Barley Mow Pub (upstairs restaurant), 104 Horseferry Road, Westminster, London, SW1P 2EE.

The report draws principally on a large range of existing academic studies, policy reports, empirical analysis, opinion polls, and surveys to determine the state of the research on the question of ‘Islamophobia’ in the UK mainstream media and its societal impact.

It also utilises input obtained from 16 key experts – journalists and editors (from both broadcasting and print), media scholars, community leaders, and politicians – who were consulted to seek their informed perspectives on the scale of the problem, and what conceivably must be done to solve it.

The report concludes with eight recommendations for British media reform and can be downloaded here.

The Leveson Inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson, aims to investigate the culture, practices and ethics of the press, eventually making recommendations on the future of press regulation and governance consistent with maintaining freedom of the press and ensuring the highest ethical and professional standards.

After a series of meetings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, Unitas Communications has agreed to provide media support services, strategic networking and consulting to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world’s second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations.

“The OIC’s role on the world stage is a timely one given the increasingly pivotal role the Islamic world plays on the world stage,” said Unitas Communications CEO Muddassar Ahmed. “Unitas, like the OIC, are keen to ensure this role is supported through effective communications.”