Key Career Milestones & Major Achievements Foundation Level , Bahrain Petroleum Company – BAPCO (1990-1993)

Joined a three-year comprehensive managerial development program in Aug 1990 and finished the program in May 1993, three months ahead of time.

Professional Level BAPCO (1993-1997)

Became a senior engineer in the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) in early 1997.

Senior Professional Level BAPCO (1997-2005)

Participated in more than 40 small and medium size projects related to turnaround of process and utility units in the oil refinery in Bapco.

Expert Level BAPCO (2005-2008)

Joined a three-year modernization project for Bapco heading a quality control group as part of the project team. Project cost was US $ 150 million and included a one-year assignment in Milano city in Italy.

Career Shift Plan Level (2007-2009)

After obtaining the MSc in Training & HRM from the University of Leicester in the UK, started a career shift plan into the training field.

Consultant for the Government of Kuwait (2007-2008)

Worked in a one-year project for the Government of Kuwait delivering consultancy work related to training need analysis (TNA) targeting the whole government ministries and government agencies. Project time span was about one year and Ishaq's role was heading a team of professional experts in the field of training which was based in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Joined BIPA and Government sector as a Training Professional (2009 Q1)

With the establishment of BIPA as the government arm for training and development in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2008, Ishaq was head-hunted by BIPA top management to handle the task of developing leadership development programs as be part of BIPA training and development framework.

BIPA - First National Leadership Program Designed (2009 Q4)

In response to a decree by the cabinet dated 26th of July 2009, Ishaq was assigned by BIPA to start the design of the first leadership development program specifically tailored for senior officials in the government of Bahrain. The design was made ready by Ishaq by October 2009

BIPA - First Leadership Program Launched (2010 Q1)

The First leadership development program tailored for senior officials in the government of Bahrain (Qeyadat) was launched and started on 20th January 2010. Total 25 government officials from 8 government entities participated in this first program of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

BIPA - First Partnership with an international Executive School signed (2010 Q2)

In parallel with the First leadership development program tailored for senior officials in the government of Bahrain which was launched in January 2010, another leadership development project (Named as Kawader Program) was launched with the University of Oxford in May 2010. Both BIPA and the University of Oxford collaboratively developed the program based on BIPA specifications. This type of programs was the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain. About 100 applications received from employees working in the public sector in Bahrain, who went through a rigorous screening, and selection process. 30 of them were selected to enroll into a very special program tailored for champions of vision 2030. The program was supported by Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), the custodian of vision 2030 at the time.

BIPA – the Second Leadership Program (Kawader) Launched (2010 Q4)

The collaborative program with University of Oxford (Kawader Program) started in November 2010. Ishaq was the project leader.

BIPA - First Batch of Leadership Program graduated (2010 Q3)

The First batch of leadership development program (Qeyadat) graduated in July 2010. Total 24 senior government officials successfully completed all requirements of the program which was endorsed by the British National School of Government (NSG).

BIPA - First Batch of Leadership Program with a global Business School graduated (2012 Q1)

The First batch of leadership development program (Kawader) with University of Oxford graduated in February 2012. Total number of graduates was 29, of which 19 participants were female and 10 were male government officials. Majority of graduates of Kawader program held higher positions over the following years.

BIPA- A Comprehensive system for accrediting Trainers within BIPA Created (2013 Q2)

In line with BIPA's strategy of developing talent, a comprehensive system for qualifying and accrediting trainers was put in place in April 2013. This was the first system created for such a purpose in BIPA. Ishaq created the system.

BIPA L&D Department Created in BIPA (2013 Q4)

In response to a decree by the cabinet (No. 60 – 2013), a department under the name Learning & development was created. Ishaq was appointed by the cabinet and he took the responsibility of establishing the department including its structure and organizational capacity building.

BIPA - Outcomes of the Leadership Development Program (2015 Q4)

 By the end of year 2015, the outcome of the leadership development programs was as follows: 12 batches of Qeyadat program (for Directors level), 5 batches of Kawader Program (Section head level) and one batch of Takween Program (Group Leaders level). Total number of leadership programs graduates was approximately 370 senior officials.

BIPA - Design of New National Leadership Programs started (2016 Q1)

By January 2016, due to national requirements and changes within the public sector, the need for the redesign of leadership programs became evident and hence a design team was formed.

Certified ROI Practitioner (2016 Q3)

By Q3 of 2016, following a one year project within BIPA to assess the impact of leadership programs and measure the ROI (return of Investment) of Kawader program, Ishaq became a certified ROI practitioner by ROI Institute in the United States of America.

BIPA - Design Team for National Leadership Development Program created (2016 Q4)

By December 2016, a new design team was formed by BIPA Director General and was granted 7 months to implement the project. Ishaq mentored the team and the team accomplished the task by end of May 2017, one month ahead of time.

BIPA - Design of National Leadership Development Program completed and endorsed (2017 Q3)

The new design of the National Leadership Development Program was endorsed by BIPA DG as a strategy for BIPA to follow over the coming years.

BIPA – The National Leadership Development Program (NLDP) Endorsed (2017 Q3)

The cabinet endorsed the NLDP as a national policy for the development of government staff in the Kingdom of Bahrain, signaling a new national achievement within the human development effort by the government of Bahrain.

BIPA - Piloting of National Leadership Development Program started (2017 Q4)

The new design of the NLDP was piloted as a new policy and results were monitored. Ishaq led and mentored the team.

Training & Consultancy Project with the General Secretary of the GCC Council (2017 Q4-2019 Q1)

This project aimed at training a group of employees to be able to design, develop, deliver and evaluate training programs as per GCC-GC needs. The two-year project was praised by the Secretary General of the GCC Council HE Dr. Abullatif bin Rashed Alzayani as one of the most successful projects for the GCC in 2018.

IASIA - Member of the Board of Management for Internal Association of Schools & Institutes of administration (IASIA) (2018 Q1)

By January 2018, Ishaq became a member of Board of Management for the IASIA which is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. IASIA with its sister organization i.e. the International Institute for Administration Sciences (IIAS) were established in 1930 to serve the discipline of public administration around the world.

BIPA - Piloting of National Leadership Development Program completed (2018 Q3)

Results of the pilot stage were issued as per established procedure.

BIPA- Outcomes of the National Leadership Development Program (2019 Q4)

By the end of year 2019, the outcome of the leadership development programs was total 97 batches of 5 types of programs while the breakdown of the number of batches was as follows: 20 batches of Qeyadat program (for Directors level), 17 batches of Kawader Program (Section head level), 12 batches of Takween Program (Group Leaders level), 19 batches of Bena'a Program (Senior Specialists level) and 29 batches of Ta'asees Program (new employees' induction program). Total number of leadership programs graduates was approximately 4100 government officials from more than 60 government entities in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Best ROI Impact study Award (2019 Q1)

In January 2019, Ishaq received the best ROI Impact Study Award by the ROI Institute in the United

States of America.

Winner of King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment to achieve the SDGs (2019 Q3)

In September 2019, Ishaq and his team within BIPA received the King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment to achieve the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain.