PEOPLE | news Womanthismonth.com December 2023 107 Acclaimed Bahraini Chef Tala Bashmi has been recognised as one of the world’s most promising culinary talents, receiving the prestigious Rising Star Award at the 2023 Best Chef Awards held in Yucatan, Mexico. This remarkable achievement further cements her position as a pioneer in modern Bahraini and Middle Eastern cuisine. Ms. Bashmi, the visionary chef behind the esteemed Fusions by Tala restaurant located at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, has captivated the culinary world with her innovative approach to preserving and highlighting the rich flavors of her homeland. Ranking at #63 amongst the best 100 chefs across the world is a testament to her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to her craft. Despite facing initial resistance from traditional purists, Chef Tala has fearlessly reinvented traditional dishes, breathing new life into age-old recipes while staying true to the essence of her heritage. Her creations are a symphony of flavours, which display the diversity and vibrancy of Bahraini cuisine. The Best Chef Awards is a global celebration of culinary excellence, recognising the passion and innovation of chefs who are shaping the future of gastronomy. With her groundbreaking culinary creations and unwavering commitment to her heritage, Chef Tala Bashmi is poised to continue her meteoric rise in the global culinary landscape. Tala Bashmi is the Chef Patron of Fusions by Tala Restaurant at the Gulf Hotel Convention & Spa, Bahrain; she graduated from the Gulf Hotel’s prestigious Management Training platform “Al Mostaqbal”, which is an initiative to develop Bahraini talent. The Board of Directors, Gulf Hotel’s Group and The Gulf Hotel Convention & Spa are extremely proud of her achievements. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appointed the leading Saudi public health expert Dr. Hanan Balkhi as Regional Director of its Eastern Mediterranean Office, following her election by member states at the organisation’s regional committee meeting in Cairo last October. Saudi Health Minister, Fahd Al-Jalajel, commented that the achievement by Dr. Balkhi is evidence of “the excellence and leadership of Saudi women in various fields.” Dr. Balkhi is a Saudi scientist and an international expert in her field. She has worked in public health and communicable diseases for over 25 years. Since then, she has acquired comprehensive expertise in managing disease outbreaks. Locally, she held the position of Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the King Abdulaziz Medical Centre, and Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at the King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre. During her distinguished career, Dr. Balkhi was appointed Assistant Director-General of WHO for Antimicrobial Resistance in Geneva in May 2019. Notably, Dr. Balkhi has held many leadership positions that contributed to the formulation and implementation of health policies that have a direct impact on public health. As part of her work, she ran a national research programme promoting the ‘One Health’ concept. Dr. Balkhi received significant awards including the International Researcher Award, Senior Leadership and Scientific Research Award, and the SHEA-APIC Partnership Award. Bahraini Chef Tala Ranked Among World’s Top 100 Chefs Saudi Scientist, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, Elected to Run WHO in the Middle East
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