Built by practitioners, for the people who carry the boardroom's weight
The Global Board Institute is a governance education, advisory and community organization headquartered in Dubai, serving board directors and governance professionals across the GCC, Europe and internationally.
Our members, alumni and clients come from iconic organizations
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Better boards. Stronger directors. Governance that creates value.
Our mission is to equip board members with world-class education, advisory support and innovative solutions that enhance board effectiveness and leadership impact. As the business landscape evolves, boards face increasing complexity that demands new expertise, agility and strategic foresight.
Whether you are an aspiring director, an experienced board member, or a governance professional, GBI exists to keep you ahead of every boardroom challenge: through university credit-rated education, hands-on board advisory, and the Global Chairs & Board Directors Network.
Practitioner-led, framework-anchored, globally connected
Built by people who sit in board seats
GBI is led by practitioners, not administrators. Our programs and advisory work reflect what directors actually face in the boardroom, because our faculty are chairs, NEDs and committee leaders in active service.
The Five Pillars of NRC Governance™
Our proprietary framework (Nomination, Remuneration, Succession, Evaluation, Development) gives members and clients a shared language for governance, and anchors the world's first dedicated NRC Chair qualification.
Regional depth, international reach
Headquartered in Dubai with chapters in Dubai, Riyadh and London and members across 60+ countries, GBI combines GCC regulatory depth with international governance standards.
From the search chair to the gatekeeper's chair
GBI was founded by Wassim Karkabi after more than twenty years at the intersection of executive search and board governance, where one pattern kept repeating: capable organizations held back by boards that were assembled rather than designed, and directors appointed without the development, evaluation or support the role demands.
The institute was built to close that gap end to end: educate directors to a recognized standard, advise boards on how they are composed and how they perform, and connect governance leaders to the peers and opportunities that keep them growing. The Professional Diploma in NRC Governance™, built on The Gatekeeper's Chair, is the world's first dedicated NRC Chair qualification.
Wassim Karkabi
Founder & Executive Chairman
Non-Executive Director, NRC Chair and board governance advisor. Creator of the Five Pillars of NRC Governance™ and author of The Gatekeeper's Chair.
Talk to the people behind the institute
Whether it is education for your directors, advisory for your board, or the right network for your career, start with a conversation.