Dr. Nahed Mohammed Taher is a Senior Economist and Chair of the Portfolio Management Committee at The National Commercial Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In her current position, which she has held since April, 2002, Dr. Taher produces periodic reports on the the Saudi economy and financial and economic sectorial analyses on national industries. She arranges seminars on the domestic and international economy for NCB clients, staff and other business institutions. She also assists the bank in assessment of its portfolio risk and directing its lending strategy.

Prior to joining NCB, Dr. Taher headed the Accounting Department at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, where she was also an assistant professor and lecturer in economics. She was co-owner and financial advisor of a Bullhide Liner (polyurethane coating) franchise in Jeddah from 1987 to 1997 and financial advisor to Minara, a support services company in Jeddah from 1993 to 2002. 

Dr. Taher holds a PhD and MSc in Economics (Monetary Economics; Money and Banking, Macroeconomics; Econometrics; International Economics) from the University of Lancaster, UK, as well as an MA and BS in Economics from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is a consultant to the Saudi Cultural Summit; a member of the Economic Committee of Makka Emarite, of the Businesswomen’s Committee of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and of the Saudi committee of the Eisenhower Fellowship. 

Among recent presentations she has made are: “The Structure of GCC Economies & Investment Opportunities,” PMI Conference, ARAMCO (Dubai, 2004); “Evaluating the Economic Impact of GCC Women’s Involvement in the Labor Markets, ” GCC Businesswomen Forum (Oman, 2003); “Corporate Governance and Capital Market Law,” World Economic Forum Extraordinary meeting (Jordan, 2003); “The War on Iraq and its Implications for the Saudi Economy,” Dar Al-Hekmah, Women’s Cultural Summit (2003); “IT Excellence for Opening Job Opportunities for Saudi Women,” Jeddah Economic Forum (Jeddah, 2003); “Globalization and the Potential of Mergers & Acquisitions between Industrial Investment Institutions in the GCC,” keynote address, Gulf Orgnization of Industrial Consulting (Qatar, 2002); and “Saudi Arabia: Current Economic Outlook & Future Challenges,” Middle East Economic Association (London, 2002).