Dr. Dureid Mahasneh, C.E.O. of Gargour Shipping Company
Dr. Dureid is currently the CEO of the Gargour Shipping Company in Jordan. He has a Bachelors of Science in Biology and a PhD in Marine Sciences. He is involved in several extracurricular activities and has received several service awards including the Independence Medal of the First Order, Distinguished Performance Medal of the First Order, and the International Organization for Conservation of Nature Appreciation Award. He aims to spread his beliefs in tolerance and maintaining a clean and sustainable environment.
His Story
Upon finishing his high school, Dureid enrolled in the medicine program at the University of Jordan. As opportunity would have it, life had other plans in store for him.
In his second year, his dean recommended him to help start a new program in marine research in Aqaba. While doing his internship there, he learnt skills and gained experience in diving, preservation of coral reefs and the overall marine life.
Feeling he had experienced something special, he switched from studying medicine to marine biology on his return back to university. He was the first Jordanian student in the program.
After completing his undergrad, he then did his PhD on comparative studies on different countries and their seas. This involved doing research in the southern parts of France on the Mediterranean and Romania on the Black Sea. With his wealth of information, he helped to start the Marine Science Station and aquarium in Aqaba.
Meeting the Queen of England
He proceeded to also work in the government to help plan the coast and its activities. In 1991, after a conversation with the PM, he was tasked with being the GM of the ports. This included managing the environment, coral reefs and other talks with the surrounding regions such as Israel. Dureid says that he had to work multiple jobs throughout his school years to make ends meet, including working summers at the same ports he was later put in charge of.
He also gained experience in lecturing and consulting when he immigrated to Montreal, Canada. Here he lectured on water issues such as the disputes on water between Israel and Syria.
On one of his trips back to Jordan, his friend and owner of the Gargour Shipping Company asked him to head and lead the company in the right direction. Needless to say, his answer was YES.
Shipping is everyone’s business
At Gargour Shipping Co., he heads a company that provides services such as liquid logistics, representing freight forwarders and housing marine security equipment. They represent internationally known companies such as Mercedes Benz.
As he puts it, shipping is a trade that is affected by what goes on in the world. As such, they are affected heavily by politics in the regions that they serve. For example, their branch in Iraq is closed due to safety reasons. It is a risky business. Having always been interested in politics and the workings of different cultures, he finds this work challenging and rewarding at the same time.
Team spirit
Other than working for Gargour Shipping Co., Dureid also holds other positions and engages in several other ventures. He is happy to be keeping busy and is passionate about what he does no matter the job.
He is the vice president of FONASBA (https://www.fonasba.com/fonasba-member) , is a founder of EDAMA ( https://edama.jo/) and is co-authoring a book on the water quality in Jordan. These are just a few of his extracurricular activities!
He attributes the ability to pursue these other ventures to having a good team. At Gargour, he has raised a good team. He has trained a second row of staff to take over when someone is missing. A perfect example he says is working during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, there was confirmed case in the factory, and he was sent home to work. He hasn’t been to the office for 2-3 weeks and is able to delegate and rely on staff in the office while communicating through online methods. Whether it be the COVID=19 pandemic or travelling abroad for business, he knows he has a trusted team to help him out.
As he says it, “That ‘s just how it works. You can do a lot of things if you work in a team”.
Canadian Connection and WIRE
Dureid’s connection to Canada is very apparent. He is a Canadian citizen and has represented Canadian companies in Jordan like the Canadian Potash Corporation.
He continues to work with Canadian companies while living in Jordan. Through the organization EDAMA, he is working with Canadian companies to develop a program to recycle old batteries. This would aid in the growing EV industry in Jordan. He is also trying to develop a WHMIS program to help his staff manage hazardous materials at the various shipping centres run by the Gargour Shipping Co.
Dureid got to know about WIRE and the work they are doing through the Canadian embassy. More recently, through WIREs expansion into the Middle East, he became a proud supporter in their goal to raise awareness of women in energy, environment and sustainability. Through the organization EDAMA, he undergoes projects installing renewable energy in rural areas for schools. He says electricity is very expensive in these areas and having a school that can generate its own electricity is very beneficial.
Now programs exist where empowerment of women has taken first priority. Similar to the programme in place in Istanbul, Turkey, Dureid is hoping to set up training for women to work with renewable energy and become more independent in Jordan.
The Importance of Tolerance
Being an inspiration to many, Dr. Dureid expresses thanks to those who have helped him along the way.
He attributes some of his experiences in his childhood to his openness and ambitiousness. He explains that when he was 12, he broke his leg and had a cast for about 6 months. This is when his supervisor first introduced him to the library and reading. He found a wealth of knowledge and imagination in what he was reading.
The second major lesson he was taught was the importance of tolerance. In his German school, Dr. Dureid was the only Muslim. He recalls an experience when it was the season of Ramadan. When his headmaster (who was a priest) asked him what Ramadan was, he simply answered, “Not having boarding school cafeteria food”. With a smile, his headmaster explained what the true meaning of the season was and reassured him that he would be treated like one of them. The school was accepting of his culture and made sure he felt like he was at home there.
It is no surprise that Dr. Dureid is a Muslim member of the Evangelical board where he recently finished designing a system to treat water which will be used to baptise pilgrims. He has also organized and heads a fund to which graduates of his childhood Lutheran school donate every year to fund students in need.
Yours to Discover
Dr. Dureid encourages everyone to never restrict yourself to one field. Take as many opportunities as you can. Whether this means travelling, taking part-time jobs or shifting your line of education. It is how you open up and develop yourself.
Most importantly, he encourages,” Don’t put barriers between yourself and rest of the world”. One should travel and be tolerant to all other cultures.
There is a whole world out there waiting for you to experience!