With several successful editions in the past, Sohar International’s Viewpoints has delivered engaging, productive, and dynamic sessions that have encouraged creative thinking among professionals and fostered a progressive mindset within the community. Through initiatives like these, Sohar International continues to pioneer change, enhance individual capabilities, and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of the nation.

James Ashley is a Managing Director in the Client Solutions Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where he leads the International Strategic Advisory Solutions team. This team offers clients across EMEA and Asia Pacific deep expertise on market trends, portfolio construction, and innovative business practices. James joined Goldman Sachs in 2015 as an Executive Director and was promoted to Managing Director in 2021.

James’s distinguished career began at the Bank of England before transitioning to the private sector. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he served as Chief European Economist at the Royal Bank of Canada. With over 25 years of experience, James has worked across a variety of institutions, including buy-side, sell-side, and policy-making roles.

James holds a BA in Economics from Durham University, an MSc in Economics from University College London, and an MA in International Relations from King’s College London.

Sarah is a dynamic communicator with over 25 years’ experience in finance, media, corporate communications and academia. Her international experience sees her working globally as a consultant and coach for cabinet ministers, CEOs, Chairpersons and senior VPs, to define and achieve their strategic communication objectives. Sarah regularly hosts in-person and virtual events and moderates at international conferences on diverse topics from smart data to sustainability.

Sarah graduated from Bayes business school, UCL with a BSc Hons in Economics. She started her career as an equity analyst at BNP-Paribas, then led the London Latin American equity sales desk, placing high profile IPOs to European funds. This led her to financial journalism, where she globally anchored the CNBC breakfast show Squawk Box for many years and worked for CBC and BSKYB. Before moving to Dubai ten years ago, she worked at IMD business school in Switzerland, coaching and developing communication workshops for the Masters programme. Since living in Dubai, she co-hosted the well-known Business Breakfast show on Dubai Eye Radio.

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