Candidate for Chairperson 2024-2026
Kim Schofield
Managing Director
EVAP Investment LLC
Chairperson
Chair, Programs Committee
Chair, Defense and Aerospace Offsets Subcommittee
AmCham Abu Dhabi
Citizenship: USA
Individual Member
Candidate’s Statement
- Sustainability – Ensure sustainability by attracting new members from key underserved industries such as AI, BioTech, Cyber and Digital Technologies.
- American Business Leads the Way – Create Multi-Industry Task Forces, such as a Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation Task Force with representation from all industry sectors, and potentially, other international business groups.
- Member Engagement – Create 2 new signature events that allow for information sharing and networking, such as our latest ADGHW Dinner.
- Promote Trade Diplomacy – Organize US-UAE Mission to DC and work closely with the USG and Embassy Team.
- Encourage Industry Committee ongoing activities.
Candidate Questionnaire
Candidate’s Bio
Kim is Managing Director, EVAP Investment LLC, a business development advisory specializing in economic value add program development and implementation for all stakeholders. EVAP Investment LLC is a partnership between Remah International Group and O2K Advanced FZ LLC, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
A proven and respected leader and chief executive, Kim has over 38 years’ experience in engineering, international business development and program management, specializing in economic value add programs, with a primary focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Kim’s understanding of the needs and difficulties of companies seeking to do business in the Middle East and North Africa spans over 30 years and is widely recognized and admired. Kim’s clients have included Fortune 500 companies in defense, aviation, security, telecommunications, hospitality, retail, healthcare, education, energy and academia.
Kim is the Chairperson of AmCham Abu Dhabi and serves on the Board of Directors since 2019 to present. She is Chairperson of the Programs Committee and Defense and Aerospace Offsets Sub-Committee. She also served as the first woman President and member of the Board of Directors for the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi, from 2004 until 2009. In 2006, she organized and led on behalf of the American Business Group Abu Dhabi, an executive industry delegation to the USA, to challenge the Dubai Ports World crisis, and emphasize the importance of the US UAE relationship. She has been interviewed on global news outlets including BBC, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Gulf News.
She was President of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and served as a Director on the Board of Directors from 1993 until 2003 and spearheaded the first industry working group to address airspace regulations to allow unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in commercial airspace.
An inspirational and motivating trailblazer, Kim believes that Inspiration is the most important element for driving economic growth, technical innovation, and leadership development. She is Executive Producer and Host of “Inspiration Tuesdays”, featuring guests from around the world that are an inspiration to their industries, colleagues, and communities.
Kim was appointed an International Partner, World Business Angel Forum (WBAF), for the UAE. The WBAF is an affiliate partner of the G20 Global Partnerships for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), and develops entrepreneurial ecosystems, supports start-ups, and helps venture capital and companies connect with international companies, fin-techs, and other relevant institutions.
Kim was the first woman manufacturing engineer employed by both Volvo Bus Company and BMY Combat Systems (a BAE Systems company), and she has a BSc degree in Operations Engineering from North Carolina State University.
She is married to Clark Hjelseth, US Army Special Forces (retired), and has a son, Kyle Schwartz, a US Army Aviator serving OCONUS.