Amera Ishmael
Dubai
Summary
Human Resources professional with over 10 years of cross-functional experience in Talent Acquisition, Workforce Planning, HR Business Partnership, and Diversity & Inclusion across the GCC, Europe, MENA, and APAC. Proven ability to lead recruitment for emerging technology and transformation teams, while aligning people strategies with evolving business needs. Recognized for driving innovative employer branding initiatives, advancing DEI programs, and supporting digital transformation in HR analytics and sourcing. Data-savvy, human-centric mindset who thrives in high-growth, multicultural environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Manager – Talent Acquisition
Ernst & Young (EY), MENA Region
11.2021 - Current
- Leading the end-to-end recruitment for 100+ roles annually across four key sectors—Energy, TMT, Life Sciences, and Government & Public Sector—supporting Business Transformation, Enterprise Risk, Digital & Emerging Tech, and Cybersecurity functions across MENA.
- Managed and developed a team of three sourcing specialists; optimize sourcing channels and market intelligence to reduce time-to-fill by 20% through data-driven and process improvement strategies.
- Partnered with Service Line Leaders and Talent Development to drive workforce planning initiatives; designed a PowerBI-based Consulting dashboard that significantly reduced reporting error.
- Designed and implemented the “Recruiting Top Talent” and “Gold Standard Interviewer” programs to enhance interview quality and candidate experience across the region.
- Boosted regional talent attraction efforts by executing 3+ employer branding campaigns, including “People Stories” and “Stealth,” reaching a digital audience of over 30,000 potential candidates.
- Championed key Diversity & Inclusion programs such as “SheLeads,” increasing female tech hires by 30%, and led the “Women Returnship Program,” reintegrating 20+ women professionals into emerging tech roles.
- Introduced and successfully executed the KSA Nationalization referral program, meeting FY25 targets
- Appointed as the Consulting Experience Hire Champion and main point of contact across MENA
- Recipient of multiple performance awards:
- “Shukran Star” for Quality & Technical Excellence (Jan 2024)
- “Golden Contributor Award” (FY’24 – Q1)
- “EY Badge – Applied AI” (Feb 2024)
- “Strategic Impact” performance rating (Q4 2024)
- “Champion of Excellence” and “TA2 Powerhouse Award” (Q1 2025)
- “Counselling Excellence” Award (Q2 2025)
Talent Acquisition Partner - Biotechnology and Healthcare
Mubadala Health (National Reference Laboratory)
09.2017 - 10.2021
- Led the Talent Acquisition function, including licensing, onboarding, induction, Emiratisation, and employee engagement initiatives across the NRL group.
- Oversaw recruitment and integration for major healthcare projects such as setup COVID-19 lab and expansion, Genomics, Newborn Screening, and Transplant services.
- Managed and mentored a team of 3 TA Associates; established compliant, scalable recruitment processes aligned with best practices.
- Acted as HRBP for Sales, Marketing, and Laboratory Services, delivering performance and retention initiatives that improved team productivity by 10% in 2020 and 16% in 2021.
- Developed and rolled out structured onboarding workflows and centralized induction programs to strengthen culture alignment for new joiners.
- Supported workflow design and automation of HR systems, including ICIMS, HireVue, XREF, and TalentPlus, enhancing recruitment efficiency.
- Led sourcing strategies and regional branding efforts, representing NRL at key healthcare events such as Medlab and Arab Health.
- Reduced average time-to-fill by 30% through proactive succession planning, market mapping, and executive search.
- Managed 20–30 roles monthly, consistently achieving an 85%+ on-time placement rate through targeted sourcing and headhunting.
- Designed and led employee recognition events to enhance engagement and morale across all NRL-managed laboratories.
Human Resources Manager
Axios Group – MENA & APAC
10.2016 - 09.2017
- Regions supported: Ireland, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America
- Led HR operations across multiple geographies, aligning local practices with global strategy and reporting directly to the HR Director
- Managed workforce planning and full-cycle recruitment for regional and international hires, including Healthcare Access Program Managers and Consultants
- Championed the performance review process by clarifying objectives, training new hires, and facilitating continuous feedback and follow-up training
- Spearheaded the implementation of PeopleHR across global locations, ensuring successful adoption and data consistency
- Revamped recruitment tools and processes to maximize ROI and streamline hiring activities across diverse markets
- Drove ongoing enhancement of HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance and alignment with evolving business needs
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist – Pharma & Healthcare
Cielo Talent – UAE, Saudi Arabia & Qatar
04.2014 - 09.2016
- Delivered full-cycle recruitment solutions across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, supporting clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar
- Sourced high-caliber candidates through advanced search methods including market mapping, networking, headhunting, referrals, and Boolean strategies
- Conducted competitor benchmarking and provided talent intelligence reports to hiring managers and regional leadership
- Maintained a robust talent pipeline to ensure business continuity and reduce hiring lead times
- Led international recruitment campaigns targeting talent pools across Asia and Europe
Education
SHRM – SCP Candidate - Human Resources Management
SHRM
Dubai12.2025
Korn Ferry
Dubai12.2020
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics & Statistics
London Metropolitan University
London, U.K03.2012
A 'levels - Biology, Chemistry & Mathematics
Filton College
Bristol, U.K06.2008
Skills
- Recruitment
- Employer Branding
- HR Business Partnering
- Project Management
- Talent Engagement
- DEI
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Assistant Manager – Talent Acquisition
Ernst & Young (EY), MENA Region
11.2021 - Current
Talent Acquisition Partner - Biotechnology and Healthcare
Mubadala Health (National Reference Laboratory)
09.2017 - 10.2021
Human Resources Manager
Axios Group – MENA & APAC
10.2016 - 09.2017
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist – Pharma & Healthcare
Cielo Talent – UAE, Saudi Arabia & Qatar
04.2014 - 09.2016
SHRM – SCP Candidate - Human Resources Management
SHRM
Korn Ferry
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics & Statistics
London Metropolitan University
A 'levels - Biology, Chemistry & Mathematics
Filton College
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