Coral celebrated inclusion by reaffirming its commitment to equality during its participation in the UN Global Compact Lebanon’s Peer Learning Group on Gender Equality. This platform provides a space for exchanging ideas and practical experiences to advance workplace inclusion and equal opportunity across sectors.
The session gathered influential voices from Lebanon’s public, private, and civil society spheres, including Her Excellency Haneen El Sayed, Dr. Dima Jamali, Ms. Deenah Fakhoury, Mrs. May Makhzoumi, Ms. Gielan El Messiri, and Ms. Anita Lebiar, alongside business leaders and sustainability advocates. Participants discussed how shared responsibility and collaboration can accelerate progress toward gender balance in leadership and business.
For Coral, supporting this initiative reflects its century-long philosophy: true sustainability begins with people. The company highlighted a core belief guiding its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy – that inclusion and sustainability are not parallel efforts but interdependent forces shaping long-term growth.
Turning Principles into Practice
At Coral, inclusion is embedded in daily operations. Transparent, merit-based advancement systems ensure women have access to both operational and leadership roles in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Today, women occupy key technical and managerial positions, from terminal operations to safety management, demonstrating how equal access transforms workplace culture.
Aline Khalil, Human Resources Director at Coral, said: “Our recruitment policies are gender-neutral. This doesn’t mean we hire women just to boost the numbers or to fill quotas. No, it means we offer equal opportunity to every qualified candidate.
We believe in equal pay, and we offer equal chances for advancement, but based on merit. I repeat: based on merit.”
Coral’s Marketing Director Valerie Khater echoed those sentiments, saying: “At Coral, equal opportunity is a way of doing business that we constantly strive to improve, and let’s remember that it is not a question of men versus women, but men and women, side by side, collaborating without barriers.”
She continued: “This year is particularly important for us as we are celebrating Coral’s 100th anniversary, marking a century of energy leadership which drives us to look forward with even greater determination.”
Coral extends its inclusion commitment beyond the workplace through education, sports and health initiatives. Over the past four years, more than 1,600 scholarships have been awarded. Programs supporting women athletes and promoting health awareness – from breast cancer to men’s health campaigns – reflect Coral’s holistic approach to social responsibility.
Collaboration for Collective Progress
Coral emphasizes that sustainable change in equality cannot happen in isolation. Partnering with organizations like the UN Global Compact enables Coral to contribute to a larger ecosystem of shared learning, exchanging best practices that can be applied across industries. Creating spaces for dialogue and knowledge exchange is essential for translating policy into measurable progress.
Badiaa Louis, Terminal manager at Liquigas Liban, noted the challenges: “Having the right environment to thrive, we all love a story of success against all odds, but know it is not realistic. I have been lucky to work where I am, where I was being assessed based on my efforts and results. But were that not the case I don’t know that I would have ended up in this position.
A Commitment to the Next Century
As Coral celebrates its 100th year, the company continues to evolve its ESG framework to ensure fairness, transparency and inclusivity remain central to its growth. The centennial is both a celebration of legacy and a call to action – building workplaces and communities where opportunity knows no barriers.
Oscar Yamin, CEO of Coral, reflected on this vision: “Inclusion is not an initiative – it’s a mindset that defines how we grow, lead and serve. Our goal is to create an environment where talent and opportunity meet without barriers, and where progress is shared by all. That is how Coral measures success as it enters its next century.”
Through ongoing partnerships and internal reforms, Coral continues to demonstrate that equality and sustainability are inseparable – and that progress, when shared, becomes enduring.
