Céline Assaf Khabbaz serves as the general counsel and company secretary at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), a leading healthcare institution managing one of the largest complex care hospitals in the region. She has been part of the organisation since the establishment of SSMC in 2020 and currently heads the Legal, Risk, Compliance & ESG Division, contributing significantly to the organisation’s foundational growth.__SPLIT__
Before her tenure at SSMC, Ms. Khabbaz practiced law at top-tier Magic Circle Firms in Paris and Abu Dhabi. She has been an active member of the Paris Bar since 2005. In 2023, she earned her certification as a board secretary, alongside holding several certifications in key areas such as corporate governance, risk management, compliance, ESG, sustainability and integrated data privacy.
Ms. Khabbaz holds a Postgraduate Degree (DEA) in European law from Université Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with honours in French and English law from King’s College London. These academic achievements have equipped her with a broad and deep understanding of legal principles and practices.
In her role as general counsel, she is responsible for mitigating legal risks, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, developing and overseeing the organisation’s ESG strategies, and managing both the internal team and external legal counsel. As Company Secretary, Ms. Khabbaz oversees corporate governance, communication with the Board of Directors, and ensures compliance with legal and statutory requirements.
Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient (CCrISP) is a two-day, interactive course, which includes mandatory, pre-course e-learning. It covers the practical skills and knowledge that health care professionals need to effectively care for surgical patients, including those who are deteriorating or at risk of doing so.
