Interview with BB Energy Foundation Chair – Perihan Bassatne

Could you tell us a little bit about your background?

I was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to a Turkish father and Syrian mother and lived in Lebanon and Egypt prior to moving to the UK at age 7. My Middle Eastern heritage, enhanced by also marrying a Lebanese who then lived in Singapore, allowed me to travel extensively in the region and beyond. This opened my eyes to the numerous disparities in both health and education in the countries I visited and lead me to start working with various NGOs focused on women and children. 

Why was the Foundation set up?

As BB Energy grew into a global leader in the energy sector, they felt they had the capabilities of also becoming just as impactful in giving back to the numerous countries they work in. BB Energy wanted its philanthropic endeavours, like its business, to go from local to global. 

What is your vision for the Foundation?

Having worked for nearly 25 years with charities focusing on health, education, women and children, I realised how difficult it was raising funds for these vital fields. The opportunity of transforming so many lives with BB Energy Foundation’s pledge of USD 1million annually is turning dreams into reality. I hope the Foundation will not only be able to help NGOs in the countries it operates in, but also create opportunities and projects of its own so that the impact can be significant, comprehensive,  and sustainable for years to come. 

What are you most excited about being the Chair of the Foundation?

First and foremost, having the opportunity to help transform lives and seeing how that can then change whole communities is an enormous privilege. I’m looking forward to working with our CEO Brita and board member Iulia, who both share the same passion and determination. Together we hope we grow BB Energy Foundation to its full potential.