Meet the 2025 Nominees for the FFI Board of Directors

Long, dark wood conference table with rows of black mesh chairs in a bright, modern meeting room, with sunlight streaming through a large window.

Prepared Exclusively for FFI Members

July 25, 2025

T

he FFI Board of Directors provides strategic vision and oversight for the development of the organization. Over the past few months, the 2025 Nominating Committee has solicited suggestions for nominees and interviews with potential candidates have been held. The Committee is pleased to announce the following nominees for four-year terms on the FFI Board of Directors. Voting will be conducted by electronic ballot, which will be sent to FFI members on September 5. New board members will take office following the annual meeting, which will be held virtually on November 10.

MEET THE 2025 NOMINEES

Anne Bucciarelli

Anne Bucciarelli, ACFBA/ACFWA, is an SVP and senior national director leading Bernstein’s Family Engagement Strategies group, which helps families explore the transfer of wealth-related values and knowledge. She provides customized advice on complex financial issues for private clients and their advisors, including family governance, wealth transfer strategies, and philanthropic planning. She has authored and contributed to the firm’s published research, most notably Wealth Beyond Measure, an in-depth study of the complex world of family, wealth, and purpose.

Under her leadership, Bernstein’s team works closely with families and family offices to marry wealth planning and family governance into a purposefully designed strategy. Anne oversees Bernstein’s peer-to-peer offerings, including the Leadership Accelerator Program (LAB), a classroom-based education program for rising generations, and Bernstein’s global summits and market forums, where her team facilitates intimate conversations between multi-generational families, founders, and family offices.

Statement of Purpose

I am thrilled at the prospect of joining the FFI board, using my expertise in wealth planning, governance, and philanthropy to further FFI’s vision. FFI’s mission to educate, connect, and inspire aligns perfectly with my own values and experiences, and I see this board position as a chance to both make a meaningful impact and play a part in FFI’s success.

I am particularly drawn to FFI’s inclusive and global approach, which resonates with my belief in the importance of diverse perspectives and cross-cultural understanding. As a member of the Women in Family Enterprise VSG, I have experienced firsthand the strength of FFI’s collaborative spirit and am eager to work alongside other board members to continue fostering this vibrant community. I am eager to bring my skills and passion to FFI while embracing the opportunity to learn and grow with the incredible leaders within the organization.

Deema Dajani

Deema Dajani, ACFBA/ACFWA, is a strategist and institution-builder in the family enterprise space, currently serving as projects manager at the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses. Her work centers on preparing the next generation of family business leaders and building the professional infrastructure necessary to support enduring family enterprises on an emirate level.

Deema leads Dubai’s landmark Next-Gen Training Program and actively advances the development of the advisory field by empowering professionals who serve family enterprises through education, community-building, and ecosystem-wide engagement. She also serves as secretary of the Family Business Advisory Committee, a high-level body shaping strategic direction for Dubai’s family business ecosystem. Deema has been instrumental in the Arabization of critical global family business literature, bridging intellectual capital with local accessibility.

Deema’s career reflects a consistent commitment to continuity, stewardship, and the ethical evolution of family capital across generations and geographies.

Statement of Purpose

It would be an honor to join the FFI board at a time when family enterprises across the world—especially in the Middle East—are navigating historic transitions. FFI’s commitment to global education, rigorous standards, and interdisciplinary exchange deeply resonates with my own work at the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses.

My purpose is to bridge global best practices with regional insight. I aim to contribute by amplifying FFI’s presence in the Gulf region, cultivating new networks of advisors and rising-generation leaders, and promoting knowledge localization through culturally relevant programming. I am especially passionate about ensuring that advisors are equipped with both technical and emotional intelligence to serve families in moments of transition.

Serving on the board would be an opportunity to give back to a community that has shaped my growth. Together, I believe we can widen FFI’s impact while honoring its core mission: to elevate the field of family enterprise advising worldwide.

Matt Knight

Matt Knight, ACFBA/ACFWA, is executive director of the Alberta Business Family Institute at the University of Alberta, where he has led the center’s growth, further building its reputation as a leading center for business families. He serves as a lecturer at the University of Alberta, teaching courses including Managing Family Business and Strategic Consulting for Family Business.

Matt brings experience in consulting, entrepreneurship, and leadership, guiding organizations through transformations while building strong relationships. His consulting background includes global roles with Ernst & Young and Deloitte, where he has advised family-owned enterprises and regulated industries on governance, succession, technology, and operational excellence. Matt holds advanced certificates in family business advising and corporate governance (ICD.D). He is a sought-after speaker on family business, AI, technology and innovation, delivering keynote addresses to audiences of up to 5,000 across Canada, the US, and Europe.

Statement of Purpose

Since joining the FFI community through its certificate programs, I have been inspired by meeting great people and by the organization’s commitment to bridging academic research with practical solutions for family enterprises. If elected to the FFI board, I would leverage my unique perspective as an academic institute leader, educator, and experienced practitioner to advance FFI’s mission. I bring proven expertise in strategy development, stakeholder alignment, and program development and growth. I am committed to supporting FFI’s continued evolution and supporting family enterprises globally.

My vision centers on three key areas: first, fostering connections between academic research centers and advisors to accelerate the translation of research into practical insights. Second, supporting FFI’s expansion into underserved markets, particularly by strengthening the global network of university-based family business programs. Third, advancing next-generation engagement through innovative educational models that blend traditional learning with AI literacy and peer-to-peer community building.

2025 Nominating Committee

Thank you to the FFI members who participated in this process and especially to the 2025 Nominating Committee for its selection of these candidates:

Jeff Cobb, co-chair
Tagoras

Rania Labaki, co-chair
EDHEC Business School

Wanja Michuki
Be Bold Consulting & Advisory Ltd.

Linda Murphy
University College Cork

Guillermo Salazar
Exaudi Family Business Consulting

Debbie Bing, ex-officio
CFAR

Previous Edition

Today we continue our 2025 series featuring FFI organizational members. These issues highlight the contributions of distinguished associations, educational institutions, and professional organizations from across the globe.

In this edition, we feature six more exceptional organizations that are increasing the global footprint of the field and sharing their invaluable knowledge with the FFI community. Discover how these members are shaping the future of the field and enriching the wider FFI network. Stay connected as we spotlight more organizational members in upcoming issues!