2nd Middle East Education Thought Leadership Forum

Following the hugely successful virtual Middle East Thought Leadership Forum that took place on 25-27 October 2020, we were delighted to announce that a live event took place in London in 2022. The second Middle East Thought Leadership Forum was planned to take place on 25-27th May 2022 with a high level of attendance from Ministers of Education and education pioneers and practitioners from all over the globe.

As in previous years, Gulf Conferences showcased developments in education, highlighting the great innovations taking place in the world of academia. The conference provided a hub where an exchange of best practices, expertise and insight could be realized. Discussions at the conference guided the development of education in institutions and countries throughout the region and provided the perfect environment for attendees to create successful and long-serving international partnerships. The live event in London proved to be just as successful as the previous year’s virtual event, with attendees lauding the opportunity to connect in person and exchange ideas.

The event in London was filled with exciting opportunities for attendees, including interactive workshops and panel discussions covering a range of issues related to education in the MENA region and beyond. Additionally, technology providers presented cutting-edge digital solutions and products. The forum also included networking opportunities and an exhibition, where attendees could learn about new products and services in the education industry. The event was a great success, with attendees leaving with new insights and connections to help them shape the future of education in their respective countries.

Speakers
Contact

Mr David Lock

Chair of Gulf Conferences

David Lock has had a varied career in international higher education and university leadership. He is currently Education Director of Gulf Conferences, Chair of Gulf Education Conferences and is Secretary General of the Magna Charta Observatory.

Mr. Hanny Alshazly

Vice President, Middle East & Africa Ellucian

As Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Ellucian, Hanny Alshazly works to improve the quality of education globally & meet the dynamic needs of the universal learner by empowering executives to build unified digital campuses.

Dr. Ashwin Fernandes

Regional Director – Middle East, Africa & South Asia, QS Quacquarelli Symonds CEO, QS IGAUGE Rating

HE Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama

Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities

He is the Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities, Chairman of the Executive Bureau of 57357 Foundation (Children Cancer Hospital), and Professor of Structural Engineering at Helwan University in Egypt since 1981.

Dr. Karim Seghir

Chancellor, Ajman University, UAE

Dr. Bibi M Alajni

Graduate Program Director Kuwait University, Kuwait

Dr. Ursula El Hage

Director of the Career and Placement Office, St joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon

Dr. Ghassan Aouad

President, Applied Science University, Bahrain

Ms. Samantha Miles

Strategic Advisor Training & Consulting, Knowledge E

Samantha advises Knowledge E’s training and consulting division as well as develops strategies and business opportunities. She also engages in brand building activities and establishes and maintains key stakeholder relationships with international and community partners.

Mr. James Gray

Founder and CEO of Kortext

James has over 30 years experience in the digital content and education sector. James founded BMBC / Coutts Information Services in 1992 and as CEO grew the business to become one of the world’s leading suppliers to academic and government libraries. The company supplied thousands of universities in over 120 countries from offices in the UK, Canada, the USA, Holland, and South Africa. The company led the transition in print content supply to digital and worked extensively with the likes of Stanford University in the US and Toronto University in Canada to launch a comprehensive digital content library platform, MyiLibrary. This was quickly adopted by major universities around the world, switching content acquisition from print to digital to better serve their faculty and students.  

Mr. Abdul ‘Dewale Mohammed (ADM)

Global Strategic Management, Public Relations and Marketing Consultant, a Prolific Entrepreneur

Abdul ‘Dewale Mohammed (ADM) is a Global Strategic Management, Public Relations and Marketing Consultant, a Prolific Entrepreneur, Renowned Public Speaker, Mentor, Author, Writer, Publisher and Philanthropist. Founder and Group Executive President of the Africa Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON), and Founder/Chairman of the Global South Economic Forum (GSEF). The Global South Universities Association (GSUA) and the Global South Centre for Research Innovation Peace and Technology for Sustainable Development (G-SCRIPTS-D), ADM is a Signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), Member of the UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD), Affiliate Member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), Member European Alliance for Innovation (EAI), Strategic Partner, Danubius Academic Consortium (DAC) and Advisory Council Member/Associate of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP).

Mr. Hashem Taani

Director, Global Strategic Partnerships at Boclips

Hashem Taani has worked in edtech for the last decade, helping education providers and ministries of education advance their institutional objectives and improve student outcomes. He is a relationship builder, project manager, and business operations expert with a commitment to make education engaging for every learner. In 2003, Hashem earned his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Yarmouk University.

Dr. Fernando Senior

Learning Strategist and Quality Matters-Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean

Dr. Senior is a strategist and designer of face-to-face and distance learning processes, specializing in quality assurance of online education. Founder of Strategy2Learn LLC, a boutique consultancy service that advises institutions on their online education offerings and develops capabilities for instructional designer. For nearly forty years, he has collaborated with institutions of higher education, businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental entities in different regions of the world. He is the Ex-President of the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance & Instruction and current international representative for Quality Matters, an organization in the United States specialized in quality assurance of online courses and programs.

Dr. Jameel Hasan

Acting Director: Quality and Standards Bahrain Polytechnic

With a doctoral degree in quality for higher education and a concentration in strategic quality matters, Dr Hasan has over 12 years of experience in higher education as a quality practitioner, programme reviewer, managing enhancement programmes, and developing policies. Dr Hasan believes that quality is a critical component of higher education institutions and must be based on ongoing dialogue, contextualised to the context, and driven by academics.

Mr. Martin Creel

Executive Director, SVP, Global Academic Consulting at Discovery Education

Martin Creel is a proven innovator and instructional leader known for designing and implementing multiple global signature initiatives for Discovery Education (DE). His focus has been on the student - establishing a high level of learning for each student and then conceptualizing and developing the tools for teachers, school, and national K-12 leaders to help students reach those goals. Most recently he has led DE digital instructional reform programs in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Chile. In February Creel was named a Top 100 EdTech Influencer by EdTech Digest in the United States.

Professor. Wafi Haj Majid

Professor at the Global University of Beirut

Dr. Wafi Haj Majid is currently a professor at the Global University of Beirut. He is a member of the prestigious Arabic language academy of Damascus and other research academies throughout the Middle East. He is an esteemed guest lecturer in Harvard University, Birmingham University and other international universities. He is a specialized expert in evaluating levels of academic and functional performance of university instructors according to international quality standards in the linguistic field.

Dr. Asmaa Al Fadala

Director of Research and Content Development at WISE

Director of Research and Content Development at WISE Dr. Asmaa Al Fadala is the Director of Research and Content Development at WISE. She is also a visiting fellow at Cambridge University. With over twenty years of experience in K-12 education, higher education and policy development, she has served as policy writer at the governmental level, professor, author of books on leadership reform and board member on educational organizations.

Ms. Svenia Busson

Global Learning Innovation explorer and First chair, European Edtech Alliance

Svenia Busson is a global Learning Innovation explorer, she travelled to 19 countries to find the most innovative teaching and learning practices. She is the author of ‘Exploring the Future of Education’ a book about Edtech and education innovations from Europe and founded LearnSpace, a Learning Innovation Hub in Paris, Edtech France and the European Edtech Alliance. She is now building a new Edtech VC fund to invest in the most promising startups in the field.

Professor. Anas Alsoud

Assistant to the president for foreign affairs, director of center of innovation and excellence, and director of the global engagement center at Al-Ahliyya Amman University

Anas is a professor of Informatics (electronic business and commerce). Prof. Anas holds a BSc in computer information systems from the University of Jordan (2006), MSc in Managing Information Technology from Salford University – UK (2007), and PhD in Informatics from the University of Reading – UK (2012). Since joining Al-Ahliyya Amman University in 2012, Anas has been involved with studies related to e-business, e-government, and cloud computing in developing countries.

Mr. Nicholas Cuthbert

Director of Research & Insight

Nicholas is a leading voice in international education and Director of Research and Insight for The PIE. He previously worked for 15 years in international development for Nottingham Trent University before pivo, The PIEting to leadership roles within the private student recruitment sector. He now works as an NED and advisor for various stakeholders, exploring the digital transformation of the industry and connecting the dots between public and private sector partnerships. He is passionate about entrepreneurship, graduate talent and the power of peer recruitment.

Daniel Bacelic

Head of ISVs, Public sector Amazon Web Services Europe Middle East and Africa

Daniel takes care of the education industry by driving programs supporting innovation and cloud journey with special focus on alliances, partners and solutions delivering services that lower costs, scale applications, respond quickly in emergencies, and meet the ever-changing needs of the modern student.

Dr. Gerry Hanley

Executive Director of MERLOT

Gerry Hanley Ph.D. is the Executive Director of MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching, www.merlot.org) and SkillsCommons (www.skillscommons.org) which are free and open digital libraries of academic and workforce development teaching, learning, and training resources administered at California State University Long Beach. At CSULB, Gerry is also the Director of the Center for Usability in Design and Accessibility and Professor Emeritus of Psychology; he teaches Human Factors, conducts research, and leads projects for industry, education, and government agencies.

Mr. Kamran Robert Kardan

Founder and CEO of Knowledge E

Kamran Robert Kardan is the Founder and CEO of Knowledge E, he also plays an active role in the Knowledge E Foundation. He founded Knowledge E in 2012, with the aim of providing unique, professional and high-quality services to the information professionals in the MENA region and beyond.

Mr. Salah Khalil

Founder and CEO Macat International Ltd and the founder of The Alexandria Trust

Founder and CEO Macat International Ltd and the founder of The Alexandria Trust, a London-based charity dedicated to restoring world-class education in the Arab region

Professor. Dahlia Mahmoud

Associate Professor | Academic Consultant CCI

Dahlia Mahmoud is an associate professor, an international educator with expertise in developing the educational modules for the regional cultural and creative industries sector. An academic with institutional advancement and strategic consulting expertise in research development, outreach through government and stakeholder relations and developing creative professional programs. Her career centers on implementing innovative design strategies and entrepreneurial initiatives. Mahmoud teaches creative approaches to visual communication and storytelling within the MENA and GCC academic structures.

Professor Mohamed Loutfi

President and Vice-Chancellor of the British University in Egypt

Professor Loutfi is currently President and Vice-Chancellor of the British University in Egypt. Prior to this, he held the post of the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Envoy at Coventry University, and served as the inaugural President of the Knowledge Hub, Coventry University’s branch campus in Egypt. Thoughout his career, he held a number of leadership roles as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University and at the University of Sunderland, UK.

Dr. Tom Fleming

Director of Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (TFCC)

Dr Tom Fleming is a global authority on the creative economy, cultural development and the role of the arts in society. He is Director of the leading creative economy and cultural consultancy and research agency, Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (TFCC): www.tfconsultancy.co.uk His work focuses on advising governments, municipalities and institutions across the world to develop effective research, policy, strategy and action.

Dr. Reem Ahmed Al Buainain

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Academic Affairs

Dr Reem Al Buainain is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Academic Affairs at Bahrain Polytechnic. Dr Reem Al Buainain holds a PhD in Quality Management in Higher Education from the University of Southampton.

Dr. David Pilsbury

Chief Development Officer at Oxford International Education Group

David Pilsbury leads development of new relationships and services for the rapidly growing Oxford International Education Group. As Coventry University DVCI from 2008 till 2021, his ambitious agenda made it the UK’s 3rd largest recruiter (enrolments increased more than 6 times); the UK’s largest provider of programmes overseas; and the operator of the world’s largest global enhancement programme including No.1 for student mobility 5 years running.

HE Dr Khalid Abdul Ghaffar

Acting Minister of Health and Population

Khalid Atef Abdul Ghaffar is a former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the current Minister of Health and Population in Egypt. He is also Acting Minister of Health and Population since October 2021.

H.E. Madam Rita Tani Iddi

Deputy Ghana High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland

Rita Tani Iddi is a Ghanaian politician who was the member of parliament for the Gushiegu constituency from 2005 to 2009. Rita won the Gushiegu seat during the December 2004 general election on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) While in parliament, she doubled as the deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines. She is currently the Deputy Ghana High commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Professor. Michael Murphy

President of the European University Association

A past President of University College Cork, Ireland (2007-17), he has been active in many academic organisations in Europe and the United States and has served as Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Chair of the Health Research Board of Ireland, Chair of the Irish Universities Association and Chair of the Permanent Working Group (PWG) of European Hospital Doctors. Currently, he chairs the Steering Committee of the European Learning and Teaching Forum and the Advisory Board of U-Multirank.

Professor. Silas Lwakabamba

Regional Managing Director, Africa Hub, Coventry University Group. Rwanda’s former education minister

Mr. Jeff Maggioncalda

CEO

Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE

Director at Hello Genius, USA, and an Adviser at Twin Science, Turkey; The Insights Family, UK; and Verofax, UAE

Prof. Graeme Atherton

Director of the Center of Inequality and Leveling Up (CELUP) at the University of West London

Prof. Lilac Alsafadi

President of Saudi Electronic University

Mr. Alex Beard

Senior Director

Dr. Anissa Moeini

Founder & CEO of Goldstar Education