Salah Khalil is a social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Macat International Ltd. He is dedicated to education, employability, the future of work, and 21st-century skills. Salah has worked closely with universities and Ministries of Higher Education across the Arab world, delivering critical thinking assessments and development. He is also the founder of The Alexandria Trust, a charity focused on restoring world-class education in the Arab region. Salah’s extensive experience in business, political reform, institutional change, and philanthropy has shaped his vision for catalytic philanthropy to bring about a transformative impact in education.

Dahlia Mahmoud is an associate professor and international educator specializing in developing educational modules for regional cultural and creative industries. With expertise in research development and strategic consulting, she builds cross-disciplinary initiatives and works on government projects in the UAE. Her focus is on the construction of cultural industries, aligning with UN SDG goals for women and youth empowerment. Dahlia has led initiatives for the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Executive Office of Dubai.

Professor Loutfi is the President and Vice-Chancellor of the British University in Egypt. He has held leadership positions at Coventry University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the University of Sunderland. He has international responsibilities, including roles at the Observatory of Magna Charta Univeristatum, the Arab European Leadership Network in Higher Education, and a global education think tank in China. Professor Loutfi coordinates partnerships with over 25 countries and has worked on EU projects for higher education reforms and quality assurance. He holds degrees in economics, political science, and information technology, and has expertise in systems thinking and social systems modeling.

Dr. Tom Fleming is a global authority on the creative economy and cultural development. As the Director of Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (TFCC), he advises governments and institutions worldwide on research, policy, strategy, and action for the creative sector. With clients including The World Bank, UNESCO, and the European Commission, he has led strategic research projects in various regions. His recent work in the MENA region includes developing a Creative Economy Strategy for Kuwait, a program for the UAE focusing on education and technology, and ongoing consultancy for creative and cultural development in Egypt and Lebanon. TFCC is a leading consultancy and research agency in the field.

Dr. Reem Al Buainain is the Deputy CEO of Academic Affairs at Bahrain Polytechnic. With a PhD in Quality Management in Higher Education, she provides exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 crisis. Dr. Al Buainain is a keynote speaker on academic leadership and change management. Her roles include Director of Quality & Planning at Bahrain Polytechnic and Chief of Academic Accreditation Standards at the Higher Education Council. She has successfully led strategic planning and program accreditations, receiving commendation for her comprehensive tools.

David Pilsbury leads development for Oxford International Education Group. As Coventry University DVCI from 2008-2021, he transformed it into the UK’s 3rd largest recruiter and largest provider of overseas programs. He won awards for internationalization and was recognized for his services to education. He advises organizations such as JISC, China-Britain Business Council, and THE Student. Pilsbury has a background in research policy, strategic consultancy, and investment banking, and holds a D.Phil from Oxford.