Prof. Silas Lwakabamba is a renowned academic and leader in the field of engineering education. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has held teaching positions, served as a director, and held leadership roles at universities in Tanzania and Rwanda. He has also served as Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Education for Rwanda. Prof. Lwakabamba has been involved in various national, regional, and international boards and committees, contributing to the advancement of education and engineering in Africa. Currently, he serves as the Regional Managing Director of Coventry University Africa Hub in Kigali, Rwanda.

Jeff Maggioncalda joined Coursera as CEO in June 2017. He previously served for 18 years as the founding CEO at Financial Engines Inc, a company co-founded by economist and Nobel Prize winner William Sharpe. Financial Engines grew rapidly under Jeff’s leadership, providing high-quality online investment advice that has helped millions of people save and prepare for retirement. Jeff has also worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and Cornerstone Research, and continues to serve as a Director of Silicon Valley Bank, Inc. He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Stanford University. In his free time, Jeff is a lifelong learner and proud dad, and enjoys studying music theory and spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a renowned education figure, serving as the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and founding CEO of the Children’s University. He is also involved as a Board Director and Adviser in various education-focused organizations globally. With a teaching background, he held positions as an Education Adviser, Senior Inspector, and Director of Education in the UK. Dr Graus is a member of influential councils and advisory boards in education, including Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council and the Dubai Future Councils. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at prominent education conferences worldwide. In recognition of his contributions, he received the OBE and the Global Education Leadership Award.

Lilac Alsafadi is the president of Saudi Electronic University and holds leadership roles in various organizations. She has extensive experience in academia and has contributed to national transformation initiatives and Saudi Vision 2030 projects. Lilac has held positions such as Vice-President of Microsoft Arabia and Director of the Technology Incubator at Riyadh Tech Valley. She is also a co-founder of Digital Data Solutions Company. With a focus on data science and artificial intelligence, Lilac has authored numerous scientific papers and participated in international conferences. She holds a master’s and doctorate in Computer Science, being the first Saudi woman to achieve a doctorate in the field.