Professor Thomas Efferth is a leading academic in pharmaceutical biology and AI-driven biomedical research at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His pioneering work integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with network pharmacology, focusing on cancer research, drug resistance, bioinformatics, and precision medicine. As Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, he has significantly advanced AI applications in transcriptomics, drug repurposing, predictive biomarkers, and toxicology. His research extends to infectious diseases, mental health disorders, and ecotoxicology, leveraging AI for data-driven insights in pharmacology. Prof. Efferth’s contributions include high-impact publications, competitive research funding, and editorial leadership in top-tier journals. Recognized among the top 2% of global scientists, he has held multiple honorary and visiting professorships worldwide. His research informs innovative AI-based methodologies in pharmaceutical sciences, shaping the future of personalized medicine and drug discovery.
Associate Professor Dr. Fathyah Hashim serves as the Dean of the Graduate School of Business at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She specializes in voluntary disclosure, corporate governance, and firm performance. Her research has been published in journals such as the Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance and the Malaysian Accounting Review. Dr. Hashim teaches courses including Accounting for Managers, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Social Enterprise to MBA students. She has held the position of visiting academic at Brunel Business School, Brunel University London, United Kingdom. In her administrative roles, Dr. Hashim has served as Deputy Dean (Academic, Career, and International) and Program Manager for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at USM. She is also a Peer Review Team Leader and Accreditation Adviser for The Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21), reviewing management programs at international business schools. Dr. Hashim holds a DBA and MSc in Accounting from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Plymouth, UK.
Dr. Mounir El Khatib (PhD, PMP) is a Professor and Program Chair and a seasoned academic and practitioner specializing in Digital Government and Digital Transformation, with expertise in project management, information systems, business strategy, and operations. He has collaborated with global leaders like Oracle and IBM-BCS and worked with the UAE Federal and Dubai Governments on strategic projects as an advisor, consultant, and project manager. An accomplished researcher with over 150 publications, Dr. El Khatib is also a frequent speaker at international conferences across the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. He holds a PhD and M.Phil in E-Transformation Management from the UK, alongside an M.Sc and B.Sc in Computer Engineering. Currently, he serves as Program Chair at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, Dubai.
Dr. Haitham Alzoubi is a Professor of Operations at Skyline University College, UAE, and serves as the Vice-President of GAFTIM (the Global Academic Forum on Technology Innovation and Management). Recognized among the top 2% of world scientists (2022/23/24), Dr. Alzoubi has made significant contributions to the fields of technology innovation and management. He is the editor-in-chief of several peer-reviewed journals and has chaired numerous IEEE and Springer conferences. He published over 300 publications most in top-tier journals with 65 h-Index, Dr. Alzoubi’s work has had a profound impact on academia and industry. Additionally, he is an editor and author of several international books, further cementing his role as a leading figure in his field.
Dr. Samah Alnuaimi is an expert in Innovation Management and Quality Excellence with over a decade of experience driving organizational transformation across government and academic sectors. She currently works in the Excellence and Services Sector at the Executive Council of Dubai Government, where she leads initiatives focused on enhancing organizational performance, service quality, and innovation capacity. In addition, Dr. Alnuaimi serves as a part-time academic at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. She is an Accredited Excellence Assessor and Trainer, recognized for her impactful work with the Dubai Government Excellence Program and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Holding a Ph.D. in Innovation Management from Sheffield Hallam University (UK), Dr. Alnuaimi has published internationally on topics such as digital innovation and integrated excellence frameworks. She has led numerous strategic projects, trained hundreds of professionals, and contributed to government-wide benchmarking and innovation initiatives. Her work uniquely blends academic rigor with practical execution, advancing digital transformation, innovation culture, and excellence systems in the UAE and beyond.
Nikolay Dilovski is experienced automotive engineer with over 20 years of experience in the area of vehicle engines in some of the biggest automotive companies in Europe. His main focus is the design, testing and virutal simulation of the behaviour of engine components and systems. Since 2023 Nikolay Dilovski overtook the lead of the technical department of Haycad Infotech. Haycad has been one of the key software companies in Bulgaria for more than 15 years, supporting industrial companies in taking the right steps towards digitalization of their engineering and manufacturing processes.
Alexander Angelov, PhD is the Managing Director of the Center for Creative Training (https://cct.bg) and CCT Poland https://cctpoland.com/en/ Alexander Angelov is the founder and Managing Director of the Center for Creative Training in Bulgaria and the educational company CCT Poland in Poland. He has been a member of the Ministry of Education and Science’s Committee for Innovative Schools since its establishment and serves on the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM). Alexander has over 15 years of experience in education and digital technologies. He has visited more than 1000 schools, kindergartens, and universities across four continents. He holds a PhD with a dissertation titled “Change in Educational Organization through the Implementation of Cloud Technologies” and lectures to Master Degree Students. Currently, he develops training programs for teachers in Bulgaria and Poland, conducts training sessions focused on the implementation of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and advises organizations on improving their processes—particularly educational processes—to better address contemporary global challenges and harness the potential of digital technologies. Alexander is dedicated to quality educational transformation. He and his team continuously build new partnerships and projects with internationally recognized experts, adapting successful global educational models to the local context. Alexander was the first Google Certified Innovator in Bulgaria and Central and Eastern Europe and has been a speaker at TEDx Varna (2017) (bit.ly/tedxvarna) and TEDx Stara Zagora (2019).
Veselin Angelov is the Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the Management Board of Allianz Bulgaria Insurance Company. In this capacity, he plays a key role in the strategic management of the company and the advancement of processes within the insurance industry. Furthermore, Veselin is actively engaged in the activities of the Association of Bulgarian Insurers, where he serves as Chair of the Property, Marine, Aviation Insurance and Catastrophic Risks Committee, and as Deputy Chair of the Life Insurance Committee.
Veselin holds a PhD from the Faculty of Economics at the Technical University of Sofia, as well as two Master’s degrees in “Business Administration” and “Industrial Engineering” from the same institution. This academic background has provided him with comprehensive knowledge and skills that are essential for managing the financial dimensions of the company. His doctoral studies have equipped him to implement innovative solutions and lead complex projects in the insurance sector—an expertise that is fundamental to his successful leadership within both Allianz and the Association.