Panelists

Dr. Asim Bashir is a Lecturer and Assessment Coordinator at the University of Birmingham Dubai. With over 15 years of higher education experience in the UK and the Middle East, he has taught and led academic development initiatives across a range of international contexts.

A holder of a Doctorate in Education and an Advance HE Senior Fellow, he is also a trained assessor and mentor for Advance HE, supporting professional recognition for educators through the Professional Standards Framework. His research interests focus on academic literacies, formative assessment, and the pedagogical impact of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence in higher education. He has published and presented internationally on these themes, contributing to global conversations on innovation in teaching and learning.

Dr. Hala Al Khalifa is an educator and academic specializing in educational leadership, early childhood, and inclusive education. She holds a Master’s in Education and International Development and a PhD in Learning and Leadership from University College London (UCL). With experience spanning the Ministry of Education, non-profit initiatives, and her current role as a lecturer at Bahrain Teachers College, Dr. Al Khalifa is committed to advancing high-quality education and empowering future educators to create inclusive learning environments.

Dr. Mahinour brings more than 20 years of experience in education, from classroom teaching to faculty development, instructional design, and academic leadership. She began her career as a software programmer and IT trainer, later becoming a high school teacher before moving into higher education—so she understands teaching and learning from the ground up.
She holds a Doctorate in Higher Education and an MSc in Information Technology from the University of Liverpool, combining deep pedagogical knowledge with a strong foundation in technology-enhanced learning.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mahinour has played a key role in shaping faculty development at a national level. She has designed and delivered over 100,000 hours of professional development for educators, covering topics such as teaching methodologies, instructional design, generative AI, and assessment strategies. She has also launched numerous courses and certification programs, led transformative microteaching initiatives, and empowered hundreds of faculty members in earning Advance HE Fellowships.
As the founder of the Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network on LinkedIn, Dr. Mahinour created a vibrant professional community that connects educators across the region. Through this platform, she fosters knowledge-sharing, hosts impactful events, and supports members in their pursuit of teaching excellence.
Dr Mahinour is an Assistant professor of Education and the Director of the Teaching and learning Center at Ajman University.

A global transformation leader at the intersection of tech education, enterprise growth, and people development. Known for scaling tech academies, optimizing operations, and building future-ready talent pipelines across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. With an educational background in Telecommunications Engineering, brings a multidisciplinary foundation to a career that spans software engineering, corporate digital transformation in the banking sector, and global operational leadership. Adept at designing and leading operational frameworks that drive efficiency, manage risk, and enable sustainable enterprise expansion. Recognized for infusing innovation and creativity into strategy, empowering talent, forging strategic partnerships, and delivering data-driven impact through cross-functional collaboration, digital-first approaches, and a relentless focus on scalable excellence.