International Conference & Expo on Future-Ready Universities 2025

He was Distinguished Professor of Education at Beijing Normal University (2018-2024). He was awarded a Personal Chair at the University of Auckland in 2000 and held the Chair at the University of Glasgow (2000-2006) before being appointed Excellence Hire Professor at Illinois (2005-2011) and Professor of Education at the University of Waikato (2011-2018). Michael was Editor-in Chief of Educational Philosophy and Theory for 25 years and the founding editor of several other international journals. Michael has written over 120 books and some 500 journal articles on a wide range of topics in philosophy, educational theory and political economy. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2008 and a Fellow of Humanities in NZ in 2006. His recent works include two books on the apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic philosophy including Civilisational Collapse and the Philosophy of Post-Apocalyptic Survival (Peter Lang, 2025) and he is currently editing the Handbook of Ecological Civilization (Springer, 2025). Personal website: https://michaeladrianpeters.com/

Fazal Rizvi is an Emeritus Professor of Global Studies in Education at the University of Melbourne, as well as at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has written extensively on issues of identity and culture in transnational contexts, globalization and education policy, internationalization of higher education, and Australia-Asia relations. A sequel to his widely acclaimed book, Globalizing Education Policy (Routledge 2010) is published under the title, Reimagining Globalization and Education (Routledge 2022). He is an editor-in-chief of the 4th edition of International Encyclopedia of Education (Elsevier 2022). His most recent book is an edited collection, Arts and Global Multiculturalism (Elgar 2025). Fazal is a past Editor of the journal, Discourse: Studies in Cultural Politics of Education, as well as a past President of the Australian Association of Research in Education.

a multinational AI and data solutions firm delivering measurable outcomes for Fortune 500 enterprises and government institutions across MENA, Europe, APAC, and the United States.
Beyond Addo AI, he has built and launched multiple ventures at the intersection of AI and industry, translating deep technical expertise into real-world products and businesses that solve problems others are still theorizing about.
A Stanford University Top 2% Scientist and PhD holder in AI from Eindhoven University of Technology, he is the author of 50+ peer-reviewed publications with over 6,000 citations in leading venues including IEEE TKDE and ICDM, and a recipient of the World Bank Group Research Innovation Award. He also serves as Professor and Director of the Data Science Lab at Information Technology University in Lahore.
As a Member of Pakistan's Prime Minister's AI Task Force and a corporate governance-trained director, he has advised the World Bank, the Government of Singapore, the Government of Punjab, and leading international development organizations on responsible AI deployment, work grounded in his globally cited research on fairness-aware machine learning and ethical AI governance. Dr. Kamiran doesn't just understand where AI is going. He's one of the people building it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-dada-a9692a242/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehak-zaraq-bari-35752a56/
Co-Founder/Partner/ Master Trainer - The ADR Initiative
Partner - SAZH Consulting LLP
Mehak Zaraq Bari – Family & Workplace Mediator | Conflict Resolution Specialist | Educator | Human Rights Advocate
I am a leader and pioneer in the field of conflict resolution and mediation in Pakistan, among the few formally trained in civil-commercial, workplace, and family mediation. With over 18 years of experience in education, human rights, and mental health support, my career reflects a unique integration of disciplines aimed at transforming conflicts into opportunities for growth and understanding.
My work extends beyond practice into leadership in capacity-building. I have trained and mentored teachers, professionals, and students in negotiation, mediation, research, and legal education. As a specialist in children’s rights in both Shariah and Western law, I bring a culturally broad perspective on justice, equity, and protection, allowing me to engage effectively across diverse communities. My mediation practice is strengthened by formal training in mental health counseling (CPCAB UK) and a Diploma in Psychotherapy. This integration of emotional well-being with conflict management allows me to address disputes holistically, especially in family mediation, where emotional and cultural complexities often run deep. I approach conflicts not merely as legal challenges but as human experiences that require empathy, clarity, and sustainable solutions.
I am the founder of The ADR Initiative and The Justice Initiative, platforms dedicated to mainstreaming mediation and promoting access to justice. My leadership has included collaborations with the World Bank, the Asia Foundation, and USAID projects through SAZH Consulting, focusing on foreign investment, dispute resolution, and policy development.
As a pioneer, I introduced IMI-accredited mediation trainings to Pakistan in 5 local languages and made it accessible with online trainings. I also strive to advance workplace and family mediation as recognized fields of practice with advocacy, awareness campaigns and helping in making institutional changes. My vision is to bridge theory with practice, empower individuals and institutions, and create trusted pathways for constructive conflict resolution.
I hold an LLM in Human Rights Law from Queen Mary University of London and continue to combine scholarship, advocacy, and practice to make mediation more accessible and impactful. Today, my focus is on family mediation, where I support families navigating sensitive disputes around relationships, parenting, and culture—always striving to foster dignity, respect, and stronger bonds.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjnemo/

Rabia Suhail is the Head of CAPS, leading counselling, alumni relations, and student placement initiatives across The City School network. She oversees the development of student leadership through experiential learning and drives large-scale programs that strengthen student wellbeing, career readiness, and global exposure. With a strong focus on building capacity across campuses, Rabia ensures counsellors and school leaders are equipped to deliver a comprehensive counselling framework that supports students in making informed academic and career decisions.

He plays a key role in promoting the French language and culture across the country through educational, cultural, and institutional partnerships.He holds a Master’s degree in Management from Paris Dauphine University and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Paris VII Denis-Diderot. His academic background combines strategic management with a strong understanding of historical and cultural dynamics.
Before his current role, he gained significant professional experience in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, developing expertise in cross-cultural dialogue and international project management. In 2022, he worked with the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, contributing to crisis response efforts related to the war in Ukraine.
In Pakistan, he has led the development of ambitious programmes to strengthen French language education, including partnerships with major universities and teacher training initiatives. He is also actively involved in major cultural collaborations such as the Lahore Biennale, ThinkFest, and the Lahore Digital Arts Festival.
Under his leadership, Alliance Française de Lahore has expanded significantly, reinforcing its role as a key platform for cultural diplomacy between France and Pakistan.
He speaks French, Spanish, and Russian, with working knowledge of Ukrainian. His career reflects a deep commitment to international cooperation and cultural diplomacy

He also served as Deputy Director, British Council in Iraq He has Worked on cultural relations, education, and development programmes.

• International education policy and reform
• English language teaching (ELT) systems
• Capacity building for teachers and institutions
• UK–Pakistan educational collaboration
• Cultural diplomacy and international partnerships

Prior to joining USEFP, he worked as an Operations Manager for a leading educational institution in Gujrat for five years. Through his role at Education USA, he has advised thousands of students on higher education opportunities in the United States, making him a key figure in academic outreach and student counselling in the region.
His expertise lies in international admissions, scholarship guidance, and academic mobility pathways. His work significantly contributes to strengthening educational ties between Pakistan and the United States.
His interests include technology trends, futures trading, and energy conservation initiatives

Career diplomat with experience in international relations and public diplomacy. Focused on academic collaboration, scholarship programs, and student mobility between Türkiye and Pakistan. Promotes education as a tool of diplomacy and international partnership.

David Palfreyman is a leading expert on higher education law and policy. He serves as the Director of the Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies (OxCHEPS) and has been the Bursar of New College, Oxford, since 1988.
Core Expertise

• University Governance: An authority on how universities are managed, funded, and regulated globally.
• Legal Frameworks: Co-author of The Law of Higher Education, the definitive text on the legal relationship between students, staff, and universities.
• Policy Leadership: Former board member of the Office for Students (OfS), the UK’s higher education regulator.

Key Contributions

• The Oxford Tutorial: A vocal advocate for the traditional tutorial system as a gold standard for teaching.
• Publications: Author of Universities and Colleges: A Very Short Introduction and joint editor of the 27-volume International Studies in Higher Education series.
• Education: Holds degrees in law (LLB), business (MBA), and arts (MA).

Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman is a renowned Pakistani organic chemist and academic leader, best known for his transformative tenure as the founding Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan (2002–2008).
Key Highlights

• Most Decorated Scientist: He is honored with Pakistan's top civil awards, including the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (2002), and was the first from the Muslim world to win the UNESCO Science Prize (1999).
• Academic Leadership: A Fellow of the Royal Society and author of over 1,200 publications, he is a global authority in organic chemistry.
• Educational Reform: During his HEC tenure, he revolutionized higher education by establishing numerous universities and launching nationwide digital initiatives.
• Current Focus: He serves as the Chairman of the PM Task Force on Science & Technology and Professor Emeritus at ICCBS

Dr. Hammad Naveed is the Pro-Rector of the University of Central Punjab (UCP), appointed in July 2024.
He is an expert in Computer Science and Bioinformatics, holding a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Fulbright Scholar. Before joining UCP, he served as the Director of FAST-NU Lahore and held research positions at the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago and KAUST.
His work focuses on Computational Biology and Generative AI, and he has co-founded several health-tech startups.

Dr. Atif Alvi is the Dean of the School of Systems and Technology (SST) at UMT, Lahore. A University of Cambridge PhD alumnus, he is a seasoned academic leader with over two decades of experience in computer science education. His expertise centers on Artificial Intelligence, Learning Analytics, and Health Informatics, having previously held leadership roles at LUMS, FCCU, and Lahore Garrison University.

Mr. Umair Khan is a Fullstack Agentic AI Engineer building production-grade multi-agent systems across healthcare, cybersecurity, and emergency response — while leading AI Tutor deployment at UMT CEI. Runner-up at Innovista Ravi's National Agentic AI Competition, he is one of Pakistan's emerging voices at the intersection of AI and institutional transformation.