Events

Dubai, UAE, November 2025

Zayed University hosted the Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance (JAAF) Conference 2025 from November 9–12, 2025, marking the first-ever Middle East edition of this prestigious international event.

The conference brought together leading scholars, editors, and practitioners from around the world to discuss the evolving intersections of regulation, innovation, and research in accounting and finance. Opening remarks by Prof. Philip Hamill, President Prof. Kevin Hall, and Prof. Catherine Nickerson, Dean of the College of Business, highlighted Zayed University’s growing role in fostering global collaboration and advancing impactful research.

Under the leadership of Dr. Mariem Khalifa, Conference Chair, this landmark event reinforced the UAE’s position as a hub for academic excellence and knowledge exchange in the region.

Dubai, UAE, October 2025

I attended the 17th Conference on International Human Resource Management, hosted by the University of Dubai in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University and the American University of Dubai.

The conference, themed “Global Cities, the Future of Work, and the Evolving Landscape of International Human Resource Management,” explored how global cities such as Dubai shape human capital, talent mobility, and the future of international HR practices.

It was a pleasure to attend together with Aleksandra Dženopoljac, connect with Benjamin Stevenin and Mathias Falkenstein, and exchange ideas with Ihsan Zakri following his insightful presentation on student mobility. The panel discussion led by Washika Haak-Saheem and the networking dinner in Al Ain, held on Jabel Hafeet mountain, made the experience especially memorable.

At the Academy of Management (AOM) Annual Meeting 2025, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, I presented my research paper titled “Leadership, Trust, and Knowledge: Enhancing SME Performance in Transition Economies.” The study examines how leadership behaviors and trust-based relationships facilitate knowledge sharing and, in turn, strengthen innovation and performance among small and medium enterprises operating in emerging and transitional economies. 

Participation in AOM 2025 provided an opportunity to engage with global scholars and practitioners, exchange insights on knowledge-based leadership, and explore potential collaborations on comparative studies of SME transformation in the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe.

I participated as a keynote speaker and paper presenter at the 8th International Scientific Conference on Contemporary Issues in Economics, Business and Management (EBM 2024), hosted by the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac. 

As a keynote speaker, I delivered the talk “Active Learning and Generative AI in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation with Responsibility,” highlighting how generative AI can transform teaching and learning through active engagement, ethical integration, and responsible innovation

In addition, I presented the co-authored paper “Global Accreditation, Local Impact: Evaluating the Influence of International Business School Accreditation on Institutional Performance,” which examined the role of AACSB accreditation in improving research productivity, teaching quality, and global competitiveness of business schools across the MENA region.

This conference brought together academics and practitioners to discuss emerging challenges and innovations in business and management, providing a platform to exchange ideas on AI in education, institutional development, and strategic transformation in higher education.

I participated in the Employer Round Table during the National Careers Week at Dubai English Speaking Schools (DESS), engaging with students to discuss career development, leadership, and professional growth. The event received highly positive feedback from both students and organizers, highlighting the value of connecting learners with professionals from diverse industries to inspire informed and ambitious career choices.

Kuwait, March 2023

I attended the QS Higher Ed Summit: Middle East & Africa 2023, held in Kuwait and online from 12–14 March 2023. The event brought together higher education leaders from across the region to discuss the theme “Envisioning a Meaningful Future: Purpose-Driven Higher Education in the Middle East and Africa.” Discussions focused on building purpose-driven universities through sustainability, innovation, education reform, and enhanced employability—reinforcing the role of higher education in driving meaningful regional and global impact. 

On February 10, 2022, I took part in the CBE STEPS Forum organized by the College of Business and Economics (CBE), United Arab Emirates University, serving as the Q&A Moderator for the session titled “The Health Sector Going Digital: The Road Ahead.” The forum brought together experts and practitioners to discuss the profound impact of digital technologies on the healthcare sector. The distinguished speakers — Mr. Frederik Bisbjerg, Executive Director of Digitization at Daman, and Mr. Hein van Eck, Chief Strategy Officer at Mediclinic Middle East — shared their insights on how healthcare providers and insurers are responding to rapid digital transformation. 

In May 2019, I participated in an academic and professional visit to the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow, Russia — one of the largest innovation hubs in Eastern Europe. The trip included attending the Startup Village 2019, an international event bringing together over 20,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors from more than 80 countries.

During the visit, I engaged with key institutions such as the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Technopark Incubator, and Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas, exploring models of university–industry collaboration, innovation ecosystems, and startup acceleration.

The experience contributed to developing proposals for the AUM Business Consulting Center and Entrepreneurship Club, emphasizing how higher education can support entrepreneurship, innovation, and applied research through structured incubation and industry partnerships.

Boston, USA, August 2017

At the 23rd Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2017) held in Boston, USA, I presented the paper “Assessing the Intellectual and Knowledge-Based Assets of Organizations: Case of Global Oil and Gas Operations Firms.”

The study examined how leading oil and gas companies leverage intellectual capital and knowledge-based resources to enhance competitiveness and financial performance, emphasizing the strategic role of information systems in managing intangible assets.