Dr. Hazel Gardner
Dr. Hazel Gardner is a highly respected academic and consultant with over 20 years of international experience spanning
education, research, and administration. She earned her undergraduate degree from Dundee University, a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Medicine at Glasgow University, and a PhD from the School of Molecular Sciences at the University of Western Australia. Building on her extensive academic background, Dr. Gardner has established herself as a skilled consultant.
Passionate about developing young talent, Dr. Gardner has designed and implemented internship programs both within universities and with industry partners. She continues to mentor former students as they transition into their professional careers, providing guidance in educational and workplace settings. Her proudest achievements are seeing her mentees grow into respected, passionate professionals holding significant positions of responsibility.
As a researcher, Dr. Gardner has contributed to academic institutions in the UK, UAE, and Australia, securing over 1 million AUD in industry funding for research and development projects. She has also published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers, cementing her reputation as a dedicated and innovative scholar.
Dr. Gardner is known for her collaborative, conscientious, and forward-thinking approach. She embraces new technologies and ideas, leveraging her knowledge and experience to devise creative solutions to complex challenges.
Hazel Gardner is a dynamic Consultant with over a decade of experience in strategic business solutions. She specializes in helping companies enhance operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth. and is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to solve complex challenges.
Alison Fleming
Alison Fleming is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in global investment banks, private asset markets, sustainability, governance and the development of people. Alison works at C-Suite as both executive and non-executive director in public and private companies. Her experience gives her a unique ability to coach and mentor from Board level to young people finding their feet in the world. She has played pivotal roles in the incorporation of businesses and the establishment of demand for carbon credits through her work with Respira in the UAE. Academically accomplished, Alison has a Master’s degree from Oxford University, is an accredited Senior Practitioner Executive Coach who is passionate about promoting corporate sustainability and facilitating energy transition. She mentors with Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) and serves on the advisory board of Cranmore Partners, an award-winning global corporate and project finance advisory boutique headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, she is the founder of Sasena LLC, her personal vehicle for coaching, mentoring, advisory and consulting assignments. Throughout her career, Alison has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing people and fostering good governance and sustainable practices within the corporate world. Her role as Senior Advisor at Respira has been instrumental in driving private capital into impactful carbon finance projects. Alison's innovative approach and strategic vision have led to significant engagements within the UAE, solidifying her position as a leader in her field and an advocate for environmental sustainability. Alison is known for her vision, lateral thinking, collaborative engagement, compassion and dedication to enabling people and organisations to thrive.
Dr. Benjamin Grab
Dr. Benjamin Grab is a distinguished business consultant and co-founder of YOA Management, renowned for his extensive international experience in strategy, digital transformation, and finance. He has adeptly navigated both corporate environments and entrepreneurial ventures, earning a reputation as a versatile and innovative professional.
Throughout his career, Dr. Grab has led high-impact projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, collaborating with clients in the mobility, aviation, energy, and finance sectors. His expertise encompasses agile strategy development, organizational transformation, and performance management. Notably, he has advised multinational corporations, government agencies, and financial institutions on optimizing governance structures, enhancing operational efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence into project and performance management systems.
Dr. Grab is deeply committed to knowledge sharing and mentorship. He regularly delivers executive training sessions and guest lectures, equipping professionals and students with the tools to drive meaningful change. His recent initiatives include virtually mentoring future changemakers in Bhutan and sharing project management insights in Germany, reflecting his dedication to fostering global innovation and collaboration.
Known for his analytical, collaborative, and results-driven approach, Dr. Grab excels at transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. His ability to blend strategic insight with hands-on execution has solidified his status as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the business consulting arena.
Michael Pazinas
Michael Pazinas is Acting Director of the Center for Educational Innovation at Zayed University, where he leads strategic initiatives at the intersection of pedagogy, faculty development, and AI. A Senior Fellow of Advance HE and certified Quality Matters peer reviewer, he has developed large-scale programmes on learning integrity, faculty futures, and AI-resilient assessment. His work responds directly to the challenges facing higher education in the UAE and the wider region, where questions of authenticity, academic integrity, and the role of AI in learning are pressing institutional priorities.
With a background in instructional design, learning experience design, and intercultural education, Michael emphasizes curiosity, struggle, reflection, and dialogue as the conditions that make learning meaningful and lasting. His initiatives include LIFE (Learning Integrity and Faculty Empowerment), which integrates AI-aware assessment design, faculty mentoring, and international partnerships to safeguard learning integrity while enabling innovation. He also leads projects that support the UAE’s higher education sector in aligning with global standards while addressing the specific cultural and pedagogical contexts of the region.
Michael’s research and practice connect design thinking with academic rigour. He experiments with evidence-based learning strategies and borrows techniques from UX design, such as persuasive and validation patterns, as micro-experiments within the design cycle. This approach allows educators to test and refine interventions in practice while maintaining focus on authentic human learning. He also draws on insights from emotion, creativity, and flow to show how motivation and engagement can be sustained even as AI reshapes the educational landscape.
Dr. Carol Campbell
Carol Campbell is a psychologist with over 30 years of service working within both the health and education sectors in the UK and across the Middle East. With a PhD in Psychology and a MA in Education, her expertise and skills have been used to lead and mentor dynamic teams of academic professionals, students and colleagues, and develop and successfully deliver educational support systems in applied settings.