As we step into 2025–2026, we extend our sincere gratitude to our returning members who have renewed their commitment and continued this journey with us, as well as a warm welcome to those joining our board for the first time in 2026. Your combined expertise, fresh perspectives, and dedication to excellence are an invaluable asset to our institution and our students. Together, we look forward to another impactful year of collaboration, innovation, and making a lasting difference at the University of Stirling RAK Campus.
Zahra Zayat is an experienced, results driven senior executive currently leading evision / e& life as Chief Commercial Officer. With deep expertise in driving sustainable growth, scalability, and digital transformation, Zahra Zayat plays a key role in shaping the future of digital media, technology-driven and consumer digital services, ensuring strategic growth across diverse markets.
With a career spanning leadership role in telecom, media, financial services, management consulting, and digital platforms, Zahra has successfully driven scalability, revenue growth, and market entry strategies. She is a recognized leader in streaming services and digital commerce, with a strong ability to forge impactful partnerships that fuel innovation.
A visionary and strategic thinker, Zahra is passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions to enhance consumer experiences and drive business transformation. Zahra has led diverse teams across multiple commercial roles covering MENAP. She is known for her innovative thinking, problem-solving mindset, cross-functional leadership, and ability to build high-performing teams that deliver tangible results.
Committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and high-growth ecosystem, Zahra thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments where she can push boundaries and create meaningful impact.
Ahmad bin Essa is a highly accomplished executive with over 24 years of experience in the media, entertainment, and real estate sectors, specializing in organizational transformation, strategic leadership, and customer experience enhancement. He currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Technical Officer at Dubai Holding Entertainment, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the entertainment industry.
Before joining Dubai Holding, Ahmad held senior leadership roles at some of the region’s most prominent entertainment destinations. As Deputy CEO of Dubai Parks and Resorts, he contributed to the strategic transformation of the business, reinforcing its position as a leading entertainment destination in the Middle East. Prior to that, as CEO of Global Village, he spearheaded the redevelopment and transformation of the attraction, significantly enhancing its global appeal.
Ahmad also brings extensive real estate development and operational experience, having worked with the Engineer’s Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where he led operations for iconic projects in Dubai’s government sector. His career also includes leadership roles at Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company and a marine engineering tenure with BP, UK.
In addition to his executive leadership, Ahmad has actively contributed to the advancement of the entertainment industry through key board positions. He currently serves as the Chairman of Global Village and a Board Member of Legoland Dubai Resorts. He previously held a three-year board position with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), USA, further strengthening his global influence in the industry.
Ahmad is a distinguished graduate of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Leadership Program with a strong academic background spanning multiple disciplines. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Performance Management at Anglia Ruskin University, UK, expected to be completed in 2025. His educational qualifications include a Master’s degree in International Law from the University of Paris II, an Executive Master’s in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics from ESCP Business School, France, and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Sunderland, UK. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northumbria University, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Imam Malik College, UAE. His further academic achievements include a Diploma in Public Administration from the National University of Singapore and a Diploma in Small and Medium Enterprise Entrepreneurship from Cambridge International College.
Ahmad’s extensive leadership experience, strategic vision, and global industry expertise make him an invaluable member of the Industry Advisory Board. His ability to drive organizational transformation, combined with his strong academic background and mentorship contributions, positions him as a key asset in shaping the future growth and strategic direction of our organization. We are honored to have Mr. Ahmad Bin Essa as a valued member of University of Stirling RAK Campus Industry Advisory Board.
With responsibility for managing Talent Acquisition across 9 countries, Damian supports the delivery of over 4,500 new hires annually across regions including the Middle East, India, Egypt, Northern Europe, and is currently expanding recruitment efforts in the Americas (NYC and Panama).
Damian is dedicated to driving the Talent Mobility Agenda, ensuring both internal and external leadership succession across the Group and its investments.
He collaborates across the HR team to ensure we continue delivering a world-class experience for both our colleagues and candidates.
Co-leading the Diversity & Inclusion agenda, Damian is focused on advancing the Women-in-Leadership program and increasing inclusion for People of Determination across the Group.
Fady Sleiman is a distinguished senior executive and a leading authority on business transformation across the EMEA region, bringing over 20 years of progressive leadership experience as a Chief Information Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and strategic advisor. He has extensive experience across many industries, including energy, oil & gas, finance & banking, aviation, healthcare, investment management, construction, and data centers, driving innovation across all sectors.
Mr. Sleiman currently serves as Group Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Albawani Holding, one of Saudi Arabia's premier holding conglomerates (partly owned by PIF). In this role, he spearheads the technology-driven transformation of Albawani Group's enterprise-wide digital agenda.
Throughout his career, Mr. Sleiman has held C-Suite leadership roles across the world at globally recognized organizations including General Electric, Petrofac, Mubadala/Waha Capital, BNP Paribas, and Mantrac Group, accumulating deep expertise in AI and digital strategy, large-scale business transformations, and technology-led business model reinvention. His leadership consistently translates into enhanced operational efficiency, competitive differentiation, and sustainable growth across complex, multi-sector enterprises.
Beyond his CIO and CDO mandates, Mr. Sleiman has also served as Chief Innovation Officer at General Electric and Petrofac, roles in which he pioneered innovation frameworks, cultivated emerging technology ecosystems, and embedded a culture of continuous reinvention across global operations.
Tamil Selvan Ramadoss is a Seasoned Strategic Finance & Business Transformation Professional trained from Harvard Business School (HBS), with International accreditations in Finance, Accounting, Project Management, International Arbitration, Risk Management, Sustainable Finance and Maritime Economics. He has more than 25 years of International Corporate world experience across 20+ verticals.
He specializes in Strategic Financial Planning, Sustainable & Transition Finance, Financial Reporting (IFRS & IPSAS), Public-Private Partnership, International Arbitration, Maritime Economics, Project Mgt., Digital Transformation & Intelligent Automation, Profit Maximization, Risk assessment, and driving business transformation across multiple industries.
Mr. Tamil is currently heading as Group Chief Finance & Business Transformation Officer of RMB Holdings, JAFZA, UAE. In the past 25 years has served in various capacities as Group CFO, Group Head of Finance at Dubai Government Ports Customs, Free Zone & Maritime Authority, MASA Group, JAFZA, Dubai, Dubai World, Citicorp, Deutsche Bank, Ford Motors and in various Large Business Houses in UAE and India.
An International Multi-Award-Winning Finance Leader ranked as “Top 100 Leaders in Finance”, “Outstanding Leadership Award”, “Visionary Award” and “Best CFO & Taxation Expert Award” for 4 consecutive years (7 Awards) from 2021-2024 by the Global Conference on Insurance & Finance, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA, the Money 2.0 Conference, Dubai, UAE and Impact Leadership Global Awards, Dubai, UAE.
Michael is a Senior Director of Communications at Presight where he leads the communications function for the organization.
With more than 20 years of marketing communications experience, Michael has served as a senior communications advisor to governments, policy makers and some of the world’s leading telco and technology brands, including the GSMA, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, the Mobile and Wireless Forum, Etisalat, stc, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, Tencent, Huawei, Alibaba, G42, PIF, MCIT, ICANN and Motorola. He specialises in thought leadership positioning, public affairs, content marketing, stakeholder engagement and issues management.
Prior to Presight, Michael was the Head of Technology Practice MEA at PR agency Burson, where he led a team of 50 consultants and was a trusted counsel for local, regional and global clients in the public sector, telecommunications, IT, software, enterprise, esports and consumer technology sectors.
Fahad is a seasoned IT leader with over 18 years of experience driving large-scale technology transformations across the MENA region. As the Senior Director of IT at Talabat (Delivery Hero), he played a pivotal role in scaling the company from 100 to 7,000 employees while enabling its remarkable 100%+ year-on-year growth.
IT Team Building & Leadership: Built and scaled IT teams from scratch, fostering a high-performance culture that achieved a 70%+ Net Promoter Score.
Complex IT Infrastructure: Successfully designed and managed IT infrastructures across 175+ locations, including corporate offices, warehouses, dark stores and cloud kitchens.
User & Service Support: Successfully led IT operations to support 7,000 users, ensuring seamless service delivery and operational efficiency.
Cost Optimization: Through strategic planning, he delivered a 20% reduction in annual IT budgets while maintaining an impressive 99.99% SLA uptime.
Matteo Boffa is a Swiss Serial Impact-Entrepreneur and investor, resident in Dubai since 2016.
After dedicating over 9 years of his career in the world of finance (Swiss Private Banker) and nearly 2 years in the Swiss Army (Chief Sergeant Major), he decided to make a radical change in his life and undertake a path linked to sustainability, social positive impact and the protection of the environment.
He is an active investor and part of the board of several companies worldwide. Matteo also lectures entrepreneurship, social impact and sustainability in multiple universities in the UAE and Switzerland.
- September 2020 - awarded by Forbes as "30under30"
- November 2022 - awarded by MEED as "Middle East Young Entrepreneur of the Year"
- January 2023 - awarded by Business Tabloid as "Green Entrepreneur of the Year"
- Mr Boffa’s Motto is “don't spend to destroy, invest to create”!
An accomplished Internal Audit Professional with extensive experience in both public and private sectors, Mr. Sultan Fulad has a proven track record in enhancing governance and compliance frameworks. His expertise spans financial audits, compliance assessments, corporate governance evaluations, and risk management strategies, making him a vital asset to any organization.
Mr. Fulad holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, complemented by several professional certifications including Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Financial Crime Investigation, and VAT Compliance Diploma. His academic foundation, combined with practical experience, equips him with a unique perspective on financial integrity and operational efficiency.
Mr. Vinod Nambiar is a seasoned sustainability and corporate responsibility leader with over 25 years of diverse professional experience spanning media and advertising, sustainability and CSR, ESG strategy, cross-border money transfer, AML compliance, forex, and payment solutions. He currently serves as Vice President – CSR, ESG & Corporate Communications at HLB HAMT.
In his role, Mr. Nambiar is responsible for integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into business strategy, strengthening ethical governance frameworks, and designing impactful CSR initiatives aligned with both regulatory standards and global sustainability benchmarks. His leadership supports long-term value creation while reinforcing transparency, accountability, and community engagement across the organisation.
Amit Agrawal is a seasoned Group CFO and Private Equity leader with over 25 years of experience driving enterprise value across diversified industrial, logistics, healthcare, infrastructure, and consumer sectors. He brings deep expertise in IPO preparedness, large-scale restructuring and turnaround, capital structuring, and digital transformation within both operating companies and private equity-backed environments.
Currently serving as Group CFO of Al Faris Group, a diversified industrial and logistics conglomerate, Amit leads Finance & Accounts, IT, Legal, and Supply Chain functions. He plays a central role in aligning financial strategy with operational execution, strengthening governance frameworks, modernizing ERP and analytics capabilities, and preparing the Group for scalable growth and long-term value creation.
Fatiha Bensalem is a highly respected media executive, a recognized expert and trendsetter in kids’ content. With a deep understanding of audience engagement and market trends, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of children’s entertainment. Under her leadership, ejunior Kids Channel has consistently secured its lead position.
Content Acquisition & Strategy – Securing top-tier content for linear TV, SVOD, AVOD, and FAST platforms.
Negotiations & Contract Management – Successfully leading high-stakes contract negotiations with major studios.
Budgeting & Programming – Managing budgets, channel grids, and traffic scheduling to optimize content delivery.
Digital Product Management – Enhancing UI/UX and backend operations for seamless digital experiences.
Faisal Ameer Malik is a distinguished technology leader with over 24 years of experience in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, specialising in digital transformation, enterprise ICT solutions, and large-scale technology deployments. He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer for Huawei’s Enterprise Business in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Throughout his career, Faisal has led numerous high-impact projects, including smart city developments, network modernisation, cloud and data centre implementations, and AI-transformation ranging from AI Datacentres or AI use cases. His expertise spans both the enterprise and national sectors, making him a trusted advisor for government entities, private organisations, and industry partners across the region.
University of Stirling
P.O.Box 41222
RAKEZ Academic Zone
Al Dhait South
Ras Al Khaimah
United Arab Emirates
