Topic - The Turtle in the Room: Why Education Can't Keep Pace and What Is It Missing?

Brief Biography

Dr. Shahira El Alfy is an Assistant Professor at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), UAE, holding a Doctorate in Business Administration in Marketing and a PhD in Education Leadership. Her research spans marketing of higher education, service management, organisational behaviour, and technology adoption, exploring how institutions adapt, deliver quality, and engage the people they serve. Her contributions have been recognized with the Excellence in Applied Research Award (2016), the Outstanding Contribution Award (2017), and Exceptional Faculty Member recognition (2020). Before entering academia, she built over a decade of industry experience in banking and corporate training. She competed as an elite table tennis athlete for over 20 years, representing her country at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and winning African and regional championship titles.

Profile Web Link -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shahira-el-alfy-0128441a/

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Imen Boussaid

English Language Educator, International Keynote Speaker, Founder, Imen Boussaid English Academy, Dubai, UAE

 Topic: From Consumers to Creators: Transforming Students into Designers of Their Own Learning

Brief Biography

Imen Boussaid is a Tunisian English Language Educator, international speaker, author, and founder of Imen Boussaid English Academy, based in Dubai, UAE. Her work focuses on learner-centered English education, effective communication, confidence building, and innovative approaches to language learning. She is passionate about bridging the gap between traditional language instruction and the communication skills learners need in academic, professional, and global contexts. As an international keynote speaker, she contributes to conversations on the evolving future of English education. She also develops educational programs, digital learning content, and children’s literature, with a strong commitment to making language learning meaningful, accessible, and empowering.

Contribution to Current Job Profile

She develop learner-centered English language programs that integrate practical communication, confidence building, and personalized learning. Through her educational work, she design curricula, learning resources, and digital content that encourage learners to move beyond textbook knowledge and use English confidently in real-life, academic, and professional contexts. She also contribute to broader educational dialogue through international conference presentations, educational writing, and the exploration of innovative approaches to language teaching.

Roles and Responsibilities

Her responsibilities include English language teaching, curriculum and program development, learner assessment, educational content creation, academic mentoring, and the design of personalized learning strategies. She develop resources for both digital and classroom-based learning, create educational materials and publications, and prepare and deliver presentations for international academic and professional audiences.

Profile web link

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imen-boussaid-471a05239

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18zNMDCB3J/?mibextid=wwXIfr