Abdullo Abdukhalilov, Acting Associate Professor of Social Work, National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek. His previous work experience and roles included Senior Lecturer, Department of Theory and Practice of Democratic State Building and Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek.

Abdumalik A. DJUMANOV (DipEng, PhD, MA, IMBA), Rector of Pharmaceutical Technical University, “Tashkent Pharma Park” Innovation Research-Industrial Pharmaceutical Cluster, p/t Associate Professor - Leader for MSc Business Intelligence & Analytics in Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT). He is ex-Rector of the University of World Economy & Diplomacy and WIUT. Abdumalik Djumanov served as a Principal Consultant to the Office of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Science, Innovation & Technology Development. He has substantial experience in developing and running multiple international projects in industrial and higher education development.

Adrian is the British Council’s Regional Director for Wider Europe, based in Istanbul. . Immediately prior to his current role, he was Regional Director South Asia based in Delhi for 4 years. He has also been Regional Director Middle East & North Africa through the Arab Spring, led Global Change reporting to the CEO, and worked in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the Western Balkans, Morocco, and Yemen. Adrian’s first role with the British Council was based in Moscow, including two years where his role was jointly funded by BBC English. In 2006 Adrian was awarded an OBE in recognition of his work promoting UK education and culture.

Former Deputy Vice–Chancellor (Global Engagement and Employability), University of Westminster Professor Hughes is a highly experienced University leader who has worked in institutions across the spectrum of UK HE, building and delivering strategic priorities. As Deputy Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability at the University of Westminster, Professor Hughes led the University's internationalisation activities, working with colleagues across the institution. The university’s global engagement agenda is key to its vision, embracing areas from overseas student recruitment and partnerships to the internationalisation of the student and staff experience and relations with overseas alumni. She also led the university’s employability strategy, placing it at the heart of student experience priorities. She was a co-Chair of the University’s EDI Committee. Before joining the University of Westminster, Professor Hughes was Pro-Vice Chancellor External at the University of Kent, where she led the University’s Internationalisation Strategy. Her remit also included the non-academic student experience and the employability agenda. The student experience was a focus of Professor Hughes’ work at Birmingham University, where she was Pro-Vice Chancellor for Quality and Students.

Alison Johns – CEO Advance HE. Alison was appointed chief executive of Advance HE in autumn 2017. Prior to that she was the chief executive of the Leadership Foundation. She has worked in higher education for 25 years. Before becoming chief executive, she was head of policy for leadership, governance, and management at the HEFCE (now the Office for Students), where she established both the Leadership Foundation and the Equality Challenge Unit. She is a past president of the Association of University Administrators (AUA) and represents the UK on the Association of Commonwealth Universities Human Resources Management Network and has recently joined the British Council’s planning committee for Going Global, the major international higher education conference. Alison has extensive international experience of higher education including leading the review of teaching and learning for the Australian government. This led to the establishment of the Office for Learning and Teaching to enhance teaching quality across the Australian higher education sector. Alison regularly takes part in conferences and events, both nationally and internationally, speaking on all aspects of university leadership, governance, and management.

Aziza Turakhujaeva She graduated from Tashkent State Technical University in 2018. In the academic year 2019-2020, she took the 1st place in the Republican Olympiad in the subject "Theoretical Mechanics", and again in the 2021 Republican Olympiad in the subject "Resistance of Materials". In 2020, she was recognized as “the best student” in the faculty. In addition, on May 20, 2022, she won the 1st place at the International Olympiad on "Resistance of Materials" held in Ashgabat, Republic of Turkmenistan. She is a Beruni scholar of the Republican level and had the right to study at a master's program without competition. During her undergraduate studies, she was engaged in scientific research on the topic "Improving the properties of aluminium alloys". She has published a total of 14 scientific papers on this topic and participated in international and national scientific conferences with articles. She was nominated for a Women in STEM scholarship.

Bakhrom is the graduate of WIUT, his previous experience and roles included Deputy Rector for Research / Principal Lecturer; as a member of the WIUT Executive he led and managed the research development of the University including the development and delivery of the academic portfolio of graduate education and research activities of an international university, in accordance with the quality and standards set by the University of Westminster(UoW) in London, UK. He was also a Dean of Research and Postgraduate Programmes and Deputy Dean of Research and Consultancy / Senior Lecturer.

David Carter is Professor of Transnational Education at the University of Reading and a member of the Academic Advisory Board for British Management University Tashkent. He was previously Head of Reading’s International Study and Language Institute, and had a role setting up the University’s joint institute in Nanjing, China.

Denise Waddingham has over 30 years’ international experience in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; as an EFL teacher, Director of Studies, and Senior Teacher and in senior management roles with the British Council for the past 18 years. Denise has served for the British Council in Slovakia, Burma, Nigeria, Kuwait, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Czech Republic and took up her current post as Country Director Uzbekistan in October 2021. Denise graduated from Brunel University in London with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and American Studies and has a Postgraduate diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Dildora Solihodjaeva has been working at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation since 2019 year. Currently, D. Solihodjaeva is conducting research on the topic of "Gender and family violence, causes and consequences." Her 6 scientific articles and theses have been published in collections of scientific and practical conferences held abroad and in our republic. Author of "Methodology for implementing gender approach principles in the higher education system." manual. She has developed "Protection of women and girls from oppression and violence and ensuring gender equality" educational programs and "Preparation of youth for family life" special course. Solihodjaeva D. is an international trainer in teaching women in entrepreneurship. She had training on the issue of Training female entrepreneurs and employment for schoolgirls in Berlin, Germany in 2014 and "Implementation of a comprehensive approach to social and legal assistance to victims of violence" in the People's Republic of China in 2017.

Professor Dibyesh Anand, Interim Deputy Vice–Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, University of Westminster
Professor Dibyesh Anand is the Interim Deputy Vice–Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability at the University of Westminster. He has been elected as the nominee for Staff Governor by academic colleagues. He is the author of monographs "Geopolitical Exotica: Tibet in Western Imagination” and “Hindu Nationalism in India and the Politics of Fear” and has spoken about, and published on, varied topics including Tibet, China-India border dispute, Hindu nationalism, Islamophobia, and conflict in Kashmir. He is the Co-Chair of Westminster Black and Minority Ethnic Network and of the University’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Dibyesh is passionate about challenging the divide between academia and activism and believes in embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of life.

Gerald Lidstone is founder and Director of the Institute for Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths, University of London and founder of the MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy and co-founder of two other MAs. He was the director of a four-year British Know-How Fund (UK Foreign Office) project establishing arts management education in Slovakia. Outcomes being the publication of the first book on arts management in Slovak, and the subsequent British Council project Closer to the Museum. For the British Council and other agencies, he has also taught diverse Arts & Cultural Management courses in over 20 countries. This also included twelve years part time for the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism in Viet Nam establishing Arts Management education in Hanoi University of Culture, funded by the Ford Foundation. This led to publication of key reports on the process of partnership and knowledge transfer. For the Arts Council England and Sadler’s Wells theatre, he produced three reports on large scale dance projects, including the first for the National Youth Dance Company Most recently he has been the Director of two five year projects in Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan which were part of the Creative Spark projects initiated by the British Council, this led to the creation of UK Parliamentary committee reports on diplomacy in the region

Gulchehra Rikhsieva, Rector of Tashkent state university of oriental studies. She was Vice-rector for scientific affairs at Tashkent state university of oriental studies. She has worked as Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Science, Education and Health of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis. In 2006, she was awarded the medal “Excellence of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. Professor Gulchehra Rikhsieva holds a PhD degree in Philological Sciences from the National university of Uzbekistan. Gulchehra Rikhsieva has an extensive research interest and experience in the field of Education and uzbek philological sciences and she is the author of dozens of publications in these fields.

Hikmat Abdurahmanov is a co-founder at TEAM University. Cofounder of HMPARTNERS. Country director for GEN Uzbekistan. Hikmat is a graduate of University of World economy & Diplomacy. Earning his Bachelors & Masters in International Economics with excellence at UWED. He earned second Master’s degree from University of St Andrews in International Business in UK. That helped him to calibrate his knowledge in the world of business, together with his partners launch successful companies in fields like leasing, foreign trade, services to SMEs (HMPartners includes, GroundZero coworking spaces, CLG Leasing/CLGAuto leasing companies, MediTech medical equipment). Hikmat also graduate of Skolkovo business school. Besides, he is a fellow of numerous leadership programs conducted in US, Germany, Austria, UK, Turkey, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore, India etc. Having lived in four countries (UK, US, China, Singapore), visited more than 50 countries, Hikmat has wide knowledge and experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, business education, leadership in business and management. Certified Independent Director. Now together with other leading entrepreneurs in the country he established TEAM University, first entrepreneurship university in Uzbekistan. That runs Bachelor programs as Digital Innovation, International Business, Creative Industries. Partnered with British University LSBU. TEAM Uni is a young international university with approximately 300 students who wish to launch their own businesses, startups, possess entrepreneurial skill set and global mindset. Faculty and staff come from around the world and are selected based on the combination of their strong academic & practical backgrounds.

Inoyatilla Nematov is a dedicated professional with experience in the field of education in Uzbekistan. He is graduated from the Andijan Institute of Engineering Economics, majoring in "Marketing". He defended his scientific work on the topic of Marketing Strategy for developing the system of Higher Education personnel training (in the example of the Republic of Uzbekistan). He has scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics. He is Head of department for Supervising quality of education at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where participates in coordinating the higher education system, ensuring the quality of education, and organizing the educational process. Also, he has been participating in the implementation of significant work on the improvement of the normative legal framework for the organization and development of the higher education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan. At the same time, he is actively participating in various educational projects of the World Bank, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Erasmus+, contributing to the development of the Higher Education Sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Jamilya Gulyamova is Deputy Director British Council Uzbekistan. Jamilya joined the British Council in 2001. Prior to this she was Head of the English Language Department at the National Foreign Languages Institute and a senior lecturer at the Banking and Finance Academy of Uzbekistan. In 1996 Jamilya established the Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association and held the position of Association President until 2001. Jamilya has 20 years of experience in managing and supervising complex large-scale international, regional and national and international projects in areas including quality assurance in higher education, curriculum reform, educational leadership, internationalizing standards of English language teaching, and education for the creative industries. She holds a PhD from the National University of Uzbekistan in linguistics and a number of internationally recognised certificates from UK universities in online education, monitoring and evaluation and return on investment. She has published in international peer reviewed education journals on language and development, continuing professional development and reform and quality assurance in education. She has also presented at national and international conferences including IATEFL UK, TESOL USA and Going Global.

Julie Till is Head of Global Business Development at QAA. Working with international universities, government bodies and regulatory agencies, Julie’s portfolio includes QAA’s international accreditation services, international membership for higher education providers and the design of a range of bespoke consultancy and training projects across the world. She also manages QAA’s annual flagship international training programme for quality professionals. Julie’s team is involved in the launch of new services for higher education providers in England including voluntary enhancement reviews and support for providers seeking degree awarding powers. She has an MA in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London), an MBA from the University of Manchester and is a Prince2 Practitioner. Prior to joining QAA, Julie was Head of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia for Oxford University Press where she played a critical role in designing literacy and language solutions for ministries of education and leading customisation projects for the region.

Komiljon Karimov, First Deputy Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of the Republic of Uzbekistan He was rector at Westminster International University in Tashkent and the rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. His work experience also includes Senior Officer positions in UN agencies such as UNESCO and UNICEF where he dealt with the development challenges in the area of Education and Healthcare. Mr. Karimov holds a PhD degree in Political Sciences and International Relations from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. He has also served as a Public Servant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Missions of Uzbekistan abroad. Mr. Karimov has an extensive research interest and experience in the field of Public Administration, Development Issues and International education and he is the author of dozens of publications in these fields.

Lachyn Italmazova brings with her over a decade of international experience in higher education, having collaborated with universities from various parts of the world. For over five years, she has been a part of the Times Higher Education (THE) team and has a strong passion for global education and international development. As regional director for Central Asia at THE, Lachyn plays a crucial role in assisting universities in devising international strategies and managing their reputation, as well as in facilitating international academic and student recruitment.

Maddalaine Ansell – biography Maddalaine is a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge where she read Classics. She then took the CPE and LPC at the College of Law, Chester and qualified as a solicitor practising with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and later the US law firm Sullivan and Cromwell LLP. After six years, she joined the civil service on the fast stream. She has held a number of appointments including with the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, Home Office, DIUS and BIS. She was Deputy Director for Skills Strategy & Communications for John Denham. During this time she was seconded to BERR to co-lead the development of Peter Mandelson’s Industrial Strategy. She worked on the 2011 Higher Education White Paper for David Willetts and was then asked to lead the International Knowledge and Innovation Unit where she led the development of the International Education Strategy and set up the £375 million Newton Fund. Maddalaine then acted as Chief Executive of University Alliance for four years. She joined the British Council as Director for Education in November 2018.

Nilgün Yalçın Felchner is currently directing the Higher Education Insights and Engagement Hub for Europe region which consists of 44 countries. Her work focuses on research in support of developing and strengthening higher education partnerships with the UK. She studied Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Istanbul Technical University and received her master’s degree in business administration from Galatasaray University in Istanbul. Following her career in private sector, she joined the British Council 16 years ago. She held various senior management roles within Türkiye before taking up her current regional role.

Dr Nishat Riaz MBE, Global Head of Higher Education Systems & Internationalisation, Global Lead TNE. British Council Nishat has over 20 years of experience of education leadership. She has developed, managed and supervised large scale programmes on health, gender, skills, culture and education. Nishat is one of the founding members of Karakurum International University- the first university in Gilgit Baltistan province of Pakistan. Nishat has been on governing and advisory boards of international development organisations for over 17 years. At present, Nishat is the global head of higher education systems and TNE lead at British Council. Prior to this role, she managed British Council’s education work in Pakistan, one of the biggest education programmes in the UK missions around the world. Nishat has helped develop and implement large scale education programmes and sits on advisory boards of several organisations including the International Advisory Committee of Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of the UK. For her contributions in the field of education, Nishat was awarded the honorary title of Member of British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty, The Queen of United Kingdom in 2017. Nishat enjoys contributing to thought leadership and writes think pieces. She is an international speaker on several for a, including the TEDx. A book lover, Nishat likes horse riding, is an avid social media user and could be reached on social media. Nishat is married has three boys and is settled in Islamabad.

Professor Peter Bonfield, OBE, FREng, FIET, FICE, FIOM3, FCIOB, HonFIStructE, HonFCABE Professor Peter Bonfield serves as the Vice-Chancellor of Westminster University. As Vice-Chancellor and President, he has responsibility for directing all university activities and developments, ensuring the wellbeing, health and safety of students and colleagues, leading commitments towards equity and inclusivity without racism and harassment. He also has statutory reporting duties to the Office for Students on behalf of the University. He works closely with the University Executive Board to ensure a first-class education for students and strong industry relationships through enterprise and research, making a difference globally. Professor Bonfield was previously President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) during 2019/20, which has over 170,000 professional members worldwide. He is currently Deputy-Chair of London Higher, representing 39 London universities, where he also founded and chairs the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Network focused on student and staff challenges around mental health. He serves as a senior non-executive director of UK Active focusing on how physical activity supports a healthier society. From February 2021, he was appointed Chair of Trustees of the Board of the Institution of Occupation Safety and Health (IOSH). Professor Bonfield has also worked across government departments as a non-executive expert, chairing four independent reviews. Between 2006-2012, Professor Bonfield was seconded part-time to the Olympic Delivery Authority where he co-created and delivered the Sustainability Strategy. He was awarded the OBE in 2012 for services to research and innovation in construction. He is a Fellow of several prestigious institutions and holds Honorary Doctorates from four universities. Professor Bonfield was formerly a National Cycling Champion and women's triathlon coach for Athens 2004.

Saurav Dev Bhatta is a Senior Economist in the Education Global Practice at the World Bank. He is currently leading a number of lending operations and analytical and advisory works in Central Asian countries. Prior to this, he worked in the EAP and South Asia region, focusing primarily on Myanmar, Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. His work has spanned the different levels of the education sector, including early childhood education, basic education, TVET and higher education. Saurav has a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from Cornell University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Stephen Wallis, Director of Transnational Education/Senior Academic Co-ordinator. Stephen Wallis joined the University of Westminster in February 2018, as Senior Academic Coordinator, responsible for managing the University of Westminster’s partnership with Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) before becoming Head and then Director of Transnational Education. He has strategic responsibility for looking after all the University’s transnational education partnerships. He is also responsible for advising the University’s Executive Board on opportunities for strengthening existing partnerships and developing new ones. Stephen is also responsible for managing the University’s Global Mobility operations, including Turing, and the University international partnership network. Stephen has over twenty years’ experience of working in Higher Education and has held a number of senior posts, including Director of International at De Montfort University, and Acting Director at the University of Kent. He has also served as an assessor on the Chevening Reading Committee for a number of years. Stephen holds a first degree in Ancient History and a Master's degree in Ancient Social and Cultural History, both from the University of Reading.

Tatyana An, professional with experience in the education sector in Uzbekistan. She completed Master's degree in Applied Mathematics and Information Technology at the National University of Uzbekistan. She is employed at the global IT company EPAM, and she is involved in launching educational programmes for IT professionals with different skill levels. She also actively engaged with IT Park University (ITPU) as the head of the admissions department. She also had the opportunity to work on the prestigious large-scale Presidential Schools project for three years, where her role primarily focused on ensuring that the application process met all requi rements. She has received the Women in STEM scholarship.

Dr Tullio Lobetti graduated in Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Turin in 2003, with particular focus on the philosophies and religions of East Asia. He then graduated with an MA in Japanese Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London) in 2004, where in 2011 he was also granted a PhD in the Study of Religions. In 2021 he achieved an MBA in Higher Education Management from University College London (UCL). Tullio worked as Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS from 2008 to 2014, and then as Head of Quality Assurance at the Institute of Ismaili Studies until 2022. In 2022 he began his work as Quality Specialist with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and has led on a range of quality assurance and enhancement projects across the world including Viet-Nam, the UAE and Nigeria.

Vicki has been the Chief Executive of QAA for two years. In this timeframe, she has led the agency’s evolution across all four nations of the UK. Vicki has advised governments and policy makers on the regulation of quality, delivery of lifelong learning, legislation to criminalise essay mills and the delivery of quality provision during the pandemic. She advocates for UK higher education on the world stage, including as a board member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). Prior to joining QAA, Vicki was Bursar (COO) at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She has also worked at the University of Birmingham as Director of Strategic Planning and in various roles at Warwick University and Warwick Business School. Vicki is a graduate of Manchester University, and Harvard Kennedy Business School from where she holds a qualification in the Strategic Management of Regulatory Enforcement Agencies.

Adjunct Professor of Management at King’s Business School and an international executive education expert Viren Lall is an organisational transformation leader, an adjunct professor of management and an international executive education expert. He is an Associate Faculty at King’s Business School and the Managing Director of ChangeSchool. ChangeSchool has trained and developed over 4700 leaders, faculty, and entrepreneurs worldwide. In executive education, Viren’s experience corporate and public sectors. He delivered the UK Cabinet office’s GREAT funded, open leadership programmes to 5 GCC countries and the Newton Funded “Leaders in Innovation Fellowships programme across 17 countries. He is the core trainer for ETF’s T-Level Leadership programme for FE leaders. He has delivered modules in personal effectiveness covering decision-making and judgement biases, motivation, behaviour change, negotiation, goal setting, emotional intelligence in leadership, creating influence presence and new working identities. He has taught organisational behaviour and change across several business schools and executive education programmes, including at London Business School and King’s Business School. He is a coach and mentor to leaders of high-growth companies (UK Government’s #HelpToGrow programme) His master classes and round tables have been delivered virtually across 6 GCC countries (Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, KSA, Kuwait and the UAE); Central Asia (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan), Latin America (Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil) and South/Southeast Asia (India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia) in English and with simultaneous translation. He has an Executive MBA (distinction) from London Business School, and an MSc (Distinction) and the Dean’s award from King’s College London. Kogan Page published his case study on “Multi locational complex change and leadership requirements” in Organisational Change Explained 2018.