Seminar Programme ICEF Dubai 2025

Nabil joined ICEF in 2011, initially serving as the Agent Relations and Business Development Manager for the Middle Eastern and North African markets. In 2018. He later became the Director MENA Region at ICEF and currently holds the position of Managing Director for the MENA Region at ICEF since 2023. During his tenure, Nabil has successfully expanded ICEF's reach in the region by cultivating a strong network of industry contacts. He has focused on introducing high-quality agents to global events and establishing strategic connections and partnerships with education providers in the MENA region. Nabil also plays a crucial role in supporting and advising educational institutions new to working with study abroad agents and/or participating in ICEF events. His expertise lies in helping clients select the most suitable ICEF services to enhance their international student enrollments. Nabil holds a Master's degree in Automation Technology from the Technical University Berlin, Germany, which he earned in 2010. He is fluent in English, German, and his native language Arabic. Nabil's extensive experience, industry knowledge, and linguistic abilities make him an invaluable asset to ICEF and its endeavors in the MENA Region.

Brittany has served in the international education space for the past eight years, with an expertise in guiding educators on international strategy and working with student recruitment agents. Throughout her career, Brittany has successfully led many professional development sessions locally, nationally and internationally. Her areas of expertise are international recruitment for higher and secondary education, as well as equity and diversity education and foreign language learning.

I have been working as a department head in the education sector deparment for 1 year. I was a part of as a sector department manager at the Turkish Exporters' Assembly between 2016-2022. İn 2023, I worked as a manager im Board of Directors Coordination depertmant of the Mediterranean Exporters' Association . After graduating from Ankara University Faculty of Language,I completed my master's degree in business administration and management at Atılım University

Tony has two decades of experience marketing education to global youth audiences. Formerly the Global Digital Marketing Director at Study Group, where he led teams in Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, New York and the UK recruiting students for Universities in the USA, Australia and Europe. Before this, Anthony established the digital marketing footprint for INTO University Partnerships. A seasoned platform, channel and technology strategist, Anthony specialises in International digital student recruitment. Anthony has lectured on digital marketing to universities on behalf of The EAIE, the British Council, ICEF, DAAD, CASE and NAFSA. Anthony studied Digital Disruption Strategy at Oxford University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

I am the owner and director of MaestroMío in Málaga and Madrid. We offer Spanish language and Spanish University Pathway Programmes to students across 48 nationalities. We also offer English language instruction to school groups and organise Summer Camps. I am an ex director of Deutsche Bank in Ireland and the Cayman Islands and an ex notary and Partner of large multinational law firms. I am passionate about bring excellence and professionalism to the learning of languages in Spain.

Novie Tajuddin is the CEO for Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MoHE) Novie previously was the CEO of The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and served as the Director, Strategy & Engagement for Yayasan Peneraju, an agency under the Prime Minister’s office. He was also in the Education Committee Member of MARA and recently appointed as the Ambassador for Faculty of Accountancy, UiTM. Novie holds a Bachelor in Accounting and Finance (Hons) from De Montfort University, Leicester, UK and a Diploma in Accountancy from UiTM.

With over 12 years of experience in founding and growing tech companies across Southeast Asia and Europe, I am a passionate entrepreneur and leader who strives to create a positive impact through financial technology for students and working professionals around the world.

Martijn has a strong background in the international student segment with 8 years as global director of the International Student Identity Card Association - a founding member association of the World Youth Student & Education Travel Confederation (WYSETC) - and consequently 4 years as founder and managing director of ‘International Student Services’ (ISIC Japan) in Tokyo. In his role as Chief Business Development Officer at ICEF, Martijn is responsible for growth through global and strategic partnerships with providers of services and products relevant to the international student recruitment industry such as Edtech, Student Banking, Insurance, Accommodation, Student & Youth Travel, Consulting etc. Martijn's international profile is characterised not only by his studies but also by the places where he has lived and worked: he has studied Japanese and French at the University of Applied Sciences in Maastricht, International Business Communications at the Radboud University Nijmegen and has lived and worked in Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo. Now based in Amsterdam, he speaks 7 languages.

Dr. Naji Almahdi has extensive experience in the managerial, strategic, and operational aspects of Technical Education and Vocational Training and Higher Education. He has taught and held senior positions at higher and further education institutions for more than two decades. Dr. Almahdi’s role involves developing and implementing Dubai's technical and vocational training and education strategy. He is a key member of strategic decisions for setting up of Higher Education institutions in Dubai and oversees the quality assurance of HE institutions. Dr. Almahdi has led the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Scholarship programme and ensured the development and successful implementation of a scholarship programme that supports the enrollment of high achieving school graduates in highly ranked universities in different majors across the globe. The project provides students with overall and continuous support to pursue their graduate studies overseas. Dr. Al Mahdi holds a PhD in Engineering and Numerical Analysis from the UK and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and was a research fellow at Salford University. He also was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in the United States of America to research the development of Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses. Dr. Al Mahdi serves on a number of national and international educational committees and advisory groups in the UAE.

Gilbert “Gil” Singletary, PhD, JD, MBA, MSW, is a dynamic leader with extensive expertise in academia, law, and business. Currently serving as Vice Chancellor and Provost at South University, he oversees academic excellence and strategic initiatives. An Amazon best-selling author and licensed attorney, Dr. Singletary has over 20 years of experience in higher education and more than a decade in the legal and business sectors. He has held prestigious roles, including Dean, Operating Partner, and CEO, and consults for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, law enforcement, and educational institutions. His career reflects a dedication to fostering equity, organizational success, and meaningful impact across diverse industries.

I am an aviation enthusiast with over 25 years' experience in the airline industry. I have dedicated the last 4 years to developing and leading Qatar Airways' Student Club, a unique program designed to support international student throughout their educational journey. Through exclusive benefits, partnerships and tailored services Student Club has grown to over one million members, empowering students to achieve their academic aspirations. My passion lies a fostering in global connections and providing students with the tools they need to succeed; I am a strong advocate for the role of education in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.

Brittany has served in the international education space for the past eight years, with an expertise in guiding educators on international strategy and working with student recruitment agents. Throughout her career, Brittany has successfully led many professional development sessions locally, nationally and internationally. Her areas of expertise are international recruitment for higher and secondary education, as well as equity and diversity education and foreign language learning.

Akram Mardini brings over 15 years of expertise in the international education industry. As Executive Officer at Student World, he has established a strong track record of success, building and maintaining long-standing ventures and global partnerships. His experience includes working with various venture capital funds to drive acquisitions and lead direct global expansion strategies, scaling numerous businesses under their portfolios. Since joining Student World in early 2010, Akram has transformed the company from a primarily European-focused operation into a global powerhouse, extending its reach across the Middle East, the Subcontinent, China, Asia, and Africa. During the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akram played a pivotal role in adapting operations. He worked closely with partner universities worldwide to enhance online learning options for students seeking an international education experience from home and expanded Student World's services to include migration solutions, leveraging the company’s global presence.

Hiba Education Services Inc. is an education consulting agency dedicated to helping students from Saudi Arabia and beyond achieve their academic goals abroad. With a focus on personalized guidance and seamless student placement, we connect ambitious learners with top-tier institutions across Canada, the UK, the USA, and other leading education destinations.

Dr De Bono is an avid reader with varied research interests. He holds a Doctorate from Maastricht School of Management and published books and articles in management. He is the co founder of IDEA Group and has also worked and lectured extensively in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. His education and consulting career led to to top positions in different organisations and has also chaired lublic education institutions.

Head of Education, British Council for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain With over 14 years of experience in the international education sector, I possess a deep understanding of the global market, with a particular focus on the opportunities and challenges within Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. My extensive knowledge of the UK higher education sector, internationalization strategies, and transnational education (TNE) initiatives equips me to effectively facilitate collaborations between UK and Saudi institutions. As Head of Education at the British Council, I have led numerous projects aimed at fostering partnerships between Saudi and UK higher education institutions. One notable initiative involved providing research grants to universities

Amel Dimassi 30 years half Tunisian half Russian based in Tunis. Studied in the United Kingdom specifically in London graduated from bachelor’s in Global Business Management as well as from a Master’s in International fashion Marketing. Got back to Tunis early 2020 and started managing my family business in higher education. It has been almost 5 years now. As a manager of the company I have been dealing with various aspects of the company.

Roz is a market development professional with over 25 years of experience in the international education industry. She develops and delivers English UK's insight and market development projects to maximize business opportunities for English UK members and the wider UK ELT sector, promoting the UK as the premier destination for learning English. This includes information sharing and engagement with various stakeholder audiences. Roz has represented English UK in over 20 countries. Before joining one of English UK's predecessor organisations (ARELS in 2003!), Roz taught in the Gambia, Japan, Russia, and the UK. She is also a qualified AgilePM practitioner.

Cara Edwards is a Market Advisor at Enterprise Ireland MENA, the Irish Government Trade Agency, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting Irish companies, universities and educational institutions in expanding their presence across the Middle East and North Africa. Cara joined Enterprise Ireland in 2020 working with a portfolio of companies in Ireland across a diverse range of sectors, including Life Sciences, Construction and Consumer. In 2022, Cara joined the Enterprise Ireland MENA team, specialising in the Education, EdTech and HRTech sectors, with responsibility for creating market opportunities for clients and building relationships with key stakeholders across the MENA region. Enterprise Ireland manages the Education in Ireland national brand under the authority of the Minister for Education and Skills and is responsible for the promotion of Higher Education Institutions overseas. Cara represents Education in Ireland across the region and serves as in-market advisor for Irish institutions. Cara holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Law and a Master’s degree in Strategic Management from TU Dublin, where she specialised in innovation.

John J. Crist has been involved with international youth exchange since 1980. He was first associated with EF Foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut as a recruiter and later in Santa Barbara as National Program Administrator. Beginning in 1987, John helped develop the Aspect Foundation as the Executive Vice President in San Francisco. In 1991, John founded International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) in Atlanta, Georgia. ICES will celebrate its' 35th Anniversary in the spring of 2026. ICES works with about 75 Sending Organizations and places 1400-1600 high school exchange students annually from more than 50 countries. John is committed to operating a quality high school academic and cultural exchange program so that each student has a safe and positive life-changing experience as they learn about the United States and the world.ICES conducts J-1 and F-1 inbound and outbound high school cultural programs. John has served four terms on the Board of Directors of CSIET (Council on Standards for International Educational Travel). ICES has also been a member of the Alliance for International Educationsince 1997. John also served on the Board of IEA in the late 1980s.

Alaa Alghzawi is the Senior Director for MENA, Turkey, and CIS at Edvoy, a leading platform transforming the study abroad experience. With extensive expertise in student recruitment, market development, and leveraging technology in education, Alaa has been instrumental in driving innovation and creating solutions that empower students and institutions globally. In her role, Alaa focuses on integrating technology to streamline processes and enhance the education experience while addressing the challenges and risks that come with digital transformation. Her deep understanding of the MENA, Turkey, and CIS markets uniquely positions her to explore how institutions can adopt emerging technologies while safeguarding their systems and operations.