Professor Hayne has been the Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University since April 2021, prior to this she was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago, in New Zealand, since 2011. She became Chair of the Australian Technology Network of Universities in April 2023.

Originally from the United States, Professor Hayne received a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College, and a Master of Science and PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience from Rutgers University.  She spent three years as a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton before joining the University of Otago in 1992, subsequently serving as Head of the Psychology Department and as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise before being appointed as Vice-Chancellor.  Professor Hayne has been awarded continuous research funding since 1992 and continues to conduct research and has published widely in the areas of memory development and adolescent risk taking.

During her tenure at Otago, Professor Hayne was Chair of Universities New Zealand and the Universities New Zealand Research Committee and a member of the Board of Treasury and the Board of Fulbright New Zealand. She is a current member of the Board of Fulbright Australia. In 2009 she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to scientific and medical research.  She received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Colorado College, USA, in 2012, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Otago in 2021.  In 2022, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), in recognition of her services to health and wellbeing.

Nargish Khambatta, Principal and CEO of GEMS Modern Academy and Senior Vice-President – Education, is the recipient of the first ever GEMS Exceptional Head of School Award 2018.

With a Masters’ Degree in Microbiology, she made the transition from teaching to educational leadership having spent over 32 years in the field of education.

An avid proponent of positive psychology in education, she has been a panelist and presenter at 4 international iPEN Conferences in USA, China and Australia

Prior to joining GEMS Modern Academy in December 2009, she has worked at elite educational institutions as well as large public schools and has spent meaningful years at The Doon School, Dehra Dun, The Indian School, Muscat and Sophia College, Mumbai.

Hala Matar Choufany is the President for HVS -Middle East, Africa & South Asia; the only global consulting company focused solely on the hospitality industry.

Hala is an experienced Regional President and Managing Partner, an industry expert, and is recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the hospitality industry, notably in the Middle East and Africa region.

Hala has advised on more than 5,000 hospitality and mixed-use projects in the last 20 years across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. She has advised clients in areas such as Valuations, Acquisitions, Asset Management, Strategic investments and development, Contract Negotiations, and general Real Estate Strategic Advisory.

Hala has authored more than 50 publications and speaks frequently at investment and hospitality related conferences on a range of topics including asset valuation, investments, management issues and women leadership.

In addition to being a Board Member of HVS Global, Hala sits on the Boards of Harvard Business School Club of the GCC, Hotel Investment Advisory Board, and is regularly invited to Boards as a subject matter expert in the industry. Hala is frequently invited to discuss hotel and tourism trends on major news channel including Alarabiya, Bloomberg, Abu Dhabi TV, Forbes, Breaking Travel News and CNN.

Hala completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School.  She also holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from IMHI (Essec- Cornell) University, Paris, France and a BA in Hospitality Management from Notre Dame University, Lebanon. Hala is fluent in English, French and Arabic.

Hala’s previous work experience included stints with PWC, Arthur Anderson, Hard Rock International and the AL Kharafi Group, in London, Bahrain, Beirut and Kuwait.  In addition, Hala lectured at Norte Dame University on the subject of International Travel & Tourism