WOMEN OF WISDOM

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.

A mom, an educator, an entrepreneur, and a career addict, Maria has walked the road less travelled since she was 16 years old, and it makes perfect sense that she has become a leader advocating for career readiness and supporting youth and women through career trajectories. As a working mother who joined her soul sisters on the path of single-working-motherhood in 2013, she learned that her career wasn’t about the job; it was a lifeline, and most days, her career became her light at the end of the tunnel. Maria is not just your average mom; she’s loud, disruptive, and razor-sharp-focused on the bigger picture: equitable career guidance for women and youth!

Maria’s professional experience timeline includes teaching 3 to 21-year-olds, founding social projects: Teens Talk Middle East and the UAE Careers Community, designing the first UAE-high-school career program that solely focused on employability for students at Dubai English Speaking College, launching her own business MV Careers consultancy delivering career education programs to students, women, and executives across the UAE, and she proudly wears the badge of Director of Careers at Curtin University Dubai where she delivers career and employability initiatives for university students, graduates, post-graduates, and alums.

Hala Matar Choufany is the President for HVS – Middle East & Africa; 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.

Banali Luthra Malhotra is a distinguished marketing leader and advisory board member at WBD and Tenacious Bees Collective. With over 20 years of experience, she most recently served as Group CMO at RAKBANK, where she spearheaded transformative brand initiatives and led groundbreaking campaigns. Banali’s leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the Middle East’s Most Inspirational Women in Leadership for three consecutive years, as well as Asia’s Most Influential CMO. Her interview is featured in Oxford University’s marketing textbook, which highlights RAKBANK’s remarkable success story, and her personal journey is chronicled in the book Break the Ceiling, Touch the Sky.

Known for her expertise in data-driven strategies, digital innovation, and creating personalized customer experiences, Banali has solidified her reputation as a leading figure in the Middle Eastern marketing landscape.

A mom, an educator, an entrepreneur, and a career addict, Maria has walked the road less travelled since she was 16 years old, and it makes perfect sense that she has become a leader advocating for career readiness and supporting youth and women through career trajectories. As a working mother who joined her soul sisters on the path of single-working-motherhood in 2013, she learned that her career wasn’t about the job; it was a lifeline, and most days, her career became her light at the end of the tunnel. Maria is not just your average mom; she’s loud, disruptive, and razor-sharp-focused on the bigger picture: equitable career guidance for women and youth!

Maria’s professional experience timeline includes teaching 3 to 21-year-olds, founding social projects: Teens Talk Middle East and the UAE Careers Community, designing the first UAE-high-school career program that solely focused on employability for students at Dubai English Speaking College, launching her own business MV Careers consultancy delivering career education programs to students, women, and executives across the UAE, and she proudly wears the badge of Director of Careers at Curtin University Dubai where she delivers career and employability initiatives for university students, graduates, post-graduates, and alums.

Thereshini brings over 25 years of senior finance leadership to the table, spanning diverse industries such as finance, FMCG, and payments. With an international outlook, she has navigated finance landscapes across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. She has held multifaceted financial and commercial roles throughout her journey. Having made notable contributions at esteemed companies like Pepsi, Unilever, and Kao Brands, Thereshini embarked on a new chapter by joining Visa Inc. 4 years ago. Presently, she holds the esteemed position of GCC Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Visa Inc., underscoring her strategic insights in the finance domain. Thereshini boasts credentials as a Chartered Management Accountant and extends her expertise as a board member of Barberry Holdings in South Africa and Gems World Academy in the UAE. Her track record as a strategic business partner echoes in the consistent delivery of robust business outcomes. While she hails from South Africa, Thereshini’s career path has traversed global territories, including South Africa, London, Trinidad and Tobago, and is currently based in the United Arab Emirates. Beyond her professional journey, she is a dedicated mother of two, projecting a passion for coaching, fostering diversity, and promoting inclusion.