Thought Leaders

Dr Valentini A. Pappa is the Manager of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University at Qatar. Dr. Pappa holds the following degrees: a BSc in Horticultural and Landscape Design (Greece, 2003), an M.Sc. by research in Environmental Science (University of Edinburgh, 2005) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability (University of Edinburgh, 2010). Over the last 15 years, she has gained academic experience from four different Universities and collaborated with 20 different countries around the globe. During her career, she developed unique programs, such as the Certificate in Energy Law and Policy for Texas A&M Energy Institute and the Master of Science in Food Security of the University of Edinburgh, UK. Dr. Pappa has also experienced in leading, managing and conducting project based research, both in Europe and USA. The work includes supporting development of curriculum, sponsored research projects, workforce development courses and women empowerment.

She leads the Clean Energy, Education, and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative for Texas A&M University and works with C3E Initiative partners since 2017: the Department of Energy, the MIT Energy Institute, and Stanford Energy; an Initiative between the Department of Energy, the MIT Energy Institute and the Stanford Energy Institute focusing on closing the gender gap and increasing the participation, leadership, and success of women in clean energy fields within the U.S. Her research background involves the following research themes: (1) climate change and sustainability, (2) circular economy, (3) aquaponics and (4) food security and actively working and writing about energy and energy education. Her book on energy education will be available by the end of the year.

Dr Basma Ahmad Sidqi Dajani is Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at Hamad Bin Khalifa University/ The College of Islamic Studies in Doha. It was from the American University of Cairo (AUC) that she was awarded her BA in Arabic Literature & Minor in Sociology in 1990; and her MA in Arabic Literature in 1993. She was awarded her PhD in Arabic Literature from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt in June 1999.

She has presented over 50 of papers on ‘Teaching Arabic to Non-native Speakers,’ ‘Cultural Dialogue,’ ‘Dialogue of Civilizations,’ Arabic Literature and has written several articles on such topics, some of which have been published in international journals. Basma is interested in the history of the Islamic Civilization and the Interaction between Civilizations.

Christina started studying Chemistry at University, wanting to impact the drugs and pharmaceutical industry – a dream she achieved by working on an asthmatic inhaler project which gave her great sense of fulfilment. She later transitioned to teaching Chemistry and Science in secondary schools in England and Qatar. Her career spans decades of working in Education, Science and Technology.

In her last role in Higher Education Administration, she was inspired to further study – a Doctorate of Business Administration in Higher Education Management.

She passionate about learning, staying curious, mentoring, and giving back to her community - whether through board service, developing women in education or spiritual life, or providing industry leadership.

Her superpower is that she is a Mum to three brilliant young people. She is the founding member of The Anglican Centre Administrative Board (the only female) and attributes her main drivers in life to be Empathy, Integrity, and Humanity. Her leadership advice is Curiosity, Perseverance, and Attitude. Just keep going; don’t stand still! Learn, grow, and pay it forward!

Malak Alseaf, also goes by Kaliza in her family, is a senior at CMU-Q studying Information Systems with a minor in Business Administration. She was assigned a technology consulting internship in Rwanda where was inspired by the potential of technology in combatting poverty, She aims to become an entrepreneur in international technology solutions.

Sabika Shaban is Academic Journals and Publications Specialist at the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) in Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), where she also earned her Master’s degree in Islam and Global Affairs, with a focus on disability studies. She is the founder of Qatar Disability Resource (QADR), a platform that was built on the basis of information advocacy for people with disabilities and enabling stakeholders in Qatar. She has been recognized as one of 25 overseas Pakistanis under the age of 40 for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Honours List 2021 for her leadership in community service, as well as received two HBKU Student Life Awards for Community Service (2021) and Leadership (2022). Sabika has published a number of op-eds and creative pieces in the areas of education, environmentalism, faith, and the human experience; authored a private family biography titled In Pursuit of Dreams; and regularly participates in various initiatives that discuss and engage with sustainability and disability discourses.

Dr. Nadia DeGama is a Senior Lecturer and the Programme Leader for Undergraduate Business Management Programmes at AFG College with the University of Aberdeen. She completed her PhD at York University, Toronto in the field of Human Resource Management. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Prior to becoming an academic, Nadia worked in a financial services firm, acting as a strategic HR business partner for client groups across Canada. Nadia has been able to leverage off this practical experience when she made the career shift into academia as it not only informed her pedagogical approaches but also in developing her appreciation to embed her research within their respective socio-cultural and political contexts.

Nadia’s research primarily draws on critical and interpretive approaches to understanding work and working in organisations. Key strands to her research include: global careers; alternative approaches to understanding HRM; and examining contemporary and alternative forms of work. She has recently conducted studies within the context of self-initiated expatriation, Uber drivers, and social media bloggers. Her work has been published in various peer-reviewed journals such as Organisation, Organisational Research Methods, Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology and Journal of Business Ethics.

Nadia also serves as an Associate Editor of Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management. Her areas of teaching include human resource management, business management, and organisational studies. Nadia has taught and supervised dissertations at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in universities in Canada, the UK and Qatar.