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Abdul Halim Mahfudz was born in Jombang on July 17 1954. Halim, or better known by his nickname Iim, completed his formal education from Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nahdlatul Ulama (MINU) in Parimono village, Jombang in 1966, then continued on to Religious Teacher Education (PGA). ) 4 years. When he continued to PGA for 6 years, there was a change where PGA 6 years later changed to IAIN Preparatory School (SP), still in Jombang in 1971. Halim continued to the Faculty of Adab, IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, and then in 1988 studied Southeast Asian History at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. After completing SP IAIN, Halim was sent by his father, M. Machfudz Anwar to study during the month of Ramadlan with KH. Maksum in Lasem, Central Java in 1972. Because his father was good friends with KH Maksum, Halim was often called by Kiai Maksum to be guided and given a lot of advice. When he was still a student at IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Halim taught English at the IAIN Sunan Ampel Language Institute. Halim has also taught at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) Surabaya since 1977 as a Non-Permanent Teacher (GTT) and MAN Sidoarjo as a permanent teacher since 1981. In 1985, Halim participated in the Southeast Asian Student Leaders program to visit the United States for a month at the invitation of United States Information Service (USIS) Surabaya. After completing his studies at Cornell University, Halim joined the Surya daily in Surabaya since 1990. In 1995, Halim moved to Jakarta and worked for the donor agency The Asia Foundation. Halim then worked for Burson-Marsteller, one of the world's major Public Relations companies, Halim then worked for Coca-Cola Indonesia in 1997, Standard Chartered Bank in 2000, Partnership for Governance Reform (Kemitraan) in 2004, Astro subscription television in 2006 and founded his own company Halma Strategic in 2008. Since 2017, Halim has been entrusted with managing the ROHMAH Education and Islamic Boarding School Foundation and taking care of the Seblak Islamic boarding school in Jombang.

Dr Ashwin Fernandes is an ambassador of the global quality movement in higher education and has advocated the need forindependent evaluation mechanisms for promoting excellence. The author is an international expert is higher education.Ashwin is regional director for Africa, Middle East, and South Asia at QS Quacquarelli Symonds – the world’s largest international education network which produces the QS World University Rankings. Dr Fernandes founded India’s first nationwide private sector evaluation framework called QS I-GAUGE. He has a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) along with an MBA in Marketing and a BCom degree in Financial Accounting, Auditing & Taxation. He has lived and worked in 5 countries and visited over 300 educational institutions.

Dr. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is an esteemed Indian academic who currently holds the position of Vice-Chancellor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. Notably, she is the first woman to assume this esteemed office. Her appointment as the 13th Vice Chancellor of JNU was made by the Ministry of Education on February 7, 2022. Born on July 15, 1962, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (present-day Saint Petersburg, Russia), Dr. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit has an impressive educational background. She completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Presidency College in Chennai. Subsequently, she pursued her academic journey at Jawaharlal Nehru University, earning her M.Phil. and Ph.D. in International Relations from the School of International Studies. Dr. Pandit's commitment to academia and global understanding is further demonstrated by her additional qualifications. She holds a Diploma in Social Work from California State University and a postgraduate diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University. Before her appointment as Vice-Chancellor of JNU, Dr. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit served as a Professor of Political Science at Savitribai Phule Pune University, where she likely made significant contributions to the field of political science and academia. Her historic appointment as Vice-Chancellor of JNU reflects her dedication to education and leadership in the academic community.

Matius Ho is the Executive Director of Leimena Institute in Jakarta. He led the development of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy program that since 2021 has trained thousands of teachers in Indonesia on competencies to strengthen peaceful multi-faith and multicultural society. Under his direction, Leimena Institute has built partnership and collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights and many leading religious and education institutions. He has been invited to speak about the program in several countries. He wrote about Indonesia in The Routledge Handbook of Religious Literacy, Pluralism, and Global Engagement (2021). He worked in Indonesia and Singapore with Accenture, a multinational consulting firm, and served as Vice Secretary of Akademi Leimena Foundation, Leimena Institute’s precursor, before co-founding the institute in 2005. He received his Bachelor and Master degrees from University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA).

Prof Ganesan Kannabiran holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems and possesses three Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Engineering, Business Administration, and Mathematics, demonstrating his multidisciplinary approach to education and research. Beyond academia, Prof Kannabiran has displayed a keen interest in entrepreneurship and has founded two companies: Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation (CEDI) at NIT Trichy and Gyan Circle Ventures at IIIT Sri City. These companies are dedicated to supporting and nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs. Prof Kannabiran’s research interests span a wide range of subjects, including computer-based learning, industry 4.0, entrepreneurship development, gender equality, and data privacy, among others. He specializes in software engineering, software project management, IT consulting, and business analytics, showcasing his expertise in multiple domains. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) recently announced the appointment of Prof Ganesan Kannabiran as its new director. The appointment took place on July 28, as per the official statement from NAAC. Prof Kannabiran brings with him a rich experience of over 30 years in the education sector, having served as a senior professor of Information Systems at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli.

Shalini Bharat is Director/Vice Chancellor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India. She has nearly four decades of experience in teaching, research, capacity building, advocacy and field action in broad areas of social science and health, social development, family studies and minority community demographics. She is known for her work on equity and access issues with special reference to reproductive and women’s health; social determinants of HIV and TB, including stigma, discrimination and human rights issues; multi-purpose prevention technologies for HIV epidemic; self-testing for HIV prevention; young people’s health and wellbeing; family studies and child adoption; women, work and family; and demography of the Indian Parsi community. With her wide experience in community-based research using qualitative and mixed methodology research approaches, she has contributed to a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the social and gender dimensions of a range of issues concerning health, development and wellbeing of women, youth and vulnerable populations such as, people living with HIV, transgender people and homosexual men, and female sex workers. She has also contributed to understanding mainstreaming of gender in HIV and mental health and social linkages for controlling drug resistant TB. Her research on the Parsi community is an in-depth exploration of the psycho-social aspects of the demographic decline of India’s most threatened population group on the verge of extinction.

Prof. Ranade is a Vice-Chancellor and a former member of the Board of Management at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. Before joining the Institute as the Vice-Chancellor, he was the Group Executive President and Chief Economist with the Aditya Birla Group, a US$50B diversified multinational conglomerate. His 32-year career has spanned both academic and corporate assignments. He has taught in universities in India and the USA. He has served as a member of several committees of the Reserve Bank of India and as a member of apex committees of national industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He was appointed as a member of the Economic Task Force for post-COVID economic recovery by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India. Prof. Ranade has many publications in reputed journals and is one of the authors of the recent award-winning book ‘Rising to the China Challenge’. He is also a regular columnist in leading financial newspapers and has numerous columns on different areas of the economy.

In his role at NAAC, Dr. Kawday is responsible for coordinating the assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions, fostering a culture of academic excellence, and conducting quality-related research and training initiatives. His dedication to improving educational standards is evident through his involvement in shaping policy frameworks and leading accreditation exercises for numerous institutions. Dr. Kawday's academic journey includes a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Commerce and Management from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. He holds master's degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Industrial Relations and Personnel Management (MIRPM). Over the years, he has authored books, published numerous papers and articles, and delivered keynote speeches at conferences, seminars, and workshops, all aimed at advancing the quality of teaching, learning, and research in higher education. Dr. Devender Kawday's commitment to enhancing the higher education landscape in India makes him a valuable asset to NAAC and the broader academic community.

Dr. Shailendra Deolankar is a renowned researcher and columnist on international relations and foreign affairs for the last two decades. He completed his M.Phil. and Ph.D. from the prestigious School of International Studies - Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a gold medallist of the Pune University for his Masters in Political Science. He has authored 20 books on international relations and foreign affairs and published research articles in prestigious national and international journals. He is a recognized research guide on International Relations. He has been teaching international relations and has been a renowned strategic analyst on contemporary world politics. He has several publications and articles on the subject.

Michael K. Young Having served as the 25th President of Texas A&M University from May 1, 2015, to June 1, 2021, Michael K. Young has a proven track record of academic leadership. During his tenure, Young led Texas A&M as it significantly grew its national and international reputation as a global Tier 1 research institution. As a longtime champion for academic success, Young helped launch the Lead by Example Campaign, an ambitious fundraising effort that raised $4.25 billion to fund substantial initiatives benefiting students, faculty, and staff. The University also surpassed $1 Billion in annual research funding under his leadership. Today, Texas A&M University stands as the nation’s largest public institution. Young also served as president and tenured professor of law at the University of Washington from 2011 to 2015, where he led the nation’s top public university in competing for federal research funding, as well as its ambitious plan to double the number of new companies based on UW research. He also launched the Global Innovation Exchange, a partnership between the University of Washington, a major Chinese university and European universities. The university also more than doubled its fundraising during his tenure. Prior to that, Young served as president and distinguished professor of law at the University of Utah. Under his leadership, Utah raised its stature nationally and internationally, including becoming the nation’s top university in the number of new companies generated from university research. The University also built over a million square feet of academic and research space during his tenure. Before assuming the presidency at Utah, he was Dean and Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at the George Washington University Law School, and he was the Fuyo Professor of Japanese Law and Legal Institutions, as well as the Director of the Centers for Japanese Legal Studies and Korean Legal Studies, at Columbia University School of Law for more than 20 years. He also has been a visiting professor and scholar at numerous universities in Japan and Korea. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Young has broad experience across legal, public service, and diplomatic arenas. He served as a law clerk to the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has held numerous government positions, including Deputy Legal Adviser, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs, and Ambassador for Trade and Environmental Affairs in the Department of State during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Among many other international agreements, Young worked extensively on the treaties related to German unification, as well as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Uruguay Round negotiations leading to the World Trade Organization, and the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. Subsequently, Young served eight years on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which he chaired on two separate occasions. Professor Young has also arbitrated several disputes, including as president of the arbitral panel in the case of Glamis Gold, Ltd. V. The United States of America, an arbitration under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the predecessor to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. He has arbitrated disputes administered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and arbitrations subject to the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). He also served as the Chief Representative on behalf of the United States in the United States-United Kingdom arbitration concerning Heathrow Airport user charges. He has also served as an arbitrator in disputes involving the United Nations. He also published extensively on a variety of topics, including topics relating to Japan — administrative law, judicial review, industrial policy, employment law, commercial transactions and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, dispute resolution, the role of lawyers, anti-trust law, among others — as well as U.S. and international trade law, international human rights, international environmental law, and freedom of religion. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of bar of the States of New York and California.

Prof Marshall Sheerene Sheldon, holds a Doctoral qualification in Chemical Engineering. She is currently the Executive Dean of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology at the Nelson Mandela University of Technology and has 24 years higher education experience at various levels. Prof Sheldon currently holds an NRF C2 rating and has successfully graduated 14 Masters and 4 Doctoral students. Her funding sources were mainly from different National Research Foundation (NRF) funding instruments, the Water Research Commission (WRC) and various industry contributions. Prof Sheldon’s has published and co-authored international peer reviewed journals; international conference papers; a book chapter and has been involved in multiple WRC technical reports. Her h-index on Google Scholar Profile is 13; Scopus 11 and Web of Science This research work has been presented at more than 60 conferences both internationally, nationally, and locally. Her research and postgraduate students have received numerous awards at both international and local conferences. Prof Sheldon has been involved in organising many local and international symposiums, workshops and conferences and has peer-reviewed numerous accredited journal articles for various International accredited journals.

Dr. Abhay Wagh is a member, Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), Mumbai.He has excelled in the field of engineering. Dr. Wagh earned his PhD in the field of Electronics & Instrumentation. He was awarded Gold Medal for his Master’s Degree in Power Electronics. He has been working in the field of Technical Education from last 29 Years in various capacity : as teaching faculty, trainer, administrator and policy maker. Experience of implementing several projects for Technical Education. He is a recipient of the ‘Skoch Gold Award of Excellence’ for successfully implementing 10 projects in the State of Maharashtra based on good governance, during the 37th Skoch Summit on ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’. He was also awarded with ‘E-Maharashtra’ honour for efforts in e-administration by Directorate of Information Technology, Govt. of Maharashtra.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara is the Pro Chancellor of Chitkara University, Punjab and Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh. An academician and an edupreneur extraordinaire, Dr. Madhu Chitkara co-founded Chitkara Educational Trust in 1998, with a vision to impart quality education to seekers in the region. At Chitkara University, she has been instrumental in creating more than 60 relevant industry-linked programs across all streams at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate level. Her contribution also extends to building Incubation Centres for students with more than 100 incubate companies. Driven by her vision, the University has built a strong network with over 200 universities and institutions across the world. It is her constant endeavour to create strong academic-industry partnerships to bring the best of career opportunities for the young graduates. With the aim to bring global education to the campus, Dr. Madhu Chitkara designed the Global Week, a footprint of Global Engagement at Chitkara University and one of the best ways of internationalising the student learning experience. Because of her unique way to ‘lead by example’ and ‘lead from front’, Dr Madhu Chitkara continues to inspire many young women around the world and her story has been featured in the third edition of the book “Rising to the Top” published by IFEES. Her remarkable contribution in the field of education has been recognised on both the international and national stages.

Maria Lucia Uribe Torres is the Executive Director of Arigatou International Geneva. She heads the strategic direction of the Ethics Education for Children Initiative as an International Knowledge and Action Hub with partners in more than 30 countries. She is also in charge of developing and maintaining Arigatou International’s engagement in child rights initiatives with UN agencies and child rights focused NGOs in Geneva. Ms. Uribe was previously the Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator for Education and Fragility for the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), and served as Program Officer for Arigatou International in charge of coordinating the development of its flagship program, Learning to Live Together. She convenes the International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, and the Working Group on Children and Violence of Child Rights Connect. Ms. Uribe serves on the Steering Group of the International Partnership for Religion and Development.

Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita is a successful banker turned educator, a bestselling author, a global thought leader, and a transformational leadership coach.Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita took over as the President of the prestigious Sri Sri University in India in April 2017. Before that she served as a member of the Board of Governors of Sri Sri University from 2009. From 2012, she and her team successfully launched the Faculty of Management Studies, A School of Yoga & Naturopathy, A School of Good Governance and Public Policy, A School of Performing Arts and a PhD program in Management & International Business, Bachelors programs in Business Administration, Commerce & Architecture and a first in Asia Masters in Osteopathy program. The University operates 11 schools currently with 850 students and will reach full capacity of 10000 students by 2021. Along with the phase wise launch of the University, she also drives sustainable community development in villages in the vicinity of the campus. She has launched vocational employment oriented programs for youth in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro, tailoring schools for women and young girls, health and hygiene camps for children. Under her supervision homes, community halls and medical care facilities have been built for 3 villages. In the last 3 years Over 550 unemployed young village boys and girls have got vocational training and are now gainfully employed. In the short time since its launch Sri Sri University has already been a recipient of many awards – Most Green campus Award from the Government of Odisha, Most Holistic Education University, Most Innovative University, Award for Synthesis of ancient and modern approaches. The University is also forging international collaborations with institutions from other countries, Prof. Rajita’s keen understanding of the education landscape of the world, her ability to connect with academicians, students and regulators and her unique skill of bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders towards a common goal is taking the Sri Sri University team to build it as a global centre of excellence. Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita was the Trustee of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir from 2009-13 and again from April 2017. In this role, she is responsible for over 100 educational institutions in India, Nepal and the Gulf, reaching education to over 29000 students (including 90 schools, 1 junior college, 1 college of Ayurveda & 1 college of Computer Science). As a member of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Rajita guides the strategy, academics and administration of these institutions ensuring value based, holistic and stress free education to children and young adults.

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, a Rhodes Scholar, is the Founding Vice-Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global (Institution of Eminence Deemed To Be University) (JGU) in India. He was appointed as the VC at the age of 34 in 2009 when the university was established. JGU is one of only 20 universities in India and the only non-STEM university, which has been declared as an “Institution of Eminence” by the Government of India. Professor Kumar is an accomplished legal scholar and works in the fields of human rights and development, comparative constitutional law, terrorism and national security, corruption and governance, law and disaster management, legal education, and higher education. He has seven books and over a hundred and fifty publications to his credit and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, law reviews in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, UK and the USA. Professor Kumar has academic qualifications from the University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of Hong Kong, University of Delhi and Loyola College. He served as a faculty member at the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, where he taught for many years.