Core Team

Dr. Abdussalam Shibani is an Associate Professor in Project Management with over two decades of academic and research experience in the fields of construction and engineering management. He holds a PhD in Construction and Project Management and currently leads the MSc in Construction Management with Building Information Modelling (BIM), while also serving as a module leader in various postgraduate construction and project management courses.

Dr Shibani plays a key role in supporting the University’s internationalisation agenda through his work with international students, particularly those from the Middle East. In his role as International Student Champion, he provides personalised academic mentoring, cross-cultural guidance, and integration support—ensuring students adapt confidently to both academic standards and social life in the UK. His efforts contribute significantly to improving student experience and outcomes for learners from diverse backgrounds.

He also serves as Link Tutor for transnational education partnerships in Hong Kong and has held the role of External Examiner for programmes at Abertay University. His academic and professional credentials include a Diploma in Mental Health and specialist training in the application of Artificial Intelligence in project management.

Dr Shibani has undertaken extensive professional development in international education, including:

• Working with International Students
• Internationalising the Curriculum
• Teaching International Students (Parts 1 & 2)
• Strategies for Student Engagement
• Designing Assessments for International Learners
• Supporting International Students through Assessment
• Online International Learning (OIL) Workshops

These experiences inform his teaching philosophy and allow him to help international students build the academic writing and study skills required for success in UK higher education.

As a professional and experienced researcher, Dr Shibani has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, contributing significantly to the fields of construction, project management, and engineering education.

Ahmed Hikal is an educator, trainer, and coach with extensive international experience across the aviation, renewable energy, and professional development sectors. Throughout his career, he has designed and delivered engaging, results-driven learning experiences that integrate academic insight with practical, real-world application.

He has served as a Board Member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) – Doha Chapter, where he contributed to advancing coaching standards and fostering professional growth within the Middle East. His expertise includes somatic thinking coaching and mentoring, enabling him to work effectively with individuals and organisations to inspire both personal and professional transformation. Ahmed’s academic contributions include his role as a Lecturer at ALM University in Dundee, Scotland, where he developed and delivered curricula bridging theory and practice. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he worked as a Training and Development Specialist with the Crew Lounge Aviation Academy, supporting aviation professionals in building the skills and competencies required for excellence.

Previously, Ahmed served as a Line Trainer at Qatar Airways, responsible for onboarding, mentoring, and assessing crew members to ensure the highest standards in safety, service, and operations. These experiences have strengthened his ability to lead diverse teams, develop talent, and adapt training methodologies across cultures.

At the core of Ahmed’s work lies a passion for empowering learners to reach their potential. By combining knowledge, experiential learning, and reflective practice, he creates transformative learning experiences that prepare individuals for success in both academic and professional environments.

Haya Elsherif is an accomplished marketing and communications leader with over nine years of experience driving digital transformation and strategic brand growth across the MENA region. Her career spans diverse sectors including space technology, academia, education, healthcare, fitness, and smart tech—where she has led high-impact campaigns and built strong digital ecosystems for audience engagement and brand elevation.

Haya holds two master’s degrees: one in Comparative Media Studies from MIU Egypt, and an international Master’s in International Marketing Management from IU of Applied Sciences in Germany. This combination of academic depth and global marketing expertise enables her to design data-informed, creative strategies that deliver measurable results.

Her professional toolkit includes SEO/SEM optimisation, social media strategy, paid media, stakeholder communication, content production, digital public relations, and brand storytelling. She has led campaigns across multiple platforms including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat, with a sharp focus on ROI and market impact.

At the Stirling Centre, Haya contributes to strategic communication, digital visibility, and audience engagement, helping ensure the Centre’s work reaches and resonates with global stakeholders.

Justine Cassar Gaspar is a globally connected leader in organisational learning, innovation, and sustainability, serving as the Stirling Centre’s Country Manager for Malta. She is the Owner and Director of Life Learning Academia Malta (LLAM), a respected hub for leadership and learning recognised by Malta’s Ministry for Education and the Chamber of Commerce. She is also a certified representative of the late Professor Edward de Bono, with whom she worked closely since 2011 to champion creative thinking and lateral problem-solving across borders.

With a professional footprint spanning diplomacy, education, and enterprise, Justine brings deep board-level experience and international insight. She currently sits on the board of the European Association for Political Consultants (EAPC) and serves as Chair of the EAPC Academy, where she promotes democratic dialogue and education. Her leadership has positioned LLAM as a trusted partner in national projects and strategic collaborations with major global corporations, including ENI Oil.

In addition to her academic partnerships—including with Harvard Business Publishing Education—Justine was recently appointed to lead GUD Malta, an international sustainability organisation. As Vice-Chair Franck Massicard stated, “Justine brings with her a wealth of board experience and is the ideal candidate for leading our team as we look to undertake sustainability initiatives in Malta and abroad.”

On her appointment, Justine remarked: “I am delighted to have been appointed to lead GUD Malta. It is an organisation with an impressive global network, a talented team of sustainability champions and a forward-looking strategy that aims to change mindsets on matters which are most important, such as securing a Just Transition for all. I will be very focused on driving meaningful outcomes in this regard.”

At the Stirling Centre, Justine leads Malta-based engagements, develops strategic partnerships, and contributes to advancing sustainable development, civic innovation, and transformational learning across the Mediterranean region and beyond.

Karima Talaat is a Senior Social Media Specialist, digital strategist, and content creator known for building impactful online presences. She began in 2020 with Egyptian Squash News, later managing Shoukry Squash Academy and the Egyptian Federation for Squash. At GN Marketing Agency, she led business operations for clients in F&B, education, and corporate sectors. Now at Incubator Company, she drives digital strategies for national sports organisations. She also manages X Project, a long-standing student activity at Cairo University, and creates Lahfa El-Helwany, a TikTok persona delivering marketing content tailored to its audience. Being the Marketing Officer at Stirling Centre for Strategic Learning and Innovation, she is working on transforming the social media strategy into a dynamic and visible online presence in line with the centre’s vision and strategic direction.

Mohamed Rashad or “The Learning Wizard” is a pharmacist, learning expert, and sustainability advocate. With over 14 years in quality assurance, he led QHSE at MUP’s Beta-Lactam sites. Transitioning into learning & development, he became a Certified International Professional Trainer. As Chief Learning Officer at IBDL Learning Group, he designed and led  transformative projects for Egypt’s government. At Pathfinder International, he drives sustainability and private sector engagement. His journey reflects passion, perseverance, and a commitment to impactful change. Being the academic director at Stirling Centre for Strategic Learning and Innovation, he is leading the design and management of programs in accordance with the center’s vision and strategic direction.

Narcis Delalić is a digital solutions specialist with a strong background in IT support, web development, and business information systems. With over eight years of hands-on experience in system administration and user training, he brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to digital infrastructure, website management, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Currently serving as an IT Support and Business Systems Administrator in Sarajevo, Narcis leads the implementation and support of various business platforms and technologies. His work includes database configuration, fiscal system integration, technical training, and advanced troubleshooting. He has also created and maintained numerous WordPress websites through freelance platforms such as UpWork and Fiverr.

His technical proficiency spans across various ERP systems, SQL, Python, Django, HTML, CSS, and visual design tools such as Photoshop. Known for his reliability, adaptability, and continuous learning mindset, Narcis contributes to the Centre’s digital presence, platform development, and technology-enabled learning infrastructure.