Distinguished Speakers
Maher Nasser
Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
Mr. Maher Nasser is Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations with nearly 40 years of experience in the United Nations system. He currently serves as Director of Outreach in the United Nations Department of Global Communications, where he leads engagement with academia, the private sector, and broader society, and oversees public engagement and global communication initiatives. He has held multiple senior leadership roles within the United Nations system. In February 2024, he was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Prof. Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu
President of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, UK
Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is President of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, as well as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. She also serves on the Board of Wellcome and is Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd, contributing to the strategic direction of major research and funding organisations.
She has a strong international profile in higher education leadership and governance, with a longstanding commitment to advancing equity and diversity in education. At University College London, she led institutional race equality initiatives and has presented to the UK Parliament on educational inequalities affecting minority representation. Her leadership has played a significant role in advancing inclusive reform in higher education. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2025.
Prof. Zongkai Yang
President, China Association for Educational Technology (CAET); Former President of Central China Normal University, Xidian University, and Wuhan University of Technology
Professor Zongkai Yang is a distinguished leader in digital education and higher education transformation, having served as President of multiple leading universities in China, including Central China Normal University, Xidian University, and Wuhan University of Technology. He has played a central role in advancing national strategies for education digitalization, leading major national research platforms and initiatives in smart education, big data, and artificial intelligence, and contributing significantly to the development of modern education systems and the integration of technology and education at scale.
Prof. Richard Li-Hua
Founder & President, ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, President of Global Innovation Research Institute, Xi’an Peihua
University
Founder of China Harmonious Innovation Theory
Professor Richard Li-Hua is a distinguished academic leader with a profound impact on international education, technology management, and innovation. He currently serves as the Director General of the Professional Committee of Internationalization of Digital Education of the China Association of Educational Technology. Additionally, he holds the position of Founding President of Global Innovation Research Institute of Xi'an Peihua University, China and is the Founder & President of ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, UK. He also serves as a columnist for the "Cambridge Perspective" [Outlook China] of the publication.
His academic contributions extend to his role as a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge Judge Business School and as a Strategic Advisor to the Tsinghua University Research Center for Technological Innovation. He is also recognized as a Senior Expert by both the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.
His extensive career includes his tenure as the former International President of Xi’an Peihua University, former President of Zhengzhou Sias University (a returnee from overseas) and as the former President of New Beacon Campus in the UK.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Dr. Li-Hua was awarded the "Top 50 Educators Award for Global Higher Education Excellence " at the Said Business School of Oxford University's Strategic Management Society Annual Conference in 2022. As a renowned scholar of strategy and innovation, a thinker, and the proposer of the China Harmonious Innovation (CHI) Theory with Mathor Chain-Protocal (MCP) and Harmonious Progressive Innovation Model (HPIM), Dr. Li-Hua continues to shape the future of education and innovation on a global scale.
Prof. Li Chen
Vice President, China Association for Educational Technology (CAET); Vice Chair of the University Council; Former Vice President, Beijing Normal University
Professor Li Chen is Vice President of the China Association for Educational Technology (CAET) and currently serves as Vice Chair of the University Council of Beijing Normal University, having served as Vice President and Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of the University. Widely recognized for her leadership in advancing digital transformation in education, she has played a central role in shaping national strategies and policy frameworks, including leading the drafting of key national initiatives on “Internet + Education” and promoting the development of education information science and technology. She is Director of the Institute for Big Data Applications in Basic Education.
Prof. Lucy Lu
Provost, ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, and Vice President of China Association for Management of Technology (CAMOT), former Provost of Arden University, UK
A Visionary Leader in Global Higher Education
Lu Yang, Ph.D. in Management, is a Professor of Management and Doctoral Supervisor. She currently serves as the Provost of ELITE Innovation College Cambridge (EICC), UK, and holds the position of Vice President and International Conference Chair for China Association for Management of Technology (CAMOT) UK. She also acts as Executive Director of the Council for Digitalization of International Education (CDIE) under China Association for Education Technology (CAET), a Visiting Research Fellow at Research Centre for Technological and Innovation (RCTI, Tsinghua University), and an International Academic Advisor at Xi'an Peihua University.
Professor Lu possesses nearly 30 years of experience in educational development, management, and leadership across the global higher education sector. Her prior senior executive roles include Provost at Arden University, UK, Provost/Global Academic Director at London School of Commerce Education Group, UK, and Vice President at Sias University, China. She has also held senior academic leadership positions at prominent UK public institutions, including Newcastle University, Bournemouth University, Northumbria University, and Plymouth University. Her career is defined by visionary, thoughtful, and authentic leadership in driving academic excellence, internationalization, and sustainable financial growth. Professor Lu co-founded the "WIN Education Framework (Wisdom, Innovation, and Navigation) Peihua Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership" with Xi'an Peihua University.
As Vice President and International Conference Chair of CAMOT, Professor Lu has successfully organized and hosted 16 high-profile international conferences since 2008. She is highly skilled at mobilizing top global scholars, industry leaders, and senior government officials, and has successfully collaborated with institutions like Tsinghua University (e.g., 2014), University of Cambridge (e.g., 2016), and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) to host influential events, including the World University Presidents Forum. In Oct, 2025, she successfully co-organized the World Women University Presidents Forum with Xi'an Peihua University, UNAI, and EICC, continuously advancing knowledge exchange in technology management, innovation, and global leadership.
Prof. Jin Chen
Director of the Research Center for Technological Innovation, Tsinghua University; Chair of the Technology Management Committee, China Society of Technology Economics
Professor Jin Chen is Director of the Research Center for Technological Innovation, a key research base of the Ministry of Education, and Professor at the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University. He serves as Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science of Science and S&T Policy Research and is widely recognized for his contributions to innovation management and technology policy. He has advanced influential theories such as innovation ecosystems based on core capabilities and integrated innovation, while leading multiple national-level research programs and playing an active role in supporting innovation-driven development.
Prof. Rupert Wegerif
Founder and academic director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative at Hughes Hall, Cambridge University
Professor Rupert Wegerif is Professor of Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge and the founder and academic director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. He is the author of several influential books and articles in the area of educational theory, educational psychology and education with technology. His recent talks, articles and books offer a theoretical foundation for the design of dialogic education with AI and with technology more generally.
Prof. Maurits Van Rooijen
President, European University of Applied Sciences
Professor Maurits Van Rooijen is President of European University of Applied Sciences and a Dutch socio-economic historian and geographer, recognized for pioneering research on sustainable urbanization and the concept of “Global Knowledge Cities,” integrating green innovation with urban development. As a leader in global education, he has advised on international higher education strategies and actively promotes cross-border academic collaboration and partnerships.
Prof. Craig Mahoney
Former Vice Chancellor, University of West of Scotland, UK
Professor Craig Mahoney is an Australian psychologist and academic, and a Chartered Psychologist. He grew up in Tasmania and initially worked as a teacher before moving to the UK, where he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Birmingham and a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast.
He served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland (2013–2022) and later briefly as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Law.
Dr. Bo Jiang
Chairman, Xi’an Peihua University, China
Dr Bo Jiang is a prominent figure in China’s private education sector, currently serving as the Chairman of the Private Higher Education Sports Alliance of China, as well as the Founder and Chairman of Xi’an Peihua University.
He has received numerous honors, including “Charming Youth of Xi’an, China,” “One of Shaanxi’s Top 100 Young and Middle-aged Cultural Figures,” “Top Ten Influential Figures in Shaanxi’s Economy,” “Top Ten News Figures in China’s Reform,” “Top Ten Philanthropic Role Models in China,” “30 Notable Figures in China’s Private Education over 30 Years of Reform and Opening-up,” “Advanced Individual in Patriotic Education in China,” “Model Figure for Respecting the Elderly in China,” “Outstanding Contributor to Shaanxi Urban Development (2012),” and “Top Ten Innovative Education Reform Figures during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period.”
Prof. Yan Xu
HongKong University of Science and Technology, China
Associate Director of Center for Business Strategy and Innovation
Professor Yan Xu received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and later earned his Ph.D. in Management from the University of Strathclyde. He is currently a Professor at the HKUST Business School and Associate Director of the Center for Business Strategy and Innovation, and previously served as Associate Dean (2011–2023).
His research focuses on technology and innovation management and telecommunications policy. He has published several books and serves on international journal editorial boards, and has led projects for organizations such as China Mobile, Huawei, and the International Telecommunication Union.
He has also held leadership roles in various professional associations and was appointed as a member of the Communications Authority of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Prof. Alison Honour
Vice-Chancellor, Bournemouth University, UK
With a background in creative industries and pedagogy for social entrepreneurship and innovation before moving into management roles, Professor Honour has held a range of senior leadership positions in the higher education sector across over
25 years, working at four post-92 universities.
A passionate supporter of equality and inclusion, Professor Honour’s previous
roles have seen her actively support access and participation activities to give opportunities to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and was the first person in her own family to attend university. In 2023, Prof. Honour was awarded ‘Women of the Decade Award’ from the Woman’s Economic Forum
and the G100, an international leadership group who make recommendations to the UN against UNSDG5 (United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals) for gender equality.
Prof. Alan Barrell
Cambridge Worldwide Associates
Professor Alan Barrell’s career spans over five decades, including work in hospital laboratory medicine and innovation policy within the UK National Health Service, followed by senior executive and chairman roles in multinational companies in the healthcare and electronics sectors. He later moved into venture capital and angel investing, actively supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the UK, China, and Finland.
He has been deeply involved in entrepreneurial education, serving as Entrepreneur in Residence at Cambridge Judge Business School, and as a visiting professor or advisor at several universities in China and Finland. He has received the UK Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion and Finland’s Order of the White Rose (Knight First Class).
Prof. Yun Liu
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
Professor Yun Liu is a scholar active in the fields of science and technology policy and innovation management. He serves as Vice President of the China Association of Science and Technology Indicators and the Beijing Association for Science and Technology Policy and Management, as well as an Executive Director of several academic organizations including the Chinese Society of Technology Economics.
He additionally serves on the editorial boards of several leading academic journals, and is a member of the Academic Committee of the China Center for Technological Innovation at Tsinghua University, as well as Chairholder of a UNESCO program related to South-South cooperation in science and technology for climate change.
Prof. Yongjiang Shi
Research Director of the Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM), CambridgeUniversity
Professor Yongjiang Shi is a Lecturer in the Industrial Systems, Manufacturing and Management Master’s programme at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, and Research Director of the Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM). He was previously a lecturer at the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, and joined the IfM in 1994.
He is also the Guangbiao Visiting Professor at the School of Management, Zhejiang University, where he teaches Global Manufacturing and China Development in the EMBA programme.
Prof. Xudong Gao
Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Tsinghua University
Professor Xudong Gao is a Professor in the Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, and Deputy Director of the Research Center for Technological Innovation at Tsinghua University.
In November 2025, Prof. Gao engaged in an in-depth dialogue on “AI and Enterprise Development,” proposing a principle of being “both proactive and prudent” in AI development. He also delivered a keynote speech at the “AI + Innovation and Entrepreneurship” sub-forum of the 4th Beijing AI Industry Innovation and Development Conference.
Prof. John Zonhai Han
Member of Advisory Board, Florida Christian University
Professor Zonghai Han is the founder of American-Can Education Group, Access Canada Education Corp., Davis College Vancouver and Davis College Windsor, and Honorary Dean of College of Leadership, ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, UK.
Ms Jing Chen
President of China Enterprise Management Publishing House
Mr Huajun Shu
Guangdong Institute of Educational Space Design
Prof. Phil Laird
Vice President, Innovation, Global & Academic Partnerships, Trinity Western University; Vice Provost, Global
Professor Phil Laird is a scholar in psychology and education with extensive interdisciplinary expertise. His work spans juror decision-making, psychology and the law, psychology and theology, self-deception and lying, emotional intelligence, moral reasoning, and technology-enhanced learning. He has contributed to research and scholarship in digital education, including his publication “Integrated Solutions to E-learning Implementation: Models, Structures, and Practices at Trinity Western University,” published in the Online Journal of Distance Education Administration, which explores effective models and practices for implementing e-learning in higher education.
Prof. John Domingue
Professor of Computer Science at The Open University
Former Director of Knowledge Media Institute (KMi)
Fellow of the British Academy of Business (FBBA)
Professor John Domingue is an internationally renowned expert in computer science. He is a Professor of Computer Science at The Open University and a former Director of its Knowledge Media Institute (KMi). He is also a Fellow of the British Academy of Business (FBBA).
With over 20 years of academic experience, Professor Domingue has made significant contributions to the fields of the Semantic Web, distributed ledger technologies (blockchain), and AI-enhanced education.
He has long been committed to exploring how emerging technologies can reshape higher education paradigms. He has led multiple large-scale research projects funded by the European Union and UK Research Councils, focusing on decentralized education systems, digital credentials, and the development of intelligent learning ecosystems.
Prof. Mutlu Cukurova
Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London
Mutlu Cukurova is Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London. His research focuses on human-AI complementarity in education. He directs the UCL AI in Education and Learning Analytics team and leads the Design and Use of AI in Education module at UCL. In parallel, he is actively engaged in international policy-making as an external expert for organisations including UNESCO, the OECD, and the European Commission, and has authored several influential policy guidelines on AI in Education. He has served as programme co-chair of the top conferences in the field including International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education in 2020 and ACM LAK in 2026. Prof. Cukurova is listed in Stanford University’s Top 2% of Scientists in both Artificial Intelligence and Education fields and currently serves as co-Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Educational Technology.
Emma Darcy
Director of Technology for Learning, D-enbigh High School, UK
Emma Darcy is a senior education consultant specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital strategy. She provides strategic advisory services to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across the UK, supporting leadership teams in translating digital strategies into impactful teaching and learning practices for learners of all ages.
In addition to her consultancy work, Emma serves as Director of Teaching and Learning Technology at Denbigh High School, a nationally recognised EdTech 50 school and a case study institution for digital strategy best practices by UNESCO.
Prior to this role, she spent ten years as Director of Learning Technology at the Chiltern Learning Trust, where she led the trust to win the MAT Digital Innovation Excellence Award 2024.
Emma has a strong international presence in the education technology community. She is a member of the Bett Advisory Board, a trustee of Apps For Good, and contributes to several national and international initiatives, including the UK AI in Education Practitioner Group, the University of Glasgow Digital Citizenship Programme, and the Digital Futures Group.
Recognised for her outstanding contributions to transforming the global EdTech landscape, Emma was recently named one of Bett UK 2026’s Top 10 Most Influential Women in Global EdTech.