Keynote Speakers

Scholarships
A scholarship for a training program on ‘Energy and Water Use Efficiency’ in New Delhi, India, January 2017, from the Indian Embassy in Muscat, A scholarship for a PhD in biomedical sciences from United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in 2010, Fulbright Scholarship from the American Embassy in Oman in 2005. It sponsored my studies for the master degree. He won a Chevening Scholarship from the British Council in Oman in 2005 to get a master degree in the UK. But, I withdrew later when I got Fulbright scholarship.
Education & Qualifications
Biomedical Sciences (Toxicology) PhD: Institute: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, 2015, Master of Environmental Health: Institute: University of Oklahoma, USA, 2007 MD (Bachelor of Medicine):Institute: Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, 2002
Experience
Director of Health, The Research Council (TRC), since October 2017 Specialist and Trainer in Environmental & Occupational Health, Ministry of Health, 2007 – 2017 General Physician, Ministry of Health, 2002 – 2005
Part-time jobs: Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Trainer , English Language Teacher

Prof. Ahmed Mandil is Coordinator, Research & Innovation, WHO/EMRO (seconded from High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University) since 2014. He received his MBChB (1981) and masters in Pediatrics (1985) from Alexandria University, Egypt; DrPH from UCLA School of Public Health, USA (1991). He was Secretary, International Epidemiological Association (2002-2008); Dean, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, UAE (2004- 2006), and Professor of Community Medicine, King Saud University, KSA (2008-2014). He currently serves as Deputy Executive Editor, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal and supports WHO’s work in the areas of research for health, WHO Collaborating Centers, bioethics, innovation and digital health in the Region.

Simon has been a Research Manager and Administrator for over thirty years. He started during his four years as a computer science researcher. Prior to that he ran a small software company for three years. He is an independent research consultant, and holds an honorary staff position at the University of Kent, where he was Director of Research Policy and support and was responsible for all aspects of the research support including pre-award, post-award, information, strategy, assessment and governance. He is a Board member of EARMA, and member of the Awards Committee; Co-chair of the NISO CRediT Working Group; a member of the NCURA Collaborate group of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. He is a past chair of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (UK) and has previously served for twelve years in various other ARMA Board positions. He is passionate about the development of Research Management and Administration (RMA) as a profession in the UK and further afield. Simon leads the INORMS RAAAP initiative, the NCURA RAAAPA project and is an expert on the EU foRMAtion project. He is an adjunct lecturer on the Johns Hopkins' international Masters in Research Administration, an editor for the Journal of Research Management and Administration and a member of the Journal of Research Administration Author Fellowship Committee. Simon has served on a number of national committees, project boards and working groups, including for Research Councils UK, HEFCE, Universities UK, Jisc, and Vitae on topics such as grant management systems, research development, research assessment, open access, and research information management. He has also held a number of Jisc funded projects in the areas of research information and data management and has spoken on these and many other RMA related subjects, for various sector bodies and events including ARMA, AMRC, AUA, BUFDG, CARA, CASRAI, DARMA, EARMA, EuroCRIS, INORMS, IRMI, Jisc, Million+, ModernGov, NARMA, NCURA, RCUK, RSP, SRAI, UKCGE, and Vitae. Previously, he worked at the University of Sunderland (1994-2012) as an EU funded researcher and then as an RMA (he was also the principal investigator on an EU ESPRIT project); Durham University (1990-1994) as a SERC/DTI and EU funded researcher; and for Pixel Ltd (1987-1990) an SME software consultancy as company director. He has a BSc(Hons) in Computing/Maths/Geology and a DProf in Electronic Research Administration, and in 2022 was awards the CARA Innovation Award in recognition for significant contributions to the profession.

Parallel Research Tracks

Applied & Health Sciences Research Track

Arts and Humanities Research Track

Business Administration Research Track

Engineering Research Track

Law Research Track

Languages and Foundation Studies Research Track