Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas

Chair, and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast

Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, FAcSS, FRSA, FIAM, is Professor of Innovation Management and Policy and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.

Her academic research has focused on two strands: innovation systems, including the interrelationship between business, education, and government and, the effect of public sector intervention to enhance innovation success, business growth and profitability.  Her research has been published consistently in the leading academic journals.

Professor Ahmed Bawa

Chief Executive Officer, Universities South Africa

Professor Ahmed Bawa, a theoretical physicist, currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf).  In this capacity, he is a member of the Board of Directors of USAf – the representative association of all 26 public universities of South Africa.  Until April 2016, Professor Bawa was Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Durban University of Technology.  From 2012-2013 he was chair of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) which became USAf in July 2015.

Sjur Bergan

Head, Council of Europe Education Department

Sjur Bergan is Head of the Council of Europe’s Education Department. His work at the Council focuses on projects and recommendations on the purposes, values and democratic mission of higher education. Sjur is a member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group and Board and has chaired working groups that were involved in the implementation of education reforms.

He is a main author of the ‘Lisbon Recognition Convention’ as well as of recommendations on public responsibility; academic freedom and institutional autonomy; and quality education. Sjur is series editor of the Council of Europe Higher Education Series and the author of Qualifications: Introduction to a Concept.

Professor Chris Chapman

Chair of Educational Policy and Practice, University of Glasgow

Professor Chapman is Chair of Educational Policy and Practice at the University of Glasgow. He was the key architect and Principal Investigator of Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland and the Network for Social and Educational Equity based at the University of Glasgow.

Chris is seconded part-time to Scottish Government as Senior Academic Adviser in the Learning Directorate where most of his work focuses on supporting the Scottish Attainment Challenge. He is also a member of the First Minister’s International Council of Education Advisers.

Dr Anne Farrell

Director of Research at Chapin Hall, University of Chicago

Dr. Anne Farrell is the Director of Research at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. As the research leader of the organization, she serves a critical role in keeping Chapin Hall at the forefront of policy research, fostering innovative, rigorous, and actionable studies. She supports the acquisition and development of talent and engages in collaborations that ensure the creation, delivery, and development of knowledge and strategies to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families. Additionally, she engages in organizational strategy development, business development, research design, and implementation support and advises initiatives within and beyond Chapin Hall.

Dr Ira Harkavy

Associate Vice President and Founding Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania

Ira Harkavy is Associate Vice President and Founding Director of the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania.  As Director of the Netter Center since 1992, Harkavy has helped to develop academically based community service courses and participatory action research projects that involve creating university-community partnerships and university-assisted community schools with Penn's local community of West Philadelphia.  Harkavy teaches in history, urban studies, and Africana studies, as well as in the Graduate School of Education.

Paul Manners

Associate Professor in Public Engagement at University of the West of England Bristol

Paul is Associate Professor in Public Engagement at UWE Bristol and founding director of the UK’s National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE). 

The NCCPE was established in 2008 to support universities to embed innovative approaches to involving the public in their work.  The NCCPE is widely recognised for its expertise in supporting organisational change, partnership working, impact assessment and innovation in engagement.

Professor Ronnie Munck

Head of Civic Engagement, Dublin City University

Professor Ronnie Munck is Head of Civic Engagement at DCU and a Visiting Professor of International Development at the University of Liverpool and St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia. He has authored or edited more than 30 books on various topics related to globalisation, international development and social movements as well as over 100 academic journal articles. His books have been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, Korean, Turkish, Chinese and Japanese. He is the founding chair of the Development Studies Association of Ireland and of Campus Engage, the national platform for civic engagement in Ireland.