Hiba Ismeail is an award-winning learning leader with over 15 years of experience. She is passionate about making a positive impact via transformative learning experiences. Hiba has supported a wide range of corporate, higher education, international development, nonprofit, defense, and federal learning environments throughout her career. She holds a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) credential from the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Certification Institute. In addition, Hiba holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Design and Technology, as well as an e-Learning Graduate Certificate, from George Mason University.

Dr. Roy Hinton recently retired as Associate Dean of Executive Programs at George Mason University, School of Business, where his responsibilities included developing and implementing strategies for program design, marketing, and operations as well as teaching in executive programs. Prior to joining the GMU School of Management team, he was Managing Director of Exquiry, LLC, a leadership and performance development firm. Along with his partners, Roy launched a management consulting firm specializing in system dynamics business simulations and management development. He has published articles in human resource and strategy journals and has written several books pertaining to business simulations. Roy received his Ph.D. in Management from Northwestern University, majoring in Organizational Behavior, and earned his MBA from Pepperdine University. He is also a graduate of the Newfield Network Coaching for Professional and Personal Mastery program which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Kareem Makhlouf is an expert in nonprofit management. Kareem has over 25 years of experience in international development and public administration with multilateral development agencies and organizations including the World Bank Group and the European Commission. He has designed and led multimillion-dollar donor-funded projects in the Middle East and in other parts of the world and has helped over 50 nonprofits across various sectors and environments develop and deliver effective products and services, scale operations and enhance their development impact. Kareem holds two master’s degrees in Education and Human Development from the George Washington University: one with a focus on international education and another with a focus on organizational leadership and learning. Kareem also holds a Certificate in Public and Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University, and a bachelor of science in Economics from Cairo University.

Dr. Boshra Zawawi is a senior instructional designer, educator, and researcher with over a decade of experience designing transformational learning experiences across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit contexts. She holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Learning Technologies Design Research from George Mason University, where she also earned her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Design and Development. As a university lecturer, Dr. Zawawi has taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in the United States and internationally, covering topics ranging from principles and practices of learning to career and life design, bringing to the classroom the same evidence-based, learner-centered approach that defines her instructional design practice. Her work sits at the intersection of instructional design, adult learning theory, and educational technology with deep expertise in phenomenon-based learning, competency-based education, and the integration of formal and informal learning. Dr. Zawawi has designed and delivered courses and programs across a wide range of institutions, including Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University and George Mason University, among others.

James Hong is a senior instructional designer. His career has centered around developing and teaching curriculum from K-Higher Education. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Virginia Tech, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia. James previously worked as an instructional designer at the nonprofit, Learning Undefeated, where he helped lead and design curriculum providing STEM career enrichment opportunities for underserved communities.

Elizabeth Wilcox-El Ansari is a learning experience design expert with 15+ years of experience creating impactful educational content for diverse audiences, from K–12 students to corporate professionals. She holds a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Psychology. Elizabeth brings a human-centered, research-informed approach to every project, specializing in phenomenon-based learning, adult learning theory, and e-learning development. Her work spans Fortune 500 companies, major four-year universities, federal government and global nonprofit organizations. She has developed courses that have reached over 45,000 learners.

Sara Ibrahim is a highly experienced senior instructional designer. With over a decade of dedicated experience in instructional design, Sara leverages her extensive background to craft engaging and effective learning experiences.

Wafia Alchurbaji is an education leader with over 15 years of experience across K–12 and higher education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Language Arts and Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. Her work spans teaching, program development, and institutional leadership, with a strong focus on designing impactful learning experiences. In recent years, she has specialized in curriculum development and instructional design, creating programs that foster critical thinking, interdisciplinary understanding, and real-world application.