Lord Triesman has been involved with education, employment, regulations, treasury, security, business and innovation, trade and industry, transport and football over the span of his career. He is the Shadow Foreign Minister in the House of Lords. He has also been Director at Salamanca Group Holdings Limited since September 2013. He served as Chairman at The Football Association from 2005 to 2007 and held the position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Foreign Commonwealth Office) where his role included Minister for Africa and Under-Secretary of State (Intellectual Property and Quality). He was a member of various committees during the 80's including the Home Office Committee on Prison Education, the Greater London Manpower Board, the Bett Inquiry into Higher Education, the Ruskin College Governors and was also the Chairman of the Burnham FHE Committee Teachers' Side.

Over the last decade, Lord Triesman was a member of the Better Regulations Task Force and the HM Treasury Public Services Productivity Panel. In addition, he was the Government Minister for Education and Skills, Trade and Industry, Transport and International Development. At the Department for Innovation, University and Skills, he had responsibility for Higher Education and Further Education and was Student Minister. This role was jointly in the Department for Business and was central to building business into the grasp of Higher Education. He was also a member of the Board of Advisors at UBS and Chairman of Victoria Management, a large student accommodation business. Lord Triesman also holds visiting posts at Cambridge and Warwick Universities and the London School of Economics.

Dr. Ageila Ali Elabbar, holding BA in TEFL from the English Department, Faculty of Education, University of Benghazi 2002. He also earned MA from Leeds Met (UK) in Materials Development for Language Teaching 2005. Then, he taught at the University of Benghazi from 2005 to 2008. After that, he studied PhD (From Sep 2008 to Nov 2011) at the Faculty of Education, University of Glasgow- UK; as his PhD focused on Continuing Professional Development for University EFL Teachers and Educators.

Ageila Ali Elabbar worked as school teacher for one year (2002 to 2003). Then, after he got his MA in 2005; he taught at the University of Benghazi (from 2005 to 2008) different courses in two English Departments: Faculty of Education and Faculty of Arts. Then, he resumed his work after he got PhD degree, as Head of English Department, Faculty of Education from January 2012 until now.

Has been an Academic teaching in Libya since 1974, Teaching Experience:

• 25 years at university and higher institutes level. Courses include: General physics, general teaching methods, science teaching methods, curriculum design & development, teaching strategies, microteaching, teaching practice, and introductory statistics.
• Other university activities include: examinations' committees, design and development of teacher training programs.
• Supervising 7 Masters' degree theses in science curricula & teaching. and from 2003 entered politics which led to his position as Deputy Minister of Education from for the period of 2011-2013.

He has made several publications, and is an experienced and sought after speaker and is a member on many integral committees.

Director of International Liaison, University of Sheffield st Tim Crick graduated from Oxford University with a 1 class Honours degree in Modern Languages in 1974. He worked in the offshore drilling industry until 1993 in ten different countries, being based in Italy from 1982 to 1993. During this period he worked regularly in Libya in offshore exploration. In 1993 he transferred to the university sector and was appointed Director of the International Office at the University of Sheffield in 1998 and Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions in 2001. Since 2006 he has had the role of Director of International Liaison at the same university, with responsibility for the development of corporate commercial activities overseas and the oversight of the university's international collaborations.

In 2010 the University started a partnership with Omar Mukhtar University which has led to collaboration in the fields of Medicine and the Biosciences. Links between Sheffield and the Agriculture Research Centre in Al-Beyda have been established as a consequence of the relationship with OMU. Tim Crick has visited Libya over 15 times in the course of his duties in the oilfield and for the University of Sheffield.

Liz Gaston has been working with Libyan students since 1983, when she established the Jawaby Training Department. Starting from scratch she introduced accredited courses in English, engineering, professional, HND and graduate courses for the oil sector, training highly skilled staff, who gradually replaced a major ex-pat workforce. Liz developed the UK qualification ‘postgraduate diploma/ certificate, specifically for the Libyan Oil industry. She was also responsible to NOC for all UK visa and immigration matters for the oil sector, and 20 years on, she still is Liz managed the Jawaby training department for 25 years and at peak, her team handled the placement, payment and supervision of 1000 students per month (plus families) attending 900 courses per year. These students number over 35,000 and very many of these employees are now in leading positions in the Oil Sector.

SMART was formed 6 years ago bringing this experience and the team to continue delivering international service to clients by finding short term solutions while working on long term developmental projects. SMART handle the placement, follow up and support of international students on a worldwide basis and have students in 60 countries around the world.

Michael Dodd is an international speaker and broadcast journalist who helps business leaders, civil servants and other professionals to get their message across – face-to-face and through the news media. He's had speaking and training engagements on six continents.

Michael's been awarded the “New Speaker of the Year” title from the Academy for Chief Executives. He helps clients boost their presentation skills and give great answers to nightmare questions - from journalists, customers, prospects, staff and shareholders

Michael draws upon his experience as a political reporter and foreign correspondent to ask” blowtorch-on-the-belly" questions - and to show clients what's needed to answer them with aplomb. He's best known amongst international audiences for his comments in interviews and live newspaper reviews on the BBC, Sky and other networks. He's presented BBC programs such as Global and Five Live Report. Michael runs master classes on communications and media response skills for diplomats and senior civil servants from UK Trade and Investment, the Cabinet Office and all government departments.

Following a scientific career in research and industry, Amanda moved into business intelligence with Glaxo SmithKline, prior to joining the University of York. At the University of York Amanda established an IT training company to provide business focused training for local companies.

She is currently the Head of Corporate Training at the University, responsible for the strategic development of training and education programmes developed for public and private sector organisations. Amanda is also responsible for the University employer engagement strategy which covers all the external activities of the University from student placements and industrial research partnerships to consultancy and training.

In 2007 Amanda established The Training Gateway which helps UK and international public and private sector organisations address their skills needs by providing a free single point of contact through which to source corporate, vocational and executive training and educational partnerships from UK universities. Over the past 7 years the Training Gateway has worked extensively across the Gulf including Libya where she has led trade missions and supported Libyan skills initiatives.

Mathew Boice has held senior positions in IT leadership in the Further Education and Higher Education sectors in the United Kingdom, including the role of Chief Information Officer at a large London University.

Joining Ellucian in November 1998, Mathew has held senior positions in Europe, Middle East and Africa and is presently serving as the Vice President for Africa and the Middle East Region.

Mrs Serrah holds a Bachelor′s Degree in Law from the Law College, Naser University , Libya. She also holds a diploma in Diplomatic Studies from the Diplomatic Studies Centre at the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mrs Serrah has an extensive experience in Libyan Legal, Diplomatic, and Political Affairs as she worked closely for many years on cases related to International Law concerning Libya. She joined the Embassy of the State of Libya in Libya in 2013 as a political counsellor and Charge d′Affaires.

Mr. Fintan Foy joined the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland as Chief Executive Officer in May 2011. Before that he had worked for 18 years in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and had held a number of senior management roles. The more recent was Associate Director for Academic Affairs, which included responsibility for overseas development. Fintan was also responsible for the administration of assessment at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Ireland and overseas and the development of academic models. Fintan has been involved extensively in setting up undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes in the Gulf, Middle East and South East Asia in Anaesthesia and previously in Surgery. At present Fintan is Chairman of the International Medical Graduate Training Initiative (IMTGI) which is a partnership arrangement between the Health Services Executive of Ireland and Forum of Irish Postgraduate Training Bodies to provide a defined medical education and training package which has been developed by an Irish postgraduate medical training body to meet the clinical needs of participants as defined by their home country's health service. Fintan also represents 7 Training Bodies on the Executive Management Committee of Medical Validation Ireland (MVIRl) which is undertaking a project to revalidate Consultants working in the Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar.

Mark Hector was born in Nairobi, Kenya and first graduated in Physiology, then in Dentistry in 1981 from Guys Hospital. There followed 3 years at the University of Bristol and Kings College, London after which he received his PhD. Following 3 years in oral medicine and pathology at Guys Hospital Dental School he was recruited to The London Hospital Medical College as a lecturer in Child Dental Health. He gained his Readership in 2001 and in 2002 became Professor of Oral Health of Children at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.Between 2009-11 he was President of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry.

Mark Hector took up his position as Dean of Dentistry and Professor of Oral Health of Children at Dundee University in August 2011.

Nick Schlaepfer is UK Trade and Investment′s Education and Skills Specialist for Libya. He has been conducting a scoping study of opportunities for the UK to engage in the education and skills sector in Libya. He has carried out similar scoping studies in South America and the Caribbean. Nick has a management consultancy background with a focus on education, and has worked internationally for the last 15 years.

Dr. Fathi Ragab Ahmed El Akkari graduated from University, with a Doctorate at the College of Engineering majoring in Electronic Communications and was appointed as Lecturer in the same College, he then earned a Master′s Degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Karniki Mellon in 1976, and a Doctorate from the same University in 1980 in the area of Laser and Optical Communication. He returned to Libya where he worked at the University of Tripoli and participated as a part-time technical adviser to several organisation including Wozarhalsanaah; and military industrialization projects for the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industries. He is one of the founders of the School of Military Engineering in Tripoli and the Academic Secretary, and has worked in a number of Irish universities. He has also held the position of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the interim Government, and is currently a professor at the University of Tripoli.

Dr. Naeem Abdurrahman Al-Gheriany, has held both political and academic posts in Libya including the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Transitional Government, and is currently a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tripoli. He is also the Director of the Libyan Policy Institute, and is a founding member of the National Consultancy Group. Dr. Naeem was an active member of the Libyan opposition to the former regime from his college years in the 1970s. He was one of the founders of the Libyan Student Union Abroad, and was a founding member of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya in the early 1980s, continuing his activity in the Libyan opposition during the Libyan Revolution starting in February 2011. Before returning to Libya in 2011, Dr Naeem has lived and worked in the United States, holding academic and research positions. He was Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, and a visiting professor and consultant to Argonne National Laboratory. He then went on to work in Department Energy Department Hanford Site and later joined the Department of Energy Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he managed the Nuclear Safety research and development program.

Dr Gadour is the Cultural Attaché. at the Libyan Embassy-London. He accomplished his PhD degree in Education and Psychology from Sheffield University, UK (2003). He received his MA in Educational Psychology from University of Newcastle, UK (1995). Dr Gadour was also awarded an Advanced Certificate in Professional Studies in Educational Psychology from Newcastle University (1996). Prior to coming to the United Kingdom, he graduated from University of Tripoli, Libya (1990) with a first-class honours BA degree in Education.

Dr Gadour worked as a lecturer of Educational Psychology at a number of Libyan universities including Tripoli University and Omar Al-Mukhtar University where he published and co-authored several articles and books in the field of Educational Psychology. He also delivered seminars in the field of Educational Psychology at a number of UK universities. Furthermore, Dr Gadour contributed in various workshops and represented Libya in more than 10 international conferences.

Dr Gadour also has a membership in a number of organisations including:

• Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Member of the Editorial Committee, Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies
• Member of the Scientists and Experts Council, Libya

Over the last few years, he managed to generate more than quarter a million for Community Projects for the Enhancement and Empowerment of Disadvantaged Groups in the UK.

Born in Murzuk, Libya he has achieved the following academic qualifications:

• Ph. D. In Electrical Engineering (Reflection of acoustic waves by plasmas sheet), Electrical Engineering Department, University of Southern California Los Angeles CA. in 1983.
• M. Sc. In Electrical Engineering (Electromagnetic and plasmas engineering), Electrical Engineering Department University of Southern California Los Angeles CA. in 1977.
• P h D. in Engineering in 1975 and a Scholarship for study B. Sc in Engineering in 1969.

He has also received the following awards early on in his academic career; First degree Award for B. Sc. graduation from Tripoli University in 1974, a Scholarship to study M. Sc and P h D. in Engineering in 1975 and a Scholarship for study B. Sc in Engineering in 1969.

Dr Mahdi Gibani is a consultant Physician & Nephrologist at Gwynedd Hospital, in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales. He is Libyan national and he qualified as a doctor from Benghazi University in 1978 before moving to the UK for specialist training. His interest in kidney disease emerged during his post as clinical research fellow in Diabetic nephropathy. He is accredited in general medicine and nephrology and is the lead nephrologist in Gwynedd hospital.

Dr Gibani was instrumental in developing a successful and comprehensive renal service in the area and is the driving force in promoting an extensive home dialysis programme which is one of the most successful in the UK. He is still actively involved in undergraduate and post graduate medical teaching for both general and renal medicine and is the principal author or co-author of over 55 publications and presentations. He was awarded the MBE in 2013 in recognition for his distinguished service to medicine with special reference to developing an outstanding home therapy programme in the region

Ahmed Fagih is a Libyan author and a playwright. Born in the oasis village of Mizda, near Tripoli. At the age of 22, he was awarded a prize for his first book of short stories.

He has worked in many capacities in the fields of culture and the media. He has a PhD in the Libyan Short Story from the University of Edinburgh. Then, back in Libya he became Director of the Institute of Music and Drama and head of the Department of Arts and Literature at the Ministry of Information and Culture. He also founded the Union of Libyan Writers, of which he was for a time Secretary-General. In 1977, he became Press Counsellor at the Libyan Embassy in London. There he established the Arab Cultural Trust, which launched the glossy cultural quarterly magazine Azure of which he was Editor-in-Chief.

Some of his work has been translated into English; the plays Gazelles (performed at the Shaw Theatre in London in 1982), and Evening Visitor, his trilogy Gardens of the Night (Quartet, 1995) and The Valley of Ashes. In 2000, Kegan Paul International published a five volume collection of his short stories and plays. Homeless Rats his novel was published last year by Quartet books. He has published in Tripoli and Beirut his 12-volume historical saga Maps of the Soul. An English edition this year of the first three novels published by Darf Publishers (London).

Alongside his literary career Ahmed Fagih has served in several diplomatic posts over the past decade, and has headed his country's diplomatic missions in Greece, and Romania. For the past few years he has been located mainly in Cairo where he is working as a member of the Libyan delegation in The Arab League.

Dr Fatima Hamroush, FRCS (Ophth) Ed, DO, MBBS is a Consultant Ophthalmologist, And Head of Eye Dept. OLLH, Republic Of Ireland from 2003 to date. She is also Co-ordinator of the Libyan National Dialogue for Civil Democracy, Head of the Irish Libyan Emergency Aid Organisation and Former Minister of Health, of the Libyan Transitional Government from Nov 2011-Nov 2012.

Obtained his BSc from the University of Tripoli, and MSc from the University of California and DPhil from the University of York (1980),
He is a Chartered Physicist, Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society. Amongst his awards are:

• The UK ESCA (UK 1988).
• SMART award, DTI, UK (1997)
• SMART award, DTI, UK (2001)
• The Cosslett Prize by the Micro Analytical Beam Society of America, USA.
• Fazlur Rahman Khan Award for Science and Engineering.
• British Muslim Awards for excellence in Science and Engineering (2013).
• He was awarded The Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to science in 2012.

He is a world renowned expert in the development of instrumentation and methodologies for the analysis of nanoscale dimensions. Co-developer of the world's first Multi-Spectral Analytical Microscope (MULSAM); a co-developer of the world first desktop field emission based electron microscope; joint developer of a new theory on secondary electron emission that corrects a 60 years old previous model; as well as several other major developments. He is the author and co-author of more than 200 articles, books and patents on surface analysis, electron microscopy and nanotechnology, holds several worldwide patents in the above fields and acts as a consultant to major manufacturers in Japan, Europe and the USA. Professor El-Gomati is a co-founder (1999) and currently the Chairman of the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC), which promotes the contribution of Muslims and Arabs during what has been referred to in the west as the "Dark Ages" - 700-1700CE). See (FSTC) and Muslimheritage. He also writes and speaks on the challenges facing the developments of the Libyan higher education sector.

• Head of the Scholarships Department at the Ministry of Higher Education in Libya
• PhD in Literature and Critique/ Spain
• President of Misurata University
• Dean of the School of Literature in Misurata University
• Associate Professor in the Libyan Universities
• Writer and Narrator: 3 Published books, more than15 research publications and 30 articles in the press
• Political Activist

Prof. Mustafa M. Elfakhri is Vice President,of Libyan International Medical University, Benghazi, Libya. He is a Professor of Biochemistry / University of Benghazi.

Academic Background

• Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1974, Cairo University, Egypt.
• PhD in Biochemistry, 1979, Nottingham University, UK.
• PostDoc, 1985, University of Sydney, Australia.

Administrative Appointments

• Director, Technical Department, National Pharmaceutical Company - Libya.
• Director, Administration of Pharmaceutical Industry, National Pharmaceutical Company - Libya.
• Member, higher committee of drug and medical supplies. Ministry of Health - Libya.
• Technical Advisor, Secretariat of Libyan Red Crescent.
• Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.
• Dean (Acting) Faculty of Medicine, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.
• Vice president, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.
• Vice president, Libyan International Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.
• Vice president, student affairs, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.
• Director of center of specialized medical services, University of Garyounis, Benghazi, Libya.
• Executive member of research and consultation center, University of Garyounis, Benghazi, Libya.

Member of Editorial board

• Garyounis Medical Journal, Al-Arab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.
• Balsam Medical journal, Libyan International Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.

Mr. David Lock was appointed as Director of International and UK Projects at the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education in October 2007.

Until October 2007 he was the founding Registrar and Acting Chief Executive of the new British University in Dubai, a post he held for 4 years. BUiD now has over 400 students and David led a strategic review of the University which has helped to set its course for the next 5 years.

David was appointed to the International Advisory Panel for the Middle East Association′s Learning and Leadership Symposium Programme 2006-9, has spoken on UK Higher Education in several countries and been called on to advise on the establishment of new universities in other Middle East countries.

Prior to going to Dubai David had been Secretary to the University of Huddersfield and Registrar and Secretary to the University of Hull in the UK for a total of 14 years. In both roles he was secretary to the governing body and its committees and responsible for leading significant parts of the administration and support services. In particular he led student services, human resources and a range of professional services and performed a key role in governance and strategic reviews. He also played a leading part in major projects including the merger with another HE institution, the acquisition of new campuses and various other initiatives including a civic millennium project. He was particularly focused on the student experience.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and an advisor to the Institute. He is a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. He is a graduate of the UK HE Top Management Programme.

David has also undertaken a range of consultancy assignments including national HE governance projects, including the training of members of governing bodies at national level and FE governance assignments.

Dr John is a Higher Education Adviser with the British Council, based in Manchester, and has over twenty five years experience in the Higher Education sector. He specialises in promoting collaboration through internationalising higher education.

After graduating with a BSc in Industrial Design, from Edinburgh′s Napier University, John worked as a designer in the creative industries, before joining the University of Central England (UCE) in Birmingham, where in 1996 he gained his PhD in Design Management.

In 2000 he was appointed as Head of the Department of Fashion, Textiles and Three Dimensional Design at UCE, before moving to Hong Kong as the Head of Design at the Hong Kong Design Institute, where he led the delivery of UK undergraduate programmes with UK partner Universities.

With the British council, John works with both the UK HE sector and Ministries of Higher Education overseas to promote dialogue and partnership between stakeholders. John has advised on issues of quality assurance, collaborative partnerships, research co-operation and international development, with a focus on MENA and East Asia. He is a regular contributor at international conferences.

Dr Kevin Dunseath is a founding partner of CorCordi, an international education consulting firm based in Dubai. Kevin has been directly involved with education for more than forty years, in both the secondary and higher education sectors. He has had significant teaching and senior management experience at educational institutions across the world. This experience includes leadership positions in Brunei, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK and Zambia. The universities at which Kevin has worked for significant periods include: London Business School, the University of Sheffield, the University of Exeter, Michigan State University, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the University of Sharjah and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Kevin has also had management experience in the corporate world. From being Director of London Business School′s Dubai Centre, he became Director of Education for Cisco in EMEAR. Kevin′s extensive experience has enabled him to advise university, business and government leaders on major education-related projects. Kevin is currently working extensively with Isis Innovation, the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, on a major project to establish a new private university in Oman. Kevin has a first degree from the University of Oxford, a MPhil degree from the University of Cambridge and both a MBA degree and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Sheffield. Kevin has been an invited speaker at numerous international education conferences and events across the world. He is often asked to address issues to do with the exciting world of 21st century learning and the role of technology as a key enabler of education transformation.

Dr. Salah M Meto born in Sabratha, Libya 8-8-1963.

Qualifications and Administrative Appointments

• PhD in linguistics, 1999 University of London (SOAS).
• MA in Linguistics, 1994 University of London (SOAS).
• Currently member of the General National Congress, and Head of the Higher Education Committee.
• 2000-2003 lecturer of linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Zawia University.
• 2003-2005: Assistant Professor of linguistics and translation Ittihad University RAK (United Arab Emirates).
• 2009-2012: coordinator of postgraduate studies in applied linguistics, Zawia University, Libya.
• 2010-2012: language centre manager, Zawia University.
• Supervisor and examiner of more than twenty MA dissertations in linguistics at the Academy of Graduate Studies, Zawia University and Tripoli University.
• Published a number of articles in the field linguistics.

Professor Bob Cryan took up the post as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield in January 2007, a University that now has over 22,000 students from over 120 countries. Bob holds two first class honours degrees (Engineering and Mathematics), an MBA and two doctorates (PhD, DSc) and he is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the IET and a Fellow of the HEA. Bob is also a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire and in 2013 he was awarded The Guardian Inspiring Leader Award.

Bob is delighted that the hard work of the University′s staff and students is being recognised through many awards including the Times Higher University of the Year 2013/14, the Queen′s Award for Enterprise 2013 and the Times Higher Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2012/13.

Prof. David Taylor is currently responsible for the University's International Strategy, the central theme of which is to become a University of International Renown. This encompasses the development of international partnerships, coordinating international admissions and being responsible for international student experience. Uniquely the University′s International Office takes an holistic view of its activities and combines partnership development and student admissions with social, pastoral and academic support for international students, all from one combined team. This has enabled the University to grow its international reputation and to top the International Student Barometer for student experience whilst also achieving QS 5* International accreditation. The University of Huddersfield has a large and active Libyan student population and works closely with the Libyan government on a number of strategic projects.

David hold a first class honours degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. He was awarded a chair in 1999 and now has over 25 years of experience in HE, having previously held roles at Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Head of Department, Associate Dean and Dean level. He is a Fellow of the IET, the BCS and the HEA.

Professor Mustafa Abushagur Ghaith Abushagur was born in 1951 in Gharyan. He is an academic and political Libyan. He was appointed by Abdul Rahim El Keib on November 22, 2011 as Deputy Prime Minister in the Transitional Government, which is part of the National Transitional Council . He was until then, the president and founder of the University of " Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai " and a university professor in the field of electrical engineering and a pioneer in the field of business

He joined the University of Tripoli and had a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Then he moved to Pasadena, California to enrol at the California Institute of Technology, where he earned a M.Sc. in electrical engineering in 1977 and earned his Ph.D. in 1984. in the same field.

Academic career:

Abushagur began his academic career as visiting professor assistant at the University of Rochester, New York in 1984. Then enrolled at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1985 , where he became a professor in 1995. He went on to develop the curriculum and was the Chairman of the Optical Engineering Committee for the remainder of his time at the university. This program became the first to receive the ABET accreditation in optical engineering in the USA. During his time at UAH, Abushagur received multiple research awards and grants from several federal agencies such as NASA, NSF, DoD and the FAA.

Abushagur's key research areas are nanophotonics, plasmonics, photonic microsystems, adaptive signal processing, optical MEMS, optical computing, optical communications, optical interconnects and fiber sensors. He holds three patents, has published ninety-eight research papers, published a book on Fourier optics. As a result of his significant contributions to the field of optics, the field of photonics and for pioneering educational programs, Abushagur was named a fellow of the Optical Society of America and the International Society of Optics and Photonics (SPIE). He also won numerous awards such as the Space Act Award from the NASA in 2004, served as an editor for several professional journals and cumulatively received approximately thirteen million dollars in research grants and funding.

Mr Mokhtar Fathallah is a deputy Minister of Transport and Human Resources.
Mr Mokhtar Fathallah hold a Bsc degree in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from USA.

Dr Cliff Hancock has worked in the HE sector in the UK for more than 30 years. He has considerable experience in the international HE environment through his work with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (where he currently holds the post of International Relationships Manager) and previously with the Open University where, again, he had an international remit. He is an Associate of the Leadership Foundation for HE and was part of their delegation to Tripoli in March 2012.

He has a deep understanding of organisational culture and how ideas from one country can be used (or not) in another. His recent academic work is in this area and his paper on Transitions in HE cultures was published by the Journal ‘Academya‘ run from the University of Yunnan in Kunming, China. His experience in the UK HE sector, prior to the Open University, was mainly at Bath Spa University where he held the post of Academic Registrar. There he was part of a small, senior team that gained degree awarding powers which led subsequently to the acquisition of university status and name.

Paul Fear has been working in education for twenty five years. He has much of his working life in international schools but has spent the last four years as a Principal of a well-known Independent Sixth Form College in London.

He has a particular interest in international education and in particular the 14 – 18 year group. He also spent a number of years as an Independent Schools Inspector inspecting schools in the UK. He has recently become a Director of Millenium Education. Millenium Education offers Education Management Services to a wide range of clients. It is working with the Libyan Attaché in the placement of scholarship students on to A Level education programmes in the UK.