Distinguished scholars and practitioners from around the world shared insights on business, economics, strategy, and technology at BEST 2026.
Panel 1: Artificial Intelligence and the Changing Role of the Manager
Dr. Berina Yerkic-HusejnovicAssistant Professor of Business; Director, Bassett Internship Program, Randolph-Macon College, USAWatch video
Dr. María Claudia LovegroveAssistant Professor of Business, International Business & Marketing, Empire State University, USAWatch video
Dr. Cristina Lupu ColgiuAcademic Researcher & Associate Lecturer, West University of Timișoara (UVT), RomaniaWatch video
Dr. Fatiha BoukouyenLecturer-Researcher in Management, Project Management & Marketing, IUT du Limousin – Université de Limoges, FranceWatch video
Dr. Li SunAssociate Professor, Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, ChinaWatch video
Dr. Lina ZhongExecutive Dean, Institute for Big Data Research in Tourism, Beijing International Studies University, ChinaWatch video
Dr. Maria ShaikhAssociate Professor; Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), MalaysiaWatch video
Dr. Meng-Jun HsuAssistant Professor, Department of Hotel Management, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, TaiwanWatch video
Dr. Mihlayifani Nicholas Nyoni
Dr. Ramachandran RajaramanProfessor of Commerce, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, IndiaWatch video
Dr. Thomas TinnefeldFull Professor of Applied Languages, Saarland University of Applied Sciences, GermanyWatch video
Dr. V. G. GirishFull Professor, Department of Business Administration, The Catholic University of Korea, South KoreaWatch video
Dr. Yeo Sook FernAssistant Professor; Director, Centre of Excellence for Business Innovation and Communication, Faculty of Business, Multimedia University, Melaka, MalaysiaWatch video
Dr. Zohaib Hassan SainQuality Management, Compliance & Training Professional, Education Committee Member, Association for Project Safety, PakistanWatch videoSpeaker biographies
Dr. Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic
Dr. Yerkic-Husejnovic is an Assistant Professor of Business and a Director of the Bassett Internship Program at Randolph-Macon College. She holds two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages in German Literature, and two minors in Mathematics and Physics, from Virginia Commonwealth University; a Master's in Business Administration from Averett University and a Doctorate in Business from Walden University with a thesis on outsourcing R&D and its impact on the bottom line.
Dr. Yerkic-Husejnovic has 20+ years of experience in the corporate environment in engineering, research and development, procurement, manufacturing, and regulatory departments; has been a college professor for ten years and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in international business, operations management, entrepreneurship and innovation, leadership, modern management, organizational behavior, business strategy, pre-calculus, calculus, project management, and project risk management.
Dr. Yerkic-Husejnovic has multiple professional certifications in project management, and she also holds Lean Green and black belt certifications in Six Sigma from Virginia Commonwealth University and Design Thinking from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Yerkic-Husejnovic has published a textbook in Project Management, a case study in entrepreneurship, participated in professional interviews and book reviews, has acquired 37 patents, and has numerous additional patent applications. She is an entrepreneur and a small business owner. Dr. Yerkic-Husejnovic is fluent in Bosnian and German. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and long-distance walks/hikes.
Dr. María Claudia Lovegrove
María Claudia Lovegrove is an Assistant Professor of Business, International Business, and Marketing at Empire State University. She has developed a strong research trajectory focused on digital communication, marketing, and sociopolitical dynamics in Latin America. Dr. Lovegrove is the Communication Chair of the Academy of Latin American Business and Sustainability Studies (ALBUS).
Her work has been published in several international peer-reviewed journals, covering a wide range of topics in marketing and communications. Through her interdisciplinary approach, she contributes to ongoing academic discussions at the intersection of technology, media, and society in the region.
Dr. Cristina Lupu Colgiu
Dr. Cristina Lupu Colgiu is an academic researcher and associate lecturer at the West University of Timișoara (UVT), Timișoara, Romania. She specializes in Human Geography and Tourism, focusing her academic work and research on sustainable regional development.
She holds a PhD in Geography, completed a postdoctoral research tenure at UVT, and has engaged in international research collaborations, including specialized research training at the University of Alicante in Spain.
Dr. Fatiha Boukouyen
Dr. Fatiha Boukouyen is a Lecturer-Researcher in Management, Project Management, and Marketing at IUT du Limousin – Université de Limoges. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Caen Normandy, France. Her research focuses on consumer behavior, crowdsourcing and open innovation, Artificial Intelligence, NFTs, economic intelligence, luxury, customer engagement, aviation, and sustainability. She has presented her work at renowned international conferences and has published in respected proceedings and international journals.
In addition to her academic career, Fatiha is an Independent Interviewer, engaging with influential leaders and is affiliated with several international associations. She serves as Co-Chair of the University Aviation Association (UAA) Aviation Maintenance Committee and Communications Leader at Creating Value Alliance. She is also an Associate Editor at the Journal of Creating Value.
Dr. Li Sun
Dr. Li Sun, Associate Professor at Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, holds a professional doctorate in Hotel and Tourism Management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Building upon nearly three decades of practical experience in the tourism industry, Dr. Sun uniquely bridges profound industry insights with academic rigor.
Dr. Sun’s research focuses on hospitality management, hotel digitalization, the embedding of AI in hotel and tourism services, and the intersection of cultural factors in hospitality and tourism management.
Dr. Lina Zhong
Prof. Lina Zhong is Executive Dean of the Institute for Big Data Research in Tourism, Beijing International Studies University. Her research focuses on smart tourism, tourism big data, AI, and service robots in hospitality and tourism.
She has published extensively in leading tourism and hospitality journals, including Tourism Management, Current Issues in Tourism, International Journal of Tourism Research, Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Industrial Management & Data Systems, and Tourism Review. She has also led multiple national and ministerial research projects and has served in international academic roles, including as Vice President of the International Tourism Studies Association.
Dr. Maria Shaikh
Dr. Maria Shaikh is an accomplished Associate Professor with 19 years of rich academic experience in teaching, research, and Institutional leadership, with proven expertise in curriculum development, high-impact research, and postgraduate mentorship, successfully guiding numerous PhD and MPhil candidates toward successful defense and academic publication.
She is committed to fostering innovation, critical thinking, and academic excellence and is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with UTM Malaysia.
Dr. Meng-Jun Hsu
Dr. Meng-Jun Hsu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hotel Management at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT), Taiwan. His research centers on hospitality technology, applied artificial intelligence, and quantitative methods (PLS-SEM). He teaches courses including Hospitality AI Management, Hospitality Digital Marketing, and Hotel Information Systems.
He also leads applied AI projects with industry, including government-sponsored AI guidance projects for companies and the development of AI toolkits for the manufacturing and hospitality and tourism sectors, covering OCR, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), digital twin monitoring, and agent orchestration. As a practitioner-scholar, his work bridges hospitality management practice and applied AI, with a focus on how these tools reshape decision-making and everyday operations in service organizations.
Dr. Mihlayifani Nicholas Nyoni
Dr. Mihlayifani Nicholas Nyoni is a Digital Finance researcher with both academic and industry experience. He has contributed to practical fintech innovation, including leading the development of the bill payments platform Imali (www.imali.co.zw), which streamlines multiple billers into a single digital interface. He has six years of industry experience in bookkeeping, cost control, and financial accounting at Radar Metal Industries in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Nyoni currently lectures in finance at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, where he teaches courses such as Finance in a Digital World and International Finance. He is an active scholarly contributor and has served as a reviewer for IGI Global journals since 2024. His previous academic roles include positions at Limkokwing University in Malaysia, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), and Lupane State University in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Ramachandran Rajaraman
Dr. Ramachandran Rajaraman is Professor of Commerce at Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, with 33 years of teaching and research experience. He has authored 3 textbooks, 3 reference books, and 2 study materials for various universities in India. He is a life member in 8 academic associations and an editorial advisory member in nearly 29 journals. Ten research scholars have completed Ph.D. under his guidance, and three are pursuing research.
He has received several academic awards, including the Academic Professional Award from American College Dubai and GISR. He has published 141 research papers in Web of Science, Scopus, Elsevier, UGC Care, and peer-reviewed journals, and attended more than 152 international and national conferences. He has delivered 74 lectures, including keynote and special addresses, and organized national seminars and webinars. His specialization includes Global Business, Human Resource Management, Banking Technology, International Economics, and Financial Services.
Dr. Thomas Tinnefeld
Dr. Thomas Tinnefeld is a Full Professor of Applied Languages at the Saarland University of Applied Sciences. He holds a doctorate in linguistics and possesses an extensive academic background in philology, language methodology, and intercultural communication. His current research focuses on educational technology and the integration of AI chatbots within institutional and learning frameworks.
Alongside his academic research, he serves as the President of the Language Council of Saarland (Sprachenrat Saar) and maintains several editorial roles, including Editor of the Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching (JLLT) and Series Editor for the recently launched Global Language and Linguistics Series (Star Scholars Press).
Dr. V. G. Girish
Dr. V.G. Girish is a Full Professor in the Department of Business Administration at The Catholic University of Korea. He graduated (MSc & PhD) from Visva-Bharati, a Central University and UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Santiniketan, India. He earned an MBA from National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan.
He considers himself an immersive researcher whose research focuses on Sports, Technology, Tourism, Management, Environment, and Education. He is an enthusiastic trail and ultramarathon runner who has participated in and completed world-famous races such as the Western States 100-mile and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.
Dr. Yeo Sook Fern
Dr. Yeo Sook Fern is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Business, Multimedia University, Melaka, where she currently holds the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Business Innovation and Communication role. She also serves as a Visiting Professor with the Department of Business Administration at Daffodil International University. Additionally, Dr. Yeo is an International Academic Advisory Board Member at Qingdao City University, China.
Beyond these roles, Dr. Yeo Sook Fern serves as an editor for several other reputable journals, including the International Journal of Creative Business and Management (IJCBM), the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Studies (IJEASS), the Journal of Governance Risk Management Compliance and Sustainability, and People and Behaviour Analysis (PBA). She has published 166 journal articles, 92 internationally refereed conference papers, and 28 book chapters. Dr. Yeo Sook Fern has received recognition for her academic and professional achievements, winning numerous awards throughout her career.
Dr. Zohaib Hassan Sain
Dr. Zohaib Hassan Sain is a seasoned professional with expertise in Quality Management, Compliance, Training, and Research. His qualification is in Quality Management, and he is an Education Committee Member at the Association for Project Safety. Zohaib has extensive experience as a freelance trainer for OSH Association UK, contributing to the Train the Trainer Program and conducting Online Master Class training.
With roles as a Compliance Officer and Assistant Manager Admin & Compliance in Pakistan, Zohaib holds certifications in ISO standards (9001, 14001, 45001, 21001), Lean Six Sigma, and various leadership and education programs. He is a prolific researcher with numerous publications and has received multiple awards for his contributions.
Zohaib is actively involved in international events, serving as a moderator, speaker, and judge. His commitment to professional affiliations, including APS, IIRSM, and PSC, reflects his dedication to quality, safety, and education. Overall, Zohaib Hassan Sain is a versatile and accomplished professional with a rich background in various domains.
Panel 2: Strategic Management under Radical Uncertainty
Dr. Maria Arlene Fernali T. DisimulacionAssociate Professor, Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila, PhilippinesWatch video
Dr. Hengky Sumisto HalimAssociate Professor of Strategic Management, Prasetiya Mandiri Maritime Institute, IndonesiaWatch video
Dr. Vandana Tandon KhannaProfessor & PhD Program Co-Coordinator, Marketing Management, K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, IndiaWatch videoSpeaker biographies
Dr. Maria Arlene Fernali T. Disimulacion
Dr. Maria Arlene Fernali T. Disimulacion, CEE, is an academician, business strategist, consultant, entrepreneur, and author. She has extensive exposure in the tourism, training, entertainment, broadcasting, publishing, and consulting industries. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila, where she has been recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Faculty. She served as Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Asia Pacific Institute for Events Management (APIEM) Academy based in Leeds, United Kingdom.
Currently, she is a member of the FEU Graduate Studies, Research, Innovation, and Technology Transfer (GRIT) committee, Certified ASEAN Coach for Sustainable Business under the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC) and by Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), Associate Member, National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), APIEM Fellow, Certified Event Educator (CEE), and a Senior Advisory Board Member, Association of Global Educators. Moreover, she is a sought-after speaker, conference moderator, peer reviewer, guest lecturer, and curriculum developer.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BSBA) at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She completed her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) at FEU Makati with the Highest Distinction. She also graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Hospitality and Tourism Management at Lyceum of the Philippines – Batangas with an Academic Excellence Award. In addition, she has completed certificate programs from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), University of South Florida (USF), University of California Irvine, and the University of North Florida.
Moreover, she was a research team member for the Bhutan Strategic Tourism Development Plan (2025-2034) and was the Philippine Representative at the ASEAN Tourism Zoning, International Teleconference on Technology and Policy for Supporting Implementation of COVID-19 Recovery in Southeast Asia (2021). She served as a panel member for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Measuring the Impact of Events, as well as for the Philippine Department of Tourism for the Consultation on MICE Sector (2021).
She has published research in SCOPUS and peer-reviewed journals. Her research areas are MICE and special events, cycling tourism, creative industries, and tourism sustainability. To date, she has written several books on tourism and hospitality management for APIEM UK/Prasetiya Mulya Publishing (UK/Indonesia) and Books Atbp Publishing Corp (Philippines).
Dr. Hengky Sumisto Halim
Dr. Hengky Sumisto Halim is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at Prasetiya Mandiri Maritime Institute, Indonesia, with over 20 years of international experience in teaching, research, and consulting across strategic management, risk management, and sustainable tourism.
He serves on the editorial boards of several international journals and is a Senior Advisory Board member of the Association of Global Educators.
Dr. Vandana Tandon Khanna
Dr Vandana Tandon Khanna is Professor and Program Co-Coordinator – PhD at K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, in the Area of Marketing Management. She holds a Doctorate in Services Marketing (November 2003) from the Dept. of Management Studies, Kurukshetra University, Haryana, and a Master's in Tourism Management from the Dept. of Tourism, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India. She has over 26 years of diversified teaching experience. She has developed and delivered various new courses.
Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of Services Marketing, Internal Marketing, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty, Customer Perception, CRM, Customer Experience Management, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Apart from teaching, Dr Vandana also holds various administrative responsibilities. She is a recognized teacher at the University of Mumbai for post-graduate programs. She has been a PhD guide at the University of Mumbai since July 2012. 3 Scholars have successfully completed their PhD under her guidance. Currently, 6 research scholars are pursuing their PhD under her guidance. She is also an invited guest lecturer at American University of Emirates (AUE).
Dr Vandana has presented and published several research papers in both national and international conferences & journals. Dr Vandana also conducts MDPs in areas of Marketing Management, Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty, CEM, and CRM. Dr Vandana has also developed and published cases in journals and The Case Centre. She is keenly interested in case study development in the emerging economies context.
Dr Vandana is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Journal of Marketing Principles and Practices of the International Institute of Marketing Professionals; Senior Member, International Economics Development Research Centre (IEDRC); Member, Marketing in Asia Group (MAG); Editorial Board Member of K U School Journal of Kenyatta University; Certified Lead Auditor as a QMS Auditor based on ISO 9001:2008 standards.
Dr Vandana was awarded the ‘Best Professor in Marketing and International Business’ in 2017 on the 25th Silver Jubilee year of Business School Affaire & Dewang Mehta National Education Awards; ‘Women in Education’ in the year 2018. The Dewang Mehta National Education Awards is India's largest Education Awards Contest and is held as part of the World Marketing Congress; Best Marketing Teacher of the Year 2018 in Mumbai by Guru Nanak Institute of Management Studies Centre of Excellence in Marketing in Feb 2019; Prof. Indira Parekh Women in Education Leaders Award by World Education Congress, in July 2019; and ‘50 Under 50’ by Making India Employable for contribution in the academia in 2023.
Panel 3: The Economics of Automation and the Future of Work
Dr. Volkan HacıoğluAssociate Professor of Economics, Department of Political Economy, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, TürkiyeWatch videoSpeaker biographies
Dr. Volkan Hacıoğlu
Dr. Volkan Hacıoğlu is an economist and economics writer. He works as Associate Professor of Economics at Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Political Economy. He holds BA, MA, and PhD degrees in economics. He was awarded a Full Scholarship by the State University of New York at Albany, College of Arts and Sciences, for the first year of graduate study. In 2006, he matriculated in the Philosophy of Doctorate (Ph.D.) program in Economics with the coordination of Prof. Dr. Adrian Masters and advisor Prof. Dr. Thad W. Mirer—whose own doctoral thesis advisor was James Tobin—as an Academic Staff Research Assistant with Full Scholarship Status at the State University of New York at Albany, College of Arts and Sciences. He was also a former Erasmus Coordinator in the English department.
His interests relate to economic theory, monetary theory and policy, and agent-based behavioral modeling of the micro foundations of macroeconomics. He lectures on Advanced Macroeconomic Theory & Policy as well as Financial Markets & Institutions. Besides being a member of the Society for the Study of Emerging Markets (SSEM), he also serves on the Editorial Board of the international refereed scientific periodical Journal of Global Business Insights, published by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee since January 2020.
His original English scientific book titled The Economic Analysis of Random Events: Economic Perspectives on Probability Theory, Statistical Inference and the Nature of Chance was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2024 and was mentioned in January 2025 in the “Best Sellers” list of 2024 announced on the official website of Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest publishers. It ranked 14th among 39 works in the “Top 2024” list selected in the field of economics.
Keynote Speech: Keynote Speakers
Dr. Magd Elias KahilProfessor of Space Science, Modern Sciences and Arts University (MSA), Giza, EgyptWatch video
Dr. Luca CacciolattiReader (Associate Professor) in Innovation and Marketing, University of Westminster, London, United KingdomWatch videoSpeaker biographies
Dr. Magd Elias Kahil
Magd Elias Kahil obtained his Ph.D. from Cairo University in 2002. He is a Professor of Space Science at Modern Science and Arts, Giza, Egypt. His main interest is studying motion in alternative theories of gravity, especially those admitting higher dimensions or bi-metric gravity.
He also believes in the need to find a new research horizon alongside his current field: multidisciplinary studies that introduce a new phase of econophysics by presenting the concept of geometrization of the economy and extending geometrization to include biology. He has published 47 papers and is a reviewer for several scientific journals.
Dr. Luca Cacciolatti
Dr. Luca Cacciolatti is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Innovation and Marketing at the University of Westminster, London. His research focuses on innovation ecosystems, sustainable food systems, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability.
He has published extensively on how organisations and institutions can foster responsible innovation to address complex societal challenges. Alongside his academic work, he collaborates with businesses, policymakers, and international partners on innovation and sustainability initiatives.