Academic Speakers

Featuring following prominent scholars and thinkers who will share transformative ideas and research findings.

Prof. Oskar Kowalewski, a distinguished academic at IÉSEG School of Management, France, has an extensive background in finance and economics. His education includes a Ph.D. in Economics/Management and a Master of Law from renowned Polish institutions. Prof. Kowalewski's career spans various academic positions, including full professorship and visiting roles in prestigious universities across Europe and the USA. His expertise is further demonstrated through his involvement in multiple research projects and publications in international finance, corporate governance, and fintech. His contributions extend to serving on supervisory boards and participating in numerous international conferences, reflecting a deep commitment to his field.

He is a seasoned researcher and academician. He is associated with the College of Business Administration, University of Bahrain, and works as an Associate Professor of Finance. He is also engaged with the School of Social Sciences & Humanities, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. His research interest includes blue finance, artificial technology, fintech, and blockchain. He has exposure to working in both public and private organizations. Prominently, he was associated with the Board of Investment, Privatization Commission, Ministry of Industries & Production, and Saudi Pak Industrial & Agricultural Investment Company. Earlier, he worked with Quaid-e-Azam University, Bahria University, Foundation University, and the National University of Modern Languages. He also published eight book chapters and participated in different international conferences including the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). Also, he has the exposure to work on projects like Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Asia and the Centre for Excellence for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He is an accomplished academic researcher and political analyst with extensive experience in media studies and journalism. Since 1998, he has been a prolific contributor to leading international newspapers, providing insights on economic, cultural, and social issues. Dr. Raja's work spans both written and visual media, focusing on social and cultural issues of ethnic minorities. He has a strong international network and has developed significant working relationships with mainstream academics and professionals. Dr. Raja's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Reporting British Muslims, an MA in International Journalism, and an MBA in Marketing and Advertising. His career is marked by varied teaching roles and extensive publication in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing his expertise in media representation, conflict reporting, and intercultural communication.

Dr. Sneh Bhardwaj is a seasoned academic and consultant with over nine years of extensive experience in a variety of business and management fields including Human Resources Management, Real Estate, International Business, and Organizational Behavior. Currently affiliated with Federation University Australia, Dr. Bhardwaj has also imparted knowledge across global institutions, including Hebei University of Science and Technology in China and Melbourne University in Australia. An advocate for continuous learning, she is not only a teaching-focused academic but also actively engaged in research, especially in areas integrating Strategic HRM and Corporate Leadership. Dr. Bhardwaj’s work has contributed significantly to understanding corporate board dynamics and gender diversity in leadership roles, evidenced by her publications in esteemed journals like Gender in Management and the Journal of Business Ethics. Outside of academia, Dr. Bhardwaj is passionate about fitness and reading, activities that she balances alongside her family life in Adelaide, Australia, where she resides with her husband and two children.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed is an accomplished finance educator and thought leader with a profound commitment to advancing the 21st-century finance education landscape. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from University Technology Malaysia and has a distinguished track record in teaching, research, and accreditation across numerous financial disciplines. His areas of expertise include Corporate Finance, Financial Derivatives, Risk Management, and Strategic Finance, among others. Prof. Naveed has significantly contributed to the academic and practical realms of finance through his extensive work in financial sustainability, corporate governance, and green financing. His role extends beyond academia as a Financial Expert & Policy Advisor to the Government of Pakistan, where he provides insights on financial planning, microfinance, and risk management.
As a former Dean of Management Sciences at Bahria University, he has overseen major projects including the development of financial learning labs and strategic collaborations with industry leaders to enhance the educational landscape. His dedication is also evident in his efforts to bridge gaps between academia and industry, ensuring that educational programs are aligned with modern needs and challenges. Prof. Naveed's leadership extends to organizing national and international conferences, symposiums, and seminars, where he promotes knowledge exchange and innovative financial practices. His work not only enriches the academic community but also fosters practical implementations that significantly impact economic development and sustainability.

He is an Adjunct Faculty at Suleman Dawood School of Business of LUMS for MS (Business & Public Policy). He has been working with the public sector, academia, research centers, and international development organizations for almost two decades. His current research and policy work focus on urban governance/economics, entrepreneurship, public sector governance, and public-private partnerships. He is actively working on a range of urban policy and development initiatives in various cities. Naveed’s experience as a Governance Specialist at the Economic Reforms Unit of Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has helped him in understanding complexities involved in policy making and introducing economic reforms. Naveed is a serial entrepreneur and advises startups and other business/public organizations. He has taught economics, management, public policy, and urban planning/economics courses in various universities and civil service training institutions. He contributes regularly to journals, conferences and newspapers. Naveed holds an M.Phil. in Economics and a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. His PhD dissertation title is Entrepreneurship, Knowledge Spillover and Urbanization in Asia.

Prof. Dr. Alberto Claro is a professor and researcher in Administration at the Institute of the Sea, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), in Santos, Brazil. Originally from Portugal, he has made Brazil his home, focusing his academic career on smart cities and urban planning. He holds a post-doctorate in Communication from the University of São Paulo (ECA-USP). Beyond academia, Alberto mentors startups in the Third Sector, Martech, Gastronomy, and Entertainment industries, and actively volunteers in several community projects.

Ahmed Waqar Qasim is a Senior Research Economist at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) since February 2022, having previously held roles as a Research Economist and Staff Economist at PIDE. He has an extensive background in economic research, with a focus on regulatory authorities, real estate, fiscal policies, and energy tariffs. He has authored several papers, book chapters, and working reports on various economic topics, such as "Islamabad Real Estate Regulatory Authority" and "PIDE Sludge Audit." Ahmed holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Hokkaido University and an MPhil in Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University, with his work focusing on fiscal consolidation, growth, and trade policies.

Prof. Dr. Zahid Asghar is a Professor of Economics at the School of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, with a strong focus on econometrics, applied economics, and data analytics. With over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, his research covers topics like social influence on consumption, food price crises, and inflation measurement. Zahid has served in various academic and professional roles, including Director of the School of Economics at QAU and Registrar of the University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and an MSc in Statistics from Bahauddin Zakariya University. Zahid is also highly engaged in data visualization, economic forecasting, and policy analysis, regularly conducting workshops and trainings in these areas.