University of Wollongong in Dubai Board

Mr Robert Ryan is currently the Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, one of Australia’s largest mutual banks. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he held the positions of Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of IMB.

In 2018, he was appointed as the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Wollongong and is a member of UOW Council and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee. He is also the Director and Chair of the Governance Committee of Australian Settlements Limited and Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of The Flagstaff Group.

Prior to joining IMB, Mr Robert held the positions of Managing Director at Australian Resources Limited.

Current roles and responsibilities within UOWGE are:

• Director of the UOW Global Enterprises Board
• Member of the UOWGE People & Remuneration Committee
• Chair of the UOWD Ltd Board
• Member of the UOWD External Advisory Council
• Member of the UOWCHK Board of Governors
• Member of the UOWCHK Investment Advisory Committee

Ms Marisa Mastroianni is the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of UOW Global Enterprises. Ms Marisa is an experienced CEO and non-executive Director. Previously, Ms Marisa has held senior financial and executive roles in the maritime, health, retirement and aged care sectors.

Ms Marisa currently serves on the Boards of NRMA Ltd and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Board. She is the Chair of NRMA’s Audit & Risk Management Committee.

Current roles within UOWGE include:

• Chair of the UOWGE Diversity and Equity Committee
• Director of the UOW Global Enterprises Board
• Director of the UOWC Ltd Board
• Director of the UOWD Ltd Board
• Member of the UOWGE Nominations Committee
• Member of the UOWC Ltd Academic Board
• Member of the UOWD External Advisory Council
• Member of the UOWD Academic Board
• Member of the UOWD Ceremonial & Honorary Awards Committee
• Member of the UOWCHK Board of Governors
• Member of the UOWCHK College Council
• Member of the UOWCHK Investment Advisory Committee
• Member of the UOWCHK Property Advisory Committee

Prof Mohamed-Vall M. Salem ZEIN was appointed President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) in January 2015, a role that sees him focused on driving initiatives to strengthen the position of UOWD as a leading academic institution in the UAE and the wider region. Prof Salem joined UOWD in 2004 and has since worked alongside the 320 employee-strong staff body in a number of leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences and a ten-month period as Acting President of the University.

Prof Mohamed Salem received his PhD from the University of Montreal (Canada) in 2002 and is a recipient of IBM’s Centre for Advanced Studies PhD fellowship and the “Bourse d’excellence de la Francophonie” from the Canadian International Development Agency.

Current roles and memberships include:

• President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai
• University of Wollongong Pro Vice-Chancellor Middle East and North Africa [PVC(MENA)]
• Member of the UOWD External Advisory Council
• Founding member of the Council of Deans of Engineering in the UAE

HE Dr Aisha Bin Bishr is the Vice Chairman of Emaar Development Board of Directors. She was previously the Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, the government entity entrusted with Dubai’s city-wide smart transformation by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. HE Dr Aisha Bin Bishr led the creation of ‘The Smart City Index’ - the first-ever benchmark for smart city implementation across the globe in cooperation with ITU and the United Nations.

HE Dr Aisha Bin Bishr also serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils; The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s smart cities readiness index team; and the World Happiness Council where she heads The Council of Happy Cities.

She holds a PhD in Management, Science, Technology and Innovation and an MPhil in Policy and Research on Engineering, Science and Technology from The Manchester Business School. She is also a graduate of the ‘young leaders’ program organized by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development.

Manal AlBayat is an internationally experienced transformational leader and strategist with over 25 years of experience in real estate, business development, and investment promotion. She excels at scaling organizations and driving commercial strategies to enhance revenue and market positioning in complex, high-profile environments, driven by an innovation mindset for sustainable growth and long-term value.

As Chief Operating Officer at Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, Manal drives the commercial and operational success of the company's diverse real estate portfolio. Her broad oversight includes leading strategic execution, enhancing market presence through dynamic engagement and communications, and spearheading the organization's digital transformation.

Manal was a key architect of Expo 2020 Dubai’s success and is the first GCC national to hold a comprehensive, end-to-end leadership role in a mega global event. Her involvement was pivotal at every stage, from spearheading the initial feasibility study and securing Dubai’s winning bid to the strategic planning and successful delivery of the first World Expo in the region.

Following the event, she served as Chief Commercial & Engagement Officer for Expo City Dubai, leading strategic programmes to drive business growth and optimize the city’s assets. Previously, as Group CEO of Falcon and Associates, she focused on enhancing Dubai's global positioning, delivering programmes to attract investment and shape the national events and communication strategy.

Manal serves on the board of directors for the Bahrain Development Bank and the University of Wollongong in Dubai. She is a Doctorate candidate at SDA Bocconi in Italy, holds an MBA from DePaul University, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Organizational Behavior & Leadership.

Manal is a prominent speaker on panels across the globe on a wide range of topics, including fostering innovation in key economic sectors, strategies for attracting global investment, and the future of urban and master planning.