Committee Members

Dr Mohammad Sale Torkestani is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing, with over 14 years of international and UK-based experience in higher education. He currently leads innovative, technology-driven modules and research projects at the intersection of marketing technologies (MarTech), artificial intelligence, and sustainibility.

Holding a PhD in Marketing and multiple prestigious professional recognitions, including Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Fellowship of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), and Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), Dr Torkestani is committed to educational excellence and the continuous advancement of research impact.

His teaching portfolio spans undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education, with a particular focus on technology-enhanced marketing education. He has designed and delivered cutting-edge modules such as Marketing Technologies, SEO, and AI-Based Content Creation. His pedagogical approach combines research-led instruction with experiential learning tools such as simulations, flipped classrooms, and real-world case studies. He is also a dedicated supervisor of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral research projects in marketing, AI ethics, and digital communication.

Dr Torkestani’s research explores responsible and inclusive applications of AI in marketing and education, with a growing focus on fairness and transparency in AI-driven systems. He has secured multiple grants, including projects on cross-cultural fairness in emotion recognition algorithms and AI-powered home health interventions. His published work contributes to critical debates around AI authority, ethical prompt design, and the integration of AI into curricula and assessments. In addition to his research in AI and pedagogy, he brings extensive experience in neuromarketing, consumer behaviour, and diaspora marketing.

Previously, Dr Torkestani held academic leadership roles at De Montfort University, where he served as Programme Leader for MSc Advertising & PR Management, and Associate Dean and Pro-Vice-Chancellor positions overseas.

He is an active member of leading professional bodies, including the Academy of Marketing and the British Academy of Management, and is a regular contributor to major international conferences such as the BAM, AM, AMA, IEEE, ANZMAC, and CABS LTSE.

Dr. Peiwu Qin received the B.Sc. degree in biotechnology from Northeastern Agricultural University, Harbin, China, in 2002, the M.Sc. degree in developmental biology from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, in 2005, the M.Sc. degree in physical chemistry from Northeastern University, Boston, USA, in 2008, the M.Sc. degree in statistics from University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA, in 2013, and the Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA, in 2013. He has been a Post-Doctoral Fellow with Ahmet Yildiz at department of physics, University of California, Berkeley from 08/2013 to 08/2018. He was assistant professor at Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute from 09/2018-01/2022 and promoted to associate professor at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, China. He has published more than 100 SCI papers with more than 20 M RMB competitive funding support. He changed his research focus from single molecule biophysics to adolescent big health since 2018 and study myopia and mental illness screening device and corresponding computational methods for their diagnosis and prediction.

Ahmadreza Mohebbi is a scholar in applied linguistics, specialising in the interplay between technology, language education, and the cultural aspects of language learning. He earned a Ph.D. in education with a focus on the intersections of language, education, culture, and society from the University of Auckland. He has published extensively in top-tier journals such as The Reading Matrix, International Journal of Multilingualism, Cogent Education, and Ampersand. His work has earned him recognition, including the Best Researcher Award from Worldtopscientists, and his most recent studies focus on AI-driven language learning and fostering learner autonomy. Ahmadreza’s scholarly contributions highlight innovative strategies for enhancing language acquisition through AI tools, real-time feedback mechanisms, and customised learning pathways. His recent research on Māori cultural conceptualisations has sparked discussions in curriculum design and instructional practices in New Zealand schools. A regular contributor to international conferences, he also spearheads collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing language education, applying his research both in traditional classrooms and online learning environments. His work continues to shape the evolving landscape of language learning in multilingual and global contexts.

Over the course of more than 25 years, Gigi Karmous-Edwards has worked in various domains of digital technologies, spanning the Data Communications industry, Academia, and most recently, dedicating the last 13 years to the Water Sector.  Gigi is the technical lead of a GenAI WRF #5321 (GenAI for the Global Water Sector) project as a co-PI. Gigi is the founder and former chair of the SWAN Digital Twin H2O Work Group, leads AI market insights at BlueTech Research as a Technology Advisor Group (TAG) member, and serves on the Advisory Boards of Veralto and Qatium.

Gigi has authored over 40 publications and frequently speaks at global conferences. As the CEO of Karmous-Edwards Consulting, she advises global utilities and technology companies on digital transformation and GenAI. B.S. in Chemical Eng and M.S. Electrical Eng.