International Advisory Board

Morenike "Mo" Da-Silva

With over 25 years' experience across financial services, private wealth management, and health and social care recruitment, Morenike is a seasoned Talent Acquisition professional, specialising in attracting top talent for the health and social care sector. She sits across a few other boards across the globe, where she brings to the table her vast wealth of visionary and strategic corporate leadership. She has a proven track record of delivering high-quality candidates to diverse clients, including social care homes, hospitals, social enterprises, children services and charities, while leveraging her background in business strategy, project management, and client relationship management. Morenike has strong skills in requirements gathering, process modelling, stakeholder management, leadership, communication, problem-solving, and negotiation, which have been developed and applied in various projects and contexts, such as healthcare recruitment, financial services, wealth management, business development, and marketing. Certified in PRINCE2 and Private Wealth Management, with an MSc in Management (Brunel Business School) and an MBA in Marketing Management, she’s passionate about contributing to the UK and global tech and health and social care sectors' growth and development.

Nilufar Durak

Nilüfer (Nil) Durak is the Chief Operating Officer of Solvoyo, a global software as a service company based out of Boston, providing AI-powered supply chain planning and decision automation solutions. She brings more than twenty-five years of international leadership experience across technology, risk management, and insurance at global companies such as General Electric, Aon and Marsh & McLennan. She lived in New York, London, Boston and Istanbul. As Solvoyo’s COO, Nilüfer leads global operations and customer success, with a strong focus on bringing AI-driven solutions and decision automation to the supply chain landscape. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its reach from a start-up to a trusted partner for Fortune 500 companies and leading retailers worldwide. Nil is involved in non-profit organisations that promote women leadership.

Andrew Bass

Andy has over 25 years leadership experience in the technology sector, working for small, medium, large and multinational companies where he has held senior positions and board-level responsibility. As Executive Vice President of Toshiba Europe, Andy was accountable for a business employing over 1,000 employees across 40 countries with an annual turnover of over $3BN. His direct responsibilities included all business functions, from sales and marketing, finance, HR, legal, operations, service and supply chain to manufacturing. Throughout his career he has lived and worked in the USA, the Middle East, and Europe. He's supported the Brunel Business School over many years with a lead role within the Executive-In-Residence programme, as well as providing lecturing and mentoring support for the MBA and undergraduate curriculum. Andy holds an MA Marketing from Lancaster University as well as a NED Diploma from the Financial Times. Andy is an avid sports fan having complemented his career playing soccer, rugby, and triathlon. Andy is the author of "Sub 3 – A quest for the improbable" which is a light hearted biography of his fast marathon attempts over a period of 20 years and the challenge of combining high level work, sport and family goals.

Suresh Sivagnanam

Suresh Sivagnanam is a British healthcare and education entrepreneur with over 25 years of international experience. He's the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Talents Squared Limited, a UK-based investment company specialising in Healthcare, MedTech, Education, Sports Management and Talent Development as well as the owner of traditional healthcare companies and clinics facilities in the UK. With offices in London and Vienna, Talents Squared manages a diverse, globally oriented portfolio spanning Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia. Suresh acquired the 90% majority shareholding in Modul University Vienna, Austria’s largest international private university from the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2020, and significantly expanded the university’s teaching and research portfolio. Accompanying academic initiatives, Suresh extended the university’s international footprint and established an ecosystem for startups before selling his majority stake in 2023. Recipient of the ‘Entrepreneurship in the Private Healthcare Sector’ Award at the UK House of Lords (2017), Suresh previously founded the pioneering virtual healthcare service VDOC. A Certified Chartered Accountant and Qualified CEDR Mediator, Suresh continues to drive cross-sector ventures that blend technology, education and healthcare innovation.

Johanna Aigner

Johanna Aigner is an Austrian education management executive turned entrepreneur with extensive experience in strategic development, digital and organisational transformation, and the entire M&A cycle. The former Chief Operating Officer of Modul University Vienna, Austria’s leading international university, held key leadership roles in the public and private education sector and led major organisational transformation and growth initiatives, including the launch of new campuses and global partnerships across East Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Today, Johanna serves as Managing Director of Talent Squared GmbH where she oversees the firm’s start-up platform, supporting ventures in education, healthcare, talent development and sustainable mobility. She's also co-founder of several cross-border initiatives between Austria and the UK. With a strong foundation in higher education leadership and a passion for innovation, Johanna focuses on building purpose-driven enterprises that bridge technology, learning, and human potential to create lasting impact.

Dr. Najma Taqi

Dr. Najma Taqi is a President of Arab Open University, Bahrain and she was an Academic Affairs Consultant / Advisor / Institutional & Programme Review Director in the Directorate of Higher Education Reviews at the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) in Kingdom of Bahrain. In addition, she worked as a consultant for different universities, ministries and higher education council in field of Business, Information Technology, Human Resources, Research, Student Support, Internship and Community Services. Furthermore, she's an external Reviewer for the Institution and Programme’s Reviews in the National Centre for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQA) and peer reviewer for the Emerald Group Publishing / Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal. In addition, she has over 22 years of experience in the training and education sector, mainly Professional Certified Trainer, Assistant Professor, Researcher, Quality Assurance and Accreditation Consultant, PR Manager, Business Development Manager, Branch Manager who successfully taught, trained, launched, directed, coordinated and lead large projects in higher education institutes in different Countries. Dr. Najma has a PhD Degree in Business Management from Brunel and an MBA from New York Institute of Technology, USA and different degrees in Business and Education; as well as professional qualifications in different fields, including Information Technology, Business, Education and Quality Assurance. Moreover, she's currently an affiliated member with different internationally recognised organisations, in addition to having participated, presented, and published papers in various disciplines.

Pranav Kamath

Pranav Prakash Kamath is a versatile business and finance professional with over five years of experience in consulting, strategy, and international business development. Throughout his career, he's worked closely with global clients on India-entry strategies, offshore assignments, and strategic growth initiatives, blending analytical rigor with creative problem-solving. Recently, he completed his MBA at Brunel Business School, where he honed his expertise in marketing, international business, and leadership, equipping him with a global perspective and strategic vision. Pranav is deeply passionate about social media engagement, value creation, and building meaningful connections. A true people person, he thrives in meet-and-greet environments, enjoys fostering authentic relationships, and excels at creating immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact. Deeply culturally rooted, he celebrates diversity and brings rich cultural narratives to life through experiential initiatives and community-driven projects. Now exploring entrepreneurial ventures, Pranav aims to merge innovation with cultural authenticity, designing business models that are both impactful and memorable. As a member of Brunel’s International Advisory Committee, he looks forward to leveraging his professional expertise, global outlook, and passion for people and experiences to strengthen alumni engagement, enhance cross-cultural collaboration, and contribute to the University’s international growth and reputation.

Dr Baron William De Rothschild

Dr Baron William De Rothschild is a British finance and investment executive based between London and New York, with over 15 years of global experience spanning private banking, private equity, and family office advisory. He's overseen portfolios exceeding $100 billion, advising ultra-high-net-worth clients and institutions on cross-border wealth structuring, alternative investments, and strategic governance. A multilingual leader fluent in English and Arabic, Dr De Rothschild holds a PhD in Business and Management from Brunel, where his research explored blockchain applications in portfolio and risk management.

Hani Girgis

Hani Girgis is a Senior Partner at Deloitte UK and the CEO and Managing Partner of the Deloitte Innovation Hub in Cairo. He's a recognised leader in driving digital transformation and innovation, leveraging disruptive technologies to solve complex business challenges across both private and public sectors globally. Hani holds pivotal leadership roles at Deloitte as the Global Digital Lead for Infrastructure and Capital Projects and leads the AI Scaling and Transformation Practice. His expertise encompasses the full lifecycle of large-scale, data-driven technology programmes, from strategic planning and design to implementation and delivery. He's successfully led major UK infrastructure projects, including Crossrail, HS2, and Thames Tideway Tunnels, alongside significant engagements with Middle East clients such as Expo2020, Saudi Aramco, and the Ministry of Defence. As CEO and Managing Partner of the Deloitte Innovation Hub, Hani is at the forefront of AI and digital innovation delivery. He's instrumental in cultivating local talent, driving technological advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Cyber Security, and Cloud Computing, and making a positive societal impact. Hani's career is defined by a commitment to strategic growth, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver tangible impact. He previously served as the European Chairman of AIIM’s Executive Leadership Council, further underscoring his influence in the field of information management and technology. Hani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Brunel and has completed executive studies in Economics at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.