Professor Denis Kinane BDS FDSRCS PhD FDSRCPS has worked in academia for 35 years serving in various capacities at five universities in Europe and the USA. His research specialisation is in clinical research, molecular genetics, cell biology, pathology and immunology.

He was at The University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) for 9 years, serving as Professor in Periodontics, Pathology and ENT at the Perelman School of Medicine at UPENN and Dean at UPENN Dental School. Prior to that, he was Research Dean at the University of Louisville for 7 years and held the same position at the University of Glasgow for 14 years. He is currently a Professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

He is editor of a Springer Nature Journal. He has more than 240 peer-reviewed papers and more than 100 chapters, 84 articles and scholarly contributions, and innumerable presentations nationally and globally. His current research is in modifying the inflammatory response in chronic inflammation via genetic (CRISPR) manipulation of cell cytokines, receptors, signaling, transcription and epigenetics.

Professor Kinane sits on the board of two clinical companies plus biotechs in the US, China and Taiwan. He has advised various US and European companies and universities on Technology Transfer, QS World Ranking, Strategy and Research and Enterprise at Edinburgh, Geneva and Bangkok. He has also worked with a number of companies including serving on the Executive Boards of Penn Innovation, the LDI Health Business Institute, Wharton China, and Mid-Atlantic Health LLC.

Most recently, he co-founded Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd where he also serves as Founding Scientist.

Julia Simpson CEO and President of the World Travel and Tourism Council. She spent 14 years in the aviation sector on the Board of British Airways and Iberia and as Chief of Staff at International Airlines Group.

Before joining British Airways, Julia was senior adviser to the UK Prime Minister. She held a number of key positions in the UK government and public sector, including Director at the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment; Assistant Chief Executive at the London Borough of Camden; and head of communications at the Communication Workers Union.

Julia is on the Board of the London Chamber of Commerce.

• Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt (since 22 December 2019)
• Minister of Antiquities (23 march 2016 – 21 December 2019)
• Professor of Egyptology, Tourism Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management (FTH), Helwan University (HU) (since 2011)
• Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2020)
• Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des lettres, France (2015)
• Honorary Member of the Société française d’égyptologie, Paris (2016)
• Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute Berlin(2015)
• General Supervisor, Egyptian Museum in Cairo (2015 – 2016)
• General Supervisor, National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (2014 – 2016)
• Vice-Dean for Education and Students Affairs, FTH,HU (2012 – 2013)
• Head of Tourism Guidance Department, FTU,HU (2011 – 2012)
• Director of Open Learning Center, HU (2010 – 2012)
• Visiting Professor, Paul-Valery University (UPV), Montpellier III (seven times 2006 – 2011)
• Associate Researcher, Scientific Expert and Member of Administration and Scientific Boards, French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAQ) (2002 – 2016)
• DEA and Ph.D. in Egyptology, UPV, Montpellier III (1997 – 2001)
• M.Sc. in Tourism Guidance, FTH, HU (1996)
• B.Sc. in Tourism Guidance (French Section), FTH, HU (1992)
• High School Certificate, Lycée de la liberté, Cairo (1988)

Dr. Abulfas Garayev held the position of Minister of Culture from 2018 to 2020,[1] Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2006 to 2018, Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism from 2001 to 2006, Minister of Youth and Sport from 1994-2001.

Prior to his appointments, he was CEO of “Improtex Commerce” company (1992-1994), worked as a lecturer at the Academy of Political Science and State Administration from 1992 till 1993. Mr. Garayev began his career as an instructor of Organizational Department of Youth League, held several managing portfolios within the organization, from 1981-1985 served as a head of section in Youth League Steering Committee.

Mr. Garayev received his PhD in philosophy and culture from the Academy of Social Sciences, Moscow-Russia (1992) and degree from University of Foreign Languages and Pedagogy, Baku, Azerbaijan in 1978. He worked as chair of the Organizing Committee of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held this position Baku starting from 2011 in partnership with UNESCO, UN Alliance of Civilizations, UNWTO, Council of Europe and ISESCO and co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Commission on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Cuba from 2009.

During his term as minister of Culture and Tourism, he was the chair of the 6th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (2009–2011), headed OIC Tourism Ministers Conference (2006–2008), TURKSOY Permanent Council of Culture Ministers (2009), UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for intangible Cultural Heritage (2013) and CIS Council on Cultural Cooperation.

Dr. Garayev was appointed chair of National Organizing Committee of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations 7^th Global Forum held 25–27 April 2016 in Baku. He also worked as the President of the ISESCO General Conference for 2015–2018 years as well as chair of the National Commission for ISESCO. He was a member of UNWTO Executive Council and vice-chair of the National Commission of Azerbaijan for UNESCO. Mr. Garayev has received Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts (Hon Darts) from the Coventry University in UK in recognition of his inspirational support to the Baku Process for intercultural dialogue.

“ The pandemic has disrupted the world economy but tourism is a resilient sector. Sure, signs are emerging to demonstrate that the sector continues its resilience and is bouncing back and, indeed, has always bounced back from past crises.

ITIC and its Invest Tourism division aim to promote investments in travel and tourism not just to create and develop new hotels, resorts and infrastructure for the traveller but we want these investments to be sustainable in the sense that they become community-based developments which create employment, education, well-being and long term value. Enabling SMEs to grow and to benefit from all travel and tourism interests across the globe for the greater benefit of people and their local communities. ”

Simon has been employed by Reed Travel Exhibitions for the last fifteen years. His first role was Exhibition Director on Arabian Travel Market (ATM) held in Dubai.

He moved to WTM London after two years to take responsibility for Head of Sales and new projects and following one year in this role he was promoted to Exhibition Director of WTM London. In 2020, Simon was promoted to Exhibition Director of WTM London and Travel Forward, the global event for travel and tourism technology, taking place alongside WTM London.

Simon constantly looks to innovate and deliver new facets to WTM London and Travel Forward including looking at the online and social community and opportunities around responsible tourism linking the events to Responsible Tourism and Responsible Technology.

He worked extensively in India and Middle Eastern markets. Previous experience includes working in two other large media companies, United Business Media and EMAP, working across exhibitions and publishing.

A former Captain and Officer of the British Army, he served for four years in the Cheshire Regiment (Infantry Regiment). He has played rugby extensively and is now a keen supporter.

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