Keynote Speaker
Prof. Dr. Slávka Démuthová
Keynote Speaker
Professor of Psychology and a Head of the Centre for the Psychological Counselling and Research at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia
Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Relation to Self-Harming Behavior During Adolescence
Slávka Démuthová is a Professor of Psychology and a Head of the Centre for the Psychological Counselling and Research at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. Her professional orientation focuses on developmental problems of children and youth as well as on the biological/evolutionary explanations of human behaviour. She is an author of several monographs, scientific articles and regularly gives invited lectures at universities abroad (University of Edinburgh, Scotland; University of Algarve, Portugal; Prague College of Psychosocial Studies, Czech Republic; Cardinal St. Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia).
Past Speakers
Ass. Prof. Dr. Saichol Panyachit
Saichol Panyachit is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. His academic interests include the sociology of religion, sociology for development, sports sociology, and Buddhist health lifestyles. He has published various studies, including research on religious tourism, aging in community enterprises, and social capital.
Dr. May George
May George holds a doctoral degree in education from the University of Arizona with a focus on bilingual education. After receiving her doctorate, she held two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, an Andrew Mellon Fellowship and a Fredrick Douglas Fellow, to support her continued research on bilingual education. George has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education nationally and internationally. George’s research interests center on classroom pedagogy, new trends in foreign language teaching in relation to area studies, and communicative approach in relation to technology use. Her research in bilingual education is related to the pedagogy of acquiring a second language, focusing on intentions, culture and profession. She also examines how the process of teaching happens in actual classroom settings and explores the role of inference in students’ learning as well as the cognitive processes involved.
Dr. Pattamawadee Sankheangaew
Dr. Pattamawadee Sankheangaew is a lecturer and researcher of Buddhapanya Sri Thawarawadee Buddhist College, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand. She got doctoral degree in major Philosophy. Her subjects taught are English for Communication, Applied Ethics and Mathematics and Statistics for Research. Her major conduct research are multidisciplinary and cross-cultural fields with synergy with SDGs. She is a strong advocator for Rights to Education and Rights to Health. Since 2020, she published four papers relevant to those rights included next COVID-19 Prepareness. At present, her ongoing research topic is exploring “Philosophical Trajectories: Navigating Ethical Landscape for AI Thailand” which plan to speak in 2026.
Dr. Stefán B. Gunnlaugsso
Dr. Stefán B. Gunnlaugsson is a professor at the University of Akureyri, specializing in fisheries economics and financial markets. His research focuses on the Icelandic fishing industry, sustainability, and economic policy. With experience in banking and at sea on a freezing trawler, he brings practical insights to his work. He teaches finance-related courses and contributes to research on fisheries management and economic development, offering perspectives on resource management and financial systems in policy and academia.
Ms. Rakel Cogliatti
Rakel is a professional with an extensive multidisciplinary experience. BA in communication from UFRJ and an MSc in multimedia from the University of Porto, emphasizing Arts. Her academic journey includes researching the adaptation of literature for film and theater, plus exploring the use of immersive narratives for social awareness. She has over 17 years of experience in the creative industry as a curator, artistic director, author, and project manager. Since 2017, she has been the creator and artistic director of the immersive installment “InCômodos”, a site-specific experience focused on women's violence and gender equality. Her research interests lie in using Arts methodologies for research and social impact outcomes. In addition, Rakel has an extensive curriculum working with some of the top Brands worldwide in film, television, and sports. Currently, she is also the Head of Programming of RIO2C, the largest creativity gathering in Latin America.
Mr. Phoobade Wanitchanon
Phoobade Wanitchanon is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. His research focuses on population studies, social welfare, and health-related social issues. His recent work explores strategies for active aging and participation in community enterprises.
Mrs. Gabriela Macera-DiFilippo
Gaby Macera-DiFilippo is a licensed professional counselor in the United States. She holds a BA in Psychology, an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology, and an MS in School Psychology. She is currently finishing her doctorate in School Psychology; her goal is to be a School Psychologist. Gaby’s interest is in children’s and adolescents’ mental health, especially in a school setting.
Mr. Bernardo Carvalho de Mello
Bernardo Carvalho de Mello is a PhD candidate at Newcastle University Law School, focusing on the development of a taxonomy of discrimination in international human rights law. His research explores the application of intersectional frameworks to reconceptualise discrimination law, analysing traditional approaches and the role of regional human rights courts in addressing complex, layered harms. A central theme of his work is a commitment to decoloniality, both in research and practice, challenging Eurocentric legal frameworks and advocating for inclusive and just alternatives. He holds an LLB and Bachelor’s degree and Pedagogical Training in History from Estácio de Sá University, Brazil, as well as a Master’s in Constitutional Law and Legal Theory from Pontifícia Universidade Católica – Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil, and have completed specialisations in Philosophy, Sociology and Gender Studies and teaching as TA in Gender and Law, Social Research Methodologies and International Public Law at Newcastle University.
Ms. Tabea Gottwald
During her Bachelor's studies in Educational Science at TU Dortmund, she focused her thesis on the stigmatization of mental illness and the role of familiarity in influencing social distance. She then pursued a Master's degree in Psychology at Diploma Hochschule Nordhessen, where her thesis formed the basis of the research she is now presenting at this conference. Currently, she is preparing for her final exams in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the MAPP Institut, as part of her training to become a licensed child and adolescent psychotherapist. Her clinical work and traineeship emphasize practical experience in diagnostics, CBT, and the treatment of mental health disorders in children and adolescents. Her research interests include stigma in mental illness and neurodiversity, especially ADHD and autism in women.
Prof. Aydan Turanlı
Keynote Speaker
Istanbul Technical University · Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Topic: Social Constructivism in the Age of Technology: Insights from Langdon Winner
Dr. Mehmet Akın Bulut
Keynote Speaker
Department Head, Educational Sciences
Founding Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence-Innovative Learning and Teaching
Ibn Haldun University, Turkey
Topic: Transformative Artificial Intelligence: Impacts on K-12, Higher Education and Beyond
Dr. Masroor Khanam
Dr. Masroor Khanam is a distinguished scholar in the field of Mass Communication, holding a Ph.D. and having completed post-doctoral research. As the Chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology in Karachi, Pakistan. she leads with a commitment to academic excellence and research innovation. Dr. Khanam has an impressive portfolio of 35 published articles and organize numbers of conferences ,seminars reflecting her deep engagement with topics related to women and media issues. Her expertise and contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and certificates from media conferences, educational institutes, and media organizations.
Dr. Dena Bateh
Dr. Bateh is a recognized leader and international scholar in higher education. She obtained her Ph.D. in International Economics from Columbia University and both her M.B.A. and B.A. from Jacksonville University. Dr. Bateh has authored several articles, three textbooks, and presents at conferences worldwide, where she often trains and consults global executives. Dr. Bateh is recognized for her achievements as a professional & scholar in the area of International Business Management.
Dr. Alessio Panaggio
He is a PhD candidate in Gender Studies at the University of Bari Aldo Moro. His research focuses on vulnerability and intersectionality within the field of legal philosophy. He has conducted research at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he had the opportunity to deepen his analysis on intersectionality and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
Alberto Grandi
Alberto Grandi A graduate in Philosophical Sciences, he is currently a PhD student in Gender Studies at the University of Bari Aldo Moro. The research project concerns the analysis of masculinity and linguistic performativity, with a double purpose: on the one hand, the philosophical and social analysis, starting from a pragmatist perspective and deepening the theme of the constitution of people and power relations. On the other hand, the aim is to develop appropriate communication strategies to combat discrimination and produce inclusive environments, particularly in corporate realities, translating theoretical research into practical possibilities.
Matt Broadway-Horner
Matt Broadway-Horner is a Nurse Consultant and is currently a Ph.D student at the University of Bolton, UK. He has a career history in innovative development, management and training in health services. He is interested in health inequities, challenging the structural, political and representational aspects within societies.
Carissa Marie Wolf
Carissa Wolf, M.A. is a journalist, educator and sociologist. Her work has appeared in newspapers including The Washington Post, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and heard on National Public Radio. She trained at Sonoma State University’s Project Censored Investigative Journalism Institute and won dozens of journalism awards for her enterprise reports including a Livingston Award nomination. She teaches sociology and communication at Boise State University where she co-created the Idaho Media Initiative. Her research interests include the political economy of journalism, religion and health and media representation.
Dr. Kaushlendra Kumar
Dr. Kaushlendra Kumar serves as the Director, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) at Room to Read India, offering strategic and technical direction for organizational assessments and evaluation. His 16+ years of research experience in population and development issues have shaped RM&E strategies for large-scale programs. His expertise extends to study design, evaluation protocols, and data analytics, fostering evidence-based decisions.
Dr. KAKUL AGHA
Discipline Leader – Human Resource Management and Associate Professor | Skyline University College | University City of Sharjah
Topic: Influence of Diversity on employees’ mindset in the workplace
Dr. KAKUL AGHA, has a Ph.D. in Business Administration (HRM) carrying Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching experience of over 24 years in UAE, Sultanate of Oman, and India. She carries an MBA (HRM) degree along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Professional Practice from Coventry University, UK. She is a Fellow at the Higher Education Academy, UK.
She is presently employed with Skyline University College, Sharjah as an Associate Professor and ex-Chair of Teaching Effectiveness. In the years 2015-16, she received the “Best Faculty Award for Teaching Effectiveness”; the year 2017-18 “Best Faculty Award for Services” and year 2018-19 “Best Faculty Award for Research”. Prior to working with Skyline University College, she was engaged with Middle East College (MEC), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Postgraduate Studies. Additionally, she was carrying out duties as Head of the Department of Management Studies and the Program Manager of the MBA (IT) program in collaboration with Coventry University. She also worked with Sultan Qaboos University and Muscat College in the Sultanate of Oman during my stay in Oman.
She is an avid theme-based article writer and conducts workshops at SUC and MEC staff as well as national level events for the Higher Education Sector in Oman as well workshops for school teachers, students, government personnel, and other third parties in UAE. She is a reviewer of international journals and an approved trainer, at the Ministry of Manpower, Oman.
Dr. Hanan Bishara
Dr. Hanan Bishara is an Arab lecturer, scholar, and social activist. She got her Ph.D. degree from the University of Haifa in Arabic Language and Literature. Her thesis is about the Egyptian writer Nawal al-Sa'dawi. At present, she works as a lecturer at the Academic Arab College for Education in Haifa. Dr. Bishara is well-known as an intellectual, a scholar and an activist for women's rights in Arab society.
Dr. Sresha Yadav nee Ghosh
Dr. Sresha Yadav nee Ghosh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities at IIIT-Raipur, India. She was a recipient of MHRD scholarship assistance during her Ph.D. tenure at IIT Roorkee and has published several research articles in edited books and reputed journals. She is a member of ELTAI, Cognitive Science Society, and British Council India. She is presently working in the field of language and cognition, interdisciplinary studies in language and literature, and ELT.