Plenary - SHAPE & STEM: Molding New Generations of Global Changemakers 

Julia Black

Warden of Nuffield College, Oxford and President of the British Academy

Julia Black is Warden of Nuffield College, Oxford and President of the British Academy, the UK’s National Academy for social sciences and the humanities.  She is also an External Member of the Bank of England’s Financial Markets Infrastructure Committee; a member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Science and Technology; and a Governor of the Courtauld Institute of Art.  She is currently a visiting Professor at LSE Law School and a Professor of Law and Regulation at Oxford University.    

Karim El Aynaoui

Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Dean of Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences. Executive President of the Policy Center for the New South

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)

Karim El Aynaoui is Executive President of the Policy Center for the New South. He is also Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Dean of its Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences Cluster. He is an economist. From 2005 to 2012, he worked at the Central Bank of Morocco where he held the position of Director of Economics, Statistics, and International Relations. At the Central Bank of Morocco, he was in charge of the Research Department and equally a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Previously, he worked for eight years at the World Bank as an Economist for its regional units of the Middle East and North Africa and Africa. Karim El Aynaoui holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Bordeaux in France where he taught courses in Statistics and Economics for three years. He is Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Rafif Srour Daher

Executive Vice Dean

IE School of Sciences and Technology

Rafif Srour is a university professor with extensive experience in teaching, research, and data analysis, known for her ability to thrive in multicultural environments (Lebanon, USA, Spain). A lifelong learner and advocate for women in STEM, she promotes empowerment through education and mentorship. Rafif is a multiple-time recipient of the Best Professor award and an active member of the Learning Innovation Hub at IE University. In 2021, she was recognized among the top 183 Leading Data Academics by CDO Magazine and named one of 55 leading women in Spain’s tech sector under the "Yo, Jefa" category. With a background in Agricultural Engineering, a master’s in Soil Science, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Soil Chemistry, Rafif has held several leadership roles at IE University, including interim Dean and currently Executive Vice Dean of the Sci-Tech School. Her passion lies in leveraging technology and AI to innovate higher education and enhance learning.

Susana Torres Prieto

Associate Professor of Humanities and International Relations

IE University

Dr. Susana Torres Prieto, PhD. (Doctor Europaeus, University of Cambridge) is Associate Professor in the Humanities at IE University and co-designer of the new Bachelor in Humanities at IEU. She is also Associate Researcher at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI). Her research has focused on Russia and Eastern Europe and the uses of digital humanities applied to historical and philological research. She has been visiting professor at the University of Arizona, St. Louis University (Madrid) and Université de Lausanne. She has also been research fellow at the Université Sorbonne-Paris 4, University of Cambridge, Ohio State University, Harvard University and University of Hamburg. In her two latest monographs, The Early Slavs, The First Centuries of Eastern Europe (Routledge, 2025), and The Alexander Romance in the Orthodox Slavic World: A New Approach to Textual Transmissions (Cambridge University Press, 2025), as well as in the ongoing project hosted at HURI, The Golden Age of Kyivan Rus’ (https://www.gis.huri.harvard.edu/golden-age-kyivan-rus), Prof. Torres Prieto showcases how the latest developments in digital humanities contribute both to groundbreaking theoretical advances in areas that were previously obscured or inaccessible, as well as to a more effective and interactive communication of research results.

Trevor Walton

Co-Founder

Mediterranean Screen Arts Academy

Trevor Walton brings over 30 years of experience in film and television. He began his career in London as an agent, representing some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Alan Rickman, Pierce Brosnan, and Rik Mayall. Transitioning from agency work, Walton became a senior studio executive for 4 North American media corporations - CBS, FOX, Lifetime, and CBC - for whom he commissioned and produced more than 250 films and scripted titles. After securing an overall deal with NBC/Universal (International), Trevor partnered with Palme d’Or winner and double Oscar nominee Roland Joffé to co-found the Mediterranean Screen Arts Academy (MSAA). He is now dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative professionals.