Dr. Daphne Economou

Senior Lecturer

School of Computer Science & Engineering University of Westminster

A passionate and innovative educator, she employs creative teaching approaches to engage and inspire students in their learning journey. Her research focuses on pedagogical innovation in higher education, particularly in game-based and technology-enhanced learning, with her work published in highly cited articles. She leads the Serious Games at Westminster (SG@W) research group, driving advancements in immersive and interactive learning experiences. Dr. Economou extends her impact through active contributions to the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN), where she serves as an Executive Board Member, fostering collaboration among global educational researchers and practitioners. Additionally, she is a founding member of the Technical Committee on Immersive Learning Environments (TC-ILE) within the IEEE Education Society, working towards establishing standards for immersive learning and supporting professional development in its application in higher education.

Dr. Sabah Boustila 

Lecturer

Manchester Metropolitan University

She is a Lecturer of User Experience and Web Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. Previously, she was a postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Strasbourg, where she earned her Ph.D. in 2016. Her research focuses on Virtual and Augmented Reality (XR) applications and 3D interactions, addressing user experience and spatial perception in areas like transportation, construction, and navigation. She has published in IEEE VR and VRST and serves as a reviewer for several conferences and journals. At Manchester Metropolitan University, she teaches User Experience, Web Design, and Web Development. She also gained international experience at the University of Toronto, where she taught User Experience and supervised graduate students.

Jacob Mathew 

Principal Advisor

Industree Foundation

Jacob Mathew is the CEO of Industree Foundation, which focuses on empowering rural women to establish and manage enterprises in the Creative Manufacturing Industry. Under his leadership, Industree builds an ecosystem through its 6C framework—Construct, Create, Capacity, Capital, Channel, and Connect—facilitating the growth of rural enterprises to meet national and international market demands while adhering to quality and compliance standards. Industree also scales its impact through Regenearth, an accelerator for incubators, and Impact Edge, a partnership with Srishti Manipal, which supports early-stage social businesses in the sector. Jacob is also the Vice President of the Association of Designers of India and serves as the Director of Spring Health Water (India) Pvt Ltd. Additionally, he co-founded Dovetail Furniture Pvt Ltd, a design-led manufacturing unit specializing in retail fixturing and contract furniture, which became one of India’s leading manufacturers serving global brands like Marks & Spencer, Puma, and Debenhams. Jacob’s expertise lies in driving social enterprises that combine design innovation, market access, and capacity building, with a focus on sustainability and empowering artisans, particularly women, through self-employment and entrepreneurial training

Dr. Taapsi Ramchandani

Co-founder & CEO

Poocho

She is the co-founder and CEO of Poocho, where she leads a team of passionate social scientists and tech experts focused on making user stories accessible to all. Poocho is an AI-driven user research co-pilot that enables UI/UX designers to conduct agile user research sessions independently, without compromising on quality or speed. With a doctorate in business anthropology, she brings a unique perspective to the tech industry. Her expertise in ethnography, user behavior, and data analysis allows her to design and deliver user-centric solutions that cater to the diverse needs and expectations of various audiences. She is also an Aspen Scholar, recognized for her leadership and social impact in applied anthropology. Having served on the boards of the American Anthropological Association and the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, she is always eager to collaborate with other professionals who share her vision of creating meaningful and inclusive user experiences.