Prof. Hossein Sarrafzadeh
Unitec Institute of Technology, New Zealand

Dr. Hossein Sarrafzadeh is Professor and Head of Department of Computing at Unitec Institute of Technology. He is well linked to the ICT industry both nationally and internationally, and has strong links to the international research and academic community. Leveraging these strong networks with industry, academia, and with government, particularly in the field of IT security and computational intelligence, he has attracted funding to his department and his institution. He understands global IT trends, needs and opportunities and has a firm grasp of the capability in NZ.
Dr Sarrafzadeh has developed one of the world's first real-time facial expression and gesture recognition systems. He has also developed a novel vision based targeted advertising system which has been patented in New Zealand and internationally. Dr Sarrafzadeh has led the establishment of New Zealand’s first cyber security centre in partnership with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology of Japan and has also been instrumental in the founding and development of the Centre for Computational Intelligence for Environmental Engineering and the Internet of Things (in partnership with Wuhan University and LJDY (IT Company), in China and NIWA (NZ)).
Professor Sarrafzadeh is known for his work in the areas of intelligent systems, cyber security, IoT, adaptive user interfaces and software engineering. He has developed one of the world’s first real-time facial expression and gesture recognition systems, and also a novel vision based targeted advertising system patented both in New Zealand and internationally. He has published over 140 research papers and supervised over 40 PhD and Masters theses. He is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at international conferences.

Prof. Nabil EL KADHI
University of Buraimi, Sultunate of Oman

Professor Nabil EL KADHI works as Deputy Vice-Chacellor for Academic Affairs in University of Buraimi, Sultunate of Oman now. He has 13 years of experience in management-high education and research units. He assumed various positions starting from project manager and department head to lab director, Dean and recently Provost at AMA International University Bahrain. Professor EL KADHI has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education institutions. He has a PhD in Computer Sciences “formal verification of cryptographic protocols (INRIA Rocquencourt France (1998-2000) with the initiative Verified Internet Protocols and the European project TASK)”. He started his professional activities early 90th as a lecturer, programmer and IT manager in public/private institutions. He worked at EPITCH-Paris (2000-2008); he was major stone in developing EPITECH Curricula and research activities. Professor EL KADHI contributed to several industrial projects: Artificial intelligence, automatic translation, secure payment, smart card use, Automation, Mechatronics and Robotics As vice-president of KnK Partner, a think tank to bridge the gap between universities and corporate, he developed, managed 3 specialized Master degrees. As a manager and strategic leader, he successfully conduct various QA and accreditations with various scopes: institutional, programme review and international accreditations Professor EL KADHI has more than 50 International publications indexed by ACM, IEEE, DBLP and others, he is reviewers in various engineering and computer sciences international scientific journals. He is considered today as one among the international.

Plenary Speakers

Prof. Shihab A. Hameed
IIUM University Malaysia, Malaysia

Dr. Shihab A. Hameed is a Full Professor of Computer and Information Engineering in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, IIUM University Malaysia. He is a Senior Member in several professional Societies (IEEE, IACSIT, IACSE, ARISE). He is a Member of Board of Study for Computer and Information Engineering Program. Prof Hameed obtained his PhD in Computer from UKM University. He has More than Thirty Five years of Industrial and Educational Experience. His Research Interest is Mainly in Software Engineering and Quality, Healthcare and Medical Applications, Multimedia and Mobile Apps, Professional Ethics, Green ICT and E-Waste, Surveillance and Monitoring Systems. Prof Hameed Supervising Tens of PhD and Master Students, Leading or participating in Funded Research Projects and Research Groups, He has more than 200 Publications including Books, Chapters of Books, Research Papers Published in Indexed or Referred Journals and International Conferences. Prof Hameed Granted a Patent and obtains more than Twenty Five Medals and Rewards for Innovative and advanced Research work. He is participating as keynote speaker or Member of Organizing and Technical Committees for Tens of International Conferences. He participate in assessing articles for several indexed or Referred Journals.