Scope:
- Provide networking support with industry in the community allowing the College to develop strong industry partnerships.
- Provide input and recommendations to the College from an industry perspective as well as supporting the College’s strategic directions in terms of academic programs and partnerships.
- Review the program educational objectives to ensure that they meet the industrial needs.
- Evaluate strengths, merits, and weaknesses of the current curriculum in the context of the School of Engineering mission and program educational objectives.
- Provide recommendations to the School of Engineering on all matters related to the curriculum to improve the relationship between academic and professional practices.
- Review student performances relative to the program outcomes from an industrial point of view and propose strategies for continuous improvement of the program.
- Help in identifying opportunities for student’s involvement in research and capstone projects.
- Review the School of Engineering activities and plans related to research, consultancy, and short courses and make recommendations.
- Help in identifying opportunities for faculty research and development.
- Facilitate sponsorship of academic and student activities.
- Provide assistance to support and enhance engineering student internships and help in placing students through the working experience program.
- Enhance the visibility of the School of Engineering in the engineering community.
Membership:

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Niby
Dean – School of Engineering

Dr. Mortadha Alsaba
Head of Petroleum Engineering Department

Dr. Hassan Salti
Head of Electrical Engineering Department

Dr. Sayed Soleimani
Head of Civil Engineering Department

Dr. Fadi Al Khatib
Head of Mechanical Engineering Department

Dr. Ahmad Bani Mustafa
Head of Mathematics & Physics Department

Dr. Ayman Al-Qattan
Renewable Energy Programme Manager
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)

Dr. Khaled Albana
Chief Executive Officer
IHS Kuwait Limited

Dr. Otmar Irscheid
Vice President, Mega Projects & Business Development
Advanced Technology Company (ATC)

Dr. Zafer Sakka
Associate Research Scientist
Program of Sustainability and Reliability of Infrastructure - KISR

Eng. Haitham Al-Refaei
Chief Executive Officer
Inshaa Holding Company

Mr. Ahmad Al Otaibi
President and Chief Executive Officer
Petroleum Dynamics Oil & Gas

Mr. Tareq Khalil
Power Grids, Digital Lead and Industries Segment Manager
Hitachi ABB Power Grids

Mr. Ahmad Saleh AlJemaz
Private Consultant
Kuwait Oil Sector

Mr. Mohamed Shehata
General Manager – Kuwait Branch
Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar CO. W.L.L

Mr. Ali Mohammad Al-Ajmi
Manager - Technical Services
Al-Zour Refinery
Achievements:
- The Terms of Reference were reviewed and agreed on.
- A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with KIPIC.
- Advice was given from the industry regarding launching new academic programs at ACK to meet the needs of the industry.
- Students were supported by conducting internship programs in IAB companies.
- Expanded internship placements. Further opportunities were arranged for ACK students to benefit from internship placements as well as field trips at IAB members’ workplaces.
- International training and employment opportunities. It has now been agreed to provide opportunities for ACK students to undertake internships in IAB member organizations’ international branches and subsidiaries as well as possibilities for recruitment of ACK graduates in their international branches and subsidiaries.
- Guest speaker program. Industry and business experts contributed toward the learning process of ACK students by their support with the weekly guest speaker program to share their professional and career experiences with ACK students and faculty.
- Teaching and learning. Industry feedback regarding ACK interns and alumni in their industries was collected through the Industry Advisory Board committee and subcommittees. This input has been used toward the enhancement of teaching and learning.
- Curriculum. A special exercise was undertaken with industry representatives to receive their feedback concerning the attributes and skills required for entry level positions. This information was then used to review and strengthen ACK curriculum and associated learning outcomes for improved employability of ACK alumni.
- Research. In line with the ACK Research Strategy, further cooperation with industry was made to identify priority areas for research and availability of local facilities and resources for such purposes. Further, support from industry was forthcoming to enable ACK faculty members to expand research as well as potential sources of funding.
- Initiation of Sub Industry Advisory Board at each School and department level.
- Providing advice in developing and achieving the SoE strategic plan and vision.
- Reviewing and finalizing (2) new proposed curriculums; Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Programs.
- Conducted student internship programs and faculty professional development opportunities, and other industry partnerships.
- EIAB members assist faculty and administration by serving as guest lecturers, hosting student field trips, providing judges for student competitions and senior project exhibitions.
- The EIAB assists in assessing specific areas of the academic program and suggesting improvements. Examples include reviewing program goals and objectives, recommending industry standards to incorporate into course material, and suggesting equipment and materials to incorporate into laboratories.
Member Bio.
Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Niby is the Dean of School of Engineering and an Associate Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department. Dr. Abdul-Niby gained his PhD in Electrical Engineering / Microelectronics from University of Surrey, 1998, UK. He is Chartered Member in Engineers Australia (EA). Also, he used to be a member of Centre for Osmosis Research and Applications within the Fluids Research Centre, University of Surrey/Surry/UK.
Dr. Abdul-Niby’s goal is to deliver quality higher education and training, both theoretical and experimental in engineering through a learning environment that is respectful, supportive, and safe, in which innovation and lifelong learning by students are fostered. During the last 3 years, he has taught various courses in “Applied Integrated Circuit Systems”, “Industrial Electronic Circuits "and “Linear integrated Circuits”
Dr. Abdul-Niby has been awarded a Certificate IV in training and assessment from TasTAFE. Also, he has been awarded a Certificate for participating in “Effective Lesson Design” training course. Moreover, Dr. Abdul-Niby has published 15 Scientific papers in very well-known international journals, 3 Articles, and 8 Conference papers.
When Dr. Abdul-Niby isn’t working, you’ll find him reading books, drawing artistic painting, and travelling.
Member Bio.
Dr. Mortadha Alsaba is the Head of Petroleum Engineering Department and an Assistant Professor in the Petroleum Engineering Department. Dr. Mortadha gained his PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2015, Rolla, USA. He is Chartered Member in Engineers Australia (EA). Also, he is a member in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
Dr. Mortadha goal is to bridge the gap between the theoretical, experimental, and practical application in the oil and gas industry.
Previously, Dr. Alsaba has worked as a drilling fluid engineer with Halliburton Baroid. His research interests include prevention and mitigation of lost circulation events, laboratory evaluation of wellbore strengthening techniques, drilling fluids design and optimization, nano-based drilling fluids, and the development of environmental-friendly drilling fluid additives. Dr. Alsaba has authored and/or co-authored more than 85 journals and conference papers.
Member Bio.
Dr. Salti is an Assistant Professor and the Head of Electrical Engineering Department at the School of Engineering at the Australian College of Kuwait. In addition to his technical engineering research interests focused on the design and optimization of microwave antennas, he is currently involved in restructuring engineering curricula, internal and external audits, and accreditations such as ISO, Engineers Australia and ABET. Engineering Learning strategies, techniques and initiatives are also currently taking part of his research interests and he has several publications in the fields of e-learning, Project Based Learning (PBL) and Conceive Design Implement and Operate initiative (CDIO).
Member Bio.
Dr. Sayed Mohamad Soleimani is an associate professor of Civil Engineering at the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). He received his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, Canada in 2007. He has more than 15 years of valuable industrial experience. Before joining ACK in 2013, he worked as a senior project engineer in Vancouver and Toronto to design several signature cable-stayed bridges in Canada. He is a registered professional engineer in California (USA), British Columbia and Ontario (Canada), Australia and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia.
His research interests are topics in the fields of bridge engineering, specialized concretes, structural health monitoring and sustainable civil engineering materials such as the usage of waste materials in concrete. He is interested in transferring his knowledge to the next generation of engineers and this fuels his passion for research in engineering education.
Member Bio.
Dr. Fadi finished his Ph.D. in 2013 from the university of Wisconsin, USA. He is currently an Assistant Professor and the head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Australian College of Kuwait. His research interests are focused on biomechanics, optimization, and design. He is part of the School of Engineering curriculum and internal and external auditing committees. Furthermore, he is part of Engineers Australia accreditation and auditing committee. In addition, a leader within Conceive Design Implement and Operate (CDIO) initiative ACK committee members.
Member Bio.
Dr. Ahmed Bani-Mustafa finished his Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Western Sydney and currently is an associate professor in applied statistician at the department of Mathematics-School of Engineering at the Australian College of Kuwait. His research interests are broad, more recently covering methodological developments in applied statistics and mainly in applications of statistics. His work in statistical methodology is focused primarily on sampling techniques and model selection techniques, modeling checking, recursive estimation and residuals, and their applications. More generally, his interest is in applied statistics and collaborations with researchers from different fields, including medicine, Economics, Finance, Accounting, education, psychology, sports science.
Applications include Regression models such as simple and multiple linear regression, Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Linear Mixed Models (LMM), GLMM, GAM, GAMM, time series, multivariate analysis, and Structural Equation Modelling.
Member Bio.
Dr. Ayman Al-Qattan, has a Ph.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology, USA in 2004. He has more than twenty-five years of experience in research and development. Dr. Al-Qattan led many projects in the field of solar PV, solar thermal, fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. He led more than 10 scientific projects since 2004 and he was the renewable energy programme manager at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research between 2012-2019. Since 2017, he is leading the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park project.
Member Bio.
Dr. Khaled Al-Banaa was named the Chief Executive Officer of IHS Kuwait in Dec. 2020. In the current role, Dr. Al-Banaa has an overall responsibility for managing the first P&L Tower company in Kuwait. He holds the responsibility for growth, financial viability, and profitability of the business. Moreover, part of his responsibility as a CEO, is to define and implement business growth strategies, talent developments, and localization strategies.
Previously, Dr. Khaled Al-Banaa joined the Power sector as the Director of the first regional GE Kuwait Technology Center in 2015. The GE Tech Center was the first of its kind in the region and Kuwait. In his role, Dr. Al-Banaa has overall responsibility for the establishing, commissioning and managing the first P&L facility in Kuwait for GE-Power that houses the Training Center, Tooling Distribution Center, and Engineering R&D Facilities and Laboratories.
Dr. Al-Banaa came from an R&D sector, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), where in 1994 he started his career as an Assistant Researcher. In 2005, he obtained his Ph.D. and upon his return to Kuwait, was promoted to Research Scientist in the Coastal Management Program where he assumed various roles of increasing responsibility and led several projects for KISR. Dr. Al-Banaa has participated in several national, regional, and international scientific committees. He has also represented Kuwait at the United Nations on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission as well as serving and participating in several international scientific committees. In 2013, he was named Program Manager of the Coastal Management Program at KISR.
Dr. Al-Banaa earned bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1993 and in 2005 he earned his MS./Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with an emphasis on Environmental Fluid Mechanics with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, New York, USA.
Member Bio.
Dr. Otmar Irscheid is the Vice President, Mega Projects Department and Business development in Advanced Technology Company in Kuwait. He has been serving the industry and academia for more than 25 years. He has executed many successful medical projects locally including but not limited to; Jaber Al Ahmad Center for Molecular Imaging, New Jahra Hospital. Dr. Otmar obtained his Ph.D. from the University of the Saarland, Germany in 1999 and he holds 3 patents.
Member Bio.
Dr. Zafer Sakka is a Research Scientist in the Energy and Building Research Center at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Over the past 9 years, Dr. Sakka focused his research and practice on lifetime integrity of buildings and infrastructure, particularly in the area of structural strength assessment, structural reliability, infrared thermography, and the application of unmanned vehicles in the construction industry. During these 9 years, Dr. Sakka was able to generate external funds from proposals and projects that he completed. The funding institutions included KFAS, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the General Administration of Customs, and Sematco. Besides his experience as a researcher at KISR, Dr. Sakka worked in academia with the Australian College of Kuwait, the American University of Sharjah, and Kuwait University.
Dr. Sakka published more than 27 technical papers in international refereed journals and conferences and more than 30 technical reports relating to structural assessment, strengthening and repair methods.
Member Bio.
Eng. Haitham Al – Refaei joined Insha’a Holding Company as a Projects Manager in 2005. He held several positions since he joined; he was promoted to Chief Operation Officer in 2006. In 2008, he was promoted to Deputy Chief Executive Office. And in 2010 he became the Chief Executive Officer. Currently Eng. Al – Refaei is the chairman of EPO Gulf Co. in Kuwait, and board member of Global Mining Co. Oman also.
During his tenure at Insha’a, his working also a chairman of Building System Company.
Previously, he was working at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) from 1993 until 2005 between various positions. Till his last position as a senior Engineering (Projects Management) from Kuwait University in 2006, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ahliya University in Bahrain in 2008. His experience and expertise span over 20 years in the field of Engineering, Projects Management, and Business Administration.
Member Bio.
Mr. Ahmad carries a rich 26 years of experience starting with downstream refinery & largest NOC, KNPC in Kuwait moving to upstream with Schlumberger & in no time being the VP of Kuwait’s biggest powerhouse Alghanim International. He is currently heading one of the biggest local drilling companies of Kuwait, Burgan Drilling and its sister concerns. Due to his rich experience in all streams of O&G, he quickly grew into one of Kuwait’s most respected professionals.
Ahmad has developed a unique applied marketing strategy for world-renowned brands by supporting them in Kuwait & GCC countries & diversifying to utilize its full potential & in return generate high revenues & achievements. His success mantra has always been “practical leadership”. He brings proven results, with his Seasoned Experience in Establishing & leading Organizations, establishing “Governments to Corporates/Private” Business protocols, New Business lines, Consortiums/ New Ventures, Markets interventions etc. He is also faculty in Academics & provides technical coaching in various institutes.
Member Bio.
Mr. Tareq Khalil is Energy and Automation expert with 16 years of experience in leading positions in Kuwait and GCC market covering different industries and market segments. Tareq started his career with Kharafi National group in the oil and gas sector, then he joined the Giant Swiss company ABB and worked his way to become the Automation Division Manager. He is now the Digital Leader and Industries Segment Director for Hitachi Energy in Kuwait. Tareq is an Electrical Engineer graduated from University of Jordan and has a degree in project management form the George Washington University and many certificates in Energy, automation and business management from intentional institutes.
He is also member of Jordanian and Kuwaiti Engineering Associations and a speaker of Tamilnadu Engineers Forum. He is also a regular industrial evaluator for engineering student projects at ACK.
Member Bio.
Mr. Ahmad is a Consultant in Oil, Gas & Energy, he has more than 30 years practical experience in petroleum refining and petrochemicals industries.
He is an Ex-Executive, managed complex refineries, held many positions in corporate boards for several companies for more than 15 years, he has vast experience in Design, Operations &Project Management, in addition to holding the responsibility for the country refining industry Technology and Research activities for many years.
Mr. Ahmad holds bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Kuwait University, 1987.
Member Bio.
Eng. Mohamed Shehata is holding a Mechanical Engineer. He has One-year Industrial Experience with M/s. Nuclear Power Company (Risley) Limited (UK) at Inverkip Power Station in Scotland. He is Working for Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar Co. W.L.L the Caterpillar Dealer for Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf (Upper Gulf Countries) in different positions, responsibilities and capabilities.
Eng. Shehata is a General Manager responsible for the Management and Leadership of the Caterpillar dealer Branch in Kuwait for the complete operation consisting of Equipment, Power Systems, Service, Parts, Product Support, Finance, Human Recourses & Administration departments. Currently he is a member of the Kuwait Engineering Society.
Member Bio.
Mr. Ali Mohammad Al-Ajmi is professional Chemical Engineer working as Manager, Technical Services - Al-Zour Refinery in Kuwait Integration Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC). He holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Kuwait University as well as in Project Management from The George Washington University.
His professional career commenced in the year 1992 in KNPC in Operations and Project Commissioning Departments. His vast experience includes Refinery Operations debottlenecking, process optimization, commissioning for several process Units and Technologies in Major Projects.