School of Engineering Industrial Advisory Board

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.