Faculty members

Ron Hilvert, Managing Director - The Emirates Academy

Ron has over 35 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry and is recognised as the most experienced Human Resources Executive in the industry worldwide. He has had professional and educational contact with all the major hotel schools and universities in North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia for over 30 years ...

Stuart Jauncey, Dean, The Emirates Academy

Dr. Jauncey is a consummate hospitality professional, with many years of experience in the field ...

 Dr. Amanda Henderson, Associate Professor

Amanda joined the Academy in 2007. She is a sociologist who has over 25 years experience, primarily in the health care sector. During this period, she has held a variety of positions in the delivery, management, and evaluation of acute health care and change management programmes.

Andreas Beisser, Director of Operations and Projects

Andreas joined the Academy as Director of Food and Beverage, with responsibility for all operational aspects of the department. In an expanded role, he now oversees all operational functions of the Academy, including accommodation, security, housekeeping and facilities management ...

Duncan Gibson, PhD, MBA, MA, BSc.

Originally from London, UK, but has come to the Emirates Academy from many years teaching Hospitality Accounting and Finance at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Graham Challender, Senior Lecturer/Industry Liaison Manager

Graham has many training qualifications and much teaching experience. He also has extensive experience in management, budget control and industrial relations. Graham holds a post-graduate diploma in management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney ...

Ioanna Karanikola, Senior Lecturer

Ioanna Karanikola is Senior Lecturer at The Emirates Academy, teaching Rooms Division Management, Front Office Operations and Housekeeping Operations ...

Dr. Ivan Ninov, Associate Professor

Dr. Ivan Ninov is an Associate Professor at The Emirates Academy, teaching courses in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Professor John Sutton, Programme Director of Academic Programmes

John joined The Emirates Academy from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Hotel and Tourism Management, where he was Principal Lecturer in Service Management, Food & Beverage Management and Chairman of the Teaching and Learning Committee ...

Michael Kitts, Executive Chef/Senior Lecturer

Michael began his career at Claridge's Hotel in London, UK. He then moved on to work for renowned private clubs, such as the Garrick Club in London ...

Helen Morris, Executive Chef/Lecturer

After training for a culinary qualification in the UK for 2 years, Helen began her career working for the small luxury hotel group as a chef which was followed by work in 4* & 5* hotels & renowned restaurants within the Southeast of England & some work in Australia.

Stephanie Morris, Associate Professor, Head of Languages and Law

Dr. Helen Verhoeven, Associate Professor of Human Resources Management

Dr. Helen Verhoeven holds a MA in Managing Human Resources from the University of the West of England, a Master in Business Administration from the University of Derby and a PhD in HRM (Internet Recruitment) from the University of Gloucestershire ...

Haresh Mohinani, Lecturer

Haresh graduated from Hotel school with a Management Diploma in Hotel & Catering Operations.

Rima Kai, Lecturer - The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

Rima graduated with a Master Degree of Hospitality Management, and also holds a Bachelor of Business Management ...

Dr. Peter Goffe, Visiting Professor - The Emirates Academy

Dr. Peter Goffe has 23 years of teaching and administrative experience at institutions in the USA, Switzerland, Dubai, Finland and Monaco. He took his Doctorate in Law at the University of Miami in Florida; Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Hotel Administration at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; and a Business Administration degree at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.

Dr. Robert Govers, visiting faculty - The Emirates Academy

Robert Govers is currently serving as Assistant Professor Marketing and Strategy on the Master in Tourism programme of the University of Leuven, Belgium, where he is also Project Manager at the Flemish Center for Tourism Policy Studies ...

Professor Dr. Chris Ryan, Visiting Professor - The Emirates Academy

Dr. Chris Ryan is Professor of Hospitality & Tourism in the Management School of the University of Waikato in New Zealand. He has been at the University of Waikato since 1998, having arrived from his previous post of Professor of Tourism at the Northern Territory University ...

Dr. Sanjay Nadkarni Associate Professor

Sanjay is currently an Associate Professor at the Academy. His teaching and research interests are in Information Systems, Quantitative Methods and Development Studies in Tourism.