Prof. Otman Abdoun

Full Professor of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco.

Experience: Full Professor of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan (Sep 2021 - Present); Professor of Computer Science, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Morocco (Apr 2013 - Sep 2021); Coordinator of IT Management Professional License, Polydisciplinary Faculty Larache, Abdelmalek Essaadi University (Sep 2013 - Jul 2020).

Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Ibn Tofail Kenitra, Morocco (Feb 2013); Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR) in Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence, École nationale des sciences appliquées de Tétouan (Dec 2017).

Research Interests: Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, Competitive Learning, Data Analytics, Big Data, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Multi-Agents System, Evolutionary Computation, Computational intelligence, Genetic Algorithm, Combinatorial Optimization Problem, Path Planning and Image processing and Visualization, etc.

Dr. Mo Medwani

Dr. Mo Medwani’s life is truly inspirational. With a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, his career spans over 11 years in Data Science and AI and more than 25 years in IT, marking him as a pioneering leader who has profoundly influenced the sector. His path showcases an unyielding commitment to knowledge and a zeal for excellence.

Dr. Medwani is an accomplished individual with multiple post-graduate degrees in Data Science & AI. He is also the founder of InnovatiCS, driving positive change through innovative initiatives in data science and analytics. His most sought-after program, “Zero to Hero,” is tailored for individuals who are new to data science and AI and prepares students for a rewarding career in data science and AI, he has empowered over 22,000 students globally.

A pivotal moment in Dr. Medwani’s life was in 2014, when he faced a significant setback, losing his job. Overwhelmed but not defeated, he resolved to master the very field that led to his setback: analytics. This decision marked the beginning of a journey not just of personal triumph but also of making a substantial impact through steadfast dedication, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Dr. Medwani’s narrative is a testament to the idea that, with perseverance, dedication, and a passion for one’s work, anyone can achieve greatness and positively impact the world.

Mohamed Quafafou is a Professor of computer science at Aix-Marseille University. His main research interests are in Data Mining theory and applications. Prior to joining Aix-Marseille University at 2005, he served as Professor at Avignon University from 2002 to 2004 and as Assistant Professor at University of Nantes from 1995 to 2001. Mohamed Quafafou received his Habilitation Ph.D. in 2000 on Rough sets Theory and Data mining and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from INSA Lyon, in 1992. He received a M.Sc. in computer science from Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse), a M.Sc. in mathematics from Pau University and the B.Sc. degree in Mathematics from the Cadi Ayyad University (Marrakech). For about 30 years, he developed research on rough sets, data mining, web information extraction, etc. In partnership with France Telecom, he developed one of the first French web mining systems to discover emergent web communities. He headed the Geobs Data Analyzer project which aimed to provide a theoretical foundation for spatial data mining systems covering a large area of applications, e.g., environment, marketing, social analysis, etc. He is the head of data mining at scale research group (DANA) at LIS CNRS. He has supervised more than 20 Ph.D. thesis and more than 60 M.Sc. student research projects. He has been expert for several French The National and The International projects. Professor Mohamed Quafafou is a teacher at Polytech Marseille, where he leads the training of Information System and Data Science Engineering. He has also other teaching activities in M.Sc level in both Aix-Marseille University and University of Science and Technology of Hanoi. He is the head of computer science department of Polytech Marseille.

Prof. Lloret Mauri has extensive professional experience, including his current position as a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Barcelona, Spain (2010 - Present). He was a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, USA (2008 - 2009), and an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain (2005 - 2010). His research interests lie in Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence Applications, Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and Wireless Sensor Networks.

He has several selected publications, such as "A Comprehensive Survey on Big Data Analytics in Healthcare" (IEEE Transactions on Big Data, 2021), "Deep Learning Techniques for Image Recognition in Autonomous Vehicles" (Proceedings of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 2019), and "Energy-Efficient Data Aggregation Techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks" (ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, 2017). Prof. Lloret Mauri has notable conference experience, including being a Keynote Speaker at the International Conference on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Applications (2018), a Session Chair at the IEEE Conference on Data Mining (2016), and a Program Committee Member at the ACM International Conference on Internet of Things (2015).

His awards and honors include the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Conference on Big Data (2017), the Outstanding Researcher Award at the University of Barcelona (2015), and the Fulbright Scholarship for Visiting Scholars at Stanford University (2008). Prof. Lloret Mauri is a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the International Association of Computer Science and Information Technology (IACSIT). He is fluent in Spanish (Native), English, and Catalan.

Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni was appointed by His Majesty the King of Morocco as a member of the Higher Council of Education, Training and Scientific Research in Morocco. The Royal appointment took place on November 17, 2022 for a 5-year term. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni is currently the Executive President of the International Center of Artificial Intelligence of Morocco, Ai movement within the Prestigious Mohammed VI Polytechnic University - Morocco. She is “exceptional class” professor at Sorbonne University, Faculty of Sciences and Engineering – Paris and currently holds the Industrial Chair of Excellence (Digital Twins for Cognitive Radars) funded by Thales at SCAI-Abu-Dhabi. She is a member of the UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) for a 4-year term (January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023). She is interested in the ethical questions of new areas of scientific and technological research such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Sciences, the Internet of Things, Robotics, etc. She is a member of the expert group of the UNESCO Initiative “AI and the Futures of Learning” for a 2-year term (from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2024). This expert group is responsible for providing strategic and technical guidance to the initiative to help UNESCO Member States harness the benefits and mitigate the risks of the use of AI in education, l UNESCO has implemented an initiative on AI and the futures of learning. The project is structured around three areas of work: (1) a report proposing recommendations on the future of learning using AI; (2) a guide to ethical principles relating to the use of AI in education; and (3) a guiding framework on AI skills for students. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni holds a Ph.D in computer science at Sorbonne University and a Habilitation to advise Research in AI at Sorbonne Paris North. Worldwide expert in Distributed Artificial Intelligence, she was General Chair of AAMAS 2020 - NZ. She has initiated numerous research projects and international collaborations, she has directed 35 Ph.D students and published 24 books or proceedings and over 200 articles. She is passionate about ethical issues of emerging technologies, social issues related to ethics, gender, inclusion and social justice. Member of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology of UNESCO (COMEST), she was nominated for the Berkeley World Business Analytics Awards, in the category "Woman of the Year" - 2021 for the African continent. Short presentation of Ai movement (https://aim.um6p.ma/fr/home/) Ai movement, the Moroccan International Center for Artificial Intelligence is a center of excellence in artificial intelligence. It is mainly a regional hub for AI and SD for AI transformation with the following objectives:
• Promote the emergence of Moroccan and African expertise in in artificial intelligence and data science.
• Develop a Moroccan and African human-centered approach based on ethics, responsible and explainable AI for inclusion, harmony and social good and to serve economic and social development
The center offers an executive master program on AI governance & Practice. The program is organized into four certificates: AI Foundations, AI Governance, AI Transformation and AI Applications. Certificates can be taken independently or accumulated towards a master's degree. The center also offers doctoral programs for young researchers to develop AI-based systems around the center’s research projects.

Yousra El Hatib is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of expertise in strategic leadership and partnership development. Currently serving as the Director of Strategy at Oracle R&D, she leads the center’s strategic, institutional, and public-private partnerships, ensuring its development and growth by leveraging engagement with universities, government institutions, and the private sector. Her work focuses on fostering collaborative relationships that drive innovation and expand Oracle's impact in the region. Prior to her role at Oracle, Yousra served as the Chief of Staff to the Ministry of Digital Transition and administration Reform of Morocco, where she played a pivotal role in overseeing the national strategy for digital transition, 'Digital Morocco 2030.' Her career has seen her work closely with government entities, international donor programs, and stakeholders across the public, private, and civil society sectors, contributing to the design and implementation of national and regional public policies.

Dr. Driss Raouh is a Consultant and Expert in Cybersecurity and Cybercrime at the ‎International Criminal Court in The Hague. Netherlands.‎ In 2014, he was appointed as an expert at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The ‎Hague, making him the only Arab and African expert among the five international experts ‎designated in the field of cybercrime.‎ Before this appointment, Dr. Rouah had a distinguished career. In 1990, he was named an IT ‎expert at the Court of Appeal of Rabat, and in 1993, he held the same position at the Court ‎of Appeal of Versailles in France. He also served as an arbitrator in patent and software ‎matters at the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and as an ‎advisor at the French Customs Conciliation and Expertise Commission.‎ In addition to his expert roles, Dr. Rouah taught cybercrime and computer network-related ‎subjects for over twenty years at the University of Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) in France. In ‎recognition of his contributions to education and scientific research, he was awarded the ‎Order of Academic Palms at the rank of Knight.‎ Currently, Dr. Rouah serves as the president of the National Council of Judicial Experts in ‎Morocco, where he continues to contribute to the development of judicial expertise and ‎cybersecurity.‎ical and Information and Communication Technologies.

Anas is currently a Professor of Environmental Engineering at The University of Western Australia where he leads a very successful research group (Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystem Studies) focused on the study of a range of topics in water resources (water and wastewater), ecological engineering and environmental engineering, with an emphasis on the development of innovative technologies. Anas was appointed Programme Chair for Environmental Engineering in 2017. Anas has more than twenty years of research and teaching experience in the water area and has led numerous large scale multidisciplinary projects nationally and internationally. He is an expert advisor to a number of organisations and agencies in Australia and internationally. He has also been an editor for the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS) since 2005. Anas is currently Chair, Communication, Adoption and Translation and chief investigator in the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource (2020-2025). He is also a board member of UWA Publishing, and a fellow of the UWA Public Policy Institute. Anas is a founding member and past Executive Director of the $120M Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) established in 2012 (2012-2021). This role includes both operation and scientific leadership in this large multidisciplinary research centre, the coordination of the CRCWSC activities within UWA, and the management of relationships with Western Australian CRC industry partners. Before arriving to Australia, Anas grew up in Rabat, Morocco, and completed his BSc at Mohamed V University, before moving to Montreal, Canada to complete his MSc and PhD in limnology and water resources.

Dr. Maha Gmira is a graduate of Polytechnique Montréal. She then obtained a master’s degree in mathematics and industrial engineering and a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence. She has recognized expertise in artificial intelligence. She completed her doctoral thesis in artificial intelligence at the University of Montreal, in one of the world’s top laboratories. Dr. Maha Gmira is currently an Artificial Intelligence Expert at the United Nations Development Program. She previously served as the director of the School of Digital Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (EIDIA) at Euromed University of Fez and was also the holder of the ICESCO-UEMF Chair “Women in Science: Artificial Intelligence and the Future,” which promotes artificial intelligence among girls and women. In November 2021, the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), a body of the African Union, awarded Prof. Maha Gmira a Flagship Project—an African pilot project focused on applying artificial intelligence in agriculture to ensure food security in Africa. This project is led by Morocco in collaboration with Rwanda, Egypt, Botswana, and Nigeria. In September 2022, she secured a Horizon Europe project, “REMARKABLE” (Rural Environmental Monitoring via ultra wide-ARea networKs And distributed Federated Learning), within a consortium of 12 countries, with a budget of €1.4 million. Dr. Maha Gmira is a member of several prestigious institutes and research groups recognized as global leaders in data science and artificial intelligence, including the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Data Science for Real-Time Decision Making, IVADO, CIRRELT, and GERAD.