Stafford Global Team
Management
Refaat Kazoun
GROUP CEO
Refaat Kazoun
Refaat’s 30 year career has taken him on an exciting journey across various countries including Canada, Lebanon, the UK and now the UAE. Holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, his proudest achievements include teaching Organisational Behaviour and Leadership on the University of Leicester MBA programme and winning the ‘Small Business of the Year Award’ for Stafford Global in 2016. Refaat joined Stafford as a Business Development Manager in 2002 and progressed to become the CEO of Stafford Global.
Currently, Refaat explores the areas of Online and Blended Learning, Digital Marketing and World Politics. Refaat is a visionary with extensive training and development experience in various organisations.
Apart from being a humorist and a mentor to his employees, you can find him around the golf courses, passionately discussing Arsenal FC and Bayern Munich FC.
Philippe Riewer
GROUP CFO
Philippe Riewer
After completing his Masters degree in Economics in Strasbourg, Philippe embarked on an international career spanning four continents. An exchange year abroad in the UK triggered a life long love and appreciation for Anglo Saxon countries and culture, which took him to San Francisco for an MBA and New Zealand with L’Oreal. In between these countries he also managed short stints in Germany and Jordan.
Having tired of the corporate life he returned to academia with Stafford as a lecturer in 1999, first teaching Managerial Economics, Decision Making and then Corporate Finance. Ten years later, he took over as Group CFO of the company.
Philippe is an avid follower of current affairs and international finance and can be relied upon to name the capital city of every country in the world. When he is not reading the Financial Times or The Economist he can be found playing Padel tennis where he is a highly sought after partner due to his extremely competitive nature.
Ajith Kumar
ADMIN DIRECTOR
Ajith Kumar
Ajith has been a member of the Stafford family for more than 20 years now and oversees the Administrative Operations of the company.
Holding a degree in commerce, Ajith has gained practical knowledge in various aspects of the business where he has witnessed many strategic changes in the region and corporate world.
Ajith firmly believes in the famous quote “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
When not working, Ajith enjoys watching movies and cricket.
Timothy Campbell
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Timothy Campbell
Prof. Campbell is the Managing Director of Stafford Associates. Prior to this he was the Director of the MBA programme at the University of Dubai and previously the Executive MBA Programme Leader at Hull University Business School in the U.K. He is also currently a Visiting Professor of International Management at Northampton Business School and a Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University.
Prof. Campbell has extensive industry, academic and management training experience. He is the co-author of one of Europe’s best selling people management textbooks, Organizational Behaviour, with Stephen Robbins and Tim Judge and the second edition was published in 2017. His research has appeared in international journals and he has trained management of international and local companies such as Emirates National Oil Company, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Etisalat and Air Arabia.
He has taught in more than a dozen countries and given presentations to groups such as the European Foundation for Management Development, UK Business Week, the Chartered Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Higher Education Consultants
Helen Spyropoulos
HEAD OF ADMISSIONS
Helen Spyropoulos
Equipped with a Postgraduate Diploma, Helen began her career in education in 1995, where she was instrumental in developing a programme in fashion and lecturing across three campuses. Helen’s extensive managerial skills saw her heading various faculties and departments in South Africa and she joined Stafford in 2008 as an academic consultant for two online distance learning UK programmes. She is currently the Admissions manager, overseeing a team of experienced academic advisors who respond to student enquiries from the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Helen’s vast interests range from sustainability and the environment, to fashion and interior design. This sees her exploring the areas of online green programmes and organic methods in clothing and furniture.
Apart from being passionate about creative crafts, Helen is an avid reader of nonfiction and enjoys outdoor life.
Rukhsar Yaseen
Rukhsar Yaseen
Rukhsar handles student recruitment for Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East, as well as select countries in Africa and Europe.
Rukhsar is an academic consultant, currently advising potential students interested in the MBA programmes. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Rukhsar has gathered extensive work experience in the field of student recruitment.
Apart from her interests in student recruitment and higher education, she is an avid reader of English literature and nonfiction. Whilst not engaged with potential students on their academic requirements. She blogs about her interests in personal growth and development, and also likes to explore areas of Digital Marketing, content writing and the emerging trends across various industries in the millennial population.
Raphael Lopez
Raphael Lopez
Raphael handles student recruitment for Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East, as well as select countries in Africa and Europe.
Raphael has been handling MBA admission for more than 2 years now.
He has an impressive background in the fields of Information Technology, Business Development and Customer Relationship Management. Having been exposed on the aforementioned industries and various roles makes him competent and efficient in identifying the requirements of each candidate, who seeks his advice, in selecting the suitable programme.
Raphael, an avid car enthusiast, is also passionate about photography.
Aprilyn Mendiola
Aprilyn Mendiola
Aprilyn handles student recruitment for Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East, as well as select countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Aprilyn is an academic consultant, currently advising potential students interested in pursuing PG and UG level programmes in the field of Education, such as the Master of Education, PGCEi, BA Childhood Studies. Her expertise extends to PG and UG programmes in Business Management, HRM, Tourism & Hospitality and Finance, as well.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with specialisation in Special Education, Aprilyn has gathered extensive work experience in the field of student recruitment to better assist professionals on their academic needs.
Apart from her interests in student recruitment and higher education, she loves to listen to music and travel around the world.
Christina Oufan
Christina Oufan
Christina handles student recruitment for Canada, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East.
Christina is an academic consultant, passionate about assisting and advising students with educational opportunities. Her academic counselling expertise spans across Canada and the Middle East. Holding a Bachelors degree in Marketing, Christina has gathered extensive work experience in the field of student recruitment and advices a range of professionals on their academic needs.
Apart from her interests in contributing to students’ higher education, she works in other areas such as Digital Marketing, and content writing for Social Media accounts. She also takes part in social work, outdoor activities and photography.
Kedress Tugumisirize
Kedress Tugumisirize
Kedress handles student recruitment for Uganda.
Kedress is an academic consultant, currently advising potential students looking to pursue an MBA, MSc, or BA (Top-up) programmes.
Holding a Post Graduate Diploma, Kedress has gathered extensive work experience in the field of student recruitment and assists professionals on their academic needs, trying to help them make the right decision which will help boost their career prospects.
Aside from her interests in student recruitment and higher education, she is a gender activist who believes in gender mainstreaming, i.e. equal opportunities for both female and male students whilst vesting confidence and professionalism in them. Kedress also actively promotes social equality, entrepreneurship and personal growth.
Noel Mira
Noel Mira
Noel handles student recruitment for Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East, as well as select countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
An academic consultant with years of experience, he is currently advising aspiring students interested in the Postgraduate and Undergraduate programmes in Business and Education. Noel’s personal experience while pursuing a distance learning Masters programme has allowed him to guide aspiring students and help them to achieve their academic goals.
Apart from his interests in student recruitment and higher education, he is adventurous and always on the lookout to explore and experience new things in life.
Swaleen Abboud
Swaleen Abboud
Swaleen handles student recruitment for Canada, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Middle East.
Swaleen Abboud is an Academic Consultant at Stafford Global on a mission to help professionals reach their academic and career goals. Equipped with a Bachelors degree in Business Systems Management, and extensive experience in identifying customers’ needs, Swaleen invests her time in counseling professionals and helping them find the best educational programs that suit their personal and professional needs.
When she is not assisting students, Swaleen spends her time with campaigns advocating protection of the environment and helping stray animals. She also spends her free time loving and cuddling her sweet baby boy.
Ronnette Bellamy
SOUTH AFRICA
Ronnette Bellamy
Ronnette is based in South Africa. Holding an International Diploma in Special Effects and Make-up Artistry and with more than 17 years sales and marketing experience, she will be responsible for student recruitment and provide marketing support on a part-time basis.
I will be assisting students with MBA and MSc enrolling in Edinburgh Napier University.
Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa
I love spending time outdoors in summer months and enjoy marathon walking. Avid scuba diver with over 500 dives. I read nonfiction, crime, mystery and suspense.
Tolani Adewole
Tolani Adewole
Tolani is an academic consultant currently assisting and advising students in Nigeria who wish to pursue MBA, MSc, BA, BSc programmes. Through previous multiple roles of sales and customer care, Tolani has gathered extensive skills, useful in assisting potential students with their academic requirements.
Beyond her interest in students’ recruitment, she is a certified events planner. When not occupied with potential students, she plans and executes seamless events of all kinds.
Tolani holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Microbiology and has also earned her professional certification course in Data Analysis.
Carmela Sales
Carmela Sales
Carmela is a dynamic and detail-oriented academic consultant handling the MBA programmes. She brings a strong foundation in finance and operations, having previously worked as a junior accountant at a multinational BPO company, where she supported the general accounting processes for a U.S. payroll account. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BSc Business Administration major in Financial Management degree, Carmela combines academic excellence with a diverse skill set. Her strengths span organizational strategy, communication,
customer service, finance, and creative skills. During her university years, she played an active leadership role and contributed to marketing and admissions efforts,
helping convert prospective leads into successful student enrolments as a community manager.
Outside of her professional life, Carmela is a passionate and multifaceted individual with a wide array of interests. From fashion, arts and crafts, and music to outdoor
adventures, culinary exploration, books, and films—she embraces life with curiosity and enthusiasm, always seeking new experiences and personal growth.
Erica Gapas
Erica Gapas
Erica is an academic consultant with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication dedicated in guiding student toward the academic paths that suit their visions with confidence. She blends strong interpersonal skills with a deep understanding of people’s aspirations – making her a trusted guide for those exploring new academic opportunities.
With years of experience in customer service, sales, and leadership, her approach is more people-centered to every interaction that offers clear and empowering advice. Passionate about self-expression, Erica spends her downtime watching series, writing poetry, and exploring the world of astrology. Both in her work and daily life, Erica remains purposeful and keeping life aligned.
Finance
Maureen Ann Baggayan
SENIOR CORPORATE ACCOUNTANT
Maureen Ann Baggayan
Maureen is a highly skilled Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy.
Prior to joining Stafford, she gained valuable experience in different accounting positions, developing a strong understanding of the field.
At Stafford, Maureen oversees accounting activities for new students and manages the collection of delinquent accounts.
Outside of work, she enjoys visiting the beach, going for walks, and reading. She also has a passion for traveling to explore diverse cultures and traditions.
Kimberleil Evangelista
ACCOUNTANT
Kimberleil Evangelista
Kim is a highly proficient Accountant with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy.
As a Junior Accountant, she has diverse experience in accounting and bookkeeping. She is known for diligent work, attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills.
At Stafford, she will be exposed in handling various accounting activities including but not limited to processing and monitoring collections and receivables from new and pipeline students.
Outside of work, Kim enjoys going on road trips and exploring places she’s never been to. If not on the road, she is tucked in bed, snoozing off after a good movie.
Deniza Regalado
ACCOUNTANT
Deniza Regalado
Deniza has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and began her career in the beverage industry. She has gained valuable experience working with domestic and international companies, where she developed a deep understanding of overseas accounting practices.
Since joining Stafford in 2019 as a reliever, Deniza has proven her expertise in payments recording and follow-up. Her exceptional skills led to a full-time position with the company.
Outside of work, Deniza enjoys travelling and watching movies.
Marketing
Gaya Manoharan
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Gaya Manoharan
Gaya’s decade long career in Marketing has given her the opportunity to pursue the two things she loves the most; learning about people and learning about cultures. Having lived and worked in both the Middle East and South East Asia, her new mission is to find the similarities between people and places, in support of her adage “we are more alike than we are different.”
At Stafford she is responsible for marketing Postgraduate and Undergraduate degrees from some of the best UK Universities across 7 markets. An impossible task without the support she gets from her brilliant team of marketing professionals.
When not off exploring new countries or camping in the middle of nowhere, Gaya can be found buried in a book. Stafford would also like to take this opportunity to warn the general public about her unfortunate passion for pun-based jokes. Speak to her at your own risk.
Mohammed Kareem
WEB DEVELOPER
Mohammed Kareem
A B.Tech graduate in IT, with over 13 years of web development experience, Kareem manages all five phases of WDLC (Website Development Life Cycle) which includes Analysis, Design, Coding, Testing & Maintenance of the organisation’s website and sub-domains.
Kareem’s understanding of website design, development and hosting, combined with his ability to brainstorm technical strategies along with the SEO team allows him to plan and implement complex global website and sub-domain strategies for the organisation, while also keeping the user experience in mind.
A Google & HubSpot certified professional, Kareem also actively contributes to the management of digital marketing campaigns for the company.
Anupama Sanoop
SEO SPECIALIST
Anupama Sanoop
Anupama is the lead SEO specialist at Stafford. Equipped with a B. Tec degree and a strong background in IT, Anupama’s fascination for Search Engine algorithms got the best of her and she soon found herself move from the telecommunications industry to researching and learning SEO.
At Stafford, Anupama works alongside marketing team to enhance the company website’s organic visibility across the globe, and improve the performance of the website based on the updates in search algorithms, especially those with the big brother of search engines, a.k.a Google.
Anupama constantly follows the latest trends in SEO and reads almost every SEO technical blog. Apart from researching search algorithm changes, she enjoys reading and watching conspiracy documentaries.
Rosary Anne Demayo
Social Media Executive
Rosary Anne Demayo
Rosary, or ‘Rosy’ as most of her colleagues call her, brings a wealth of experience from various industries to her role at Stafford Global. As a member of the marketing team, she handles a range of responsibilities, including daily marketing and administrative tasks. Rosy is adept at monitoring and maintaining Stafford’s social media channels, creating engaging text-based and interactive media content, and collaborating with the digital marketing team to develop and manage effective social media campaigns.
When Rosy isn’t strategising Stafford’s social media presence, she’s likely planning her next adventure. A self-proclaimed part-time traveller, she thrives on exploring new cities and immersing herself in nature. Her dream is to journey around the world, experiencing diverse cultures and indulging in local cuisines. In her downtime, Rosy enjoys unwinding with her love for cinema and television, especially edge-of-your-seat crime series that captivate her with their thrilling narratives, further fuelling her curiosity and love for storytelling.
Loulwa Kazoun
CORPORATE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP MANAGER
Loulwa Kazoun
Growing up in Dubai, attending a French University, and completing her Master’s degree in London, Loulwa was exposed to a very diverse environment where she grew as a person, learning how to efficiently communicate with people from different nationalities and backgrounds.
Loulwa is a Sorbonne University graduate with a major in Economics and a minor in Law as well as a University of Law graduate with a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She took on a challenge of completing her postgraduate degree abroad in a new city as well as studying her degree in her third language and graduated as a polyglot speaking English, Arabic, French, and some Spanish. She is driven by her passion of always finding out more, and she believes that Economics is very simply, how the world works.
At Stafford, Loulwa is our Corporate Learning Partnerships Manager and contributes to reaching corporate clients such as multinationals and SMEs to generate leads and students for Stafford.
Admin / Operations
Asma Yaseen
DOCUMENT CONTROLLER / ADMIN ASSISTANT
Asma Yaseen
Asma is an administrative assistant responsible for facilitating student application process with our partner universities. She is also involved in monitoring university offers, maintaining documentation whilst overlooking record keeping for smooth operations of the recruitment department.
With a business background degree, she is keenly interested in digital marketing and possesses skills in E-commerce marketing and customer service. In her leisure time, Asma is a self-development enthusiast andengages in meditation, writing and non-fiction reading. She also enjoys cooking and spending time in nature, with family and friends.
Karen Campos
PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
Karen Campos
Karen is a bachelor degree holder, and has had the opportunity to wear many hats at Stafford, thus making her highly resourceful. She got fully involved in administration and performed secretarial duties which built the foundation for a decade’s worth of work experience in the same area.
Karen has been with Stafford for more than 7 years. Currently, she is the sole workshop coordinator and provides student support for programmes in Stafford’s portfolio. You can often see her running around at the workshops, and you must have been in contact with her during your studies and even after graduation.
Outside work, she is fond of watching movies and TV series, and also reads local and international entertainment articles during her spare time.
Mirasol Gimeno
STUDENT SUPPORT ADVISOR
Mirasol Gimeno
Mirasol is a highly motivated individual with a Bachelor of Science degree in Customs Administration. She possesses a strong enthusiasm for learning and enjoys expanding her knowledge base. She has honed her administrative skills through file archiving and documentation management. She has also held the position of document controller in a manufacturing company, where she excelled as the Import/Export Coordinator Leader. This background has equipped her with valuable insights into international trade processes and regulatory compliance.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Mirasol fosters her personal growth through studying biblical literature and exploring her creative side. Utilising online design platforms like Canva and similar tools, she creates digital art. This combination of academic qualifications, a passion for lifelong learning, and practical experience in customs-related fields positions Mirasol as a highly adaptable and knowledgeable professional in her domain.
Our Academics
Timothy Campbell
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Timothy Campbell
Prof. Campbell is the Managing Director of Stafford Associates. Prior to this he was the Director of the MBA programme at the University of Dubai and previously the Executive MBA Programme Leader at Hull University Business School in the U.K. He is also currently a Visiting Professor of International Management at Northampton Business School and a Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University.
Prof. Campbell has extensive industry, academic and management training experience. He is the co-author of one of Europe’s best selling people management textbooks, Organizational Behaviour, with Stephen Robbins and Tim Judge and the second edition was published in 2017. His research has appeared in international journals and he has trained management of international and local companies such as Emirates National Oil Company, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Etisalat and Air Arabia.
He has taught in more than a dozen countries and given presentations to groups such as the European Foundation for Management Development, UK Business Week, the Chartered Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Dr. Simon Mac Rory
Simon is an Entrepreneur, OD (Organisational Development) Specialist and Academic. He is currently the CEO of The ODD Company and CEO of The Guardian Service Limited.
With a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from Nottingham Business School (NBS), he is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Irish Institute of Training and Development. As a Visiting Fellow at NBS he supervises doctoral candidates with a particular interest in culture change, culture measurement, and the relationships between culture and key business metrics and strategic initiatives.
The new organization of today – the deconstruction of the traditional hierarchy in favour of a network of teams is an area of specialization for Simon. His recent book “Wake up and smell the coffee – the imperative of teams” is a guide to creating the network and driving team effectiveness, shifting the organization from a hierarchical structure to a horizontal flow that improves agility and response times to changing markets, and customer demands. Wake up and smell the coffee… has been nominated for business book of the year 2019 by the CMI, British Library and the Henley Business School.
He founded The ODD Company in 2012 to deliver TDP (Team Diagnostic Profiler), to the international markets. TDP is a cloud-based team development tool and methodology and a platform for the networked organization.
In 2013 he co-founded the Guardian Service Limited (GSL). GSL provides a confidential staff liaison service to National Health Service (NHS) staff and other public sector bodies in the UK through a team of dedicated Guardians. Today GSL supports over 75,000 public sector employees in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Stavros Sindakis
Stavros is an educator, advisor, mentor, and innovator in the fields of business innovation, management, entrepreneurship, and service design and development. As an educator, he has taught in several different countries at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and held a variety of advisory and mentoring positions for students and faculty at numerous schools including the University of Liverpool, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Anaheim University, University of Roehampton London, and American University in Dubai.
With both a Ph.D. and an MBA in Strategy, Enterprise & Innovation from the University of Portsmouth, Stavros has made significant contributions to these fields through his research and publications on entrepreneurship and business innovation including his books, Global Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Growth, Analytics, Innovation; Excellence-Driven Enterprise Sustainability; The Entrepreneurial Rise in Southeast Asia with his fourth book in progress.
Dr. Ahmed A. ElMasry
Prof. El-Masry is a Professor of Corporate Finance and Governance and the Lead of Finance and Governance Cluster at the Centre for Financial and Corporate integrity at Coventry University, UK. He has been working in academia for over 30 years in various universities in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Malta, Singapore, France and the UK. His teaching interests are corporate finance, financial management, portfolio management, investment and valuation, quantitative financial modelling, financial analysis, research methods and international finance.
He has published more than 40 peer reviewed articles in international journals. His research interests are risk management, stock market behaviour, banking efficiency, forecasting oil and stock prices, capital structure, credit ratings, dividend policy, M&As, Islamic banking & finance, and corporate governance. Prof. Elmasry has been as associate editor, a member of editorial boards and a reviewer for several international journals. He was guest editor in Managerial finance for three special issues.
Currently Prof. Elmasry is a member in many international associations such as the American Finance Association, Financial Management Association, European Financial Management Association, and British Accounting & Finance Association. Finally, he is a Fellow at the British Academy of Higher Education since 2006 and has been a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE), awarded by CABS-UK since 2019.
Prof. James F. O’Kane
Prof O’Kane is a Professor of Operations Management. Previously he was the Dean of two Business Schools in the UK. Prior to this, he was an Associate Dean, Reader, and Head of Department in three other Universities.
Prof O’Kane has worked in Higher Education for 30 years, 12 years in an Engineering and Computing school and 18 years in four Business Schools. Prior to academia he worked in the defence industry where he developed signal processing mathematical models for H.F. radar systems. James is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Operational Research Society. His PhD is in Business Modelling and Artificial Intelligence applied to Flexible Manufacturing Systems and his main research interests are operations management, including business modelling and business improvement, business information systems and A.I.- based systems.
Prof O’Kane has extensive PhD and DBA supervision and examination experience and he has many years’ experience of leading and managing international partnerships. He also acts as an international accreditation panel member for a Middle East education ministry.
