Prof. Amal Fatani has over 30 years of experience in leadership, academia, research, and youth empowerment. A Professor of Pharmacology at King Saud University, she served as Cultural Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in the UK (2020–2024), supporting 14,000+ students in over 100 institutions. She revived 29 Saudi student clubs, led research symposia, cultural discussions, and initiatives, and strengthened ties with stakeholders through 300+ engagements, fostering student success and representation.
Matt has been with the British Council for 20 years, working in KSA, Bangladesh, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK. After studying at the University of Edinburgh and completing a scholarship in the USA, he began his career in Scotland’s Education Department in 2002. Joining the British Council in 2003, he has held leadership roles across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Since 2020, he has served as Director, British Council Japan, and Cluster Lead for North-East Asia since 2022.
Dr Catherine Maguire is the internal political advisor and Head of Communications at the British Embassy, Riyadh. As a diplomat, she has particular experience in national security and economic diplomacy. She read Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, and was awarded a PhD in 2021 from Queen Mary, University of London.
Professor Alzahrani holds multiple governance and advisory roles, including serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Al-Rajhi University and as a board member of Ri‘ayat Al-Ajyal and Nujabaa Al-Mustaqbal. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the KAU Journal of Science and is actively involved in international therapeutic ventures, including UK-based companies such as Mirzyme. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Alumni Awards 2025 in the Culture and Creativity category.