Staff

In November 2023, Julian Davies embarked on his role as the Managing Director of Gisma University of Applied Sciences GmbH, bringing with him an exceptional track record in both UK and international higher education sectors. At Gisma, he is responsible for guiding the operational strategy, academic excellence, and the overall commercial and financial performance.

Nigina Tawakalsada is the Chancellor and Managing Director at Gisma University of Applied Sciences. She brings over nine years of experience in operations, leadership, and financial management.

Professor Maurits van Rooijen is the Chairman of Gisma’s Board of Governors, Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of Global University Systems, and Rector of the University of Europe for Applied Sciences, Germany.

Prof. Dr. Peter Konhäusner, Vice President (Partnerships & Collaborations), at Gisma University of Applied Sciences.

Deepak Trivedi is a global executive in the sports industry and has held international responsibilities at high-profile events including Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He consults on important event aspects such as the fan experience, international marketing, volunteer engagement and diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Catalina Mueller is a visiting lecturer at Gisma University of Applied Sciences and a user interface designer at a startup in Berlin. At Gisma, she teaches and facilitates Essentials of Management and Product Management whilst supporting students in writing their theses in the area of management, business or communication. 

Peter has vast experience as a non-executive director, general manager, and strategy consultant, having worked with firms such as KPMG and Boston Consulting Group.

Dr. Dariya Afanasyeva is the Senior Registry Officer at Gisma University of Applied Sciences. She is originally from Ukraine and holds a diploma in Applied Psychology from Dnipro National University, as well a Master’s and a Ph.D. degree in Cultural Heritage Studies from Brandenburg University of Technology (Cottbus-Senftenberg).

Prof. Dr. Mahmoudreza Babaei (Reza) is a Professor of Data Engineering at Gisma University of Applied Sciences. At Gisma he teaches both Data Engineering and Computer Science programs.