Peter van der Hijden is an independent higher education strategy adviser and policy influencer based in Brussels. He worked for the European Commission for 23 years in the fields of education, transport, research and innovation. At the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, he served as Head of Sector for Higher Education Policy. At the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, he contributed to the Human Resources Strategy for the European Research Area.

Peter played a central role in the development of the Erasmus programme, the Bologna Process and the EU Modernisation Agenda for universities. He studied law at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where he began his career as Vice-Registrar of the University Council and Policy Officer for Education and Research.

In 2025, University World News and six other journals published his article on the future of Erasmus+, entitled “Could Europe Achieve Higher Impact with a Lighter Touch?”

Johan Roos is an internationally recognized strategist, author, educator, and advisor specializing in leadership, strategy, and the impact of artificial intelligence on organizations.

A co-inventor of LEGO® Serious Play®, he has held senior leadership positions at leading international business schools, including Hult International Business School, Copenhagen Business School, and the Stockholm School of Economics. Today, he advises executives and boards around the world on navigating AI-driven transformation.

His latest book, Human Magic: Leading with Wisdom in an Age of Algorithms, explores how leaders can combine human judgment, creativity, and wisdom with the power of AI to build resilient, future-ready organizations.

Eileen McAuliffe serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Thought Leadership Officer, and Managing Director, EMEA at AACSB. As a key member of the executive team, she leads global thought leadership initiatives, positioning AACSB as the foremost voice in business education. In her role, she champions the quality, relevance, and societal impact of business schools worldwide, while also overseeing strategic direction and operations across the EMEA region to ensure strong engagement and support for AACSB members.

Prior to joining AACSB, McAuliffe was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global) and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law, and Social Sciences at Birmingham City University. There, she played a central role in advancing the university’s 2030 and Beyond Strategy, aligning international initiatives with institutional goals. As Executive Dean, she led a faculty of 400 and a student body of 12,000, managing an annual budget of approximately £100 million.

McAuliffe also brings a wealth of industry experience, having held executive tax advisory roles at ConocoPhillips in the oil sector. She earned her PhD in 2017 and was appointed Professor of International Taxation in 2020. In addition to her academic and professional leadership, she actively contributes to global policy as a member of the United Nations Platform for the Collaboration on Tax, and is a former member of the AACSB Board of Directors.

Born in Spezzano Albanese, Italy (1956). He holds a Bachelor degree in Economics and Commerce by Messina University (Italy), an MBA by Esade-URL and a PhD in Economics and Business Sciences by Comillas Pontificia University, ICADE-ICAI (Madrid). He also followed the Executive Program in Management at University of California at Los Angeles UCLA (USA) and the Strategic Marketing Management Program at Harvard University, Boston (USA).

He is currently Full Professor of Marketing at Esade-URL (Barcelona, Spain), where he works since 1986 and where he has held various top positions, particularly in the area of international affairs. He is member of the Esade International Advisory Board. Since January 2013 he is part of the URL Rector’s Team as Vice-Rector for International Relations and Students.

Among other recognitions, in 2013 he received by the President of the Italian Republic the distinction of “Ufficiale dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia”, and in 2019 by the French Government the distinction of “Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques”. In 2018 he received the Doctorate Honoris Causa of the Córdoba Catholic University, Argentina. He is currently member of the board of the Federation of European Catholic Universities (FUCE) and the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC).

Professor Carlo Maria Gallucci Calabrese has been appointed as the new Director General of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, effective 1 September 2026.