School of Business Management and Creativity - meet the team

Towella Ngambi is qualified in Learning, Teaching and Psychology. She has over 25 years of teaching in various settings which support access to education and employment. Towella is passionate about working with non-traditional students and as such her doctoral research is on the success, retention and progression Transitioning students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Towella has worked in a Programme Leadership at Arden University for just over 8 Years and prior to that was involved in the starting up and growth of training businesses. Towella is a Chartered Psychologist and uses these skills in ensuring that students are supported holistically to gain a range of skills which they can apply professionally and personally. Towella main interest areas are Education, Leadership and Psychology and contributes to this wide body of work through conferences and talks within the academic and social community. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks and has recently taken to engaging with Social Media platforms.

An innovative and experienced Senior Lecturer and Programme Team Leader with 17 years of teaching, course/module leadership, planning, verification, and pastoral care practice. Subject specialisms include Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Aviation, following diverse university and external examination board specifications. A Fellowship-level member of AdvanceHE.

Andrew Howard joined Arden in 2019, following a long career in Manufacturing, IT and Retail with a general focus on process optimisation. He holds degrees in Business Studies and Systems in Management as well as Postgraduate Diplomas in Business Administration and Education.

Xiang Li is a Senior Lecturer at Arden University, London Tower Hill Campus. With extensive experience in higher education, Xiang leads modules across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, specializing in digital education, business simulation, and AI-enhanced learning. He plays a key role in curriculum development, quality assurance, and academic leadership, managing large teaching teams and supporting over 1,000 students. 

Xiang is actively involved in Arden’s AI Strategy Working Group and University Technology Transformation Committee, and regularly presents at national conferences such as Advance HE and the British Academy of Management. A Senior Fellow of Advance HE, he is committed to digital pedagogical innovation and continuous professional development. 

Diana holds a BSc (Hons) in Business Mangement, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a PGCE Level 7. Diana is a member of the British Academy of Management (BAM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Diana is also working towards her doctoral research. Her interest covers several aspects across education, high performance work systems and employee engagement in HE. Diana is highly skilled in Leadership and Management with over 10 years of management roles in the retail industry prior her teaching career. Diana is very proactive and result driven with a continuing interest in the pedagogy of blended learning.

Dr Md Nazmul Islam is a Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader, and CPD Lead at Arden University’s School of Business Management and Creativity. He holds Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and Chartered Manager status (CMgr MCMI), recognising his academic leadership, pedagogic innovation, and commitment to excellence in higher education.

At Arden, Dr Islam leads strategic initiatives that enhance student engagement, progression, and employability. His contributions include the implementation of extracurricular learning projects, the integration of career-readiness tasks into academic modules, and early intervention frameworks to support student success. As CPD Lead, he designs and delivers professional development activities for academic staff, focusing on effective classroom management, assessment practices, inclusive pedagogy, and student-centred feedback.

Dr Islam is also an active researcher, with peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on social entrepreneurship, digital and ethical marketing, and the use of social media in developing economies. His research has been published in Sustainability, the Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics and Business Law, and other scholarly platforms. He regularly presents at academic conferences and ensures research-informed teaching across his modules.

Dr Islam plays a key role in fostering a culture of academic enhancement and cross-campus collaboration within the School. 

Asma Aslam currently serves as a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at Arden University, bringing a forward-thinking, student-centred approach to curriculum design, assessment innovation, and digital pedagogy. She has been an integral part of the academic community at Arden University for the past seven years.

Asma holds CMI Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, PGCert in Digital Pedagogies and Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She is recognised for her pedagogic leadership, sustained commitment to teaching excellence, and innovative practices that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Her leadership of postgraduate dissertations over the past three years has been marked by rigorous academic supervision, team coordination, and a consistent focus on research quality and student success. She also leads the Ealing Campus Research Working Group, championing a vibrant, inclusive, and impact-driven culture of applied research, scholarship, and knowledge exchange.

Her work as Academic Integrity Lead for the department of Business Management has positioned her as a key voice within the school, particularly in advocating inclusive assessment practices and ensuring ethical, accessible use of educational technologies. She has contributed to university-wide initiatives on student continuation and success, and regularly shares her expertise at academic conferences and institutional events. 

Dr. Shameem Shaffi currently serves as the Head of Department for Business Management and Creativity. He is widely recognised for his enthusiasm for researching academic pedagogy, the knowledge economy, and higher education. Dr. Shaffi possesses excellent leadership qualities, and his passion for research is remarkable. 

Prior to this position, he worked as a senior lecturer at various state universities in the UK. Dr. Shaffi is a Fellow member of the HEA, a Chartered Manager, and currently serves as an External Examiner for Bath Spa University and Nottingham Trent University Kaplan College.

Blessing Otabor-Olubor is a Senior Lecturer in Business at Arden University, with over a decade of experience in Higher Education. She began her lecturing career in 2014 and has developed a strong reputation for academic excellence, curriculum leadership, and a deep commitment to student development.

Her teaching journey spans both international and UK institutions, progressing through roles from University Lecturer to Senior Lecturer. At Arden University, she leads Level 6 top-up programmes and contributes strategically to curriculum development, academic quality, and staff mentoring within the School of Business Management and Creativity.

Blessing holds an MBA in Organisational Development from Aston Business School, one of the few triple-accredited business schools in the world. She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Pedagogies from Arden University. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), recognised for her professional and inclusive approach to teaching.

She was awarded Undergraduate Scholar of the Year. She achieved the highest academic results across her entire department, an early sign of the drive and academic rigour that defined her career.

Blessing is passionate about shaping the next generation of business leaders. Her teaching combines intellectual depth with real-world insight, fostering an environment where students are challenged to think critically, reflect meaningfully, and grow into confident, capable professionals. 

Dr Ngwana is currently a Global University Systems (GUS) Fellow and Programme Team Leader (PTL) at the School of Business Management and Creativity at Arden University (AU), UK, based at the Leeds Campus. He was recently a director of the London hub of the University of Plymouth Doctoral College. His main research interest is in Enterprise Education and International Development. He also has a record publications in Inclusion and globalisation of Higher Education.

His portfolio of consultancy work has included executive coaching, Business Development and mentoring within the corporate context and academia (teaching and research, especially in leadership, international business and development). He has also worked as Chair of a Reading Committee at the Chevening Secretariat of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), London, UK. He has also served as consultant for the V-Dem Institute (An independent political science research institute based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden). 

Muhammad Asim Irshad is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the Business Management Top-up (Level 6) at Arden University, where he has been a key member of the academic team since 2018. With extensive experience in both Business and IT education, he has taught and led modules at various higher education institutions across the UK for over two decades. His work is distinguished by a commitment to improving student outcomes through curriculum innovation, academic integrity and quality enhancement initiatives. He has played an instrumental role in module development projects, student support workshops and academic mentoring. In recognition of his contributions to student success, he has received two Certificates of Appreciation from the Association of Business Executives. He holds a Master’s degrees and a range of professional qualifications, including FHEA, IQA, EPA, and CAVA. His dedication to excellence in teaching and learning continues to make a lasting impact on both students and colleagues.

Dr Mensah is the International Partnership Link Co-ordinator and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Business Management and Creativity. He is currently working with AU partner institutions in UAE (Success Point College), Pakistan (Roots Ivy) and Sri Lanka (Oxford College). He joined Arden in 2019. Since then, he has taught and led a range of UG and PG modules like Professional Practice in Business and Management (MBA Graduate module), International Management (Level 6) and Managing Knowledge (Level 5).

Before joining, he was a Programme Team Leader for Leeds Trinity University programmes at Waltham International College. Furthermore, he has more than 15 years of teaching experience in the UK Higher Education sector. Dr Mensah studied at the University of Essex for his PhD and the University of Norwich for his master’s degree. Also, he has professional qualifications in Business Administration and Education. He is a senior fellow of Advance HE.

His research interests include Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibilities, International Marketing and Rural Livelihoods development. 

Paul Moses is the Head of Department for pathway degrees in the School of Business Management & Creativity, where he brings energy and innovation to programmes that combine business with a specialism. Before entering academia, Paul spent over a decade in the aerospace industry, managing cutting-edge R&D projects. From mentoring engineers and project managers to securing multi-million-pound funding, he thrived in high-stakes environments, blending technical know-how with Agile Project Management to deliver results that made a real impact.

Since first joining Arden University as a distance learning lecturer, Paul has steadily risen, driven by his commitment to excellence in teaching and leadership. From launching new programmes to leading teams of academic staff, he has played a key role in the business programmes. His efforts contributed to achieving a ""Good"" OFSTED rating for the university’s degree apprenticeship provision. Along the way, he earned a PG Cert, achieved CMI Chartered Manager status and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). As Head of Department, Paul continues to push to bridge the gap between academia and industry practice, ensuring students graduate ready to tackle real-world challenges.

Paul is currently pursuing a PhD in Agile Project Management at the University of Southampton. His research explores how Agile can drive measurable business benefits, focussing on project outcomes, professional development and organisational effectiveness. Paul’s PhD reflects his passion for combining academic rigour with practical insights to improve modern management practices.

Dr. Irina Shafranskaia is an accomplished academic leader with a strong background in higher education, marketing, and research innovation. She holds an MSc in Higher Education and a PhD in Economics, and currently serves as Senior Lecturer at Arden University Berlin.She brings deep expertise in data-driven marketing, place marketing, and university branding, underpinned by a rigorous analytical mindset and a passion for educational impact. Her current research focuses on the role of AI in higher education as a strategic lever for institutional competitiveness. Over the years, she has successfully led curriculum development initiatives, supported academic quality enhancement, and contributed extensively to scholarship in nonprofit marketing, city brand equity, and the strategic positioning of universities. Recognized for her innovative thinking, strong leadership, and hardworking nature, Dr. Shafranskaia is committed to advancing the role of higher education in shaping smarter, more responsive, and globally engaged institutions.

Currently the Head of department and Senior academic for the Chartered Managers Degree Programme (CMDA) and starting in 2025 the Leadership and Mangement Professional Degree Programme (LMPDA). Having been an academic for 10 years teaching on both undergraduate and post graduate programmes. For 8 years he has taught and developed the MBA, SLA, DTS, Project Mangement, Marketing apprenticeship programmes. Before joining academia he was a Consultant, Senior Manager and Director with over 30 years of experience in the IT, microelectronics and Car manufacturing Industries. He has managed, mentored, and built technically diverse teams for technical support, consultancy practices, and projects. He has trained, coached, and mentored learners, managers, engineers, consultants, and support staff throughout his career. He has worked with a client base that has included the Mercedes AMG F1 team, BT Global Consultancy Group, NHS, Civil Service, Gosport and Essex County Council, YUM (KFC franchising group), Fitness First, and the Health Lottery. He is currently a mentor for the Chartered Managers Institute and has a Coaching supervision and Coaching and Mentoring practice.

Aleksandra Zysk-Lobo is a Senior Lecturer in Business Management with over 11 years of experience in UK Higher Education. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds a PGCert in Higher Education Practice. At Arden University, Aleks leads the delivery and assessment of 70+ digital modules and manages academic team that deliver online learning to year 1-3 Business Management students 

Her expertise spans curriculum design, digital pedagogy, and quality assurance, with a strong focus on inclusive leadership and academic innovation. She supervises UG and PG dissertations and has an extensive experience in content development. Prior to her academic career, Aleks held senior roles in the hospitality industry, including Head of Accommodation onboard cruise ships and at Starwood hotels, bringing valuable industry insight to her educational practice.

Katy Fowler joined Arden University as Head of Department in January 2025, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in Higher Education leading degree programmes in Drawing, Games Design & Fine Art.  

Katy has expertise in Fine Art as a practising artist, she is also the founder of WAM! (Working-class Artist Mothers), a nationally recognised network supporting underrepresented artists. WAM! is currently developing an online residency programme, and exploring participatory research practices around equitable payment models, raising awareness of the systemic barriers faced by working-class artist mothers, and advocating for policies that support their artistic and caregiving responsibilities.  

A committed advocate for widening participation, Katy has played a key role in developing evidence-based strategies to enhance access, retention, and success for underrepresented students. Her broader contributions to the Intersectional Students Working Group and the Student Success and Quality Committee demonstrate her dedication to fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting creative excellence.  

Pernille Holm is a visual artist and educator based in London and Kent, UK. As an artist, she works in a variety of media, including drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture, and has a practice-based Ph.D. in Fine Art from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Pernille has exhibited widely across Britain and in Europe, and curated shows in Denmark and London. Dedicated to visual arts education, she has also devoted a large part of her career to lecturing in art and design. For more than two decades, she has taught on a wide range of creative programmes, both theoretical and studio-based modules, and at various levels from Foundation to BA and MA degree programmes. She joined Arden University as an associate lecturer in 2013 (when it was called RDI) and taught across several creative and academic modules before becoming a permanent lecturer in 2021.

Tyler joined Arden in 2022 as an Associate Lecturer. Teaching with Arden University is especially meaningful, as Tyler completed a degree with Arden through distance learning and understands the challenges and rewards of flexible education. Alongside teaching, Tyler has seven years of Graphic Design experience, starting out as an in-house Graphic Designer, transitioning to freelance, while managing her Photography business. Tyler enjoys helping others grow in their creative journey and is passionate about creativity in all forms.

Stefanie is an enthusiastic designer with a love for art and design. She has experience in 2D and 3D design, mainly focusing on illustration, corporate identity, packaging and product design. Stefanie has more than 16 years of experience in the design industry and has enjoyed teaching and sharing knowledge with students over the last 6 years. Stefanie has degrees in both Graphic and Industrial design and has just completed a MA in Design at the University of Johannesburg.

John is an experienced educator, and an award-winning creative design practitioner based in Cardiff, Wales. In industry, John has worked for design agencies in Birmingham and Cardiff producing work for BBC, ITV and S4C. He previously lead the Wales Tourist Board’s design team as an Art Director, working in New York and northern Europe. He was also the Head of Communications and Marketing for the Army Reserve Forces for Wales. John has combined his industrial work with over 27 years of teaching experience, having previously been Head of the BA Graphic Design course at the West Wales School of Arts, a position he held for over fifteen years. He's also taught on other undergraduate courses that include Trinity St Davids University and University College Weston. John gained an MA in Graphic Communication from the University of South Wales in 2012 and later taught on the course. He joined the Design and Creativity team at Arden University in September 2021.