Welcome from the Head of the School of Management & Executive Education
Hello, I’m Dr Hassaan Khan, Head of the School of Management & Executive Education at Arden University. I’ve been with Arden since July 2021, supporting staff and students to achieve success. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Kent, followed by an MSc and PhD in Finance from Durham University. I’ve worked in academia since 2010.
Before joining Arden, I was Associate Dean at Global Banking School, overseeing Finance and Business Management degrees. I also served as Director of Programmes at BPP University, managing degree programmes in Finance and Applied Management, as well as professional courses in Accountancy and degree apprenticeships. My career also includes roles as Director of the Centre for Financial Research at Anglia Ruskin University, Entrepreneur Scholar at Judge Business School, and Teaching Assistant at Durham University.
In addition to my role at Arden, I work as a Consultant Financial Economist at the Bank of England. I’m a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of several professional organisations, including the Fintech Professionals Association, Fintech Alliance, The Royal Economic Society, ICAEW, Chartered Management Institute, and the British Accounting and Finance Association.
I’m excited to support you in your academic journey and wish you the very best in your studies.
Dr Weerawardane is the Head of Department for Accounting and Finance at Arden University. She is a Fellow member of ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), and holds a PhD in Consumer Behaviour, an MSc. International Business Management, a BSc. (Hons) Applied Accounting, and an LLB (Hons) Business Law. Moreover, she is a Chartered Manager (CMI), a Principal Fellow of Advance HE and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE in 2022 for her work in promoting inclusiveness in higher education and empowering females into the finance profession.
She is also a Global Council Member of ACCA where she provides governance and oversight of the strategy implementation process. She has served on Council’s Regulatory Board and International Assembly, currently serves on the Remuneration Committee and also sits on ACCA’s Global Forum for Education where she advises on the future of educational delivery and assessment. Prior to joining Arden, she was leading the subject areas of Accounting and Finance, Business Analytics and Digital Marketing, as well as several global partnerships, at the University of West London.
Dr. Syed Ali Tarek is the Head of Department for MBA and Executive Education programmes. With over 16 years of experience, he has excelled in senior leadership roles, managing large academic teams and driving significant growth in enrolment. His teamwork has earned Arden’s MBA and EMBA global recognition as top tier programmes across the globe in CEO Magazine's 2024 edition. Dr. Tarek has contributed to quality assurance in UK higher education and advised international initiatives, including collaborations with the UN. He will lead the department by setting strategic goals, ensuring high academic standards, integrating sustainable practices, and fostering innovation to enhance student satisfaction and program quality.
Gillian McCurdy is the Head of Department of Marketing at Arden University, where she leads a dynamic team of academics dedicated to providing high-quality education in the field of digital marketing and communications. With a strong background in digital marketing strategy, communications planning and content development, Gillian brings a wealth of industry experience and academic knowledge to her role.
Prior to joining Arden University, Gillian held positions as Programme Team Leader for Digital Marketing at University College Birmingham (UCB) and has over 20 years significant experience within industry holding positions such as Director of Marketing and Digital at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Head of Marketing at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. Gillian has a proven track record within academia of setting up successful digital marketing programmes, and within industry she has led on the development of effective marketing strategies which have significantly increased revenue and brand reputation for a series of high-profile organisations.
Gillian's research interests include the impact of digital technologies and media on consumer behaviour, the use of data analytics in marketing and sustainable marketing practices.
Gillian is passionate about providing students with real-world skills in the field of digital marketing and communications and fostering digital innovation in digital marketing education.