Dr Niamh Nestor (she/her) is the Director of the University College Dublin Student Advisory Service. Niamh manages a team of advisers whose work is focused on student support, mental health and wellbeing among approximately 38,000 UCD students. Niamh’s background is in sociolinguistics, migration and integration, and her doctoral research focused on Polish children and teenagers who had migrated to Ireland since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. For ten years before coming into her current role, Niamh was the Student Adviser in UCD Veterinary Sciences, providing pastoral support to veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing students.

Niamh is an active member of the community life of UCD. She runs UCD Purl Jam, the university’s craft/creative group. She co-founded the UCD Veterinary Community Garden. She is an active member of the UCD Community Choir. Niamh is involved in the implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives in UCD. She co-chairs the UCD LGBT+ committee as well as the UCD LGBTI Staff Network. She is an active member of Athena SWAN in UCD. She is deeply committed to challenging injustice, intolerance and bigotry and in achieving equality, diversity and inclusion for all. She believes in active allyship and she is passionate about fighting against complacency. The work of Athena SWAN is vital in this regard, and Niamh is particularly interested in empowering and supporting students to continue the fight for equality into the future. Outside of work, Niamh loves to garden, travel, and be creative, recently taking up sewing. She also volunteers for Dublin Lesbian Line.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.

Maria del Pilar Murguia was born in Bolivia and raised across Italy and Colombia! Her multicultural life experience allowed her to learn firsthand the challenges that living in different countries entails!  With a business background, Pilar started working in International Higher education since June 2003 at John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. The focus of her work at JCU was and is to establish and maintain an environment that supports learning, encourages a strong sense of community, and promotes student development through active engagement in university life. 

Pilar currently directly supervises the areas of Athletics, Outdoor Education Programs, Performing Arts, Student Activities and Trips, and Student Leadership Programs (OL, OSA, Student Clubs). She is part of the board of the Crisis Management Team of her University, as well as the University strategic planning committee.

Pilar is a certified Student Leadership Challenge practitioner, and her continued interest in intercultural leadership makes her curious about all new trends in the field. She is an active member AACUPI, NASPA, EUCA among other associations.

Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco boasts a 25-year career in higher education, specializing in international education, student programming, strategic planning, leadership, and teaching. She's held progressively responsible roles in academic advising, study abroad, and campus life at various institutions. Kerrie is also an accomplished writer, with publications in the peer-reviewed Journal of International Students. 

Kerrie has been an active member of NASPA for more than 20 years. She has held a number of volunteer leadership roles and currently serves as Professional Development Chair for the Global Division, Membership & Engagement Chair for the Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee, and NASPA-FL Conference Chair. She is a past Chair for the International Symposium, and remains active on the planning committee for the 2024 International Symposium.

Kerrie holds a BA in Classical Studies, dual Masters degrees from the University of Florida in Art History and Higher Education, and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Denver.