Prof. Nalin Abeysekera
Department of Marketing
Faculty of Management Studies - Open University of Srilanka.


Professor Nalin Abeysekera attached to the Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Management Studies of the Open University of Sri Lanka. Professor Abeysekera is currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He is a graduate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with B.Sc. Marketing (special). Professor Abeysekera is a fellow Member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK) ,a member of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and consultant with over twenty five years of experience. He is a Senior Lecturer for Strategic Management, Marketing, and Research Methodology with research and lecturing experience in Canada, Dubai, Singapore, Oman, Qatar and India. He served as the Chairperson of the first International Conference on Management and Entrepreneurship (ICOME) 2022 organized by the Faculty Management Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka. Professor Abeysekera is serving as visiting lecturer for PhD, DBA and MBA degree programmes for leading National and International universities and Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM). In 2018 Professor Abeysekera has been awarded “Outstanding Asian Educator” by the International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors & Reviewers (IASPER). Professor Nalin Abeysekera is the Editor-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies and author/co-author of many international journal articles, conference papers, and books. Furthermore, he is serving as a reviewer for many international journals including the Journal of Services Marketing, Journal of Consumer Behavior, Journal of Management Development, Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education and the International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL). He received the best reviewer award awarded by International Journal in Contemporary Management Research in 2010, a B-Graded Journal by ERA (Excellence in Research in Australia). Professor Abeysekera is the recipient of three gold medals (Strategic Management, Marketing Management, and Dissertation) for his performance in his Masters degree from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He completed his Ph.D. in the year 2013 in Leadership and Marketing. Professor Abeysekera in his attempt to socialize knowledge has contributed many articles to leading magazines and national newspapers in Sri Lanka on current issues covering Economics, Education, and Tourism. Professor Abeysekera is serving as supervisor for Ph.D. students in Management and Marketing. He has been featured extensively in TV and radio programs to lead and moderate discussions related to Entrepreneurship, Education and issues on Children. He has also served many panels such as Ph.D. colloquium, Media and IT, and Tourism.

Dr. Lorna Thomas
Director - Partnerships
Canterbury Christ Church University - UK


Dr Lorna Thomas is a seasoned professional with a rich background in the Higher Education sector spanning three decades. Her expertise encompasses the authorship and design of numerous undergraduate and postgraduate programs across diverse fields such as heritage, sustainability, ethics, cultural studies, and the service industry. Passionate about education, Lorna's focus extends to fostering inclusivity and widening participation, reflecting her commitment to equitable access to learning opportunities.

Drawing from her experiences living in both Europe and Africa, Lorna's profound appreciation for travel and culture infuses her work with a global perspective. More recently, Lorna has extensive experience in establishing and managing successful collaborative partnerships, both domestically and internationally. Her adeptness in overseeing the comprehensive academic profile and operations of multiple partners underscores her effectiveness in navigating complex educational landscapes.