Company introduction
In a world that’s moving faster than ever, the availability, quality, and pursuit of knowledge is fundamental for advancement. Knowledge E helps institutions advance the quality of their research; move towards teaching excellence; upgrade library technology, services, and practices; advance scholarship through journal publication, management, and training. In other words, working with higher education institutions, publishers, and scholars to solve our society’s most significant challenges.
Headquartered in Dubai and established in 2012, Knowledge E quickly became synonymous with collaboration, professionalism, and innovation. With the aim of making scholarly discovery barrier-free, Knowledge E has worked with over 200 clients from private institutions to government bodies. Through its three core offerings; ‘Discover’, ‘Develop’ and ‘Disseminate’, Knowledge E has prudently expanded its expertise, services, and technology in line with its vision of developing ‘a more knowledgeable world’.
Our vision
A more knowledgeable world
Our mission
To work at the heart of the knowledge industry building scholarly and research capacity through innovative solutions and services
Our values
Trust and responsibility
Collaboration
Outstanding service
Our management team
Kamran R. Kardan
Founder & CEO
Kamran Robert Kardan is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge E. He founded Knowledge E in 2012, with the aim of providing unique, professional and high-quality services to the
information professionals in the Middle Eastern region and beyond.
Kamran has 20 years of experience working in the publishing industry on both the publisher and agency front. Working closely with some of the top consortia, libraries, ministries, hospitals and
corporations within research and education in the region, he has experienced the birth and growth of many digital libraries. Driven by his interest in learning societies, he has initiated and participated in the completion of various special development projects.
Kamran holds a BSc in Engineering, an MSc in Marketing with a thesis on ‘Open Access publishing business models’ as well as an MBA from the University of Manchester with a dissertation on ‘The
application of Business Model Canvas in university research offices’.
Kamran has always had an interest in community development and recently ran the Boston Marathon to raise funds for buildOn, a non-profit organisation that believes the best way to eradicate poverty is to ensure that all people have access to quality education. Kamran also plays a major active role in the Knowledge E Foundation, a community interest corporation focusing on supporting education and research-based projects across the globe, with a focus on developing nations.
Emily Choynowski
Chief Academic Officer
Dr Emily Choynowski is Chief Academic Officer at Knowledge E, overseeing the Research Development and Dissemination division, which provides scholarly content, academic publishing solutions, manuscript preparation support, and capacity-building services to a wide range of organisations and academic bodies across the globe.
She also serves as Director of Operations for the Forum for Open Research in MENA (a non-profit independent initiative founded and funded by the Knowledge E Foundation) where she works with key regional stakeholders to promote the development and implementation of open science policies and practices across the Arab region.
Meanwhile, as an independent scholar working in the field of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature and culture, Emily regularly publishes and gives lectures at schools, museums and universities across the world. In addition, as well as serving as an Editorial Board Member for a leading literature journal and a university press, Emily also sits on the Boards of various international scholarly associations and societies working to advance research development and promote equitable research practices.
Therese Bill
Head of Operations
Therese (Tess) Bill joined Knowledge E in April 2016 as the Office Manager. Prior to that, she worked for close to eight years within the technology and real estate sectors across Europe and the Middle East. Tess was soon promoted to Head of Operations where she oversees the efficiency and productivity of all Knowledge E’s administrative and support operations such as Finance, HR, Legal, IT and Marketing.
In her role, Tess has initiated and implemented several unique initiatives at the company involving the wellbeing and the development of the team and continues to play an instrumental part in the overall growth, stability and success of Knowledge E. She was also a driving part of a big Salesforce customisation project at Knowledge E.
Hailing from Sweden, Tess holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the Stockholm School of Business as well as Real Estate Brokerage degree from SLU University. Her areas of expertise and interests include operational efficiency, productivity, complex contracts, organisational culture development, staff engagement, as well as talent acquisition. She is passionate about corporate development, project management and business strategy.
Ahmed Youssef
Regional Head – Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Youssef joined Knowledge E in August 2016 as Business Development Manager and was appointed to Regional Head – Saudi Arabia in January 2022. In his role, he leads the business development activities in Saudi Arabia through a client centric approach by developing the required sales strategies, planning and implementation.
Before joining Knowledge E, Ahmed held multiple regional business development and sales management roles in several industries including pharmaceutical, healthcare consulting and publishing. He has extensive experience in dealing with complex dynamics covering multiple market segments including academia, governments and corporates. Ahmed enjoys working closely with his clients to help them grow, make better decisions and realise their full potential.
Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Cairo University and an MBA from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport.
When he is not travelling for business, he enjoys living in Cairo, Egypt spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Laurie Hastir
Head of Communications & Engagement
Originally from Belgium, Laurie has been living in Dubai since she joined Knowledge E as Project Manager with the KnE Training & Consulting department in 2020. Following the team’s successful transitioning of all KnE training activities online during the pandemic, Laurie was appointed Senior Project Manager and formed the new Project Delivery team. In January 2022, she was appointed Head of Project Delivery.
Providing guidance and strategic oversight for the Training & Consulting delivery team, Laurie ensures the successful design and delivery of 150+ trainings yearly, consulting with partners and serving clients and learners. In her role, she is also responsible for developing the portfolio of KnE’s training activities, cementing partnerships, and offering bespoke consultations on teaching excellence and capacity building training for the higher education and research sector.
Laurie has nine years of professional experience in project and communications management, and allies both disciplines to design impactful training programmes. Before joining Knowledge E, Laurie contributed to establishing two agencies operating in digital communication and the cultural-educational field. Laurie holds two master’s degrees, one in business communication, and another in applied ethics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Isaac Tabor
Head of Digital Learning
As the Head of Digital Learning, Isaac provides expertise on best practices and current trends in digital learning and strategic oversight. He is developing a KnE digital learning environment that leverages our existing network of subject matter experts and vast experience in training delivery.
Isaac has ten years of professional experience in digital learning and education development initiatives in the secondary and higher education sectors of the UAE, USA, Cambodia, and various other parts of South-East Asia. He holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of Edinburgh and a Master’s degree in Learning Design & Technology from the University of Maryland.
Isaac is passionate about creating high quality learning experiences that inspire individuals and empower communities to utilise and share their knowledge. Hailing from the Netherlands and having spent most of his professional life abroad, he is conscious of the need for cultural and ethical considerations within learning design and sees digital learning technologies as powerful tools for bridging divides and bringing communities together.
Ranwa AbdulRazzaq
Head of Client Excellence
Ranwa acts as Knowledge E’s Head of Client Excellence, supporting the sales team, overseeing overall client and partner satisfaction and retention, and fostering enduring relationships. Ranwa first joined Knowledge E in 2018, as Sales Support Officer.
In her current role, Ranwa assists her team with client excellence and business development projects, research intelligence solutions, publishing services, and Transformative Agreement inquires. She works closely with clients and partners and collaborates with various departments to ensure the successful delivery of projects.
Before joining Knowledge E, Ranwa held different business development and sales roles within the consulting and publishing industries for almost ten years. During this time, she excelled in raising awareness about different products and services among universities, consortia, and government entities across the Middle East and Gulf region.
Ranwa’s profound dedication to supporting others and her natural inclination towards empathy and assistance have enabled her to develop a unique and robust service-oriented approach which extends seamlessly to colleagues, clients, and partners, nurturing a collaborative and supportive environment in the workplace.
Lisette van Kessel
Head of Marketing at Knowledge E
Lisette joined Knowledge E in January 2024 as Senior Events Manager and is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in marketing. She currently serves as Head of Marketing at Knowledge E and Senior Events Manager at Zendy, where she combines her expertise in marketing strategy and event management to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement through integrated marketing strategies, as well as driving global academic events and high-profile corporate gatherings.
Her extensive experience includes leading digital marketing strategies, implementing a digital asset management platform, ensuring brand consistency across all channels, and managing design, print, and merchandise activities with a focus on sustainability. She has also coordinated engagement events, managed multi-day conferences with VIP guests, and overseen large gatherings for 600+ attendees, always integrating marketing efforts with event planning to maximise customer engagement and reinforce brand impact.
Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Lisette is committed to advancing a culture of inclusion where women’s talents are fully recognised and celebrated, and all individuals are empowered to thrive and contribute equally. Outside of work, Lisette enjoys exploring other cultures, running, playing tennis, hiking, and attending concerts, all of which fuel her creativity and global perspective.
Our clients
Knowledge E started by serving clients throughout the Middle East region and gradually expanded into other emerging regions, including Africa, Russia and the rest of Asia and is now serving more than 200 clients from across the globe.
Our commitment to the SDGs
At Knowledge E, we are committed to contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Being among the early signatories of the SDG Publishers Compact in the region, Knowledge E helps researchers in emerging economies disseminate their research. As the philanthropic arm of Knowledge E, the KnE Foundation and its initiatives have also been inspired by the transformative actions that the SDGs call for. Similarly, by providing individuals with easy, reliable, and affordable access to scholarly research and literature, Zendy also contributes to creating a more knowledgeable world. During 2022, Knowledge E’s efforts were focused on the following six SDGs: SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Download Knowledge E’s 2022 SDG Progress Report
