Australian born, Emma Cantwell has more than 20 years of experience leading teams with global remits in Marketing and Communications in the United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Australia. In her most recent role at the Mohamed bin Zayed Univeristy of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first graduate research university for AI, she developed the Marketing, Communications and Events functions, driving international awareness of Abu Dhabi and the school as it entered the top 100 globally (CSRankings) and led the university's inaugural graduation of students and corresponding traditions.

Prior to this, she led the Marketing and Communications team of Louvre Abu Dhabi after joining in 2015 and opening the museum in November 2017, working in close collaboration with the Louvre. 

Before her role at Louvre Abu Dhabi she spent five years working on a number of Abu Dhabi’s cultural projects including Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, primarily focused on opening strategy and pre-opening programming. She also promoted the exhibition centre Manarat Al Saadiyat and its world-class programmes including six editions of the art fair Abu Dhabi Art. 

Emma has a Bachelor’s degree of Communications from Charles Sturt University and a Diploma of Education, Secondary Teaching from the University of New England, both in Australia. She has won a number of awards throughout her career including several Cannes Lions.