Encourage. Elevate. Empower.
“Students put their faith in CEA because our leadership team, our directors, our working instructors are all connected through our commitment to providing them with every advantage possible. We have been where they are, and we all remember the people that offered critical guidance at the exact moment we needed it most.”
— Peter Walsh, Co CEO
“The deep joy and satisfaction I feel when a student lands their first job in the industry is what pushes me to help build an environment that puts the needs of our students first.”
— Diwakar Gandhi, Co CEO
Peter, Diwakar and Mabelle at Canadian University Dubai
Peter Walsh
Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Peter Walsh grew up in places as diverse as North America, Europe, and the Middle East. It was this international perspective that fuelled his desire to create products for a global audience.
Starting his career in the entertainment industry he worked on ground-breaking products from industry giants like Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios and Sony Computer Entertainment. Energized by this early success and wanting to share his knowledge, he authored several major books on game development.
“Looking back, I realized it was in the research and development of those books that I discovered my future was in education. I feel blessed that I was able to build a career in something that I feel deeply passionate about. Students put their faith in CEA because our leadership team, our directors, our working instructors are all connected through our commitment to providing our them with every advantage possible. We have been where they are, and we all remember the people that offered critical guidance at the exact moment we needed it most.
My experience in both entertainment and education allows me to utilize my professional network for the advantage of our students and partner institutions. Innovation is everything for us, the industry is constantly evolving, and we need to make sure we are providing our students with all the tools required to be successful.”
Peter and Diwakar at Canadian University Dubai
Diwakar Gandhi
Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Diwakar Gandhi discovered the world as an international student. After receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia, he attained a master's degree from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Fast forward 15 years and Diwakar has helped thousands of international students discover their own future path. He credits his experience for instilling a passion for the transformative effects of a proper education mixed with the right amount of guided adventure.
“The deep joy and satisfaction I feel when a student lands their first job in the industry is what pushes me to help build an environment that puts the needs of our students first. We know that the only way the CEA (Centre for Entertainment Arts) can be successful is if our graduates are successful in their chosen professions. We have crafted our curriculum in such a manner that the students will experience the right mix of skills-based learning, team assignments and critical review and analysis of their work. They need to understand that the industry is competitive, and to land their dream job they need to work hard from day one through to graduation.
Powerful connections to the industry via our instructors and faculty, strategic alignment with well-established public institutions and our international network of education professionals is the foundation and the primary advantage of the Centre for Entertainment Arts.”
Mabelle Sawaqed
Chief Operating Officer
Mabelle Sawaqed is a seasoned expert in international business development and market entry strategies with 15 years dedicated to expanding businesses worldwide. Prior to joining the CEA, Mabelle held the position of Senior Trade Officer (Education) and Regional Education Officer based at the Embassy of Canada in the United Arab Emirates for nine years, as part of Global Affairs Canada. Mabelle’s mandate included assisting and supporting Canadian education institutions to enter the UAE and MENA markets, import education services and curricula, and develop meaningful partnerships that can leverage on Canadian capability in education. Prior to her role at the Embassy of Canada, Mabelle worked for a private equity firm as Business Development Manager and led a team of 15 in conducting analysis of new projects and execution of acquisitions. Mabelle currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Centre of Entertainment Arts and is responsible for operationalizing new launches, managing existing international campuses/centres, and expanding all international business development initiatives. Mabelle contributes immensely to the CEA Leadership team through her diverse experience in working with government entities and private companies, her depth of knowledge in the MENA region education and arts sectors, and her network of key stakeholders. In 2023, Mabelle was also named “Woman Business Leader of the Year”, by Women Entrepreneur Magazine and her story of vision, ambition, and resilience was showcased in the article.
Matthew Holdenried
Chief Marketing Officer
Matthew Holdenried, with his extensive experience in the Creative Video Editorial sector, has contributed significantly to elevating the gaming experiences for prestigious clients such as Electronic Arts, Warner Bros, and Square Enix. Specializing initially in the Video Game Industry, Matthew developed his expertise in Project Supervision and Direction. Driven by the philosophy that knowledge is a transformative power, he meticulously aligned himself with experts and mentors, fostering rapid skill acquisition and propelling his journey into Strategic and Content-driven marketing.
In 2019, this journey intersected with the paths of Diwakar Gandhi and Peter Walsh, the founders of the Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA). A harmonious synergy of visions led to the inception of pioneering, content-rich marketing strategies. Matthew views content as a strategic asset, a relational bridge between CEA and its prospective students, partners, and industry mentors. He believes in leveraging well-crafted marketing and content to amplify public-facing initiatives, enhance the brand value of CEA, partners, and industry, and solidify the relationships amongst them. This focus on the articulation of the successes of students, alumni, and partners serves as a beacon, radiating inspiration and exemplifying the transformative power of education within the CEA ecosystem.