Bett Asia 2026 is happening now in Kuala Lumpur

John Gwyn Jones MBE

CEO

The Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA)

Since graduating as a teacher in 1976, John continues to serve in the education sector and has dedicated 45 years in leading schools, both the UK and Internationally. John’s first International posting was with the British
Forces Schools in Hong Kong. He took on his first Headteacher/Principal post in Penang, Malaysia in January 1991.

During his time in Malaysia John became a founding member of FOBISIA (Federation of British International
Schools in Asia) and was appointed as the first Chairman of the Federation.

John retired as Principal at the end of the 2013/2014 Academic Year (July 2014), after dedicating 23+ long and loyal years of service to St Christopher’s International School, Penang.

This was short lived, as in August 2014, he was invited to take on a new leadership/consultancy position as Director of Development and Managing Director of Panyathip International Group of Schools in Laos where he supported the development of five campuses In June 2019, after another brief retirement, John was successful in being appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) where he now supports nearly 110 premier British International Schools across 20
countries throughout Asia.

During his long career in Education, John has been awarded a Leadership award by Julia Gillard, the first female Prime Minister of Australia, for his dedicated leadership service in International Education. He has been invited to numerous global and regional Educational conferences as a guest and keynote speaker (Education World Forum, WORLDIDAC, IPSEF, INDIA DIDACTIC, EDUtech ASIA, LEARNIT AND BETT) and is a
member of the advisory Board of BETT Asia.

John was awarded an M.B.E by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in her 2020 New Year’s Honours List for his services to British Education Overseas.

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Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim

Director

Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim is the Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat..

She is also Honourary Fellow at MASA Institute, Senior Advisor of Edvolution, Board Member of Teach for Malaysia, Advisory Board of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Global Advisory Council Teach for All Global Institute, and Member of AI Observatory and Action Lab Steering Group. Under her leadership, SEAMEO has agreed to host the International Institute of Online Education in Southeast Asia in partnership with UNESCO, strengthening its role in advancing AI in education across the region.  

Datuk Habibah is the former Director General of Education Malaysia and has served the Ministry of Education Malaysia for more than 34 years before retiring on 6 April 2021.  

She began her career as a secondary school teacher and among posts held are the Head of the Delivery Management Office, Executive Director of the Education Performance and Delivery Unit, Director of the Educational Planning and Research Division, and Deputy Director General of Education (Policy and Curriculum).  

She has extensive experience in policy development, macro planning, programme implementation and evaluation. She played an instrumental role in the development of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, Education Development Master Plan 2006-2010 and Education Development 2001-2010.

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Shoaib Raza

Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship

Nexus International School, Singapore

Shoaib Raza is a multi-award-winning educator, international school leader, and author recognised for his work in innovation, strategy, and the integration of artificial intelligence in education. With leadership experience spanning independent schools in London and international schools across Asia, he has led award-winning initiatives that enhance educational quality, organisational strategy, and future readiness. 

Shoaib helps schools develop evidence-based strategies that strengthen digital maturity, promote equity, and align innovation with measurable outcomes. He is known for positioning curriculum as a strategic asset, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and supporting leadership development through capability building and succession planning. 

Having advocated for international education across more than a dozen countries and four continents, Shoaib has worked with educators and boards to ensure that AI adoption supports institutional identity, resilience, and long-term value creation. 

He is co-author of the best-selling book "Timeless Learning: Raising Thinkers with Classical Education and AI Innovation", which explores how classical educational principles can inform future-ready practice. Shoaib is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and continues to contribute to global conversations on innovation, equity, and the future of learning.

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Dr Syriac Nellikunnel Devasia

Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Finance

Perdana University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syriac Nellikunnel is the Dean of the Faculty of Business at Perdana University, Malaysia, and a distinguished educationist with deep expertise in higher education leadership, administration, and online education management. An accredited trainer, he previously served as Dean at MASHA University and has chaired more than six international conferences. Dr. Nellikunnel is the recipient of many global honors, including the Global Green Excellence Award (2026), Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (2025), and the Blackboard Award for Student Success (2019). His research spans marketing, sustainable development, UNSDGs, CSR, quality frameworks, consumer behavior, and digital transformation strategies. He has delivered keynote addresses at major international conferences on employability skills and emerging trends in teaching and learning. As a journal reviewer, external examiner, and PhD supervisor, Dr. Nellikunnel combines scholarship, mentorship, and governance expertise, making him a visionary leader shaping the future of higher education.

Lakshmi Annapurna Chintaluri

Director (Academics and Operations)

Educational Mentoring India (EMI)

Lakshmi Annapurna Chintaluri is a distinguished educational leader with over 30 years of experience across India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Certified in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard University, she has held leadership roles spanning teacher, principal, vice-principal and independent consultant, training over 10,000 teachers and 5,000 principals and headmasters across India.

Co-Founder and Director of Educational Mentoring India, Lakshmi leads globally on sustainable education and global citizenship, representing India at the UN ESCAP Asia Pacific Finance Roundtable for Climate Change, the UN Water Conference in New York, and COP30 in Brazil. She is Country Coordinator for the Centre for Global Education, Canada, and a member of iEARN, USA. A Bett Asia Award winner for Collaboration, published author and NEP 2020 resource person, Lakshmi's vision is singular to make holistic, inclusive education accessible to every child, at every level, everywhere.

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Rohaida Abdul Manap

Principal Assistant Director

Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia

Rohaida Abdul Manap is a Principal Assistant Director at the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM), leading digital learning transformation across 27 campuses, impacting over 30,000 students and more than 2,000 educators. With over two decades in the Ministry of Education Malaysia, her work sits at the intersection of policy, pedagogy and innovation.

Rohaida Abdul Manap contributed as a Subject Matter Expert for Malaysia’s Education Digitalisation Strategic Plan 2026–2035, where she focused on rethinking teacher education beyond LMS-driven models towards AI-enabled, future-ready ecosystems.

Rohaida Abdul Manap has represented Malaysia across international platforms in the Asia-Pacific, and is driven by one core belief: digital transformation in education must move beyond tools to truly reshape teaching, learning and impact at scale.

Tripta Tarunesh

Co-Founder and Director (Educational Research)

Educational Mentoring India (EMI)

Tripta Tarunesh is an early childhood expert with over 30 years of experience across classroom teaching, school leadership and curriculum design in India. Her practice is grounded in Harvard University's Project Zero where she completed Look Listen Interpret, Making Thinking Visible and Let's Play — and in Harvard's CEEL program, both of which deeply shaped how she sees children and learning. From that foundation she built two movements. PlayXploration uses technology to give play the structure and purpose it deserves in schools working across Play as an Activity and Play as Pedagogy, ensuring childhood is not missed, learning reaches every child, and teachers are empowered to observe, document and act on what they see. Her Life Skills program, built on jigsaw pedagogy for children aged 5 to 16, fills the gaps no curriculum addresses: civic sense, social responsibility, and the real workings of the world children are growing into.

Tripta is Co-Founder of Educational Mentoring India and has designed curricula for national and international organisations. She believes schools teach curriculi. PlayXploration teaches children.

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Lai Cheng Wong

Senior Communication and Publication Manager

SEAMEO RECSAM

Lai Cheng Wong is a Senior Manager at SEAMEO RECSAM with over 17 years of experience in strategic communications, knowledge management and regional education cooperation. She actively advances Digital literacy, AI literacy and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) at regional and global levels through her through her speaking, consulting, and publishing work.

In 2020, she co-founded the Media and Information Literacy for ASEAN Network, on a pro bono basis to empower Southeast Asia educators to integrate MIL into classroom practice. The Network has received several international recognitions, including the TechCamp Global Grant (2020), the U.S. Department of State Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Award (2022), and the UNESCO Global MIL Award (2023). Throughout her career, Wong as been actively involved in strategic planning, policy consultation and digital & media literacies advocacy and research work.

She has provided expert consultations and capacity building on digital and MIL for organizations such as the DCN Global, UNESCO regional offices, government agencies, and universities across Southeast Asia and beyond. She has led and contributed to numerous regional initiatives, including SEAMEO-Google teacher training on digital skills, TechCamp Malaysia–Philippines, and the ASEAN Teachers BootCamp on MIL.

She has also contributed to the development of AI Literacy Guidelines for the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the Southeast Asia regional policy framework on AI in Education (AIEd) and facilitated a capacity-building workshop on the integration of MIL into Mongolia’s national curriculum for educators, with the support of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia.

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Dr Anas Annuar

CEO

Johor Skills Development Centre

Dr Anas Annuar is the Chief Executive Officer of Johor Skills Development Centre (JSkills), a leading TVET institution owned by Johor Corporation, focused on developing industry-ready talent for Johor’s evolving economic landscape. He holds a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, and brings over 16 years of leadership experience across higher education, certification, consulting, industry collaboration, and organisational transformation. 

He leads strategic initiatives in workforce development, industry training, and talent upskilling, with key focus areas including data centre talent, advanced manufacturing, digital skills, AI, and technical education. He is also involved in Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) initiatives, supporting coordinated talent development efforts aligned with Johor’s economic priorities. 

At the national level, Dr Anas contributes to the wider skills development ecosystem as an Exco of the Federation of Malaysian Skills Development Centres (FMSDC), working with peer institutions to strengthen industry-led TVET and workforce readiness in Malaysia. 

Under his leadership, JSkills works closely with industry, government, and academic partners to strengthen Johor’s talent pipeline and support the state’s growth in high-value sectors, including digital infrastructure and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. 

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David Wiehls

Neurotechnology Educator and BCI Consultant

NeuroTX (Germany) and 杭州纽若脑控科技有限责任公司 (China)

David Wiehls is a German engineer and global educator born in Colombia and an alumnus of RWTH Aachen University. Bringing a truly international perspective to pedagogy, David has taught across Argentina, Oman, and several European cities, and has been based in the educational and tech hub of Hangzhou, China, since
2023. 

Since 2021, he has specialised in integrating cutting-edge neurotechnology and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) into educational frameworks. His work focuses on demystifying how these technologies function, embedding them meaningfully into K12, university, and adult STEAM curricula, and leveraging them to enhance
student cognitive functions.

A champion for hands-on, forward-thinking science, David has also served since 2023 as a mentor and
jury member for the international BCI hackathon Br41in.io as its main host partner in China. He currently partners with schools to bring neurotechnology directly into classrooms, equipping educators with the tools to inspire the next generation of scientific innovators.

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Heikhal Hamzah

Head Of Strategic Planning And Communication Division

SEAMEO SEN

Heikhal Hamzah is the Strategic Planning and Communication Division Head at SEAMEO SEN, driving the strategic frameworks and international grants that advance inclusive education across Southeast Asia. 

With over a decade of leadership in policy analysis and stakeholder relations, Heikhal specialises in transforming regional educational goals into impactful, collaborative realities. He holds a Bachelor of Management (Hons) from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak. 

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Paul Tan

 Senior Vice President (Asia Pacific)

Cintana Education

Paul Tan is a senior international executive and Regional SVP at Cintana Education, a global Higher Education network backed by Arizona State University and an alliance of 30+ institutions across 30 countries, united by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to communities across the globe. With over 15 years in higher education partnerships and investments across Asia-Pacific, he has spearheaded Cintana's strategic partnerships with universities including Sunway University (Malaysia), Mapua University (Philippines), Lac Hong University (Vietnam), Mahanakorn University of Technology (Thailand), and Universitas Esa Unggul (Indonesia) — and has extended the network's presence into Japan and Australia. 

Prior to Cintana, Paul held senior roles at Laureate Education, the world's largest private university network, where he drove strategic growth and investment initiatives across Asia-Pacific. Before education, Paul worked at Astro All Asia Networks and PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory. 

He holds an MBA, a First Class Honours Bachelor's in Business and Management, and is a CFA Charterholder. 

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Dr Noeleen Heyzer

Former Under-Secretary-General and Pro-Chancellor

United Nations and National University of Singapore (NUS)

Dr Noeleen Heyzer is a social scientist and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General — the highest-ranking Singaporean in the UN system during her tenure (2007–2015). On 1st August 2026, she was appointed as Pro-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore by Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore and NUS Chancellor.

Dr Heyzer was the first woman to serve as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) since its founding in 1947. Responding to the climate and 2008 financial crises, she focused on identifying new drivers of sustainable and inclusive development to sustain the region’s dynamism. Major milestones during her leadership included advancing regional connectivity and coordinated responses to shared vulnerabilities as building blocks for regional cooperation. These efforts resulted in groundbreaking intergovernmental agreements on a regional intermodal transport and logistics system (especially for landlocked developing countries); inclusive socio-economic policies and social protection; regional disaster preparedness; regional proposals for paperless trade; an energy and water security cooperation framework; exploration of an Asian ICT superhighway; financing and technology for an inclusive and green future; and the empowerment of women and youth. 

Prior to her role at ESCAP, Dr Heyzer was the first Executive Director from outside North America to lead the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) from 1994 to 2007. Under her leadership, UNIFEM advanced women’s economic security and rights, leadership and governance, peace and security, human rights, and the elimination of violence against women. She was widely recognised for her pivotal role in the Security Council’s adoption and implementation of the landmark Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, and for her missions to conflict-affected areas worldwide to promote women’s participation in peacebuilding and recovery.

Dr Heyzer served under four UN Secretaries-General and was the UNSG’s Special Adviser for Timor-Leste (2013–2015), supporting peacebuilding, state-building, and sustainable development. She later served as a member of the UNSG’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation (2017–2021) and as the UNSG’s Special Envoy on Myanmar (2021–2023).

A founding member of several international women’s networks, Dr Heyzer has served on numerous boards and advisory committees of international organisations, including the UNDP Human Development Report, the Asian Development Bank’s Eminent Persons Group, the Board of Trustees of the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Governing Board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS). She was also a member of the Kofi Annan Global Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age; the Commonwealth High-Level Commission on Respect and Understanding chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen; advisory board of the Asia Global Institute, chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Michael Spence; and the jury for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Innovation Award for Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment.

Dr Heyzer is currently Rector of Ridge View Residential College, National University of Singapore. In the turbulent era of disruptions, artificial intelligence, climate crisis and conflicts, she initiated the Rector’s Dialogue Series on Practicing Leadership for a Sustainable World. The conversations with experienced leaders focus on ethical and wise leadership to support students to be workplace and future ready, with courage to co-create a world that reflects our shared values and human dignity.

Born and raised in Singapore, Dr Heyzer was the top sociology student of her year, holding a Bachelor of Arts (Upper Hons.) and a Master of Science from the University of Singapore, and later a Doctorate in Social Sciences from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
 

Nitia Samuel

Chief Strategy Officer

Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)

Nitia Samuel serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), the nation’s Thought Leader in Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE). A seasoned policy analyst and ecosystem strategist with approximately 25 years of experience, her forte is in STIE policy and strategy development, strategic foresight, stakeholder engagement and translating complex data and transdisciplinary insights into impactful policies and actionable strategies. She has extensive experience in shaping national agendas, supporting high-level decision-making, and fostering collaborative ecosystems that generate sustainable socio-economic value.  

She works closely with multidisciplinary experts and cross-sectoral stakeholders to develop evidence-based policies, position papers, roadmaps, strategic action plans, and mission-oriented initiatives at national and regional levels. She serves on several national committees and contributed to regional platforms, including the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) as former Chair of the Capacity Building Sub-group, and represented ASM at the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). She holds a Master of Science in Philosophy of Science and Science & Technology Policy and is currently pursuing her Doctorate.

Honorable Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek

Minister of Education Malaysia

Ministry of Education Malaysia

Honorable Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek has served as the Minister of Education Malaysia since December 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She is also the Member of Parliament, a position she has held since November 2022. Prior to her political career, she was an activist and lawyer specialising in Islamic family law and child welfare, and practised through her own law firm. She holds a Master’s degree in Judicial Administration and Islamic Law from the National University of Malaysia, as well as Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Laws (Shariah) degrees from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

Her professional and community involvement has included advocacy relating to child protection, children’s rights and access to education, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also contributed to discussions on the role of teachers in child protection advocacy and led initiatives supporting children from B40 families.

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Keith Lee

Professor of AI and Finance

Swiss Institute of Artificial Intelligence (SIAI)

Keith Lee is Professor of AI and Finance at the Gordon School of Business, Swiss Institute of Artificial Intelligence (SIAI). His primary research lies in financial mathematics and AI-driven computational science, with a focus on quantitative modelling of complex economic and financial systems. His work integrates machine learning, stochastic modelling and data-centric methods to study structural transformations in markets and institutions. 
 
His recent work examines the broader socioeconomic consequences of artificial intelligence, including superhuman labour, professional displacement, public finance, demographic change, institutional adaptation and the distributional effects of technological progress. 
 
He holds a PhD in Mathematical Finance from Boston University and an MSc in Finance and Economics from the London School of Economics. He completed his undergraduate studies in Economics at Seoul National University as a recipient of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies scholarship. 

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Datuk Nicol Ann David

Programme Director

Nicol David Organisation (NDO)

Datuk Nicol Ann David is widely regarded as one of the greatest squash players of all time. A record-breaking athlete, she was World No. 1 for 108 consecutive months, the longest reign in squash history, and is an eight-time World Champion, 10-time Asian Champion, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and five-time Asian Games gold medallist. In 2021, she was named the greatest athlete in World Games history. 

Today, Nicol is dedicated to giving back to the next generation. In June 2022, she founded the Nicol David Organisation (NDO), a non-profit based in Kuala Lumpur that empowers children, families, and public schools through sport, education, and mental well-being. NDO’s four flagship programmes—Little Legends, Ibu Legends, Bapa Legends, and +Play—have reached more than 2,700 beneficiaries across three Malaysian states, using movement, positive psychology, sport, and education to build healthier, more confident communities. 

Nicol currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia. She is also an Academy Member of Laureus and has served as National Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP Malaysia.

In July 2024, she led the Malaysian Olympic Team as Deputy Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

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