Advisory Board
The Bett Asia Advisory Board brings together visionary educators and leaders from Southeast Asia and beyond, with a shared passion for transforming education. Through collective wisdom, they help shape the future of Edtech, advising on top trends, education insights and helping to shape our world-class content programme.
Explore the Bett Asia Advisory board profiles below:
Cher Ping Lim
Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation The Education University of Hong Kong
LIM Cher Ping is a Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation and Associate Dean (International Engagement) at The Education University of Hong Kong. He is a Visiting Professor at the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovations and the Editor-in-Chief of The Internet and Higher Education. The journal has been the top two e-learning journal (SSCI and Scopus) for the last seven years. Before joining the university in late 2010, he was a Professor of Education, Director of International Partnerships and Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education and Innovations in Western Australia. Over the last two decades, he has engaged major education stakeholders at the national and international levels as his research and development partners for enhancing equity, quality and efficiency in the education sector enabled by digital technologies.
Chris Jeffery
Chief Academic Officer British University Vietnam
Chris has worked in Vietnam for 13 years, moving from Bayes Business School, City University London to Hanoi to help launch British University Vietnam in 2010 and has been heavily involved in growing it from 20 students to 2,000, developing a value-added skills element to all students as well as being a team member for the new campus development and leading launching new programmes, Vietnamese qualifications as well as UK degrees. Chris was previously faculty and managed/taught at Bayes (formerly Cass) Business School, City University, London, where he started teaching management to undergraduates, then covering admissions and international partnerships for all management courses. In 2002 Chris was appointed director of the Executive MBA programme at Cass and, over a period of 8 years, redesigned the programme content and structure, launched new models of study and crafted a world-class international offering. Over the 8 years, Chris and the team grew the programme to number 10 in the world as ranked by the Financial Times.
Before joining academia, Chris worked at the BBC political unit in London on several programmes and projects, including general election coverage, budgets and European elections.
Chris is also an active member of BritCham Vietnam and is presently its National Chair, and before that, it’s Vice-Chair, representing British Business to Governments at all levels up to and including Prime Ministerial. Chris is also a Board Member of the Vietnam Business Forum.
Within his roles outside of BUV, Chris sits on advisory boards as well as makes frequent media appearances talking about UK/Vietnam political and business affairs.
Dato’ Dr. Mehander Singh Nahar Singh
National Education Advisory Council Ministry of Education, Malaysia
Dato’ Dr. Mehander Singh retired from the civil service in October 2019, with his final position as the Director of Institut Aminuddin Baki, Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE). Dr. Mehander currently supports various organizations as an Education Advisor, which includes the role of Coordinator (Educational Leadership & Management) with Connecting Dots Learning (CDL), an establishment initiated to support the development of education in Malaysia. During his tenure in the Ministry, he had served in various Divisions in the Ministry of Education, including the post of Director of the Sports Division MOE. He began his career in 1980 as a teacher and later served as a lecturer in a number of institutions, including the Royal Military College, Teacher Education Institute and Institut Aminuddin Baki. In 2007, Dr. Mehander was posted to the Policy and International Relations Division in the Ministry of Education Malaysia and was entrusted in coordinating the organization of the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers which was hosted by Malaysia in 2009. From 2010 to 2015 he took up the role of Principal Assistant Director and Deputy Director in various Divisions which included the Teacher Education Division and Raja Melewar Teacher Education Institute respectively.
Dr. Mehander completed his teacher training at the Ilmu Khas Teacher Training Institute in 1979. He then pursued his Bachelor of Education degree at University Putra Malaysia and later continued with his Master in Education at the University of Houston, Texas in 1994. Dr. Mehander received his PhD from University Science Malaysia in 2005. In the education fraternity, he is often invited as a guest speaker to share his expertise in the field of education namely, in educational management, leadership, sports, teacher education and professional development. Among his many contributions in education, is his lead role, expertise and ideas in the preparation of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 as one of the specially selected Lab leaders.
For his various contributions and services to education, Dr. Mehander was awarded the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) which carries the title of Dato’ by his HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak in November 2019. In January 2023, Dr. Mehander was appointed as one of the members of the National Education Advisory Council by the Honorable Minister of Education, Malaysia.
Dr Sampan Silapanad
VP, HDD Operations Western Digital Storage Technology (Thailand) Ltd
Dr. Sampan joined Western Digital since 2007. His expertise and experience have been in the field of Electronics and HDD manufacturing for 40 years.
During this period, he has initiated several projects related to linking the industry with skill development for Thailand’s manpower and has been actively involved in such projects, connecting with the government, the societies and all stakeholders as a representative of Western Digital.
Presently, Dr. Sampan is a board member in 9 ministries covering works in the areas of education, society, health, science and technology and environment. He is also President of Thailand’s Electronics and Computer Employers Association (ECEA), and Co-chair of the World Association for Cooperative Education (WACE). With effective implementation of Cooperative Education in industry for 14 years, almost 2,000 students joined the program including several hundred of foreign students from more than a hundred oversea universities, he received many awards from both domestic and international organizations on his effort and achievement in raising quality of education system and addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Duriya Amatavivat
Director of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability
Ms. Duriya Amatavivat is currently Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability or SEAMEO SEPS based in Bangkok, Thailand. She has joined SEAMEO SEPS since November 2022. At the same time, she also serves as Special Adviser to the Ministry of Education of Thailand and the Thai National Commission for UNESCO. She has also been appointed as Member of the Secretariat to Minister of Education since August 2023.
Prior to this, she served as Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Secretary-General of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO, Inspector-General and Director-General of Regional Education Offices in Regions 16, 14, and 13 of the Ministry of Education of Thailand.
As Ms. Amatavivat has wide experience in international cooperation in education, she has highly involved in many international meetings/conferences, in particular ASEAN, SEAMEO and UNESCO activities.
Haifa Segeir
Head of Foundation New Zealand School
With a wealth of 25 years of professional experience, Haifa Segeir has dedicated nearly two decades to leadership roles in the field of education. Currently serving as the Head of Foundation at New Zealand School Jakarta, Indonesia, Haifa holds the esteemed position of Chairperson at the Indonesia International School Association, overseeing a network of more than 480 international education units across the archipelago. In addition to these roles, Haifa is the co-founder and Director of ASK Consulting, the only end-to-end education management consultancy firm in Indonesia. This role allows Haifa to contribute to the broader educational landscape by providing comprehensive consultancy services to the education sector. Beyond these commitments, Haifa extends her expertise as an advisory board member for various international schools and educational institutions, both nationally and regionally. Actively engaged in policy discussions and implementation strategies, Haifa plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the national education system in Indonesia. With a passion for fostering educational excellence and contributing to the advancement of learning environments, Haifa is a respected figure at the forefront of educational leadership, making a significant impact on the educational landscape in Indonesia and beyond.
Jeanne Denyer
Campus Principal Tenby Schools Penang
Jeanne Denyer has been the Campus Principal of Tenby Schools Penang since August 2019. She has been a leader of three Tenby schools since moving to Malaysia in 2013. Jeanne worked in schools in the UK for 11 years after leaving a career in the diplomatic service. She is passionate about learning and believes that schools should prepare children for a future that is unknown. This has culminated in the creation of a “STEAM Engine” in Tenby Schools Penang where students and the wider community can develop the skills needed to become changemakers. She believes that innovation is not the same as invention and that by learning from and collaborating with others it is possible to find new approaches to learning and develop wider connections. She is delighted to be part of the Bett Asia Advisory Group!
John Gwyn Jones
Chief Executive Officer Federation of British International Schools in Asia
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 90 premier British International Schools across 17 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.
Osama Yunes
Information Technology and Development Manager Spectrum International School
Osama Yunes is a seasoned IT professional based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a strong background in network administration, education technology, and development. He excels in leveraging technology to enhance educational experiences and optimize operations. Osama's expertise includes project management, data analysis, and leading teams to successful implementations. As the Information Technology and Development Manager at Spectrum International School, Osama spearheaded seamless technology integration initiatives and empowered educators with Google Workspace for Education. Notable achievements include establishing Spectrum as a Google Reference School and implementing projects to enhance cybersecurity posture.
With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and certifications including Professional Google Workspace Administrator and Google Certified Educator, Osama is passionate about sharing his insights to drive positive change. He is a sought-after speaker at events focusing on education technology, IT infrastructure management, and digital transformation.
Connect with Osama on LinkedIn at Osama Yunes to learn more about his contributions to the IT and education sectors
Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE
Global Education Adviser Dr Ger Graus OBE Consulting Ltd
Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE, an iconic figure in the field of education, will be joining us at Bett Asia. A renowned expert on educational innovation and community engagement, he was the first Global Director of Education at the world-famous children’s entertainment-education company, KidZania, and founding CEO of the Children’s University. With his extensive experience at the very highest level of the learning industry, Professor Graus is a much sought-after advisor for organisations globally on the future direction of education. Driven by his famous mantra that “Children can only aspire to what they know exists” Professor Graus champions the cause of creativity, progress, equity, and innovation in children’s learning.
Dr Graus is a Visiting Professor at the National Research University, Moscow, Russia. He is a member of Bett’s Global Education Council; DIDAC India’s Advisory Board; Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council; he chairs the Beaconhouse School System’s Advisory Board, Pakistan; advises the Fondazione Reggio Children, Italy, as well as, globally, Tata Consultancy Services and Westchester Education; and he has been invited to help shape the future of education in Dubai as a member of the Dubai Future Councils. In 2022, Dr Graus was a Juror for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) in the Children & Young People category. He is also an Adviser to the Children’s Media Conference and Foundation, United Kingdom. In 2023, Ger Graus was invited to join the Global Teacher Prize Judging Academy. He is also a Member and the Education Spokesperson on the All-Party Parliamentary Group: Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion.
Prof Graus moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 where he began his teaching career, later becoming a Senior Inspector, and Education Director.
In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Ger was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children. In 2018 he received the Global Education Leadership Award at the World Education Congress, India. In 2022, Ger was granted the award of Iconic Leader Creating A Better World For All by the Women Economic Forum (WEF). In 2023, he was made a Companion of the Harry Volker Genootschap in The Netherlands.
In his book ‘Natural Born Learners’, author Alex Beard says: “In learning terms, Ger Graus is Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka.” For further information please visit www.gergraus.com.
Thanbeer Kaur
Pre-University Educator and Digital Learning Coordinator Desa Mahkota Form Six College
Thanbeer Kaur Is a Pre-University English Language Educator at Desa Mahkota Form Six College in Kuala Lumpur. She was honoured with the E-Teacher Icon 2020 award by the National Union of Teaching Profession, Malaysia (NUTP) and UNITAR International University. Additionally, the Rotary Club bestowed upon her the esteemed Paul Harris Fellow, acknowledging her unwavering support as a teacher advisor.
With a diverse background across various educational agencies, Thanbeer brings a unique perspective to the classroom, emphasizing experiential learning through real-world activities and learning English language with AI tools. She has served as a Master Trainer for CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and a teacher trainer at the Institute of Teacher Education, International Languages Campus, where she played an active role in language and teacher education in Malaysia. Her expertise extends to speaking on topics such as using ed-tech applications to enhance learning, learning strategies and teacher professional development.
In addition to her official roles, Thanbeer actively engages with professional organizations, including Bett Asia, AsiaTEFL Webinar Series and the Malaysian Association for Education (MAE) showcasing her commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments and trends in the field of education.
Her journey also includes serving as an Assistant Director in the Language Assessment Unit at the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate and hosting an English Language learning programme on Malaysian television. Thanbeer's participation at state, national, and international levels, along with her involvement in webinars and conferences, highlights her versatility and dedication to the education sector.
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