Speakers | Hear From Leading EdTech Experts

Alessandro Di Lullo

CEO Digital Education Council

Alessandro Di Lullo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Education Council (DEC), a global alliance of institutions with a shared vision to drive AI adoption, governance, and sustainable innovation for higher education and workforce development. Also Co-Founder of SuperCharger Ventures, one of the world's largest edtech accelerators.

Academically, he is Adjunct Faculty Member at Singapore Management University and Academic Fellow at University of Hong Kong focusing on the topic of AI governance. He led transformational projects with governments and institutions across Europe, APAC and MENA to upskill thousands of professionals in digital and AI.

Aniza Binti Kamarulzaman

Director of Educational Resources and Technology Division Ministry of Education Malaysia

Puan Aniza binti Kamarulzaman is the Director of Educational Resources and Technology Division at the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia. She plays a key role in integrating technology into the education system to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for the digital age. Moreover, Aniza has led the implementation of various technological initiatives, including digital learning resources and platforms. Other than that, she has also contributed to policies promoting technology use in education, aiming for inclusivity. Furthermore, she has partnered with global educational organisations to bring best practices to Malaysia.

Under her leadership, the MOE has launched several successful digital learning programmes. She has organised training programmes to help educators integrate technology into their teaching.

Aniza advocates for strategies that focus on both academic excellence and the holistic development of students. Puan Aniza's efforts continue to shape Malaysia's educational landscape, ensuring it meets global standards and the evolving needs of students and educators.

Associate Professor Elajsolan Mohan

President National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI)

Associate Professor Elajsolan Mohan is one of the founder members of the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI) in 1987 and is currently the President for the seventh term.

In his capacity as the President of NAPEI he sits in various committees in the Ministry of Higher Education and has contributed every year during the Malaysian Budget Consultation Forums of the Ministry of Finance. He has also been appointed to the Sectorial Training Committee of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) of the Ministry of Human Resources. He had also a panel member of the Universities upgrading committee of the Ministry of Higher Education. He currently sits on the PEMUDAH IPTS Committee of the Ministry of Higher Education. Under this he was instrumental in developing the Ministry’s blueprint, “Way Forward for Private Higher Education Institutions: Education As An Industry (2020-2025). He is also a member of the QAS Certification Committee of SIRIM.

Of late he is involved in consultancy work in the university quality assurance process, benchmarking with international universities in both academic and TVET sectors. He has recently been appointed as member of the Education Committee of the Malaysian-China Business Council (MCBC). Recently he was involved in the National Review Council (NRC) of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Azlina Kamal

Education Specialist and Lead UNICEF

As the UNICEF Education Specialist and Lead in Malaysia, Azlina provides strategic leadership and expert input into all of UNICEF Malaysia’s education programmes.

Incorrigibly optimistic about people’s capacity to collaborate, Azlina is interested in the development of context-driven, equity-focused, child-centred interventions, embedded in inclusive strategies. She brings deep experience in building durable, impact-focused partnerships and innovative programming in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Latin America and the Caribbean. She graduated with distinction from the University of Kent, and the UCL Institute of Education London, specialising in Education Leadership and Management, and was a recipient of the British Chevening Award.

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Charles Radman

Global Head of HP Education HP Inc.

Charlie Radman is the Global Head of Education at HP, Inc., managing a multi-billion-dollar global education technology business. With over 24 years at HP, 15 years focused on education including his time in HP’s legendary Calculator business, Charlie leads a team of experts developing HP’s global K12 and Higher Education strategy. Additionally, Charlie is focused on helping HP achieve the corporate sustainability goals of improving education outcomes for 100M people by 2025 and improving Digital Equity for 150M people by 2030 to help realise UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, including working with global partnerships such as Girl Rising, 1Million Teachers, Global Partnership for Education, and Global Business Coalition for Education to name a few.

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Daniel A Bielik

President Digital Education Council

Danny Bielik is the President of the Digital Education Council and is passionate about access to high quality education and the positive impact that technology can have to achieve this.
Danny believes that higher education institutions should embrace datafication as one strategy to create stickier and more value-driven relationships with industry. His work currently involves assisting universities and governments to understand Governance approaches to AI in higher education.

Danny has over 25 years of experience in leadership positions in higher education and TVET organisations. He has extensive experience in strategy development, governance and partnerships in higher education having run three tertiary organisations, as a director at peak bodies and serving as Ministerial Adviser in Education to the NSW Government in Australia.

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David Smith

Economics Teacher Nexus International School Malaysia

David has been an Economics teacher for over twenty years and has worked at a number of schools including New Zealand, China, Thailand and Malaysia. He has always had a passion for the use of educational technology and how it can support teachers and students. He has presented recently at the 21C conferences in Thailand and Hong Kong as well as presenting a FOBISEA webinar on the uses of Ai in education. He has been recently invited to share his thoughts on Ai in education at a symposium at Taylors University as well as running several professional learning sessions on various educational technology tools for his colleagues at Nexus International School.

David Wallace

Acting High Commissioner (Chargé d’Affaires) British High Commission Kuala Lumpur

David Wallace has been Acting High Commissioner (Chargé d’Affaires) at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur since August 2024. Previously he was Deputy High Commissioner from July 2022.

David has a diplomatic career spanning over twenty years during which he has covered a range of political, economic and security roles, focused in Europe and East Asia. From 2017 to 2022 he was Political Counsellor at the British Embassy in Berlin, where he built up co-operation with Germany on foreign, security and development issues.

Previously he served as Political Counsellor in Warsaw, Head of Economic Section in Seoul and as a diplomatic adviser in Baghdad. In the Foreign Office Head Office he has worked on sanctions, counter proliferation, Iraq and Afghanistan.

David has a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and an MA in International Economics. He speaks English, German and Polish.

Devi Sahny

CEO & Founder Ascend Now

After three years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs New York, Ms Devi moved to Singapore and founded edtech startup, Ascend Now 7 years ago. The company creates personalised curriculums around the areas of entrepreneurship, design thinking, soft-skill programs, and character building based on students' preferences.

Ascend Now works with 45+ international schools, several US school districts and universities’ summer schools, such as Georgetown and UCLA. Passionate about education, Devi has many awards and accolades to her name including, Forbes 30 Under 30, Prestige 40 Under 40, TedX and Ted Speaker, St Gallen Symposium Honouree Speaker, Generation Tatler Awardee, and Sequoia Capital Spark Fellow.

Devi graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University, USA – College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Economics. She sits on the Help international school board and several other boards.

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H.E. Dr Anindito Aditomo

Head of Agency / Deputy Minister Agency for Education Standards, Curriculum and Assessment, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Republic of Indonesia

H.E. Dr Anindito Aditomo is an educator, education leader, and policymaker currently leading the transformation of one of the largest education systems in the world. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, and a PhD in the learning sciences from the University of Sydney, Australia.

In his current role, H.E. Dr Aditomo engages with diverse stakeholders and manages multiple interdisciplinary teams to lead curriculum and assessment reform in Indonesia, which has impacted tens of millions of students and teachers across Indonesia. During his tenure, the education system saw an increase in the number of students meeting minimum standards in reading literacy by 14 percentage points (from 53% to 67%) and in math literacy by 27 percentage points (from 33% to 60%) from 2021 to 2023. The policy reforms in Indonesia reflect H.E. Dr Aditomo’s strong commitment to evidence-informed policy and the provision of equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Dr Chai Xun Yu

Assistant Professor University of Nottingham Malaysia

Dr Chai Xun Yu is the Assistant Professor and Coordinator for MA education programmes at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. She holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, where she developed a taxonomic framework that serves as a tool for fostering creativity in problem solving in Higher Education.

She began her career as an English language teacher in an international school, where she developed a passion for creative teaching and learning. Before transitioning to Higher Education, she was involved in several funded education research projects aimed at developing and improving various aspects of education, including Higher Education development, evaluation of learning tools and their effectiveness.

In her current practice, she emphasises empowering students to connect and apply knowledge and skills from diverse subjects and disciplines through the implementation of integrated assessments and interdisciplinary teaching. Her innovations in teaching have led to her being nominated for the Lord Dearing Award, which recognises the outstanding achievements of University of Nottingham staff in enhancing student learning experiences.

She is currently leading a project aimed at providing creativity training to develop problem-solving competencies using GAI among Higher Education students across disciplines. The training is based on the taxonomic framework for creativity she developed, with the goal of providing students with a systematic guide to creatively solve real-life problems using GAI. Driven by a passion for and a commitment to innovation in education, Xun Yu is poised to make meaningful contributions to the field of creativity in education.

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Cher Ping Lim

Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation The Education University of Hong Kong

Cher Ping Lim is a Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation at The Education University of Hong Kong and a Visiting Professor at the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovations. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Internet and Higher Education that is ranked top 2 in E-learning (SSCI and Scopus) for the last eight years. 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 information and communication technologies.

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Cheryl Ann Fernando

Global Education Technology Lead Teach For All

Cheryl Ann Fernando is the Global Education Technology Lead at Teach For All. Cheryl was previously a Teach For Malaysia alumni and served in a rural school in Malaysia. Her efforts in teaching rural students in Malaysia gained the nation’s attention and was turned into a local film, Adiwiraku (My Superhero). It went on to win numerous awards both locally and internationally, making it one of the key teacher movies in the Malaysian education space. Cheryl also became the CEO of PEMIMPIN, building on the work of Global School Leaders. PEMIMPIN offered high quality training and coaching to school leaders and teachers from all over Malaysia, making it one of the few organisations to venture into professional development for teachers in the country. PEMIMPIN has worked with over 3,000 schools in the country and incepted some of the most ambitious programmes in the country - from the biggest prize philanthropy through the Malaysia Teacher Prize and LADAP Plus, the only professional development app in the country. Through PEMIMPIN, she also worked with Global School Leaders to share best practices and work with school leaders in Kenya, India, Indonesia and Brazil. Cheryl was recognised twice as Asia’s Most Influential in Education, Prestige Malaysia’s 40 under 40, and part of Obama Young Leaders’ Fellowship Programme. Cheryl was also the youngest member to sit in Malaysia’s National Education Policy Reform committee in 2018, where she worked on the policy to restructure the Malaysian education system. She has also contributed various articles and thought leadership pieces on the education system in Malaysia, particularly on education technology, school leadership, and professional development of teachers. 

Christina Chin Swee Gaik

Senior News Editor, Education Star Media Group

Christina Chin is a Khazanah-Wolfson Press Fellow at the University of Cambridge, and a China-ASEAN Center of Advanced Studies Fellow. She started her journalism career with the Star Media Group after a stint in the advertising industry. Having reported on a myriad of topics ranging from politics and community issues, to breaking news and exclusive stories, Christina is a law graduate who holds a Masters in Arts degree. She now helms the Education Desk at Star Media Group as its Senior News Editor. She was invited to conduct a workshop for Malaysia’s Education Ministry last year and is currently pursuing a PhD at Universiti Malaya, where she guest lectures and conducts workshops on communication. Having been in the media industry for close to two decades, and International Press Institute member, Christina has also received more than 30 journalism awards.

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Dr Coco Wong

Co-Founder CEO Kids International

Dr. Coco Wong is a co-founder of CEO Kids International, where she passionately cultivates character building, leadership & entrepreneurship education through engaging gamified experiences & events for children, and initiated the ‘Kidz Do Good’ Movement.

She is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in the multiple industries and is a frequent speaker on topics surrounding education & parenting and has co-hosted radio & TV programmes in Hong Kong.

Recognized as a 'Top 100 Female Entrepreneur in China in 2009' and a recipient of the prestigious 'Woman of the Decade' award by the Women's Economic Forum in 2020 and 2023, Dr. Wong serves as the G100 Global Chair for Leadership & Entrepreneurial Education and the Executive Director of Women Economic Forum Malaysia 2023.

Dr HC Aslam Khan

Academic Director & Vice Chairman Erican Education Group Malaysia

Dr.HC Aslam Khan has been a Senior Lecturer, Master Trainer and Consultant in the English Studies Department and the Head of International and Corporate Department under the purview of the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia, Ministry of Education Malaysia. In December 2022, he received The Global CSR Excellence and Leadership Awards for Best Education Sector/Community Award. He has vast experience in planning, implementing, coordinating and managing national and international Teacher Education and Professional Training Programmes.

He was a member of the National Steering Committee for Teacher Training Twinning Programmes between Malaysia and the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He also conducts consultation and advisory work for governmental and corporate organisations and academic institutions, both at national and international level. He was the Vice-Chair and Coordinator of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) for 15 years, a Government to Government programme for the training of teachers, lecturers and educators from more than ninety countries.

He was the Project Manager of the Malaysia Australia Education Project for Afghanistan (MAEPA), a project to train Master Trainers in Teacher Education from Afghanistan under the Malaysian Government in collaboration with Australia and Afghanistan.

He has also served as an Executive Committee and Vice-President of MELTA (Malaysian English Language Teaching Association) for 23 years. He served the Ministry of Education Malaysia for 39 years prior to his retirement. Currently, he is the Academic Director and Executive Vice Chairman of ERICAN Education Group, Malaysia, an Executive Council Member of NAPEI (National Association of Private Education Institutions), Malaysia and also an Advisor and Committee Member of AsiaTEFL ProfNet.

Dr Lee Tze Yan

Working Committee Member & Member of Young Scientist Network Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) & Academy of Sciences Malaysia 

Possessing a background as a trained biomedical scientist, Dr Lee holds a MSc in Molecular Biology and a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Dr. Lee's academic journey is further enriched by his keen interest in science policy. He serves as an enthusiastic member of the Young Scientist Network (YSN) at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). Within the realm of research, he had obtained Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) research grant schemes.

Dr. Lee's contributions reverberate across the scientific community, exemplified by his active involvement as a reviewer for numerous esteemed journals. He has also played instrumental roles in orchestrating a multitude of local and international conferences, meetings, and workshops. His reach extends beyond academia, as he regularly publishes insightful articles on science and contemporary issues in prominent local media outlets such as The STAR, The EDGE Daily, Esti.my, and Malaysian Reserve. At the heart of Dr. Lee's vision lies a steadfast commitment to promoting the significance of science, particularly within STEM-related education in Malaysia.   

Dr Mohd Norazmi Bin Nordin

Senior Lecturer Faculty Of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Dr Mohd Norazmi Nordin is a senior lecturer at the Center for the Study of Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). His specialty is special education, specifically for visual impairment, actively involved in high-impact studies related to education for students with blindness.

Dr Norazmi has also successfully produced more than 10 innovations related to materials in the form of braille writing and holds almost the entire copyright. In writing, he has published more than 200 articles related to special education, with most of them related to visual impairment.

With 12 years of experience in special education, he has also written more than 20 books and popular writings related to blindness. He is also actively invited to give keynote speeches in symposiums, conferences and colloquiums, both at national and international levels. In addition, in the field of performing arts, he is a singer, composer and lyricist.

Dr Nanthaporn Prae Seributra

CEO Starfish Education

Dr Nanthaporn Prae Seributra is at the forefront of Starfish Education, an influential non-profit in Thailand enhancing the education and edtech sectors under the philanthropic umbrella of Firetree Trust. Prae's international educational experiences have shaped her commitment to high-quality education for all. Having worked as an education development executive for Apple Inc. in Thailand and Singapore and as an educator and school principal, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her specialty areas include educational innovation, administration, tech integration, professional teacher development, and early childhood education.

Under Prae's leadership, Starfish Education offers a meaningful impact in the education and edtech sectors through a school, a professional development institute, an online learning platform, and an assessment app. Prae is also an accomplished author in her field. She currently resides in Singapore.

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Dr Neelam Parmar

Director of Professional Learning and Online Education AISL Harrow Schools

Dr. Neelam Parmar is the Director of Professional Learning and Online Education with AISL Harrow Schools. She is an award-winning professional, international researcher, author, thought leader and speaker for the use of educational technology, digital pedagogy in practice and innovative curriculum in education. A highly experienced leader in Digital Education, Neelam has engaged with the UK Department of Education (DfE) EdTech Leadership Group, national EdTech Impact workshops, The @womenEd_Tech movement and is also a judge for the global renowned Bett Awards Show. She is also the author of the 'Digital Literacy in the Primary' series and 'Digital Parenting' book, locally published and distributed globally. Neelam has supported groups of schools, ministries of government and developed large scale blended, hybrid and remote learning education solutions.

https://www.aislharrow.com/
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Dr Rosanna Wong

Chair Asia International School Limited

Dr. Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP, is the Chair of the Asia International School Limited. She is a Former Member of National Committee of the CPPCC, the Senior Advisor of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth and the Honorary Chair, World Vision Hong Kong. Dr. Wong has a distinguished record of public service. She is a former Member of the Executive and Legislative Councils. She is also the former Chairperson of the Education Commission of the Hong Kong Government. Dr. Wong holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis; with further earned degrees from Hong Kong, Canada and the United Kingdom. She is also a holder of five Honorary Doctorates and an Honorary Fellowship from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Dr Sathisha Goonasakaran

STEAM Leader Tenby Schools Penang

Dr. Sathisha Goonasakaran is an enthusiastic educator passionate about innovative education. As the STEAM Leader at Tenby Schools Penang, she brings over 14 years of extensive teaching experience across diverse regions, including Johor, Kedah, and Penang. With a Ph.D. in STEM Education, she pioneered the integrated STEAM approach to teaching and learning at Tenby School, leading to the school's rebranding as the first STEAM specialist school in Penang, Malaysia. She also strategically planned a 75,000 sq ft, three-story building entirely dedicated to STEAM education. This initiative aims to equip students with STEAM skills, transferable soft skills, and human values, preparing them to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In her current role, Sathisha is also responsible for networking, improving efficiency and connectivity for Tenby Schools Penang as a STEAM specialist school among universities, government agencies, and industries. She plans partnership programs and conducts CPDs, workshops, and hands-on training in STEAM, AI in Education, Makerspace, and Curriculum interventions. She was also a recipient of the EdTech 10 award, recognising the remarkable work and success stories of women transforming the EdTech landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, at Bett Asia last year.

Beyond the classroom, she dedicates her energy to empowering the next generation through collaborations with NGOs focused on teenagers. Through interactive mini-sessions, impactful seminars, and thought-provoking talks, Sathisha integrates value-based education and social-emotional learning into the lives of young people.

Dr Serrene Leong

Director, Professional Development and Industry Network Division Universiti Malaya

With over 20 years of experience in consultancy, education, entrepreneurship and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) community development projects, Dr Serrene Leong currently serves as the Director of Industry Network and Professional Development Division at the Centre for Integral Learning (CITRA) in Universiti Malaya where she manages the university’s local and global community engagement projects, internship and student holistic learning development. In addition, she monitors the appointment of ELITE fellows (notable entrepreneurs and industry practioners), oversees the university's Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) with industry partners, and maintains valuable relationships with stakeholders. Apart from her current role, she previously led the Entrepreneurship Programme, fostering student start-ups and social enterprises while connecting business investors with students. Dr Serrene's previous experiences as an Entrepreneurship Consultant for a Government Linked Company (GLC) and her involvement in Social Enterprise Research in India showcase her commitment to addressing social issues, conducting field research, and supporting female entrepreneurship initiatives. Her dedication to fostering innovation and sustainable solutions underscores her valuable contributions to academia and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Dr Sonia Saleem

CEO - Founder Socio Engineering Technologies

Dr Sonia Saleem is a visionary leader committed to advancing education, global skills and youth empowerment in Pakistan. As the CEO and Founder of Smart Education Technologies Group, Socio Engineering Technologies, SETI UAE and XInnovate UK, she has transformed the educational landscape in Pakistan and made a global impact. Recently awarded by the President of Pakistan for her contributions to innovation and technology in education, Dr Sonia’s work has revolutionised classrooms, bringing advanced learning tools to thousands of students across Pakistan, the Middle East and the UK. She is instrumental in introducing leading educational technologies like Promethean-UK, CFBT, Certiport Pearson USA, EC-Council, Volarevers, Tablet Academy and more into these regions.

Dr Sonia also represented Pakistan at BETT UK, establishing the first Pakistan Pavilion in 38 years and leading initiatives in the UAE. She also serves as Senior Global Advisor with Belobaba, focusing on blockchain and cryptocurrency.

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Dr Tran Duc Huyen

Principal Hoang Viet School

Dr. Tran Duc Huyen has dedicated his life to education and made significant contributions for education in Vietnam. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1980 and a Master’s degree in 1985 from the University of Education in Ho Chi Minh City. In 1981, he began teaching Maths and Computer Science at Le Hong Phong High School, becoming Head of the Mathematics Department in 1990 and Deputy Principal in 2000. He also edited Mathematics textbooks for high schools. After retiring in 2017, he has become Principal of Hoang Viet School since 2018. Under his leadership, the school was recognized as a Microsoft Showcase School in 2024-2025. Dr. Huyen’s journey reflects his unwavering dedication to education and his commitment to providing high-quality learning opportunities.

Dr Vincent Chian

Group Principal Fairview International School

Dr Vincent Chian is a distinguished educator and thought leader, whose contributions to international education have transformed Fairview International School into a model of excellence. With over 14 years of experience in the field, he currently serves as the Principal of Fairview International School Malaysia and the Provost of University College Fairview. His journey from psychiatry to education underscores his deep commitment to holistic development, ensuring that students are prepared not just for another exam, but to succeed at life.

A medical graduate from the University of Manchester and a former Psychiatry Registrar, Dr Chian transitioned into education in 2009, driven by a desire to make a lasting impact on future generations. His medical background, particularly in psychiatry, has been instrumental in shaping his approach to education. At Fairview, he drives the development of proactive pastoral programs, recognizing that wellbeing should be a proactive target rather than the reactive stance of mental health systems.

Dr Chian is an EO Accelerator coach, regularly consults for Eduspaze, and is a sought-after speaker at educational conferences. Hi shares his thoughts on education through his LinkedIn blog, "Learning with a Purpose." His belief in the power of education to shape the future is evident in his ongoing efforts to spearhead University College Fairview, where he continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what education can achieve as the Provost.

Elena Branet

Founder & CEO Digital Camp

Elena Branet is a strategic business leader and tech entrepreneur, passionate about connecting people, things and data in smart new ways. In 2017, she founded Digital Camp to help young people build digital skills and companies to grow talent through projects that help the planet. With over 25 years in technology, Elena has helped global brands such as Vodafone Business and Microsoft to achieve market leadership with new brand and product launches and start-ups to grow at scale through to IPO. Her work with Oxford Saïd Business School on the global Climate Change Challenge exemplifies her commitment to leveraging green tech against climate change. As a Director at Microsoft, Elena led technology evangelism for Internet of Things, Data and Cloud, and led Entertainment Marketing for Xbox EMEA. Elena has delivered transformative digital learning initiatives and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Art.

Fadzliaton Zainudin

Deputy Director, Educational Technology and Resources Division Ministry of Education Malaysia

Fadzliaton Zainudin is the Deputy Director of the Educational Technology and Resources Division at the Ministry of Education Malaysia. As the key personnel for the Smart School initiative and the recently launched Digital Education Policy, she has been instrumental in steering the country's educational landscape into the digital age. With a deep understanding of educational technology, she has spearheaded strategies to enhance digital literacy, infrastructure, and teaching and learning practices nationwide. Her leadership has been crucial in bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all Malaysians.

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Finita Dewi

Director of Teacher Professional Development

Finita is an English Lecturer at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). She holds a Doctorate in English Education specializing in Educational Technology and Teacher Professional Development. She has extensive teaching experience and has been working in partnership with national, regional, and international institutions as a teacher trainer. Throughout her career, she has been invited to speak at numerous seminars, webinars, conferences, workshops, and Studium Generale events. She is also the Director of Teacher Professional Development at the Indonesia Technology-Enhanced Language Learning Association (iTELL), responsible for planning, developing, and organizing technology-focused Teacher Professional Development programs for teachers throughout Indonesia.

Goutham Kumar

Asia Hub Manager Team4Tech

Goutham Kumar is the Asia Regional Hub Manager at Team4Tech, a global Impact Accelerator that aims to bridge the digital equity gap in education. Based in Chennai, India, Goutham is an educator at heart and is an alumnus of the prestigious Teach For India Fellowship program, has spent two years as a class teacher in an underserved school.

In his role as the Asia Hub Manager, Goutham works closely with Non-profits in Asia to assess the scope of leveraging technology to further the learning outcomes of learners towards SDG 4.
Forecasts indicate that by 2030, nearly 1 billion youth will not have the digital skills to participate in the global workforce. Goutham believes that technology access alone is not enough to shift this reality. Research shows that technology-assisted learning with teacher training programs has the largest positive effects on learning outcomes. Investing in both is a powerful equalizer in the pursuit of education equity.

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Gumawang Jati

President Indonesia Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (iTELL)

Gumawang Jati is an English lecturer and teacher trainer with over three decades of experience in English Language Teaching (ELT), teacher training, digital material development, and integrating ICT in education. Holding a doctoral degree in English Education, he has significantly contributed to various educational projects, including the "English for Indonesia" program and "Technology-Based Education" teacher professional development. As the President of iTELL (Indonesia Technology Enhanced Language Learning Association), he is a recognized expert in digital pedagogy, regularly leading workshops and speaking at seminars on topics like artificial intelligence in education and blended learning.

Gurpadeep Singh

Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)

Gurpardeep Singh is a senior leader with the Asia Pacific University (APU) and was instrumental in the Institution’s growth and evolution into a University College, and eventually to a Full University. He presently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer of the University, leading the development and execution of Operational and Digital Transformation strategies to support the University’s growth and sustainability. Gurpardeep is also presently Chairman of the national-level Sectorial Training Committee (STC) for the Education sector under the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRDC). He was also part of the team that developed the Way Forward for Private Higher Education Institutions: Education as an Industry (2020-2025) document published by the Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education.

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H.E. Dr Vathana Sann

Secretary of State Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Cambodia

H.E. Dr Vathana Sann, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Cambodia manages the Center for Digital and Distance Education (CDDE) and the Research Creativity and Innovation Fund (RCI-Fund). Before this, he served as the Deputy Secretary General of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, Council of Ministers and assigned to the National Social Protection Council, Ministry of Economics and Finance.

His civil service career began in 2006 with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Dr. Vathana Sann obtained a PhD in International Agriculture in 2006 from Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany.

Howie Chang

Co-Founder and CEO Forward College

Howie Chang is a leader with a rich and diverse background spanning the realms of technology, education, and business transformation. As the co-founder and CEO of Forward College, a groundbreaking technology and future skills institution in Malaysia, Howie spearheads strategic initiatives aimed at cultivating sustainable talent pipelines for enterprises. His unwavering commitment to innovation and growth is evidenced by his extensive experience in facilitating and training leaders and the workforce in the field of AI, Product Management, UI/UX and technology, having adeptly guided over hundreds of individuals through transformative learning journeys.

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Janelle Torres

Research Manager - South-East Asia ISC Research

As a key member of ISC Research’s field research team, Janelle’s responsibilities include the global collection of data and market intelligence, report writing, and analysis and interpretation of research data. Based in Manila, Philippines, Janelle actively engages with school leaders of international schools, immersing herself in campus visits, staying abreast to trends in the ever-evolving landscape of international education. 

Janelle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Development Communication. She furthered her education with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from KLC International Institute, Singapore.

Prior to joining ISC Research, Janelle worked at Korean International School Philippines and then became the Executive Principal at a childcare centre, primarily catering to children of Chinese expatriates based in Manila.

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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. During her tenure as Campus Principal of Tenby Schools Penang, the school has transitioned to becoming a STEAM specialist school and they have recently opened their “STEAM Engine” a three-story building housing specialist STEAM learning spaces. These spaces will help their students develop the skills needed to become changemakers. The school is also working with partners to develop STEAM programmes for marginalised communities. 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.

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Jennifer Liew

Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific Pearson

Jennifer Liew is a Business Development Manager at Pearson VUE supporting the Asia Pacific region. Jennifer is responsible for identifying and advocating for opportunities to support government goals, such as enhancing workforce readiness, improving digital literacy and addressing skill gaps. She is committed to working with government stakeholders to customize skilling programs that meet the importance of investment in human capital skilling. Her work is in line with Pearson VUE’s goal to support lifelong learning and drive progress for individuals to have valuable assets for career growth, skill validation and professional development.

Julia Garvey

Acting Director General British Educational Suppliers Association

Julia Garvey has worked in education publishing and EdTech for over 30 years, both in-house and as an external marketing consultant. Julia has worked for the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) since 2018 and became Acting Director General in June 2024. Having worked for education suppliers in a commercial setting, Julia understands the needs of BESA members and is passionate about ensuring that every company takes full advantage of the opportunities that exist both within the UK and internationally. Julia works closely with organisations including the UK Department for Business and Trade to help share knowledge and understanding, and to establish partnerships that can lead to long term business relationships between UK companies and overseas schools and government departments.

Kenneth Ting

Director of Data Systems Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong

As the Director of Technology for Kellett School, Hong Kong, Kenneth is responsible for formulating technology strategy and direction as well as implementation. He oversees the development and execution of innovative technology solutions, ensuring the school stays at the forefront of technological advancements. Through collective team effort, Kellett successfully obtained ISO27001 accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to information security management.

Kenneth holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Greenwich, an MSc in eCommerce from the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, and an MBA from the University of Hong Kong. Kenneth also recently completed the CTO programme at the Cambridge Judge Business School.

Kylie Colvin

Chief Strategy and Operations Officer University of Nottingham Malaysia

Kylie Colvin is the Chief Strategy and Operations Office for the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus. Kylie is responsible for designing and implementing University strategy, institutional business planning and university operations, including Human Resources, IT, Estates, Programme Management Office and Strategic Analytics.

Kylie previously held positions as Director of Strategic Planning for the University of Sydney, as Founder of Higher Education Consulting Group and as Chief of Staff to three Vice-Chancellors. Her focus for over 20 years in higher education has been analysis-led growth strategies and transformation projects.
Kylie has a Master's in Business Analytics. Currently, she serves on the Advisory Board of EduTech Asia, the Executive Committee of the UK Overseas Branch Campus Network, the Board of EduVise and the British Malaysia Higher Education Committee.

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Larry Nelson

Regional Business Leader, Education, Asia Microsoft

As General Manager of Education for Microsoft Asia, Larry Nelson leads the education business unit for Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education institutions and drives digital transformation projects in educational organisations across India, China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and all other countries in South-East Asia.         

Before joining Microsoft in 2009, Nelson led strategic planning of telecom services at Stanford University. He was also the principal at Global Educational Technology Knowledge, LLC, where he provided strategic planning, marketing, operations, market research and business development expertise to corporations, schools, universities, and Ministries of Education.       

With more than three decades of experience, Nelson has held a series of executive positions in multinational technology corporations, including Director of Global Citizenship and Acting Executive Director of the Global Education and Learning Community (GELC) at Sun Microsystems. Nelson converted the GELC to an independent non-profit corporation now known as Curriki.org.   

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Muhammad Syazwan Bin Samsol Kahar (Cikgu Syazwan)

Malay Language Committee Leader SJKC Chung Hua Seremban

Muhammad Syazwan Bin Samsol Kahar, affectionately known as Cikgu Syazwan, is a passionate educator and technologist committed to revolutionising teaching and learning through the integration of technology. With a solid background in education and a deep expertise in ICT, Cikgu Syazwan has earned his place as a highly respected figure in the Malaysian education landscape. As a Google Certified Trainer, Google Certified Educator, and Malay Language Committee Leader at SJKC Chung Hua Seremban, Cikgu Syazwan leverages his extensive experience and cutting-edge digital tools to create engaging and interactive learning experiences for students. His mastery of Google AI, paired with certifications from Coursera and other platforms, equips him with advanced skills in AI and cloud technology. Additionally, as a Google ImageFX Trusted Tester and Captain GEG (Google Educator Group), he is at the forefront of educational innovation, driving technology use among educators.

Cikgu Syazwan’s leadership in initiatives like MOBIM AI KPM and his involvement in events such as the Google Cloud Vertex AI Summit have further solidified his reputation as a thought leader in EdTech. Through his workshops, presentations, and online resources, he consistently shares his knowledge with fellow educators, encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies in the classroom. His relentless dedication to fostering digital literacy and transforming education through innovation has earned him widespread recognition and respect from his peers.

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Paul Lau

Head of Secondary (Sixth Form) HELP International School

Paul has been educating our youth in the classrooms since 1998. He has taught the sciences, maths, global perspectives, IPQ and enrichment lessons in the Malaysian as well as international curricula. Paul has also spent the last 12 years in senior management of schools, and was the driver of many platforms and opportunities for increasing student engagement across student leadership, gifted and talented programmes and various academic and non-academic competitions. Prior to HIS, Paul headed the secondary team as well as whole-school CCA programmes at various international schools.

Since joining HIS in 2017, Paul who was put in charge of the design and development of the Sixth Form programme, successfully built a purposeful and exceptional programme with his team that saw many HIS senior students well guided and prepared to transition into life beyond school. Not only had these students thrived in top universities in the world, they are exceptional leaders now in their professions and communities.

A graduate of the Emerging Leader Development Programme (ELDP) and the founder of Project Purpose, Paul has been a key figure in bringing youth leadership and community engagement to the forefront in many events including the MAD Youth Summit 2020.

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Professor Dr Weng Marc Lim

Dean and Distinguished Professor Sunway Business School, Sunway University

Professor Dr Weng Marc Lim is the Record Holder for “Youngest Professor” in the Malaysia Book of Records and features in JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians and Academy of Sciences Malaysia’s Top Research Scientists Malaysia. Currently serving as Dean of Sunway Business School and Distinguished Professor of Sunway University, as well as Editor-in-Chief of Global Business and Organizational Excellence; Deputy Editor of Journal of Global Marketing; Associate Editor of Journal of Business Research, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, and Journal of Strategic Marketing; and Regional Editor of The Service Industries Journal—all “Q1” ranked by Scopus.

With over 100 publications in prestigious “A*” and “A” ranked journals, Professor Lim’s work has garnered more than 10,000 citations. As a thought leader, Professor Lim has spoken at the AACSB, QS, THE, UNESCO, and World Economic Forum.

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Samuel Lehmann

Deputy Head & Co-Chair of Digital Strategy Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong

Sam Lehmann is the Deputy Head of Kellett School, Hong Kong, and co-chairs the school’s Digital Strategy Group. Sam also sits on the Practitioners Panel for AI in Education (formerly the Bourne-Epsom Protocol), an independent group that is supporting schools on the safe and effective application of AI in classrooms. After working in outstanding schools in the UK and Asia, Sam is interested in the digital transformation of education, including both the benefits and potential pitfalls, and the importance of strategic approaches that ensure buy-in from all stakeholders when engaging with new technologies.

Victor Lam

Sales Program Lead Google for Education

Google for Education’s mission is to: “Expand what, where and how students learn so that everyone has access to the quality education they deserve”.

Victor leads the Google Workspace for Education efforts in the Asia Pacific region, working with local government and education authorities cutting across the public and private sector.
Before Google, he also worked as a public school teacher in rural Malaysia where he taught STEM subjects to indigenous school children. When it comes to education, he always believes that it takes a village to raise a child” and that education is a key silver bullet as no other single institution has the same capacity to empower individuals and transform our economy and society.

Yek Ling Li

Teacher Sjkc Hwa Lien (HWA Lien Chinese Typed Primary School)

Yek Ling Li is a forward-thinking young teacher with a passion for leveraging technology to unlock every child's potential. As a first-class Dean's List student and recipient of the 2021 Platinum Innovative Teacher Award, she excels in integrating digital tools to enhance learning. At her island school, her leadership in the "My Home, My School" project helped win $9,000 in the Healthiest School Competition. As the Head of the English Panel and Internal Guidance and Counselling Teacher, Yek Ling Li focuses on both academic and personal growth, incorporating technology to support personalized learning. A Guru Karisma, Apple Learning Coach participant, and Book Creator Champion, she embodies continuous learning and innovation, making her a Yoda Laoshi, an optimistic and innovative teacher.

Lim Wen Li

Teacher Sultan Abu Bakar School

Ms Lim Wen Li holds a Bachelor of Science with honors in Mathematics and Statistics from Massey University, New Zealand, and a Master of Science in Mathematics. An educator with a distinguished career, she has received numerous accolades, including the Excellent Service Awards from MoE in 2022 and 2015, and the Champion of Innovative Teaching and Learning for the East Coast Zone in 2024.

A Microsoft Certified Educator, she has led students to represent Malaysia at international events like the Natural Disaster Youth Summit and Kotolympic Music Conference in Japan. In 2023, she earned the Teaching Feynman Challenge Special Award from ASTI and a Special Co-curricular Award.

Matthew Glanville

Director of Assessment International Baccalaureate

Matt Glanville is the Director of Assessment at the International Baccalaureate (IB), a role he assumed in June 2023. He has been an integral part of the IB's Assessment team since 2014. Prior to joining the IB, Matt's professional journey took him through various educational and assessment institutions in the UK, including the Qualifications Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the English Exams regulator, Ofqual. He started his career as a Mathematics teacher and later transitioned into leading research teams for regional and vocational skills agencies. With a rich and diverse background in educational assessment, Matt brings a wealth of experience to his current position at the IB.

Michael Klemm

Managing Director Singapore Education Network

Michael Klemm, founded (2020) the Singapore Education Network (SEN) as a regional alliance of 1,500+ educational professionals in Asia with offices in Singapore and Indonesia. SEN is a One-Stop-Service provider in Education and also manages platform “EdTech Marketplace Asia” offering 300+ technology-solutions for the education sector in Asia.

Michael is also a Venture Partner at Higher Education & EdTech for Education Consultancy “EDT & Partners”. He mentors EdTech Startups in accelerators Eduspaze and 500Global and is among the Top 100 influencers in EdTech 2023/24 by EdTech Digest.

Previously, he worked for Minerva University, National University of Singapore, Training Institute NTUC LearningHub, World Vision International and International Labour Organization in several countries across Asia.

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Michael Ngo

Managing Director - Business Development ELSA Corp

Michael is currently the Managing Director Business Development of ELSA Corp, a leading AI solution for English communication with over 16 million downloads across the region and 50 million worldwide.

Before joining ELSA, Michael had more than 16 years of experience in technology and digital industries in Asia, including Co-founder of Okiela, an E-commerce technology company, and Business Director at Grey Group. With an ever-growing passion for innovation, Michael has engaged in creating business solutions for EdTech, O2O, Mobile, eCommerce, Marketplace, Logistics, B2B SaaS and Digital Transformation.

He has an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) & National University of Singapore (NUS).

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Dr Mohamed Yunus Yasin

President and Founder Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI)

Dr Mohamed Yunus Mohamed Yasin graduated with a PhD. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, U.K. and then returned to Malaysia to work for SIRIM Berhad followed by Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian Sovereign fund. He has been working for more than 20 years in the areas of Sustainable Development, Community Advancement and Education (particularly STEM and Innovation).

He has conducted training for young people in over 5 countries in areas such as climate change, critical thinking and conflict resolution. He has led delegation to places like Sri Lanka and Myanmar post-war to ascertain the needs of the people by holding workshops. He has helped start up over 8 companies and over 10 NGOs, civil society groups and non-profit projects including projects such as the Science Fair for Young Children which has had about a half a million participants in the last 18 years.

In addition, he has helped start-up 9 projects relating to promoting science and scientific thinking which includes Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC), Young Inventors Challenge (YIC), ASTI Feynman Challenge (AFC) and Creative and Critical Thinking (CCT). The one of the biggest success of his initiative is the Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC) project which has been running continuously for the past 18 years with nearly 30,000 participants per year.

He is currently also the Founding president of Association Science Technology and Innovation (ASTI). Recently he served in the National Education Review Committee which is a Cabinet committee set up by the government of Malaysia to improve the education policy of Malaysia in charge of STEM education and was also the advisor to the Minister of Education on STEM Learning. He has also won many awards, the most recent being conferred the title, Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) by His Majesty the King of Malaysia.

Dr Mohd Azlis Sani Bin Md Jalil

Deputy Director Seameo Regional Centre For Special Educational Needs (SEAMEO SEN)

Azlis Sani Jalil is the Deputy Director of SEAMEO SEN, a regional centre for special educational needs which promotes inclusive education for all learners, including those with disabilities, in South-East Asia. His passion for helping children with disabilities began when he discovered the importance of early intervention when his own son was diagnosed with autism.

Azlis is responsible for developing and implementing programs that support the education and development of children with disabilities. He works closely with educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to identify best practices for supporting children with disabilities and promoting their adoption throughout the region.

Through his work, Azlis is helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society for individuals with disabilities in Southeast Asia. His dedication and passion for promoting the rights and needs of children with disabilities are making a significant impact on countless individuals and families.

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Dr Mohd Faisal Farish bin Ishak

Head of Department English Language Teaching Centre

With a strong background in integrating technology for teaching and learning, particularly in the context of English as a Second Language (ESL), Mohd Faisal Farish is an accomplished lecturer. He possesses deep expertise in educational technology, lesson planning, and curriculum development. Mohd Faisal Farish holds a PhD in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence and professional growth. His skills and experience have made him a valuable asset in advancing innovative teaching methods with edtech and contemporary pedagogy.

Mohd Khamarul Idzwan Bin Othman (Cikgu Emkay)

Assistant Director, Educational Resources and Technology Sector Putrajaya Department of Education, Ministry of Education

Mohd Khamarul Idzwan Bin Othman, affectionately known as Cikgu Emkay, is a passionate educator dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning through technology. With a background in education and a deep understanding of ICT. Cikgu Emkay has become a prominent figure in the Malaysian education landscape. His expertise lies in leveraging digital tools to create engaging and interactive learning experiences for students. As a Google Certified Educator and Trainer, Cikgu Emkay actively shares his knowledge and skills through workshops, presentations, and online resources. His commitment to educational innovation has earned him recognition and respect among his peers. Through his tireless efforts, Cikgu Emkay continues to inspire and empower educators to embrace technology as a powerful tool for teaching and learning.

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Najelaa Shihab

Founder and CEO Sekolah Murid Merdeka and Sekolah.mu

Najelaa Shihab earned her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia majoring in developmental and educational psychology. After she started her career as a teaching staff member at the same campus, she decided to establish Sekolah Cikal in 1999. Cikal is currently located in 9 locations in various cities in Indonesia, serving thousands of students – from preschool to high school, and also Kampus Guru Cikal.

Najelaa Shihab has initiated several education organisations that focus on digital learning, including: Inibudi.org (2012), a non-profit foundation that distributes online and offline learning videos on various subjects, professions and education levels; Sinedu.id (2016), an online platform that curates movies that can be used as learning resources in a school context; Sekolah.mu (2019), a blended learning platform that provides personalised classes for students and management system for schools; Sekolah Murid Merdeka (2019), the first blended learning school in Indonesia from early childhood to high school level that operate in more than 15 cities in Indonesia, with more than 45 hubs; Talentics (2019), an assessment platform used by HR leaders and employers for recruitment and talent management; and Karier.mu (2020), an education platform for jobseekers.

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Nisa Felicia

Executive Director Pusat Studi Pendidikan dan Kebijakan (PSPK)

Nisa Felicia is the Executive Director of Pusat Studi Pendidikan dan Kebijakan (PSPK, or Center for Education Study and Policy) that supports the Indonesian government in curriculum reform and overseeing PSPK projects on primary and secondary education policies. She started her career in education field as a primary school teacher in 2002. After pursuing her master’s degree in Curriculum and Pedagogy, in 2008 she was assigned to become a preservice teacher education lecturer as the institution expanded their business, and later became the Dean of the school. Furthermore, she joined PSPK as a full-time senior education policy researcher in 2019, that fit to the PhD degree she earned. Her dissertation was focused on equality of educational
opportunities among children in Eastern Indonesia. During her studies, she was involved in research projects
on school improvement strategies in New York and comparative review of education for sustainable
development.

Paul Franklin

Regional Lead - Southeast Asia, Pearson VUE Pearson

Paul is a passionate advocate for education, which drove him to transition from a career in engineering solutions to EdTech. He has a strong belief in the transformative power of education, which has been reinforced by his experiences living in different countries and observing various cultures. In his role at Pearson VUE, Paul is responsible for driving channel strategy and growth in Southeast Asia, with a focus on simplifying Learning & Development and bridging the gap between Industry and Academia. Paul is committed to empowering individuals of all ages with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success. Paul holds a master's degree in engineering from Coventry University and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School. He currently resides in Malaysia.

Professor Dato Dr Norazah Mohd Nordin

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Partnerships) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Dr Norazah Nordin is a Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation, and currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Partnerships) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research areas include Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC), Mobile Learning, ICT in Lifelong Learning, and Instructional Design in Digital Learning. The projects that she leads include the development of Higher Education Active Learning Spaces (HEALS), a collaborative research project with the Australian Innovative University Network. The most current projects that she leads are Learning Design in the 4th Industrial Revolution and the 4IR Cross-Creative Learning Innovation for Autism. She is a University Council member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Lifelong Learning Hub and an active member of the ASEM Research Network 1, Development of ICT Skills, and the Culture of e-Learning in Lifelong Learning.

Professor Dato Dr Norazah is also well known for her contributions to various international research projects. She spearheaded the development of Higher Education Active Learning Spaces (HEALS) project; a collaborative research project between the research universities in Malaysia, with the Australian Innovative University Network (La Trobe University and James Cook University). This research has successfully developed a framework for an active learning space compatible with all educational institutions based on pedagogy, space, and technology. A leading international researcher in the digitisation of education, she was recently selected by Google Education, one of the world's leading digital industries, to represent Malaysia and lead research on Google Solution applications for education in the country. She is also a member of the International Association for Blended Learning (IABL), playing an active role as a reference expert representing the South-East Asia. She is also in the IABL Committee, which has successfully developed the world's first policy paper on blended learning known as the IABL Dubai Declaration: Blended Learning 2025. She was appointed to the Editorial Board of the Internet and Higher Education Journal, which is ranked in the Web of Science's Social Science Citation Index in Quartile One (Q1) (WoS SSCI).

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Professor Dr Anoop Swarup

Secretary General Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP)

With over 43 years of experience, Professor (Dr) Anoop Swarup has excelled as a futurist, educationist, poet, peace activist, life scientist, social entrepreneur, and Indian Civil Service officer. Appointed as a UN Representative to the UNSC in 2007, Professor Swarup was honoured the Highest Award of Recognition by Soka University, an Honorary Doctorate from George Washington University of Peace, and a Fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). He contributed to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UNEP in 2007 and received the Amrita Devi Bishnoi Medal in 2013 and UNESCAP Honourable Mention. He also received the Hiroshima Peace Award in 2016 and the Presidential Award from India in 2003. Professor Swarup’s accolades include a Fulbright Visitor to the US (2004), Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow (2002), and various fellowships and scholarships. He was the Founding Vice-Chancellor of Jagran Lakecity University (2012-2020), Vice-Chancellor of Shobhit University (2008), and Chair of several organisations, including WeVenture, Centre for Global Nonkilling, Global Knowledge Alliance, and Centre for Pavement Excellence. He founded the ‘Sambhav’ Trust for de-addiction, ‘Sambhavami’ for micro-enterprises, and conceptualised the 'National Reconstruction Corps', ‘UNDP-NYKS Poverty Alleviation Awards’, and ‘Millennium Youth Parliament’. He has been a resource person and visiting professor at several prestigious institutions and UN programmes. His research has over 2,200 citations, an h-index of 21, and an i10-index of 30. He was Chief Editor of the 'Jagran International Journal on Contemporary Research', the 'International Journal of Contemporary Research in Engineering and Technology', and Editor of the 'Nice Journal of Business'.

Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE

Director, Board Member, Global Education Adviser Member of Bett's Global Education Council

Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a renowned figure in the field of education - once described as “Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka”. He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding CEO of the Children’s University. In 2019, Ger became a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, Russia. He is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom, and is a frequent keynote speaker at some of the world’s leading education conferences. Driven by his famous mantra that “Children can only aspire to what they know exists” he champions the cause of equity, progress, purpose, creativity, and innovation in children’s learning.

Born in the Netherlands, Ger moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 where he began his teaching career, later becoming a Senior Inspector, and Education Director.

Ger is a member of Bett’s Global Education Council; DIDAC India’s Advisory Board; and Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council. He chairs the Beaconhouse School System’s Advisory Board, Pakistan; advises the Fondazione Reggio Children, Italy; supports a range of education start-ups globally; and was invited to help shape the future of education in Dubai as a member of the Dubai Future Councils. In 2023, he joined the Global Teacher Prize Judging and the World’s Best School Prize Academies as a judge. In 2024, Ger was invited onto the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Education Academy by Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

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, and in 2018 he received the Global Education Leadership Award at the World Education Congress, India. In 2022, he was granted the award of Iconic Leader Creating A Better World For All by the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and the following year, Ger was made a Companion of the Harry Volker Genootschap in The Netherlands.

Ger’s professional autobiography, Through a Different Lens - Lessons from a life in Education, will be published by Routledge in early 2025. For further information please visit www.gergraus.com.

Professor Dr R. Logeswaran N. Rajasvaran

Dean of Computing and Digital Technology HELP University

Professor Dr R. Logeswaran is Dean of Computing and Digital Technology at HELP University (Malaysia), Adjunct Professor of Vel Tech (India), Visiting Professor of GNDECB (India), and scholar of Telekom Malaysia, JCS, Brain Gain Malaysia and BrainKorea21.

He graduated at Imperial College London (UK), completed a Master’s and PhD at Multimedia University (Malaysia), and conducted post-doctoral research in Korea. An academic of over 25 years, he has served at various leadership positions in universities locally and abroad, actively serves as a keynote speaker at many international conferences, and volunteers as a judge in STEM and innovation competitions for school students. With over 180 publications, his research interests cover artificial intelligence, data science and medical image processing.

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Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi

Provost and CEO Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi is currently the Provost and CEO at Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia. His research interests nclude thermofluids, renewable energy, biomechanical engineering, engineering education, positive education and academic leadership. Professor Al-Atabi published three books, “Shoot the Boss,” “Think Like an Engineer” and “Driving Performance”, and delivered two TEDx Talks, “Engineering the Language of Success” and “Storytelling and Engineering a Lasting Change. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), Chairman of the Vice Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities Malaysia (VCCPU) and a Board of Director at the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC). Professor Al-Atabi is an innovative educator who believes that the main goal of education is to mobilise an individual’s purpose into a positive impact on the world. He pioneered Purpose-Led Education, CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) methodology and delivered the first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) in Malaysia. Professor Al-Atabi is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and trainer. He trains executives from multinational corporations, including banks, energy companies as well as universities. His impact statement reads, “I am a storyteller. My purpose is to inspire others to tell more empowering stories about themselves and the world we live in”.

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Professor Sugata Mitra

Professor Emeritus NIIT University

Sugata Mitra conducted the Hole in the Wall experiment in 1999 by embedding a computer in a Delhi slum wall, allowing children to use it freely. This aimed to show that children could learn computers without formal training. The experiment inspired Vikas Swarup's novel and the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire". Mitra has over 25 inventions in cognitive science and educational technology and received many awards, including the Dewang Mehta Award in 2003 and the $1 million TED Prize in 2013. Mitra’s work at NIIT University led to pioneering curricula and pedagogy and he invented Self Organised Learning Environments (SOLE) and the Granny Cloud in 2009. Mitra's work has impacted millions of young Indians, especially the poorest. In 2013, he established 'Schools in the Cloud' to study self-organised learning, challenging traditional education concepts. He was named the 2022 Brock Prize in Education Innovation Laureate for his transformative work in children's learning.

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Professor Sunaina Singh

Advisor Research and Innovation, and Former Vice Chancellor Association of the Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) and Nalanda International University

Professor Sunaina Singh is a distinguished academic leader, widely acclaimed as an institutional builder for her transformative leadership as Change Maker with integrity in Higher Education governance in the Asian region. She is widely credited for rebuilding Nalanda International University as its Vice Chancellor in the recent past. Professor Singh has held several leadership positions at national and international institutions delivering on challenges in executive management along with building organisational networks, research clusters and collaborations, policy creation and designing innovative courses as a strategic thought leader. She is extensively acclaimed for remodelling university governance architecture as resilient, engaged and sustainable institutions for the 21st century. She has also straddled with ease an illustrious career in teaching and research as a professor of English and Comparative Culture is widely recognised for her scholarship in Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies and Women’s Writing. For her exemplary leadership initiatives, she’s also been conferred with several awards.

Some major institutions that she had the privilege to shape or to contribute are: Former Vice Chancellor, Nalanda International University Bihar, Ministry of External Affairs, GoI 2017-2023; Governing Council Member Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters 2023; Honorary Professor, Oxford Academic Union, Oxford, UK 2020; Advisor, Research and Innovation Committee - Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific 2021; Governing Board Member, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, (IIAS) Shimla 2021-2023; Advisory Council Member, Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) 2020; Vice President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) 2016-2020;Vice Chancellor, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad 2012-2017, Ministry of Education, Government of India; President/VP/Executive Board Member Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute- a Binational Research institute under Foreign Affairs Canada and Ministry of Education India 2009-2012; Independent Director/Board Member- Divi’s Laboratories, a multinational Pharmaceutical company, Hyderabad 2018–2024; 2nd term 2024-2029; Governing Board Member, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Belur, 2018; Member, Governing Board and Academic Advisory Committee of Chanakya University, Bangalore 2022; Executive Board Member as Visitor's (President of India) nominee, Tamil Nadu Central University 2022, and Nagaland Central University, 2024.

Professor Singh is a widely acclaimed as a strategic thought leader and an institutional builder for her transformative leadership in university Higher Education governance systems.

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Seunghyuk Jin

Director and CEO BYOND Asia and Klleon

Seunghyuk Jin, the visionary founder and CEO of Klleon and director of BYOND Asia, stands at the forefront of the digital human revolution. Recognised in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2022, Jin's journey in the digital entrepreneurial landscape is marked by successful ventures and notable exits, including Ggobook and Gridazip. Jin's foresight in recognising the potential of AI-powered digital humans predates the interactive chat boom, positioning him as a pioneer in the field. His academic foundation in Converged Electronic Engineering from Hanyang University has been instrumental in shaping his innovative approach to technology.

Under Jin's leadership, Klleon has emerged as a trailblazer in developing hyper-realistic digital humans, focusing on personalized appearances and communication methods. The company's ambitious goal of creating over a billion individualised digital humans underscores its commitment to redefining digital communication. Jin's expertise and Klleon's groundbreaking technology have garnered global recognition.

He has been invited to speak at major international events, including Nvidia's GTC in San Francisco, where Klleon was one of the few digital human AI companies featured. This platform has allowed Jin to share his ideas and showcase the value of deeper engagement and conversation through digital humans.

Klleon's client roster boasts some of the world's leading brands, including Samsung, LG, and Panasonic, testament to the company's innovative solutions and Jin's strategic vision. The company's accolades, including being named a Cool Vendor by Gartner and receiving an Innovation award at CES, further validate its industry-leading position. In a strategic move to expand Klleon's reach, Jin has partnered with WebTVAsia, a leading digital media entertainment company to form BYOND Asia. This collaboration aims to bring Klleon's digital human AI technology to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, marking a significant step in the company's global growth strategy. As Klleon continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in AI and digital human technology, Seunghyuk Jin remains at the helm, driving innovation and shaping the future of human-AI interaction.

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Shruti Sharma

Partnerships and Communications Lead Generation Global - Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Shruti brings over 14 years of management consulting experience across energy, operations, education, and skill development sectors. As the Partnerships and Marketing Communications Lead at Generation Global within the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, she drives global citizenship education through strategic partnerships with schools, governments, global not for profits, and development organizations across 40+ countries.

She has designed, implemented, and scaled large scale education solutions and launched Ed-tech programs, impacting thousands of learners.

With an MBA and a background in Electrical Engineering, Shruti combines technical expertise with a passion for driving positive educational change globally.

Stella Lau Kah Wai

Managing Director SEGi University and Colleges

Stella Lau is a Malaysian leader in Higher Education, with almost three decades of rich experience in industry, academics and management. She is known for her leadership in expanding student access to higher education, catalysing academic innovation, and championing transformative learning to achieve outstanding student experiences. She currently provides leadership to more than 1,000 full and part-time faculty and staff, leading these teams through the post-pandemic times, rebuilding capabilities that prepare management and academic teams for an unprecedented and exciting future.

Stella Lau started her early career in the general insurance industry, training and leading the marketing teams and agencies for Sabah and Sarawak for the first seven years of her career. She then joined Higher Education, firstly as a lecturer for a business school in Sarawak, and then joined SEGi College Sarawak in 1999. From a lecturer, she was promoted to leadership roles as Academic Programmes Manager, Head of Academic Programmes, and College Principal. She relocated to West Malaysia in 2011 and was the Chief Operating Officer for SEGi, then Chief Operating Officer for Taylors College in 2014, managing its academic programmes and operations. In 2016 she joined MAHSA University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Group Senior Director (Academic Quality). Her scope of responsibilities included strategic leadership and management of the academic faculties for the university and colleges. In 2020, she rejoined SEGi Group of Colleges as Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the colleges in the group and in 2023, was appointed as the Managing Director overseeing the university, five academic colleges, one TVET college, two international private schools and one private school.

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Stuart Miller

Head of Marketing, Asia Pacific Google for Education

Stuart Miller was born and raised in Utah, USA, and used computers in school since 1981. After graduating from the University of Chicago (East Asian Languages and Civilizations), Stuart worked as a Teacher and curriculum developer in Shizuoka, Japan, from 2000-2004. Stuart then gained an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business in 2006 (Analytical Marketing Strategies), after which he worked as a marketing analyst at Bank of America from 2006-2013. In 2013, Stuart joined Google in Japan as a sales strategy and operations manager and then joined Google for Education in 2018 as head of marketing for Asia Pacific.

Thanbeer Kaur

Bett Asia Advisory Board Member and Pre-University Educator Desa Mahkota Form Six College Malaysia

Thanbeer is a member of the Bett Asia Advisory Board and a Pre-University Educator at Desa Mahkota Form Six College. She is a Master Trainer for CEFR where she was selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in collaboration with Cambridge English (Language Assessment) to train teachers to adopt CEFR in the teaching of English Language in Malaysia. She is an active ELT practitioner who served at a high school and was awarded the E-Teacher Icon 2020 by NUTP (National Union of Teaching Profession, Malaysia) and UNITAR International University. She was also awarded with the Paul Harris Fellow for her unwavering support and guidance as a Teacher Advisor of the Interact Club at S.M.K Seri Hartamas. She also served as an Assistant Director in the Language Assessment Unit, at the Examinations Syndicate, MOE, Malaysia and teacher trainer at the Institute of Teacher Education International Languages Campus. Her involvement at state, national and international educational agencies and webinars has further proved her versatility in the education field

Thea Wiltshire

EdTech, Schools, Early Years and SEND Specialist Department of Business and Trade

Thea Wiltshire is the EdTech, Schools, Early Years and SEND Specialist at the Department for Business and Trade. Having studied at the University of Oxford and University College London, Thea has worked in the education sector for nearly a decade. Before moving into the public sector, she worked as an independent schools consultant, helping families and students from overseas navigate the UK school system before moving into the EdTech space. Working in high-growth companies servicing schools, higher education institutions, and workplace upskilling, Thea worked on partnership development, curriculum development, and educational program planning in the UK, USA, North Africa, and the Middle East. Personally, she brings a desire to champion educational innovation and a commitment to amplifying the excellence of the UK educational offering.

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Professor Venky Shankararaman

Vice Provost (Education) Singapore Management University (SMU)

Professor Venky Shankararaman is a Professor of Information Systems (Education) and Vice Provost (Education) at Singapore Management University (SMU). He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. His current areas of specialisation include digital transformation, business process management and analytics, enterprise architecture and integration and Higher Education leadership. He has around 30 years of experience in the IT industry in various capacities as a researcher, academic administrator, educator, IT professional, and industry consultant. Professor Venky has contributed significantly to Computing and Information Systems education nationally and internationally. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) and Public Administration Medal (Bronze) by Singapore Government for his contribution to education. He was awarded the SAP Outstanding Academic Award for Southeast Asia; the award was presented by SAP to recognise his contributions to enterprise systems education. He was also awarded the Association of Information Systems (AIS) Award for Outstanding Contribution to IS Education. At SMU, he has won several awards namely Distinguished Educator, SMU-X (Experiential Project Based Learning) Excellent Teacher Award and the Distinguished Teacher Award. He is the current President of the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE). He is member of the AIS Education Committee, ACM Education Advisory Committee, and senior member of Singapore Computer Society (SCS), and member of the executive committee for the SCS Cloud Computing Chapter. He has published over 100 papers in academic journals and conferences.

Xavier Anguera

Co-Founder & CTO ELSA Corp

Xavier Anguera is the co-founder and CTO of ELSA where he is currently leading the research team in speech/AI. Prior to ELSA, he created an edtech startup that published speech-enabled ebooks for language learning. Earlier on he was a founding researcher in the multimedia research group at Telefonica R&D, where he pursued research in speech and multimedia processing.

Xavier holds a PhD in speech processing since 2006 and is the coauthor of over 120 published research publications. He is also the co-inventor in multiple awarded/pending patents and an active contributor to the open source community, where it is worth mentioning his acoustic beamforming tool called BeamformIt, currently used by many research organizations. Over the years he has participated and/or organised multiple scientific open challenge competitions in the speech and multimedia areas.

Awards and accomplishments:

1st prize winner at SXSWEdu 2016 Launch Competition
Top 100 Influencers in State of EdTech Report by EdTech Digest 2020
Speaker at Web Summit Rio 2024

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Yang Bahagia Prof Dato’ Elizabeth Lee Fuh Yen

Chief Executive Officer Sunway Education Group

Elizabeth is Group CEO of Sunway Education, owned and governed by the not-for-profit Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. Under Elizabeth’s leadership since 1992, it has grown from just one institution into a dynamic group of over 20, encompassing kindergarten all the way up to university, and alternative education pathways.

As a respected thought-leader in education and leadership, she serves as trustee of MERCY Malaysia (a world-renowned humanitarian organisation), and the 30% Club (promoting women leadership in public company boards). Internationally she is a member of the British Council’s Going Global Partners Group and the High-Level Advisory Council of the UN SDG Academy.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Education from Cambridge University. She is a past-president of the Oxford and Cambridge Alumni Society of Malaysia. Her many awards and accolades include two honorary doctorates from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and Victoria University, Australia, respectively. For her lifelong dedication and commitment in the field of education, she was appointed as Professor at Sunway University in February 2021 and bestowed the state title of Dato’ by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Sultan of Perak in 2022.

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Yani Hornilla-Donato

Country Lead, Canva Philippines Canva

Yani Hornilla-Donato is the Country Manager for Canva in the Philippines. Canva is an online visual communication and collaboration platform with a mission to empower the whole world to design. Since launching in 2013, Canva has grown to over 190 million monthly active users across 190 countries, with more than 280 designs created per second.

Canva Philippines has over 900 employees across multiple specialties —design, marketing, social media, growth, operations, and customer support among others — working together on a mission to empower Filipinos to unleash their creativity through Canva.

Prior to being Country Manager, Yani was Canva’s Head of People in the Philippines. She joined Canva in 2015 as the first Recruiter in Manila, and helped grow the local team from 35 to its first 100. She’s since launched multiple people programs and teams in Canva from Talent Acquisition, Team Happiness (HR), Canva University (L&D), Internal Coaching, and the Vibe Team (Facilities & Construction, Food & Beverage, Events).

Today, her impact is felt across growing the Canva team mindfully, scaling a truly local campus, and pursuing user and community growth in the Philippines.

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