Bett Asia EdTech 10

Dr Nanthaporn Prae

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 an author of books and blogs, and runs a successful educational programmes on various media channels, significantly contributing to the broader discourse on education. She currently resides in Singapore.

Dr. Sathisha Goonasakaran

STEAM Coordinator Tenby International Schools, Penang

As STEAM Coordinator at Tenby Schools Penang, Dr. Sathisha Goonasakaran uses her extensive academic and industry achievements to better the teaching and learning experience for everyone. In 2020, Sathisha pioneered the first-ever integrated STEAM approach to learning, making Tenby International School the first STEAM specialist in Penang, Malaysia. This initiative aims to support students in developing their STEAM skills, transferable soft skills and human values, preparing them to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Fadzliaton Zainudin

Deputy Director Educational Resources and Technology 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. 

"The Bett EdTech 10 initiative is a commendable effort to spotlight the significant contributions of women to the EdTech landscape in the Asian region. By recognizing and celebrating these women, it inspires them to become powerful role models and agents of change for the next generation of EdTech leaders. It also increases the visibility of women in EdTech and creates a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among these exceptional women."

Shruti Kirti Sharma

Partnerships and Communications Lead Generation Global – Tony Blair Institute

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.

Thanbeer Sekhon

Pre-University Senior Educator Desa Mahkota Form Six College

Thanbeer, a devoted Pre-University Educator and Digital Learning Coordinator at Desa Mahkota Form Six College in Kuala Lumpur, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to the field of education. 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 projects. Serving 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, she has played a pivotal role in advancing 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.

Dr Alice Masubay

Principal Department of Education, Betty Go-Belmonte Elementary School

Alice Masubay is an innovative educational leader and Principal who spearheaded Project LEAP, a mobile application developed during the pandemic to ensure students could access learning materials remotely. Under her visionary leadership, the project has had a profound impact on education by eliminating the need for physical module pickups, thereby ensuring uninterrupted learning during school closures and extreme weather conditions. Alice's dedication to education and her adaptability in times of crisis have set a new standard for integrating technology into the learning process. Her efforts continue to inspire and advance equitable, accessible education for all students. 

"The Bett EdTech 10 initiative is an empowering effort that celebrates and amplifies the contributions of women in Asia, inspiring future generations of EdTech innovators to drive positive change in education."  

Dr Joleen Liang

Co-Founder & U.S. Division President Squirrel Ai Learning

Dr. Joleen Liang is the co-founder of Squirrel Ai Learning and President of Squirrel Ai, North America. She holds a Ph.D. in Intelligent Science and Systems from Macau University of Science and Technology and is a visiting professor at UNIR iTED. She has spearheaded AI-driven educational advancements, leading Squirrel Ai to revolutionize learning with the world’s first all-subject Large Adaptive Model, impacting over 24 million students and 60,000 schools. In 2020, Dr. Liang and Squirrel Ai were honored with the 'Al Education Innovation Award’ by UNESCO. Joleen also founded the AI+Adaptive Education International Conference (AlAED) and has been a prominent speaker at global forums, including World Summit AI, IJCAI, ACM KDD, ACM UMAP, Slush, TechCrunch, and UBS Investor Conference, among others. Her work exemplifies a commitment to inclusive, high-quality education. 

"As a female, Asian leader in EdTech, I am honored to be included in this year’s Bett EdTech 10 list. This platform celebrates not just the achievements of women in technology, but also our collective mission to advance education equity. Through Large Adaptive Model technology, we are making AI personalized learning accessible to all students, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed. The Bett EdTech 10 initiative provides a wonderful space for sharing these innovations and inspiring a more inclusive and impactful future for education globally." 

Dr Raja Rina Raja Ikram

Senior Lecturer Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

Dr. Raja Rina Raja Ikram, an academician at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, specializes in software engineering and health informatics. As the Micro:bit 

Community Lead for Malaysia, she transforms education by pioneering hands-on digital lessons and fostering impactful collaborations with industry, agencies, and the community. Her efforts connect schools, students, and lecturers to drive innovative STEM initiatives, and she mentors undergraduates in delivering community STEM services. As a panel assessor for the Malaysia Board of Technologists’ Technology and Technical Accreditation Council (MBOT TTAC), she contributes to higher education standards. Dr. Raja Rina's dedication has empowered over 500 teachers and students in robotics, IoT, and coding, inspiring future innovators. 

Dr Siaw Lang Wong

Computer Science Teacher HELP International School

Dr. Wong Siaw Lang is a visionary educator with a university and research background. She joined HELP International School KL, impressed by its motto, “Life in All Its Fullness.” She has guided students in creating impactful tech solutions for school challenges. Her mentorship led to the development of an AI-powered car plate recognition system that earned conference recognition, particularly for its focus on promoting inclusive and equitable education. This project streamlines school dismissal processes and also breaks gender stereotypes by empowering female students in tech roles. By actively involving them in AI and Computer Vision, Dr. Wong Siaw Lang fosters a deep understanding of technology, inspiring young women to pursue careers in engineering and technology and positioning them as future leaders. 

"The Bett EdTech 10 initiative is a fantastic platform that recognizes and celebrates educators' contributions to advancing educational technology, fostering innovation, and inspiring future generations."

Fadzliaton Zainudin

Deputy Director Educational Resources and Technology 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. 

"The Bett EdTech 10 initiative is a commendable effort to spotlight the significant contributions of women to the EdTech landscape in the Asian region. By recognizing and celebrating these women, it inspires them to become powerful role models and agents of change for the next generation of EdTech leaders. It also increases the visibility of women in EdTech and creates a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among these exceptional women."

Francine Martindale

Owner, Director JUMP League by Content and Systems Pte Ltd

Francine Martindale first started her career teaching tech to children in Tokyo in 1991 at Futurekids, using software to teach English, Math, Logic, and computer operations (ie. how to load large floppy disks and more!).  She now runs JUMP League Esports, offering esports classes and competitions to students as part of their after school programmes.  Young gamers can improve not only their in-game skills under the coaching of actual esports pro players and coaches, but also about hardware, software, safety and privacy, teamwork, communication, leadership, and the broader esports world.  

"It's exciting to see women in tech becoming a norm across all areas of the industry, and to be a part of providing experiences for the next generation of young people that will be relevant in their lives and careers as they grow into a world where moving between real life and the digital world is second nature."

Kate Tucker

Primary Librarian and Technology Integrator British International School Phuket

After 28 years as a primary class teacher, Kate Tucker embraced a new role as Primary Librarian/Tech Integrator at BISP, focusing on educational technology. She pioneered the integration of Computer Science into our curriculum and started up a comprehensive robotics program. A key aspect of her work involves supporting teachers in technology integration, upskilling and empowering them with new skills. Kate actively advocates for immersing and engaging her students in the use of technology through after-school activities and innovation afternoons. Continuously developing her own skills, she feels privileged to inspire educators and students, fostering a community passionate about innovative technology. 

Lucia Dlamini

IB PYP Grade 1/2 Homeroom Teacher Ningbo Huamao International School

Lucia Dlamini is a PYP Year 1 teacher at Ningbo Huamao International School in China. She is originally from South Africa. Lucia completed her Bachelor’s of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is pursuing a Master’s of Education at Essex University. Her teaching experience includes roles in English, Art, and Homeroom teaching. Recently, she served as an online facilitator and led several professional development sessions at her school. She is strongly interested in educational curricula and practices that resonate with my teaching philosophy. My curiosity for education, effective education technology and childhood development reflect my commitment to enhancing educational practices and student learning outcomes. 

Siti Nabilah Binti Kasdi

Assistant Director Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia

Siti Nabilah Binti Kasdi is a special education expert with over 17 years of experience in teaching and managing special education. She holds a Master of Education (Special Education) from UKM and has developed various educational modules and applications such as "Love Our Earth." Additionally, she is recognized as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow, Minecraft Education Ambassador and Minecraft Education Influencer. With a strong commitment to innovation in teaching, she has successfully enhanced the skills of special needs students through technological and creative approaches.

Sudeshna Sani

Assistant Professor Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India

Ms. Sudeshna Sani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Business Analytics at Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India. She focuses on educational excellence and innovative learning pedagogy through games and quizzes, emphasizing hands-on skills. She has spearheaded numerous initiatives to integrate AI and ERS into education, with a special dedication to skill development for underprivileged women—particularly orphans and those economically disadvantaged, living without mobile phones and modern amenities. Sudeshna has inspired these women, helping them set goals and build confidence in their lives. She is recognized for advancing AI in education and promoting an inclusive learning environment. 

"The Bett EdTech 10 initiative is a vital platform for recognizing and celebrating the transformative impact of educational technology on learning and teaching."