Speakers | Hear From Leading EdTech Experts

Alessandro Di Lullo

Co-Founder SuperCharger Ventures

Alessandro is a Co-Founder of SuperCharger Ventures, a global edtech accelerator with offices in London and Singapore. He is also a PhD Candidate and Academic Fellow at the University of Hong Kong.

Alessandro also teaches entrepreneurship and startups at a number of leading universities such as EDHEC Business School and Chulalongkorn University.

Previously, he was Director of Academia & Entrepreneurship at CFTE, a world-renowned online education platform that works with governments and financial institutions to upskill professionals in Fintech and Artificial Intelligence. He advised and worked with large institutions and governments in Europe, Asia and Middle-East to launch large-scale transformative education programs.

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.

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 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 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.

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/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelamparmar/

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 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.

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.

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.

www.team4tech.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/goutham-kumar-37b5794a/

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.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/howiechang/

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!

LIM Cher Ping

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

LIM Cher Ping is a Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation 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.

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.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-klemm-ab789a6/
https://www.sgeducationnetwork.org/

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.

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.

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'.

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”.

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.

Professor Sunaina Singh

Former Vice Chancellor Nalanda International University

Professor 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 and is widely recognised for her scholarship in Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies and Women’s Writing. For her exemplary leadership initiatives, she has also the recipient of several awards.

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. She 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.

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.

Thea Wiltshire

EdTech, Schools, Early Years & SEND Specialist Department of Business & 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.

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.