Speaker List
Bett Asia 2026 will bring together the people redefining what’s possible in education. Across two days in Kuala Lumpur, you’ll hear from influential educators, innovators and decision-makers leading transformation in schools, universities and education systems around the world.
Our speakers represent a diverse mix of expertise, from AI and digital learning to leadership, policy and student success sharing real-world experiences, bold ideas and practical solutions for the future of learning.
Damir Odobasic
Head of Music, ICT, and Digital Integrations Shanghai United International School (SUIS)
Damir Odobasic is the Head of Music, ICT, and Digital Integration at Shanghai United International School (SUIS), where he leads cross-campus initiatives to embed innovative technologies and AI into everyday teaching. With a diverse background in music education, education technology, and curriculum design, Damir empowers teachers and students alike to embrace digital tools in creative, ethical, and impactful ways.
A frequent speaker at international education conferences, Damir shares practical insights on the evolving role of educators in the AI era. He is the author of the AI in Harmony newsletter and the creator of Damir Musicverse, a platform offering resources for music teachers looking to integrate EdTech and AIEd into their classrooms.
His current work encompasses the development of both music and ICT curricula, as well as leading school-wide collaborations to help teachers enhance their practice through purposeful technology integration. Through this work, he supports future-ready learning environments grounded in creativity, digital fluency, and ethical use of AI.
He is honored to be a member of the Bett Asia Advisory Group and contribute his expertise at the intersection of arts, technology, and education.
Dato' Professor Dr Mohammad Shatar bin Sabran
Chief Executive Officer Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)
Dato’ Professor Dr Mohammad Shatar bin Sabran was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) on February 8th, 2021. As an Agency under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), MQA is the sole body that oversees and coordinates the quality assurance and accreditation of national Higher Education. Under this appointment, he is the President of ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN) with a total of 21 members across the ASEAN’s region.
After receiving his Diploma in General Studies from Indiana University of Bloomington, USA, he pursued his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s at Iowa State University, Ames, USA majoring in Community and Regional Planning. In 1999, he completed his doctorate in Leadership and Community Development from University of Missouri, Colombia USA. His early career as top management started from Universiti Putra Malaysia when he was appointed as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) in 2013. Continuing to display credibility as a leader, he was later appointed as Vice Chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in 2017. Recognised as one of the National Social Experts, he has delivered more than 800 talks and published more than 40 books related to motivation, leadership, and community development.
Apart from having a persona in his leadership, Dato’ Professor Dr. Mohammad Shatar has received various Awards nationally as well as internationally. Among them are the ‘Extra Ordinary Performance Awards’ from Iowa State University; Media Personality Award; Gold Award, Innovation and Research in Counselling; ‘Anugerah Akademik Negara’ (Teaching Field); Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century 2012 by the International Biographical Center, England and listed in the 2012 Who’s Who in the World publication.
Dewi Yulianti
Ed Tech Program Lead Seri Mulia Sarjana School (Brunei)
Dewi Yulianti is an educational technology leader and Head of ICT and Technology at Seri Mulia Sarjana School in Brunei Darussalam. With nearly two decades of experience in education, she leads whole-school digital transformation initiatives across Preschool to Secondary levels, focusing on AI integration, digital learning ecosystems, teacher professional development and inclusive education practices.
She has spearheaded the implementation of Microsoft Teams, digital assessment systems, flipped learning strategies, and AI-supported classroom innovation while mentoring teachers in sustainable technology adoption. Under her leadership, the school was recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School (2025–2026), with 32 teachers achieving Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) certification.
Dewi has presented at EduTech Asia (2024 and 2025) and Bett UK 2026, sharing practical strategies for responsible AI implementation, teacher empowerment, and future-ready learning environments that balance innovation with educator wellbeing.
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Dr Anas Annuar
CEO Johor Skills Development Centre
Dr Anas Annuar is the Chief Executive Officer of Johor Skills Development Centre (JSkills), a leading TVET institution owned by Johor Corporation, focused on developing industry-ready talent for Johor’s evolving economic landscape. He holds a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, and brings over 16 years of leadership experience across higher education, certification, consulting, industry collaboration, and organisational transformation.
He leads strategic initiatives in workforce development, industry training, and talent upskilling, with key focus areas including data centre talent, advanced manufacturing, digital skills, AI, and technical education. He is also involved in Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) initiatives, supporting coordinated talent development efforts aligned with Johor’s economic priorities.
At the national level, Dr Anas contributes to the wider skills development ecosystem as an Exco of the Federation of Malaysian Skills Development Centres (FMSDC), working with peer institutions to strengthen industry-led TVET and workforce readiness in Malaysia.
Under his leadership, JSkills works closely with industry, government, and academic partners to strengthen Johor’s talent pipeline and support the state’s growth in high-value sectors, including digital infrastructure and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.
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Dr Jerrylyn Bacroya-Magbuo
Dean of Colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Education FAITH Colleges, Philippines
Dr Jerrylyn Bacroya-Magbuo is a Filipino academic leader, researcher, and trainer in education and EdTech. As Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at FAITH Colleges, she oversees programs in Teacher Education, Psychology, Sports Science, General Education, and Communication. She has led national training programs, pioneered AI-integrated pedagogy such as the Human Library Project and actively contributes to policy-level discussions on teacher education curriculum reform in the Philippines.
Her work bridges grassroots Teacher development, Higher Education innovation, and national education policy.
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Dr Sathisha Goonasakaran
Head of STEAM Department Tenby Schools Penang
Dr Sathisha Goonasakaran is an award-winning educator and STEAM leader committed to transforming education through innovation and purposeful learning. As STEAM Lead at Tenby Schools Penang, she has been instrumental in repositioning the school as Penang’s first STEAM specialist institution, leading the development of a 75,000 sq ft state-of-the-art STEAM facility equipped with robotics, AR/VR, and AI technologies.
She holds a PhD in Education from Universiti Sains Malaysia, where she developed a research-based model to strengthen interdisciplinary STEM learning. Dr. Sathisha actively delivers workshops across Asia, supporting educators in embedding integrated STEAM and effective EdTech practices.
Recognised as one of Bett Asia’s EdTech 10 Women in 2023, she was also awarded the Anugerah Guru Berwibawa (Private School) by the Penang State Education Department in 2025, honouring her leadership in private education. Her work focuses on leveraging AI in education while nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and metacognition in learners.
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Dr Syriac Nellikunnel Devasia
Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Finance Perdana University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syriac Nellikunnel is the Dean of the Faculty of Business at Perdana University, Malaysia, and a distinguished educationist with deep expertise in higher education leadership, administration, and online education management. An accredited trainer, he previously served as Dean at MASHA University and has chaired more than six international conferences. Dr. Nellikunnel is the recipient of many global honors, including the Global Green Excellence Award (2026), Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (2025), and the Blackboard Award for Student Success (2019). His research spans marketing, sustainable development, UNSDGs, CSR, quality frameworks, consumer behavior, and digital transformation strategies. He has delivered keynote addresses at major international conferences on employability skills and emerging trends in teaching and learning. As a journal reviewer, external examiner, and PhD supervisor, Dr. Nellikunnel combines scholarship, mentorship, and governance expertise, making him a visionary leader shaping the future of higher education.
Duncan Verry
Bett Portfolio Director Hyve Group
Duncan is the Director of the Bett global series of events, comprising Bett Asia, Bett UK and Bett Brasil. He previously launched his own EdTech marketplace, exiting to Twinkl. Prior to this, he was a Director at Tes Global and Times Higher Education, responsible for the growth of the World University Rankings and launching the rankings for Asia and setting up the THE World Academic Summits, starting in Singapore in 2012.
James Abela
Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship Garden International School
James Abela, Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship at Garden International School, combines his extensive industry experience with a passion for education.
Since 2012, he has been instrumental in shaping the UK computing curriculum. He is the author of Vibe Coding: From Idea to App at the Speed of Flow, Creating SwiftUI Apps in Playgrounds, Parenting and Teaching in the Age of AI, The Gamified Classroom and the Oxford University Press IB Diploma Computer Science book. As the founder of the Southeast Asia Computer Science Teachers Association (SEACSTA), James has become a key figure in computer science education. His accolades include being named 21st Century Teacher of the Year in 2014, an Apple Distinguished Educator (Class Cork 2012), and a finalist for the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award in 2023.
James also runs workshops and writes curriculum resources, inspiring students to pursue their passions and attend world-renowned universities such as Harvard, Cambridge, Imperial and Carnegie Mellon.
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Jane Yip
Teacher True North International School (Vietnam)
Jane Yip is a product visionary, certified educator, and Agile advocate with over 18 years of experience building digital learning bridges, currently based in Hanoi.
Operating at the intersection of Design Thinking and EdTech, Jane specialises in translating complex pedagogical theories into robust, AI-supported teaching frameworks. By treating her live classrooms as agile prototype environments, Jane relies on continuous, qualitative feedback and rigorous testing to empower educators to transition from traditional content delivery to dynamic "Flow" facilitation.
Jane thrives in collaborative environments where evidence-based innovation, technology disruption, and human empathy converge to engineer measurable student success.
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John Gwyn Jones
CEO FOBISIA
John Gwyn Jones MBE is a proud Welshman from Brynamman in the Amman Valley, whose journey from the hills of Carmarthenshire to the heart of international education in Asia has been anything but ordinary. John began his working life in the Midland Bank, where he quickly realised that counting other people’s money wasn’t quite his calling. Trading spreadsheets for school books, he trained to be a teacher at The University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen—a decision that would take him around the world. His first overseas adventure came in 1986, when he was seconded to the British Forces Schools in Hong Kong. One plane ticket later, John found his passion in international education—setting up schools, leading learning communities, and mentoring teachers across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Laos. He’s opened campuses, chaired boards, and occasionally even found time to do some educational coaching. John was a founding member, and the inaugural Chair of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), where he now serves as CEO. From his base in Bangkok, he supports over 100 premier British schools across the region—though he remains firmly grounded in his values of community, humour, and good old-fashioned Welsh resilience. In 2020, John was appointed MBE for services to British education overseas, an honour he received at Buckingham Palace from Princess Anne. He has also been recognised with a Leadership Award presented by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Kim Chua
Adult Educator Institute of Adult Learning (IAL-SUSS)
Kim Chua is currently with the Senior Forum Facilitation at Young Presidents Organisation.
She is also an adult educator with the Institute of Adult Learning (IAL-SUSS).
Mathieu Dooms
Educational Technology Coordinator Overseas Family School (Singapore)
Mathieu Dooms is an educational leader and technology strategist currently serving as the Educational Technology and Events Coordinator at the Overseas Family School (OFS) in Singapore. With a focus on the intersection of pedagogy and emerging tech, Mathieu specialises in navigating the "mindset shift" required for successful AI integration in K-12 environments. He is an active contributor to the regional EdTech community, known for developing comprehensive frameworks that move beyond technical proficiency to foster critical thinking and ethical engagement.
At OFS, he leads hands-on initiatives that empower educators, students, and parents to embrace AI as a collaborative partner in the learning process. By translating complex AI concepts into actionable classroom strategies and administration support, Mathieu ensures that school communities are equipped with the essential 21st-century skills needed for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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Melanie Tagg
Principal Analyst-Head Of Education Futuresource Consulting
Melanie Tagg is a Principal Analyst leading the Education Technology team at Futuresource Consulting, which has been tracking the global EdTech market for over 15 years. Researching and consulting on the education ecosystem across K-12 and Higher Education in 55 countries, Melanie is particularly interested in assessing the efficacy of technology in the learning environment and how it is helping to improve student outcomes, as well as its impact on Teachers.
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Paul Antcliffe
Primary School Deputy Headteacher British International School Kuala Lumpur (BSKL)
Paul Antcliffe has been the Deputy Head of Primary School at the British International School Kuala Lumpur, having previously worked as Head of Primary and Co-Principal at International School at Park City Hanoi and Head of Primary at both Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong and Dulwich College Yangon.
Paul has over 20 years of experience working in education and 15 years working in school leadership. He is also the father of a child with additional learning needs. Throughout his career, Paul has had a strong commitment to inclusive practices and creating opportunities to enable all students - especially students with additional needs - to develop their confidence, belonging and sense of self-value at school.
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Rizqi Khoirunnisa
Lead Research and Program Development Kuanta Indonesia
Rizqi Khoirunnisa is an education practitioner, teacher trainer, and program development specialist with more than 16 years of experience working in teacher development and school transformation. She has worked with educators, school leaders, and partners across Indonesia to design learning experiences and development programs that strengthen teaching quality and support meaningful change in schools.
In her current role at Kuanta Indonesia, Rizqi leads the design of training programs, educational projects, and strategic partnerships that connect innovation with practical implementation. Previously, she spent nine years at Putera Sampoerna Foundation, where she managed education programs and supported professional learning initiatives in diverse settings. A Cambridge trainer and Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching alumna, Rizqi brings both field experience and strategic perspective to her work. She is especially interested in teacher learning, school improvement, and creating education programs that are relevant, reflective, and impactful.
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Lai Cheng Wong
Senior Communication and Publication Manager SEAMEO RECSAM
Lai Cheng Wong is a Senior Manager at SEAMEO RECSAM with over 17 years of experience in strategic communications, knowledge management and regional education cooperation. She actively advances Digital literacy, AI literacy and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) at regional and global levels through her through her speaking, consulting, and publishing work.
In 2020, she co-founded the Media and Information Literacy for ASEAN Network, on a pro bono basis to empower Southeast Asia educators to integrate MIL into classroom practice. The Network has received several international recognitions, including the TechCamp Global Grant (2020), the U.S. Department of State Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Award (2022), and the UNESCO Global MIL Award (2023). Throughout her career, Wong as been actively involved in strategic planning, policy consultation and digital & media literacies advocacy and research work.
She has provided expert consultations and capacity building on digital and MIL for organizations such as the DCN Global, UNESCO regional offices, government agencies, and universities across Southeast Asia and beyond. She has led and contributed to numerous regional initiatives, including SEAMEO-Google teacher training on digital skills, TechCamp Malaysia–Philippines, and the ASEAN Teachers BootCamp on MIL.
She has also contributed to the development of AI Literacy Guidelines for the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the Southeast Asia regional policy framework on AI in Education (AIEd) and facilitated a capacity-building workshop on the integration of MIL into Mongolia’s national curriculum for educators, with the support of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia.
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Lakshmi Annapurna Chintaluri
Director (Academics and Operations) Educational Mentoring India (EMI)
Lakshmi Annapurna Chintaluri is a distinguished educational leader with over 30 years of experience across India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Certified in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard University, she has held leadership roles spanning teacher, principal, vice-principal and independent consultant, training over 10,000 teachers and 5,000 principals and headmasters across India. Co-Founder and Director of Educational Mentoring India, Lakshmi leads globally on sustainable education and global citizenship, representing India at the UN ESCAP Asia Pacific Finance Roundtable for Climate Change, the UN Water Conference in New York, and COP30 in Brazil. She is Country Coordinator for the Centre for Global Education, Canada, and a member of iEARN, USA. A Bett Asia Award winner for Collaboration, published author and NEP 2020 resource person, Lakshmi's vision is singular to make holistic, inclusive education accessible to every child, at every level, everywhere.
Rohaida Abdul Manap
Principal Assistant Director Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia
Rohaida Abdul Manap is a Principal Assistant Director at the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM), leading digital learning transformation across 27 campuses, impacting over 30,000 students and more than 2,000 educators. With over two decades in the Ministry of Education Malaysia, her work sits at the intersection of policy, pedagogy and innovation.
Rohaida Abdul Manap contributed as a Subject Matter Expert for Malaysia’s Education Digitalisation Strategic Plan 2026–2035, where she focused on rethinking teacher education beyond LMS-driven models towards AI-enabled, future-ready ecosystems.
Rohaida Abdul Manap has represented Malaysia across international platforms in the Asia-Pacific, and is driven by one core belief: digital transformation in education must move beyond tools to truly reshape teaching, learning and impact at scale.
Shoaib Raza
Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship Nexus International School, Singapore
Shoaib Raza is a multi-award-winning educator and international school leader whose work sits at the forefront of innovation, strategy, and learning. He is recognised globally for his ability to navigate the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in education, bringing an international perspective on how schools can build resilience, adopt future-ready practices, and sustain meaningful value creation in the age of GenAI.
With extensive experience across a variety of school settings, from traditional independent schools in London to ultra-modern international schools in Asia, Shoaib has consistently driven ambitious projects that advance both educational quality and organisational strategy. His leadership has been associated with multiple national awards, reflecting his proven track record of excellence in cultivating innovation and aligning it with measurable impact.
Shoaib’s expertise lies in anticipating emerging trends and integrating them into frameworks that are scalable, outcome-focused, and rooted in evidence-based practice. In the context of GenAI, he works with schools to develop strategies that strengthen digital maturity, safeguard equity, and promote objective-led thinking. He positions curriculum as a strategic asset and champions the entrepreneurial mindset, empowering learners and educators alike to create meaningful value through innovation.
His approach combines strategic clarity with practical execution. By supporting capability audits and succession planning, Shoaib ensures that leadership bench strength is developed in tandem with technological adoption. His work focuses on aligning school-wide initiatives with broader organisational priorities, embedding cultures of continuous improvement, and using learning strategy as a lever for cultural cohesion and long-term sustainability.
An influential voice in international education, Shoaib has promoted its merits across more than a dozen nations and four continents. He speaks the language of educators, boards, and investors, ensuring that the integration of AI into schools is not merely a technical exercise but a strategic endeavour tied to institutional identity and value creation. His current areas of interest include curriculum as a strategic asset, strategic optionality through educational quality and brand equity, the role of digital platforms in scalable delivery, and education as an investable sector with long-term social impact.
Shoaib is also the author of Timeless Learning: Raising Thinkers with Classical Education and AI Innovation, a best-selling book that explores how enduring principles of classical education can inform bold, future-ready practice. The book positions timeless educational ideas alongside the disruptive potential of AI, highlighting how schools can navigate change while remaining grounded in human-centred values.
As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Shoaib continues to contribute to global conversations on innovation, equity, and the future of learning. He is committed to equipping educators and learners with the frameworks, strategies, and mindsets required to adapt to a world shaped by technological transformation. His work underscores that the navigation of AI in education is not simply about adopting new tools, but about rethinking the very conditions under which learners thrive and institutions succeed.
Sonia Wadhwa
Additional Director IT and Principal Salwan Education Trust and Salwan Junior School
Sonia Wadhwa is an accomplished educator, digital transformation leader, and global advocate for future-ready learning, with over 27 years of experience in teaching, curriculum innovation, and educational technology integration. At the forefront of reimagining education, Sonia has dedicated her career to equipping educators and learners with the tools, mindsets, and methodologies needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
Currently serving as a Technology Integration Specialist, Sonia has led pioneering digital transformation initiatives across CBSE, CISCE, and Cambridge curricula. Her strategies have empowered schools and educators to meaningfully integrate technology into pedagogy—enabling co-creation, personalization, and critical thinking from the earliest stages of learning. Her visionary work supports the belief that artificial intelligence, when thoughtfully deployed, can foster agency, enhance early cognitive development, and make learning deeply human, even in digital formats.
Sonia’s expertise spans Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Safety, and emerging technologies, which she has taught passionately to K–12 students. She is also a sought-after global trainer and thought leader in the educational technology landscape.
As a Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow, Microsoft Trainer, and Global Learning Mentor, Sonia has trained over 25,000 educators worldwide on the integration of AI and digital tools into classroom practices. Her hands-on, teacher-centered training style ensures that even the most advanced technologies—like generative AI, machine learning, and cloud-based tools—are accessible, pedagogically sound, and adaptable to early years learning environments.Steven Sutantro
Principal Learning Consultant REFO Indonesia
Steven Sutantro is the Principal Learning Consultant at REFO Indonesia. As an acclaimed Google Certified Trainer, Coach, and Innovator, Steven leads a team of experts in managing various training and mentoring programs for people involved in education.
He currently manages Gemini Academy, a nation-wide AI training program that equips educators with AI literacy. In collaboration with Google and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia, Steven and his adept team have successfully designed this AI re-skilling program to train 180,000+ educators throughout Indonesia.
With his expertise, Steven has created a variety of interactive AI workshops that have inspired 1,000+ leaders and educators to increase productivity and work efficiency, as well as spark creativity for better teaching and learning experience, leveraging technology, including AI.
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Tripta Tarunesh
Co-Founder and Director (Educational Research) Educational Mentoring India (EMI)
Tripta Tarunesh is an early childhood expert with over 30 years of experience across classroom teaching, school leadership and curriculum design in India. Her practice is grounded in Harvard University's Project Zero where she completed Look Listen Interpret, Making Thinking Visible and Let's Play — and in Harvard's CEEL program, both of which deeply shaped how she sees children and learning. From that foundation she built two movements. PlayXploration uses technology to give play the structure and purpose it deserves in schools working across Play as an Activity and Play as Pedagogy, ensuring childhood is not missed, learning reaches every child, and teachers are empowered to observe, document and act on what they see. Her Life Skills program, built on jigsaw pedagogy for children aged 5 to 16, fills the gaps no curriculum addresses: civic sense, social responsibility, and the real workings of the world children are growing into. Tripta is Co-Founder of Educational Mentoring India and has designed curricula for national and international organisations. She believes schools teach curriculi. PlayXploration teaches children.
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