Speech2Reach

Sandra is a software engineer, a mother of three wonderful children and a passionate advocate of instilling public speaking skills in adults and children of all ages. Sandra strongly believes that Public Speaking, communicating with impact and connection should be taught in schools from a young age and then practised and honed continuously. It's never too late or too early to build this skill set that allows us all to be engaging speakers, amazing story tellers, and able to bring our points across in a memorable way while having that right mix of body language, content structure and connection.

Project Everyone

Alysha Alva is the Marketing and Communications Executive at Project Everyone for the World’s Largest Lesson team. She leads initiatives to raise awareness among educators globally about teaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating sustainability competencies into educational practices. With over seven years of experience in the non-profit sector, including her work with AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-led organisation, Alysha is passionate about empowering young people to take an active role in achieving the Global Goals by 2030. 

Komodo

Executive Director - John Maxwell Team

Tosin Arowojolu is a professional civil engineer who moved from the United States to Bahrain in 2009. She is an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Team and the CEO/Founder of Leadership Excel Consultancy, which delivers workshops, and coaching for organizations focused on leadership development and communication to help build productive and profitable teams.

Her passion is to inspire positive life transformation and she is dedicated to equipping, and leading others to achieve their personal and professional goals so that they can live a life of significance and be the agents of change that they would like to see in the world.

She is married to Andrew, and they have two sons, Dapo and Seth. In her spare time, Tosin enjoys participating in photography exhibitions, swimming and dance.

Education Consiltant

Shei is a passionate international educator with extensive experience teaching Grades 1 to 12. Committed to placing learners at the heart of her work, she fosters service, solution-oriented approaches, global citizenship, and community engagement. She collaborates with youth, educators, and organisations worldwide to inspire meaningful action and drive lasting impact.

Vice Principal, New Generation Private School

Dr Tassos Anastasiades is a passionate global educator, consultant, and qualified school inspector dedicated to transforming educational experiences worldwide. With a background in biochemistry, educational leadership, and positive psychology, he brings a holistic approach to fostering student growth and institutional excellence. His career spans multiple continents, including the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Bahrain (St Christopher’s School), Kosovo, India, Dubai, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Saudi Arabia, China, Nigeria, Zambia, and Malaysia. He has held key leadership roles, developed bespoke training programs, and guided schools through accreditation processes. Highlights include a PhD in Biochemistry, an MA in Education, and certifications in COGNIA, Positive Psychology, and more. Dr Anastasiades' global experience equips him to provide tailored solutions that promote personalised learning, critical thinking, and well-being in diverse educational contexts.

Dean of Bahrain Teachers College

With qualifications from the universities of Oxford, Bristol and London, Dr Lucy Bailey is a highly experienced educational leader, who has developed professional development programmes to upskill teachers across Asia. Formerly a secondary school teacher, she now oversees teacher training in the Kingdom of Bahrain, through close cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The author of five books and over forty research papers and book chapters, Dr Bailey is an expert on the internationalisation of schooling and higher education.

10-Minute Talk: The Diversity Paradox

Lucy talks about when and why ‘diversity’ became a buzzword in education. She explores whether this is a key part of schooling, and asks how international schools can avoid ‘diversity’ becoming lip-service to a Western idea.  

Chartered psychologist at InnerDrive

Bradley Busch is one of the world’s leading experts at how schools can translate cognitive psychology research to improve learning. He is the co-author of the international best-selling books ‘The Science of Learning: 99 Studies Every Teacher Needs to Know’ and ‘Teaching and Learning Illuminated: Big Ideas, Beautifully Illustrated’. He has worked with hundreds of schools, both with staff and students. Outside of education, he has worked with Premier League footballers as well as with Olympians and Paralympians who have medalled at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Service and Enterprise Coordinator at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

As Service and Enterprise Coordinator, Jonathan looks to embed a culture of social entrepreneurship into the curriculum. He seeks to use the Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to build cohesion across the curriculum and deliver the school's Future Ready Curriculum to nurture global citizens within the school community. 

Curriculum Leader at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

Martin has over thirty years of experience as a Primary Teacher; he has taught from Reception to Year Six. He previously led Maths in the largest Primary School in mainland Europe (BSN) and was Senior teacher in Tripoli Libya. Clutching his Masters in Educational Leadership, his role on the Curriculum Leadership Team at St Christopher’s has enabled him to share his passion for reading and to highlight the threat that technological distractions pose to literacy levels in young people.

Theorise

Emma has taught in primary schools in Glasgow, London, Singapore and the UAE. After completing her Masters at The University of Bath, focusing on climate change education, she continues to work in sustainability education initiatives, including pedagogy and curriculum development. 

BTEC Lead at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

Ben’s career began in elite sport as sports analyst for the Football Association in World Cup 1998, continuing as Manager of Prozone Sports and then as analyst for Manchester United F.C. After fulfilling a dream to travel around the world, Ben’s teaching career began in Further Education, where a passion for academic and vocational pathways led him to become Course Leader for BTEC Sport and Exercise as well as adult Personal Trainer courses. Ben completed his M.Sc in exercise physiology, leading him to a position as Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Central Lancashire. Here, Ben completed his Masters in Philosophy in Human Muscle Physiology.

At St Christopher’s, Ben introduced BTEC courses to St Christopher’s and developed the BTEC pathway options within the Sixth Form. A determination to ensure that all students should be provided with the opportunity to fulfil their potential underpins Ben’s philosophy, embracing differences in learning preferences and ensuring the successful progress of our students to Higher Education or employment  With a knowledge of the requirements of University study,  Ben actively prepares students for both of these future options through development of both academic knowledge as well as real world experiential learning.

The AI Educator

The author of the best-selling book, The AI Classroom: Teaching & Learning in the Artificial Intelligence Revolution, Dan imparts invaluable insights and tactics for harnessing AI in education. His work has earned him esteemed accolades such as the Tech Champion Award at the Digital Industry Dynamite Awards and Top 30 K-12 Influencers by EdTech Magazine. Dan's former roles include serving as Director for Digital Strategy at Education Partnership North East and as a senior leader at a secondary school. Presently, he assumes the role of Director at Thirdbox Ltd.

Dan holds an M.A. from Durham University, a PGCE from UCL, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Design Thinking & Innovation from MIT. This robust foundation in academia has endowed him with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the ever-evolving world of AI and education. Dan has helped 42,000+ educators worldwide embrace AI. Additionally, he has partnered with hundreds of small business leaders and marketing professionals, such as those from Welsh Water and Cleanspec Cumbria, to enhance their practices using artificial intelligence. He is a regular contributor in the media on all matters of AI, having featured on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Time Magazine, Forbes, Sky News and ITV News.

Dan Fitzpatrick's unwavering commitment to the advancement of AI in education and his passion for fostering innovation in the field render him a highly sought-after expert, strategist, and thought leader. Dan's extensive knowledge and hands-on experience inspire educators, professionals, and organisations worldwide as they grapple with the challenges and prospects of the AI revolution.

Internationally Renowned Consultant, Trainer and Keynote Speaker

Author of three widely selling books, Claire has more than 25 years of experience in education. She has worked with hundreds of schools around the world to raise achievement and is currently supporting some of the most successful schools in the world. Claire believes passionately in ‘walking the talk.’ As well as supporting school Leaders, Claire also works with teachers in the classroom to build capacity by demonstrating her innovative pedagogies and approaches to assessment using her unique ‘Coaching Clusters’ model. A leading expert on formative assessment, time-efficient feedback and learning environments, Claire strives to improve outcomes for all learners and to help teachers to work smarter not harder.

When she is not working with teachers, Claire is busy delivering her signature ‘Radical Revision’ Programme directly to students and their parents.

Head of Computing and Theory of Knowledge at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

Daniel is an experienced teacher of IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Computer Science. He has a long and enduring interest in philosophy and critical thinking, both within and beyond the classroom. His experience teaching Theory of Knowledge only deepened his interest in epistemology, convincing him of how important it is that we furnish students with the critical thinking skills required to evaluate knowledge claims.

Thinking Matters

Lorna Gardiner has almost 40 years’ experience in education as a former teacher and school leader, local authority Adviser and Head of School Improvement Service in the Education Authority in Northern Ireland, and Associate Lecturer with the Open University. She has facilitated professional development programmes, INSET and conferences for teachers and school leaders on a wide range of topics. Lorna now works as a Thinking Matters consultant and has led the development of many TM training and guidance materials and has supported schools across the UK, and beyond to develop a whole school approach to developing student metacognition. 

Deputy Head (Academic) at Sandford International School

Alexander Harris is an educational leader with over 15 years of global experience driving innovation and transformative change in schools. As Deputy Head (Academic) at Sandford International School, he champions student-centered learning, curriculum development, and teacher empowerment. An international author and playwright, Alexander has over 20 published works and is the co-author of 101 Assessment Strategies for K-12 Education. His diverse experiences, including collaborations with Goldman Sachs and the Government of Afghanistan, fuel his innovative approach to education. 

Director of Learning and Teaching in Mumbai

Stephanie Holt is an esteemed educator with over 20 years of experience, having worked globally in various capacities including as an Advanced Skills Teacher of English in the UK, School Improvement Officer, Vice-Principal in Malaysia, and Deputy Head in Moscow, prior to Mumbai. Stephanie has delivered workshops and keynotes for many organisations including COBIS, focusing on metacognition, AI and AI for Learning and was a keynote speaker at the WCE Conference 2024. She co-authored the forthcoming "AI for Learning: 101 Assessment Strategies for K-12 Schools" with Alexander Harris. Her work significantly enhances educational practices, empowering educators and fostering student success.

Senior Associate for Teaching and Learning at Evidence Based Education

Kate Jones is an experienced teacher, leader, best-selling author, blogger and award-winning international speaker. Kate is the author of ten books including a bestselling series on retrieval practice and she was the editor of ‘The researchEd Guide to Cognitive Science’ (2023). She has presented and worked with schools around the world including the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Europe and more. You can connect with Kate on social media @KateJones_Teach.

Assistant Head Junior at St Christopher's School in Bahrain

Co-Founder of Courageous Leaders

With over 25 years of experience in the creative industry, Shaun has driven design, innovation, and creativity for global brands at some of London’s leading creative agencies. He co-founded a product inspiring children to embrace creativity and sustainability, which earned him a pitch on Dragon’s Den. 

As the Co-Founder of Courageous Leaders, Shaun helps organisations, leaders, and teams drive transformative change through courage and creativity. He specialises in guiding teams to connect and solve challenges through creative engagement and design-led techniques, delivering tangible outcomes and innovative solutions. Shaun is also an experienced LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, bringing a unique, playful approach to problem-solving.

Shaun also serves as a Board Advisor at Empathy Week, and educational resource and platform empowering young people to develop empathy and take action to create a better world.

10-Minute Talk: The Power of Play: Unleashing your Superpower

In a world increasingly dominated by technology, play and creativity are vital for preparing young people to thrive. This talk explores how play nurtures creativity, problem-solving and connection, while building empathy and resilience—critical skills for success in education and the workplace.

It’s a call for educators, parents, and students to embrace these superpowers to navigate an unpredictable future where lifelong learning and human connection are as valuable as technology.

Master Neuroplastician (M.npn). Teacher of Psychology/Religious Studies St Christophers

Recently gaining Master Neuroplastician certification from the ION Organisational Neuroscience Advisory Council, she is a firm believer that teachers are the regulators of the fundamentals of neuroplasticity. Having completed her Master in Educational Neuroscience (CQU) she is interested in how the school environment aligns with key factors that enhance learning. Her passion is to share with colleagues current research surrounding the brain, and to assist in the development of brain-friendly teaching resources which integrate neuroscience principles. Previous workshops include 'Teachers are superheroes: Neuroplasticians in disguise'.

Head of Teaching & Learning, and Curriculum at NAS Abu Dhabi

Catharine Keen is part of the founding team at NAS Abu Dhabi, which opened its doors in August 2023. With a passion for building schools that focus on meeting the needs of the community they grow from, Catharine has held Middle Leader positions in two other Nord Anglia start-up schools in the Middle East, Asia and spent four years in the Americas, she has cherished the diverse experiences and opportunities she has been given in founding schools and the learning that comes with these adventures. As Catharine embarks on her dream of leading Teaching & Learning, and Curriculum in Abu Dhabi, the opportunity to lead the DNA Metacognition project and embed and embrace a culture of thinking from the school’s infancy has had its challenges and obstacles, but one that has absolutely been worthwhile!

Making Stuff Better

Gill Kelly knows what it means to lead and to learn. As a former headteacher of three different and diverse schools she brings great creativity, insight and gravitas to those that she works with. Her soulful yet sassy approach to life is reflected in her fundamental belief in the innate ability of people to change themselves and their setting. Gill is an artist who works in oil on a large abstract scale.

As a CTI-trained coach she has an invaluable toolkit to help others achieve the life that they want.

When not splashing oil paints around canvas or pursuing a bargain pair of brightly-coloured shoes Gill delivers across all of the MSB programmes and is responsible for the strategic development of the company.

She believes that life and learning are far too important to be taken too seriously. A giggle solves most things.

Komodo

Founder of Parenting with Khadija

Khadija Khudhair is a PCI Certified Parent Coach®️ with a Master’s degree in Human Communication from City University London and a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from King Saud University. 

She has worked with numerous parents from diverse backgrounds and cultures, helping them gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their children. With experience as a teacher in various schools across different countries, Khadija has developed a profound appreciation for diversity and cultural differences.

Currently, Khadija is the founder of Parenting with Khadija, where she assists parents and caregivers in navigating their parenting journeys, empowering them to understand both themselves and their children

Co-founder and Director of Rethinking Education

Dr James Mannion is a speaker, teacher trainer, author and podcaster with a passion for educational and political reform. He is the Co-founder and Director of Rethinking Education, a teacher training organisation specialising in implementation and improvement science, self-regulated learning and practitioner inquiry. A former teacher of 12 years, James has an MA in person-centred education from the University of Sussex and a PhD in self-regulated learning from the University of Cambridge. James is an associate of Oracy Cambridge and a by-fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. 

He is also the host of the popular Rethinking Education podcast, which has had over half a million downloads to date. James currently has four books queueing up to get out of his head. However, he is also a master procrastinator; while completing his PhD, he wrote and starred in two sci-fi rock operas, with a third on the way…

Keynote: Understanding learner effectiveness

Discover the key to unlocking student potential with the Ship’s Wheel model of learner effectiveness. In this engaging keynote, Dr James Mannion explores the physical, emotional, behavioural, relational, cognitive, and navigational factors that shape how we learn and thrive. Drawing on research and practical examples, this session will provide valuable insights for educators, leaders, and policymakers seeking to empower learners to take control of their education and their future.

Learning Director at the American International School of Jeddah

Britta McCarthy is the Learning Director at the American International School of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is a former Social Studies and Science teacher. Her "spark" comes from authentic learning experiences that can transform individuals, schools, and communities. Britta has used Compass Education tools in her class for almost ten years, and can't say enough about how they create student agency and action around some of the most challenging issues of our time. In her leisure time she enjoys spending time in nature as a hiker and diver, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. 

Evidence Based Education

As a former Science teacher, Matt now leads on the delivery of the Great Teaching Toolkit, for Evidence Based Education, across schools in South-East Asia and the Middle East. Matt is also an expert in standardised assessment data, and regularly delivers sessions internationally as well as in the UK.

Assistant Head at St Christopher's School in Bahrain: Wellbeing, Behaviour and Pastoral Care 

Jamie's recent Masters in Educational Leadership and Management research examined why wellbeing programmes can often fail in schools, a topic he has presented and spoken on at conferences around the Middle East in the last two years.

Born in Nottingham, he spent the early part of his career acting in local films and theatre before working professionally as an actor in London. It was while working on a Theatre in Education production, delivering drama workshops in schools and youth centres in the East End of London, that he first developed a love for teaching. After re-training as an English teacher, Jamie specialised in the pastoral care of children and young people, working as a Head of Year in schools in Nottingham and Bahrain before becoming Assistant Head with oversight of whole school wellbeing and pastoral systems. Jamie's book, 'The A-Z of Student Wellbeing' published by John Catt is out next year.

Head of Digital Learning at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

Aneil Peswani is the Head of Digital Learning at St Christopher's School in Bahrain, where he leads the integration of technology into education to enhance teaching and learning experiences.

With over 15 years of teaching experience, he develops tailored technology standards that empower educators and delivers comprehensive digital training programmes for students, staff, and parents.

Drawing on his background as a graphic designer and trained Design and Technology teacher, Aneil specialises in advancing the use of artificial intelligence, promoting online safety, and fostering digital well-being. His work focuses on equipping schools and families with the tools and knowledge to embrace technology responsibly and effectively.

Managing Director of Mind Your Health Ltd.

An ex-teacher in all-boy boarding schools, George Peterkin retrained as a psychotherapist and created Mind Your Health in 2018. George, and Mind Your Health, focus primarily on the international educational sector - providing mental health training to all members of a school environment. Since the move to the UAE at the beginning of 2024, Mind Your Health's mission is to make mental health, counselling skills and affiliated training accessible to every member of a school in the GCC region.

Assistant Principal, Head of Learning Innovation at Nadeen School

With nearly two decades of experience in international education, Emma’s passion for learning inspires her approach at Nadeen. She is dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and a love for exploration while promoting kindness, empathy, and thoughtful coaching to help learners and colleagues reach their potential. Emma emphasises the importance of harnessing creativity and technology for societal benefit and instilling sustainable practices that empower learners to be responsible global citizens. Her commitment to nurturing curiosity, resilience, and a sense of belonging ensures that each learner thrives and contributes meaningfully to the world.

Head of Achievement and Enrichment: Inclusion at Nadeen School, Bahrain

With over 35 years of expertise in inclusive education, curriculum development, and school leadership, Suzanne Rodricks is an inspirational and visionary educational leader dedicated to fostering inclusive, brain-based learning environments. Holding an M.Ed. in Special Education from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, she has successfully led strategic initiatives that elevate school ratings and drive transformative change. In addition to her leadership roles, she has contributed to academic research by publishing papers and authoring chapters on change management and inclusive education, further solidifying her role as a thought leader in the field. A qualified inspector with NEASC (New England Association for Schools and Colleges) and a National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) holder, Suzanne has collaborated with institutions like the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Ajman University UAE and SNDT Women's University , India to advance community-based professional development programs.

Her leadership is rooted in a belief that every learner deserves an equitable, empowering education, and she has been instrumental in shaping inclusive policies, fostering partnerships, and mentoring educators to create sustainable, high-impact learning ecosystems. Through her research and writing, she continues to influence global conversations on best practices in inclusion and change management. With a career spanning multiple regions, including the UAE and beyond, she remains committed to educational excellence and transformative leadership, ensuring that schools and educators are equipped to meet the diverse needs of their learners.

Sixth Form Students at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

10-Minute Talk: Enhancing metacognition: the effect of unconventional problem solving 

How to integrate futuristic tools and processes into learning to stimulate growing mindsets in order to raise awareness about the different ways to process information, to highlight the importance of problem-solving and to motivate the youth to brainstorm wider solutions rather than just memorising and critically analysing problems.

Principal: Middle & High School, Hawar International School

With more than 25 years of experience as an Educational Administrator in the Middle East, including the service as the Principal of High School with IB, IGCSE & American curriculum as the option tracks for her students, Sajitha is a highly experienced educator. Coupled with participation and performance in many international educational workshops and symposiums, the highest title - Distinguished Toastmaster - earned from the Toastmasters International, that has given her ample opportunities to present herself as workshop Leader, debater and orator. As an innovative leader, her school has grown to one of the leading schools of Bahrain and has earned good popularity.

British School Dhahran Computing Teacher & Technology Coordinator

With 10 years of programming experience, Maha shifted to teaching after taking a break to be there for her family as they started moving around the world. She has been based in Libya, UK, Algeria, Cyprus, and now Saudi Arabia. Maha has 4 children, one studying Medicine in AlFailsal University and three at BSD where she is a computing teacher and technology coordinator. 

Maha enjoys teaching computing among a range of other interests, including supporting the school technology needs as a coordinator, running Lego League, eSports, Table tennis, and other activities.  As a lifelong learner, Maha enjoys the rewarding profession of teaching.

Head of Global Partnerships at Oxford University Press & OxfordAQA International Qualifications

Head of Year at St Christopher's School, Bahrain

Florence is Head of Year 11 at St Christopher's School in Bahrain. In this role, she is dedicated to promoting student well-being and preparing students to thrive in the real world. A strong believer in equality in education, she strives to create an inclusive environment where all students can succeed. After completing her BSc in Mathematics and Music from the University of Southampton, Florence taught Mathematics in the UK, whilst taking on various responsibilities such as Careers Lead and Duke of Edinburgh Manager, alongside pursuing a Masters in Education Practice and Innovation. 

Educator at the British School of Bahrain

As an educator with 13 years of experience, currently teaching KS2 and running the Sustainability Program at the British School of Bahrain (Junior School), Debbie was part of the team that won three international awards for sustainability initiatives. Her academic background includes a B.Ed and PGD in International Education. In addition to her teaching role, she has been a Scouts leader for a decade and currently serves as one of the Explorer Scouts District Lead Volunteers in Bahrain. Debbie also serves as a Kid's Ministry Leader in her community. Debbie's commitment to education and the environment inspired her to pursue a Masters Degree with research on generational views on sustainable education. 

International School Service Learning Educator

Driven by family, authentic action, nature, and reflection – Dom is an international school service learning educator with a passion for supporting those around him to develop their service leadership endeavours, especially young solutionary changemakers. He is inspired by how we can collaboratively draw on a constellation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions to regeneratively solve some of the world’s deepest systemic challenges. 

Director of Inclusive Psychology Bahrain 

Dr Frances Willis specialises in child development, with 10 years of experience as a British registered educational psychologist.

Passionate about inclusion, she works with international schools across the kingdom, applying psychology to help create school and classroom environments, where children can truly thrive.

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology - Newcastle University (2015)

• Masters of Education Research in Pedagogy and Learning (with distinction) - Newcastle University (2012)

• BA in Education Studies and Psychology (2:1) - Durham University (2009)

• HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist – registration PLY33086

• Chartered member The British Psychological Society

• Member Division of Educational and Child Psychology

10-Minute Talk: I am not a Robot'. Keeping our humanity in an online world

Phase Leader and Science Teacher, Nadeen School

Phil Willis is the third generation of teachers in his family and holds engagement, excitement and curiosity at the centre of his practice. With a combined 15 years experience as a lab technician, teacher, head of department and PGCE lecturer, in the UK and abroad, he is as passionate about planning and resourcing engaging lessons as ever.