This year’s summit brings together global education changemakers and decision-makers shaping policy, practice, and progress. Featuring voices from government, industry, and the world’s most forward-thinking schools.
Founder and Chairman Dukes Education
Aatif Hassan founded Dukes Education in 2015 and holds positions as Chairman of Cavendish Education and trustee of St James Independent Schools.
He holds a British Army officer commission and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2019 for his contributions to education. He is also Chair of Dukes Foundation, trustee of the British Asian Trust, and founding trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room.
Managing Partner at Owl Ventures
Amit has experience scaling several education start-ups and is deeply committed to building new organisations that deliver sustainable, high-quality education solutions. Before joining Owl Ventures, Amit founded Personal Academic Trainers, an after-school tutoring company, and developed the quality assurance programme and institutionalised sales training for Mathnasium Learning Centres, an after-school maths learning franchise with over 1,000 locations across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
He also served as Director of Technology for Success Academy Charter Schools, a leading charter school network in New York City comprising 45 schools. Amit sits on the National Board of uAspire, a non-profit organisation that ensures all young people have access to the financial information and resources necessary to pursue and complete an affordable university education.
He received a BA in Mathematical Economic Analysis from Rice University and studied theatre and film at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and New York University. Amit was an Education Pioneers Graduate School Fellow and a Pahara-NextGen Fellow. He also earned an MBA/MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Graduate School of Education.
Chief Executive Officer at CAMFED
Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, née Mugwendere, was one of the first girls to receive support from CAMFED to go to secondary school. She is now CAMFED’s Chief Executive Officer, uniquely positioned to bring the expertise of girls and women once excluded from education to inform policy and strategy at every level.
Angie understands from experience both the desire for education and the enormous hurdles girls face in securing their right to education. In a spirit of solidarity with those facing the same struggles she has overcome, Angie became a key founding member of the CAMFED Association (CAMA), a powerful pan-African network of women leaders educated with CAMFED support. CAMFED Association members are united by a background of rural poverty, and by one goal: to ensure that no girl is excluded – that every girl secures her right to go to school. Association members are stepping up as a new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in their communities, as well as at the national and international level.
In 2009, Angie’s story featured in ‘Half the Sky’, a book by award-winning writers Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. In 2017, she was recognized as one of the 100 most influential women by the BBC, and the Clara Lionel Foundation presented Angie with the 2017 Diamond Ball Honours Award, recognizing her past, present, and future support of young leaders, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. In 2020, she was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Development alongside Lucy Lake, for their contribution to female education and joined the newly established Council of Luminaries. Angie accepted the 2020 Kristof Holiday Impact Prize and the 2021 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on behalf of our movement. Her 2023 TED Talk, representing that year’s Audacious cohort, brought CAMFED’s unique leadership model to an audience of millions. Angie has shared platforms with Michelle Obama, the Hon Julia Gillard AC, and The Duchess of Sussex, underscoring the urgency of addressing girls’ education as the foundation for achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals.
Angie serves on the Board of Masana wa Afrika, and has served as a member of the Zimbabwe Education Coordination Group; on the Board of the Zimbabwe National Youth Council; and represented CAMFED on the Education Coordination Group.
Vice Chancellor, Dwight & Franklin Schools
Since 2014, Dr Blake Spahn has served as Vice Chancellor, overseeing all Dwight and Franklin School operations worldwide (New York, New Jersey, London, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Hanoi, and Dwight Global Online School). His strategic leadership ensures the efficient and effective management of all facilities, systems, and staff in support of Dwight and Franklin’s innovative, world-class programmes.
Dr Spahn received his BA and MBA from Columbia University, where he captained the university’s undefeated Men’s Tennis Ivy League Championship team. He went on to earn Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Comparative and International Education from Oxford. The author of America and the International Baccalaureate, Dr Spahn has taught English and philosophy in classrooms across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. In addition to founding Dwight’s Preschool and Kindergarten in New York in 2004, he has overseen the London campus for more than two decades.
In 2000, Dr Spahn co-founded BOOST (Building Opportunities on Student Talent), a non-profit organisation created to support university students in Southern Africa, empowering them to contribute to their countries’ development. His global perspective was further broadened through his election in 2005 as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation
His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi is a social impact innovator dedicated to empowering youth through leadership advocacy and the support of grassroots initiatives.
Since 2019, Ahmed has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation, an initiative of Erth Zayed Philanthropies. The Foundation invests in youth-focused social development and accelerates youth-led initiatives.
Inspired by the vision of the UAE’s founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, to empower future generations—and established by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE—the organisation has spearheaded transformative programmes through strategic subsidiaries and joint ventures, establishing itself as a key driver of sustainable social progress.
In addition to his role at Emirates Foundation, Ahmed serves as Director of the National Experts Programme, which equips the next generation of Emirati leaders through an innovative mentorship initiative.
Previously, Ahmed chaired the Abu Dhabi Youth Council. He has also played a pivotal role in major UAE international engagements across diplomacy, culture, and sport, including the Special Olympics, UAE–China Week, Formula 1 Abu Dhabi, and the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Notably, he was appointed as the UAE’s first UN Youth Ambassador.
Ahmed is recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He also served as Curator of the Global Shapers Abu Dhabi Chapter.
He holds a degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C., and has pursued advanced training at Oxford University, Harvard University, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Founder of Teach First & Keynote Speaker on 21st Century Leadership
Jo Owen is a globally recognized authority on 21st-century leadership, known for delivering keynote speeches that are inspirational, original, and deeply practical. With a dynamic style and rich storytelling drawn from tribal societies, global businesses, and high-stakes environments like the nuclear deterrent, Jo’s talks captivate and challenge audiences across sectors.
Jo Owen is a globally recognized authority on 21st-century leadership, known for delivering keynote speeches that are inspirational, original, and deeply practical. With a dynamic style and rich storytelling drawn from tribal societies, global businesses, and high-stakes environments like the nuclear deterrent, Jo’s talks captivate and challenge audiences across sectors.
Jo is the only person to have won the prestigious CMI Gold Award four times for his bestselling books, which have been translated into over 30 languages and published in more than 100 editions. His influential titles include How to Lead, Tribal Business School, Mindset of Success, and Global Teams (Financial Times). In 2025, he adds three more to his repertoire: How to Change the World (Bloomsbury); Mindset of Success, 3rd Edition (Kogan Page); and Impact: Doing More with Less (Pearson)
Prior to his speaking and writing career, Jo was a partner at Accenture and began in brand management at P&G—where he proudly became the top nappy salesman in Birmingham and helped put the blue speckle in Daz. His remarkable journey has included founding a bank, building a business in Japan, and once being sued for $12 billion.
Chief Executive Officer of Oxford International Education Group
Lil Bremermann-Richard has been the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oxford International Education Group since 2019, following her role as Group Commercial Director from 2017. Under her leadership, the organization has achieved significant growth, both organically and through acquisitions, and has adeptly navigated substantial business transformations during and post the COVID-19 crisis.
Recently, Oxford International expanded its footprint beyond the UK, USA and Canada, into India and Australia. In India, it partnered with the University of Southampton to launch an international campus in Gurgaon. In Australia, the organization collaborated with the University of Notre Dame and acquired two providers, Universal Higher Education and Universal English, strengthening its regional presence. These initiatives reflect Lil Bremermann-Richard's commitment to broadening the company's global reach and providing diverse educational opportunities.
With over two decades of senior management and leadership experience across various educational sectors—including K12, higher education, apprenticeships, and further education— Lil’s previous roles include, Director of International Recruitment for Cavendish College, Head of International Operations for South Thames College, and most recently, International Director at BPP University and Non-Executive Director (NED) at Corndel. During her time at BPP, Lil set up overseas delivery centres in 6 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius. During her time at Corndel, Lil supported the management team through the development of their Higher Education strategy. Beyond her executive role at Oxford International, Lil also serves as Senior Advisor at Pictet Private Direct Investment and the Council of Indian Principals.
Lil's dedication to gender equality in the workplace is evident through her active mentorship of women in leadership and support for those returning to work post-maternity leave. Her contributions were recognized in 2021 when she received the 'Business Woman of the Year' award at the Education Investor Awards when she delivered her first Private Equity (Bowmark Capital) exit transaction and completed a Management Buy Out of Oxford International with the backing of THI Investments and in 2024, under her leadership, Oxford International Education Group was named one of the U.K.’s top 10 women-powered companies by JP Morgan.
Educational Visionary, Sport Psychologist & Founder of Sportpaten
Dr. Marie Ghanbari is an internationally celebrated educational visionary, sport psychologist, teacher and founder of Sportpaten. This award-winning 1:1 mentoring program connects school children with university students through sport, empathy, and relationship-based learning. The initiative creates safe, trust-based spaces where children experience belonging, build resilience, and develop self-worth — physically, emotionally, and socially.
At the core of Sportpaten lies a unique educational model: university students from diverse academic fields — including medicine, law, business, sport science, and teacher education — are trained in empathy and trauma-informed mentoring through interdisciplinary seminars. These students act as role models and “Sportpaten,” applying their training in real-life mentoring relationships and building bridges between academic knowledge and human experience.
Dr. Ghanbari’s academic background is rooted in intercultural research. Her PhD focused on an international comparative study of physical activity, self-concept, and resilience among adolescents in Nigeria and Germany, highlighting the psychological and cultural importance of movement for youth development. Her scientific expertise directly informs her practical work and educational philosophy.
She has received numerous prestigious awards for her impact and innovation, including recognition as a Top 10 Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize (2017), the Cusanus Prize for Social Responsibility (2013), the Graduate Excellence Award from the University of Münster (2010), and the Commende PhD Award (2015) for outstanding doctoral achievement in sport psychology.
In 2024, Dr. Ghanbari was personally invited by OECD Education Director Andreas Schleicher to join the Global Forum on the Future of Education and Skills 2030, contributing to global discourse on empathy-based, future-ready education. Her Sportpaten project has been recognized as a Best Practice Model for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the OECD Teaching Compass.
Her life story — marked by resilience, transformation, and a relentless belief in the power of human connection and shaped by adversity, courage, and a deep commitment to social justice — lends her work extraordinary authenticity. As a speaker, she challenges systems and inspires minds with a clear message: “Education must begin with empathy and end in empowerment.”
Senior Education Business Leader at HP
Mayank Dhingra leads the Education Business Vertical for the Worldwide Commercial Organization at HP Inc. His role is to provide strategic direction and thought leadership to the Education business line and he works with National Education Ministries to support country level education policy and to evangelize HP’s education proposition.
Mayank has spearheaded the development of HP’s EdTech Solutions for blended learning, Capacity Building Programs for educators and policymakers, and Future Skilling curricula for students. He is the architect and global owner of HP’s education portfolio stack consisting of the following programs – HP IDEA, HP Cambridge EdTech Fellowship, HP Classeasy, HP Futures, HP Gaming Garage, HP Innovation Garage, HP READ, HP School Improvement Coach, World Education Medals, and HP EdTech Incubator.
He was previously with GEMS Education where he headed the Commercial line for a network of 50 Schools in MENASA region. In addition, he sat on the board of two schools.
Prior to GEMS he was with the Emirates Group for nearly 15 years in two stints and his last role was Head of Global Technology Partnerships where he led a portfolio of over 450 vendor relations and portfolio managed large scale collaboration projects with tech partners. His preceding role was Head of Customer Experience for dnata (Emirates Group) where he set up the line and managed the business technology, product, pricing, marketing, and customer service functions across the network.
Mayank is a sought-after keynote speaker, author and moderator on EdTech subjects. He has spoken at prominent international conferences, including GITEX, COP28, G7 Summit, World Youth Forum, UNHCR Global Refugee Forum etc, and his articles have appeared in leading publications. He has also been an active mentor for several talent management pools.
Mayank is a certified Yoga teacher and the founder of a non-profit entity – Yogasmriti; which combines individual and community wellbeing. All proceeds from the initiative are directed to charitable causes supporting children in need. Mayank’s philanthropic work has been recognised at regional and international forums.
Group Chief Executive Officer EltonHouse International Education Group
Mr. Ng took over the reins as Group Chief Executive Officer of EtonHouse International Education Group in 2020, leading a team of over 5,000 staff and providing education to more than 25,000 students across over 100 schools in nine countries. Catering to both local and expatriate families, EtonHouse offers programmes from infant care to high school in both premium and affordable spaces. As a second-generation entrepreneur and son of founder Ng Gim Choo, he is dedicated to taking the group to greater heights. Under his leadership, the brand has expanded, with the creation of Middleton International School, providing affordable international education, and The Eton Academy, which offers high-quality academic enrichment for students from preschool to primary. He is also the driving force behind EtonHouse’s digital transformation, positioning it as a digital-first organisation with innovation at its core. Mr. Ng’s achievements have earned him recognition as one of the winners of The Next ICON Awards 2024 by ICON Singapore, celebrating his outstanding impact on the education landscape.
In his personal life, he enjoys outdoor activities, adventure sports, and is a strong advocate for mindfulness, a value he actively promotes within the organisation. As a father of twin boys and a daughter, Yi-Xian navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood while overseeing the education and well-being of over 25,000 students in EtonHouse schools worldwide.
Chief Executive Officer Spencer Academies Trust
Paul is the Chief Executive Officer of Spencer Academies Trust, an educational charity, and one of the UK leading Academy Trusts operating 26 primary and secondary academies and a designated TeachingSchool Hub. Paul’s career covers significant experience in school and system leadership as a Principal, Executive Principal and Director in various schools in the UK and internationally. Paul was registered as an OFSTED Inspector and in 2011 was recognised as an outstanding system leader through his designation as a National Leader of Education. In 2012, Paul was invited to participate in the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s flagship Fellowship Programme, working with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to look at curriculum-driven solutions to enable all children and young people to access learning and progression to drive social mobility. Paul has spoken at national conferences on the impact of System Leadership and improving education outcomes and standards through multi-school collaboration. Paul holds an Executive MBA in Educational Leadership, is a Member of the DfE Advisory Board, and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Co-Author of The Disengaged Teen and Director of the Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution
Rebecca Winthrop is a leading global authority on education, the director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in life, work, and as an engaged citizen. She leads cutting-edge research and initiatives aimed at transforming education systems around the world to better support children's learning and development.
Rebecca is a trusted advisor to both school communities and national and international organizations. Her expertise is sought by many including parent networks, schools, district education leaders, the White House, the United Nations, and Fortune 500 companies. Rebecca's work is centered on developing and advocating for evidence-based strategies that bring people together—families, educators, policymakers, and companies—to help children maximize their potential.
She holds a PhD from Columbia University’s Teachers College, an MA from its School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA from Swarthmore College.
Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Rod Smith was appointed Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment in August 2022. The International Education group was formed in August 2022, to bring together Cambridge International, Cambridge University Press Education and the Cambridge Partnership for Education.
Rod was previously Global Managing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press, a role he held since February 2015. He had overall responsibility for the Schools’ publishing businesses in the UK, South Africa, India and Australia, and for the Cambridge Partnership for Education.
After a childhood growing up in and around schools (his mother was a headteacher for 25 years), and a brief period as a primary school teacher, Rod developed his career in education services. For over 30 years he has worked in publishing, qualifications – both international and vocational – and Ed Tech companies in a variety of marketing and general management roles.
His career has confirmed his strong belief that education is the key to driving sustainable change for good in society and to creating the opportunity for more young people to be active beneficiaries of that change.
Chief Executive Officer at Aldar Education
Sahar brings 25 years of extensive experience in global education management, with the last 19 years spent in the UAE in senior leadership roles. She has served as the Chief Schools Operations Officer at GEMS Education and the Associate Director of Operations at the American University of Sharjah, where she has gained extensive management experience.
Throughout her career, Sahar has excelled in handling large, complex, and multi-site educational projects, and is known for her ability to improve business performance in education through various means. These include operational delivery, supply chain management, risk and governance, health and safety, strategy development and execution, project management, M&A integration, facilities and asset management, talent development, succession planning, and change leadership.
Vice Principal of Beijing No.4 High School International Campus
Shiny Wang is Vice Principal of Beijing No.4 High School International Campus and a Board Member of ETS TOEFL. He previously served as Assistant to the Principal at Tsinghua University High School and Director of College Counseling, Vice Principal of Tsinghua Daoxiang School, Academic Consultant at Tsinglan School, and Vice Principal of Beijing Kaiwen Academy.
He is a member of NACAC and InternationalACAC, a former member of the International Advisory Committee of the College Board, and the recipient of the “Outstanding Contribution Award” from the United States Department of State (Education USA), where he also serves as Special Advisor. Shiny is Secretary-General of the Beijing Academy for College Counseling and was residential staff at the College Board Summer Institute of College Counseling at NYU Shanghai. He is a founding member of ChinaICAC, serves on the International Advisory Boards of IE University in Spain and the University of St Andrews in the UK, and is Chairman of the Phoenix League Advisory Board of the University of Chicago. Additionally, he is the initiator of CCABA, CCAJZ, and CCAXN.
Shiny was among the first professional counsellors in a Chinese public school offering college admission counselling. He has over 20 years of experience in counselling as well as teaching and school administration at some of China’s most prestigious secondary schools.
He has extensive experience working with leading schools in China and internationally and is regarded as a leading expert in China on college counselling and international education. Shiny has presented at numerous professional conferences and forums, including International ACAC annual conferences, as well as media events hosted by Sina and Tencent. His articles on China’s international education have been published in major outlets such as The New York Times. Recently, he published a best-selling book on college counselling in Chinese, and his teaching stories have been featured in Lessons in Life: What We Can All Learn from the World’s Best Teachers by Andria Zafirakou.
Director of Deira International School
Simon O’Connor is the Director of Deira International School – an outstanding rated all through UK/IB curriculum school based in Festival City, Dubai. Simon is also Chief of Education for the Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF), working across their portfolio of schools. In 2023 Simon founded the AFEF Centre for Education Action Research (CEAR), which supports practitioner research in schools. This year the centre has over 150 researchers across 15 different schools, looking at a wide range of different elements. Simon has over 25 years of experience in education and joined DIS in August of 2020. Prior to this he was Principal of Jumeirah College, an outstanding school in Dubai, since 2013.
Simon is passionate about learning and ensuring all students are challenged in lessons for them to achieve their full potential. He is also very interested in school leadership and is currently studying for Doctorate with the University of Buckingham, researching the impact of a focus on organisational culture in international schools.
Before moving to the UAE, Simon taught History and Politics for over 20 years in a variety of different school contexts. In his last role in the UK, Simon worked as a school leader in a very successful grammar school in Kent. His role there was curriculum lead and was also responsible for the management of a teaching school and working across an academy chain of schools which he helped to found.
As a student Simon studied for a BA in History and Philosophy at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff where he was a choral scholar at Llandaff Cathedral. He then studied for a PGCE at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was also a choral scholar. Simon also holds a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership, and a National Professional Qualification for Headship.
Executive Director, Porvir
Tatiana Klix is a journalist and social entrepreneur deeply committed to driving educational innovation as a tool to promote equity and social transformation. She is the director of Porvir, Brazil's leading journalism agency and communications hub dedicated to fostering educational innovation. Porvir runs porvir.org, a platform that publishes content on educational trends and develops communication strategies, digital products, courses, events, and other solutions for partners aiming to engage the educational community and create a positive impact. Tatiana holds a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). She previously worked as a reporter and executive editor at Grupo RBS, as well as education editor at the iG portal. She was also a contributor to Canal Futura, co-founder of Quero na Escola — a platform that connects society with schools by empowering students to choose what they want to learn beyond the traditional curriculum — and serves on the board of Jeduca, Brazil's Association of Education Journalists.
Principal of Swiss Cottage School
Vijita Patel is the Principal of Swiss Cottage School, Development and Research Centre, a large special school for 260 pupils in London. Vijita is passionate about the role of education in developing an equal society, and its fundamental purpose in reducing the marginalisation of pupils with additional needs.
Vijita is an advocate of empowering educators as leaders of learning design, and the responsibility of school leaders in creating school cultures that cultivate teacher agency. She works with school leaders, governors, and Local Authorities as a National Leader of Education. She equally enjoys training early career teachers on the neuroscience of learning. Vijita is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers, and a Trustee for Special Olympics Great Britain, Challenge Partners, and the Artists in Residence Charity.
Swiss Cottage School, DRC was designated as an Apple Distinguished School in September 2021 and has six consecutive Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Inspection outcomes.
Founder and CEO of T4 Education
Vikas is the Founder and CEO of T4 Education, a digital media platform he established as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic to education globally. T4 Education is building the world’s largest community of teachers and schools and is providing opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share best practices, and support each other’s efforts to improve learning and school culture. T4 Education works to amplify teachers’ voices because the world in which every child receives a good education will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education. Vikas was previously CEO of a philanthropic foundation, has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and as one of London’s 1,000 most influential persons. Vikas was named European regional honouree for the 2022 YPO Global Impact Award.
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