Our International School Leaders Conference
Agenda: Tuesday 5 November 2024
08:00 to 08:20 (GMT)
Welcome and introduction
Speaker: Emma Whale, Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Pearson School Qualifications
Opening plenary to welcome leaders to this year's conference.
08:20 to 09:20 (GMT)
Keynote: Rewilding education through positive peace in schools
Speaker: Dr Hilary Cremin, University of Cambridge
Dr Hilary Cremin is Chair of the Cambridge Peace and Education Research Group (CPERG) at the University of Cambridge. In her keyote, she will offer a fresh and challenging perspective on the question of conflict, violence and peace in schools. Drawing on the most up-to-date theory and research from the field of peace and conflict studies, she will explain of the concept of positive peace, and how the dimensions of peace-keeping, peace-making and peace-building can be robustly applied in schools all over the world.
09:20 to 10:20 (GMT)
Keynote: The transformational role of AI in international education
Speaker: Matthew Wemyss, international school leader, Edufuturists AI Pioneer award winner and EdTech advocate
A compelling exploration of the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on school leadership. This session is not just about AI as a technological tool, but as a collaborative partner that brings a new level of clarity and insight to the realm of educational administration. Matthew will captivate you with inspiring stories and practical examples of AI in action, demonstrating how it can optimise operational efficiency and support student learning outcomes. He will delve into the crucial balance between technological advancement and human values, emphasising the importance of maintaining ethical standards and compassionate leadership.
10:20 to 10:30 (GMT)
Break
10:30 to 11:20 (GMT)
Panel: Embedding AI in international education for positive impact
Chair: Kathryn Booth, Regional Director MENAPT, Pearson School Qualifications
Panellists: Karim Rogers, Executive Director of El Alsson British and American International Schools; Natalie Williams, Director of Membership and Engagement at COBIS (Council of British International Schools)
Following on from the morning's second keynote, this panel discussion with invited experts and school leaders will consider the more practical considerations and tips for best practice around embedding AI in international schools.
11:20 to 11:30 (GMT)
Day 1 round-up and close
Agenda: Wednesday 6 November 2024
08:00 to 08:05 (GMT)
Day 2 Welcome
08:05 to 08:55 (GMT)
Panel: Emerging themes and trends in international education
Chair: Rachel Rogers, ISC Research
Panellists: Stephen Priest, Principal of Repton School Cairo; Kamran Baig, Founding Director, Lucerne International School, Switzerland; Seema Irfan, Principal of City School Southern Regional Office, Pakistan; and Rob Jamieson, Head of International Channels & Partnerships at Pearson
In this panel discussion, we'll examine some of the emerging (non-AI) global and regional trends and themes set to impact international education over the next 18 months and will discuss the key concerns, opportunities and drivers facing our panellists along with the strategies they're adopting to ensure they are best placed for the future.
08:55 to 09:45 (GMT)
Plenary: Expanding your British international curriculum track: advice and insights
Presenter: David Albon, International Curriculum and Qualifications Director, Pearson
Guests: Ana Plavša, Head of International Projects and Foreign Languages at Istituto San Leone Magno in Rome; and Dr Harsha Alles, Chairman of Gateway Group, Sri Lanka
More and more schools are looking for support as they add a British international curriculum track alongside their national or a local curriculum. In this session, we will hear from a range of schools who are at different points in their journey to expand their British international curriculum provision and will get advice and insights from school leaders to help you, if you’re also looking to expand your offering.
09:45 to 10:15 (GMT)
Plenary: Preparing your students for university: destinations, skills and progression stories
Presenter: Duncan Hamshere, International Progression and Recognition Manager at Pearson Edexcel
Guests: Dr John Taylor, Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation at Cranleigh School; and David Busby, Director of IT and Academic Skills at the University of Bath
In this session we will discuss progression to university from the international school perspective including how you can best prepare your students for university, which universities are popular destinations around the world, the skills your students will need and what you, as international school leaders, should think about now in terms of supporting your students' onward journeys.
10:15 to 10:25 (GMT)
Break
10:25 to 10:50 (GMT)
Plenary: Celebrating our worldwide community of international school educators
Presenter: Lisa Evans, Global Marketing Director + Sales Director (Europe + Americas)
Guests: Stephen Priest, 2024 Pearson International School Leader of the Year; Braden Cobb, 2024 Pearson International School Outstanding Innovator of the Year; and Auzair Collector, 2024 Pearson International School Teacher of the Year
10:50 to 11:10 (GMT)
Working together, we can help you achieve more
Speaker: Emma Whale, Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Pearson School Qualifications
11:10 to 11:30 (GMT)
Closing session and certificates presentation
David Albon
David Albon is Director of International Curriculum, Assessment & Qualifications at Pearson, and has been working in international education for over a decade.
Dr Harsha Alles
Dr Harsha Alles is the Chairman of the Gateway Group of Organisations. In Sri Lanka, Gateway has one of the largest branch networks with five international schools, three national curriculum schools, a graduate school and over 12 training centres spread across the country. Some of Gateway’s educational programmes have been used in twelve countries in three continents. Gateway also has a group of Kindergartens in the UK. Dr Alles is also a Director of the Universal College Lanka that offers the Monash University programmes in Sri Lanka.
By profession Dr Alles is a Medical Doctor with M.B., B.S. and a Ph.D. He was a lecturer in the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo before he shifted his career to be in charge of Gateway. He is a recipient of a Presidential Award for Research. During his career, he has been recognized as “The Outstanding Young Person of the Year”, ‘The Outstanding Businessman of the Year’ and ‘The Best CEO of the year’ by organisations with international repute.
Dr Alles is the founder Chairman of TISSL - The International Schools of Sri Lanka. He has previously served as a member of the National Task Force for Education and currently serves the National Education Commission of Sri Lanka as the sole representative from the private education sector. More recently he was appointed by His Excellency the President to serve in the Oversight Committee for the implementation of National Education Policy Framework (NEPF) and to the Public Expense Review Committee (PERC) on Education.
Kamran Baig
Kamran Baig is the founding director of Lucerne International School in Switzerland. Kamran has been involved in international education for around three decades with experience working in schools with British, American and other international curricula. He has held positions as department leader, curriculum coordinator, school principal and director.
Kamran is currently researching the applications of Blockchain in education and the integration of AI into personalised learning environments. He believes in holistic education and preparing students for the realities of their futures as digital natives.
Kathryn Booth
Kathryn Booth is Director of Pearson School Qualifications for the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Pakistan. Her team supports international schools offering Pearson Edexcel and BTEC qualification and associated courseware to their learners. Prior to this role, Kathryn was Head of Science Qualifications for Pearson UK and led the team that reformed Pearson Edexcel GCSE and A level qualifications.
David Busby
David Busby is Head of Digital and Academic Skills at the University of Bath. His team provides support and development to all students at the University of Bath, from undergraduate level up to research students, to ensure successful continuation and outcomes on their degree programmes. David has worked in education in many contexts as a teacher manager and teacher trainer for nearly 30 years, and has lived and worked in Italy, Japan and the UK and in Higher Education for 10 years.
Braden Cobb
Braden Cobb is Founder of Kidz Economy, an Upper Primary School Coordinator and international educator at HELP International School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and award-winning innovator. Kidz Economy is an innovative financial literacy programme designed to empower primary school students with essential money management skills. Through his engaging and practical curriculum, Braden teaches children the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, investing, and entrepreneurship. His program has garnered international recognition, winning prestigious awards such as the 2024 Pearson International School Outstanding Innovator award and the 2024 Global Winner for the Money Awareness and Inclusion Award. Braden's passion for education extends beyond the classroom, as he consistently seeks ways to make learning accessible and fun for young minds. His approach integrates gamification and real-world applications, ensuring that students not only grasp financial concepts but also apply them in meaningful ways, such as through the Classroom Stock Market and action projects. Braden's dedication to educational innovation and his expertise in financial literacy have made him a leader in shaping how young learners understand and manage money. His work leaves a lasting impact on students and educators alike, fostering a new generation of financially responsible individuals.
Hilary Cremin
Dr Hilary Cremin researches, writes and teaches about peace education and conflict transformation in schools and communities. She is concerned with big questions about the future of education and peace building, and works with her graduate students to consider new directions for the field. She is chair of the Cambridge Peace Education Research Group (CPERG) at the University of Cambridge and Chair of the Degree Committee in the Faculty of Education.
Hilary has worked in the public, private and voluntary sector as a school teacher, educational consultant, project coordinator and academic. She has worked with various adult and community groups and in hundreds of primary and secondary schools throughout the UK and internationally. She has also worked as a community mediator, mediating both neighbour and family disputes. She continues to be involved in the promotion and delivery of conflict transformation and peace-building work in schools and communities.
Lisa Evans
Lisa Evans is Global Marketing and Sales Director for Europe and Americas at Pearson. She leads a team of marketers who connect international school customers with the right products and support to help them meet their education goals and a team of sales people working locally to support Pearson Edexcel centres in Europe and the Americas. Three things Lisa loves that have nothing to do with her day job are her family and friends, walking in the countryside with her dogs, and martial arts, a hobby she developed in lockdown and has stuck to ever since!
Duncan Hamshere
Duncan Hamshere is International Progression and Recognition Manager at Pearson Edexcel and works with the higher education sector around the world to help students gain fair recognition for their achievements and to support the transition to university with Pearson Edexcel Qualifications.
Previously he worked as a senior international trade advisor for the Department for International Trade with different bodies in the further and higher education sectors in Spain and the UK and as a senior credential evaluator for the UK NARIC.
Seema Irfan
Seema Irfan is General Manager of Academics at The City School group in Pakistan. With over 35 years of extensive experience in education, she is a seasoned educator who has held various positions throughout her career. Her journey encompasses roles ranging from homeroom teaching to executive leadership, showcasing a deep commitment to fostering holistic educational environments. Recognised as a Master trainer by a UK university, and an expert in project-based Learning by Buck Institute for Education and International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications has helped Seema lead various educational projects, leveraging her expertise to drive positive change and innovation in education. Under her leadership of The City School's flagship campus in Karachi, she acquired ISO certification, reflecting a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and excellence in education delivery. With a rich tapestry of experience and a passion for educational excellence, Seema continues to make significant contributions to the field of education, shaping the next generation of learners and leaders.
Rob Jamieson
Rob Jamieson is Head of International Partnerships at Pearson School Qualifications. After starting out as a teacher of English, he has over 35 years’ experience in educational publishing, corporate training and academic assessment. He is constantly uplifted by working with teachers, among the most valuable people in society. He lives in Marseille, France with his wife and two teenage sons.
Ana Plavša
Ana Plavša is Head of International Projects and Foreign Languages at Istituto San Leone Magno in Rome. In her role, she jointly supervises all the activities of San Leone Magno Institute with a particular emphasis on international projects and English language teaching strategies across the school. Ana is a skilled translator of English, Italian and Croatian and an experienced teacher of English as a Second Language, British and American Literature, Language Services, and Writing. She is currently enrolled in a doctorate degree programme in Literature and Culture at the University of Split.
Stephen Priest
Stephen Priest is the Principal of Repton School Cairo. He has worked in international schools in leadership positions since 1999 in Germany, Nepal, Georgia and now Egypt. He is also a COBIS Lead Improvement Partner, a qualified BSO inspector and facilitates NPQH programmes in partnership with UCL. Stephen was founding chair, until moving to Egypt, of the Black Sea Schools. He has presented at conferences on such diverse issues as social-emotional learning, staff wellbeing, reflection, community service and crisis management. Stephen is passionate about international education and opportunities offered to students inside and outside of the classroom that can develop social-emotional skills.
Stephen proudly hails from South Yorkshire, is married to Tumika and has a son, Tristan, currently in Year 9.
Karim Rogers
Karim Rogers is Executive Director of El Alsson British International School, New Giza. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Management from University College London. He his career as a banker in Citibank before joining the family business at El Alsson School and sister adult language school International House Cairo in 2004.
He is Vice Chairman and board member of New Giza Education Company, Head of the education committee for the Egyptian Junior Business association, Founding member and executive member for the Foundation of International Schools Egypt, Founding member for International Schools Committee Egypt and sits on a number of other boards.
Rachel Rogers
Rachel Rogers is Head of Sales at ISC Research. With has over 25 years’ experience in the education sector, Rachel has spent most of her career working in Edtech, supporting schools to realise the benefits of technology to support teaching and learning. Before joining ISC Research, Rachel led an International Sales team at GL Education selling to schools across the globe, where ISC Outreach was a key tool for her teams’ sales planning activities!
Since studying psychology at University, Rachel has always been interested in how psychology is applied to organisations and businesses. She completed her Masters research looking at Leadership across Multi Academy Trusts.
Dr John Taylor
Dr John Taylor, BA, PGCE, DPhil, BPhil is Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation at Cranleigh School, with responsibility for the development of independent learning. He is an experienced teacher, trainer and consultant with experience of working with international schools to develop project programmes.
Dr Taylor works closely with staff, providing professional development opportunities and organising and leading CPD in areas connected to independent learning and he is one of the principal architects of the Extended Project Qualification and other project-based qualifications in the UK. In recent years his work has focused on the development of thinking within all areas of the curriculum, as well as the use of project work to facilitate deeper learning.
Matthew Wemyss
Matthew Wemyss, winner of the Edufuturists A.I. Pioneer award, is an educator and EdTech advocate with over 14 years of experience transforming classrooms in the UK and abroad. As co-host of the Ctrl+Alt+Teach podcast, he shares insights on educational technology to enhance teaching globally.
A school leader and keynote speaker, Matthew also co-chairs COBIS ConnectED: AI: Digital Innovation and organises AIDUCATION, an event exploring AI's role in education. His passion for interactive and meaningful learning helps equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a changing world.
Emma Whale
Emma Whale is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pearson School Qualifications. Based in Dubai, she has worked in educational publishing, assessment design, and school services for the last 18 years. Emma has a real passion for education innovation and spends her time visiting international schools around the world, working with school leaders to ensure we build the innovations our customers are asking for, into our qualifications, products and services.
Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams is Director of Membership and Engagement at the Council of British International Schools, having joined COBIS after 10 years working in the publishing industry. She has worked in several COBIS Supporting Associate companies, both in the UK and internationally, in sales and marketing roles. Before joining COBIS, she worked for Oxford University Press in their Dubai office. Natalie is a school governor for a primary school in Kent and has a passion for education both at home and overseas.
Suzie Williams
Suzie Williams is Senior Marketing Manager in the Pearson International Schools Team and curator and director of the annual Leaders Conference. She is also host and director of the popular Big Think series of thought leadership webinars for international school leaders.
Previous conference speakers
Frederic Bardy (2023)
Frederic Bardy is Sustainability and Social Innovation Manager at Pearson. Based in London, he leads efforts to drive the company’s environmental strategy into life while mitigating our impact on the planet across our operations and supply chain. Prior to focusing on education, Frederic worked in Consulting, Charity, and the Food and Agriculture sectors. Driven by an unwavering passion for making a positive impact on society at large, he actively seeks to strike a harmonious balance between people, planet and profit in our ever-evolving world.
Irene Custodio (2023)
Irene Custodio is Digital Lead within the Assessment Design team for Pearson, leading a team of technical experts focusing on the design and development of valid and fit for purpose digital assessments. Irene has over 15 years’ experience in educational research, assessment design and the development of high-stakes digital assessments. Irene's focus is on user-centred design principles, accessibility, fairness and equity of access in digital assessment. Irene is also part of the National Team responsible for delivery of digital PISA assessments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and currently part of an OECD working group which seeks to improve the accessibility and provision of suitable accommodations in PISA assessments.
Chris Eversden (2023)
Chris Eversden is Assistant Director of Education for Cognita Spain and Italy. He has been a schoolteacher since the age of twenty-two, a Headteacher for 14 years and now supports and challenges ten schools across Spain and Italy as a Regional Education Lead for the Cognita Schools Group in Europe. He has taught at, led and supported schools in London, the USA, Mexico City, Cumbria, Spain and Italy, and has lived in southern Spain for the last ten years. Chris has been involved in schools which focus on the British, IB, US, Mexican, Spanish and Italian curriculums and is acknowledged to have had significant success in supporting schools on wide-ranging change and improvement journeys. In his current role, he acts a line manager for school leaders and Chair of Governors on each school’s improvement and accountability journey.
Frederic Bardy (2023)
Frederic Bardy is Sustainability and Social Innovation Manager at Pearson. Based in London, he leads efforts to drive the company’s environmental strategy into life while mitigating our impact on the planet across our operations and supply chain. Prior to focusing on education, Frederic worked in Consulting, Charity, and the Food and Agriculture sectors. Driven by an unwavering passion for making a positive impact on society at large, he actively seeks to strike a harmonious balance between people, planet and profit in our ever-evolving world.
Irene Custodio (2023)
Irene Custodio is Digital Lead within the Assessment Design team for Pearson, leading a team of technical experts focusing on the design and development of valid and fit for purpose digital assessments. Irene has over 15 years’ experience in educational research, assessment design and the development of high-stakes digital assessments. Irene's focus is on user-centred design principles, accessibility, fairness and equity of access in digital assessment. Irene is also part of the National Team responsible for delivery of digital PISA assessments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and currently part of an OECD working group which seeks to improve the accessibility and provision of suitable accommodations in PISA assessments.
Chris Eversden (2023)
Chris Eversden is Assistant Director of Education for Cognita Spain and Italy. He has been a schoolteacher since the age of twenty-two, a Headteacher for 14 years and now supports and challenges ten schools across Spain and Italy as a Regional Education Lead for the Cognita Schools Group in Europe. He has taught at, led and supported schools in London, the USA, Mexico City, Cumbria, Spain and Italy, and has lived in southern Spain for the last ten years. Chris has been involved in schools which focus on the British, IB, US, Mexican, Spanish and Italian curriculums and is acknowledged to have had significant success in supporting schools on wide-ranging change and improvement journeys. In his current role, he acts a line manager for school leaders and Chair of Governors on each school’s improvement and accountability journey.
Sarah Kupke (2023)
Sarah Kupke is the Head of Professional Learning at ECIS. In international school headship positions, she led teams who developed innovative, dual language and interlingual approaches to learning and language development. She has worked in the UK and Germany as a primary, secondary and special education teacher, and she taught undergraduate education in London. Driven by the conviction that the life-long journey of engaging with intercultural understanding is vital to our appreciation of one another, Sarah is passionate about pursuing a journey to nurture diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Rose Luckin (2023)
Rose Luckin is a Professor at University College London and Founder of Educate Ventures Research (EVR). She has spent over 30 years developing and studying AI for education and is renowned for her research into the design and evaluation of educational technology and AI. She was named as one of the 20 most influential people in education in the Seldon List in 2017, the only non-US winner of the ISTE Impact Award, and one of Computer Weekly’s top 50 most influential women in technology for 2023. Rose regularly provides expert evidence to policymakers like the UK Parliament's House of Lords and House of Commons select committees and the European Commission. Rose has published widely in academic journals, at international conferences, through books, and in news media (TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines). Her 2018 book, Machine Learning and Human Intelligence: The Future of Education for the 21st Century, has been translated into Mandarin and influenced many of China's leading AI companies. Her most recent book, AI for School Teachers (2022), is an essential and accessible guide to AI for anyone in education.
Rose also founded EDUCATE Ventures Research Ltd., a London hub for educational technology startups, researchers, and educators engaged in evidence-based edtech and leveraging data and AI to benefit education. Rose has taught in secondary, further, and higher education. She has led many large interdisciplinary international research projects and held senior leadership roles in higher education, including as Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Sussex before joining UCL in 2006. She is President of the Self-Managed Learning College in Brighton and host of the EdTech podcast.
Sarah Muneeb (2023)
Sarah Muneeb is Head of Assessment & Qualification Operations at Beaconhouse Pakistan. With over 18 years of experience in the education sector, she is a proficient leader and strategist in assessments and qualifications and has held various pivotal roles in leading schools across Pakistan. In her role, she has been instrumental in introducing prestigious international secondary school qualifications, such as Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA, while fostering strong partnerships with globally recognised entities like Cambridge, International Baccalaureate, and the British Council. Sarah also spearheads the efforts for the digital transformation of assessments. Her dedication to youth development and empowerment has consistently driven her commitment to broadening academic opportunities for secondary school students.
The Beaconhouse Group is one of the largest independent school networks in the world. It is a learning organisation that takes pride in its past while nurturing a culture of continuous professional development, self-review and reinvention.
Beaconhouse traces its roots to the Les Anges Montessori Academy, founded in Lahore, Pakistan in 1975. The Beaconhouse network educates over 315,000 students in Pakistan, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia in company-owned schools and those operated by network associates.
The Beaconhouse Group of today is much more than a single school system. Through distinct and independent divisions across multiple destinations including Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Oman, the UAE, Pakistan and Belgium, it caters to the education and training needs of a large and diverse group of individuals of varying ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and nationalities, with its concerns also extending beyond education.
Henna Nathwani (2023)
Henna Nathwani is Head of International Qualifications at Pearson School Qualifications. She leads her team in the strategy and development of new International GCSE and International A level qualifications tailored to globally minded students. She has worked in the education sector as a teacher, science publisher and in her current role for 12 years.
Diana Osagie (2023)
Diana Osagie is a leadership coach and mentor supporting leaders facing challenging circumstances and change, and founder of The Academy of Women's Leadership, a group specialising in supporting women to grow the leadership cultures of their organisations and to flourish as confident leaders. She is also the author of 'Courageous Leadership - An hour to quash the tummy flies in your butter!' a humorous account of the highs and lows of leading in challenging circumstances, giving strategic insight to leaders who are serving at the chalk face and need someone to honestly share the mistakes, mishaps and triumphs of leadership.
With 20 years' experience leading secondary education, including six years as a successful head teacher in a London secondary school, Diana works at the cutting edge of leadership development and has achieved substantial success in developing school wide models that strategically enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum.
Meredith Reeve (2023)
Meredith Reeve is Head of Next Generation Assessment for General Qualifications at Pearson. She has held leadership positions across a range of teams within Pearson since beginning her career in education over 15 years ago, as a senior secondary teacher and chief examiner in her native country of Australia. As a strategic lead for the future of Assessment in the Schools Product team, Meredith has a key focus on the role of onscreen technologies in assessment.
Katie Templar (2023)
Katie Templar is Deputy Head of Secondary at Qatar International School in Doha. In her role, she leads on curriculum, assessment, reporting and recording. She has worked in the UK and Qatar for 17 years as an English Language and Literature teacher and has also worked as Head of English prior to her current Deputy Head role. In her current role, she has led the implementation of onscreen assessments at QIS since the pilot phase in 2020, has supported Pearson Edexcel at conferences in Doha and online and was 2023 runner-up for the Pearson School Leader of the Year Award for the Middle East.
Luke Walduck (2023)
Luke Walduck is School Development Manager at ISC Research. He works directly with international school leaders and business managers to produce the reports and data solutions required to inform school improvement and strategic planning. Luke joined ISC Research in 2020 as Head of Reports where he led a team working in conjunction with the ISC Research data analysts and field research teams to produce market reports to inform those working within or entering the international schools market. He holds a BA (hons) History from the University of Portsmouth and completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
ISC Research is the leading producer of independent data, trends and intelligence on the global English-medium international schools market. Its reports and data solutions provide access to detailed market data and intelligence to inform decisions on school planning, school improvement, and to support brand new school development and investment.