The Transforming Education Summit will be attended by senior government, business, and third sector leaders, current and former ministers of education, and education experts.
Organizations represented in the TES community include international organizations such as the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), IFC and UNESCO, third sector entities such as the Pearson Foundation, European Students’ Union, British Council, Singularity University and Brookings Institution, leading private sector companies such SMART Technologies, Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco Systems, as well as numerous ministries of education and leading academic and research institutions.
Further information about the TES delegates is available to registered members of the TES community.
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Bios
Academician Jaak Aaviksoo, a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, served the Republic of Estonia as the Minister of Defence for four years before assuming the post of Minister of Education and Research. In the 1990s, Aaviksoo was also the Minister of Culture and Education and the Minister of Education.
By education, Jaak Aaviksoo is a physicist. He graduated cum laude in the specialisation of theoretical physics in the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Tartu in 1976.
He holds a PhD degree and has been elected the Professor of Optics and Spectroscopy of the University of Tartu. He has been a Vice-Rector of the University of Tartu and been twice elected the Rector of the University of Tartu. Owing to his achievements in research, Aaviksoo has been elected a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Honorary Doctor of Turku University and a member of the Academia Europaea.
From 1981-1992 Jaak Aaviksoo conducted research in the Novosibirsk Institute of Thermal Physics, in the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, in the Osaka University in Japan and in the Paris VII University.
As the Minister of Education, Prof Aaviksoo launched the Tiger Leap programme to bring the Internet to Estonian schools. As the Rector of the University of Tartu, he was a member of the European University Association and of the European Cultural Foundation. As the Minister of Defence he launched cyber defence operations in the Estonian Defence Forces and was the initiator of the establishment of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia.
For outstanding services, Prof Aaviksoo has received the Order of the White Star Class II (2006), the Order of the National Coat of Arms Class IV (2000) as well as the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic, the National Order of Merit of the French Republic (2001) and the Order of the White Rose of the Republic of Finland (2001).
Since 2004 Prof Aaviksoo has been a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and belongs to ten other professional associations. For instance, he has been the chairman of the Estonian Council of Rectors and a member of the Academic Council of the President of the Republic. Since 1976 he has published almost 200 research and other articles and participated in over a hundred research conferences in 23 countries. Jaak Aaviksoo is a father to three children and a grandfather to four.
Jaak Aaviksoo
Academician Jaak Aaviksoo, a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, served the Republic of Estonia as the Minister of Defence for four years before assuming the post of Minister of Education and Research. In the 1990s, Aaviksoo was also the Minister of Culture and Education and the Minister of Education.
By education, Jaak Aaviksoo is a physicist. He graduated cum laude in the specialisation of theoretical physics in the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Tartu in 1976.
He holds a PhD degree and has been elected the Professor of Optics and Spectroscopy of the University of Tartu. He has been a Vice-Rector of the University of Tartu and been twice elected the Rector of the University of Tartu. Owing to his achievements in research, Aaviksoo has been elected a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Honorary Doctor of Turku University and a member of the Academia Europaea.
From 1981-1992 Jaak Aaviksoo conducted research in the Novosibirsk Institute of Thermal Physics, in the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, in the Osaka University in Japan and in the Paris VII University.
As the Minister of Education, Prof Aaviksoo launched the Tiger Leap programme to bring the Internet to Estonian schools. As the Rector of the University of Tartu, he was a member of the European University Association and of the European Cultural Foundation. As the Minister of Defence he launched cyber defence operations in the Estonian Defence Forces and was the initiator of the establishment of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia.
For outstanding services, Prof Aaviksoo has received the Order of the White Star Class II (2006), the Order of the National Coat of Arms Class IV (2000) as well as the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic, the National Order of Merit of the French Republic (2001) and the Order of the White Rose of the Republic of Finland (2001).
Since 2004 Prof Aaviksoo has been a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and belongs to ten other professional associations. For instance, he has been the chairman of the Estonian Council of Rectors and a member of the Academic Council of the President of the Republic. Since 1976 he has published almost 200 research and other articles and participated in over a hundred research conferences in 23 countries. Jaak Aaviksoo is a father to three children and a grandfather to four.
Art Kleiner
Art Kleiner is the editor-in-chief of strategy+business, the award-winning management magazine published by Booz & Company. He is also a journalist, educator and commentator, and the co-author of the bestselling book Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares About Education (2012, Random House), by Peter Senge, Nelda Cambron-McCabe, et al. Kleiner's other books include The Age of Heretics: A History of the Radical Thinkers Who Reinvented Corporate Management (Wiley, 2008) and Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success (2003, Doubleday). As an editor at the Whole Earth Catalog and CoEvolution Quarterly, he covered the personal computer and the nascent internet during the early 1980, and he teaches courses on the future of new media at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program. He has a graduate degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Barbara Ischinger
Dr. Ischinger took up the post of Director for Education for the OECD on 1 January 2006. She has held a range of senior international positions for almost 20 years in the fields of international co-operation and education, with a focus on Europe, the United States and Africa.
Before joining the OECD, Dr. Ischinger was Executive Vice-President for International Affairs and Public Relations at Berlin Humboldt Universität (2000-2005).
Between 1992-1994, she was a Director at UNESCO heading the Division of International Cultural Co-operation, Presentation and Enrichment of Cultural Identities. From 1994 to 2000, she was Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Germany.
In her present capacity, Dr Ischinger is responsible for the Directorate for Education which helps Member countries to improve the quality, equity and efficiency of their educational systems. The work is mostly done through the Education Policy Committee in charge of the reviews of country educational systems and the development of international indicators (Education at a Glance) and through the work of the Center for Educational Research and Innovation. It is also done by assessing the learning outcomes at the school level (PISA), at the university level (AHELO) and at the adult level (PIAAC).
Bertel Haarder
Bertel Geismar Haarder, born September 7th, 1944 in Rønshoved, son of high school principal Hans Haarder and Agnete Haarder. Married to Birgitte, née Præstholm. The couple have four children.
Member Period
Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party in Zealand greater constituency from September 15th 2011, in Greater Copenhagen greater constituency November 13th 2007 -September 15th 2011, in West Zealand County constituency February 8th 2005 -November 13th 2007, in Copenhagen County constituency February 15th 1977 – September 30th 1999, and in North Jutland County constituency January 9th 1975 - February 15th 1977. Candidate for The Liberal Party in Greve nomiation district from 2009, in Taastrup nomination district 2007-2009, in Kalundborg nomination district 2002-2007, in Lyngby nomination district 1977-1999, in Gladsaxe nomination district 1975-1977, in Sæby nomination district 1974-1975, and in Thisted nomination district 1973-1974.
Parliamentary career
Minister for the Interior and Health February 23rd 2010 - October 3rd 2011.
Minister of Education and Minister for Nordic Cooperation November 23rd 2007 – February 23rd 2010.
Minister for Education and Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs February 18th 2005 - November 23rd 2007.
Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs and Minister for Development Cooperation August 2nd 2004 - February 18th 2005. Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs January 1st 2003 - August 2nd 2004.
Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs and Minister for European Affairs November 27th 2001 - January 1st 2003.
Minister for Education and Research September 10th 1982 - January 25th 1993.
Member of the Presidium from September 30th 2011.
Prof. Nihat Bülent Gultekin
Professor Gultekin has been on the faculty of the Finance Department of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1981. He taught at the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and University of Chicago before he joined the Wharton School. He was a visiting professor at Koc University, INSEAD, Bogazici University, and University Paris at Dauphine. He received B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Robert College, MBA from Bogazici University, and Ph.D. from the Wharton School.
He was the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Turgut Özal, and President for Mass Housing and Public Participation Administration in Turkey, a state agency in charge of housing and urban development, large scale infrastructure projects, and the privatization program of the Turkish Government. He also served as an advisor for Turgut Ozal when he became president.
He served as the Chief Advisor to the Minister of Privatization in Poland during 1989-1991. He was a policy advisor to the governments of Indonesia, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Russian Federation, and to the presidents Nursultan Nazerbaev, and Islam Karimov.
He served as a senior advisor to the may agancies in the public sector such as: USAID, European Bank of Restructure and Development, International Finance Corporation, the World Bank, Istanbul Stock Exchange, OECD, UNDP, and Capital Markets Board of Turkey, Institute of Banking of the Saudi Monetary Agency,. He was a consultant for many international firm including Charles River Associates, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley & Co., Rothchild & Cie, IBM, Merck and Co., Citicorp, Chemical Bank, Barclays Bank, Merrill Lynch, Namura Securities, Arab National Bank in Riyadh, and the Dubai World.
He was the Chairman of the Board of Sumerbank, a state owned conglomerate with 35,000 employees and a director on the boards of Emlak Bank, Westergaard Fund, and Bell Atlantic Mutual Funds.
He is currently on the boards of Limak Yatirim in Turkey, Grossman Currency Fund Ltd, Grossman Macro Fund, BlueOrchard, and Oasis Capital in Geneva.
He is a founding trustee of the Koc University, Foundation of Ownership Changes in Warsaw, International Institute of Business in Kiev, and a former trustee of the American University in Bulgaria and the International Business School in Moscow.
Prof. Gultekin published extensively in scientific journals.
Carl Bistany
Carl Bistany is a board member of SABIS® Holdings and the president of two education management companies, SABIS® Educational Services s.a.l. and SABIS® Educational Systems, Inc. These two companies manage schools within the SABIS® School Network, which currently serves Pre-K, K-12 schools, and a university located in fifteen countries on four continents.
Since joining SABIS® in 1992, Mr. Bistany has led the fourth generation family-owned business and transitioned it into a globally-recognized, professionally-managed enterprise at the forefront of education management. He has been instrumental in the expansion of the SABIS® School Network into various countries as well as into the Public-Private-Partnership arena in the U.A.E, U.S., and Kurdistan. In addition to his active involvement as president of SABIS®, Mr. Bistany spends his time developing the network and overseeing the establishment of private and public schools around the world.
Mr. Bistany holds two Masters' degrees, one in Mathematics and the other in Computer Science from Syracuse University, NY. He is also a Harvard alumnus, having completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Owner/President Manager program. He serves as a board member of several organizations including the Advisory Board of the Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business at the Lebanese American University. He is currently an Area Vice President of the Chief Executive' Organization (CEO) and was the founding Chairman of the Lebanese Chapter of the Young President Organization (YPO) as well as the World Presidents' Organization (WPO). He has also served as a senior member of the Executive Board of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is a member of the World Bank Advisory Group on Engaging the Private Sector and is a sought-after speaker at global education conferences and events.
Dato’ Hjh Noor Rezan bt. Bapoo Hashim
Dato’ Hjh Noor Rezan bt. Bapoo Hashim was the Deputy Director General, Ministry of Education Malaysia since July 2007. She also headed the Committee under the purview of the Prime Minister to strengthen English language in Malaysian schools and was also the Ministry of Education’s Lab Leader, under the National Key Result Areas(NKRA).
She was an English teacher for over 20 years and became Principal in 4 different schools. In schools, she actively participated in international conferences, and delivered papers for International and local Forums. In 2003 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Schools Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia; in 2004, as the Director of the W.P. Kuala Lumpur Education Department, and in May 2006, as the Director of the Schools Division. She is currently the Education Adviser to Khazanah Nasional Berhad , providing guidance on several educational initiatives; namely PINTAR, Trust Schools, and Teach for Malaysia.
Dave Hancock
Dave Hancock is in his fourth term as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Whitemud. On October 12, 2011, he was appointed Minister of Human Services and Government House Leader, as well as serving as a member of Public Health and Safety Cabinet Policy Committee and Agenda and Priorities Committee.
At the commencement of his fourth term, he was appointed the Minister of Education. In his third term, Dave served as Minister of Health and Wellness and as Government House Leader. He was also appointed as a member of theAgenda and Priorities Committee, Treasury Board, the Legislative Review Committee, the Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Committee, and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Community Services.
He has previously served as the Minister of Advanced Education, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, and vice-chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Education and Employment. During each of his terms in office, Dave has served as a member of Treasury Board and the Agenda and Priorities Committee.
Dave is a lawyer by profession and was a partner with Matheson and Company, Barristers and Solicitors, before entering public service. He received an arts degree in political science and economics, and a law degree from the University of Alberta.
He is a strong believer in giving back to the community. He supports numerous nonprofit and service organizations as time permits, including Success By 6, Meals on Wheels, and Kiwanis Club.
Dave was born in Fort Resolution, N.W.T. He lived in Hazelton, B.C., and the northern Alberta community of Fort Vermilion, graduating from La Crête Public School before moving to Edmonton to attend university.
He and his wife, Janet, have three children: Ian, Janis and Janine.
Gilles de Robien
Gilles de Robien was born on 10 April 1941 in Cocquerel in the Somme region.
Following studies in law, he works as an insurance agent and loan broker in Amiens from 1965 to 2000. Parallel to this, he becomes involved in the Républicains Indépendants (Independent Republicans) during the presidential election of 1974, and then the UDF party (Union for French Democracy) for which he is to become departmental president and member of the national office until 2002.
Mr de Robien is elected National Assembly Deputy for Somme in 1986 and Secretary of the National Assembly. He is re-elected Deputy in 1988 and becomes Mayor of Amiens in 1989. In March 1993 he is re-elected Deputy for Somme and takes on the role of first Vice-President of the National Assembly. In 1995 he becomes president of the UDF parliamentary group (215 deputies). In 1995 he is re-elected Mayor of Amiens in the first round.
Elected Vice-President of the UDF in 2001, Mr de Robien becomes the natural director of the campaign for the UDF candidate, François Bayrou, but breaks ties with him due to the systematic opposing attitude of the former presidential election candidate.
On 7 May 2002, Mr de Robien is asked to join the first government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Housing, Tourism and the Sea. Re-elected Deputy on 9 June 2002, he remains in government and coordinates one of the major presidential projects: ‘road safety’. In 2004 he joins the third Raffarin government as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Planning, Tourism and the Sea.
On 25 May 2005, he is appointed Minister for National Education, Higher Education and Research in the government of Dominique de Villepin, until the end of the term of office on 25 June 2007. He establishes the ‘foundation of knowledge’. In 2006, Mr de Robien forms a discussion club called Société en Mouvement (Society on the Move).
Mr de Robien, appointed Ambassador by the Council of Ministers in August 2007, is the delegate of the French government at the International Labour Organisation.
On 4 April 2011, he is appointed by the President of the French Republic as coordinator and spokesperson for the social agenda of the French Presidency of the G20.
Chevalier in the Legion of Honour
Chevalier in the Order of Academic Palms
Eric Hanushek
Eric Hanushek is the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. He has been a leader in the development of economic analysis of educational issues, and his work on efficiency, resource usage, and economic outcomes of schools has frequently entered into the design of both national and international educational policy. He is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a member of the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education, and the area coordinator for Economics of Education of the CESifo Research Network.
He was recently appointed to the Equity and Excellence Commission of the U.S. Department of Education, and he served as chair of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences from 2008-2010. He has written or edited twenty books along with numerous widely-cited articles in professional journals. Government service includes being Deputy Director of the Congressional Budget Office and Senior Staff Economist at the Council of Economic Advisers. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and completed his Ph.D. in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (http://www.hanushek.net)
Jean-Claude Couture
Jean-Claude Couture currently coordinates the Association's research activities, including providing assistance to its strategic planning efforts. Over his twenty years of teaching he published numerous curriculum resources and textbooks before joining the Association. He has published in numerous areas related to educational development including action research, emerging technologies and organizational well-being. His current research interests include sustainable innovation in organizations and teacher identity formation in the early years of practice.
Jozef Ritzen
Jozef Ritzen, a Dutch national, was President of Maastricht University from February 2003 – January 2011.
During that period the Maastricht University grew out to become one of the leading international teaching research universities, with mlmost have of its students from abroad and problem based learning as the style of education. Before that Dr. Ritzen was Vice President of the World Bank’s Development Economics Department from August 1999. In July 2001 he assumed the position Vice President of the World Bank's Human Development Network. Dr. Ritzen joined the Bank as Special Adviser to the Human Development Network in September 1998. Prior to coming to the Bank, he was Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of The Netherlands, one of the longest-serving Ministers of Education in the world. During his term, he enacted a series of major reforms throughout the Dutch education system. He has also made significant contributions to agencies such as UNESCO and OECD, especially in the field of education and social cohesion. Prior to his appointment as Minister in 1989, Dr. Ritzen held academic appointments with Nijmegen University and Erasmus University in The Netherlands, the University of California-Berkeley and the Robert M. LaFollette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. He has written or co-authored eleven books. Many articles written or co-authored by him are published in the fields of education, economics, public finance and development economics.
He is now honorary professor of Maastricht University, senior advisor to the International Institute of Labor Studies IZA in Bonn, member of the International Advisory Board of RANEPA (Moskou) and KAU (Jeddah), adviser to several ministers of education, Chair and Founder of Empower European Universities and Initiator of the Vibrant Europe Forum.April, 2012
Leo Lenssen
Leo Lenssen was born on July 8, 1947 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. After primary and secondary education, he received teacher training and was awarded a full teaching certificate. He worked as a primary school teacher in Rotterdam. Next, he taught Dutch in various levels of secondary education in Utrecht. In this period, he was awarded the secondary school teaching certificates MO-A en MO-B in Dutch, as well as the Master’s Degree Dutch Language and Literature.
From 1980, he worked in managerial and executive functions in education and ended his executive career in August 2004 as president of the Management Board of the ROC ASA (Institute for intermediate vocational training with locations in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Amersfoort). Total number of students: 17,000. Number of employees: 1,200. Budget: € 90 million.
Leo Lenssen has had several additional functions. Until 1 January 2005, he was chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Corporation of Christian Secondary Education in Utrecht (7,500 students). Until mid-2005, he was treasurer of the NSO, Dutch School for Educational Management.
Leo Lenssen was a member of the Board of the BVE-Raad (sector organization of secondary vocational education and training and adult education) and its predecessors. He was a director of employers’ and school managers’ organizations. As chairman of the steering committee OKF, he negotiated about the transfer of school buildings to the BVE institutes.
Leo Lenssen has written several publications in (specialist) journals, newspapers and books on (school) leadership, supervision and inspection, funding issues, managerial relations between education and government, educational developments in secondary vocational education and training, the Act on Education and Vocational Training, identity questions, quality assurance, educational innovation and finance. He was chairman of the Becoming Who We Are Foundation. This foundation aims at stimulating work participation of psychiatric and mentally handicapped people.
Leo Lenssen gives presentations and lectures for institutes, government organizations and companies. He organizes workshops, conferences and study groups. He acts as chairman of conferences and meetings. He advises (government) organizations, executive committees and managers on governance, innovation and leadership issues.
Leo Lenssen graduated in march 2011 on a thesis ‘Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser?” This study focusses on the interaction between government policy and the individual and explores the impact of Dutch educational policy in general and the education system in particular on the development of the individual in recent decades. This involves discussion of the theme ‘accessibility’ of education, which encompasses how the education system and the individual interrelate and the factors that shape the associated outcomes.
Pasi Sahlberg
Pasi Sahlberg, PhD, is Director General of CIMO (Centre for International Mobility and Cooperation) at the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. He was leading the national curriculum reform in Finland in the 1990s and has since then analyzed education reforms around the world and worked with education leaders in Europe, North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Australia and Asia. Dr. Sahlberg is a former staff member of the World Bank in Washington, DC, and European Commission in Turin, Italy. He speaks and writes about education reforms and school improvement and has published over one hundred scientific and professional papers and books. His most recent book is “Finnish Lessons: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland?” He is a member of the board of directors of ASCD and IASCE and Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki and at the University of Oulu.
Dr Quek Jin Jong
Dr Quek Jin Jong is the Principal Officer in the Director’s office of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). His primary duty is to provide NIE’s Director with corporate support needed to function effectively as CEO of the Institute. In addition, Dr Quek spearheads task-forces in areas which would impact NIE as a whole and on matters which straddle between both administrative and academic departments.
Prior to joining the NIE, Dr Quek started his career as a school teacher and taught in Singapore schools at the primary, secondary and junior college levels for 18 years before being involved in teacher education in 1985.Over the past 25 years, he has served as the Deans of a School and Faculty Affairs of NIE. More recently, his roles within the Senior Management were to oversee the 12 academic departments, including Human Resource, Finance, Strategic Plan & Corporate Services.
In April 2007, Dr Quek was seconded to Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as its first Vice-Chancellor. He started the College and launched the BEd & PGDE programmes and mounted professional development courses for the teachers in the Abu Dhabi Emirates. He returned to NIE to assume his roles again in December 2008.
Dr Quek graduated with BSc and MSc from the University of Oregon, USA, and his PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia. He had his professional certifications in Singapore.
For his professional & academic contributions and years of service in education,Dr Quek was awarded three different National Day medals from the Singapore Government.
Ralph Tabberer
Ralph Tabberer was Director General of Schools in England between 2006 and 2009, a post in which he was responsible to PM Tony Blair for the development and performance of some 23000 primary, secondary and special schools in the UK. He held responsibility for a budget of £34 billion per annum and oversaw all policy development and operational delivery affecting government schools. Before that, he spent six years as Chief Executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, overseeing national strategy for teacher recruitment, teacher training and the modernisation of the school workforce.
Ralph has been living in the Middle East since 2009 and until February this year, held the post of Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Schools at the leading private school operator, GEMS. He is renowned as a dynamic leader who is steeped in classroom practice. As a former teacher and researcher into how children study and learn, Ralph has expertise in curriculum, pedagogy, student assessment and the new technologies. His abiding interest remains, how do schools work best with parents to help them raise their children?
In the New Years Honours list of 2009, Her Majesty The Queen invested Ralph as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in recognition of his services to schools. He is a visiting professor at the Institute of Education, University of London and he is Secretary of the Dubai Private Schools Group.
Richard Shediac
Richard Shediac is a Senior Partner with Booz & Company and the leader of the firm’s public sector practice in the Middle East. He is also a member of Booz & Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Shediac has more than 15 years of experience working with governments in the Middle East region across a broad range of policy areas. He primarily focuses on the development of sustainable public-sector strategies, restructuring initiatives, operations improvement, and organization development.
Mr. Shediac holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree in engineering from the George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut.
Sergio Bitar
Senior Visiting Fellow InterAmerican Dialogue, Washington; President, Fundacion por la Democracia. He has been Senator, Minister of Education and Minister of Public Works in the presidential cabinets of Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet. He was president and co-founder of the Party for Democracy. Was Minister during Chile’s Salvador Allende’s government and suffered imprisonment and exile after the 1973 military coup.
Engineer, Economist and Politician, he is the author of several books including a best-selling memoir of his time in prison entitled Isla 10, that inspired the film Dawson, in 2009 Also Educacion Nuestra Riqueza, Editorial Santillana, 2005
John Sexton
John Sexton, President of New York University, also is the Benjamin ButlerProfessor of Law and NYU Law School’s Dean Emeritus. He joined the Law School’s faculty in 1981, was named the School’s Dean in 1988, and was designated the University’s President in 2001.
President Sexton is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a past member of the Executive Committee of the Association of American Universities. He is past Chair of the American Council on Education, the New York Academy of Sciences and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York. He has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Chair of the Federal Reserve Systems Council of Chairs. He also serves on the Board of the Institute of International Education.
Before coming to NYU, President Sexton served as Law Clerk to Chief Justice Warren Burger of the United States Supreme Court (1980-1981), and to Judges David Bazelon and HaroldLeventhal of the United States Court of Appeals (1979-1980). For ten years (1983-1993), he served as Special Master Supervising Pretrial Proceedings in the Love Canal Litigation. From 1966-1975, he was a Professor of Religion at Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, where he was Department Chair from 1970-1975. President Sexton is passionate about teaching; in Academic Year 2011-2012, he is teaching four full courses.
President Sexton received a B.A. in History (1963) from Fordham College; an M.A. in Comparative Religion (1965) and a Ph.D. in History of American Religion (1978) from Fordham University; and a J.D. magna cum laude (1979) from Harvard Law School.
Professor Low Teck Seng
Prof Low graduated with First Class Honours in Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1978 from Southampton University and subsequently received his PhD from the same university in 1982. In 2009 Southampton University conferred on Prof Low the Honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his contributions to Singapore and his profession internationally, in the IEEE.
Prof Low joined National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1983. He established the Data Storage Institute in 1992 as Singapore embarked on its first National Technology Plan. In 1998 he returned to NUS as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Prof Low went on to build and led Republic Polytechnic from 2002 to 2008.
Prof Low was awarded the National Science and Technology Medal in 2004, the highest honour bestowed on an individual who has made distinguished, sustained and exceptional contributions, and played a strategic role in the development of Singapore through the promotion and management of R&D. In 2007 he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) by the President of Singapore for his outstanding contributions to the development of technical education and the management of science and technology for the nation.
Prof Low is currently the Managing Director, Agency for Science, Technology & Research. He also holds a tenured professorship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) where he is Senior Advisor to the President of NTU.
Prof Low is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Fellow of the Academy of Engineers, Singapore
William H. Schmidt
William H. Schmidt received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Concordia College in River Forrest, IL and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in psychometrics and applied statistics.He carries the title of /University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University and is currently co director of the Education Policy Center, co director of the US China Center for Research and director of the NSF PROM/SE project and holds faculty appointments in the Departments of Educational Psychology and Statistics.
Previously he served as National Research Coordinator and Executive Director of the US National Center which oversaw participation of the United States in the IEA sponsored Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).He has published in numerous journals including the Journal of the American Statistical Association, Journal of Educational Statistics, and the Journal of Educational Measurement. He has co-authored seven books including *Why Schools Matter*.
His current writing and research concerns issues of academic content in K-12 schooling, assessment theory and the effects of curriculum on academic achievement. He is also concerned with educational policy related to mathematics, science and testing in general. He was awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree at Concordia University in 1997 and received the1998 Willard Jacobson Lectureship from The New York Academy of Sciences and is a member of the National Academy of Education.
Anders Hultin
Between 1991 and 1994 Anders worked as a political advisor to the Swedish Ministry of Schools. During that time he worked to help introduce the voucher scheme in Sweden, which is now held up as a world-wide role model for countries that would like to introduce innovation and competition in educational provision.
In the mid 1990s he founded and was Managing Director of the central organisation representing free schools in Sweden.
In 1999 Anders co-founded Kunskapsskolan. He was Chief Executive of this company for eight years during which time the company became the largest provider of secondary education in Scandinavia operating 25 schools with almost 10,000 students.
Between 2007 and 2009 Anders was based in London in order to establish the company in the UK. Following this he served as CEO for GEMS UK before being appointed, in 2010, as Managing Director for School Improvement at Pearson UK.
Andy Hargreaves
Andy Hargreaves is the Thomas More Brennan Chair in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Educational Change and leading editor of the first and second International Handbooks of Educational Change. His books have achieved outstanding writing awards from the American Educational Research Association, the American Libraries Association, the National Staff Development Council and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and are translated into many languages. His most recent books are Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School (with Michael Fullan – Teachers’ College Press 2012), The Fourth Way (with Dennis Shirley – Corwin, 2009), and Sustainable Leadership (with Dean Fink - Wiley 2006), His current research is on high performing schools and school systems and on whole school changes that benefit students with special educational needs.
Andy has received many awards including an Honorary Doctorate from Scandinavia’s oldest university (Uppsala) and the Whitworth Award for contributions to educational research in Canada.
Axel Rivas
Axel Rivas, Director of the Education Unit at the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), from Argentina. He has a PhD in Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. He coordinates a network of educational policies in Latin America and has several publications on education policy from a comparative perspective. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Pedagogic University of Buenos Aires and at the University of San Andrés.
Daniel Filmus
At present he is a Member of Parliament performing duties as Senator of the Argentine Nation. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Adult Education Specialization and Master of Arts in Education. Former National Minister of Education, Science and Technology and Secretary of Education, Government of the City of Buenos Aires.
Since 2006 he is UNESCO, Chairman of the Working Group on Debt Swaps for Education
He is Professor at UBA (University of Buenos Aires), and Researcher for the CONICET, National Council of Scientific and Technological Investigations. He has been a consultant and adviser in various National and International Organizations such as OAS, OEI and IBD.
Dean of Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO).
Awarded by UNESCO with the Jan Amos Comenius Medal.
Proposed and passed laws for Educational Innovation:
-National Education Law Nº 26.206 passed December 14th 2006, entry into force December 28 th 2006.
-Educational Finance Law Nº 26.075 passed December 21 st, entry into force January 9th 2006.
-Professional-Technical Education Law Nº 26.058, passed September 2005, entry into force September 8 th 2005.
Gérard Aschieri
Born in 1952, a graduate of the Ecole Normale Supérieure, agrégé de lettres; high school teacher at Albert Schweitzer in Raincy (93); former secretary general of the FSU (2001-2010), the main union organization representing public education personnel; member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and Chairman of the Research Institute of the FSU (structure combining professional researchers and activists)
John Dennehy
John Dennehy was Secretary General of Ireland’s Ministry of Education and Science from 1999 to 2006.
During this period he had overall responsibility for managing a large Government Ministry, implementing and monitoring policy and delivering outputs. An important part of his role as Secretary General was the provision of high-quality policy advice and briefing to successive Ministers and, as administrative head of the Ministry, agreeing with each Minister outputs for the Ministry in the implementation of policy.
During his term as Secretary General, Mr Dennehy worked closely with successive Ministers, to initiate and implement an unprecedented program of change and development, both within the Ministry and in the wider education sector, aimed at raising the quality of education and significantly improving customer service and accountability. This included the most important program of structural, administrative, legislative and curricular reform undertaken in the history of the Ministry.
Before his appointment as Secretary General, Mr. Dennehy held many key, senior positions within the Ministry, prior to which he was a Divisional Inspector of Schools, a Principal Teacher and a teacher. He was Chairman of Ireland’s Teacher In-Career Development Committee and a member of the Irish National Council for Curriculum and Development.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr Dennehy was also Chairman of the prestigious Education Committee of the OECD (Paris).
During the past five years he has been the Director of Education at International Development Ireland (IDI). During this time he has led an expert team involved in providing world-class consultancy and project management on all aspects of Education and Training across the world.
From 2008 to date, Mr Dennehy has acted as a visiting international education expert/advisor for the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on the preparation and implementation of its Strategic Plan for Education. He has also participated in a number of workshops on education reform strategies, quality control and inspection of schools for ADEC.
Since the end of his term as Secretary General, he has also served as an independent expert/advisor on education reform to a number of Education Ministers and Ministries in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Gordon Brown
THE RT. HON. GORDON BROWN, MP - PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND (2007-2010) AND CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (1997-2007)
An admired leader through consequential times, Gordon Brown shares his insights on leading through the global financial crisis, the subsequent recession and the future of the world economy.
Gordon Brown served as Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from June 2007 to May 2010. As Prime Minister, Brown made major changes to how Britain tackles health, education, defense, crime, energy and foreign policy. He is widely credited with preventing a second great depression through his negotiation of the global deal at the London Summit—a meeting of the G20—which he hosted in the middle of the financial crisis. Prior to serving as Prime Minister, he had served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997 and held that position until 2007, making him the longest active Chancellor in modern history. During his ten years at the head of the treasury, he presided over the longest ever period of growth, made the Bank of England independent and delivered an agreement to support the world’s poorest countries and address climate change. The distinguished global leader in residence at New York University and an adviser to the World Economic Forum, Brown is also the author of Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalization, which focuses on the monetary crisis, global trade and the next stage of globalization. In his next book, 2025: Shaping a New Future (November 2012), Brown charts the massive technological, demographic, social and political forces–including the explosive growth of a global middle class–reinventing our world.
TAN SRI MUHYIDDIN HJ. MOHD YASSIN
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin was sworn in as the new Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Education Minister of Malaysia on 10 April 2009. Prior to these new portfolios, he served as the Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia from 18 March 2008 to 9 April 2009.
Born on 15 May 1947 in Muar, Johor, he is married to Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman and has 4 children.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin had his early education in Muar, Johor. His educational excellence had enabled him to be selected to further his studies at the Universiti Malaya, one of Malaysia’s renowned institutions for tertiary education. In 1970, he graduated from the university with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts with Honours in the Economics and Malay Studies.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin has been a Member of the Parliament of Malaysia since 1978 and has since then been holding several posts in the Government, which include, Parliament Secretary of Foreign Ministry (July 1981 - April 1982), Deputy Minister of the Federal Territory (May 1982 – May 1983), Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (June 1983 – August 1986), Chief Minister of Johor (August 1986 – May 1995), Minister of Youth and Sports (May 1995 – December 1999), Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (December 1999 – January 2004), as well as Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (January 2004 – March 2008).
In the recent elections of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) i.e. Malaysia's largest political party and a founding member of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, on 26 March 2009, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin had won the party’s number 2 post, which is the Deputy President of UMNO
Dr Dianna Millard
Dr. Dianna Millard is the Director of School Research and Improvement Branch within Alberta Education. This branch works in the area of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI), a provincial initiative for supporting the improvement of student learning, engagement and performance; the Student Engagement Initiative that creates opportunities for Alberta youth to provide advice on the education system through Speak Out; and Education Research, working collaboratively with education partners related to research informing practice and practice informing research. She has a wealth of strategic leadership experience at the school level, school authority central office level, and at the government level
Dirk Van Damme
Dirk Van Damme currently is Head of the Innovation and Measuring Progress Division (IMEP) in the Directorate for Education at the OECD in Paris. He holds a PhD in educational sciences from Ghent University and is also professor of educational sciences in the same university (since 1995). He also was part-time professor in comparative education at the Free University of Brussels (1997-2000) and visiting professor of comparative education at Seton Hall University, NJ, USA (2001-2008). Besides being an academic he has been professionally involved in educational policy development in various capacities between 1992 and 2008, from 2004 to 2008 as chief of staff at the cabinet of Mr Frank Vandenbroucke, Flemish minister of education. In 2004 he served also as executive director of the RAGO, the organization of public schools in the Flemish Community of Belgium. His current interests are innovation in education, comparative analyses of educational systems, new developments in the learning sciences and knowledge management in education. At the OECD he is responsible for the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) and the Indicators of Educational Systems (INES) programme.
Abdullatif M. AlShamsi
Dr. AlShamsi has been the Managing Director of the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) since 2007, and has raised IAT to become a world class Career-Technical Education system in English to produce scientists, engineers and technicians needed by the UAE to build a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. AlShamsi is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UAE University in the field of fluid mechanics. His appointments at UAE University include Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Research, where he founded and directed the externally funded office for research and science (eFORS) to strengthen industrial/academic partnership. In addition, he founded a University-wide Internship and Work Integrated Learning (iWIL) program to bridge the gap between learning and the workplace.
Dr. AlShamsi’s has more than 35 research publications in peer reviewed scientific journals. His latest book published in Arabic is titled "The Making of Education".
Dr. AlShamsi received his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University in 1997, and received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Boston University
Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili
Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili holds a PhD degree in Business Administration (2005) and MBA (1999) from Ain Shams University of Egypt and he is a holder of OSHA certificate (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). His Excellency has also published and presented many research papers locally and internationally on many topics of interest.
His Excellency holds the post of Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council since 2007 and thus he represents the council as a member in the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dr. Mugheer also served as a member of the first Federal National Council from 2007 to 2011 representing the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dr. Mugheer held many other important positions formerly: Assistant Secretary General of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Secretary General of the United Arab Emirates University and the Assistant Undersecretary in the Private Department of His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – Al Ain. In addition to that, he held a position of the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council.
In July 1st 2011, Dr. Mugheer was invited to join the Economic World Forum as a member in the Network of Global Agenda Councils. Dr. Mugheer is currently a member of Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund, and a Board Member of the Abu Dhabi General Services Company, "Musanada", member of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, Board Member of INSEAD – Abu Dhabi, member of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, and a member of the International Consultative Council for Executive Education in Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Dr. Mugheer also holds the position of the Vice President of Paris-Sorbonne University- Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Chairman of the General Authority for Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium.
Most important achievements of H.E. are Leading desert reclamation efforts and processes and Implementing environmental projects to revitalize and preserve wildlife while working at the Private Department for H.H. the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan – Al Ain for 10 years, leading the development process, restructuring of financial and administrative services system and supervising work processes at the UAEU, active contribution to the Tawteen Council Strategic Plan and managing the development of e-systems for Administration and Finance, Participation in the development and the implementation of the Strategic Plan, Supervision and follow-up of the E-Council Project, and the implementation of relevant electronic and administrative systems for the General Secretariat of the Executive Council. In addition to his contribution in the development and the implementation of Abu Dhabi Education Council Strategic plans of school and higher education.
Homaid Al Shemmari
As the Executive Director of Mubadala Aerospace’s business unit, Homaid Al Shemmari is leading the strategy and development of establishing an Aerospace industry in Abu Dhabi.
Homaid Al Shemmari has predominant roles with several companies; he is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Horizon Flight Academy, STRATA, and Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment, and holds board positions with Piaggio Aero and Yahsat.
Homaid has built key relationships with industry leading aerospace organizations over the past two years including the European aerospace group EADS / Airbus, Boeing, and General Electric.
Under his leadership, Mubadala Aerospace launched STRATA, an advanced composites aerostructures plant that will produce components for the next generation of aircraft, and Sanad, a component and engine financing and leasing company.
To further support the strategic development of the aerospace industry, Homaid is passionate about developing UAE Nationals to become the next generation of skilled professionals and business leaders.
Prior to joining Mubadala, Homaid was a Lieutenant Colonel in the UAE Armed Forces serving military aviation, maintenance, procurement and logistics. Homaid holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, U.S.A, and holds a black belt six sigma from General Electric.
Silvina Gvirtz
Minister of Culture and Education, Province of Buenos Aires, 2011-present
Former Director of the ConectarIgualdad program
Rafic Makki
Rafic Makki is currently serving as Executive Director, Office of Planning and Strategic Affairs and interim Executive Director of Higher Education, Abu Dhabi Education Council.
From 1984-2003, Rafic served on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was promoted to the rank of Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1995 and directed the computer engineering program from 2000-2003.
In the UAE, Rafic held the position of Dean of the College of Information Technology at UAE University, where he led the building of 7 degree programs and the recruitment of over 40 faculty members. He also served as VP of Research at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. His work with the Abu Dhabi Education Council is focused on education reform.
Rafic is the recipient of several major awards including the 2005 IBM Faculty Research Award (first in the Middle-East), the 2002 First Citizen Research Scholar Medal, and the ALCOA Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award. Rafic founded the IEEE Innovations in IT conference which is currently one of the largest IT research conferences in the Middle-East.He has served as President of the Faculty (elected by the university faculty at large) at the Universityof North Carolina at Charlotte and was actively involved in faculty governance.
Rafic received a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1983 from Tennessee Tech University. His research interests include design and test of semiconductor integrated circuits and education reform. He is a dual citizen of the USA and Lebanon, married with two children.
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is a prominent Educator and Legislator . A household name and personality in Ireland she spent 11 years as Minister in the Irish Government during times of great success and challenge. Mary successfully delivered as a Government Minister in several portfolios across an extensive range of Economic, Social and Cultural Responsibilities.
Mary has also had a highly successful earlier career in education. As a second level teacher for 17 years, Mary specialised in the teaching of the Irish Language, literature and History.
Mary Hanafin held Ministerial Office in Ireland in Government from 2000-2011.
As Minster for Children 2000-2002 her achievements included the Development of The National Children's Strategy, a 10 year plan to coordinate the Services for children and to give Children a voice in issues that effect them. This resulted in the Establishment of The Office of The Ombudsman for Children, the Development of the National Children's Parliament, and of School Councils.
As Government Chief Whip, and Minister in the Department of The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) 2000-2002 she was responsible for the management of legislation through the National Parliament.
In 2004-2008 Mary was Minster for Education and Science.
Key achievements included:
The Introduction of National Standardised Testing of Literacy and Numeracy Standards Publication of School Inspectors Reports to enhance transparency of School Performance.
Establishment of the Teaching Council on a Statutory Basis.
Development of a Strategic Innovation Fund for Higher Education.
Development of an Action Plan for Educational Inclusion
Launch of a campaign to attract men in teaching
Curriculum changes in Maths and Technology
From 2008-2010 Mary managed the largest budget of Government in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Here she introduced Welfare to Work linked Payments forYoung People, and Developed The National Pensions Strategy.
2010-2011 Mary was Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport where she developed Strategies for promoting Irish Culture and Tourism abroad and was also a partner in the Government's Economic Strategy.
During all this period, Mary participated in Economic Trade Missions to China, India, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. She has also chaired meetings and seminars of the European Council of Ministers, the Council of Europe and the OECD . Mary has spoken at a number of international events, including The League of Arab Women, the Special Olympics, and Graduation Ceremonies in India and Jerusalem.
In the past year, Mary has been Vice President of the Fianna Fail Political Party, has lectured in Education Policy Making in a teacher Training College and presented a 10 part television series on promoting the Irish Language.
Mick Adkisson
Mick Adkisson leads SMART’s effort to understand and influence government education policy and strategy efforts globally as well as SMART’s effort to identify, model and advocate for best practices in the effective implementation and use of ICT in education. In this role, he is responsible for delivering insight regarding education policy, alternative funding models, research on the educational relevance and efficacy of SMART products and services, and insight related to best practices in education ICT implementation.
Adkisson commenced with SMART in February 2007 where he assumed the advocacy and lobbying role for the North American K–12 market segment. Adkisson joined SMART from Intel® Corporation, bringing with him a unique skill set and valuable market insight. During his 10 years at Intel, Adkisson held several positions, including management roles in project and software development, and enterprise architecture. Most recently, he was a strategic marketing manager focusing on the K–12 segment in the Americas marketing group.
Prior to arriving at SMART, Mick spent the past 21 years in the information industry holding a variety of positions within The Boeing Company, Starbucks Corporation and Intel Corporation. Working on many engineering and information related programs, Mick has a very diverse background in software product development processes and technologies. Mick holds a Master of Science in Information System Management from Seattle Pacific University. In addition to his professional experience, Mick brings a personal perspective to his education experience. He has been surrounded by educators his entire life, including his wife, her mother and grandmother, who are all teachers; his brother, head running coach and instructor at Central Washington University; and his father, a retired administrator from the University of Washington, Seattle University and City University. This extended network gives Mick a firsthand experience how technology in the classroom makes an immense difference in how teachers teach and students learn.
Camilla Persson Benbow
Camilla Persson Benbow is Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, a position she has held since 1998.
Dean Benbow’s scholarly work focuses on gifted children and the development of mathematical talent. Benbow co-directs the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY), a longitudinal study examining the developmental trajectories of over 5,000 individuals throughout the life-span. She is particularly interested in identifying the educational experiences and interventions most conducive to developing intellectual talent and excellence in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
She has authored or co-authored more than 100 articles and 35 chapters. She is the editor, with David Lubinski, of Intellectual Talent: Psychometric and Social Issues (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), and with Julian Stanley, of Academic Precocity: Aspects of its Development (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983).
Benbow began her academic career at Johns Hopkins University in 1981 as an associate research scientist. In 1986, Iowa State University appointed her associate professor of psychology. She was promoted to full professor in 1990, became department chair in 1992, and in 1995, was named distinguished professor. She was appointed interim dean of education at Iowa State in 1996. While at Iowa State she also directed pre-collegiate programs for gifted and talented students.
Benbow was appointed to the National Science Board in 2006; she chairs the Committee on Education and Human Resources. From 2006-2008, she served as vice-chair of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel and as a commissioner of the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative, an initiative of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Benbow also serves on the Board of Trustees of Fisk University, is a member of the board of the American Psychological Foundation, and co-founded and co-chairs the committee of AAU College of Education Deans. She is currently co-chair of the Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting that is developing new accreditation standards for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
A fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association, she has received the David Imig Award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2010), the President's Award from the National Association for Gifted Children (2009), and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University (2008). In 2004, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the MENSA Education and Research Foundation.
Michael Stevenson
Vice President, Global Public Sector: Strategy, Education and Healthcare
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Michael Stevenson is Vice President, Global Public Sector: Strategy, Education and Healthcare, with responsibility for coordinating the development of public sector strategies worldwide to accelerate growth and oversee Global Education and Global Healthcare organizations.
Previously Michael led the Global Education team for five years actively engaging in the work of transforming education systems to meet the needs of 21st century learners, educators, and organizations through an innovative and dynamic approach to thought leadership, country education engagements, and global programs. Michael was responsible for developing Cisco’s education strategy and leading implementation in countries around the world.
Michael has built his expertise in education technology through roles in government and the media. Until September 2006 he was Chief Information Officer and Director of Technology at the Department for Education and Skills in England, driving the use of ICT in schools, colleges and universities. Before that he was DFES Director of Strategy.
From 2000 to 2003, he founded and led the BBC’s Factual and Learning Directorate, responsible for factual programmes and content across television, radio and online and spearheading an innovative education strategy that created an online curriculum for children at school and at home.
After studying Classics at Oxford, he joined the BBC as a graduate trainee. As a programme maker he specialised in politics and religion, going on to found and edit the flagship political programme On the Record. He then went into management, initially as BBC Secretary for the years leading up to the successful 1996 Charter Renewal. In 1996 he became Deputy Director of Nations and Regions, leading BBC Scotland and BBC Wales through the period of political devolution.
