Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart
Managing Director, Equitable Education Fund (EEF Thailand)
Speakers
Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart
Managing Director, Equitable Education Fund (EEF Thailand)
Ms. Severine Leonardi
Deputy Representative, UNICEF Thailand
Ms. Severine Leonardi
Deputy Representative, UNICEF Thailand
Nur Hayat Sultan is a software engineer and advocate who has been serving the Rohingya community since 2016. Her journey began at the Rohingya Culture Center, where she volunteered to assist community members facing language barriers.
She also helped address challenges in accessing resources and found the experience immensely rewarding, assisting families in navigating complex processes and connecting with critical support systems.
assisting them with their homework, leading educational activities, and fostering a safe, nurturing environment for learning and growth.
Nur is also the co-founder and Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy at the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network—a women-led, Rohingya-led, and refugee-led organization focused on human rights, education, and translocal solidarity.
The organization addresses key issues such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), women’s empowerment, and peace and security.
Nur has been at the forefront of engaging policymakers and civil society organizations to advocate for greater access to education and livelihood opportunities for Rohingya refugees around the world.
Inspired by these experiences, she continues to seek opportunities to advocate for the rights and dignity of the Rohingya people, striving for a world where every individual has access to education, safety, and opportunity.
Ms. Nurhayati Sultan
Co-founder and the Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy at the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network , United States of America
Ms. Nurhayati Sultan
Co-founder and the Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy at the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network , United States of America
Nur Hayat Sultan is a software engineer and advocate who has been serving the Rohingya community since 2016. Her journey began at the Rohingya Culture Center, where she volunteered to assist community members facing language barriers.
She also helped address challenges in accessing resources and found the experience immensely rewarding, assisting families in navigating complex processes and connecting with critical support systems.
assisting them with their homework, leading educational activities, and fostering a safe, nurturing environment for learning and growth.
assisting them with their homework, leading educational activities, and fostering a safe, nurturing environment for learning and growth.
Nur is also the co-founder and Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy at the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network—a women-led, Rohingya-led, and refugee-led organization focused on human rights, education, and translocal solidarity.
The organization addresses key issues such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), women’s empowerment, and peace and security.
Inspired by these experiences, she continues to seek opportunities to advocate for the rights and dignity of the Rohingya people, striving for a world where every individual has access to education, safety, and opportunity.
Ms. Nada Binroheem
President, Children and Youth Council of Thailand
Ms. Nada Binroheem
President, Children and Youth Council of Thailand
Dr. Denni Puspa Purbasari
Executive Director, Program Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Dr. Denni Puspa Purbasari
Executive Director, Program Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Eklavya Bhave
Head of Asia Business, Coursera
Mr. Eklavya Bhave
Head of Asia Business, Coursera
Eklavya Bhave is a business executive with 22+ years of experience. He currently serves as Head of Asia in Coursera and is based in Singapore.
He leads a team that is committed to providing equal access to the world’s best education to enterprises, educational institutions and government sector across the Asia Pacific region.
His responsibilities include driving business and Goto market strategy for Coursera’s enterprise sector. He has been involved in transformational projects in the employee development,
workforce development and education sector across 10+ countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Eklavya is an Engineering graduate with a Masters in Management.
Ms. Cristina Mereuta
Senior Human Capital Development Expert, European Training Foundation
Ms. Cristina Mereuta
Senior Human Capital Development Expert, European Training Foundation
Cristina Mereuta is a Senior Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF), the EU agency responsible for human capital development policies in the EU's neighboring regions (www.etf.europa.eu).
She coordinates activities focused on active labor market policies to address skills shortages, unemployment, and inactivity. Her role involves advising EU neighboring countries on EU Youth Guarantee-inspired schemes.
Cristina’s tasks also include skills anticipation, research, matching, skills mismatch analysis, measuring school-to-work transition, and contributing to EU cooperation frameworks with neighboring regions.
She also collaborates with international and European organizations focused on employment and skills development for youth and adults.
Cristina has contributed as an independent expert to international projects on activation, skills development, and social inclusion, working with the European Commission, ILO, Council of Europe, and OECD.
Ms. Patima Jongjareonthanawat
Director of Strategic Learning and Research, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council Thailand
Ms. Patima Jongjareonthanawat
Director of Strategic Learning and Research, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council Thailand
Mr. Herve Morin
UPSHIFT Global Lead, UNICEF Office of Innovation
Mr. Herve Morin
UPSHIFT Global Lead, UNICEF Office of Innovation
Hervé is an Innovation Manager at UNICEF's Office of Innovation, serving as the Global Lead for UPSHIFT, a flagship skills-building program. In this role, he provides strategic direction and supports country rollouts.
His primary focus is on scaling UPSHIFT by integrating it into both formal and non-formal education systems. He leverages digital tools to create blended learning experiences, reaching more young people at reduced costs.
Under Hervé's leadership, UPSHIFT has expanded from 19 to 51 countries since 2020.
With two decades of experience in international development, Hervé brings to his work a multifaceted perspective developed through various roles across NGOs and within the UN system.
Hervé holds a Bachelor's degree in Education Sciences and a Master's degree in Psychology, where he developed a deep interest in skills-building.
At UNICEF, he has conducted longitudinal studies on adolescent skills acquisition and development, with a particular focus on the critical role of schools.
Ms. Catia Malaquias
Co-founder of Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education
Ms. Catia Malaquias
Co-founder of Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education
At UNICEF, he has conducted longitudinal studies on adolescent skills acquisition and development, with a particular focus on the critical role of schools.
She is a co-founder and Adviser to All Means All – The Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education and played a key role in establishing the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education (ACIE).
The ACIE brings together organizations working toward inclusive education across Australia.
Catia is an External Affiliate Member of the Centre for Inclusive Education at Queensland University of Technology and is undertaking doctoral studies at Curtin University, Western Australia.
Catia has co-founded various not-for-profit organizations in Australia and internationally, including the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment (GADIM).
She is also a Director of the Board of Down Syndrome Australia.
She was named in 2021 by Australasian Lawyer as one of the Most Influential Lawyers in human rights.
In 2018, Catia was honoured with an Australian Human Rights Award and was the winner of the 2018 Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence, Diversity and Inclusion Award.
In 2015 Catia participated in the Day of General Discussion in Geneva on the right to inclusive education under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities,
which culminated in the 2016 General Comment No.4 (Article 24: Right to Inclusive Education) to give States Parties guidance on their obligations under Article 24.
Dr. Stephen Yip
Project Director, Research and Development Office, The Education University of Hong Kong / UNESCO UNEVOC Network Representative
Dr. Stephen Yip
Project Director, Research and Development Office, The Education University of Hong Kong / UNESCO UNEVOC Network Representative
Dr Stephen Yam-wing YIP is the Project Director, Research and Development Office at the Education University of Hong Kong, (EdUHK) leading the ten-year CLAP@JC project initiated and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
He was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, under the Faculty of Education and Human Development (2016-20).
Before joining the university, Dr Yip was the Principal Assistant Secretary for Education in the Education Bureau, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Dr Yip led to promote and review key policies, e.g. Life-wide Learning (LWL), Career guidance, Textbook Review, School Library services,
New Senior Secondary curriculum and assessment, and the promotion of Multiple Pathways under the New Academic Structure in 2010s.
He was graduated at Imperial College, London reading Chemistry and Biochemistry. He gained Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Education degrees from the University of Cambridge specialising education studies.
During his lectureship in EdUHK, he was awarded three teaching awards. His research are career and life development, curriculum leadership, values education and life-wide learning. His recent publications are
Being an educator, a policy leader and a researcher in the Education field, Dr Yip was recently elected by Today Chinese to be the
“Outstanding Figure in 2023” for his contributions in education and nurturing talents.
Dr. Kenji Kuno
Senior Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Dr. Kenji Kuno
Senior Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Kenji Kuno is a senior advisor on social security (especially on Disability & Development) for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA is the Japanese government’s agency for international development.
He has been working on disability and development for thirty-five years, especially on Disability Education, Livelihood, and Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID). He led a JICA’s project on Supported Employment in Malaysia from 2004 to 2015.
He obtained Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.
He is a visiting professor of the Nihon Fukushi University (Japan), and, a founding director of the Disability Equality Training (DET) Forum (www.detforum.com).
He is currently dispatched to the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) in Thailand as an advisor on disability & development.
His publications in English are: Doing Disability Equality Training (2012, MPH Publishing), Job Coach Handbook (co-editor, 2012, MPH Publishing),
Dr. Kiatanantha Lounkaew
Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Thammasart University, Thailand
Dr. Kiatanantha Lounkaew
Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Thammasart University, Thailand
Ms. Min-Seon Park
Programme Specialist, National Institute for Lifelong Education (NILE), Republic of Korea
Ms. Min-Seon Park
Programme Specialist, National Institute for Lifelong Education (NILE), Republic of Korea
Dr. Jesus Insilada
the 2017 Princess Maha Chakri Award Awardee for the Philippines
Dr. Jesus Insilada
the 2017 Princess Maha Chakri Award Awardee for the Philippines
JESUS CATIGAN INSILADA advocates Culture-based and Inclusive Education as an approach to empower his indigenous learners. As an indigenous person himself, he innovates to achieve quality, relevant, accessible, and liberating education.
He uses various forms of arts to engage his students to impact learning and to improve participation in school. To do this, he involves the parents and other stakeholders as program implementation partners.
From a humble beginning, he uses his own story to inspire indigenous cultural communities to value education to uplift their status in life.
During the pandemic, he introduced the Happy and Healthy School framework as an approach to transforming the school community into a proactive unit in overcoming its challenges. As a result,
As a result, the school was recognized as one of the Top 10 World Best Schools by the T4 Education.
In the Schools District of Calinog I, he introduced the SANYOG Edukasyon program that optimizes learning-focused practices for improved learning outcomes.
As one of the focal areas, he introduced the PASIBU Approach as an ethnopedagogy to improve the learning achievement of the Indigenous Peoples.
Because of his hard work and ingenuity, he received awards here and abroad including the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award in 2014,
the Princess Maha Chakri Award in 2017, The Global Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalist in 2018, and the Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award in 2020, among others.
Ms. Tammi Sharpe
Representative for UNHCR Thailand
Ms. Tammi Sharpe
Representative for UNHCR Thailand
Mr. Obaidur Rahman
Regional Youth Employment Advisor, Asia, Save the Children
Mr. Obaidur Rahman
Regional Youth Employment Advisor, Asia, Save the Children
Obaidur brings 27 years of experience from INGOs and the UN focusing on children, adolescents, and youth rights issues in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East region.
Obaidur has vast experience implementing innovative programs, especially on youth empowerment and employment.
His expertise includes Youth-Led Green Innovation, Future Jobs, Decent Work for Youth, Youth and Green Skills and Green Entrepreneurship Development and Adolescents Skills for Successful Transitions (ASST).
Obaidur has been instrumental in designing and implementing Youth-Led Green Innovation Lab tools and methodologies in 11 countries all over the world and has been supporting countries in strengthening links between the labor market and TVET,
supporting the development of youth-inclusive employment policy and strategy development.
Mr. Israruddin
Director of Partnership, THK Initiatives, and Policy Lab, United in Diversity Foundation, Indonesia
Mr. Israruddin
Director of Partnership, THK Initiatives, and Policy Lab, United in Diversity Foundation, Indonesia
Israruddin is the Director of the Tri Hita Karana (THK) Forum, Partnership, and Policy Lab at the United in Diversity (UID) Foundation, where he leads policy innovation and social impact efforts.
With over eight years at UID, he has held key roles, including leading the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for Southeast Asia (SDSN SEA), managing a network of 100+ universities and research institutions focused on sustainable development,
education policy, and capacity building.
In addition, his role at the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center (a joint-venture between UID and Tsinghua University) promotes cross-border
Israruddin holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
As the Executive Director of Sahabat Pulau Indonesia Foundation, he supports education and development in remote Indonesian communities, reflecting his commitment to transformative learning.
Dr. Margarita Pavlova
Associate Professor, Department of International Education and Lifelong Learning, the Education University of Hong Kong/UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre
Dr. Margarita Pavlova
Associate Professor, Department of International Education and Lifelong Learning, the Education University of Hong Kong/UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre
Dr. Margarita Pavlova (PhD Australia; PhD Russia; MEd USA) is the Director of the UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong), which is a member of the global UNESCO-UNEVOC network,
and an Associate Professor at the Department of International Education, the Education University of Hong Kong. Her research focus is on policy, teacher capacity building, planning,
and curriculum development in vocational education at both national and international levels, with a particular emphasis on education for sustainable development, inclusive TVET, green skills development,
and innovation and greening of the vocational education sector. Dr Pavlova’s regional research and development projects in Asia have been funded by different agencies, including the Asian Development Bank,
The World Bank, UNESCO, in Europe – by SIDA and HELVETAS, the European Training Foundation (ETF). Several of her projects focused on innovation, including green innovation and the skills required for that.
Currently, she has regional projects with a focus on supporting SDGs through skills development and greening of economies and societies with SEAMEO VOCTECH and Gulf countries.
Dr Pavlova has published widely in the fields of her expertise. She currently serves on the editorial advisory boards of two book series published by Springer: Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues,
Ms. Dawn Adrian
Education Manager, SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Ms. Dawn Adrian
Education Manager, SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Dawn Adrian is an Education Manager at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Dawn oversees the creation and curation of over 50 massive open-online courses (MOOCs) for SDSN’s SDG Academy.
These courses bring together content form experts around the world on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dawn graduated with a Master's of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in International Education Development, where she was a Malaysia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Scholar for Sustainable Development.
During her studies, Dawn had the opportunity to work at UNESCO Paris with the SDG2030 Inclusive and Gender Equality team.
Dawn’s research interest lies in the intersection between education, economics and its relations to global indigenous populations.
Mr. Jordi Prat Tuca
Technical Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Mr. Jordi Prat Tuca
Technical Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Jordi Prat Tuca serves as Technical Specialist on Skills and the Future of Work at the ILO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific.
n this role he provides technical advice in the design and implementation of the ILO skills development-related activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Before his current position, he served as the ILO Regional Technical and Programme Coordinator for the Skills for Prosperity in South-East Asia Programme at the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok.
Previously, Jordi led from the ILO Bangkok the Women in STEM Workforce Readiness Programme in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. He also managed enterprise and skills development projects in Cambodia, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea,
and the Philippines.
Before joining the ILO, he worked as Brand Manager at LG Electronics. Jordi studied at the University of Michigan in the United States as well as the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Rovira i Virgili University in Spain,
where he graduated in law and earned master’s degrees in public policy and business administration.
Mr. Jose de Jesus
National Coordinator, Civil Society Education Partnership (CSEP) Timor Leste’s Marginalized Youth Forum (MYF)
Mr. Jose de Jesus
National Coordinator, Civil Society Education Partnership (CSEP) Timor Leste’s Marginalized Youth Forum (MYF)
Education background: Master Degree on Education Management from the Universitas Teknologi Surabaya (UTS), Indonesia
National Coordinator of Civil Society Education Partnership (CSEP) based in Dili, Timor-Leste
Executive Council member of Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE)
Co-founder of Marginalized Youth Forum (MYF) in Timor-Leste
Founder and Chair of Many Hands One Nation – MAHON Foundation in Timor-Leste which provides Vocational Training program for marginalized young farmers and students in Timor-Leste.
I am working on youth and technical vocational training in Timor-Leste since 2008 that have benefited more than 50,000 youth, farmers, women, students and children. The trainings are English language,
Office Administration and Basic Finance, Women entrepreneurship, horticulture, aquaculture, veterinary and agroforestry with MAHON Training Center.
With CSEP, we have established Marginalized Youth Forum (MYF) in 2020 to support fellow marginalized youth in Timor-Leste especially those who living in the very remote villages such as early marriages youth,
gender-based violence victims, poor, droop out from schools, farmers and disadvantages. We have advocated for the right of the marginalized children, youth and adults to access to quality education in Timor-Leste.
Ms. Renu Seth
Co-lead for Girls & Women Program, Pratham Foundation, India
Ms. Renu Seth
Co-lead for Girls & Women Program, Pratham Foundation, India
Renu Seth is the lead for Girls and Women Programs at Pratham Education Foundation, bringing over 30 years of expertise in the development, formulation, and implementation of social sector programs,
, with a focus on health and education. Since 2012, Renu has spearheaded the Second Chance program, dedicated to reconnecting girls and women with secondary education opportunities.
Her deep understanding of grassroots realities and local systems have been instrumental in developing gender-focused programs across India.
Renu is passionate about leveraging community competencies, aiming to understand and foster the impact of program activities and how communities embrace change.
Ms. Janett Rungsithikul
Senior Marketing Manager, Brand Purpose and KFC Foundation
Ms. Janett Rungsithikul
Senior Marketing Manager, Brand Purpose and KFC Foundation
Janett Rungsithikul is a dedicated marketer with a profound belief in the power of brands to positively impact society. Since joining KFC Thailand in 2017 as a Senior Brand Manager,
she has spearheaded brand communication efforts, overseeing creative strategy, brand positioning, and social media initiatives. Janett has played a pivotal role in advancing KFC's Brand Purpos
e, focusing on initiatives that foster social and environmental responsibility, including the launch of the KFC Bucket Search, which aims to promote equality in Thai education.
Before her tenure at KFC Thailand, Janett gained valuable experience with international brands such as Jack Daniels and Brand's Suntory.
She holds a Master’s degree in Brand Leadership from the University of East Anglia in the UK.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Janett is passionate about raising awareness for mental health. Together with her spouse, she created the “Sad Bar,”
a pop-up initiative designed to provide a safe and engaging space for discussions around mental health. Janett’s commitment to social impact and her innovative approach to brand strategy make her a prominent figure in the marketing landscape.
Ms. Omkaew Wechayachai
Head of Asia Market Development, GSG Impact
Ms. Omkaew Wechayachai
Head of Asia Market Development, GSG Impact
Ms. Siree Jongdee
Deputy Director of Equitable Education Research Institute, Equitable Education Fund (EEF Thailand)
Ms. Siree Jongdee
Deputy Director of Equitable Education Research Institute, Equitable Education Fund (EEF Thailand)
Ms.Diane Le Goff
Global Manager of the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship CSR programs, Schneider Electric Foundation
Ms.Diane Le Goff
Global Manager of the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship CSR programs, Schneider Electric Foundation
Diane Le Goff, is an experienced manager in sourcing, structuring, managing development projects with multiple international public and private stakeholders.
She is currently based in Vietnam as the Global Manager of the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship CSR programs for Schneider Electric. The program works on strengthening technical and vocational education,
spreading skills related to the energy transition, supporting the integration of women in the energy field and encouraging innovation. She leads the strategy and implementation to reach the 2025 worldwide ambitions: training 1 million youth,
training 10 000 trainers and supporting 10 000 entrepreneurs. For the last 10 years she has held several positions in sustainable development at Schneider Electric,
being based in France, Senegal and Vietnam; and has developed a strong expertise around TVET development, ESG strategy definition and implementation with a specific knowledge on social impact.
Mr. Somsak Paniengthong
Committee Member for Area-based Learning Development in Rayong
Mr. Somsak Paniengthong
Committee Member for Area-based Learning Development in Rayong
Mr. Somsak is a business owner based in Rayong with a deep passion for local education reform, believing it to be key to enhancing the city’s liveability.
He serves as the Director of the Rayong Inclusive Learning Academy, a civil society organization operating under Rayong’s local government. At the national level,
he has been appointed to the Education Sandbox Committee under Thailand’s Ministry of Education. Through collaboration with local authorities and a network of public and private schools in Rayong,
he spearheaded the initiative to formally establish the Rayong Education Reform Strategy, centered around lifelong learning.
Mr. Bagus Santoso
Founder, DEFINIT Asia
Mr. Bagus Santoso
Founder, DEFINIT Asia
Dr. Bagus Santoso Founder, DEFINIT | Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) | Member, Gadjah Mada University's Board of Trustees
Dr. Bagus Santoso is the founder of DEFINIT, a leading think tank in Indonesia, and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UGM.
He also serves as a member of Gadjah Mada University's Board of Trustees, a distinguished body that includes some of Indonesia's most prominent figures.
With vast experience in providing strategic policy advice, Dr. Santoso has collaborated with central government ministries, financial regulators, and international organizations.
His research expertise covers financial inclusion, banking, MSMEs, macroeconomic analysis, disability, poverty, and labor economics.
As an educator and researcher, he has played a pivotal role in designing, coordinating, and evaluating programs, including assessments of educational systems, social assistance initiatives, training programs, and donor-funded projects.
Dr. Santoso enjoys casual photography in his free time, capturing the world through lens. His interests include reading, particularly in econometrics and history, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle through regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Mr. Alejandro Ibanez
Program Manager, The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), SEAMEO Secretariat
Mr. Alejandro Ibanez
Program Manager, The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), SEAMEO Secretariat
Mr. Alejandro Sinon Ibañez serves as the SEA-PLM Programme Manager and Policy and Programme Specialist at the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat / SEAMEO Secretariat, based in Bangkok, Thailand.
His primary focus is on leveraging systems assessment to drive quality, equity, and improvements in basic education. Through the SEA-PLM regional large-scale learning assessments,
he works closely with participating countries to assess and strengthen policy and practice both at the system and school levels. His efforts center on cross-border knowledge sharing,
peer learning, and fostering collaboration that supports data-driven educational reforms.
In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, Mr. Ibañez brings over a decade of experience in educational research and assessment in Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
He also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Philippine Educational Measurement and Evaluation Association, Inc. (PEMEA), a key professional organization for assessment practitioners and researchers in the Philippines.
In 2017, Alejandro led the Philippine case study research on the "Culture of Testing: Socio-cultural drivers and the effects on youth in Asia-Pacific” commissioned by UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok.
This regional study provided policy recommendations by investigating the experiences of learners and schools with the emerging testing culture in the Asia Pacific.
Mr. Koji Miyamoto
Senior Economist, World Bank
Mr. Koji Miyamoto
Senior Economist, World Bank
Dr. Shubham Sahai Srivastava,
Software Engineer, AI Centre for Educational Technologies, National University of Singapore
Dr. Shubham Sahai Srivastava,
Software Engineer, AI Centre for Educational Technologies, National University of Singapore
Mr. Umair Ali
Director Outreach and Engagement, Knowledge Platform
Mr. Umair Ali
Director Outreach and Engagement, Knowledge Platform
Umair Ali is a passionate advocate for transforming and digitizing education, especially for marginalized communities. As a director and board member at Knowledge Platform leading a team of 32 passionate educationists,
Umair has dedicated his career to making education more inclusive and accessible for all. He has actively worked across Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Bangladesh,
reaching over 1.2 million learners and collaborating with more than 20,000 teachers to bring impactful digital learning solutions and gamified learning experiences to underserved populations.
With a background in engineering and a master's degree in mechatronics, robotics, AI, and automation engineering from NUST, Umair blends his technical expertise with a commitment to equitable education.
He believes that education technology can bridge gaps in access and quality, especially for youth and adolescents from underprivileged communities.
His focus on equitable learning involves developing tailored digital content and learning games, ensuring students from all backgrounds can benefit from innovative learning tools.
Umair's leadership in projects like the Knowledge Economy Initiative, which reached 1 million plusstudents, teachers, and parents, showcases his dedication to educational equity.
His work emphasizes lifelong learning and the empowerment of learners, driving initiatives that integrate technology with skills development to prepare the next generation for the challenges of the 21st century.
Passionate about creating a culture of lifelong learning and innovation, Umair is driven by the vision of empowering learners of all ages and backgrounds. He is eager to collaborate on projects that foster social impact,
believing in the transformative power of educational technology to enhance both quality and accessibility of education, not only in Pakistan but across the globe.
Ms. Abigail Lesaca
CSR Manager, IBM Philippines
Ms. Abigail Lesaca
CSR Manager, IBM Philippines
Abigail “Abi” Lesaca is a higher education consultant, licensed secondary teacher, writer and marketing communications professional with over two decades of experience working in government, academe and non-profit sectors.
She is currently the IBM Corporate Social Responsibility country lead in the Philippines that designs and executes local strategies for global CSR programs to drive social impact,
which includes education and workforce development, sustainability, employee giving and volunteerism initiatives of the company, among others.
Concurrently, she is the implementation manager of IBM SkillsBuild in the ASEAN region. IBM SkillsBuild is IBM’s free digital learning program on emerging technology and professional skills, with a focus on underserved communities.
This is part of IBM’s goal to train and upskill 30 million people by 2030. She joined IBM in late 2019 as Industry Program Manager for IBM’s Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools or P-TECH in the Philippines.
From 2012 to 2018, she served as the Media Relations Consultant and de facto Chief of Staff to the Chairperson of the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Notably, she produced Commission’s end term publication, “Advancing a Locally Responsive and Globally Competitive Philippine Higher Education System,” at the end of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration.
Dr. Rika Yorozu
Education Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Dr. Rika Yorozu
Education Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim Director
Director of SEAMEO Secretariat
Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim Director
Director of SEAMEO Secretariat
Dr. Cahyo Prihadi Director
Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Program Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Dr. Cahyo Prihadi Director
Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Program Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Moderators
Dr. Rika Yorozu
Education Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Dr. Rika Yorozu
Education Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Kyungah Bang
Consultant, Education Section, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Kyungah Bang
Consultant, Education Section, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Sowirin Chuanprapun
Project Officer, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Sowirin Chuanprapun
Project Officer, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Jael Shisanya Mararu
Senior Education Officer, UNHCR Pakistan
Ms. Jael Shisanya Mararu
Senior Education Officer, UNHCR Pakistan
Mr. Emiljohn Sentilas
Policy and Planning Specialist, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)
Mr. Emiljohn Sentilas
Policy and Planning Specialist, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)
Dr. Aarti Saihjee
Chief of Education, UNICEF Thailand
Dr. Aarti Saihjee
Chief of Education, UNICEF Thailand
Dr. Tirnud Paichayontvijit
Faculty of Economics, Ramkhamhaeng University
Dr. Tirnud Paichayontvijit
Faculty of Economics, Ramkhamhaeng University
Dr. Tirnud Paichayontvijit is an Assistant Professor at Ramkhamhaeng University. She holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Auckland. She is a lecturer at Ramkhamhaeng University.
Prior to her role at Ramkhamhaeng University, Tirnud gained valuable experience at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), where she focused on assessing Thailand's educational system.
She has also taught at both the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology.
An accomplished researcher, Tirnud has authored numerous academic publications and policy reports in areas such as behavioral and experimental economics, education systems and evaluation, and healthcare policy.
Her work aims to inform policy decisions and drive meaningful change in these critical sectors.
Mr. John Arnold Siena
Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat
Mr. John Arnold Siena
Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat
Ms. Karolina Rutkowska
Programmes Manager, VVOB
Ms. Karolina Rutkowska
Programmes Manager, VVOB
Ms. Haani Mazari
Asia Lead, EdTech Hub
Ms. Haani Mazari
Asia Lead, EdTech Hub
Haani Mazari is EdTech Hub’s Asia Lead and Digital Personalised Learning Focal Point. She oversees EdTech Hub’s work across South and Southeast Asia to support evidence-based approaches to use of EdTech,
with a distinct focus on implementation in low-resource settings and emergency contexts. Some of the work Haani has been most excited about includes research that explored feasible options for learning continuity in response to Pakistan 2022 floods,
as well as a scoping study on out-of-school children and youth in partnership with the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Office. Prior to working at EdTech Hub, Haani worked as a strategy consultant and as an EdTech content developer.
She holds an MSc in Social & Cultural Psychology from the London School of Economics and a BA in History & Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
