Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion 1
Moderator
Dr YUM Yen Na, Cherry
Associate Head (International Engagement), Associate Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling
The Education University of Hong Kong
Cherry obtained her PhD degree in cognitive psychology at Tufts University and was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at The University of Hong Kong before joining EdUHK. She received her Bachelor degree in psychology and linguistics at Haverford College. Her research covers cognitive and reading-related processes in typical and atypical populations. She has used the ERP method to examine the neural correlates of bilingual visual word processing and second language learning. She is interested in identifying and addressing diverse needs in learning.
Panellists
Prof Betty EZATI
Vice Chancellor
Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education
Betty Akullu Ezati is a teacher educator at the School of Education, Makerere University, Uganda. She holds a PhD in education, PG Diploma in Policy Studies from the University of Alberta and also a PG Diploma in Educational Technology from the University of Cape Town. A former Dean of the School, Betty is currently on secondment as Team Leader of the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE), a specialized degree-awarding institution for teachers, to support its establishment. Betty’s areas of expertise are in teacher practice, teaching and learning, higher education pedagogy and assessment, education historical studies and qualitative research. Betty has wide experience in facilitating learning among university academic staff, such as on doctoral supervision and higher education pedagogy and andragogy. She has been able to facilitate several workshops for staff of Makerere University and in other universities in Africa. Betty has undertaken research and participated in various international, national and institutional-level education-related consultancies and published widely in a number of internationally refereed journals in the areas of teacher education, teaching and learning, as well as gender and diversity.
Prof Grace OAKLEY
Deputy Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Education
The University of Western Australia
Grace Oakley is Deputy Dean and a Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia. With more than two decades of experience in teacher education, she has extensive expertise in curriculum design, educational leadership, and the integration of technology in both school and higher education settings. Her research focuses on the potential of innovative pedagogies and emerging digital technologies, including mobile learning, digital storytelling, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, to enhance teaching, learning, and inclusive educational practices.
Grace has taught and coordinated a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and has supervised numerous postgraduate students in the areas of literacy education, learning technologies, and teacher professional learning. Her work is driven by a commitment to improving educational outcomes through evidence-based innovation and effective use of technology.
Dr Rehana SHANKS
Principal
ESF Sha Tin Junior School
Dr Shanks is a distinguished educator with over 30 years of experience in teaching and school leadership, primarily in Scotland and Hong Kong. Her leadership emphasises fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment for approximately 900 students aged 5 to 11, focusing on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).
Dr Shanks holds a Doctorate in Education and her research centres on the capabilities approach to school leadership through reflexive practice. She engages with various educational associations and research communities, actively contributing to discussions on effective leadership and innovative teaching methods.
At ESF Sha Tin Junior School, Dr Shanks has implemented initiatives that enhance learning experiences, such as approaches to learning and inclusion educational needs support. Under her guidance, the school emphasises not only academic achievement but also instils values that promote resilience and adaptability in students.
Panel Discussion 2
Moderator
Dr Natalia AMELINA
Chief of Unit, Unit of Teacher Professional Development and Networking
Senior National Project Officer in Education
UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education
Dr Natalia Amelina, is Senior National Project Officer in Education and Chief of the Unit of Teacher Professional Development and Networking, UNESCO IITE. Her professional activities are focused on new model ICT- and AI-based approaches to teaching and learning environment for education of persons with disabilities in the 21st century.
Panellists
Mr XU Jian Jeffrey
Senior Education Specialist (Education Technology)
Asian Development Bank
Mr Jeffrey Xu serves in the ADB education sector group leading the Education Technology and Digital Transformation solutions working group.
Jeffrey covers ADB’s engagement in education and skills development related projects with developing member countries, particularly using digital technology and AI to promote education equity, improve efficiency and efficacy in teaching and learning, and actively contributing to the ADB bank wide Climate Change Action Plan. Jeffrey is an information technology professional with over 25 years of experiences enabling business transformations through effective technology solutions, across multiple industries including education, real estate, financial services, health care, bio-pharmaceutical, and telecom.
Prior to joining ADB. Jeffrey worked in US for 12 years with the satellite communications sector (Hughes Network Systems) and financial services sector (Freddie Mac), Jeffrey then spent the last 10 years in China working as CIO of Novartis Greater China Region, CIO of CapitaLand China and CTO of New Oriental Education Technology Group.
Dr Glenn LOW
COO & Co-founder
HeyHi
Dr Glenn Low is the co-founder & COO of HeyHi.sg, a unique AI-enabled, human-centric EdTech solution that brings personalised adaptive learning to everyone. A PhD engineering graduate with more than a decade of experience in the education industry, he is driven by a belief that quality education is a right, not a privilege. Passionate about solving real-world problems through advanced technology, Glenn co-founded HeyHi to break down barriers to learning and empower educators with state-of-the-art AI tools in a collaborative, engaging, and inclusive space — scaling personalised, adaptive learning so that every student, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance, receives the support, pace, and attention once reserved for the few.
His vision is a world where every learner, everywhere, can reach their full potential and live the life they most desire.
Ms Victoria L.TINIO
Executive Director
Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development
Victoria L. Tinio is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (FIT-ED), a non-profit organization in the Philippines. For over 25 years, Vicki has been involved in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a wide range of digital learning programs and projects in schools and alternative learning environments across the Global South.
Since 2018, she has been Secretariat Director of the TPD@Scale Coalition for the Global South, a collaborative effort of ministries of education and other government agencies; international organizations; development agencies; non-governmental organizations; universities, and training institutions; research and policy centers; and other education and technology stakeholders who are engaged in teacher professional development (TPD). The Coalition aims to contribute to the attainment of SDG 4 by promoting quality, equitable, and sustainable large-scale, ICT-mediated TPD through collaboration, research, and implementation support.
She is currently co-lead for the Empowering Teachers Initiative: Teacher Professional Development at Scale (ETI), a research for development program co-implemented FIT-ED and SUMMA with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Reflections
Moderator
Mr John Arnold S. SIENA
Deputy Director for Programme and Development
SEAMEO Secretariat
John Arnold S. Siena has had a long experience in the field of education starting as a classroom teacher for more than a decade teaching English and Journalism subjects in high school and some professional subjects in the graduate level. Having been recognized for his teaching competence and leadership potential, he rose from the ranks and eventually held executive positions in the Department of Education in the Philippines culminating in his appointment as Director IV for teacher professional development. His areas of interest include learning and development, organizational development, L and D program monitoring and evaluation. He is a founding member of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) @ Scale Coalition for the Global South.
In his spare time, he plays bowling, badminton, and table tennis, reads fantasy and magic realism novels, and dabbles in creative writing when his muse inspires him.
- More to be announced soon -