Six More Speakers Confirmed for GESS Leaders EdTech Summit Dubai
We are delighted to announce six more confirmed speakers for the GESS Leaders EdTech Summit Dubai. The two day event will be hosted by the Middle East School Leadership Conference at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre on 24 - 25 November 2020 and is exclusive for leading educators who directly influence purchasing, owners of schools and influencers who direct school strategy and training in the EdTech sphere.
Meet The New Speakers
Dr. Hussein Elmehdi, Acting Director of the Information Technology Center and Dean of Academic Support Services, University of Sharjah
Dr. Hussein M Elmehdi is the Dean of Academic Support Services and the Acting Director of the Information Technology Center at the University of Sharjah. He is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Physics at the Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy. Dr. Elmehdi obtained his PhD in 2001 from the University of Manitoba, Canada in Biomedical Physics. In addition to his administrative roles at the University of Sharah, Dr. Elmehdi is very active in several research areas covering health & environmental physics, biomedical applications of ultrasound, environmental acoustics, and physics education. Dr. Elmehdi has over 50-refereed publications in high impact factor journals, well-known international conferences and book chapters as well as two registered patents. Dr. Elmehdi is leading several research projects and training programs in utilizing technological advances in LMS in all aspects of teaching and learning including instructional delivery, assessment and evaluation. Recently, Dr. Elemhdi is heading several committees at the University of Sharjah to ensure readiness of the University to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, which included readiness for distance learning as well as remote work. In addition, Dr. Elemhdi oversaw the implementation of online exams and supporting e-proctoring systems. For his achievements, Dr. Elemhdi has received numerous awards and recognitions.
Linda Parsons, Educational Technology Lead, Deira International School
Linda is a science teacher and Educational Technology Lead with a passion for creating meaningful digital environments for her students. Linda created her first Digital Classroom as a Google Educator in 2016, where her students were able to develop their science and digital citizenship skills in a safe and collaborative environment. Linda is now using her MIE Expert knowledge to help students and colleagues in her school and beyond integrate technology in every subject to enrich their teaching and learning experiences. Linda currently works in Deira International School, a school that harnesses the power of educational technology from the Early Years to equip their students with the skills needed to become the responsible global leaders of tomorrow.
Kevin Fullbrook, Deputy Director, Al-Bayan Bilingual School, Kuwait
Kevin Fullbrook is currently Deputy Director at Al-Bayan Bilingual School, Kuwait. Having started his career as a Math and Physical Education teacher in a remote Australian school, he then worked at a range of schools across the country, before serving in leadership positions in the Middle East, China and Australia. Having participated in the Think Tank on Global Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2016, Kevin then went on to be named one of 'The Educator' magazines Rising Stars of Education under 40 years old. He is also a HundrED global innovation ambassador for the HundrED project out of Finland, a not for profit organization that seeks out and shares outstanding educational innovation around the globe. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Education and an MBA, and is a fully qualified Justice of the Peace.
Gilda Scarfe, CEO & Founder, Positive Ed
Gilda Scarfe is the CEO and Founder of Positive Ed a global and innovative educational consultancy using research to develop, implement and evaluate mental toughness, wellbeing and 21st-century skills in schools through programme design and pedagogical approaches. She has worked with teams across the private and state-funded schools to promote and embed positive psychology interventions as a whole school approach. Her work has included strategic planning for designing, delivering, and implementing wellbeing and mental toughness programmes in schools, framework redesign for primary and secondary schools, as well as strengths-based coaching using the VIA instrument. She has been responsible for the organisation and implementation of the Positive Psychology/Education strategy at several grammar schools in the UK, Singapore, UAE, Nigeria and Thailand and has supported the strategic direction and implementation of Illuminate Education a non-profit organisation promoting Positive Education initiatives. She is the Chair of Trustees for Yagazie Foundation in Nigeria, an NGO focused on the provision of enhanced education, clean environmental sanitation and quality health care program for Children in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Nicholas Finnemore, Founder & Director, Finnemore Consulting Ltd
I have worked in the Edtech market for over 20 years, mostly heading up the Product Management team at Capita Education Software Solutions, focused on the Management Information systems (MIS) for Schools, Further and Higher Education. This is where I revised what I felt an MIS should be, moving the direction away from just recording information for government census's to a greater focus on data and the insights it could provide for Teachers, Leaders and ultimately Government. Over the last few years I started up my own company supporting businesses to grow and future proof themselves, by understanding their true value proposition and understand how future technology can enhance their customers experience of their solutions.
Massrat Shaikh, Edupreneur, Al Ahlam Training & Higher Education Services
I am an edupreneur with deep expertise in the fields of psychology and special education needs (SEN) and a consultant in Oman for more than ten years of experience in supporting SEN students with digital learning solutions to accelerate literacy and remedial learning.I have taken lead in bringing wellness for all students and families in Oman by concentrating on mental health. I have worked in collaboration with schools to promote better services for vulnerable learners. I have led the SEND departments of schools in Oman to improve services for all SEN students. I have strived to bring inclusion, promote positive mental health and achievement for SEN students. My aim has been to make all students feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful. I have provided intensive individualized support to parents and educators in providing the resources to reframe their roles in the lives of my students. I am a provider for digital learning solutions for schools and families in Oman. I am also a mindfulness educator and I advocate for social emotional learning and mindfulness in education. I support the community in Oman by bring various community focused mental health services. In the present moment, to support the community in Oman through the COVID crisis, I am authoring a series of article on character education of children in Oman Observer newspaper and also offering mindfulness courses for community mental health, and CPD for teachers to support our SEN students.