Committees

World President of OMEP (World Organization for Early Childhood Education), EdHeroes Advisory Board Member

Degree in Primary Education, with a BA in Educational Sciences, from the University of Buenos Aires. In the area of government, ex- Director of the Early Childhood Education Area of the City of Buenos Aires. Ex-senior consultant for the United Nations Development Program. Nowadays Professor in the Master Early Childhood Education at the University of Buenos Aires and the Regional Training Program in Educational Policy Planning and Management, IIPE-UNESCO Buenos Aires, Office for Latin America. Her field of interest is early childhood education policies in relation to children's rights, and management of educational institutions for children aged 0 to 3 years. She coordinates training and teacher update programs in poverty contexts and assess public policies and programs on early childhood education and care.

Member of OMEP (World Organization for Early Childhood Education) since 1999. Currently, she is the WORLD PRESIDENT of OMEP since January 1, 2020.

Member of the COORDINATION GROUP of the Collective Consultation of NGOs for Education 2030 (CCNGO-Education 2030)

Partnerships Coordinator of Amantani, EdHeroes Peru Hub Leader

Originally from the UK but growing up in Peru, I have dedicated my academic and professional life to the development sector by first studying a BA in International Development in the University of Liverpool and later completing an MSc in Poverty Reduction Policies at SOAS (University of London). I have over 10 years of experience in fundraising, coordinating and leading social development projects and have spent the last 9 years working with Amantani in fundraising and project management roles.

I firmly believe in developing projects with a sustainable and participatory approach, with a particular focus on gender and education-focused projects working alongside women as agents of change.

Co-founder, CEO at Imagine Heritage nonprofit organization, EdHeroes Greece Hub Leader

Spyridon St. Kogas studied Sociology and Economic theories at the University of Bristol. He is a consultant for European Cultural Heritage and Education.

With the Digital Humanitas Learning project, in 2013, with the support of European programs, he designed for the first time in Greece digital educational products at the Higher Education level, the first one entitled: "The symbolism of the journey to the West, from Homer's Odyssey to the Divine Comedy of Dante" and the second "The city of Rome as a concept in European Art".

He is the co-founder and ceo of the non-profit organization Imagine Heritage which is active in Europe in the fields of Culture and Education. He is the founder and director of the Pan-European consortium "Heritage Future", which consists of organizations for Culture and Education from ten European countries. Representative in Greece of the European Cultural Center based in Venice specializing in Art and Education.

In addition, he is the coordinator at the European level of the Edheroes World Education Organization, leader of the newly established Edheroes Greece Hub.
Member of the international research network on Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy of Education “Foreign Object”, a network supported by M.I.T. and in which he participates as an analyst of the single structure of Philosophy and Science fiction for their exploitation by Autonomous Intelligence systems.
Editor-in-Chief and co-editor of the international digital space "Thrausma", a Science, Art and Philosophy project with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and Deep learning.

A writer on European Cultural Identity and its institutions, this year he publishes his work “The European Heritage Contract: Turning our Symbolic Bonds in State Institutions” at the leading German publishing house Springer.

Folklorist, UNESCO's International Mother Language Award 2023 Laureate, National Advisor, MLE, Language and Learning Foundation

Dr Mahendra Kumar Mishra is a well-known folklorist of India. He served as the state coordinator for Tribal Education in District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) from 1993-2010 under School Education Department, Govt. of Odisha. Dr Mishra was the state coordinator for Multilingual Education (1996-2010) in the state government of Odisha and was the founder of mother tongue based-multilingual education in ten tribal languages of Odisha in the primary schools. His innovation in using folklore in school curriculum has been widely applied in the elementary schools in the state of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. He has visited universities in China, South Korea, Thailand, and Nepal on folklore and Multilingual Education. He is associated with many national and international organizations.

Dr Mishra has received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1999 in Odisha. He is also the recipient of a National Award Veer Shankar Shah Raghunath Shah award by the government of Madhya Pradesh in 2009 for his lifetime contribution in tribal literature. Besides, Dr Mishra has translated AK Ramanujan's Folktales from India (2005), Himachal Pradesh Ki Lok Samskruti (2006) from English and Hindi respectively. He is in the Language Development Board of Central Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi to revitalise and promote languages in India. ERAI-ERAI Multilingual Education in tribal schools of India – Voices from below is authored by Dr Mishra and published recently. He has received UNESCO International Mother Language Award 2023 for lifelong service for the promotion of mother languages in India.

Director of the Horizontes Programme, UNESCO Perú. Former Deputy Minister of Education (2011-2014), member of the National Council of Education (2014-2020), coordinator of the Peruvian Network of Education Managers, EDUGESTORES

Lawyer and master's degrees in education and international cooperation. Coordinator of the Rural Secondary Education Program Horizontes implemented by UNESCO, Lima (https://educarural.pe/). Professor of the Master's Degree in Education at the Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University

He has been deputy minister of education 2011-2014, member of the National Council of Education 2014-2020, coordinator of the Peruvian Network of Education Managers, EDUGESTORES,.

In the academic field, he has been director of the Institute of Research and Educational Policies of the Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University, professor of master's degrees at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the Cayetano Heredia University.

Independent consultant, former World Bank economist and Professor in the Practice and Director of Teaching in the Global Human Development Program, Georgetown University

Gillette Hall is a former World Bank economist and professor of development economics at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC. She specializes in public policy research and development for poverty reduction, equity and inclusion, and has co-edited several books on Indigenous Peoples. She was raised in Mexico and Brazil, and holds an MPhil in Latin American Studies and a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Cambridge, England. She is based in Santa Barbara, CA where she continues her work as an independent consultant.

Vice-President of the OMEP-France, representative of the OMEP-World to UNESCO, and Honorary National Education State Inspector

Gilles Pétreault is currently vice-president of the OMEP-France, representative of the OMEP-World to UNESCO and Honorary National Education State Inspector.

Previously he was Head of Departmental State Education Services and has experience as Head of an in-service training centre for teachers, as Education Inspector with various responsibilities and as schoolteacher, in several areas in France.

Holder of a doctorate in French Literature, he worked in the field of French teaching and mastery of French language, Preschool Education and Elementary School in various subjects. He also engaged in studies in pupils’ academic careers and inclusion for children with special education needs. Other interest include school organization, teachers’ and education inspectors’ recruitment and training.

As an expert in Preschool Education, he both coordinated and participated in reports to the Minister of Education and contributed to the training of the Education inspectors. Representative of the Education Ministry to the OECD Early Childhood Education and Care Network for seven years, Gilles Pétreault was also involved in several international studies or projects (European Union programme for Improvement of Preschool Education in Serbia [IMPRES]; European Commission Workgroup; Eurydice Key data on early childhood and care; and the Unesco French National Commission).

Anishinabeg/Haudenosaunee — Bear Clan, member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Maniwaki, Quebec. Senior Vice-President of Education, Communications and Services at First Nations Education Administrators Association

Simon Brascoupé, Anishinabeg/Haudenosaunee — Bear Clan is a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Maniwaki, Quebec. Simon Brascoupé is Adjunct Research Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University, Associate Professor, Business School, Athabasca University, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Simon is presently Senior Vice-President Education and Services with the First Nations Education Administrators Association He has a B.A. and M.A. from State University of New York at Buffalo, where he worked on a Ph.D. He is a Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) from AFOA Canada and a Certified First Nations Health Manager (CFNHM) from the First Nations Health Manager Association. He teaches Indigenous Studies at Carleton University. Previously Simon Brascoupé was Chief Executive Officer, National Aboriginal Health Organization; Director, Primary Health Care Division, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada; and Director, Aboriginal Affairs Branch, Environment Canada.

Simon is co-chair of the Financial Literacy Working Group for Indigenous Peoples with the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. The Working Group’s focus is on bring partners together to collaborate on Indigenous financial literacy priorities. He has a deep interest in First Nations financial Wellness, volunteer tax clinics and Research. One of his proudest moments was working on the 60s Scoop Financial Wellness training which took place across Canada. He was the principle researcher for the Literature Review of Indigenous Financial Literacy in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States (AFOA Canada 2013) and the lead writer for The Shared Path: First Nations financial wellness report.

Board member of the European Network of Cultural Centres ENCC Brussels (former ENCC Vice President 2021-24), External expert of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme (2022-26), Alternate expert of the UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity 2024-27 (Belgium)

Piotr Michalowski, a cultural consultant, moderator, project manager, and expert in Cultural heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), with over 120 projects implemented in the past 20 years. He holds an MA in Cultural Studies from the University of Wroclaw, an MSci in Cultural Management from the Lower Silesian University for Public Services, an MSci in Cultural Diplomacy from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, and a state diploma as a professional musician from the Wroclaw School of Jazz. Additionally, he serves as the Co-Chairman of the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) in Brussels and is an Independent Expert for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe program (2022-26). He actively evaluates EU subsidy programs for DG EACEA of the European Commission or the Goethe Institute and conducts further assessments of re-granting schemes under the Creative Europe program. Regarding the UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) Panel of Experts, he was appointed as one on the six alternate experts for the period 2024-2027 in the framework of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Piotr is also involved as a team member in ongoing Horizon Europe projects. He is a certified trainer in Design Thinking methodology and moderation (accredited by the Polish American Freedom Foundation), as well as Creativity and Innovation (endorsed by Stanford University). Moreover, he holds a European Diploma in Cultural Management from the Association Marcel Hicter and the Polish National Centre for Culture. Currently, he is engaged in several research projects related to cultural heritage and participatory museums at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, where he plans on completing his PhD dissertation. He runs his small, but large in scope & activities, a sole proprietorship called Micro Art Center.

Awekura | Kaihautū Lead and Kairapu (Alumni) of 2016, Teach First New Zealand

Ko ngā Tai-o-Rehua e mihi atu nei ki ngā wai hohonu o te ao. My reason for my work is the community I descend from, the community I am a part of, and the generations that will follow. I am committed to improving how our environment affirms and celebrates our indigenous identity and the unique significance of each young person in New Zealand.

M.Sc, CEO of NICE Indonesia

CEO of a social enterprise dedicated to advancing Education, Economic Development, and Sustainable Development in Indonesia. With a profound commitment to education, Dasril leads numerous initiatives aimed at improving educational access and quality in local communities. His projects emphasize innovative teaching methods, vocational training, and community-based learning. Dasril is also a strong advocate for circular economics and zero waste management, integrating these principles into educational programs to foster sustainability awareness. Passionate about creating sustainable social impact, Dasril is committed to driving positive change and fostering local economic growth.

Strategic Partnership & System Demonstration, Program Lead, North Hub (Delhi, Uttarakhand & Punjab), Dream a Dream

Academically a science graduate, have long experience of more than two decades in Strategic partnership & Government Liaison, Program Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Large scale data management, majorly in education. Focused on changing the mindset of stakeholders for Thriving as purpose of education. Under strategic partnership with state governments, core of engagement is on Life Skills and Social & Emotional Well-being of young people. Experience of working remotely with young people across tribal areas, identifying challenges faced by young people & executors and innovations at grassroot level. Experienced in designing Monitoring framework, delivery and data management relying mostly on technology along with knowledge of the latest trends and best practices in the field of Learning & Development.

Founder, Canopy Nepal

Mohit Rauniyar is the Founder of Canopy Nepal, an organization working to solve the systematic education problems that persist in Nepal's education system by promoting equitable access to education and enhancing its quality through interactive learning. With over 13 years of experience in education, Mohit has reached more than 14,000 students in Nepal. Mohit graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Education and is also a Cheng Fellow at the Social Innovation + Change Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is a shaper at the Global Shaper Kathmandu Hub and Boston Hub, communities within the World Economic Forum. Mohit's involvement has extended to roles such as a Guide at The Resolution Project in New York, serving as the Country Coordinator at NCEP Canada, and working as a teacher and a BOD at Bloom Nepal School.

CEO of Console

Bio coming soon

PhD, President of OMEP Nigeria, Professor of Childhood Education, Deputy Director, Directorate of Research and External Relations, Tai Solarin University of Education

She was appointed as an advisory director and a research consultant on child development and education for Gritwel Research & Technology Center, The Netherlands in 2014.

Adefunke is a 2013 fellow of Echidna Global Scholars and was named among the top 100 Global Thinkers for 2013 by a global personality assessment organization, Lo Spaziodella Politica (LSDP), due to her expertise in teaching and directing schools in Africa for the promotion of science among female students.

She currently serves as the Cluster Lead for Childhood Education International (CEI) USA and the National President of Organisation Mondiale Pour L’Education Prescolaire (OMEP) in Nigeria. OMEP is an international organization that caters for the well-being of children 0–8. In addition, she was nominated an Exceptional Master Leader in 2015 by Exchange leadership Institute. www.childcareexchange.com

Adefunke serves on the board of numerous research and academic committees and has over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher. She is the founder of Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI) a non-profit NGO through which she carries out her research and advocacy work. She had secured grants for innovative girls’ education programs such as STEM Education, gender-based violence among many from partners such as FORD Foundation, TETFund, Echidna Giving, LEAP AFRICA, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Funds Innovation Development and Rockefeller Philanthropists Advisors.

She holds a PhD and Master’s in Early Childhood Education from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, while her first degree is in Food Science and Technology from University of Ife, Ile Ife. She is well-travelled and is a speaker at conferences with over thirty-five publications to her credit, both in local and international journals. She served as the editor of her professional National Association Journal (Journal of Early Childhood Association of Nigeria, JECAN) in Nigeria. She was a charter president of her university’s Rotary club in 2016(Rc Ijagun, TASUED) and has served as Project Chair for the past three years.

Director of Amazon and Andean Youth Education Projects of Amantani, EdHeroes Peru Hub

Born in Germany but growing up in Peru, Thilo started his career in Lima developing aid projects with communities of extreme poverty in times of cholera and social unrest. Later on, he traveled to the United Kingdom, where he worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Action, at De Montfort University, Leicester. He took part in several research projects within national and international contexts and worked as a consultant to local authorities and youth and community projects around social inclusion/exclusion participation, social cohesion, equality and diversity. In may 2014, he returned to Peru to work with Amantani, where he planned, developed and led the Transitions Project which consists of the Andean Youth Project and since 2022, the Amazon Youth Project in Santa Clotilde.

Education co-ordinator of KODA, EdHeroes Turkey Hub

I was born in 1976 in the Orhaneli district of Bursa in Turkey. The village and physical environment where I was born had a geographical, cultural, and social structure that would influence the rest of my life.

My primary, middle, and high school education took place in Bursa. In 1994, I began my undergraduate studies at Gazi University’s Faculty of Communication and graduated in 1998. In 2001, I went to England, where I completed a degree in Curative Education (Camphill Academy) and Social Pedagogy (University of Aberdeen Faculty of Education), as well as a master’s degree in Child and Youth Education (University of Aberdeen). In 2014, I returned to my home country and continued my learning journey. My focus areas include Pedagogy, Rural Education,Holistic Education, Adult Education/ Social and Emotional Learning, which are fields where I strive to balance theory and practice. I am currently working as an education consultant at KODA. In addition, I am teaching as a guest lecturer at various universities.

Education Officer of UNICEF Papu

An accomplished professional with a strong focus on sustainable development, education, and social impact, Derry Fahrizal Ulum has extensive experience in managing and executing projects that drive positive change. As a UNICEF officer in Papua, Indonesia, Derry is dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children in remote and underserved areas. His work includes collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance education programs, support local economic development, and implement zero waste management practices. Passionate about fostering resilience in communities, Derry is dedicated to advancing initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.