EdHeroes Global Forum

Education Director, Microsoft Worldwide

Mark (B.Ed, M.Ed) is a global award winning educator and leader with over 30 years experience supporting innovation and transformation with technology. Mark is an author, podcaster, speaker and recognized expert in social and emotional learning.

Vice Minister, the Ministry of Digital Development of Kazakhstan; Lecturer, MSU; Expert in Data, AI, and Digital Transformation

Dmitriy Mun is the Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He is an experienced leader in data governance and information systems optimization, widely recognized for his strategic thinking and analytical approach. Throughout his career, he has successfully led large-scale digital transformation initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and transparency of public services. Dmitriy specializes in converting complex data into practical solutions, building high-performing teams, and delivering measurable results in government projects. He actively promotes the adoption of innovative technologies to modernize public administration and support sustainable development. Known for his ability to communicate complex technical outcomes to senior leadership, he ensures that every project aligns with national digital priorities.

In recognition of his contributions, Dmitriy has been awarded the “Yeren Yenbegi Ushin” medal, a national honor for distinguished service, and received an international award for digital innovation for advancing cutting-edge technology solutions in public governance. His work plays a key role in shaping the digital future of Kazakhstan.

Chief Content Officer, Coursera

Marni Baker Stein is Coursera’s Chief Content Officer, where she oversees the company’s content and credential strategy and partner relationships. Marni has more than 25 years of experience in producing and scaling online and hybrid education programs. Prior to joining Coursera, she was Chief Academic Officer and Provost at Western Governors University, where she led its four colleges serving more than 135,000 students with programs that improved access and affordability without compromising academic quality. Before that, Marni held several leadership positions focused on access, student success, and program design at institutions such as the University of Texas System, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Founder & CEO, Minerva Project

Ben Nelson is Founder and CEO of Minerva Project and Founder of Minerva University, and a visionary with a mission to reinvent higher education. Ben founded Minerva in 2011 with the goal of nurturing critical wisdom for the sake of the world through a systematic and evidence-based approach to learning. Nelson has since built Minerva University, ranked as the most innovative university in the world, and has developed a business to share Minerva's unique approach with other like-minded institutions, corporations, and governments. Minerva Project has since accelerated the creation of groundbreaking new programs, new colleges, and entirely new universities worldwide. Prior to Minerva, Nelson spent ten years at Snapfish, where he helped build the company from startup to the world’s largest personal publishing service. Serving as CEO from 2005 through 2010, Nelson began his tenure at Snapfish by leading the company’s sale to Hewlett Packard for $300 million. Nelson holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he created a blueprint for curricular reform in his first year, the principles from which he drew to frame Minerva.

Higher Education President & Education Advisor at Qatar Foundation

Francisco Marmolejo is Higher Education President at Qatar Foundation (QF) in Doha, where he leads QF’s work in support of 8 prestigious universities established at Education City in Doha offering more than 70 academic programs to students from more than 110 countries. During 2012-20, he worked at the World Bank, where he served as the Global Coordinator of Higher Education, based in Washington, DC., and later as Lead Higher Education Specialist for India and South Asia, based in New Delhi.

As part of his activities at the World Bank, he coordinated the internal thematic group on higher education, which helps to facilitate the exchange of ideas among the more than 100 Bank’s staff members and consultants involved in higher education initiatives across the globe.

During 1995-2012, he served as founding Executive Director of the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration, a network of more than 160 colleges and universities primarily from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S based at the University of Arizona, where he also worked as Assistant Vice President for Western Hemispheric Programs, Affiliated Researcher at the Center for the Study of Higher Education, and Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies. Previously, he has been American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Academic Vice President of the University of the Americas in Mexico, and International Consultant at OECD in Paris. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of NAFSA and World Education Services, and also as member of the Academic Board of the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at UNICATT in Italy, and of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Internationalisation of Higher Education — Policy and Practice. He is Senior Fellow of NAFSA and Founding Scholar of CHEI-UNICATT. He has received honorary doctorate degrees in Mexico from five Mexican universities including his Alma Mater, the University of San Luis Potosi.

Board Member of OMEP Uruguay; Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Area at the National Directorate of Education, Ministry of Education and Culture (Uruguay)

Javier Alliaume Molfino is a Uruguayan educator and policy expert specializing in early childhood and children's rights. He currently serves as Coordinator of the Early Childhood Area at Uruguay’s National Directorate of Education and as Vice President of OMEP Uruguay. He is also a teacher and a trainer of early childhood educators and teachers. With a Master’s degree in Childhood Rights and Public Policies, he has led educator training programs and advised national strategies on early childhood care and education. His work focuses on the intersection of human rights, pedagogy, and public policy, advocating for inclusive and equitable education from birth.

Vice President of Terawe Corporation

Steven Duggan is Vice President, International of Terawe, a global technology solutions & services company serving both blue chip and SME clients across 12 different industries.

Being a member of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, where he represented the global IT Industry, Steven authored the UNESCO policy brief on the use of AI in Education, ‘Change at the Speed of Learning’, which was provided to the governments of the 193 UNESCO member states.

Steven has worked in the technology industry for over 30 years, including several years as Microsoft’s Director of Worldwide Education Strategy. A regular speaker at international events, he has a passionate interest in literacy and the role of technology in disadvantaged communities and has delivered a TEDx talk on the subject as well as writing and presenting the documentary feature ‘The First Mile’ (winner of the Gold Award at the Deauville International Film Festival).

Secretary General—Director General, Worlddidac

Dr. C. Rodrigo Sáez Muñoz is the Director General and Secretary General of the Worlddidac Association. With a PhD in International Studies from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, and degrees from the U.S. and U.K., he brings deep global insight to education development.
Rodrigo’s career spans international trade, media, and institutional leadership, including serving as a university provost and teaching History and International Relations. His leadership has redefined Worlddidac’s mission, expanding its reach and deepening partnerships with International Organizations to advance SDG 4—quality education for all.
He has strengthened the Association’s presence in key regions, including the U.S. and China, and prioritizes collaboration to support the Global South. Rodrigo views education as the foundation of global progress—a vital force for sustainable, inclusive development. His visionary approach positions Worlddidac as a catalyst for transformative impact in global education.

Educational technologist; Founder, Singapore Education Network

Michael Klemm is an education professional with extensive experience in international education, employability, education technology and entrepreneurship in Asia. In 2020, he founded and currently heads the Singapore Education Network (SEN) as a regional alliance of 2,500+ educational professionals & organizations in Singapore, Asia and beyond with offices in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Previously, he worked for Minerva University, National University of Singapore, Training Institute NTUC LearningHub, World Vision International and International Labour Organization in several countries across Asia (Singapore, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia) and has gained substantial expertise in the education and development sector.

Director, Directorate of Open and Distance Education (DODE); Ministry of Education, Zambia

Dr. Beatrice Machaka Botha, a distinguished educationist with extensive experience in education management, standards, and curriculum development. With a PhD in Linguistic Science and a proven track record of leadership in various academic and professional roles, Dr. Botha is a respected expert in her field. She has held key positions, including Vice Chancellor of the Proposed University of Chipata and Director of Open and Distance Learning at the Ministry of Education. Dr. Botha is known for her dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence in education.

CEO of Starfish Education

Dr Nanthaporn J. Seributra, also known as Dr. Prae is a respected educator, education technologist, change maker, and advocate for equitable access to quality education. She firmly believes that everyone should have the right to access quality education that meets their individual needs.
Dr Prae has studied in diverse learning environments across several countries, including Thailand, Australia, Switzerland, and the UK. Her global educational background has enabled her to develop a deep understanding of the importance of quality education and its transformative power.
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Dr Prae's mission is to use her expertise and knowledge to make a positive impact on the lives of others through meaningful education. She believes that technology plays a vital role in bridging the gap in access to education and that by embracing it, we can transform traditional learning methods and make education more accessible to all learners.

Dr. Prae is currently based in Singapore and enjoys travelling around the region to further her educational endeavours.

www.drpraeseributra.com

Inspector General for Education, Sport and Research (France)

Currently Inspector General for Education, Sport and Research, Laurent BRISSET heads a group on overseas France; he is the State Inspector for French Guiana and the Overseas Collectivities (COM) and coordinated a report on plurilingualism in overseas France. He has also taken part in various missions, notably on priority education, nursery schools, disability, guidance and school dropout. He chaired the Professional Association of the General Inspectorate of National Education.

Prior to this, he was education advisor to the Association des Régions de France (ARF), responsible for high schools (guidance, school dropouts, digital education, school rhythms, etc.) and relations with the French Ministry of Education.

As head of the department responsible for the architecture and quality of Master’s and Doctorate-level training courses at the General Directorate for Higher Education and Professional Integration (DGESIP) at the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR), he was involved in the organization of Master’s and Doctorate levels for training courses also run by other ministries.

As technical advisor to the Minister for Vocational Education, he was in charge of the Lycée des métiers and Lifelong Learning projects.

He also holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, specializing in "Public Administration and Policy", from the University of Paris 2 — Assas. At the start of his career, he was a primary school teacher, then a certified history and geography teacher.

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Actuellement inspecteur général de l’éducation, du sport et de la recherche, Laurent BRISSET pilote un groupe sur l’Outre-mer ; il est correspondant pour la Guyane et des Collectivités d’Outre-Mer (COM) et a coordonné un rapport sur le plurilinguisme en Outremer. Il a également participé à différentes missions notamment sur l’éducation prioritaire, l’école maternelle, le handicap, l’orientation, le décrochage. Il a présidé l’Association professionnelle de l’Inspection générale de l’éducation nationale.

Auparavant, il a exercé mes fonctions de conseiller pour l’éducation auprès de l’Association des Régions de France (ARF) pour les lycées (orientation, décrochage scolaire, numérique éducatif, rythmes scolaires, etc.) et les relations avec le ministère de l’Éducation nationale.

En tant que chef du département de l’architecture et de la qualité des formations de niveau master et doctorat à la Direction générale pour l’enseignement supérieur et l’insertion professionnelle (DGESIP) au ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (MESR), il a participé à l’organisation des niveaux Master & Doctorat pour des formations relevant aussi d’autres ministères.

En tant que conseiller technique au cabinet du Ministre délégué à l’enseignement professionnel, il était notamment chargé des dossiers sur le « Lycée des métiers » et sur la « Formation tout au long de la vie ».

Il a par ailleurs obtenu un Master de Science politique, spécialité « Administration et politique publiques » à l’Université de Paris 2 — Assas. Au début de sa carrière il a été instituteur puis professeur certifié d’histoire et géographie.

World Bank’s Global Coordinator for Indigenous Peoples and a Senior Social Development Specialist

Ms. Pizarro has led and supported investment projects, policy lending operations, and grants focused on increasing inclusion and voice of Indigenous Peoples across a broad range of sectors and countries, with her deepest experience in Latin America. She currently leads the World Bank’s global partnership on Indigenous Peoples participation in climate and nature and finance. This work builds upon over a decade of experience leading the World Bank’s Latin American regional dialogue with Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and the application of the WB’s Safeguard and Environmental and Social Standards. She has spearheaded policy dialogues to promote partnerships between Indigenous leaders and governments in many countries resulting in policy reform and investments with IPs. Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. Pizarro worked for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) where she supported the design of the IADB’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Safeguards Policy and managed the trust fund portfolio for Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Pizarro holds a Master´s degree in International Development from American University.

PhD, Chairman of Indonesia Council of Youth Development (ICYD), Co-chair G20 Youth (Y20) 2022

Budy Sugandi is an entrepreneur in educational technology and owner of a startup company. The startup provides online mentoring as preparation for overseas study. Budy has received several awards, for his work both in education and business. He was chosen as one of 24 Indonesian innovators to join a short-term award from Australia Awards in Indonesia (AAI).

Founder and Executive Director, Educate Girls, EdHeroes Advisory Board member

Safeena is the Founder and Board Member of Educate Girls (EG), an Indian non-profit working towards empowering communities for girls' education in some of the hardest-to-reach villages. Under Safeena's guidance, EG has mobilised 1.2 million+ girls for enrolment to date, supporting over 17.5 million+ children.

Most recently, when the global pandemic hit India in 2020, EG under Safeena's leadership distributed ration to poverty-struck households in rural India. With the second-wave creating a massive loss of livelihood in India, EG restarted its Covid Relief Initiative to distribute ration and hygiene kits 200,000+ households to date benefitting over 1 million individuals, while running awareness campaigns and amplifying the use of government learning applications. To combat the impact of Covid19 on children's education, especially girls, EG started Camp Vidya – a community-based learning initiative. Piloted by Safeena, 17,000+ camps were completed, reaching 340,000+ children.

A London School of Economics graduate, Safeena worked extensively with underserved communities in South America, Africa and Asia, before returning to India. Her efforts to bridge the gender gap in education in India has been instrumental in EG achieving a major global milestone — the world's first Development Impact Bond in education. On its completion, the bond surpassed both its target outcomes by achieving 160% of its learning target and 116% of its enrolment target. These results are testimony to the commitment of EG to deliver quality at scale (the organisation currently has 2,262 full time employees and 20,000+ community volunteers) and value to every single child in the program. She has also been instrumental in EG becoming the first Audacious project in Asia, a first-of-its-kind coalition that surfaces and funds critical projects with the potential to create global change. In 2020, EG's solution to empower 1.5M girls to go to school was selected at MIT Solve's Learning for Girls & Women Challenge. EG also became one of world's 100 most inspiring innovations in K12 education twice in a row in 2021. Safeena has been conferred with many accolades for her work at grassroots which includes the 2017 NITI Aayog's Women Transforming India Award, the 2016 NDTV-L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Award.

President and CEO of Sharp Global Development, LLC. Former 23rd President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

Fawn R. Sharp is the President and CEO of Sharp Global Development, LLC. Previously she served as the 23rd President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native tribal government organization in the country. President Sharp was elected on October 24, 2019 at NCAI's 76th Annual Convention & Marketplace. Sharp is the third woman to hold the position of NCAI President.

President Sharp also served as Vice President of the Quinault Indian Nation in Taholah, Washington, after being a five term past-President. Her past positions included managing attorney and lead counsel; and staff attorney for the Quinault Indian Nation, administrative law judge for the Washington state Department of Revenue – Tax Appeals Division, Quinault Tribal Court Associate Judge, and Counsel for Phillips, Krause & Brown.

Ms. Sharp has held numerous leadership positions, including an appointment by Governor Gary Locke to serve as Trustee for Grays Harbor College, Governor of the Washington State Bar Association, Trustee of Washington State Bar Association – Indian Law Section, Vice President and Founding Member for the National Intertribal Tax Alliance, and Director/Secretary of the Quinault Nation Enterprises Board. Fawn has conducted lectures and publications all over the United States.

Ms. Sharp graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington at the age of 19. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington in 1995 and has subsequently received certificates from the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada, and from the International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

Specialist in Human Rights & Indigenous People

Gustavo is a lawyer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú - PUCP. He has a Master's Degree in Applied Ethics with a mention in Business from Linköping Universittet, Sweden. He is a specialist in human rights, particularly in indigenous peoples.

He has work experience in public management, as well as advising senior public and private management. He has worked for the Ministry of Culture and provided technical advice to other sectors of the Peruvian state on indigenous peoples. He works as a consultant at the national and international level, working with organizations such as the ILO and FAO in the region. He has designed proposals for managing socio-environmental conflicts, has directed and coordinated development projects, as well as carried out work with social organizations and indigenous peoples.

Among his main tasks he has been General Director of the General Directorate of Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Ministry of Culture, Head of INDEPA, and coordinator of the Academic and Research Area of the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights of the PUCP IDEHPUCP. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Peruvian Institute of Human Rights and Business IPEDHU. Until January 2023, he served as an expert on indigenous peoples and Coordinator of the FAO Project "Ensuring Food and Nutritional Security and strengthening the resilience of the livelihoods of the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples of Peru affected by COVID-19". Peru.

He is an Auxiliary Professor of the Academic Department of Law of the Universidad Católica of Peru -PUCP. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. He has carried out academic research, presented in forums and conferences on the aforementioned topics, and published both academic articles and book chapters. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Master's Degree in Human Rights of the PUCP, to which he advises on the mention of Indigenous Peoples.

World President, OMEP; 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)