Inclusion & Wellbeing MENA 2024 - Dubai - Speakers

Wednesday 22 May 2024 - Thursday 23 May 2024
Sofitel Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Wellbeing day speakers

Inclusion day speakers

Wellbeing day speakers

Louise Dawson, Education Consultant and Inclusion Specialist (Chair, Wellbeing)

Louise Dawson is an independent consultant, supporting schools, and organisations, across the middle east with inclusion. Louise has recently opened a training centre in Motor City. She has worked in Dubai for 11 years and Hong Kong for eight. Previously with three outstanding Dubai schools, she is well placed to understand strategic leadership and inspection frameworks. Louise has comprehensive knowledge about implementing support for children from identification through to evidencing progress and outcomes.  Louise also understands the unique inclusion journey that the UAE and Middle East have been on. A rare specialist in direct 'hands on' support and senior leadership. Louise was the inaugural British Schools Middle East Network Lead for inclusion and is now the international ambassador for SEND for The National College. Louise has written and delivered training for National College, TES, Educare, and Real Training.  Louise speaks internationally, on many education platforms such as GESS, Outstanding Schools and the Optimus Education MENA conference. Louise is also an advocate of assistive technology and works closely with tech companies to bring software to the Middle East. Prior to Dubai, Louise spent six years in mainstream and a BESD School in England.

David Cashman, Director of The WellSchools Network, Employment Based PhD Scholar, University College Cork and Primary School Principal

David is a school principal in Ireland, an employment based PhD scholar at University College Cork and CEO of The WellSchools Network. His thesis, "Reconceptualising Wellbeing: A systems informed model of positive education," reflects a commitment to practical, inclusive education by incorporating wellbeing and trauma-informed practices into school environments. With a career that has spanned over 16 years,11 of which were deeply rooted in disadvantaged schools, David has embraced roles from teaching to leadership with a focus on creating supportive educational spaces. Throughout his career, David has had the opportunity to present his research at international conferences, contributing effectively to the broader dialogue on enriching student wellbeing.

Suzie Hachez, Wellbeing Counsellor at CIS & GEMS Counselling Network Leader

Suzie Hachez, is a Belgian national speaking 5 languages. She has been an expat for 34 years in various places and has lived in Dubai since 1997. She has over 38 years of experience in the field of psychology and has spent 20 years in special education (has established the Inclusion dept at CIS), where she acts as school counselor as well. For the past four years, she has been the sole counselor in a school of 2780+ students. Suzie, has been an instrumental professional within GEMS and is the proud recipient of the Mariamma Varkey award. She is a passionate educator, who wants to create a difference in the lives of young people. Suzie comes with a wealth of experience and is certified in various techniques such as The Listening Program, CBT, DBT alongside a wealth of other certifications.

Colin McCabe, International Director, Lightspeed Solutions

Colin McCabe is the International director of the educational technology company, Lightspeed Systems. Formally a teacher and school leader, Colin has held strategic responsibility for digital transformation at local authority level, leading on digital pedagogy and online safeguarding. He has delivered a one-to-one device programme for 14,500 young people across 40 schools and supported teachers and safeguarding leads to adapt to this 21st-century approach to classroom learning.

Samina Al-Balooshi, International Consultant, GL Education

Samina Yasmin is an accomplished educator with over 15 years of experience. She has a passion for education, promoting students’ independence, learning and development. Samina has developed a deep understanding of the unique needs of young learners and believes that every child deserves a strong foundation in education. She’s been praised by GEMS Inspection as being a role model teacher and has won multiple awards. Ultimately, she is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and grow.

Andaleeb Ishteyaq, Head of Inclusion and Pastoral Care, JSS Private School Dubai

Andaleeb is the Head of Inclusion and Pastoral Care at JSS Private School, Dubai. His passion and specialisation relate to working with Students of Determination and Gifted and Talented students. Some of his other key areas of interests are career counselling, wellbeing, staff mentoring, mindfulness, improvisation and creativity. He has participated as SME, Head of Section (Lead Teacher) to review National Professional Standards for the UAE education and private sectors organised by MOE and NQC. Andaleeb has been conferred the prestigious “AKS Global Teacher Award 2019” as part of recognising the excellent teachers from all regions and communities of the world.

Sarah Johnson, Consultant, Phoenix Education Consultancy

Sarah has worked in education for the last twenty years. As a qualified teacher, Sarah has enjoyed roles in mainstream schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision and psychiatric in-patient services. Sarah is the author of the book ‘Behaving Together: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Behaviour’. Sarah’s most recent contribution to supporting schools are her books “All about SEMH” which are practical guides for primary and secondary school teachers to support children. As a member for the Department of Education’s Alternative Provision stakeholder group, she has supported development of policy such as the recent SEND and AP green paper as well as chairing a range of panels and events within the education sector.

John Paton, Assistant Headteacher, Director of Inclusion, Wellbeing and Pastoral Care, Arcadia School

John is a passionate and committed inclusion specialist and qualified SENCo, who believes all children deserve an outstanding teaching and learning experience. As an experienced school leader and teacher who has worked both in mainstream and in inclusion both in the UK and Dubai, he has a breadth of experience in working with children in a variety of contexts. John firmly believes that giving children a well-rounded and personalised education will open doors for a happy and successful future. As a committed advocate for people of determination and a driven professional, he aims to continue to develop and grow inclusive practice globally.

Dr Leanne O'Brien, Director of Feel The Psychology, Educational Psychologist at Insights Psychology

Dr Leanne O’Brien holds a Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology (DAppEdPsy) from Newcastle University, UK. At Insights, Dr. Leanne is an assessment specialist. Much of her caseload consists of diagnostic psychological assessments for a wide range of neurodevelopmental differences. Dr Leanne is passionate about affirmative approaches to neurodiversity and working with neurodivergent clients and their loved ones, to better understand themselves and to build a positive self-identity. Alongside her clinical work, Dr Leanne has recently developed an evidence-based parenting programme: ‘Parenting Connect: The Science Behind Parenting’ with her colleague Dr Kayleigh Sumner.

Dr Lené Rensburg, Head of Wellbeing and School Counsellor, Brighton College Dubai

Lené started her academic training with a Bed.Psych degree in Educational Psychology after which she specialised with a Master’s degree in Play Therapy followed by a PhD in Psychology. She has 18 years of extensive experience in working with children, staff, parents, and professional practitioners. She has managed and had solo responsibility for pastoral teams and wellbeing divisions within various schools and tertiary settings across the globe, with work experience in the United Kingdom, Taiwan, South Africa as well as the UAE.  Her niche lies in her ability to connect with a child, and she believes that both parents and educators are important stakeholders and role players in enabling children to thrive. Lené provides a high-quality counselling and holistic intervention as well as preventative care and support to all. She is positive, adaptable and solution focused with a great sense of humour and regards it as an honour to be able to invest in the lives of others with time, compassion and empathy.

Dr Daniela Salazar, Clinical Psychologist and Education Director, Lighthouse Arabia

Daniela loves listening to people and walking with them through their journey of life by giving them useful strategies to overcome whatever obstacle they might run into. As a clinical psychologist, she works with clients to transform their difficulties into meaningful and valuable experiences. Born in Colombia, Daniela was raised in the USA and has worked in school settings as a school counsellor and a special needs specialist. She has worked in private practice settings for several years and has experience in a wide range of psychological issues. Her particular interest is in working with couples, children and mood disorders, holding seminars and workshops on topics including positive parenting, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, bullying, mindfulness, positive relationships, and the art of communication.

Dr Kayleigh Sumner, Director of Feel the Psychology and Head of Positive Education and Wellbeing at Fortes Education

Dr Kayleigh Sumner trained as a psychologist in the UK with a Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology (DAppEdPsy). Kayleigh’s specialist research area and passion is the application of positive psychology and wellbeing principles working with organisations to promote resilience and optimal wellbeing. She has a wealth of experience in the application of wellbeing frameworks and leads a series of parent wellbeing workshops at Fortes Education. Kayleigh recently developed a researched based parenting programme with her colleague Dr Leanne O’Brien.

Leah Vahanian, English Language Learner (ELL) coordinator, Fairgreen International School

Leah's teaching experience spans over 12 years both internationally and in Canada. Beyond teaching roles, her passion for interior design and a keen interest in emotional wellness have shaped her unique approach to creating learning spaces. Leah's specialisation in creating biophilic designs for classrooms and communal learning spaces underscores her commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive environments. By incorporating biophilic elements into her designs, Leah not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of these spaces but also addresses the importance of connecting students with nature. The emphasis on emotional wellness in Leah's approach recognises the interconnectedness of mental and emotional well-being with the learning process. Overall, Leah's focus on biophilic designs reflects a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to education, acknowledging that the physical environment plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experience. Her work contributes to the broader goal of creating educational spaces that are not only visually appealing but also conducive to the well-being and success of all students.

Inclusion day speakers

Gareth Morewood, Educational Advisor, Studio III (Chair, Inclusion)

Gareth is the educational advisor for Studio III (www.studio3.org). Previously he worked for 25 years in U.K. schools; 17 of which were as SENCo in a large, inclusive secondary school in North-West England. He has extensive ‘front-line’ experience supporting schools, families and working directly with young people in the U.K. and abroad, particularly Chile, Dubai, Portugal, Ireland and Scandinavia. Gareth is co-director of the LASER programme, which fuses his critically acclaimed Saturation Model (Morewood, Humphrey & Symes, 2011) with low arousal approaches (McDonnell & Deveau, 2018) as part of a system-led model of inclusive practice. As a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Chester, Gareth leads on postgraduate courses, teaching non-adverse approaches to supporting people with complex needs.

Louise Dawson, Education Consultant and Inclusion Specialist (Chair, Wellbeing)

Louise Dawson is an independent consultant, supporting schools, and organisations, across the middle east with inclusion. Louise has recently opened a training centre in Motor City. She has worked in Dubai for 11 years and Hong Kong for eight. Previously with three outstanding Dubai schools, she is well placed to understand strategic leadership and inspection frameworks. Louise has comprehensive knowledge about implementing support for children from identification through to evidencing progress and outcomes.  Louise also understands the unique inclusion journey that the UAE and Middle East have been on. A rare specialist in direct 'hands on' support and senior leadership. Louise was the inaugural British Schools Middle East Network Lead for inclusion and is now the international ambassador for SEND for The National College. Louise has written and delivered training for National College, TES, Educare, and Real Training.  Louise speaks internationally, on many education platforms such as GESS, Outstanding Schools and the Optimus Education MENA conference. Louise is also an advocate of assistive technology and works closely with tech companies to bring software to the Middle East. Prior to Dubai, Louise spent six years in mainstream and a BESD School in England.

Zara Awan, Head of Learning Support Services, The Developing Child Centre

Zara is a dyslexia specialist who has been working in the Middle East since 2007. For the past six years Zara has worked at The Developing Child Centre in Dubai as a dyslexia specialist and the head of educational therapy services. Zara has a PGC in specific learning disabilities from the UK, is an associate member of the British Dyslexia Association, and has an MEd in Inclusion from the University of Birmingham. She has a keen interest in inclusion practices in the region and undertakes frequent research projects.

Emmanuel Awoyelu, Inclusion Specialist Teacher and qualified SENCO

Emmanuel is an inclusion specialist teacher and qualified SENCO who moved to the Middle East following his previous role as assistant head teacher & school governor in the UK. Emmanuel has taught in both special and mainstream schools in the past decade. Emmanuel’s journey into education started as a teaching assistant before he realised his desire to teach. He has a track record of supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are disenfranchised from school. Emmanuel transferred his experience into the charity sector where he became a director of The Reach Out project - A mentoring program for boys disengaged from education. Emmanuel is an avid writer, public speaker and consultant, working with private and public organisations to improve the outcomes of young people through education.

Berna Bouwer, Corporate Head of Inclusion, GEMS Education

Berna is a highly qualified and experienced education leader and educational psychologist. With nearly 24 years of experience, Berna initially qualified as a primary school teacher, specialising in mathematics and english second language learning. Berna taught in various settings, including settings that supported children with and without specific learning needs. After obtaining her MEd in Educational Psychology, Berna worked as a school psychologist and managed her own private practice. Berna's international journey includes roles in Dubai as a SENCo, deputy head, Year 1 & 2 teacher, ABA therapist, and inclusion specialist. In the UK, she served as lead inclusion specialist, teaching mathematics and later becoming head of prep at Sherfield School. Berna returned to the Emirates as corporate head of inclusion for GEMS Education. She is excited to be overseeing the development and implementation of comprehensive inclusion strategies and initiatives, across a large network of schools with diverse curriculums and contexts. With expertise in a range of educational leadership roles, she is well-placed to support the Emirates’ journey of promoting outstanding inclusion and diversity.

Gemma Donovan, Head of Whole School EAL, Southview School, Dubai

Gemma is an accomplished international English as Additional Language educator, teacher trainer, and educational leader who holds a deep passion for language and its acquisition. Throughout her career, she has taught and led in both private and government educational institutions, spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary levels across the globe – Italy, the UK, Hong Kong, and presently the UAE. Firmly rooted in her philosophy is the belief in the intrinsic connection between social-emotional learning and language acquisition, emphasising not only linguistic growth but also relationship-building and community integration. As a dedicated leader, Gemma currently heads the EAL Department at South View School, Dubai, and is committed to nurturing lasting relationships and advancing programme excellence.

Alex Gray, Head of Science, Dubai British School Emirates Hills, Leader & Founder of DEEP Professional

Alex Gray is a science teacher of over 15 years and currently works at Dubai British School Emirates Hills. He is an RFU Level 3 coach, a high performance coach and he holds an NPQTLD and an MA in Education where he explored “developing education through enhancing performance.” Alex doesn’t stop there though, he’s a content creator in the realest sense, he hosts The International Classroom Podcast, runs deepprofessional.com and shares content via DEEP Professional on YouTube.

Andaleeb Ishteyaq, Head of Inclusion and Pastoral Care, JSS Private School Dubai

Andaleeb is the Head of Inclusion and Pastoral Care at JSS Private School, Dubai. His passion and specialisation relate to working with Students of Determination and Gifted and Talented students. Some of his other key areas of interests are career counselling, wellbeing, staff mentoring, mindfulness, improvisation and creativity. He has participated as SME, Head of Section (Lead Teacher) to review National Professional Standards for the UAE education and private sectors organised by MOE and NQC. Andaleeb has been conferred the prestigious “AKS Global Teacher Award 2019” as part of recognising the excellent teachers from all regions and communities of the world.

Sarah Johnson, Consultant, Phoenix Education Consultancy

Sarah has worked in education for the last twenty years. As a qualified teacher, Sarah has enjoyed roles in mainstream schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision and psychiatric in-patient services. Sarah is the author of the book ‘Behaving Together: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Behaviour’. Sarah’s most recent contribution to supporting schools are her books “All about SEMH” which are practical guides for primary and secondary school teachers to support children. As a member for the Department of Education’s Alternative Provision stakeholder group, she has supported development of policy such as the recent SEND and AP green paper as well as chairing a range of panels and events within the education sector.

Nargish Khambatta, Principal and CEO of GEMS Modern Academy and Senior Vice President – GEMS Education

Nargish was the recipient of the first ever GEMS Exceptional Head of School Award in 2018.With a Masters’ degree in microbiology, she made the transition from teaching to educational leadership and has spent 35 years in the field of education. An avid proponent of positive psychology in education, she has been a panelist and presenter at four international iPEN Conferences in USA, China and Australia. An adventure enthusiast, she accompanied a group of 10 students including an Emirati, to Antarctica as part of Sir Robert Swan’s expedition in 2014. A passionate educator, her simple educational philosophy is - All children deserve to be given ample opportunity to discover their worth, their interests and their passion in a secure and happy environment, for them to grow into confident young adults with a sound intellectual and moral compass to guide them to their goals.

Dr Diksha Laungani, Educational, Child & Adolescent Psychologist

Dr Diksha Laungani is an Educational, Child & Adolescent Psychologist, currently based in Dubai, UAE. She completed her professional doctorate from the UCL Institute of Education in 2019 and is also registered with the HCPC in the UK. Alongside her clinical practice, she is also an adjunct lecturer at university, facilitating both undergraduate and postgraduate modules in education and psychology. As a practitioner, Diksha characterises herself as a person-centered, strengths-focused, and humanistic psychologist. She is an advocate for promoting the voices of children and young people with SEND and their families. Diksha has collaborated with several governmental and private organisations across the UAE, Asia, and Europe to facilitate community outreach through consultation, supervision and training.

Jenny Loach, Head of Education International, FlashAcademy

Jenny is the head of education - international for FlashAcademy, a digital EAL and ELL platform offering a comprehensive and immersive English language learning experience. With over 20 years' experience working in consultative sales and training and degree educated, Jenny brings a wealth of expertise to FlashAcademy. As a mentor and coach, Jenny often shares her passion for building partnerships that support both schools and students alike. This vast array of expertise provides Jenny with invaluable insights when it comes to EAL and ELL education.

Dr Lokeswari Mahendren, Professional Development Specialist, JSS Private School, Dubai

Dr Lokeswari, a professional development specialist at JSS Private School, holds a PhD degree in chemistry from the University of Delhi and served as an assistant professor at Hansraj College, University of Delhi. In Dubai, she brings with her a rich skill set spanning action research, data analysis, various teaching methods, tailored instruction for gifted students, curriculum design, educational technology integration, assessment, and team building. She actively trains and mentors educators, aiming to enhance their teaching abilities, create conducive learning environments, and improve assessment practices. Her dedication and expertise significantly contribute to the professional development and instructional standards of the school's teaching staff. 

Victoria McKeown, Primary Inclusion Leader, Sunmarke School

Victoria is the primary inclusion leader at Sunmarke School, Dubai. She holds a Master's in psychology from the University of Edinburgh and has over 20 years of experience in international education. After working as a consultant in the corporate world, she transitioned to education and obtained her PGCE and NASENCo. Throughout her time in schools, she has worked closely to collaborate with families to support the best outcomes for students. Victoria is currently pursuing training to become a neurodiversity specialist, intending to work as a coach, mentor, and advocate for the neurodivergent community. She is passionate about promoting a neuroaffirming approach based on her personal experiences and expertise and is dedicated to supporting individuals with diverse needs and fostering inclusive environments that celebrate diversity.

Aparajita Sahoo, Head of Inclusion, JSS International School

An advocate for holistic education, Aparajita holds a Master's in Psychology complementing her Bachelor's in Education. With a diploma in clinical counseling, she accrued two decades of diverse educational expertise in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Her journey spans roles as a psychology teacher, counselor, and head of department, nurturing young minds and fostering growth. Currently serving as the head of inclusion at JSS International School, Dubai, she champions an inclusive learning environment. Passionate about empowering students of all backgrounds, her dedication lies in creating spaces where every individual thrives, leveraging her rich blend of educational, psychological, and leadership experiences.

Lily Shaekhova, Head of EAL, GEMS FirstPoint School

Lily is head of english as an additional language (EAL) at GEMS FirstPoint School. With international teaching experience, Lily specialises in teaching english to speakers of other languages (TESOL) for both school and university students in the UAE, USA, and Russia. Throughout her journey of achieving a BA in Linguistics, an MA in germanic philology, and an MA in TESOL, along with the invaluable research experience gained as a Fulbright alumna in translanguaging, Lily is fortunate to support the aspirations of multilingual language learners and their families.