Read bios of our speakers below, with links to their webinar pages.
Izyan Rezali is ISKL’s Service and Sustainability Manager, where she champions biodiversity across the school’s 26-acre campus. Izyan acts as a vital bridge between Operations and Teaching & Learning, transforming campus facilities into "living classrooms." She empowers students to engage with real-world sustainability, including recycled water systems, waste management, and reforestation efforts like the planting of over 300 Eugenia trees.
As ISKL’s Eco-School Coordinator, Izyan supports student-led environmental initiatives and guides the school’s participation in the global Eco-Schools program, ensuring that environmental stewardship is a core part of the ISKL experience. With a background in Agriculture and an MBA, her expertise was instrumental in the development of the Ampang Hilir campus and led her team to a 2024 Honor Award at the Malaysia Landscape Architect Awards (MLAA).
Krystle van Dijk, Marketing & Community Engagement Lead, The International School of Kuala Lumpur
Since joining ISKL in 2018, Krystle van Dijk has served as the Marketing & Community Engagement Lead, focusing on the intersection of brand, culture, and community. Krystle holds an MSc in International Management and a BSc in Marketing, which she leverages to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive school environment. Her role is essential in aligning the school’s operational strengths with the creative energy of its community; she acts as a strategic connector for student-led projects and parent-driven initiatives. Krystle is passionate about nurturing an ecosystem where every stakeholder is supported, ensuring that the ISKL experience is consistently high-quality, collaborative, and centered on human connection.

Isobel Rimmer is the founder of international training and development consultancy Masterclass Training and author of Present with Presence. With 25 years as a business leader, coach, and mentor, she has designed award-winning leadership programmes for organisations such as Hertz, PwC, Accenture, and IBM, helping leaders plan, prepare, and deliver with impact.

Victoria Rennoldson is a multi-award-winning Coach, Speaker, certified Facilitator, and best-selling Author, specialising in Global Leadership, Communication and Cultural Intelligence.She helps professionals and teams to thrive in their global careers by amplifying their impact through speaking up confidently and communicating clearly, and collaborating and connecting across cultures.Victoria is the CEO and Founder of Culture Cuppa, and a top-ranked Podcast host with over 160 episodes and counting. Her first book, Become a Global Leader, became a bestseller in Career Advancement and Professional Development on its release.

Ingrid Pope is an executive coach, speaker, and author passionate about helping people clear away the physical and mental clutter that blocks their potential. Through her company, Creating Space Coaching, Ingrid empowers individuals and organisations to simplify, refocus, and thrive. Her book Uncluttered expands on this mission, offering practical tools to create space to think, work, and live with intention.

Gemma Thornley is the Principal of Arbor School Dubai, the 2025 World’s Best School for Environmental Action. With more than 20 years of educational leadership experience in the UAE and UK, Gemma is known for championing sustainable, values-led education that empowers young people to become changemakers. An MSc graduate in Educational Leadership and Fellow of the Chartered College of teaching, she is currently completing her PhD on global teacher recruitment and retention. At Arbor, Gemma leads with purpose - integrating ecoliteracy, creativity and ethical leadership to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

John is a seasoned educational leader whose career has spanned continents and cultures, bringing rich international experience to his role as Director of Education at Charterhouse Lagos.
Born and educated in the UK, John studied Natural Sciences at University College, Durham, before earning a Master’s in Education from the UK’s Open University, a Master’s in Organisational Leadership, and an MBA from the United States. Beginning his career as a primary school teacher in the UK, he quickly discovered a passion for nurturing global learning communities, leading him to international education.
John has been part of the Charterhouse Lagos project since its inception, playing a key role in planning, building, procurement, and staff recruitment. His involvement has ensured that the school’s foundation reflects the highest standards of excellence and aligns with its vision for outstanding education.

Angela Newby, Head of Digital Learning at UWCSEA East, has over 20 years’ experience as a technology educator and leader in international schools across Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Cairo. As Chair of the e-Safety Committee, she works closely with parents and staff to promote digital wellbeing and responsible tech use.

Tim Lovatt, Head of Digital Learning at UWCSEA Dover, is an international keynote speaker, podcaster, and author with 18 years’ experience transforming classrooms and organisations across Europe and Asia. He is passionate about empowering educators and students to use technology as a force for good.

Ingrid Pope is an executive coach, speaker, and author passionate about helping people clear away the physical and mental clutter that blocks their potential. Through her company, Creating Space Coaching, Ingrid empowers individuals and organisations to simplify, refocus, and thrive. Her book Uncluttered expands on this mission, offering practical tools to create space to think, work, and live with intention.

In 2025, Travis Copers presented an AI in the social studies classroom at the future of learning conference and on AI as a thought partner in a webinar to teachers from the NICS Oasis network. He's been teaching for 21 years both in the United States and Malaysia. He's a social studies teacher and enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction.

Doug Ota is a researcher, author, psychologist, and presenter specialising in how transitions affect people. He is the author of Safe Passage: How Mobility Affects People and What International Schools Should Do About It and the founder of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN; www.spanschools.org), an international non-profit supporting transitions in educational settings.
Doug’s work has led to transitions-related standards becoming adopted into CIS accreditation standards for its schools worldwide.
He majored in religion at Princeton, became a clinical child psychologist at the University of Leiden (cum laude), and recently earned a PhD in developmental psychology under Marinus van IJzendoorn at Erasmus University.
Now a licensed psychologist, Doug maintains a private practice in The Hague, Netherlands. SPAN is the embodiment of his professional life's work. For fun, he runs marathons.
Claudine Hakim is the Head of Community Engagement and Student Services at the International School of London (ISL) and leads the school’s multi-award-winning ISL Crossroads Transitions Care Programme. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Managementfrom UCL’s Institute of Education and a BA in Psychology and Counsellingfrom Richmond International University. Having lived across three continents, Claudine is passionate about fostering inclusive international communities and promoting transitions careand attachment securityin education. She is a member of the ECIS Admissions Committeeand Chair of the Board of Trustees at Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN).

Zack leads the Multilingualism programme at ISL London, where he has developed an integrated curriculum across all languages since 2023. He speaks five languages and teaches French and Spanish, with a passion for linguistic diversity and intercultural learning.

Timea Virag (MBACP)is the School Counsellor at ISL London with over 20 years of experience in international and multilingual schools across Switzerland, Hungary, and the UK. Now in her seventh year at ISL, she supports students across all age groups, fostering a strong sense of belonging and promoting social, emotional, and academic wellbeing throughout the school.

A much-loved and integral part of Marymount’s community, Paula has been at the heart of Boarding life for 11 years. First as Deputy Head and, for the past five years, as Head of Boarding. Her warmth, compassion, and commitment make her one of the beating hearts of our community, ensuring every student feels at home away from home.Originally from Zimbabwe, where she was born and raised, Paula brings a rich background in business and education, having worked in management, administration, and teaching within the English as a Second Language sector before joining Marymount.In a full-circle moment, Paula is also a proud alumna of Marymount College in Mutare, Zimbabwe, a connection that makes her role in our global Marymount network all the more special.
Kelly Blackaby is a senior HR executive with over 17 years’ experience leading strategic HR initiatives across multiple industries in the UK, GCC and Europe. She has deep expertise in global mobility, workforce transformation and international expansion, having supported joint ventures, M&A and talent strategy for high-growth organisations. A pioneering female leader in Saudi Arabia, Kelly brings sharp insight into regional labour markets, localization policies and cross-cultural integration. She’s passionate about building inclusive, future-ready workplaces and supporting economic growth plans through agile, people-centred strategies.

Sue Shortland, PhD earned her doctorate in gender diversity in expatriation at the University of Westminster where she previously lectured in International HRM before retiring from teaching in July 2024. She holds the title of Professor Emerita, London Metropolitan University.Sue remains an active researcher and has published in a wide range of peer-reviewed academic journals including: Human Resource Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Journal of Global Mobility, Career Development International, Gender in Management, Personnel Review, Employee Relations, Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, and European Journal of International Management.Her specialist research areas lie in diversity and gender in expatriation and in corporate governance with a focus on executive remuneration. Her previous roles include being a manager in international HRM consultancy at KPMG, heading up the CBI’s Employee Relocation Council, and working in various editorial and research capacities for industrial relations and HRM journals.