Programme

Global Learning Lab (GLL) 2027 speakers and FLN leaders

Meet ministers, researchers, practitioners and education leaders joining the FLN conference in Lucknow. Speakers and attendees are confirmed on a rolling basis.

Dates: 8–10 Feb 2027
Venue: City Montessori School, Lucknow
Confirmations: Announced on a rolling basis

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Speakers and dignitaries on stage at City Montessori School for the launch of the book Disruptive Literacy — On stage at CMS for the launch of *Disruptive Literacy* — the book behind the movement — at a previous convening.

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All confirmed participants leading sessions at the Lab.

Showing 40 of 40 people

Distinguished speaker

Prof. Eric A. Hanushek

Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow in Education, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

United States

One of the world's most cited economists of education. His work on teacher quality, school finance and the link between learning outcomes and national economic growth underpins how governments now measure the return on education spending. He chairs the Hoover Education Success Initiative and is a long-standing contributor to international assessment research.

Research presenter

Dr. Fridah Gatwiri Kiambati

Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Kenya

Kenya

An inclusive educator, researcher and information scientist working on foundational learning and inclusive education at APHRC. Her recent work examines what is happening inside Kenya's foundational learning classrooms and the determinants of behavioural performance in FLN. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from Kenyatta University and previously led research at Education Sub-Saharan Africa and lectured at the Kenya Institute of Special Education.

Organiser

Dr. Sunita Gandhi

Founder & CEO, Dignity Education Vision International; architect of the ALfA pedagogy

India

Physicist, educator and former World Bank economist who has studied education systems in over 50 countries. She founded Dignity Education Vision International and the Global Education & Training Institute (GETI) and created the ALfA pedagogy now reaching 30,000 government schools. A graduate of Imperial College London and Trinity College, Cambridge, she is Chief Academic Advisor to City Montessori School, the world's largest school, and has keynoted UN summits and education conferences across six continents.

Attendee

Rana Dajani

President, We Love Reading

Jordan

Invited attendee from Jordan.

Attendee

Ravi Sreedharan

Founder & President, Indian School of Development Management

India

Invited attendee from India.

Attendee

Robert Thorn

Director, Developing Real Learners

Turkey

Invited attendee from Turkey.

Attendee

Inger-Mette Stenseth

Founder, World Climate School

Norway

Invited attendee from Norway.

Attendee

Sigbjorn Dugal

Founder, Pickatale

Norway

Invited attendee from Norway.

Attendee

Nicolas Gravel

Professor of Economics, Aix-Marseille University

France

Invited attendee from France.

Attendee

Richard Nilsson

President, Adventure of Humanity

Sweden/France

Invited attendee from Sweden/France.

Attendee

David Bovill

Partnerships Manager, DEIP

Invited attendee from UK.

Attendee

Girish Menon

CEO, STIR Education

Invited attendee from UK.

Attendee

H.E. Katalin Novák

Former President of Hungary

Hungary

Invited attendee from Hungary.

Attendee

Aïcha Bah Diallo

Former Education Minister, Guinea; Founder, Forum of African Women Educationists

Guinea

Invited attendee from Guinea.

Attendee

Peter Kwasi Kodjie

Secretary-General, All Africa Students Union

Ghana

Invited attendee from Ghana.

Attendee

Samuel Sasu Adonteng

Programme Officer, All Africa Students Union

Ghana

Invited attendee from Ghana.

Attendee

Rebecca Doreen

Founding Director, Vadiwa Trust Organization

Zimbabwe

Invited attendee from Zimbabwe.

Attendee

Sigamoney Naicker

Professor, University of the Western Cape

South Africa

Invited attendee from South Africa.

Attendee

Bill Graham

Vice Chair, NGO Committee for Education, Learning & Literacy at the United Nations in New York

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Cindy Charles

Founder & CEO, Kupanda Sisters Inc.

Guyana

Invited attendee from Guyana.

Attendee

Fred Mednick

Founder, Teachers Without Borders

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Gail Davis-Carter

UN ECOSOC Representative, UN Partner

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Joanne Telser-Frere

Director, Program Development, Literacy Chicago

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Jon M Corippo

Author, Eduprotocols

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Mary McCool Berry

Founder, Read Keys

USA

Invited attendee from USA.

Attendee

Ernesto Schiefelbein

Chilean Pedagogue, Professor, Economist & Politician

Chile

Invited attendee from Chile.

Attendee

Sylvia Guimarães

Co-founder & President, Vaga Lume

Brazil

Invited attendee from Brazil.

Attendee

Vicky Colbert

Founder & Director, Fundación Escuela Nueva; Former Minister of Education

Colombia

Invited attendee from Colombia.

Attendee

Christine K. Syriopoulou-Delli

Associate Professor, Education of People with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Greece

Christine K. Syriopoulou-Delli is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational and Social Policy at the University of Macedonia. She holds an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from the University of Sheffield, a PhD in Special Education from the University of Liverpool, and a postdoctoral qualification in Autism from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She directs the university’s autism and developmental disorders laboratory and the master’s programme in Sciences of Communication Disorders. Her research and European projects focus on autism, communication, assistive technology, early intervention and inclusive education.

Attendee

Nazir Ahmed Mota

Master

India

Working at Directorate of School Education Kashmir and looking after all ten districts FLN work.

Attendee

Jean Baptiste TWAMBAJIMANA

DIOCESAN DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Rwanda

Jean Baptiste TWAMBAJIMANA, a priest serving in the Diocese of Kabgayi, Rwanda, where he work as the Diocesan Director of Catholic Education. He oversee more than 200 nursery, primary, and secondary schools across the Diocese.

Attendee

György Mészáros

associate professor

Hungary

György Mészáros is a habilitated associate professor at the Institute of Education, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest. His work in critical pedagogy, philosophy of education and educational ethnography examines what actually happens in classrooms and how learners from different social backgrounds experience schooling. He authored a comparative critical school ethnography (2024), edited the Hungarian edition of Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and serves on the board of Ethnography and Education. He also worked for years as a teacher and school principal with marginalised children.

Attendee

SHUAIBU Zainab Muhammad

Head of Research and Development

Nigeria

Dr. Zainab Muhammad Shuaibu is a Science Education specialist and Head of the Research and Development Division, Academic Services Department, National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Nigeria. Her work focuses on teacher professional development, foundational learning, STEM/STEAM education, educational research, and curriculum innovation. She has contributed to the implementation of the SMASE programme, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), promoting learner-centred, activity-based and competency-based approaches to improving teaching and learning outcomes.

Research presenter

Mathias Urban

Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education

Ireland

Mathias Urban, Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education at Dublin City University. He works on early childhood policy, diversity, equality, social justice, and integrated early childhood systems. He is a member of the European Commission Expert Working Group on Early Childhood Education and Care, the Global Advocacy Group with the Campaign for Education, and the Board of TASC–Think Tank for Action on Social Change. He is lead author of the ECD policy briefs for T20/G20 2018 (Argentina), 2019 (Japan), 2020 (Saudi Arabia), 2021 (Italy), 2022 (Indonesia), 2024 (Brazil), and 2025 (South Africa).

Attendee

Christine Akinyi Osae

Head of Education

Rwanda

Dr. Christine Osae is an education strategist, researcher, and academic leader with over a decade of experience in pedagogical innovation, curriculum development, teacher professional learning, and education systems transformation. She currently serves as Head of Education at Pharo Foundation, Rwanda, where she leads strategic initiatives to strengthen teaching quality, advance evidence-based pedagogical practices, and improve learning outcomes, supporting over 600 educators across 42 schools and reaching more than 30,000 learners.

Attendee

MARY NAMBINDO WAKHAYA

HEAD, PARTNERSHIPS & LINKAGES / COORDINATOR, ADEA ICQN-MSE

Kenya

Dr. Mary N. Wakhaya Sichangi, is an accomplished educational leader with a PhD in Educational Communication and Technology and over 25 years of international professional experience. Currently serving as the Head of Partnerships and Linkages, CEMASTEA and Coordinator of ADEA’s ICQN-MSE, she drives education innovation through strategic policy engagement and STEM advancement. Her expertise spans continuous professional development, education sector reform, and multi-country initiatives. Known for translating policy into actionable support for government ministers and development partners.

Attendee

Nsabimana Jean De Dieu

Executive Director

Rwanda

Jean De Dieu Nsabimana is the founder and Executive Director of Girls' Dignity for Nation and Dignity Academy, dedicated to empowering girls and children through education and socio-economic support. Holding a Master's degree in Education Management, Planning, and Leadership, he oversees a local nonprofit and school providing opportunities to over 800 rural children. He is committed to creating programs that enable girls and youth to maximize their full potential.

Attendee

Mudahinyuka Sylvain

Project Officer

Rwanda

Mudahinyuka Sylvain is a PhD Scholar in Education Leadership and Administration at the University of Rwanda, with over 20 years of experience in education systems strengthening, policy development, and institutional capacity building across Africa. Founder of EDUSCA Community Benefit Company and initiator of The Centre of Inclusive Education Foundational Learning. Currently serving as full time consultant as Project Officer for the Inter-Country Quality Node on Teaching and Learning (ICQN-TL) at The African Development Bank Group via the Association for the Development of Education in Africa.

Attendee

FATIMA FAFOUK ELSHEIKH

Vice president operations

Saudi Arabia

Dr. Fatima - Vice president operations - Secretary general for the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa - BADEA

Attendee

Chako Chako Gaothobogwe

Senior Project Officer

Botswana

Mr Chako Chako Gaothobogwe is a Senior Project Officer at the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education in Botswana,with over fifteen(15) years of teaching experience and more than eight(8) years of experience working in the department of Educational Planning,Monitoring and Research Services.His research interests includes amongst teacher development and professionalism across all levels of education starting with Early Childhood upto Tertiary education,youth poverty alleviation programmes,STEM across all levels of education.He has attended conferences on STEM Pedagogy .

20 more sessions with speakers to be announced

Announcements are made on a rolling basis. Check back, or subscribe in the footer to be notified as the roster fills in.

View the full programme

Proposing a speaker or a session? Write to lab@dignityeducation.org with a one-paragraph abstract and the evidence behind it.