GESS Talks Webinar 33 - The Future of Inclusion: Supporting Every Student

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MEET THE PANELLISTS:

Dr Helen Wright (Chair) – Director, Global Thought Leadership; Executive Coach to Leaders

Dr Helen Wright is a highly regarded global leader with an energetic career spanning almost 3 decades in UK and international education. She led schools and held national and international roles in education in the UK and Australia for over 13 years until 2014, before embarking on an independent portfolio career in leadership recruitment, executive coaching and governance advisory. As a highly regarded International Education Advisor, with a warm yet determinedly incisive style, she challenges and coaches educational and other leaders globally to think and act ambitiously. She holds several Board Director roles, and she recruits international school leaders as an Associate of LSC Education. She currently works with schools, leaders and companies in countries including Qatar, Oman, UAE, China, India, Europe and the UK.

Louise Dawson – Founder, Louise Dawson Professional and Management Development Training

Louise has been supporting schools and children with additional needs since 1998.  These needs include social emotional, English as an additional language, advanced learners and those with special needs. She was born in the UK, has lived in the UAE since 2012, and was in Hong Kong from 1994-2002.  She has parented 3 neurodiverse children and is herself AuADHD.  Louise is a qualified teacher, SENco/Head of Inclusion and experienced senior school leader, Governor and Government advisor. After 10 years, in 3 Dubai premium schools, she now supports schools and families across the world to make learning more accessible and meaningful.  This includes school improvement & training, parent & child advocacy, employment opportunities and signposting to resources & products that make learning accessible across the world.

Faiza Mubeen - Director of Inclusion, Beech Hall School Riyadh

Faiza is a seasoned professional educator with more than 15 years of Middle East experience primarily in education management and wellbeing with inclusion at the top priority. Her current role as the Founding Director of Inclusion/senior leadership at a premium school in Riyadh, coupled with her previous experience as a Senior Academic Advisor and Whole School Counselor in the UAE, with a comprehensive knowledge in teaching, learning, school management, and improvement policies. As the Head of Inclusion, Pastoral Care, and Academic Advisor/Career Counselor, she made sure that every stakeholder was encouraged and motivated through a pre-emptive and restorative support system. Her expertise encompasses American curriculum (common core) accreditation processes with NEASC, WASC, along with guidance counseling, career counseling, preparing for aptitude tests, calculating GPA, IEP writing, assessments, report writing, and ensuring compliance with the inclusion framework. Her specialty also include creating pathways such as vocational pathway, American advisement pathway for students in order to achieve their academic potentials.

Massrat Shaikh - Educational Psychologist, Kawakib Solutions

Massrat is a distinguished Educational Psychologist with 15 years of professional experience in Oman, specializing in children's learning problems and special needs. She is a consultant to numerous schools across Oman and is a leading provider of learning solutions for children with special educational needs throughout the GCC countries. Recognized for her contributions to education, she has been designated as a leader in education by GESS Dubai and has been acknowledged as an education influencer. Additionally, she has been shortlisted twice for the GESS Awards in the Inclusion and Wellbeing category. Currently, Massrat is a Ph.D. scholar, author, and speaker, continuing to advance her expertise and impact in the field of education

May Zalat – Founder, IECE Initiative

May Zalat is an early childhood educational consultant, qualified trainer, and Positive Discipline Parent Coach with over sixteen years’ experience in the early years. With a strong foundation in early childhood education and a profound passion to ensure that every child, regardless of their abilities, has access to inclusive opportunities in education. May has initiated IECE (Inclusion in Early Childhood Education), an initiative aimed to empower and educate early childhood professionals to create inclusive environments to cater to the needs of all children. By breaking down barriers through knowledge sharing and partnership building, they strive to create a more inclusive landscape in UAE nurseries. This initiative is driven by a genuine desire to give back and make a positive impact in the early years education sector in the UAE. By providing free monthly sessions and fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we aim to support nursery leaders and educators in creating more inclusive environments for all children. In her role as Head of Education at Blossom Nurseries, she is involving effectively leveraging her extensive experience and qualifications to drive positive change in early childhood education, nursery management, educator training, and coaching. As a visionary leader, May inspires those around her to not only join, but to LEAD the change.