Dianne Blackburn
Pre-conference 1: Developing student agency and transforming classrooms through Universal Design for Learning
Dianne is an independent educational consultant providing bespoke education solutions to international schools world-wide. She has many years of consultancy experience in pedagogical leadership, change management and educator training solutions.
As a facilitator and designer of professional development for teachers, coordinators and heads of schools throughout the world, Dianne has been responsible for the implementation of educational programmes in international schools and introducing new methodologies and technologies. In-school, she was responsible for the management of diverse teams, stakeholder engagement, change management and training.
In addition to her consultancy, Dianne also works for the IB as a lead educator, field representative, programme leader, evaluation leader, team member and IBEN workshop leader. These build on her experience as an MYP coordinator and principal examiner.
Dianne has worked extensively with large groups of schools in the Middle East and Europe, supporting their development of inclusive practice through the introduction of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Katrin Fox
Pre-conference 2: How does evidence-based reflection enhance intentional programme development?
In her current role as a Senior IBWS Manager, Katrin supports a portfolio of authorized IB World Schools offering all four IB programmes in 42 different countries. She has extensive experience of IB programme implementation and development in state schools, semi-state schools and private schools, as well as in different cultural contexts and school communities. She gathered this experience while working as an IB educator, school leader and author of teaching materials. Katrin works with ministries and educational institutions in the development of contextualized implementation of IB programmes.
John Sauer
Pre-conference 2: How does evidence-based reflection enhance intentional programme development?
A senior manager in the IB World Schools department, John has extensive experience with all IB programmes, and works with IB schools worldwide including many continuum schools. Before joining the IB, John also worked in continuum schools as a teacher, coordinator and head of school.
Terri Walker
Pre-conference 2: How does evidence-based reflection enhance intentional programme development?
Terri joined the IB World Schools team three years ago to support schools across the globe with programme implementation and evaluation. She previously participated in the PYP review and subsequent development and publication of PYP: From principles into practice. Terri is passionate about programme innovation, student agency, and school transformation.
Pascal Ashkar
Pre-conference 2: How does evidence-based reflection enhance intentional programme development?
Pascal Ashkar is passionate about IB education and started his learning journey in IB schools in 1998. He has a vast amount of experience working in multi-cultural environments and has served IB schools in various capacities, including teacher and head of school. In his current role, Pascal supports IB schools across the globe as they implement and develop IB programmes.
Rémy Lamon
Pre-conference 3: Comment la réflexion fondée sur des données probantes améliore-t-elle le développement intentionnel d’un programme ?
Rémy Lamon has worked as an MYP and DP teacher in several countries for over 20 years. Having held school leadership positions and written teaching materials, he is now an IB World Schools Senior Manager. The IB World Schools Department was created in 2017 to help IB World Schools provide quality education. The two main functions of the department are to be schools’ voice within the IB, championing their needs, and to assess schools constructively, creating opportunities for development for each school.
Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher
Pre-conference 3: Comment la réflexion fondée sur des données probantes améliore-t-elle le développement intentionnel d’un programme ?
Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher has worked at international schools on four continents. Having gained insights into different education systems while steering her career specifically towards IB programmes, she is now an IB World Schools Senior Manager. The IB World Schools Department was created in 2017 to help IB World Schools provide quality education. The two main functions of the department are to be schools’ voice within the IB, championing their needs, and to assess schools constructively, creating opportunities for development for each school. Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher is committed to helping schools reflect on their objectives and motivations within the context of international education.
Guillermo Duff
Pre-conference 4: ¿De qué manera puede potenciar la reflexión basada en pruebas el desarrollo intencional de los programas?
Guillermo Duff is a manager of public schools in Andorra, Spain, Latin America and the United Kingdom, and private schools in Chile and Peru. He previously worked as an IB Curriculum Manager for Language A and Language and Culture in the Diploma Programme. A former IBEN member, his roles have included workshop leader, consultant, examiner and verification visit team leader.
Antonio Muñoz
Pre-conference 4: ¿De qué manera puede potenciar la reflexión basada en pruebas el desarrollo intencional de los programas?
Antonio Muñoz has worked at the IB Global Centre in The Hague for more than six years as IB World Schools Manager. He has extensive experience of IB programmes and works with IB World Schools in Latin America, Spain and Andorra, providing them with support and guidance in implementing the IB programme. As part of his work with the IB World Schools Department, he regularly works with ministries of education, groups of schools and associations of IB World Schools. Before taking up his position at the International Baccalaureate, he worked at international schools for more than 20 years in various management and leadership roles. He also brings a wealth of experience with IB programmes from numerous IBEN roles, including lead educator, workshop leader, school visit team leader, consultant, reader, principal examiner and assessment author. Antonio has a Bachelor's degree in Hispanic philology and a Master’s degree in management, innovation and leadership in schools.
Darlene Fisher
Pre-conference 5: Impact everyone’s learning through the alignment between IB PSPs 2020 and NEASC ACE Learning Principles
Darlene Fisher EdD has worked for more than 40 years in education. Her current work includes accreditation, consulting and coaching for New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) as an International Accreditation Leader and also with the IB as a lead educator and workshop designer. She is the NEASC representative developing the Collaborative Learning Protocol, the IB and NEASC evaluation and accreditation protocol that provides a focus on learning while achieving accreditation and re-evaluation. She has worked with teacher training for the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS).
Liam Browne
Pre-conference 6: Revolutionize your learning: Creating a dynamic appraisal system for a community of lifelong learners
Liam Browne is currently the Head of the Franconian International School, Germany. In a 26-year career, he has worked exclusively in IB World Schools in Germany, Brazil and Norway. Liam is also an adjunct professor for Endicott College, teaching summer courses as part of its master's programme in international education. He has served on Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) subject committees, Latin American Heads, and Norwegian International Baccalaureate Schools (NIBS) committees. He has served as a member of the Association of German International Schools (AGIS) board since 2019, and as chair since 2022.
Dr Christian Hoffmann
Pre-conference 6: Revolutionize your learning: Creating a dynamic appraisal system for a community of lifelong learners
Christian Hoffmann is currently the Head of Curriculum and IB Continuum Coordinator at the Franconian International School, Germany. He started his career at university with a PhD focusing on development of personal identity. Later, he moved into business consulting for some years. After joining the teaching profession, he specialized in curriculum development and review. Christian is an IB workshop leader for IB leadership and IB continuum topics as well as a programme and evaluation leader for the PYP, MYP and DP. He is also developing methodology originating from Harvard's Project Zero for systems and change processes in the business world.
Naheed Bardai
Pre-conference 7: Systems leadership and radical imagination: Education for just futures
For Naheed Bardai, education is a deeply moral endeavour, and the exercise of leadership demands a thoughtful, ethical foundation. His own leadership rests on the tenets of pluralism, integrity, generosity and trust. Naheed is Principal of UWC Atlantic in Wales and he has previously served as Head of Upper School at Upper Canada College in Toronto and Principal of Senior School at The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa in Kenya. He is passionate about redesigning the future of education to prepare young people for the world they inhabit. To this end, UWC Atlantic is partnering with the IB to create a new pathway to earning an IB Diploma called the Systems Transformation Pathway. Naheed has extensive IB experience as a teacher, DP coordinator, MYP coordinator, examiner, chair of synchronized visits and consultant.
Marija Uzunova Dang
Pre-conference 7: Systems leadership and radical imagination: Education for just futures
Marija Uzunova Dang is a learning designer with an interest and expertise in critical place-based pedagogies, feminist systems leadership, movement work and narrative change. Above all, she believes in education as a liberation practice. Marija is the Vice Principal, Learning Innovation, at UWC Atlantic in Wales where she is building the Centre for Systems Transformation and launching a new pathway within the IB Diploma at UWC Atlantic. This focusses on transformative systems change which strives towards just futures in food, energy, biodiversity and migration. Marija has driven educational innovations at IB schools as part of the UWC movement since 2013. Among her different roles she served as curriculum designer for the Project-Based Diploma at UWC Mahindra College and more recently led the design and development of Pearson College UWC's Climate Action Leadership Diploma.
