Pre-conference workshop presenters

Francesco Banchini is the CEO and Director of the European Azerbaijan School and Chairman and Founder of the Caucasus and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools. He is an experienced leader, educator and researcher, and has implemented many innovations in international schools. Francesco has published a book on creative leadership and presented at IB Global Conferences, the AIE, ECIS leadership and teacher conferences, New York University (NYU) Steinhardt and TEDx.

Stefanie Waterman loves learning and teaching. She has been an IB teacher for more than 20 years and is now a DP and PYP coordinator. Stefanie has experience hosting workshops in small London-based IB World Schools to large groups of over 300 individuals for the University of Buckingham. She has also given workshops at the Festival of Education at Wellington College, England, and has spoken yearly to the annual review and at Heads Conferences for Southbank International School in London, England. Topics have ranged from metacognition and assessment for learning to visible thinking. A key highlight for Stefanie was collaborating with a school in Madrid for three days on visible thinking routines.

Bert Orgaer

Bert Orgaer is an experienced PYP educator and IBEN workshop leader, with over a decade of expertise in inquiry-based, transdisciplinary education. He has worked extensively in Belgium and Scandinavia, guiding diverse learning communities through successful PYP exhibitions that foster student creativity, agency and real-world action. With a master’s degree in education entrepreneurship, Bert’s research focuses on designing professional development models that enhance educator well-being and efficacy, aligning with IB approaches. He also facilitates workshops for educators, equipping them with innovative strategies like design thinking to create impactful learning experiences and drive sustainable educational transformation.

Simon Watkin

Simon Watkin is a seasoned PYP educator at Copenhagen International School, with extensive experience in leading impactful PYP exhibitions. Specializing in inquiry-based learning, Simon focuses on fostering student agency and guiding learners to connect their passions with real-world actions. As the founder of Teach Oatcake and author of Pravin learns like a DJ, he champions inclusion and diversity in education. Simon is also a Google Certified Educator and Apple Teacher, integrating technology to enhance student-led inquiry. His expertise in facilitating workshops equips educators with practical strategies to lead dynamic and meaningful exhibition experiences.

Dimitra Milioni is an experienced educational consultant, professional development leader and motivational trainer with over 25 years of experience as a teacher and pedagogical leader in diverse educational settings. She has been an IBEN member for 18 years, specializing in IB programme implementation, curriculum design, pedagogical leadership, change management and mathematics education. Dimitra supports schools in enhancing learning and teaching practices, fostering leadership capacity and facilitating effective educational transformation. She holds a BSc in mathematics from the University of Athens and an MSc in mathematical education from the University of Edinburgh.

John Patton

John Patton is the DP coordinator, University and Careers Guidance Counsellor and biology teacher at St. Gilgen International School in Austria. As a passionate educator and pedagogy leader, John creates meaningful learning experiences for students and educators in the classroom, in webinars and by leading IB workshops. His belief in the power of education and enthusiasm for the craft is infectious. John’s current doctoral work is rooted in educational psychology, where he is exploring student motivations for learning and methods of creating a challenging, achievable and enjoyable education for young people.

Paul La Rondie

Paul La Rondie is currently the MYP coordinator at St. Gilgen International School, Austria. He has also worked at IB World Schools in the UK and Singapore and is an experienced coordinator of both the DP and the MYP. Paul is a mathematics educator at both the MYP and DP levels. He is involved in IB curriculum development and is the principal moderator for mathematics analysis and approaches. Paul has been an online workshop leader and workshop developer, and is also an IB author.

Agustina Lacarte has 15 years of experience in education and is committed to fostering innovative learning and teaching practices. Currently, she works in a school where she leads curriculum development and supports the implementation of IB programmes. As a member of the IBEN, Agustina collaborates with schools globally to enhance educational practices. She focuses on curriculum innovation grounded in inquiry-based practices, emphasizing exploration and discovery to engage students and develop their 21st-century skills. Agustina also supervises master’s programmes and works with educators to implement strategies that improve student outcomes, promoting professional development and collaboration.

After completing an undergraduate degree in philosophy, Alex trained as a teacher and initially worked in London. He then moved to a school to lead philosophy, religious studies and theory of knowledge (TOK) for one of the largest DP cohorts in the Europe, Africa and Middle East (AEM) region. In addition to his experience in assessment, Alex has had a range of roles with the IB, including leading workshops, visiting sites and serving as a curriculum review team member. He is currently the Deputy Head of an international school in Italy, where he has led the academic provision, elevating the school to rank among the top five IB World Schools in Europe.