EdTech Beyond Borders

Dr Mmantsetsa Marope is the Executive Director of the World Heritage Group, Honorary President of the Global Curriculum by Comparative Education Societies, and Honorary President of the Indian Ocean Comparative Education Societies. She currently serves on governing and advisory boards of numerous education and learning entities. Some of her former positions include Director of UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education in Switzerland, Director of UNESCO’s Basic to Higher Education and Learning Division in Paris, World Bank Senior Education Specialist in Washington DC, Lead Consultant Advisor for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Editor-in-Chief and future-shaper of PROSPECTS: Comparative Journal of Curriculum, Learning and Assessment, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of an innovative education magazine, IBE IN FOCUS , and university teaching. Her normative work in multilateral agencies extends over 190 countries and operational experience spans 80 countries. She has extensive experience in (i) institution building, (ii) streamlining, and growing professional networks with memberships ranging from 9 to 182 countries, and in (iii) leading the conceptualization design, organization, and convening forums of global stature and consequence covering key levels and themes in education like ECCD, TVET, higher education, the future of curriculum, future of education and work, equity and quality in education, knowledge brokerage for futures education, cognitive neuroscience and learning, education and development, etc. Dr Marope is also a sought-after speaker on these topics and is broadly published on them. She has a PhD from the University of Chicago and a Masters degree from Pennsylvania State University.

A former school executive director with experience as a regional developer, systems manager, and coach for team learning, blended learning, and ICT-driven innovation, Peter Fagerström, specializes in implementing large-scale strategic and systematic change through innovation and learning processes in local, regional, and national ecosystems. He develops design-thinking activities like training programs, design sprints, Edujams, and Eduhacks for national agencies, schools, and cities.

He also leads the digital education accelerator for the European Commissions – European Digital Education Hub, is a UNESCO Global Education Coalition member and works with ministries of education to drive innovation and engages with corporates and startups to foster entrepreneurship and collaboration in education and startup ecosystems.

Lauri Haav, CEO of Kood/Jõhvi, is a seasoned tech executive with over 25 years of experience in B2B sales, SaaS, and IT software. He co-founded MarkIT.eu, an e-commerce platform that now operates in 45 global markets, and played a key role in scaling fintech company Monese. Lauri has also driven growth at Proekspert, Salv, and Estonia’s e-Residency program. Passionate about both technology and education, he now leads Kood/Jõhvi, an innovative school designed for self-driven learners. Through his leadership, Lauri is shaping Estonia’s tech ecosystem and empowering individuals to make a global impact.

Birgy Lorenz is a cybersecurity and edtech expert and researcher, recognised for her contributions to digital safety education and policy development in Estonia. As a Head of IT-Didactic Centre at Tallinn University of Technology, she leads initiatives to advance digital competence and secure online environments. Birgy has developed numerous educational programs, including cyber hygiene training for schools, and collaborates with international organisations on cyber awareness projects. She actively participates in the CyberOlympics and sits on advisory boards, promoting best practices in cybersecurity. Through her work, Birgy empowers communities with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and protect the digital world. 

Kathleen Naglee is an award-winning leader, author and podcaster of innovative educational and strategic foresight practices. She is a former international school
director in Finland and Estonia and has served as a Commissioner for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Recent keynotes have been centered on the future of learning and the intersection of AI digital twins and agents.

Mustafa Can Özdemir is a lecturer and junior researcher at Tallinn University with a focus on push notification experiences, exploring both attitudinal and behavioral impacts. He is particularly interested in eye-tracking and user research methodologies. He runs the interaction design workshop course as part of the Human-computer Interaction Master’s program, to solve prevailing industry challenges. Mustafa is also part of the WUD Estonia team, where he helps organize annual usability and user experience conferences.

Märt Aro is the co-founder of DreamApply and a dedicated advocate for transforming education through technology. He was a speaker at the UN’s Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit 2024 in Cairo, and participated in the roundtable with the EU Commissioner Marija Gabriel on European education innovation in 2023. With over a decade of experience in EdTech, he has led initiatives aimed at simplifying the student application process and improving educational accessibility. Märt has contributed to international education reform as a member of the European EdTech Alliance and collaborates on projects supporting digital innovation in learning. As a frequent TEDx and keynote speaker, he continues to share insights on the future of education, focusing on the intersection of technology and pedagogy. Märt also serves on advisory boards, helping shape policies for digital education across Europe.

Dr. Fawaz Abu Sitta is a UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Systems, commissioned to promote global awareness of futures thinking. He has developed training programs in strategic thinking, horizon scanning, scenario planning, and systems thinking for governments and corporations globally.

Dr. Abu Sitta has taught and conducted foresight research studies and workshops at institutions including the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, London Business School, the University of Houston, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Dubai, and Abu Dhabi University. His foresight work has been translated into multiple languages, including Arabic, French, and Spanish, in addition to English.

Dr. Abu Sitta holds a Master of Science in Foresight from the University of Houston and a PhD from the University of Bath.

Alistair Starling is Co-Founder and Managing Director at European Diplomats and former UK Diplomat with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, where he spent a decade supporting businesses to trade and invest globally. He led governmental education reform projects for Cambridge Assessment across Europe and Africa for 8 years. With over 20 years of experience across the private, government, and nonprofit sectors, he is a true expert in business development, design, and innovation.

Indrek Seppo is a data science lecturer at the University of Tartu, an entrepreneur, and has been working for a decade with neural networks. He founded Marduk Technologies, using AI to combat unwanted drones. He has also led the BI development in the Estonian e-residency. Currently, he is consulting some of the Estonian top enterprises in implementing AI strategies.

Robert Szabó, M.Ed (Applied Linguistics), is based in Cologne, Germany, and is the product manager for digital studies at Learnship. In addition to his responsibilities at Learnship, Robert is an Editorial Advisory Committee member at the peer reviewed, open-access, GiLE Journal of Skills Development and in recent years has been a judge for the QS Reimagine Education Judging Panel and the British Council ELTons. Robert is also a member of the European Digital Education Hub and is a former committee member of the IATEFL Business English Special Interest Group (BESIG).

Julian Maier, also known as “Julian Mental Sixpack,” transformed his life from steering automotive projects for industry giants like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to empowering individuals and teams to unlock their full potential. Now an energizing mental fitness trainer, speaker, and founder of urbntiger.com, Julian’s mission is clear: to inspire people to discover their purpose and pursue it with inner peace, power, and courage.

Julian specializes in coaching executives, elite teams, and high performers across business, sports, and military fields to remain composed and effective under immense pressure. His groundbreaking approach, which he calls “Mental Fitness,” combines Breathwork, mindset training, and emotional intelligence to cultivate resilience and clarity.

Julian Maier, also known as “Julian Mental Sixpack,” transformed his life from steering automotive projects for industry giants like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to empowering individuals and teams to unlock their full potential. Now an energizing mental fitness trainer, speaker, and founder of urbntiger.com, Julian’s mission is clear: to inspire people to discover their purpose and pursue it with inner peace, power, and courage.

Julian specializes in coaching executives, elite teams, and high performers across business, sports, and military fields to remain composed and effective under immense pressure. His groundbreaking approach, which he calls “Mental Fitness,” combines Breathwork, mindset training, and emotional intelligence to cultivate resilience and clarity.

Justin Petrone is an accomplished author, journalist, and writer at North, where he has provided English-language writing and editing services for technology companies across Northern Europe since 2016. Known for his bestselling memoir My Estonia, he delves into themes of identity, belonging, and cross-cultural experience. His body of work includes Mission Estonia, The Tundra People, and The Best Trip Ever, a children’s book promoting curiosity and exploration. As a columnist and public speaker, Justin shares insights on expatriate life and the nuances of Estonian society, enriching dialogues on cultural identity.

Mike Southon is the Editor-at-Large for the London Business Journal, a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and a leading keynote speaker on entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and sales. Co-founder of The Instruction Set and Co-Author of The Beermat Entrepreneur, he has mentored thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide. A lecturer at Bayes Business School, City University, Mike teaches modules in Entrepreneurship and Marketing Strategy. He also works with local governments, helping councils like Aylesbury Vale District Council to develop self-sustaining revenue models. Mike’s practical roadmap empowers councils to transition from grant dependency to becoming profitable social enterprises.