Past Speakers
Prof. Luis J. Benítez Barajas
Luis J. Benítez Barajas is a PhD and professor at the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico. Specialized in philosophy and anthropology from Oxford and Glasgow Universities, in structures from Carlos III University of Madrid. His research lines move between architecture, educational Physics. Member of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Speaker at international conferences, topic “Case method to learn physics.”
Prof. Dr. Zorana Vasiljevic
Zorana Vasiljevic (PhD, University of Queensland) is professor at the Faculty of Language and Literature at Bunkyo University, Japan, where she teaches courses in English as a foreign language, L2 teaching methodology and research methods. Her research interests include L2 vocabulary acquisition, EFL methodologies and learner autonomy.
Prof. Shigeru Ozaki
Prof. Shigeru Ozaki teaches applied linguistics at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. He holds a PhD from the University of Queensland in Australia and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the USA and the University of Birmingham in the UK. His research interests include the relationship between English proficiency and national prosperity or economic development, as well as language education policies in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, and Japan.
Prof. Dr. Karen Armstrong
Dr. Karen Armstrong brings over 50 years of experience teaching and working in Higher Education after achieving her doctorate in literacy education in 1990. She has worked as a course writer and instructor in the post-degree education program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada. She is also a Course Director as in the Faculty of Education at York University in Toronto Canada. Dr Armstrong teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on the following topics: leadership; community organizations; families; place and learning; and literacy in all its dimensions. She has participated on numerous professional committees at both universities and is a prolific invited speaker at international, national and local conferences across North America, Asia, and Europe. Her current research interests are: AI and education, Indigenous ways of knowing and learning, Early and Family Literacy, Research methods, and Leadership and Community Engagement. Dr. Armstrong commutes between Toronto in central Canada and Gabriola Island, close to Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest area of North America.
Assoc. Prof. Dennis Gabon
Dennis Cabantog Gabon is an educator dedicated to nurturing the field of information technology. Currently an Associate Professor III at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) in Sipocot, Camarines Sur, Philippines, he has pursued advanced studies, including a Doctorate in Information Technology (ongoing) at AMA University and a Master of Information Technology from Ateneo de Naga University, both in the Philippines. Interested in natural language processing, project management, and information systems management.
Dr. Kathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson, Ph.D., is an Institute of Education Sciences postdoctoral fellow at the University of Iowa. Her research focuses on K-12 school equity policies and school-based mental health.
Dr. Orit Shelach-Inbar
Dr. Orit Shelach-Inbar heads the Special Education Department at Kibbutzim College, where she specializes in adapted mathematics teaching and promotes inclusive education. Her research focuses on teacher training, grit, mindfulness, professional identity, and empowerment among teachers with and without learning disabilities. She is currently pursuing post-doctoral studies at Mofet Institute.
Dr. Vered Shomron
Vered Shomron holds a Ph.D. in Special Education and serves as a lecturer and pedagogical instructor at the Kibbutzim College of Education in the Department of Special Education. In addition, she supervises research seminars and teaches in the Master's degree program. Her areas of interest include learning strategies, teachers' self-efficacy, and experiential learning and mediated teaching. Vered has been recognized as an Inspirational Lecturer for six consecutive years by the Student Association at the college.
Dr. Adesina O. Joseph
He holds a B.Ed, M.Ed, and Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan and another M.Ed in Childhood Education from Tai Solarin University. His research focuses on Educational Psychology and Childhood Education. He has 65+ publications, co-authored UNICEF training manuals, and presented 56+ conference papers. A former HOD, he now leads Special Education. He is a UNICEF master trainer and a Senate member at Emmanuel Alayande University. Married with children.
Dr. Tsai-Chun Huang
Tsai-Chun Huang earned his Ph.D. from the Royal College of Art, London, and is an assistant professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research explores pleating history, innovation, and movement-oriented sportswear design. He has collaborated with European art festivals and received a GRF grant in 2023. His activewear collection, Style in Motion, won Gold in IDA, London Design Award, and French Fashion Award, exhibiting in Paris 2024.
Mr. Daler Sirojov
Daler Sirojov, MA in TESL, is a student in the field of Global Education at Naruto University of Education in Japan. A recipient of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship, with a strong foundation in international education, Daler aims to contribute to global educational development.
Ms. Soba Balasundaram
Soba is a Lecturer in Education at Eastern University in Sri Lanka. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern University, and Deakin University in Australia awarded her a master’s degree in Education. She currently works as a PhD candidate at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She has accumulated twelve years of teaching and contributed significantly to research and publications. Her research interests included early childhood education, preschool settings, current issues in education policy, etc. Her publications have been published in several national and international journals and conference proceedings. Education and human resource development, educational planning and development, child growth and study, student adjustment and counselling, teaching methods and techniques, research methods in education and contemporary issues and policies in education are some subjects she is interested in teaching.
Ms. Meenal Yashna Sagar
Meenal Yashna Sagar, an ESL educator since 2012 in Fijian secondary schools, holds a BAGCED in literature &Language/Geography and Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change. Pursuing a Master’s at Naruto University of Education under a JICA scholarship, her research focuses on ICT in education, flipped classrooms, and climate resilience, aiming to innovate traditional systems for adaptable, inclusive education in developing societies.
Prof. Dr. Marina Calleja Reina
Marina Calleja Reina, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaga. Leading the COMIN-ENIN Thematic Network, she focuses on inclusive communication practices for rare diseases. With expertise in Alternative Communication Systems, she has contributed significantly to research and publications, aiming to identify best practices for supporting individuals with complex communication needs.
Dr. Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen
Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen, a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, a linguistic lecturer and researcher since 2001. She graduated PhD in Education from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 2019. Her professional interests are assessments, curriculum development, social and cultural inclusion, TESOL, and educational policy.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hassan Hemdan Mohamed
Dr. Ahmed Mohamed is a professor at the Special Ed. Dept., College of Education, UAE University. He is a working member in some professional organizations such as the WCGTC, ECHA, AREA, CEC, and NAGC. He received his PhD from the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA in 2006 in Special Education/Gifted. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for Research in Education (IJRE), UAEU
Dr. Joseph Hogan
He is an Assistant Professor at Kean University in the Department of Special Education & Literacy. He earned his doctorate from St. Thomas University. He is certified as a learning disabilities teacher/consultant, supervisor, principal, and elementary/middle school teacher. His research interests include the intersectional experiences of students with disabilities identifying as LGBTQ+ and teacher preparedness for inclusive education.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelaziz
Dr. Ahmed Abdelaziz has a PhD in Educational Research and TEL from Lancaster University, UK. He wrote a book and other publications on mobile learning, professional development, and developing employability and job-related skills. He is currently the digital transformation officer of Saudi Aramco’s Industrial Training Department. Dr. Ahmed’s personal mission is to be a positive influence wherever he is.
Dr. Michael Subbey
Dr. Michael Subbey, holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Special Education. He is a Senior lecturer, a Journal editor and Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. His thesis works examined teacher attitudes, knowledge and beliefs about inclusive education.
