Key Speakers

Dr. Mustapha Aabi is a Professor at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco. With over 15 years of experience as an education consultant in the MENA region, Dr. Aabi has held various leadership roles within international educational entities.

He has taught courses in Education and Linguistics across the UK, the Middle East, and Morocco. Currently, he serves as the Horizon Europe Programme NCP for Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, as well as Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society. His research interests encompass the humanities and social sciences, and he has actively collaborated with researchers from diverse academic backgrounds on topics at the intersection of education, linguistics, and culture.

Dr. Seán Bracken is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the U.K. He is Doctoral Programme Lead for the College of Education, Humanities and the Arts at the University of Worcester, where he teaches on the PG Cert for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, and where he also contributes to the PG Cert in Research Methods for the Doctoral Programme.

Seán is chair and co-founder of INCLUDE (the International Collaboratory for Leadership in Universally Designed Education), a transnational research and professional enhancement network of learners, teachers and service providers who are dedicated to overcoming barriers to learning at all stages of the lifelong learning journey. Along with colleagues within the network, Seán has recently established the International Journal for Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning (IJUDUDL). Additionally, he leads the University of Worcester’s Inclusion by Design research group, which by anticipating learner diversity and by constructing inclusive social, technological and spatial learning environments, aims to strengthen access and achievement through development of inclusive curriculum and assessment design. In his learning, teaching, and research endeavors, Seán draws on a rich tapestry of cross-cultural experiences garnered over 30 years of service as a teacher, teacher educator, and educational consultant in primary, secondary, and higher education contexts.

Deborah (Debbie) Gleason is Senior Advisor, International at Perkins School for the Blind. Debbie has more than four decades of global experience providing leadership and support to build the capacity of local organizations, training teachers, advocating for national-level policy change, and collaborating across sectors to support organizations in expanding access to education and services for children with disabilities.

She is skilled at applying technical skills across cultural contexts and adapting strategies to support children with complex disabilities. An established thought leader with dozens of publications and international presentations, her work informs and advances inclusive development and has transformed the lives of generations of children. Debbie’s career has focused on helping children with complex disabilities around the world learn and thrive, claiming their rightful place as valued members of a family, school, and community. “Children—and their parents and teachers—have always been my best teachers.”

Lisa Mauro-Bracken, MPH Population and Family Health, Columbia University New York, PG Cert. Learning and Teaching Higher Education, Fellow Higher Education Academy.

Lisa is currently the Head of Department of Health and Well-being and a Principal Lecturer in Health and Social Care at the University of Worcester.

Prior to joining the University in 2010, Lisa worked with asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland as well as providing guidance and advice to the Department of Justice and Equality and the Health Services Executive on working inclusively with individuals, families, and communities from a variety of backgrounds. She has also worked in international global health, providing support to women and children in various Pacific Island Nations. Her experiences as an academic have been influenced by her public health background, emphasizing the need for understanding, appreciation, and respect for diversity and inclusive practice.

Dr. Rinchen Dorji is the Pro Vice Chancellor of Academic and Research at the Royal University. Prior to this, he successfully served as the President of Samtse College of Education under the Royal University of Bhutan.

Rinchen began his career as a schoolteacher and has been a teacher educator for over two decades. He has held multiple leadership roles, including Programme Leader of the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Dean of Research and Industrial Linkages, and Project Manager of the Support to Teacher Education Project (STEP) funded by Helvetas Swiss Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007. Additionally, he was the Programme Coordinator of the Part-Time Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management, funded by the Canadian International Development Cooperation (CIDA) at Paro College of Education. He also worked as a Curriculum Officer at the Office of the Vice Chancellor, the secretariat office of the Royal University of Bhutan.

Rinchen holds a BA in Arts (English Honours) from Sherubtse College at Kanglung in Bhutan (1995) and an MEd in Human Development & Counselling from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada (2002). He also earned an MA in Special Educational Needs from a consortium of European universities, including the University of Roehampton, London, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg, The Netherlands, and Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic (2007). He completed his PhD at the University of New England (UNE), Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (2017), focusing on inclusive education.

Dr. Rinchen is passionate about academic discourses and research in mindfulness, meditation, spirituality, teacher morale and motivation, teacher empowerment, students and parents in education, educational leadership, inclusive education, and disability studies.

Dr. Julia Lindley-Baker is a mother, wife, feminist, and advocate for individual rights. She currently coordinates and teaches on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (SENDI) at Bishop Grosseteste University, UK.

Having originally trained as a special needs teacher with a focus on the primary age range, she has taught and held senior leadership positions in various settings, always with a special education focus. She also has extensive experience delivering inset and CPD for teachers and teaching assistants, locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Lindley-Baker is recognized as a Senior Fellow by the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her research interests include leadership wellbeing, inclusive approaches, and adapted pedagogy for diverse needs. Publications in progress include works on teaching complex needs and flexi-schooling.

Tamar Apel Campo was born in Cuba where she became a friend of mathematics. From there on she has been striving to make this friendship accessible to all. This is her mission. To accomplish it, she took academic studies and did research on the topic.

Writing her PhD thesis presenting a new methodology of qualitative research in mathematics education based on a humanistic approach was one of the results of widening her angle of vision, enabling her to provide an innovative approach to math teaching. She lectures in Spanish, English, and Hebrew and supports the LTM Program designed by her for Special Students in Mumbai since 2006.

Dr. Lena Varuna Wuntke is a researcher and educator in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion at the University of Greifswald, Germany. She has a background in primary and secondary education and has experience teaching in Germany and the UK.

Her current teaching focuses on learning, language, and emotional-social development within the SENDI framework. Dr. Wuntke’s research delves into multi-modal support systems that enhance inclusion for individuals with emotional-social and learning difficulties. Additionally, she is passionate about the professional development of teachers and the internationalization of teacher education.

Dr. Daniel is deeply committed to advancing research in the field of education, with a particular focus on teacher professional development, inclusive education, and the development and testing of reading programs for pupils, including those at-risk of learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

With a wealth of expertise, Dr. Daniel has been part of research projects aimed at enhancing reading comprehension skills, inference making abilities, and addressing factors such as anxiety management that impact student outcomes. Among his current projects, Dr. Daniel is engaged in the creation of open educational reading programs specifically designed for primary school students with reading disabilities. He is also actively involved in exploring the identification processes for students with dyslexia within the United Kingdom, as well as utilizing large national pupil databases to gain comprehensive insights into educational trends and outcomes for students with special educational needs. Furthermore, Dr. Daniel is currently collaborating with researchers in India, England, and Taiwan to conduct a comparative study that seeks to understand the knowledge of preservice teachers about early reading instruction.

Dr. Joanne Banks is a lecturer and researcher in inclusive education at the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Joanne’s research interests are in the field of inclusive education and educational inequality.

She has published widely on special and inclusive education policy and practice, school exclusion, and student diversity. Dr. Banks is also the presenter and author of the ‘Inclusion Dialogue’ podcast series and books.

Dr. Eleonora Palmieri is the Director of Psychological and Pedagogical Victor Center Macerata (Italy) involved in dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism according to the Crispiani Method practices and Director of FIDIAcademy School. She is a clinical psychologist, pedagogist, and Itard Specialist.

She is interested in special pedagogy and neurodevelopment disorders (language, motor, perception). She has been involved in international projects as a trainer (Singapore, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia) and often attends as an expert speaker at International Conferences. She has developed and coordinated partnerships with many experts in different countries, including universities (Poland, England, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai), training organizations, research centers, and pedagogical advice for teachers and parents. She is the author with Prof. Piero Crispiani of Champion Pressing, Special Intensive Practices of Cognitive Motor Training by Istituto Itard, collana Les sauvages; she has also realized a Video Motor Training Itard, and is the author of many articles and the Working Method of Champion LIRM (Intensive Reading and Motor Speed).

Prof. Sudesh Mukhopadhyay served as Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Council of India. She superannuated in March 2011 from NUEPA/NIEPA as Head of the Department of Inclusive Education and has headed multiple departments. She has a Ph.D. (Education) from M.S. University of Baroda; is an Associate of the London University Institute of Education in Special Education, and has been a Visiting Fellow at Manitoba University, Canada, and Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

She works with multiple governments (Central & State), and national and international organizations to enhance their professional contributions to the implementation process of NEP2020 and related Court judgments and other such updates for the Empowerment of the PwDs and advocacy with different stakeholders. In January 2023, she received the RUSTOM MERWANJI ALPAIWALLA MEMORIAL AWARD-2023 in recognition of her outstanding contribution as a “Professional Worker” to the Welfare of the Visually Challenged NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND, INDIA, Mumbai.

Dr. Bhushan Punani is at present working as General Secretary of the Blind People’s Association, Ahmedabad, one of the most leading disability development NGOs in the country. He is also Vice President of the International Council for Education of Persons with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), Global, which is registered as a Non-Profit Company in U.K. … He also provided his honorary services as President of National Abilympics Association of India during 2014-2018. He joined BPA after completing his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (SPA) from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and completed his LL.B as well as PhD from Gujarat University and a Course in Vocation Rehabilitation from Haifa University, Israel. He has worked as a member of a number of national level committees, including the one that drafted national legislation for India. He is also a member of the Central Advisory Board as per provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Accessible Elections appointed by the Election Commission of India. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Awareness Scheme under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Govt of India. He is also working as Additional Director of the Gujarat Tea Packers and Processors Pvt. Ltd (Wagh Bakri Tea); Independent Director of TorchIt Pvt. Ltd. as well as Harsha Engineers International. Recently, he was conferred the National Leadership IIM Lucknow Singhania Award as well National Accessible Voting Award – both awards presented by former H E President of India, Shri Ram Kovind. He was also honoured with the Distinguished Alumnus Award of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Dr. Namita Jacob is an adviser to several national & international organizations and universities in the areas of sensory impairments, multiple disabilities & early childhood development. She is program director of Chetana Trust, Chennai which pioneers unique evidence-based solutions to issues in access to learning among people with disabilities in India.

Arman Ali, Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) With over two decades of influencing inclusive legislation, He champions for disability rights in India. He has served in advisory and editorial roles with government bodies and private organizations. An alumnus of IVLP, he has also undergone Leadership Training in Public Policy by Oxford University. He currently serves as Executive Director of NCPEDP.

Dr. Aqsa Shaikh (She/Her) is an out and proud transgender woman. She is one of India’s First Transgender Doctors. She is a Professor of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi.