Global Council and Advisory Board

• OEB Global Council

  

  Paul Bacsich

  Founder and Managing Director, Matic Media Ltd, UK

  Paul Bacsich is the founder and managing director of Matic Media Ltd, a boutique online learning consultancy active since 1996 in many UK, EU, UNESCO, OECD and international projects (often with global coverage) in such areas as virtual universities, virtual schools, open educational resources policy and practice, cost-effectiveness, digital transformation, benchmarking, and digital quality in higher education. He has specific experience of digital higher education projects in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, and UK.

  He is also CEO of Dualversity, a collective of consultants, and actively involved with start-ups in online learning. From 2018-21 he was Professor of Practice at the University of The West Indies Open Campus. He has also been Professor of Telematics at Sheffield Hallam University and Visiting Professor at the University of Derby Online. He has had senior roles in digital aspects of the UK Open University, the UK e-University, and the Global Campus of Middlesex Univesity, and has been involved with or studied many other online learning providers over the years, including several that have failed, or failed to achieve expectations.

  He created the first UK-accredited online microcredential for Teaching Teachers to Teach Online (TTTOL) as a contract from Interhigh, an online K-12 provider in UK. He is currently active again in this area as an analyst (after a 12-year gap) including looking at the lessons that can be drawn from such institutions and the wider K-12 sector for the more efficient running of universities.

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Donald Clark

  eLearning Expert and Strategist, Plan B Learning, UK

  Donald Clark is a Learning Tech Entrepreneur, CEO, Investor, Author, Podcaster, Blogger and Speaker. He was CEO and one of the original founders of Epic Group plc, which established itself as the leading company in the UK online learning market, floated on the Stock Market in 1996 and sold in 2005. He has been involved at all levels of investment – angel, VC, growth, PE and IPO. As well as being the CEO of Wildfire, an AI learning company, he also invests in, and advises, EdTech companies.
  An investor and board member of learning companies Cogbooks (sold in 2021 to Cambridge University) and Learning Pool (sold 2021 for $200 million), he was also on the Boards of City & Guilds, Learn Direct, University for Industry and the Brighton Dome and Festival. Wildfire delivers AI products and consultancy. He has published 3 books, on ‘AI for Learning’, ‘Learning Experience Design’ and ‘Learning Technology’. His fourth book on Learning in the Metaverse has just been commissioned.
  Donald has over 37 years experience in online learning, video, games, simulations, semantic, adaptive, chatbot, social media, mobile learning, virtual reality, AI and Metaverse projects. He has designed, delivered and advised on online learning for many global, public and private organisations. An evangelist for the use of technology in learning, he has won many awards, including the first ‘Outstanding Achievement in E-learning Award’ and ‘Best AIM Stock Market Company’, ‘Most Innovative Online Product’, ‘Best Online Learning Project and ‘JISC EdTech Award’.
  An award winning speaker at national and international conferences, he has delivered keynotes in the UK, Europe, US, Africa, Australia, Middle and Far East.
  His podcast series ‘Great Minds on Learning’ and 200+ articles on learning theorists are all online…… also a regular blogger (15 years+) on learning technology.
  Books
  AI for learning (2020) https://amzn.to/3HmAcIN
  Learning Experience Design (2021) https://amzn.to/3zDMdYk
  Learning Technologies (to be published Jan 2023)
  Metaverse and learning (to be published late 2023)
  Blogs
  Series on 200 learning theorists, from the Greeks to the Geeks https://bit.ly/3OdrPBs
  Podcasts
  Great Minds in Learning
  GREEKS https://bit.ly/3HpowVy
  ENLIGHTENMENT http://bit.ly/3oy80ec
  BEHAVIOURISTS http://bit.ly/3iUnINE
  COGNITIVISTS http://bit.ly/3oUxOBK
  PRACTICE http://bit.ly/3aAK5mk
  INSTRUCTIONALISTS http://bit.ly/3FEdYk8
  MORALISTS http://bit.ly/3qgdQC8
  SOCIAL https://bit.ly/3MTLGEw
  ASSESSORS bit.ly/3IX2A3C
  AFFECTIVE https://bit.ly/3HsDDhe
  INFORMAL https://bit.ly/3zym8Km
  WORKFLOW https://bit.ly/3xU4Q9n
  ONLINE LEARNING https://bit.ly/3Qn1Vgw

  The Learning & Development Podcast with David James https://bit.ly/3zzCGSd
  Reimagining Education with James Manion bit.ly/32D2LSf
  AI, Data, and Optimism with Leading Learning https://bit.ly/3tEyQUa
  AI is the New UI with John Helmer apple.co/3qF8oas
  Enhancing learning experiences using AI with Learning Science bit.ly/3FJGdNR
  The History of Learning and the Learning of History apple.co/3sMjXQ2

  Videos
  Don't lecture me! bit.ly/3HmLOtT
  TEDx Talk More pedagogic change in 10 years than last 1000 years bit.ly/3quRxqU

  

  Bert De Coutere

  IP & Innovation Lead, Center for Creative Leadership , Belgium

  Bert’s professional life is all about competent people. He thinks, publishes, consults, designs and sets up learning and development projects for corporations. His areas of expertise include technology enhanced learning, leadership development and innovation.

  Bert has been active in the field of corporate learning and e-learning for the last 25 years, first as instructor and course designer, later as project manager, consultant and business development manager. He worked at IBM Learning Development Europe where he was responsible for commercial e-learning development projects across Europe, and the management of the learning innovation initiatives. Thirteen years ago he joined the Center for Creative Leadership where he is now part of the global innovation team.

  

  Inge de Waard

  Learning Strategist and Connector, EIT InnoEnergy, Belgium

  Inge de Waard is the learning strategist at EIT InnoEnergy, she is a longtime researcher, activist, award-winning learning innovator and (e)Learning coordinator. She developed multiple online & hybrid courses, co-designed AI tools, and embedded learning innovations. Inge coaches and co-creates international, blended curricula with engineers and teachers, and explores innovative learning formats. Her expertise is recognized by peers, resulting in additional co-authored papers, invited talks and keynotes in both academic and professional conferences, workshops and seminars. She recently founded the Power Elders initiative to spotlight role models who changed their lives at any age beyond 50. Most of all, she likes to connect with people and share stories.

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Rosa Garcia Calero

  Programme Director, eLearning Africa, Spain

  Rosa García Calero works as independent consultant in the field of education and ICTs. Starting as the International Relationship Manager in the Spanish Association of Educational Centres (CECE), she worked on building European and international networks and managing EU projects in the field of education and ICTs. She became Vice-President of EFVET (European Forum of Vocational Education and Training) and was also a member of the council of various other European Associations directly linked with education. She has managed different EU projects and, as an evaluator and reviewer of the European Commission, has focused on projects related to innovation and ICT practices for education and training. Rosa is highly committed to the future of education worldwide and in Africa in particular. In 2010, Rosa started working for the eLearning Africa conference, and in 2017 she became its Programme Director.

  Links

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-garcia…

  Twitter

  

  Charles Jennings

  Director, Duntroon Consultants, United Kingdom

  Charles Jennings is a leading thinker and practitioner in innovative talent, learning and performance approaches. An author and well-known speaker, he is particularly known for his work with the 70:20:10 model. His career includes roles as a business school professor, as head of the UK national centre for networked learning, as chief learning officer for global companies, as a consultant, and as a member of advisory boards for international learning, performance, and business bodies.

  Charles is a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Society for Arts (FRSA) and a Fellow of the Learning & Performance Institute (FLPI). He is also a Senior Advisor at the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and other bodies.

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Laura Overton

  Analyst - Explorer - Writer - Facilitator, Learning Changemakers, United Kingdom

  I am an experienced international speaker, author and facilitator with a passion for exploring, challenging and sharing. I believe that the role of learning leaders in the changing workplace is to unlock the potential of business and people. My goal has always been to help learning leaders ensure that their organisations are equipped and ready through outcome-led and evidence informed practice.

  Together we will co-create the future of learning - one where learning leaders will become business critical as they uncover new ways to add value. As the founder of Towards Maturity- I led a global research programme for 15 years, bringing a community of practitioners, policy makers, experts and suppliers together to investigate how learning innovation delivers business value.
  I continue to investigate, to explore , to communicate insights and facilitate collaborative change in the industry through workshops, coaching and sounding board work via #LearningChangemakers and as co-founder of Emerging Stronger.

  Tracking the L&D learning innovation journey since 2003, I have authored/ co-authored of over 70 major research reports and, as a regular contributor to industry publications I have written over 300 articles. I continue to play an active role in research working with the CIPD and other significant industry bodies.

  As an industry change maker, I regularly share good practice findings as a keynote presenter at conferences around the globe and through masterclasses, webinars and seminars. I have served on several advisory boards including the original LPI Capability Map, the CIPD Professional Map and Learning boards, the Online Educa Global Council and the original Distributed Electronic Learning Group for the UK government.

  I am an academic fellow of the CIPD, a fellow of the RSA and the first female recipient of the Learning and Performance Institute’s Colin Corder Award for outstanding achievement. I was also the first recipient of the Learning Technology award for outstanding achievement and regularly appear in the top influencer lists for our industry.

  I am always willing to work with LearningChangemakers across the industry so please contact me if you would like to find out more about my writing, facilitation, coaching or soundingboard work.

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Rolf Reinhardt

  Member of the Executive Committee, International Council on Badges and Credentials [ICoBC], Germany

  Rolf Reinhardt works for LinkedIn at the intersection of government, education and organizational learning. He is also an active member of the International Council on Badges and Credentials [ICoBC] to ensure a systemic view of badges and credentials for individuals, organizations and societies. Additionally, he serves as a Council Member to the Union of International Associations, as a Council Member to the OEB Global and as a Certified Supporter to the Corporate Social Responsibility community of ZiviZ at Stifterverband (W.I.E.). Prior to joining LinkedIn in 2016, he worked for Pearson, the largest education company in the world, on secondary, post-secondary and corporate training initiatives across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

  From 2011 to 2012, Rolf was tinkering on various visionary projects such as eLearning quality (epprobate), streaming (TEDx etc.), ePortfolios, Immersive Worlds, Networks of Change Structures as well as Coworking and Community Spaces.

  The focus of his work from 2007 till 2009 was on the ROI of eLearning programs for larger corporations. This focus changed with his assignment as Executive Manager of the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning where innovation and technology as an enhancer of personal, organisational and societal development became a central topic.

  By the time he obtained his Engineering degree in Media Technology, Rolf worked on large digital transformation projects, for instance, for the L&D department of L’ORÉAL. Rolf later designed and managed complex eLearning projects mainly for corporate customers.

  

  Gilly Salmon

  CEO, Education Alchemists. Ltd, United Kingdom

  Professor Salmon is the founder and CEO of Education Alchemists Ltd - formed around her life's work including Carpe Diem learning design, pedagogical transformation, online education, technology-enhanced teaching, the 5 stage model, e-tivities, and Education 4.0. Until recently Professor of Learning Transformation and pro-vice-chancellor at universities in the UK and Australia, she is now based in London with all workshops offered fully digitally and worldwide. She is a well-known keynote speaker and workshop leader. Her books E-moderating and E-tivities are considered seminal texts

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Rebecca Stromeyer

  Conference Chair OEB, Founder of eLearning Africa, Germany

  Rebecca Stromeyer has been actively involved in digital learning, EdTech and international education for over three decades. As the Managing Director and Founder of ICWE GmbH and co-founder and co-owner of ICEF GmbH since 1991, she has played a key role in establishing well-known conference, exhibitions and B2B and B2G events in these fields.

  She co-founded OEB Global in 1995  and has been involved in launching other education and training events, including ONLINE EDUCA MADRID in 2000, as well as similar initiatives in Iceland (2017), Russia (2015), Singapore (1997), Korea (1996), and the Arab world (2003). In 2005, she founded eLearning Africa, which has since become a leading conference and exhibition on digital learning and skills development in Africa.

  Rebecca has served as an advisor to international organisations and has been a board member of groups such as the International Council on Badges and Credentials and the Drucker Society. She was also Vice-Chair of the Global Business School Network and has worked with the Global Development Learning Network.

  In 2012, she launched the eLearning Africa Report, providing insights into digital learning and ICT developments across the continent. Her work continues to focus on education, skills development, and the role of technology in learning.

  

  Channa van der Brug

  Programme Manager, Hochschulforum Digitalisierung for Stifterverband, Germany

  Channa van der Brug is programme manager international affairs at at Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/en, the German Forum for Higher Education in the Digital Age) for Stifterverband, where she is developing opportunities for international knowledge exchange on good practices for digital teaching and learning. She has more than 20 years’ of experience in the education sector and a passion for the role of technology in shaping the future of education, as well as for developing deeper understanding and connections between diverse people and institutions through engagement and dialogue.

  

  Ellen Wagner

  Managing Partner, North Coast EduVisory LLC

  Ellen Wagner is an accomplished learning technology professional with career experiences in academic, commercial, and non-profit organizations. She has worked as a tenured professor and university administrator, was a founding ed tech entrepreneur, a senior executive of publicly traded software companies, a journal editor, and a board member of a number of start-up ed tech companies. Her areas of expertise include ed tech, emerging tech, change management, instructional systems design and learning engineering, and digital learning (online and eLearning).

  Links

  Twitter

  

  Monika Weber-Fahr

  Senior Advisor, Results and Partnerships, World Bank / CreativeShifts.org, Austria

  Dr. Monika Weber-Fahr advises international organizations on innovative approaches to network management, cooperation and result orientation and is Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. Until 2020, she served as CEO of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), following a term as COO at Sustainable Energy for All and over 20 years with the World Bank Group. Monika is Chair of the Board of ISEAL, a member of the Board of the Austrian Development Bank, of the Vienna Climate Lab Advisory Council, of the Deltares International Advisory Council, and of the OEB Global Council. She also is a beekeeper and an avid cyclist.
  OEB Global Council
• OEB Global Advisory Board

  

  Ali Alam

  Venture Partner, EarlyBird

  Ali Alam — a founder-turned-venture-builder and investor on a mission to make innovation human-centric, impact-driven, and radically inclusive. With experience building award-winning university-based incubators, designing startup acceleration programs with 21st-century skills needed to thrive in volatility and advising venture funds deploying capital in human growth. Ali has worked across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets to create sustainable learning & innovation ecosystems.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Fawzi Baroud

  Assistant Vice President for Information Technology - NDU & UNESCO Chair on Open Educational Resources (OER), Notre Dame University- Louaize, Lebanon

  Over a period spanning 25 years, Dr. Fawzi Baroud has been engaged in promoting technology as a pedagogical tool tied to meeting educational objectives and assessment of learning outcomes in higher education. Specialized in eLearning, systems management, mathematics and electrical engineering, he combines numerous areas of academic expertise for advancing the use of technology in different curricular content areas.

  As the Assistant Vice President for Information Technology at Notre Dame University – Louaize (NDU) in Lebanon, Dr. Baroud leads in the campus-wide planning and implementation of information technologies that support teaching and learning, including training faculty members to integrate educational technology in their teaching.

  As champion of open education on campus, Dr. Baroud has made the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER) a key strategic goal of the University. Under his watch, NDU became an institutional affiliate of Creative Commons, and he is currently in the process of formulating policies for the successful use of OER in teaching and learning. He conducts seminars and hands-on workshops on open education and open licensing at leading Lebanese higher education institutions and has become a reference point on the subject.

  Dr. Baroud has published several studies on eLearning and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) use in education, participated in conferences, coauthored the informatics national curriculum for Lebanon, and offered consultancy to academic institutions. His research centers on the use, integration and evaluation of ICT, OER, and eLearning implementation in higher educational contexts.

  Links

  http://www.ndu.edu.lbhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fawzi-barou…

  LinkedIn

  

  Jane Bozarth

  Director of Research, The Learning Guild

  Jane Bozarth, the Director of Research for The Learning Guild, is a veteran classroom trainer who transitioned to digital learning in the late 1990s and has never looked back. In her previous job as leader of the State of North Carolina’s award-winning eLearning program, Jane specialized in finding low-cost ways of providing online training solutions. She is the author of several books, among them "eLearning Solutions on a Shoestring", "Social Media for Trainers", and "Show Your Work: The Payoffs and How-To’s of Working Out Loud". A popular international conference presenter, Jane holds a doctorate in training and development. She lives in Durham, NC, USA with her husband and Thomas the corgi.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Ilona Buchem

  Professor of Media and Communication, Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Germany

  Prof. Dr. Ilona Buchem is Professor of Media and Communication at Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences. She teaches courses in bachelor’s and master’s programs, both on campus and online, including Digital Business (BSc.) and Media Informatics (MSc.).

  As the head of the Communications Lab, Ilona Buchem leads a number of projects on the application of humanoid robots as learning and teaching assistants in higher education context. Ilona Buchem has led a number of national and international R&D projects dedicated to technology-enhanced learning.

  Dr. Buchem is one of the Chairs of the EATEL Special Interest Group on Wearable Enhanced Learning, and is actively involved in some of the leading TEL organizations in Europe, including the European Association for Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL), the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN), and the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU).

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Jo Cook

  Director, Lightbulb Moment

  Jo Cook is Director of her company Lightbulb Moment, which specialises in developing, facilitating and training others to deliver great live online training sessions, virtual classrooms, webinars and blended, digital programmes. Jo has a background in teaching, technology and journalism. She facilitates, speaks, writes, blogs and tweets on L&D topics and part-time is the Deputy Editor of Training Journal magazine and website. Jo’s background includes further and higher education, the charity sector, small and large organisations, including CNN News and Bupa International.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Jacques Dang

  Secretary of the Board, The Digital University

  As secretary of the board for L'Université Numérique, the French digital university, and AUNEGe, the French OER repository for management & economics, Jacques leads collaborative initiatives in technological R&D, in cooperation with French universities, high-tech companies and academic partners around the globe. The projects involve next-generation networks, open and distance learning as well as evaluation and learning analytics. Jacques also chairs, together with the ICDE Secretary General, the francophone working group for the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on OER; this working group includes representatives from UNESCO, national UNESCO commissions, virtual universities or ministries for Higher Education from various francophone countries in West & Central Africa. He represents L'Université Numérique for participation in the UNESCO dynamic coalition for OER. Jacques currently leads open education initiatives in various French-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Sara de Freitas

  BT Professor, Director of the Digital Futures Institute and DigiTech Centre, University of Suffolk, UK, Wey Education Plc

  Sara is an international expert in digital and immersive education. Over three decades, she has held executive education and research directorial roles in schools, colleges and universities, along the way helping to establish three research institutes and attract over 80 projects including 19 EU projects including scientific coordination of a network of excellence. Along the way she has set up three companies, in addition to consulting with national and international government agencies and departments. Her work is captured in 40 books, over 100 scientific peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, and in over 10 software applications and 3 platforms developed and tested. Selling her last AIM-listed PLC company for over £70M in 2022, she is currently a University Governor, CEO of EdTech start up Weypoint, and holds visiting Professorships at Open University and University of South Wales. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at Birkbeck University of London, in the same Computer Science department she started her academic career at in central London. Having held 8 Professorships (UK/Australia), and executive roles up to Deputy Vice Chancellor, her awards include fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts and the Business Excellence Institute, and she is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Carlos Delgado Kloos

  Vice President for Strategy and Digital Education , Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain

  Carlos Delgado Kloos is Full Professor and Vice President for Strategy and Digital Education at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from the Technische Universität München and in Telecommunications Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Previously he has lectured at TU München, UP Madrid and Universität Passau. He has also been a Research Scholar at MIT and Harvard.

  His main interest lies in the field of Educational Technology. He has participated in multiple national and international research projects, published in numerous conferences and journals, and managed international conferences. He is also the Holder of the UNESCO Chair on Scalable Digital Education for All and coordinator of the eMadrid network on eLearning in the region of Madrid. He is further the Spanish representative at TC3 about Education of IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing).

  Links

  http://www.it.uc3m.es/cdk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosdk/

  

  Işıl Boy Ergül

  Founder, Teacher X

  Dr. Işıl Boy Ergül completed her undergraduate studies in English Language Teaching at Istanbul University, her master’s degree in Educational Technologies at the University of Manchester, and her PhD in Educational Technologies at Bahçeşehir University, where she also taught postgraduate courses. In 2015, Dr. Ergül was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator. She has served as a lecturer and advisor at Yıldız Technical University and worked as a teacher trainer for Pilgrims in the UK.

  For over a decade, Dr. Ergül has delivered a wide range of educational technology training programs both in Turkey and internationally. She is the founder of the Educational Technologies Summit (ETZ), the teacher training platform TeacherX, and CertifiX, a blockchain-based certificate management system for students. Through TeacherX, she has collaborated with over 500 schools and supported more than 25,000 teachers.

  Dr. Ergül is also the Turkish ambassador for the European Training Foundation, where she leads content development for the AI group. Recently, she translated UNESCO’s “Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research” into Turkish. She delivers keynote speeches at conferences on educational technology and AI in education.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Buena Jill Galleposo

  Student, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

  Buena Jill Galleposo is a Senior Learning Technologist in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds, where she leads a high‑performing team of learning technologists delivering strategic, human‑centred digital education across the faculty. Buena oversees the design and enhancement of technology‑enabled learning, providing expert pedagogical and technical guidance that shapes curriculum, assessment and capability‑building at scale.

  She has driven sector‑recognised innovation through initiatives such as Digital Blencathra and Reimagining Geohazard Fieldtrips, which collectively earned accolades including the 2024 Faculty Partnership Award for Innovation and the 2024 MEDEA Awards.

  Buena is known for collaborative leadership that prioritises inclusivity, sustainability and community‑building, enabling educators and staff to design confident, creative and future‑ready learning experiences.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Jens Greefe

  Director of Studies, Klett Online Continuing Education Ltd. & Co. KG

  Jens Greefe is the Director of Studies at Klett OWB, Klett Online Weiterbildung GmbH & Co. KG in Hamburg. Klett OWB, together with its subsidiaries ILS, SGD, Fernakademie für Erwachsenenbildung, and Schule des Schreibens, teaches approximately 90,000 participants annually in more than 300 distance learning courses. He holds a diploma in Economics and is responsible for the development, organization, and quality management of the course programs.
  From 2012 to 2020, Jens Greefe served as Vice President, and from 2022 to 2025 he was a member of the board of the German Association for Distance Learning (“Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter,” formerly “Forum Distance Learning”).
  Since 2021, he has been a member of the Global Advisory Board of OEB Online Educa Berlin.
  Jens Greefe has chaired the Research & Development Committee since 2014 and has been a member of the board of EADL since 2025.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Michael Härtel

  Head of Division 2.5, Teaching and Learning in VET, Training Personnel, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)

  

  John Helmer

  Showrunner & Host, The Learning Hack podcast

  John Helmer is a writer, podcaster and communications strategy expert specialising in the fields of learning, training and education, with a particular focus on digital technology innovation. He runs two highly successful podcasts, The Learning Hack and Great Minds on Learning. He has led many programmes bringing together thought leaders and practitioners for knowledge sharing and debate, and writes for and edits numerous blogs, as well as producing many white papers and research reports (including articles for peer-reviewed journals).

  His career in strategic communications consultancy includes many years working with and for organisations including Learning Pool, Go1, Ocean Technologies Group, Lumesse, Saba, Powtoon, Epic, LINE, Semantico, Towards Maturity, Ufi/learndirect, Kineo, Willow DNA, Learning Light and Capita Learning Solutions. Sector experience spans corporates, start-ups, scale-ups, not-for-profits and public bodies.

  A pioneer in digital marketing, he co-created and promoted more than thirty training courses on using the internet for marketing and business. He is also a published novelist, lyricist for the group Marillion, has been on Top of Pops, and won a Perrier Award.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  David Hollow

  Research Director, EdTech Hub

  David leads Jigsaw Education, an independent education research organisation focused on low-income countries with specialisms in EdTech, climate education and refugee education. He is also the Research Director at EdTech Hub, a global movement working for an evidence-driven future in EdTech. He has worked in over 25 countries, helping governments, donors and NGOs to use evidence to bring about lasting change in education. David holds a PhD from the University of London (2010) and serves on various boards, including for Refugee Education UK.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Sheila Jagannathan

  Global Head, Digital Learning & Capacity Building, The World Bank, USA

  Sheila Jagannathan is a lifelong learner and Head of the Open Learning Campus at the World Bank in Washington DC.

  She serves as the organization’s focal point on digital learning and issues at the intersection of technology use and education in emerging countries.

  She is an internationally recognized thought leader, advisor, author and a forward-thinking senior education leader with over 35 years of experience in leading capacity building, knowledge management, data, social learning and transformation change across public and private organizations.

  Sheila also provides policy advice and technical assistance to World Bank country-level capacity building programs (both government and training centers of excellence seeking to introduce technologies in their educational systems) in, East Asia, China, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa and South Asia.

  Please follow this link for information on her book ‘Reimagining Digital Learning for Sustainable Development - Upskilling, Data Analytics, and Educational Technologies Close the Skills Gap, published in June 2021.

  Links

  http://www.olc.worldbank.org

  LinkedIn

  

  Oliver Janoschka

  Managing Director, German Forum for Higher Education in the Digital Age

  Oliver Janoschka has served as managing director of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (German Forum for Higher Education in the Digital Age, abbreviated: HFD) since its inception in 2014.

  Before founding HFD, Janoschka worked in the field of higher education in various European Member States for more than seven years. He has a proven track record of facilitating international policy projects, serving for example as director of projects for the European Association on Lifelong Learning in Higher Education (EUCEN) in Barcelona and Brussels and as lecturer and project coordinator for the Bosch Foundation in the Western Balkans. He holds a master’s degree in educational management, sociology and psychology from the University of Hamburg.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Thomas Jenewein

  Digital Ambassador, SAP , Germany

  In the last 20 years I worked in the intersection of human resources, people development and learning technology - after studying Industrial and Organizational Psychology. 
  
  As a Business Development Manager and Digital Ambassador at SAP Training and Adoption I help our customers and partners to get the most out of our services & software. May it be a better innovation adoption, higher productivity, increased knowledge transfer or engagement. A key goal is to improve our customers digital journeys and learning experience. Before this role I was product manager for Education Software, earlier I led the SAP internal learning and development team responsible for strategic learning programs and new media. 
  
  I am passionate about learning, collaboration and all facets from people development, talent management, social media, learning technology/ EdTech, coaching, knowledge management up to machine learning in learning & education. I also try to reflect and share my experiences via blogs, articles, books or presentations at conferences. Actually this is a great way for me to learn also. 
  
  And since 2018 I co-Host the Podcast "EducationNewscast". You find it on Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Google or on openSAP.

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Asha Kanwar

  Chair Professor, Beijing Normal University, Canada

  Professor Asha Singh Kanwar, one of the world’s leading advocates of learning for sustainable development, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning. Throughout a career spanning over 35 years, she has made outstanding contributions in the areas of teaching, research and international development.

  Professor Kanwar received her undergraduate, Master's and MPhil degrees from the Panjab University in India and a DPhil from the University of Sussex, UK. Her areas of expertise include open distance and technology-enabled learning, open educational resources, quality assurance, gender and organizational development. Professor Kanwar has written and edited a dozen books, published over 100 papers and articles, and delivered numerous keynotes at prestigious international conferences.

  Prior to joining COL, Professor Kanwar was a senior consultant in open and distance learning at UNESCO's Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA). She has also served as Director, School of Humanities and as Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in New Delhi, India. She was a Fulbright Fellow for post-doctoral research at Iowa State University in the US, where she was later invited to teach. Currently, she serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies and Education (IITE).

  Professor Kanwar won several international awards, including the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Prize of Excellence, and the Meritorious Service Award for outstanding contributions in open and distance education from the Asian Association of Open Universities. She has been conferred eight honorary doctorates from Universities in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

   

   

   

  Links

  LinkedIn

  

  Aruj Khaliq

  AI Policy Advisor & Intervention Scientist, -

  Aruj Khaliq is an award-winning intervention scientist, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability governance specialist, and 30 Under 30–nominated educational leader whose work has created opportunities for over one million individuals across the Global South over the past 13+ years. A postgraduate scholar at the University of Oxford, she specialises in designing large-scale social interventions and policies at the intersection of AI governance, human agency, and sustainable development.

  Aruj is the founder of ALIF, an executive advisor of Pakistan’s National Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and Head of Academics at Learning Alliance International. She has designed and led pioneering interventions including the world’s first systematic review on AI and Teacher Agency, a global comparative analysis of AI teacher-readiness policies, and advisory roles supporting governments and organisations in AI Literacy programme design and implementation. In sustainability education, she is the architect of Pakistan’s largest school-based intervention, ECO Schools, and the brains behind IB Ripple- the world’s first research journal for IB students. She has also contributed to influential global projects such as the Youth Support Programme (University of Warwick), Generation Justice (European Union), and Think–Educate–Aspire (University of Birmingham), advancing youth capability, digital equity, and pedagogical innovation.

  In 2023, Aruj became the only Pakistani invited by UCL to present at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, where she introduced the first Global South–driven theoretical framework on Whole School Approaches to Sustainability. Her authorial work appears in international venues, with a major Bloomsbury publication forthcoming in 2026. Her impact has been recognised by UNESCO Youth, UNDP, national and international media, and the International Baccalaureate. She currently divides her time between the UK and Pakistan while advancing research and policy in AI governance and sustainability interventions.

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  Henriette Kloots

  Senior L&D Consultant, Interlocked

  Henriette Kloots is an Organisational psychologist and Sr. Learning & Development consultant. After spending years on both the vendor and corporate side of L&D, she became independent in 2015. Interlocked is focuses on connecting the business and learning. When the business and L&D cooperate within the context of the organization they create real organizational change through impactful learning interventions. Henriette is a very energetic professional with a lot of passion for the industry and she is “here to challenge”.

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  Margaret Korosec

  Director of Digital Education and Learning Innovation, University of Leeds

  Margaret Korosec is a forward-thinking and strategic leader in open, online, and professional learning, known for her human-centred approach and ability to scale bringing creativity, intentionality, and systems perspective to her leadership in scaling open, online and professional education. As Dean of Online and Digital Education at the University of Leeds in the UK, Margaret holds academic and strategic responsibility for advancing the institution’s online degrees and flexible learning portfolio. She has championed scalable, inclusive models for online course design and led efforts to build resilient and sustainable in-house capabilities ensuring a seamless end-to-end student experience from application through to graduation. Prior to her current role, Margaret made significant contributions to the expansion of online degree portfolios at the University of Derby Online Learning and Western Governors University (WGU). Witnessing the transformative power of inclusive, accessible and flexible education on individuals’ lives and communities solidified her dedication to advancing online and flexible learning initiatives.

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  Gila Kurtz

  Dean, Holon Institute of Technology (HIT)

  Gila Kurtz is the Dean of the Instructional Technologies Faculty at Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) in Israel. For serval years she was the Academic VP of a company that provided e-Learning solutions for the corporate industry. Gila has been a visiting scholar at the University of Maryland University College, University of California Berkeley, Syracuse University and University Roma, TRE.

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  Sue Martin

  Board Member, eAssessment Association, Germany

  Sue Martin is a Board Member of the eAssessment Association and has been a trusted advisor to companies and institutions across Europe in the area of workforce credentialing, learning strategies and certification for many years, including her roles as Global Head of Certification at SAP and Global Head of Personnel Certification at TÜV Rheinland as well as regional and global management roles in the testing industry. She has also held several positions within industry institutions, such as the Chair of the European Association of Test Publishers, member of the Learning & Development Committee at BCS (British Computer Society) and EU Subject Matter Expert on digital skills initiatives.

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  Ildiko Mazar

  Sector Consulting Manager, NTT Data, Spain

  Ildiko has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of open education and e-learning, and she is particularly passionate about informed and transparent knowledge, skill and competence recognition. In the past 5 years Ildiko has been focusing mostly on supporting the development and uptake of innovative solutions in the fields of competence development and digital (micro-)credentialing, more specifically the European Learning Model and European Digital Credentials for Learning. She is member of the CTDL Advisory Board, and one of the 3 Co-Chairs of the W3C Credentials Community Group's VC-EDU task force.

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  Glenda Morgan

  Market Analyst, Phil Hill & Associates

  Glenda Morgan is a Market Analyst at Phil Hill & Associates and the lead analyst at Morgan EdTech Strategies, helping higher education institutions, vendors and investors navigate the edtech landscape. She brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including roles as a faculty member, IT administrator and education analyst at Gartner and Director of Academic Technology Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Morgan holds a PhD in political science from the University of Minnesota.

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  Barbara Moser-Mercer

  Visiting Fellow Oxford Refugee Studies Center, University of Nairobi, Kenya

  Barbara Moser-Mercer, professor emerita and founder of InZone (University of Geneva), is visiting professor at University of Nairobi, engaged in strengthening African solutions that advance Higher Education in Emergencies (HEiE) and has designed and been coordinating the African Higher Education in Emergencies Network (AHEEN) operating in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi and South Africa to ensure that forcibly displaced youth access and complete higher education. She has also been a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Center to advance her research into Higher Education in Emergencies. Following her initial training as conference interpreter she pursued her studies and research in cognitive psychology, focusing on the development of expertise in complex cognitive skills. She has applied these findings to learning in protracted humanitarian emergencies.

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  Brian Mulligan

  Consultant , Universal Learning Systems

  Brian Mulligan is a leading expert in learning technologies, with a career spanning three decades in shaping digital education in Ireland. As the founder of the Irish Learning Technology Association in 2002, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the field. At Atlantic Technological University, he spearheaded the development of online distance learning, driving innovation in accessible education. Now a consultant with Universal Learning Systems (ulsystems.com), Brian specialises in the strategic application of learning technologies to transform education and expand opportunities for learners worldwide.

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  Fabio Nascimbeni

  Human Capital Development Expert, European Training Foundation (ETF), Italy

  Fabio Nascimbeni, PhD in Information and Knowledge Society, works as a Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF), an EU agency providing support to EU neighbouring countries for the reform of education, training and employment systems, where he mainly focuses on digitalisation and learning innovation.

  He has been active in the field of learning innovation and digital education for 25 years, working with organisations such as the European Commission, the ILO and UNICEF, and has designed and coordinated more than 50 research and innovation projects across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Mediterranean and South East Asia.

  His main research interests are open education, digital literacy and digital inclusion. He is a Senior Fellow of the European Distance and eLearning Network (EDEN) and a Fellow of the CEST centre of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and of the Nexa Centre of the Politecnico di Torino in Italy.

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  Dominic Orr

  Project manager atingi, GIZ, Germany

  Dr. Dominic Orr is adjunct professor for educational management at the University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia and part of the leadership team at GIZ for the BMZ-funded digital learning platform called atingi, which has over 400 thousand registered users. He follows and shapes educational reform through his work. In 2020 a publication he co-authored on the future of higher education in 2030 was published by Springer. He has worked as an external consultant for the EU, the OECD, UNESCO and the World Bank.

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  Thea Payome

  CHECK.point eLearning, Germany

  Thea Payome has been a freelance journalist and author for 30 years. After studying political science at the Hochschule für Politik in Munich and completing an editorial traineeship, she worked for print media, radio and in documentary film.

  Since 1997, she has devoted herself increasingly to the New Economy, among others in the field of eLearning. In 1999 she became head of the department "Startup & Finance" at NET-Investor, NET-Investor-Verlag Munich and later became head of the department "International Markets".

  In May 2001, she was awarded the Journalist Prize at the German Startup Days in Berlin. The European eLearning Award "eureleA" followed in February 2004 in Karlsruhe.

  Since 2004, Thea Payome has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of the industry information service CHECK.point eLearning, which observes, analyzes and describes eLearning markets in a German and an English edition and contributes significantly to industry development and community building.

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  Annette Peet

  Project Manager, SURF, The Netherlands

  Annette Peet (1964) is an experienced project and program manager at SURF. SURF is the collaborative ICT organization for Dutch higher education and research. It offers students, lecturers and scientists in the Netherlands access to the best possible internet and ICT facilities. The last 20 years she has been working in the field of higher education. She has expertise on online & blended learning and digital assessment. 

  Annette graduated as Master of Science at Utrecht University. Since then she has worked as senior consultant and project manager for several consultancy agencies, the Ministry of Transport, Utrecht University and SURF. Her focus has always been on accelerating adoption of (IT) innovation within institutions and facilitating collaboration between parties involved; she's an experienced community builder and knowledge exchange manager.

   

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  https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-pee…

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  Keanu Pense

  Founder, Nemo , Germany

  Keanu Pense is a 22-year-old product developer working at the intersection of technology, education, and community. He is currently developing Nemo, an app designed to help young people connect offline and learn together, and fplpro, an analytics tool for football enthusiasts. His work is driven by a belief that technology should empower young people to learn in ways that feel natural, engaging, and community-driven rather than isolated and transactional.

  Keanu's approach combines hands-on product development with a deep curiosity about how digital spaces can foster meaningful connections and learning experiences. He is particularly interested in exploring how AI can enhance rather than replace human interaction in educational contexts, and how platforms can be designed to encourage collaboration, creativity, and authentic engagement among young users.

  As a participant in OEB 2025's 30 Under 30 programme, Keanu is passionate about connecting with diverse perspectives and pushing the boundaries of how we learn and build community in the digital age. He brings a fresh, youth-centered perspective to conversations about the future of education and technology.

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  Richard Powers

  Professor & Faculty Trainer, University of Stuttgart (Professional School of Education)

  A well-known and recognized e-Learning expert, Prof. Richard Powers is currently a Professor, Trainer and Learning Designer with the Professional School of Education Stuttgart Ludwigsburg in Germany, where he designs blended learning courses to develop competences in digitalization and diversity for pre-service teachers across five universities. He is a German eTwinning Ambassador, training other teacher trainers in Germany. He teaches Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Project-Based Learning with eTwinning & Erasmus+ for Interculturality, and Instructional Design for Digital Accessibility. Prof. Powers won the 2022 Teaching Award for Excellence at Stuttgart University, and the 2023 European Union Award for best Teacher Training Institute for eTwinning Virtual Exchanges. He routinely teaches and trains faculty in Stuttgart and remotely at City Colleges of Chicago how to teach online with Moodle, ILIAS and Brightspace in webinars via Webex and Zoom. In 2025, Prof. Powers co-facilitated UDL training with universities in Ukraine, Malta, Lebanon and Namibia.

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  Wilfred Rubens

  Consultant, Edublogger and Editor at e-learning.nl, WilfredRubens.com/e-learning.nl

  Since the end of 1995, Wilfred Rubens has been professionally engaged in the use of digital technology to facilitate and enhance learning, training, development and education. Since 1 March 2015 he works as an independent consultant and project leader. He is project leader of the implementation of learning technologies. Wilfred Rubens is involved in designing online and blended learning programs (various formats). He consults on the pedagogical use of learning technologies. Furthermore, he supports strategy development and he facilitates professional development and technology enhanced learning. In addition, Wilfred blogs almost daily about 'technology enhanced learning' . He is the (co-)author of three books and various articles/chapters in this field. Wilfred is also a member of the advisory board of the OEB (in Berlin) and of Next Learning. He is a voluntary editorial board member of e-learning.nl

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  Anja Schmitz

  Professor HRM, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

  Dr. Anja Schmitz is Professor of Human Resource Management at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Her academic and practical work focuses on workplace learning, organizational development, and the impact of AI on Human Resource Management. With a background in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she bridges the gap between research and practice by advising organizations on fostering learning cultures and implementing effective learning strategies through aligning them with business needs during periods of growth, transformation, and uncertainty. Dr. Schmitz is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, where she shares evidence-based insights on Learning & Development, the future of work, and AI-driven HR transformation. She serves on the advisory board of the “Zukunft Personal” Expo and facilitates its Think Tank Learning and Development. Prior to her current position, she was a professor at Pforzheim University and held several roles in personnel and organizational development in corporate settings. She has been recognized by Personalmagazin as one of the leading voices shaping the future of Human Resource Management (“40 führende Köpfe im HR 2025”).
  Further information on New Work & New Learning: https://learningdevelopment.institute/home/learning-development-institu…

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  Jef Staes

  Architect Learning and Innovative Organisations, Red Monkey Company

  Jef Staes (1956, Belgium) is an authority on learning processes, innovation and culture change. With decennia of professional experience (Engineering Digital Telephony, Training Manager & Corporate Learning Officer), he currently assists CEO’s and Managers to find a comprehensive answer to the changing dynamics of today’s world. He is a passionate & inspirational author, keynote speaker & concept creator. His striking metaphors and stories are guaranteed eye-openers and his thoughts on the future of business and education inspire many. Google 'Jef Staes' or 'Red Monkey' and you know where he stands for.

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  Richard Straub

  President, Global Peter Drucker Forum, Austria

  Richard Straub is Founder and President of the Peter Drucker Society Europe and of the Global Peter Drucker Forum.

  He is also Associate Director of the EFMD, a leading network of Business Schools and Corporations with the mission to improve the quality and effectiveness of management education and development. In his 32 years with IBM Dr. Richard Straub has held key international executive positions such as Deputy General Manager for PC Europe and Global Chief Learning Officer. After having retired from IBM end of 2005 he stayed connected to the company as Senior Advisor to it's global Education Industry.  
   

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  https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-str…

  LinkedIn

  

  Shannon Tipton

  Owner, Founder, Learning Rebels, LLC

  No one comes to work to fail and Shannon Tipton is on a mission to make sure their training doesn’t set them up to. As the founder of Learning Rebels, Shannon helps organizations ditch outdated learning models in favor of practical, performance-driven solutions. With expertise in microlearning, learning reinforcement, strategy development and AI technologies, she equips organizations with the tools to make learning stick and drive measurable results. Known for her candid, no-fluff approach, Shannon brings energy, humor, and real-world insights to every project, empowering business leaders to think differently, act boldly, and provide learning that actually works in today’s workplace.

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  Herman van der Merwe

  Deputy Dean: Teaching & Learning, North-West University

  Prof Herman calls himself a “recycled Geneticist”, but his previous Vice-Chancellor renamed him “e-Man” to capture his fascination for the use and management of technology in education!

  Currently Deputy Dean of the Faculty Economic and Management Sciences, responsible for Teaching and Learning and the CEO of an expert centre called CUTE (Centre for the Utilisation of Technology in Education).

  A CoP in innovative teaching and learning with technology (iTLT) support his research initiatives in a creative environment.

  In 2015 the University recognised his contribution to innovation with an “Innovation Evangelist” award.

  “As a teacher, researcher, policy advocate, manager and leader, he is a visionary leader whose fascination with technology has been informed by his commitment to serving the highest ideals of people and education.” Prof Reggie Ncobo

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  Geraldine Voost

  Learning Strategist, -

  Geraldine Voost is an Organizational Learning & Development Strategist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations future-proof their people and performance. With a background in Cognitive Science and a career that includes roles in instructional design, learning technology, and global L&D leadership, she brings both strategic insight and hands-on experience. Geraldine focuses on aligning learning strategies with organizational goals and emerging developments such as AI integration, performance-based learning, and knowledge management. She works with L&D teams to build learning cultures that are practical, adaptive, and ready for change. A frequent speaker and moderator at international conferences, Geraldine is passionate about creating meaningful impact through learning, one decision, one habit, one conversation at a time.

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  Tom Wambeke

  Chief Learning Innovation, ITCILO, Italy

  A United Nations Senior Executive with 20 years of work experience in managing capacity development programmes with focus on learning innovation and digital transformation. Worked with cross-functional teams on innovation projects across more than 50 countries. Diplomas from the University of Leuven and University of Antwerp (Belgium) and executive certificates from the University of Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Public speaker on Innovation, Strategic Foresight and digital transformation. Author of different toolkits, publications. Chief Learning Innovation of the Training Centre of the International Labour Organization since 2015. Specialized in providing sustainable learning solutions with the objective to generate impact and organizational change.

  As a certified international facilitator (IAF) actively involved in strategy facilitation, participatory knowledge sharing, networked learning and ICT4Development. Passion for complexity adaptive thinking, intentional serendipity, foresight analysis and futures exploration.

  The Programme he is leading has a double mandate: to strengthen the Centre’s in-house capacity to apply state-of-the art learning, communication and knowledge sharing methods and technology, and to provide learning, innovation and communication services to outside partners on a global scale. In this context he works closely together with UN agencies, development banks, international organisations, governments and NGO’s.

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  OEB Global Advisory Board