Advisor, Investor and Entrepreneur

Justin Cooke is a seasoned advisor, investor, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the media, marketing, and education technology sectors. He founded the global digital agency Fortune Cookie, which he grew to $30 million in revenue before its acquisition by WPP in 2012. After WPP, Justin joined Northzone, a high-profile technology investor in companies like Spotify, TrustPilot, and Kahoot! He also served as Vice Chair of UNICEF UK and as Deputy Chairman of FutureLearn, where he played a key role in securing a £50 million fundraise in 2019. Justin's expertise extends to the boards of innovative education technology companies, including Tapestry, Kapow Primary, Digital Theatre, Learning with Experts, Bridge Learning Technology, and Springpod. His contributions to the digital landscape have earned him recognition as one of the UK's top digital influencers, with accolades including listings in the Wired Top 100 and the British Digital Hall of Fame. Holding a degree in Drama from the University of Manchester, Justin currently resides in Abu Dhabi with his family.

Head of Acquisition EPICODE

Biagio is an expert in lead acquisition for schools and universities. In 2016 he started his career in this field with Rome Business School, a project by Planeta Formación y Universidades, one of the largest European groups in the industry. After two years as Marketing Manager for Quasar Institute for Advanced Design he’s now Head of Acquisition at EPICODE, a career accelerator based in Italy.

Global Tech Disruptor and Author of She Disrupts

Paulette Watson MBE is passionate about driving change in digital education, a mission that fuels her work. As the Founder and Managing Director of Academy Achievers, she has dedicated her career to creating pathways for Black women and girls to excel in STEM, AI, and Web3. Her #BeMeDigitalinclusion initiative has been pivotal in helping thousands access opportunities in advanced technologies, from AI and data science to edge technology and quantum computing.

With a background in AI consultancy and executive mentorship, Paulette is deeply committed to bridging the digital skills gap and advocating for diversity and inclusion. Through her work, including her book She Disrupts: A Black Woman's Journey in STEM and AI Industries, she aims to inspire and shape the future of tech education. She is excited about the potential of quantum computing to transform industries and looks forward to leveraging her experience to recognise innovation in digital education.

Purpose-Driven Leader of Growth, Impact, and Transformation | Passionate Advocate for Lifelong Learning

Sephora Markson is a purpose-driven leader, wellness practitioner, and doctoral student in psychology and somatics. With nearly 15 years of experience in higher education, online learning, and strategic innovation, she previously led the creation of GTUx, an award-winning digital learning platform with global reach, during her tenure in executive leadership at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. She has also held key roles at The New School in New York and continues to consult in the education space to advance transformational learning and mission-aligned growth.

Today, Sephora’s work bridges education, healing, and service. She supports greater access to wisdom-centered learning as a strategic advisor to Kosmos Institute, an online school dedicated to myth, meaning, and personal transformation. She also contributes to a thriving wellness community at Harmony Center for Whole Being in the Bay Area. Her work weaves together scholarship, strategy, and soulful service, guided by a deep commitment to personal and collective transformation.

Director Digital Learning at Study Group. Providing strategic leadership of digital programmes and digital solutions for international students.

Rebecca has provided strategic digital leadership at Study Group since August 2022. With a focus on the needs of international students, her current programme portfolio includes online university pathway programmes, online English programmes, and a new landmark digital programme for teenage students in the Middle East. Rebecca also leads digital learning enablement projects and the digital learning strategy.

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Prior to Study Group, Rebecca has had the privilege of working in teaching and leadership roles in multiple countries. With nearly two decades of experience in educational leadership and programme management, she is passionate about enhancing learning experiences, delivering quality assured educational solutions, and always implementing a student-first mindset.

Technology Product Leader, Career Coach

Will has worked at Amazon, Meta, TikTok, and Unilever, with extensive experience in product management, AI, and digital marketing. He has led product teams, developed strategies for innovative products, and collaborated across industries. Will is also deeply committed to digital education, serving as a lecturer for the Certified Digital Marketer program, where he empowers students with the skills to succeed in the digital marketing world. As a career coach for MentorCruise and IGotAnOffer, he mentors aspiring product professionals, guiding them through career transitions and growth. Additionally, Will previously led the Digital Academy for the Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines, shaping educational programs within the community.

Vice President at J P Morgan Chase

Pavan K. Gondhi is a distinguished leader in software engineering and artificial intelligence, serving as a judge for this prestigious awards program. With over 20 years of experience at J.P. Morgan Chase and Citigroup, he has pioneered transformative cloud data lakes and AI solutions. As Vice President and Senior Manager, he has led teams in designing scalable systems using AWS, Databricks, Java, Python, and machine learning, empowering over 4 million users with near-zero-defect solutions.

His innovative cloud data lakes have revolutionized data integration and analytics, while his AI-driven tools have redefined actionable insights for data consumers, setting industry benchmarks. Renowned for optimizing regulatory compliance processes, Gondhi excels in mentoring and stakeholder engagement.

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He has judged numerous U.S. university hackathons and startup projects, authored and reviewed publications in Scopus-indexed journals, and contributed to several prestigious professional groups. In these roles, he evaluates projects for creativity, technical excellence, and impact, while also coaching participants to refine their skills.

With a passion for inspiring technologists and deep expertise in cloud and AI innovation, Pavan K. Gondhi brings invaluable insight and rigorous assessment to the program, ensuring its continued excellence.

Founder & CEO

Aniket Mishra is a results-driven YouTube Growth Strategist and the founder of Born21 Media LLC, a YouTube marketing agency based in New York City. With over six years of experience, he has helped optimize YouTube channels across industries using data-backed strategies and platform-native growth systems.

Aniket is known for revitalizing underperforming channels, generating exponential viewership, and driving measurable business results. His client roster includes a Fortune 500 company and globally recognized entertainment brands. He is the architect behind frameworks such as the Interlink Optimization System and Backlog Revival Strategy, which are designed to turn YouTube into a lead-generating engine for brands.

Aniket is also a sought-after speaker in digital marketing. He has delivered sessions at marketing institutions and other private events. His work involves the intersection of content, data, and long-term audience development.

Project Manager and Educational Consultant

Thomas is a senior school leader with over 20 years of experience in schools supporting and implementing the digital transformation journey. Now based in Germany, he works as a consultant for EdTech projects with schools, school groups and councils. He is a Project Manager for a Digital Learning Campus in Lübeck, Germany. As a frequent contributor to conferences, workshops and industry events, he has been at the forefront of developments within education. He has worked with senior management, teachers and pupils to create a digital ecosystem that allowed everybody to excel through good use of EdTech. He led his previous school to be awarded the Microsoft Showcase School for four consecutive years with all teaching staff members qualifying as Microsoft Innovative Educators. 

AI has developed into a major area of interest with frequent training and presentations to school leaders, teachers and students.

The use of assistive technology is of particular interest to Thomas. He championed the use of technology in public examinations for a number of years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society the Arts, the Chartered College of Teaching and a Freeman in the Worshipful Company of Educators.

Senior Lecturer

Experienced Lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in training, research, human resource development and entrepreneurship. As a senior lecturer in Human Resource Management, she is responsible for delivering curriculum, conducting research, and providing academic and professional guidance to students. In addition to her academic work, she is committed to making a positive impact on the community through various collaborations with government agencies, industrial players, and alumni. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Human Resource Management at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.

Head of Learning Technology, MEI (Mathematics. Education. Innovation. A UK Maths charity).

After a twenty-year career as a high school maths teacher in the UK and NZ, Andy joined MEI in April 2001 as Head of Learning Technology. Throughout his teaching career, he was a tech adopter in his classroom and became EdTech lead at two schools. He was a Google Certified Educator Level 2 and a Certified Google Trainer as well as a Microsoft Certified Educator. At MEI, his main responsibility is running Integral, MEI's online learning platform for A-level Maths and Further Maths. Andy is a co-host of a successful podcast for maths educationalists called Digging For The Why and is always looking for innovation in education that can make a pedagogical difference.

mathematics teacher, EdTech advisor, entrepreneur, digital education evangelist

Balazs Koren is a distinguished figure in the realm of digital education, with a rich blend of practical and entrepreneurial experience. As a mathematics teacher and teacher trainer at ELTE University, Balazs empowers future educators with the tools of digital education​. As the head of the ProSuli program at Yettel Hungary, he champions the innovative use of technology, encouraging teachers to integrate EdTech solutions into their curricula​. Balazs' commitment to advancing educational methods is further demonstrated by his valuable contributions to GeoGebra​. His former role as the Head of Education and Founder of VR-AR Education displays his entrepreneurial spirit and profound knowledge of the EdTech landscape. Balazs started preparing teams for robotics competitions later became a judge, too. He has been judging WRO, FLL and FGC competitions international and local levels for more than 8 years.

GLA and bilingual education leader leveraging technology to drive curriculum innovation, teacher development, and equitable support for English learners.

Irene Mérida Calvo is a bilingual education leader and Grade Level Administrator (GLA) with over 15 years of international experience spanning Spain, the UK, the UAE, and the U.S. She specializes in culturally responsive curriculum design, instructional leadership, and educational equity for English learners. At International Leadership of Texas, she oversees curriculum development, leads a team of educators, and manages the placement and progress of over 400 English learners annually as Chair of the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC). Irene integrates technology to enhance learning outcomes, having developed virtual and data-driven teaching solutions that improved math scores for English learners by 87%. Recognized as a Master Teacher by the Texas Education Agency and twice named Teacher of the Year, she is also the founder of Global Bridges Educational Solutions (GBES), an initiative focused on advancing inclusive education through training, consulting, and curriculum services that bridge language gaps and support systemic change.

Director of Education Solutions

Dr. Kelli Erwin has over 20 years of experience in education, serving as a classroom teacher, technology instructor, gifted and talented specialist, and district administrator in instructional technology. She is known for designing learning experiences that spark curiosity, align with standards, and support both student growth and educator success.

With a deep understanding of how pedagogy intersects with innovation, Dr. Erwin integrates emerging technologies, including AI, into instruction in ways that enhance, not replace, the human touch. Her work focuses on helping educators and students establish healthy, proficient relationships with technology while maintaining a purpose-driven approach to teaching and learning.

She is particularly passionate about utilizing AI to streamline instructional support, personalize learning, and enhance the role of educators as designers and guides. Her approach ensures that tools are thoughtfully selected and equitably implemented to meet the real needs of the classroom.

Senior Consultant at Ernst & Young

Rachit Jain is a Senior Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY), specializing in AI, digital transformation, and EdTech, with over a decade of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He has led enterprise-wide innovation initiatives and contributed to policy discussions as a member of the IEEE Artificial Intelligence Policy Committee. A recognized thought leader, he holds a registered design patent with the UK IPO and has authored several peer-reviewed papers in IEEE and Scopus-indexed journals. His academic contributions include mentorship roles at the Great Lakes Institute of Management and the Texas McCombs School of Business. He is a Global Academic Council Board Member at EST FAB and serves as a judge for global hackathons, a reviewer for IEEE conferences, and an invited speaker on AI and emerging technologies. His work bridges industry application and academic advancement, making him a valuable voice in shaping the future of education and innovation.