Originally from Manchester, England, Dr. Brown has been in higher education for nearly 35 years either as a researcher (nuclear physics), faculty member or executive administrator; 15 years of this time was spent at Princeton and Yale. Dr. Brown has been President or chief executive officer of 4 different institutions and chief academic officer of two colleges. Dr. Brown has lived in 5 different countries and has visited about 50 countries in total. The globalization of education, providing comprehensive educational opportunities and support, and visionary institutional effectiveness, partnerships, planning and development, are areas where Dr. Brown has had particular success. Recent presentations include: Rethinking Education – Keynote at International E-Business Expo, Hangzhou, China and AI in Education: Evolution, Challenges and Opportunities – Keynote at Educational Technology Forum, Taipei
Originally from Texas, Ramona worked initially in the business world with several years of experience in Management, Finance and Operations. Following her business career, Ramona became a high school teacher in Texas and at an international school in Kuwait.
In addition to teaching business courses to high school students, Ramona was charged with a variety of administrative positions in the Texas high school system. She managed the school testing center for standardized test administration and played a key role in the implementation of the Early College program.
Additionally, Ramona counselled hundreds of individual students with all aspects of university preparation, career pathways – helping them to make a successful transition to university.
Alexander Abashkin is an international education leader with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, academic program development, international partnerships, and educational innovation. He has held senior roles in leading academic environments, including Stanford University’s Bing Overseas Studies Program in Moscow, the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences, RANEPA, and the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.
He co-founded and directed Stanford University’s Program in Moscow for more than two decades and later served as Vice-Rector for International Relations at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. His work has focused on building and managing academic programs, recruiting and training faculty and staff, developing international partnerships, supporting student learning, and improving institutional effectiveness.
In recent years, Alexander has focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education, teaching, learning, assessment, university governance, international recruitment, and institutional strategy. He writes regularly on AI in education and advises educational institutions on how to understand, adopt, and govern AI in practical and responsible ways.
Originally from St. Petersburg and now based in Poland, Alexander has worked with universities, students, faculty, and educational partners across the United States, Europe, and Eurasia. His areas of particular interest include international education, AI readiness, educational technology, institutional transformation, and the future of universities in the age of intelligent systems.
Mr. Cardec has over 20 years experience in different academic areas including teaching, international affairs (Assistant Vice-President for Internationalization, University of Central Florida), faculty development, design and implementation of study abroad programs and student affairs (Director, Florida State University-Panama). Mr. Cardec also has 10 years of experience in planning and administration in a wide variety of areas like environmental protection and economic development. Living in a multicultural environment, Mr. Cardec has exceptional skills in working with different populations, cultures and educational systems, as well as in the governmental and the private economic sectors. In addition, Mr. Cardec has a wealth of experience in the development and implementation of alternative solutions.
Lee Anne Peltason, an experienced educator and adventurer from South Africa, has devoted her career to teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) and creating immersive learning experiences worldwide. Beginning as a freelance English teacher, she has advanced to roles such as Academic Skills Teacher and Curriculum Designer, refining her expertise in language instruction and curriculum development. Her journey has taken her across continents, working at prestigious institutions in Cape Town, Malta, Tel Aviv, and Thailand.
Beyond traditional classrooms, Lee Anne has made a significant impact through Life Skills training programs in South Africa, demonstrating her commitment to education and community empowerment. Equipped with a Photojournalism degree and certifications including DELTA Cambridge and TESOL Trinity College UK Merit, she continually seeks personal and professional growth, evidenced by her completion of facilitator’s courses and contributions to educational projects in the Eastern Cape. Lee Anne’s dedication to bridging linguistic and cultural gaps reflects her belief in the transformative power of education, inspiring learners worldwide.