Day 1 | Pre-Event Yacht Networking Experience — 6 November
Start Outstanding Schools Dubai from 4.00pm at Dubai Harbour Marina, with an exclusive evening on the water bringing together senior school and group leaders, speakers, sponsors and fellow delegates ahead of the main conference.
Enjoy drinks and canapés in a relaxed setting, with time to make new connections, catch up with colleagues and start the conversations that will continue throughout the weekend. With Dubai as the backdrop, the Yacht Networking Experience offers a memorable and informal way to begin three days of learning, networking and shared ideas.
Premium Plus or Private Sector Plus Pass required.
Yacht and exact departure location to be confirmed.
Day 2 | Conference & Awards — 7th November • Nord Anglia Swiss International Scientific School Dubai
08:00 - 9:00 AM
Registration, Coffee and Innovation Expo Visit
09:00 - 9:10 AM
Chair’s Opening Remarks
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Dr Helen Wright, Executive Leadership Coach Conference Chair
09:10 - 9:30 AM
OPENING KEYNOTE: The State of Outstanding - Vision, Achievement and the Road Ahead
This opening keynote is not a call to do better. It is a celebration of what has already been built, and an invitation to imagine what comes next. Because the most outstanding schools in the UAE are not standing still. They are asking: what does excellence look like in five years? Ten years? What is the school of the future and how do we build it today?
09:30 - 9:45 AM
Headline Sponsor Session
09:45 - 10:15 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Intelligence, Imagination and the Future of Learning - AI as Education's Greatest Opportunity
AI is not just a tool that helps us answer questions. Used wisely, it may be the most powerful answer our generation has available. This is not a session about whether AI is coming. It is here. This is about how the world's most forward-thinking school leaders are seizing it — thoughtfully, responsibly, and with genuine excitement about what it makes possible.
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Danny O'Brien, Comedian & Founder, Drumhill Event Management (Moderator)
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Siju Philip, Head of AI & Innovation, Global Indian International School
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Vignesh Narayan, Director of Digital Operations and Transformation, Aldar Education
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Joseph Souassou, Assistant Head of Primary & AI Lead, Nord Anglia International School Al Khor
10:15 - 10:45 AM
Coffee, Networking and Innovation Expo Visit
10:45 - 11:20 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Outstanding for Whom? What It Means to Build an Outstanding School
'Outstanding' means different things to different people. This panel brings the perspectives of regulators, teachers, parents and students alongside school leaders – not to manufacture consensus, but to explore the tensions, trade-offs, and difficult leadership realities that sit beneath the idea of an 'Outstanding School'.
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Dr Timothy Hughes, Director of Academic QA and School Improvement, Bloom Education (Moderator)
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Rebecca Gray, Chief Education Officer, Taaleem
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Amy Falhi, Founding Principal, Dubai British School Mira
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John Garman , Superintendent, Dubai Schools Al Khawaneej
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Simon O'Connor, Principal, Harrow School Dubai
11:20 - 11:30 AM
Move Rooms
11:30 - 12:15 PM
Breakout Sponsor Sessions 1 - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
ACER
From Scores to Insight: Using Assessment Data to Understand Progress
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Dr. Nathan Zoanetti, Head of Division, Measurement, Analytics and Technologies, ACER
MagmaMaths
Using AI to Transform Math Teaching and Assessment
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12:15 - 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch and Innovation Expo Visit
1:15 - 1:50 PM
Breakout Panel Discussions: Session 1 - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
Track 1 — Leadership & Governance
PANEL DISCUSSION: Built to Last - The Leadership Disciplines of Enduringly Outstanding Schools
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Nicki Williams, Director of Education, Taaleem (Moderator)
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Tomas Duckling, Headmaster, Dubai College
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Tim Rogers, Secondary Principal, Fairgreen International School
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David Hutson, Head of School, Dwight School Dubai
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Track 2 — Teaching, Inclusion & Safeguarding
PANEL DISCUSSION: Measuring What Matters - The Assessment Revolution Happening in Outstanding Schools
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Gemma Peebles, CEO, Harrison College (Moderator)
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Sharlina Islam, Head of Curriculum & Assessment, International School
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Shen Megalaa, Vice Principal, Assessment & Data, Misk Schools, Riyadh
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Tim Parker, Head of Humanities, Nord Anglia
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Melanie Potgieter, Assistant Vice Principal & Head of Teaching and Learning, Liwa International School
Track 3 — People & Culture
PANEL DISCUSSION: Leading with Clarity - How Outstanding Schools Build Cultures That Last
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Jessica Werner, CEO & Founder, Northshore Learning (Moderator)
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Surji Iqbal, Cluster Instructional Coach, Bloom Education
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Dr Farah Sarraj, Chief Curriculum Officer, Al Futtaim Education
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Joanna Povall, Principal, Wales International School
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Muhktar Jacobs, M.Ed., English Curriculum Coordinator, Ajialuna Educational Company
Track 4 — Operations, Finance & Technology
FIRESIDE CHAT: The Intelligent School - Harnessing AI Without Losing Yourself
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Siju Philip, Head of AI & Innovation, Global Indian International School
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Dr Ahmed Shaban Aly, Director of Strategy, Sharjah Education Authority
1:50 - 2:00 PM
Move Rooms
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Breakout Panel Discussions: Session 2 - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
Track 1 — Leadership & Governance
PANEL DISCUSSION: Who Defines Excellence? The Bold Leaders Shaping Their Own Standards
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Andrew Torris, Director, American International School Abu Dhabi (Moderator)
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Dr Farah Sarraj, Chief Curriculum Officer, Al Futtaim Education
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Brett Girven, Principal, Dubai British School
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Fiona Cottam, Principal, Hartland (IB)
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Mazen El Cheik, Director of Learning, MoE Subjects
Track 2 — Teaching, Inclusions & Safeguarding
PANEL DISCUSSION: A Culture of Safety is a Culture of Love - Building Safeguarding into the Soul of a School
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Adila Naidoo, Assistant Head Primary, Beech Hall School Riyadh (Moderator)
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Claire Scowen, Group Safeguarding Lead, GEMS Education
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Ayesha Butt, DSL & Inclusion Lead, BIS Ajman
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Kirsty Burns Clark — Head of Safeguarding, Middle East, Cognita Schools
Track 3 — People & Culture
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Communities We Are Building — Why Culture Is a School's Greatest Asset
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Jessica Werner, CEO & Founder, Northshore Learning (Moderator)
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Mary Walter, Vice Principal, The Royal Academy Ajman
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Galemarie Ola, Head of Student Services, American Gulf School
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Laurence Myers, Independent Educational Consultant
Track 4 — Operations, Finance & Technology
PANEL DISCUSSION: Built for Growth - The Operating Models Behind the Region's Most Ambitious School Groups
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Alan Moody, Principal, Charter Schools
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Tomas Duckling, Headmaster, Dubai College
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2:30 - 3:00 PM
Coffee, Networking and Innovation Expo Visit
3:00 - 3:20 PM
Breakout Partner Session - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
Track 1 — Leadership & Governance
EXPERIENTIAL: A Moment for You: Exploring Presence, Attention and Self-Care
Educators spend much of their day focused on the people and communities around them. This experiential session creates some intentional space to turn that attention inward and explore simple practices that can support presence, awareness and personal wellbeing.
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Jane Elizabeth, Co-Founder & Wellbeing Architect, QuantumBe
Track 2 — Teaching, Inclusion & Safeguarding
WORKSHOP: Are you spending money on CPD… or investing in better teaching?
Join this practical leadership workshop to explore how a simple, structured approach to tracking teacher performance can transform CPD from a “one-size-fits-all” training calendar into targeted professional development that meets individual needs.
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Dr Catherine O’Farrell, Founder | CEO, Incluzun
Track 3 — People & Culture
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Unlearn or Be Left Behind: Building Future-Ready Leadership Teams
Schools are preparing young people for a world being reshaped by AI, shifting workforce expectations and unprecedented levels of change. But how future-ready are the organisations and leadership teams responsible for preparing them?
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Sandra Pinnington, CEO, Exec Insights 360
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3:20 - 3:30 PM
Move Rooms
3:30 - 4:00 PM
Breakout Combination: Session 3 - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
Track 1 — Leadership & Governance
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Ambition Driving Every Great School
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Dr Tamar Demetradze, Founding Principal, Buckswood Saudi Arabia (Moderator)
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Fiona Cottam, Principal, Hartland
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Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General, Misk Schools
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Shaun Melind, Principal, VISS
Track 2 — Teaching, Inclusion & Safeguarding
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Foundation of Everything - Why the World's Best Schools Start at Age Three
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Dr Catherine O’Farrell, Founding Partner, Incluzun (Moderator)
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Pam Mundy, Executive Director, Pam Mundy Associates
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Ruchika Sachdev, PYP Coordinator & IBEN Programme Leader, Dubai International Academy-Emirates Hills
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Gullrukh Rafiq, Assistant Principal and PYP Coordinator, Dwight School Dubai
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Shehla Khan, Advisor, Early Education Policy, Department of Education And Knowledge (ADEK)
Track 3 — People & Culture
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Loyalty Question - What Makes Extraordinary Teachers Choose to Stay
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Simon Lightman, Head of Humanities, VISS (Moderator)
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Regan Ferreira, Head of Inclusion, GEMS
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May Zalat, Inclusion Director, Kids First Group
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Riaan Huyser, Executive Principal, Al Rabeeh School & Al Rabeeh Academy
Track 4 — Operations, Finance & Technology
FIRESIDE CHAT: The Cyber-Ready School - Building the Digital Foundations of Tomorrow
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Chrish Dias, Director of IT, North London Collegiate School
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Gomathi Singaram, Head of IT/CS Department, Liwa International School
4:00 - 4:20 PM
Coffee and Networking Break
Track 1 — Leadership & Governance
PANEL DISCUSSION: Beyond the Classroom - How Sport, Performance and Voice Build Extraordinary Young People
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Georgie Ross, Drama & Oracy Educator, Oracy Group / ESU (Moderator)
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Muberra Semin, Music Educator, ACS Doha International School
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Arya Chitra, General Manager, Nikon Youth Program MENA
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Danny O'Brien, Comedian & Founder, Drumhill Event Management
4:20 - 4:50 PM
Breakout Combination: Session 4 - Delegates choose from four concurrent sessions
Track 2 — Teaching, Inclusion & Safeguarding
CASE STUDY: The School That Never Stops Improving - A Case Study in Continuous Excellence
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Nathan Sadler, Vice Principal, DBS Jumeirah Park
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Jen Cruickshank, Head of Secondary, DBS Jumeirah Park
Track 3 — People & Culture
ROUNDTABLE: The Leaders You Didn't Know You Were Growing - Building the Next Generation
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Dr Neil Hopkin, Director of Education, Fortes Education
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Rebecca Tennant, Head of Taaleem Teaching School, Taaleem
Track 4 — Operations, Finance & Technology
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: The Early Years Opportunity - The Investment That Changes Everything
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Fiona Carter, Director, Forfar Education
4:50 - 5:00 PM
Move Rooms
CLOSING KEYNOTES
KEYNOTE:
Leading the Next Era - Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, and the Future of Education in Dubai
A maths platform to advance pupil learning, designed to support teachers in making more informed decisions in the classroom
5:00 - 5:15 PM
5:15 - 5:55 PM
Outstanding Schools Awards Ceremony
The day closes not with a summary, but a celebration and a moment to step back from the panels and conversations and simply recognise the individuals, teams and schools shaping the future of outstanding education. It's a fitting close to a day built on ambition, conviction and the belief that education can always be built brilliantly.
5:55 - 6:00 PM
Chair’s Closing Remarks
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Dr Helen Wright, Executive Leadership Coach Conference Chair
Day 3 • Leaders Circle Dinner • 8th November
Close Outstanding Schools Dubai with an exclusive dinner bringing together school leaders, speakers and award winners for a final evening of conversation and connection.
Designed as a more intimate conclusion to the three-day experience, the Leaders Circle Dinner provides an opportunity to continue the conversations started throughout the weekend, strengthen new relationships and exchange ideas in a relaxed and elegant setting. With a carefully selected group of education leaders around the table, it is a fitting way to reflect on the weekend and bring Outstanding Schools Dubai to a close.
Exclusive to school leaders, speakers and award winners. Premium Plus Pass required.