Dr Nici Sweaney, a globally recognised AI consultant and thought leader, combines nearly two decades of expertise as an academic scientist and data strategist with an unrelenting passion for ethical AI and gender equity. Her career has taken her from advising international powerhouses like the UN, World Bank, AUS Aid, and Paramount Pictures, to working with transformative organisations like Canva on internal AI strategies.

In 2023, she founded AI Her Way, an end-to-end AI consultancy designed to help businesses harness the transformative potential of AI. To date, Dr Sweaney has empowered over 60 organisations across industries such as law, healthcare, education, and marketing to operate "AI-first" while championing ethical practices and inclusivity.

Dr Sweaney is a sought-after speaker with over 50 global appearances, including TEDx talks and prominent media features in Forbes, Her Canberra, and the Little National Post. Recently, Microsoft News celebrated her as one of the "Top 10 Trailblazing Entrepreneurs in AI to Follow in 2024"—the only Australian to make the list.

Committed to making AI accessible and impactful, she uses her expertise to address pressing global challenges and empower underrepresented voices in the tech landscape. With Ai Her Way, she’s building a future where AI not only drives efficiency and innovation but also creates a fairer, more equitable world.

Carol Jordan brings over three decades of international experience spanning curriculum development, strategic planning, and school administration. Currently serving as the Deputy Head of School at the Canadian International School in Singapore, Carol plays a pivotal role in overseeing the academic program and contributing to the executive leadership team of this large and diverse IB World School. Her responsibilities span teaching and learning, strategy, policy development, inclusion, edtech, government compliance, accreditation, safeguarding and professional development. She is the school's key driver of AI strategy.

Pam is a highly experienced K-12 education professional, internationally renowned author and keynote speaker with global recognition for her specialism in the development of Early Childhood Education and Care, international education, school review and accreditation, inspection, analytical due diligence and school start up projects in a variety of diverse locations including; Africa, SE Asia, USA, the Gulf region (including significant projects in North America, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, ME and SE Asia).

She recently completed four years as Founding Director of Schools and Education for the NEOM Education, Research and Innovation Sector, leading education development and school start up in the new giga city of NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Pam operates at both strategic and executive level for a wide range of international school groups, investors, businesses, and educational organisations. She is currently working on variety of high-net-worth education development projects, including the expansion of British and US schools into Saudi Arabia. She recently completed successful work on a new development project with the Red Sea Global group, Saudi Arabia and is also working on start-up and expansion projects in North and South America, UAE, West Africa, Vietnam, India, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Her most recent project with Charterhouse School UK resulted in the opening of Charterhouse Lagos, Nigeria in September 2024. Pam also holds positions on UK and International Education Boards (including the ETEC Accreditation Committee in Saudi Arabia, KHDA in Dubai) and a variety of international Ministry of Education Select Committees and ground-breaking international educational research groups.

Pam was honoured to be short-listed by the Lead 50/50 organisation as ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year, 2022’ and to be named as one of the Think Global People 40 Outstanding Global Women 2023. Her most recent publication, the co-authored ‘International Schools: Navigating Leadership Culture and Context’ (Fulton Books) was released in January 2024.

Louella Morton is co-founder and co-CEO of TestReach and has extensive experience across all areas of creating, managing and growing enterprise software businesses, with specific focus on educational technologies. Having gained a degree in Computer Science from Trinity College, Dublin, Louella started her career on the technical side, but soon moved into more senior customer-facing roles, managing services and delivery. Through her great relationships with customers, it wasn’t long before she fully transitioned into a sales leadership role and this is where Louella’s unique ability to drive significant growth came to the fore. When she’s not defining commercial strategy and closing deals, Louella loves nothing more than boating in the West of Ireland and playing golf. She has worked at senior levels in Deloitte, Adobe and WBT Systems.

Pauline O’Brien is a respected voice in international education and a strategic leader whose work sits at the intersection of global recruitment, leadership development and school improvement. As Director of Global Recruitment Strategy and Leadership at ISS, she plays a pivotal role in shaping how international schools recruit, coach and develop their leaders. Her work is defined by an undeniable commitment to placing the right people in the right roles and supporting them to thrive.

Before moving into international education, Pauline built a successful career in the corporate sector, recruiting senior executives across global industries. This grounding in the business world sharpened her instinct for talent and gave her a strategic lens that now guides her approach to leadership searches and school transformation.

Over the past eleven years, Pauline has visited more than 150 international schools around the world and has interacted with or interviewed close to 10,000 international school leaders and educators. She is regularly invited to speak at major education conferences and to lead workshops on leadership, recruitment and inclusion. Known for her honest, engaging and practical style, she brings global insight and local understanding to her work with school communities.

Pauline is frequently called on to visit schools directly to conduct in-depth SWOT analyses, helping boards and leadership teams reflect on their current context, culture and future direction. These visits form the foundation for developing thoughtful and informed leadership profiles. Her ability to quickly understand the dynamics of a school and frame what kind of leadership is needed has made her a trusted partner to many international schools navigating change.

She joined the Council of International Schools to lead change in how international schools approached recruitment. Her work there helped professionalise and elevate hiring practices across the sector, bringing rigour, equity and a long-term view to the recruitment of school leaders and teachers. Today, her influence continues through her strategic partnerships with schools worldwide, guiding them through complex leadership transitions and searches.

A natural mentor and coach, Pauline is known for her dedication to supporting educators and leaders at all stages of their careers. She brings clarity, encouragement and challenge to those she works with, helping them step confidently into new roles and responsibilities. Her work is informed by deep cultural understanding, lived international experience and a firm belief in the power of great leadership to transform schools.

Pauline is also a passionate advocate for women in leadership. She is actively involved with the ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium, the ECIS Women in Education Special Interest Group, WomenED and WISE. Her thought leadership in this space has been published in 100% Braver and Raise Her Up, where she shares insights on gender equity and creating enabling environments for women to lead in education.

Her leadership extends into the safeguarding arena where she serves as Chair of the Recruitment, Reporting and Regulations Committee for the International Task Force on Child Protection. In this role, she has helped shape the global standards for safer hiring and child safeguarding across international schools.

Outside her professional work, Pauline is deeply connected to causes close to her heart. She is an active fundraiser for cancer research and a lead contributor to a cultural project preserving the social history of the Docklands communities in Ireland and the UK. Through storytelling, community events and youth engagement, she fosters intergenerational understanding and belonging.

Known for her authenticity, energy and sharp insight, Pauline brings a distinctive blend of strategic expertise and human warmth to everything she does. Her career continues to be driven by one central belief. Education changes lives. Great people make great schools.