IPSEF Global 2025 Conference Programme
Woburn House, Euston, London
Thursday 26th of June 2025
8.15-9.00
Coffee, Registration and Business card exchange
Chaired by: Jonathan Hughes-D’Aeth, Educational Consultant
9.00-9.20
Opening Keynote
HE Abdulrahman AlHajri, Deputy Minister of Education for Investment – Saudi Arabia
9.20-9.40
Knowledge Partner
Current trends in the global K-12 market and opportunities for school brands seeking expansion overseas
Ashwin Assomull, Partner, L.E.K. Consulting
9.40-10.00
Platinum Partner:
Global Ambitions, British Traditions: Legal Essentials for International School Expansion
Ross Barfoot, Partner, Dentons
Karolina Cotronei, Partner, Dentons
10.00-10.20
Focus on Dubai – Interview
Ashwin Assomull, Partner, L.E.K. Consulting
Fatma Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHD
10.20-10.40
Sharjah’s Education Strategy 2025–2028: Empowering Learners, Elevating Educators: Sharjah’s Vision for Future-Ready Education
Introduces Sharjah’s groundbreaking education strategy (2025–2028), with a sharp focus on the human side of transformation: the learner and the educator. At the heart of this strategy is Sharjah’s Portrait of a Graduate — a visionary framework that defines the values, skills, and mindsets students need to thrive in a fast-changing world — and the complementary Educator Profile, which outlines the principles and capabilities required to bring this vision to life.
The session will explore:
• How the “STRONG” graduate model (Stewards, Thinkers, Resourceful, Open- minded, Navigators, Great Communicators) is shaping teaching, curriculum, and policy in Sharjah.
• The educator’s evolving role as a mentor, innovator, and global collaborator in delivering learner-centered, inclusive, and digitally enabled education.
• The strategic alignment between learner and educator development, and how this creates fertile ground for international collaboration, innovation, and investment.
• Concrete opportunities for UK institutions and education partners to engage in professional development, curriculum innovation, and research exchange.
Dr Ahmed Shaban, Director of Strategy & Future Office, Sharjah Private Education Authority
10.40-11.00
Knowledge Partner:
Untapped opportunities: practical strategies for success in truly emerging markets
Alan Wood, Partner, Clyde & Co
Simon Gamblin, Partner, Clyde & Co
11.00-11.30
Refreshments, Networking & Business Card Exchange and Pre-arranged one-to-one Meetings with the Ministry of Education – Saudi Arabia, KHDA and SPEA
11.30-12.15
Saudi Arabia – A panel session
Discussing the latest regional developments in Saudi Arabia
Chair: Ivor McGettigan,
Partner, Head of Education, Al Tamimi & Co.
His Excellency Abdulrahman AlHajri, Deputy Minister for Investment in the Ministry of Education – Saudi Arabia
Chris Boobier, Regional Lead for Middle East and Pakistan, China and Hong Kong, Department for Business & Trade
Shahram Hashemi, Managing Partner, Aldenham Education Group
Damian Fernandez, Head of Business Development, SEK Education Group
Daniel Lewis, Managing Director, The Repton Family of Schools
Gordon Montgomery, International Director, Deputy Head of Partnerships, Oundle School
12.15-1.00
Asia panel session
Discussing the International school market trends, challenges, recruitment and opportunities for growth in the regions of Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, and Singapore
Chair: Dr Helen Wright, Associate, LSC Education & Director, Global Thought Leadership
Ashwin Goel, Partner, L.E.K. Consulting
Hendro Widjaya, Chairman, Association of National and Private Schools – Indonesia
Sean Davey, Global Business Director, Reigate Grammar School International
Fiona Carter, International Director, Wellington College International
Ian Callender, CEO, NLCS International
1.00-2.00
Lunch, Networking & Business Card Exchange and Pre-arranged one-to-one Meetings with the Ministry of Education – Saudi Arabia, KHDA and SPEA
2.00-2.20
Note: Refreshments are available throughout the afternoon
Armchair chat on international school expansion
Ross Barfoot, Partner, Dentons
Sean Davey, Global Business Director, Reigate Grammar School International
2.20-2.40
Green lights and red lines
In an increasingly competitive international education market, Risk Advisory investigators Ariana Issa and Olivia Moore share how rigorous intelligence-gathering and discreet local enquiries can help schools and investors expand with confidence. Drawing on real-world case studies, they map where risk insight fits across the deal lifecycle and share practical tips for picking the right partners (and avoiding the wrong ones).
Armchair chat:
Ariana Issa, Director, Risk Advisory
Olivia Moore, Associate Director, Risk Advisory
2.40-4.00
Case History Presentations
A series of Case history presentations from speakers about why they have opened and where, what they’ve learnt and what they wished they had known before:
2.40-3.00
What do UK schools export to the international education market?
UK education is a growing export industry, with more schools than ever investigating the opportunities (educational and financial) that international branches can bring. But what is it that we export? Do we even know?
Gwen Byrom, Director of Education Strategy, NLCS International
3.00-3.20
How we have opened our overseas schools and where’s next for RGS Guildford?
Bob will describe RGS’s progress overseas, describing what has worked and what hasn’t worked for them in opening four branch schools. He’ll also talk about RGS’s aims and the opportunities currently being explored.
Bob Ukiah, Chief Executive, RGSG International
3.20-3.40
International expansion of UK branded schools, key considerations
In this talk Jamie will consider questions such as:
‘What makes a country right for your school brand and ethos?’
‘How do you justify entering markets that may be politically or economically challenging?’
How far are schools prepared to deviate from their UK brand proposition?
What strategies can one use to convince governors/boards that the risk is worth it
Jamie Large, Director, Ardingly College International
3.40-4.00
Why Not Us?
A concise overview of the key information, emerging markets/locations, and potential opportunities for expansion into the USA.
Pam Mundy, Executive Director, Pam Mundy Associates Ltd
4.00-4.45
Throwing light on Africa. An area of Opportunity
Market overview in light of the first British brands opening in sub-Saharan Africa
in 2025
Alex McGrath, Founder, Castlegate Education
Panel discussion chaired by Alex McGrath: Following his talk about Africa and some case studies
Betty Abeng, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Education Trust
Edward Clarke, Executive Director, LSC Education
Darrell Barnes, Brand Development Director, Malvern College International
4.45-5.30
Mergers and Acquisitions and partnerships in the International Schools Market
Chair: Ross Barfoot, Partner, Dentons
Anita Gleave, Founder & CEO, Blenheim Schools International
Shahram Hashemi, Managing Partner, Aldenham Education Group
Vipul Bhargava, Partner / Managing Director, Novistra Capital
6.00-7.00
IPSEF Global Drinks Reception Sponsored by Castlegate Education
Download the IPSEF Global Conference Programme
*This programme is correct at this time, however the IPSEF team reserve the right to alter or cancel the programme and/or speakers due to circumstances beyond our control