Zareef Abdullah

I was brought up and educated in Ilford, East London, where I developed a strong interest in literature, science, and environmental awareness from an early age. I was known for initiating several school-wide projects focused on sustainability and performed exceptionally well in the British 11+ Secondary School entrance exam, gaining offers from prestigious grammar schools such as Queen Elizabeth’s and Colchester Royal.

After relocating to the UAE at age 11, I continued pursuing my academic and extracurricular interests at the International School of Creative Science – Muweilah. I have been actively involved in the school’s Eco Club, the Model United Nations, and the Gizmos STEAM MENA science competition. I achieved first place in our school’s TED Talk event with my speech “How to Learn Anything You Want” and was also awarded first place in the 2025 BEAM Hadith competition. In recognition of my academic performance in GL assessments, I received a scholarship in 2023.

Additionally, I completed six certified Marhaliyyah Qur’an memorisation exams with Awqaf, earning the highest distinction, Mumtaaz, in each. I enjoy travelling and exploring new cultures and have visited several countries in recent years. I look forward to presenting at GESS 2025 to share my vision for how education can be a significant catalyst for both sustainability and meaningful change.