Join us at the GESS Talks live stage, where world-class speakers and guests from our podcast and webinars take centre stage! Experience dynamic armchair chats, thought-provoking panel discussions, and inspiring solo talks from our contributors. Engage in lively conversations, exchange insights, and be part of the ideas shaping the future of education.
This talk will focus on the ways in which effective professional tuition can complement schools and other stakeholders to add enormous value to education systems in several important ways. First, tuition providers have the ability to innovate extraordinarily quickly and we are already seeing tuition providers deploying sophisticated AI solutions for both teaching and assessment as well as consistently iterating pedagogy and teaching practice. Second, tuition providers have the flexibility and resources to step in to address complex needs promptly and effectively, whether this is funded by schools, government programmes (such as the UK's National Tutoring Programme), or parents on a private basis. Finally, the global tuition sector facilitates educational mobility, enabling students to transition between different education systems in an increasingly global world by providing the right preparation to select, apply and prepare for studying in another country. The talk will also address some of the challenges and how they can be addressed.
Speakers:
John Nichols
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President - The Tutors' Association
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Sustainable Schools & the Future-Ready Classroom: Designing Spaces, Curricula & Cultures for Tomorrow
Session Summary:
What will be covered:
1. How to align school infrastructure (spaces, tech, green design) with pedagogy and student needs.
My speech explores how sustainability and environmental awareness can be meaningfully embedded into modern education. I will begin by addressing the urgency of climate change and the limitations of current educational approaches. From there, I will present a vision for transforming schools into active hubs of climate action through practical reforms in infrastructure, curriculum, and student engagement. I will also highlight real-world examples of schools that have successfully implemented sustainable practices. The goal is to show how education can empower students to lead meaningful environmental change—starting within their own classrooms and communities.
Speakers:
Zareef Abdullah
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Student - International School of Creative Science
Categories:
Sustainability
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Hyper-Creativity, Hyper-Bored.
Session Summary:
In a world overflowing with creative tools, aesthetic inspiration, and endless digital resources, you might think our creativity would be thriving. So why do so many of us artists, writers, students, and creators still feel stuck, bored, or blocked? This talk explores the unexpected challenges of modern creativity, including social media pressure, burnout, fear of failure, and choice overload. Through personal experiences, psychology, and relatable stories, I will unpack why creativity is not always as simple as having the right tools, and how we can reconnect with our passion when it feels out of reach.
Speakers:
Fatima Tariq
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Student - International School of Creative Science
Categories:
Wellbeing and Mental Health
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Equipping young people with skills for the future of work
Session Summary:
What does the future of work look like in 2030 and beyond? How do we prepare young learners to thrive in the future? This session will seek to explore how the world of work may change globally, what skills and attitudes young people may need and what we can do as educators to ensure their work ready. It will also support educators with the practical tools and educational resources to equip themselves and their learners to embark on this journey now.
Speakers:
Robin Keshaw
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Partnerships, Communications and Marketing Lead of Generation Global - International Baccalaureate Organization
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Developing a Culture of Professional Learning at JESS Dubai
Session Summary:
This presentation explores how a comprehensive review of JESS Dubai’s CPD framework led to the implementation of a multi-layered professional learning model. Drawing on initiatives such as Coffee & Leadership, Open Door Week, Grassroots Leadership, PD Workshops, and a structured onboarding programme, the model fosters a sustained, teacher-driven culture of learning. Each strand is designed to connect professional growth directly to classroom practice and leadership development, while onboarding ensures new staff are integrated into this culture from day one. The session will share practical strategies, lessons learned, and measurable impacts on teaching quality and student outcomes.
Speakers:
David Leacy
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Head of Design & Technology / Grassroots Leader - JESS Dubai
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Beyond Academics: Cultivating Personal and Soft Skills in Early Years and Primary Education
Session Summary:
This presentation explores the crucial role of developing personal and soft skills in early childhood and primary education. Drawing on my extensive experience as an educator, school leader, and international school inspector, I will highlight how fostering skills such as communication, resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence from an early age lays the foundation for lifelong success. The session will provide practical strategies, real-life examples, and insights into how schools can integrate these essential skills into their curriculum to prepare students for future challenges.
Educators at the Core of Innovation: Embedding Human Skills in the AI Era [hosted by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation]
Session Summary:
As automation accelerates, educators play a pivotal role in equipping learners with the World Economic Forum’s “skills on the rise”—critical and creative thinking, leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience and adaptability. While advances in AI expand what can be automated or optimized, they underscore the need for teachers to intentionally cultivate the higher-order human capacities—creativity, empathy, and moral discernment—that technology cannot replicate.
Drawing on insights from the World Economic Forum, OECD’s Education Framework, and Harvard Business School, this panel explores practical tools and strategies for educators to embed future-ready skill development in everyday teaching. Discussion will highlight how AI-literacy resources, digital assessment tools, and project-based learning credentials can help teachers design meaningful, human-centered learning experiences that prepare students for the future of work.
Participants will leave with ideas about actionable, evidence-informed tools to integrate into their practice—empowering educators to lead innovation in classrooms and beyond.
Speakers:
Nesma Farahat
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Senior Manager - Head of Programs - Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
Prof Nadera Alborno
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Dean and Professor of Education - American University in Dubai
Categories:
Higher Education
Leadership and Professional Development
Primary Education
Secondary Education
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When Behaviour Speaks: A Relational Approach to Behaviour Across the GCC
Session Summary:
Join Jonathan Newport, Chief of Learning & Global Managing Director at Team Teach, for an engaging session exploring how a relational approach to behaviour can transform learning environments across the GCC.
Across the region, schools are increasingly prioritising inclusion, wellbeing, and student-centred learning. Yet behaviour is often still seen as something to manage, rather than to understand. This session invites educators to reframe behaviour as a form of communication, a signal of unmet needs, stress, or disconnection, and to explore how responsive, relationship-based strategies can make classrooms calmer, safer, and more inclusive.
Drawing on Team Teach’s evidence-informed framework, Jonathan will unpack what “listening to behaviour” looks like in practice, and how small shifts in language, environment, and staff response can reduce incidents, strengthen relationships, and build a culture of belonging.
Participants will leave with practical tools to individualise support, promote emotional regulation, and create inclusive environments where every learner feels safe, respected, and ready to learn.
Speakers:
Jonathan Newport
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Chief of Learning & Global Managing Director - Team Teach Ltd
Categories:
Higher Education
Pre-school and Early Years
Primary Education
Secondary Education
Special Education Needs (SEN)
Wellbeing and Mental Health
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What They Don’t Tell You About the Nursery Business
Session Summary:
Setting up a nursery in Dubai is both an opportunity and a challenge. The city’s diverse community, evolving regulations, and competitive education market create a unique environment for early years providers. In this session, I will share insights from over a decade of experience building and expanding Kids Spot Nursery into a trusted brand. We will explore the key risks - such as regulatory compliance, staffing, cultural expectations, and financial sustainability - and how to navigate them with resilience. I will also highlight the most common pitfalls new operators face and provide practical strategies to overcome them. Beyond challenges, the presentation will showcase the rewards of building a strong nursery culture, engaging parents, and fostering a holistic learning environment. Attendees will walk away with actionable advice, real-world examples, and a roadmap for transforming risks into opportunities in Dubai’s dynamic early childhood sector.
Speakers:
Nouhad Doughan
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Founder and Managing Director - Kids Spot Nursery
Innovative Approaches to Teaching Spoken Arabic: A Practical Masterclass
Session Summary:
This session introduces a pioneering method for teaching spoken Arabic to non-native speakers, focusing on the "white dialect" to facilitate communication across the Arab world. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience in the UAE, the masterclass emphasizes spoken grammar and practical vocabulary through interactive workshops. Attendees will experience firsthand how this approach enhances learners' ability to engage in real-life conversations, making Arabic more accessible and engaging.
This interactive session explores the powerful connection between inclusion and wellbeing in the early years. Educators will learn how to create environments where every child feels seen, valued, and supported - regardless of their background, ability, or needs.
We’ll unpack the principles of inclusive practice and how they directly impact children's emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing. Through real-life scenarios, reflective discussions, and practical strategies, participants will walk away with tools to:
Promote a sense of belonging and safety for all children
Identify and reduce barriers to participation and learning
Support the emotional wellbeing of both children and staff
Foster inclusive routines, environments, and interactions
Partner with families in meaningful and respectful ways
This session is designed to empower educators with the mindset, skills, and heart to make inclusion and wellbeing everyday priorities in their classroom - not just ideals.
Speakers:
May Zalat
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Inclusion Director - Kids First Group (KFG)
Categories:
Wellbeing and Mental Health
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Panel Session: Quality in Early Childhood Panel by IECE
Session Summary:
This talk explores what "quality" truly means in early years education and beyond, beyond curriculum checklists, compliance, the classroom walls and extending it to the outside environment as well. The panel aims to share practical insights into building a culture of quality that is inclusive, reflective, and sustainable.
The discussion will highlight key drivers of quality, including responsive educator-child relationships, pedagogical approaches, continuous professional development, and strong parent partnerships. We will also discuss how structured leadership, process management, and thoughtful environment design contribute to ongoing quality enhancement.
This talk aims to inspire early years professionals and leaders to view quality not as a fixed goal, but as an evolving journey - one that requires collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to every child’s right to belong and thrive, high-quality early years education is a holistic approach one that lays the foundation not only for academic success, but also for emotional resilience, social awareness, and lifelong well-being, raising tolerant, confident individuals equipped to prosper in a diverse and evolving world.
Speakers:
May Zalat
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Inclusion Director - Kids First Group (KFG)
