What’s Happening on September 19 at TeachFest!
Keynote: “The Call to Teach”
Insights and stories from schools shaping the future of education
Step inside today’s schools and hear directly from education leaders on the ideas, practices, and communities shaping teaching and learning. Through real experiences from the field, discover what it means to be an educator today and the role teachers play in preparing the next generation.
Fireside Chat: “The Roadmap to Teaching”
Hear real stories and practical advice on building a meaningful career in education.
Whether you’re a student, fresh graduate, career changer, or aspiring educator, this fireside chat explores the many pathways into teaching. Learn from educators and industry experts as they share their journeys, lessons learned, and advice for getting started.
Speakers: Dr Logendra Stanley Ponniah, Taylors University; Grace Tham, ACE EdVenture Group; Geraldine Yap, Westlake International School
Moderator: Jasmine Ong, Inspiros International School
From the Frontlines
Discover the impact educators can make and explore your role in shaping the next generation.
Teaching is more than a profession—it is an opportunity to influence lives and communities. Hear from education leaders as they share why high-quality educators matter now more than ever, and reflect on whether teaching could be the path for you.
Skills Lab: “Teacher Career Pathways – What Is My Future in Teaching?”
Understand your options, explore different school environments, and take the next step towards a career that fits you.
Explore the different pathways available to aspiring educators, from government schools to private and international education. Through practical insights and real examples, discover what each environment offers and how to identify the path that best matches your goals, strengths, and future aspirations.
Speaker: Melissa Tanya Gomes, Edvolution
Skills Lab: “Building Positive Classrooms: Classroom Management”
Build routines, relationships, and confidence for a calm, engaging classroom.
Discover simple, high-impact strategies for creating a positive classroom culture and managing behaviour effectively. This session will explore practical approaches to routines, expectations, transitions, and student engagement that can be applied immediately in any classroom.
Speaker: Christina Lind-Hunter, Education Consultant & Associate, Accredited Cambridge Trainer
Skills Lab: “Engaging Students in Active Learning”
Explore active learning approaches that increase student participation and improve classroom engagement.
Explore practical teaching strategies that move students from passive listening to active participation. Through questioning, discussion, collaboration, and reflection techniques, discover how to create lessons that keep learners thinking, interacting, and learning more deeply.
Speaker: Anushia Senthe, Cambridge Trainer/Assessment Specialist
Skills Lab: “Future-Ready Teaching with Gemini AI”
Discover how AI can support teaching and learning while exploring the pathway towards Gemini certification.
Explore practical ways Gemini can help with lesson planning, resource creation, assessment, and productivity. You’ll also learn how to continue your professional learning journey through Google’s Gemini Certified Educator pathway.
Speaker: Dr. Essra Mahmoud, Tajan Education Group
Mentorship Circles
Connect with experienced educators and gain personalised advice for your career journey.
Join a small-group conversation with school leaders, educators, and industry professionals. Ask questions, hear career stories, and gain practical insights to help you navigate your next steps in education.
Mentors: Lim Tou Boon, Taylors College; Mimi Lim, Sri Emas International School; Anushia Senthe, Cambridge Trainer/Assessment Specialist; Khairul Nazrin, Taylors International School Puchong; Elsa Ong, Inspiros International School; Stephanie Cross, Peninsula Private School; Kimberly Ong, USCI International School
Teacher Meet & Match
Meet schools through a series of focused one-to-one conversations and explore potential career opportunities.
Bring your resume and connect directly with school representatives through structured matching rounds. Share your experience, explore available roles, and receive initial screening and feedback on your suitability for different opportunities.
Schools: TLS International School; Good International School; Spectrum International School; Seri Jubli International School; Frontier International School; Tzu Chi International School; Tadika Cahaya
Marketplace
Discover schools, programmes, career opportunities, and professional development pathways.
Explore booths from schools and education organisations throughout the day. Learn about career opportunities, professional development programmes, and resources that can support your journey as an educator.
Academic Partners: Scholastic; Sekolah Enuma; Tajan Education Group
Schools: TLS International School; Good International School; Spectrum International School; Seri Jubli International School; Frontier International School; Tzu Chi International School; Tadika Cahaya
Learn From Visionary Educational Leaders
Our speakers and mentors are here to share the strategies, leadership lessons, and professional wisdom you need to excel in today’s evolving educational landscape.
Associate Professor Dr Logendra Stanley Ponniah (Head of School of Education, Taylor’s University)
As Head of the School of Education, Dr Logendra brings over 31 years of teaching experience, with a strong commitment to helping students understand the deeper purpose of education and learning. With a PhD in Education specialising in Mathematics Education, he has extensive experience in mathematics education, curriculum development, and problem-solving approaches.
Drawing from over 10 years of teaching experience across international schools of different segments, he brings practical educational perspectives into programme design and classroom teaching, ensuring learning remains relevant, adaptive, and student-centred.
Dr Logendra believes education is not simply about “filling the cup with water,” but about helping students discover the nature of the cup itself, encouraging them to better understand their own potential, purpose, and direction in life.
Melissa Tanya Gomes (Former Teacher, Entrepreneur & CEO of Edvolution)
Melissa Tanya Gomes is a dedicated advocate for educational reform and a transformative leader in the Malaysian public education landscape.
With over 14 years of expertise spanning management consulting and the education sector, Melissa co-founded Edvolution with a singular mission: to empower educators and school leaders to drive systemic, people-centered change. Throughout her career, Melissa has been instrumental in shaping educational policy, having served as a key contributor to the review of the Malaysia Education Blueprint and as a member of the Jawatankuasa Dasar Kajian Pendidikan Negara.
Her work is defined by a commitment to data-driven, sustainable interventions that bridge the gap in educational equity. Recognized as one of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential leaders in education, Melissa continues to foster collective leadership, bringing together diverse stakeholders to ensure quality, inclusive education for every student in the nation.
Jasmine Ong (Head of Academics, Inspiros International School)
Jasmine Ong is an educational leader, trainer and strategist with over a decade of experience in school leadership, teacher development, curriculum quality and organisational transformation. She is the Head of Academic Quality & Talent Development at Inspiros International School, where she leads initiatives in teacher excellence, curriculum quality, assessment systems, leadership development and professional learning.
A Chevening Scholar with a Master’s in Education Management from King’s College London, Jasmine has worked across teaching, school improvement, talent development and education partnerships. She has trained educators through initiatives such as the Malaysian Collective Impact Initiative (MCII), Yayasan Petronas’s Program Duta Guru, and GAB Foundation programmes, while also contributing to teacher development in the United Kingdom.
Passionate about developing future-ready educators, Jasmine champions innovative teaching, strong leadership and continuous professional growth, believing that investing in teachers is the key to building exceptional schools and achieving better outcomes for every student.
Grace Tham (Chief Academic Officer, ACE EdVenture Group)
Grace Tham is the Chief Academic Officer of the ACE EdVenture Group of Schools (Dwi Emas, Sri Emas, MITstem) where she leads the strengthening and transformation of academic operations across the Group’s schools, with a focus on developing great teachers, raising academic standards, improving student performance, and building stronger intervention systems, while exploring how AI can help education work better.
A teacher trainer, teacher, business owner, and game designer, Grace previously led ACE EdVenture’s Training & Development division and spearheaded its Homegrown Teacher Training Programme, which received an Outstanding 96% certification score from Education Alliance Finland.
Her work spans curriculum design, leadership development, and academic strategy, including developing Economics programmes for IGCSE and A Levels. At heart, Grace is an educator and builder who believes education should equip both adults and children to keep learning, keep upgrading, and thrive in uncertainty.
Geraldine Yap Chee Hui (English Teacher, Primary English Coordinator)
Geraldine Yap was a 2017 Teach For Malaysia fellow who taught in a national school in Pasir Gudang, Johor.
Currently, she is an English teacher and Primary English Coordinator who designs engaging, student-centred lessons. She focuses on building students’ confidence in communication through interactive classroom activities. Committed to continuous improvement, she strives to nurture both skills and character in her students.
Christina R M Lind-Hunter (Education Consultant & Associate, FORAEd / LH Services Ltd)
Christina brings nearly 20 years of experience in education, spanning teaching, curriculum development, coaching, training, facilitation and consultancy across diverse international contexts. Following education leadership development programmes in the UK, she has worked with education development organisations across South Sudan, Cambodia, Hong Kong, the UAE and Malaysia, where she has been based for 12 years.
As an Education Consultant, Christina designs immersive learning experiences and pedagogical training that empower educators to become reflective practitioners and improve student outcomes. She is an Associate with FORAEd, focusing on inclusive education, and Co-Founder of Malaysian consultancy LH Services Ltd., supporting education and organisational development.
Christina holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and is a Cambridge University Press & Assessment Trainer. Her work is grounded in intercultural adaptability and a passion for inclusive, regenerative and sustainable impact in education.
Anushia Senthe (Cambridge Trainer/Cambridge Assessment Specialist)
With over 20 years’ experience in the field of education, Anushia started her career as a
secondary History and English teacher in Singapore. After completing her Masters in
Education, she moved into Teacher Training and Development as part of the team in
Scholastic Asia. Returning to a school setting in 2014, Anushia took on the role of Academic
Director at an International School in Malaysia.
Since then, she has held Senior Leadership positions at three international schools working with teachers to consistently deliver high quality results for students. As Campus Principal at Sampoerna Academy (Indonesia) she was responsible for leading a new school and taking the first cohort through the IGCSE and A level examinations. Her experience has included building partnerships with a top A
level college in the UK and developing networks to provide valuable experiences to support
student growth.
As an accredited Cambridge Trainer for English Language and the Cambridge Leadership framework, Anushia has great familiarity with the requirements of leading excellence in school.
Dr. Essra Mahmoud (School Principal of Spectrum International School,
Director of Education for Tajan Group)
Australian by birth and global by experience, Dr. Essra has spent 25+ years shaping education across more than 10 countries. Currently serving as the School Principal of Spectrum International School and Director of Education for Tajan Group, Dr. Essra also mentors the next generation of academic leaders as a Professor of Advanced Leadership at Acacia University, where she teaches and supervises doctoral dissertations. Dr. Essra has a diverse academic portfolio holding a BS in Psychology from Macquarie University, a BA in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University, and both an M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Acacia University. Her goal is to positively impact education in as many schools and countries as possible.
Lim Tou Boon (Former President, Taylor’s College)
Lim Tou Boon currently serves on the Board of Seri Jubli International School, Stellar International School, and Wisdom Nest School Cambodia. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of education having previously held the following positions: Deputy Vice-Chancellor II, Saito University College, Malaysia; Programme Director, E2STEM Education, Cambodia, General Director, British University Vietnam and President of Taylor’s College, with over 30 years of leadership in tertiary and international education. Tou Boon also drives purpose-driven education through strategic advisory, leadership development, and organisational alignment.
Mimi Lim, (Former Vice Principal [Primary], Sri Emas International School)
Mimi is an educator and former corporate professional with experience across sales, business mentoring, and banking before transitioning into education. Over 14 years, she progressed from teacher to Vice Principal of Sri Emas International School (Primary), and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education.
Stephanie Cross (Secondary Student Affairs Coordinator & Educator)
With over 14 years of experience across international and private schools, Stephanie Cross brings a wealth of practical insight into teaching, student development and school leadership.
Her career has spanned roles from Class Teacher and Level Coordinator to her current position as Secondary Student Affairs Coordinator and Secondary English and Geography Teacher at Peninsula Private School. Experienced across IGCSE, IPC, Australian, Singapore and Malaysian curricula, Stephanie combines academic teaching with pastoral care, student leadership and school-wide programme coordination. She holds a Master of Education in School Leadership and is passionate about developing educators who can make a meaningful difference beyond the classroom.
Kimberly Ong (IPC & Wellbeing Coordinator)
Kimberly Ong is an international educator passionate about personalised learning, global citizenship and helping students connect classroom learning to the world around them.
A First Class Honours graduate in Education from Taylor’s University, Kimberly has taught in international schools in Malaysia and Japan and contributed to the IPC accreditation process. Her experience with environmental and animal welfare organisations, as well as training teachers of refugees, brings diverse real-world perspectives into her teaching. Kimberly champions international-mindedness, encouraging students to think critically, embrace different cultures and develop empathy, purpose and responsibility as global citizens.
Khairul Nazrin bin Mohd Faris (International Primary School Middle Leader, IPC Teacher, Quantum Learning Leader)
Mr Naz is an international primary school middle leader, IPC teacher, and Quantum Learning Leader dedicated to empowering the next generation of educators. With extensive classroom experience spanning Year 1 to Year 5, his work centers on cultivating vibrant, student-centered learning environments and fostering collaborative teaching communities.
Beyond day-to-day teaching, Naz specialises in instructional coaching, professional development facilitation, and curriculum leadership. Having mentored both international exchange trainees and local student-teachers, he is deeply committed to guiding aspiring teachers as they build confidence, master classroom management, and implement impactful pedagogies.
For educators stepping into their first teaching placements or seeking actionable strategies to inspire young minds, Naz serves as an approachable mentor, collaborator, and advocate for continuous professional growth.
Elsa Ong (Primary Head of Discipline and Head of Mathematics
Inspiros International School)
Elsa is a Primary Head of Discipline and Head of Mathematics at Inspiros International School, where she also serves as Prefect Advisor. Before entering education, she worked in executive administration, graphic design, event coordination and project management, developing strong skills in communication, organisation and leadership.
Inspired by guiding her own children’s academic and social development, with experience across Cambridge and IB primary education, Elsa progressed from Year 1 homeroom teaching to upper-primary Mathematics and English, before moving into leadership. Her expertise includes Mathematics, student wellbeing, behaviour management, values-based programmes and educational leadership. She leads initiatives that promote positive behaviour, manages disciplinary matters and works closely with students, staff and families. Elsa is passionate about developing character alongside academic achievement. Participants can gain practical insights into nurturing positive school cultures, supporting student growth and leading with empathy, consistency and purpose.
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