Taking place on Friday 15th May, 12:30 BST/UK, 15:30 GST/UAE. 

Educational technology promises transformation—but too often schools invest in tools that fail to deliver meaningful impact or sit unused after initial enthusiasm fades. This session explores how to move from impulse adoption to evidence-based implementation through structured innovation labs. Discover how to design effective pilot programs, establish clear evaluation criteria, gather meaningful data on learning outcomes, and make informed decisions about full-scale adoption. Learn practical frameworks for testing EdTech in real classroom contexts, engaging educators as partners in innovation, managing change effectively, and ensuring technology investments actually improve teaching and learning rather than creating costly distractions.

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                Speakers: 

Chairperson:

Chassie Selouane
Principal, MLS International Riyadh

Chassie Virginia Deitz-Selouane is a senior international education leader with over 20 years of experience leading K–12 schools, multi-school networks, and education organizations across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Her work focuses on education systems transformation, accreditation readiness, curriculum design, and leadership development.

Chassie has served as Principal, Executive Director, Chief Academic Officer, and National Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, overseeing school improvement, regulatory compliance, and instructional quality across diverse cultural and regulatory environments. She has led portfolios of up to 20 schools, guided successful accreditation and charter authorization processes, and supported institutions through growth, inspection, and transformation phases.

Recognized for her ability to bridge strategy and practice, Chassie partners with boards, ministries, NGOs, and education organizations to design scalable, student-centered education models. Her leadership is grounded in data-informed decision-making, inclusive education, and capacity-building for teachers and school leaders.

Chassie is licensed as a school principal in the United States and is a trained evaluator for CIS, Cognia, and NEASC. She is currently based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, supporting education initiatives aligned with international quality standards and national development priorities, including Saudi Vision 2030.

Miriam Khalil
Director-Academic Advising & Student Success, Northwestern Qatar | Education City 

Dedicated global educator and student affairs professional with extensive experience advancing academic excellence and student success across the GCC region. I bring subject matter expertise in advising diverse student populations across Engineering, Business, International Relations, Journalism, and Media Studies.

My work spans student retention, recruitment, and quality enhancement initiatives, with a strong focus on designing, piloting, and refining advising and retention practices before broader adoption. I have assisted in the implementation and optimization of new advising and retention software systems, supporting scalable, data informed decision making across the student lifecycle.

As a leader, I have overseen and trained advising teams, developed comprehensive advising manuals, and mentored colleagues on best practices. I collaborate closely with cross functional partners including Student Affairs, Registrar, Institutional Effectiveness, Admissions, Recruitment, and academic leadership.

My strengths include data analysis and reporting related to retention, first year experience, institutional effectiveness, and accreditation support. I actively contribute to committees focused on curriculum, quality enhancement, and student retention, reflecting my commitment to continuous academic improvement and innovation.

Steve Bambury 
Head of AI & Digital Innovation, JESS, Dubai 

Steve Bambury has worked in education and training for 20 years. In 2016 he became the first Head of Digital Learning and Innovation across the JESS Dubai school group before moving on to work as an education consultant in 2019. This included an extended engagement with New Media Academy where he led on education strategy and immersive technology, coordinating the deployment of the first virtual campus in The Middle East. Steve has won awards from Apple, Microsoft, GESS, BETT and EdTech Digest for his work integrating technology in learning and professional development. In 2017, he hosted the world’s first professional development sessions inside virtual reality and in 2018 he co-hosted the world’s first global lesson inside VR alongside Pixar co-founder Loren Carpenter. In 2024 he returned to JESS Dubai to help lead the school into a new era of AI-enriched education. Steve is also the Chair of the Dubai AI in Education Think Tank.

Abeda Natha 
Senior Director of Digital Learning & AI Implementation, GEMS Wellington International School

With a teaching career in the UK and UAE spanning over 17 years, Abeda Natha brings extensive experience in digital learning and educational technology. She holds a BSc in Business Computing Systems from City University London and applies this background to preparing students for an increasingly technology-driven world.

As Senior Director of Digital Learning at GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai, Abeda leads whole-school digital technology and artificial intelligence integration, supporting staff professional development, strengthening student digital culture and experience, and aligning curriculum and assessment with emerging digital practices. Abeda also leads the school’s AI Core Team, driving staff capability, ethical AI adoption, and student engagement across all phases of the school. She oversees school-wide strategic partnerships, working closely with industry experts to connect students with real-world insights and authentic opportunities. Abeda is also a member of the school safeguarding team, contributing specialist expertise in digital technology and digital safety to protect and support students in an increasingly online world.
As a GEMS Education AI Excellence Fellow, Abeda contributes to shaping AI strategy across the wider GEMS network, supporting schools in responsible AI adoption and sharing best practices in digital innovation. She is also a contributing author in Dan Fitzpatrick’s The AI Educator (2025), with her chapter championing the work, vision, and impact of the WIS AI Core Team.

In addition, Abeda is a presenter at GESS Dubai and the Women in Educational Leadership Network UAE, has spoken at the 2025 Dubai AI in Education Summit, BETT UK 2026, and is the founder of the UAE nationwide Girls in AI Programme, delivered to over 300 students and supporting young learners across the UAE in exploring the future of artificial intelligence.

Aarifa Gora
Middle School Educator & AI in Education Strategist, One World International School, Riyadh

Aarifa Gora is a Middle School English and Digital Literacy teacher at OWIS Riyadh and an Apple Distinguished Educator. Her work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into classroom practice in ways that enhance student agency, critical thinking, and ethical use.

She has contributed to her school’s recognition as an Apple Distinguished School and leads initiatives that bridge the gap between emerging technologies and real classroom learning. Aarifa is a speaker at GESS Saudi and the organizer of TEDxOWIS Riyadh Youth, where she mentors students in developing idea-driven talks.

Her research on AI integration and neurodiverse learning has been published in the Global Journal of Educational Thoughts, and she has recently contributed to an EdTech podcast panel, sharing classroom-based perspectives on digital tools and innovation in education.