29 September - 1 October 2026
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The Arena, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia.
Thara Fahad Alhewaili
Head of Inclusion Department - Richmond School
I am an educational consultant and special education and inclusion specialist with several years of professional experience working across educational settings, including direct work with students, teachers, school leadership, and multidisciplinary teams.
My goal is to support schools in moving beyond treating inclusion as isolated initiatives toward designing sustainable, whole-school inclusion systems grounded in real classroom practice. This goal is shaped by hands-on experience gained through working in specialized centers serving individuals with disabilities, as well as within inclusive school environments, which has provided me with a deep understanding of the gap between specialized interventions and everyday school practice.
I have delivered professional lectures and training programs in schools and educational conferences, including GESS, addressing topics related to inclusion concepts, school readiness, challenges in implementation despite good intentions, and the shift from individual solutions to integrated, system-based approaches.
I believe that education is a fundamental right for every learner, and that meaningful inclusion requires clarity, shared responsibility, and intentional system design.
Speaker Sessions
GESS Talks Live
1525
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From Inclusion Programs to Inclusion Systems
Session Summary:
Many schools invest in inclusion programs with strong intentions, yet struggle to see lasting impact in daily practice. This presentation focuses on examining the gap between inclusion as a set of initiatives and inclusion as a sustainable, whole-school system. It highlights common challenges that prevent inclusion from becoming embedded in school culture, and opens space to rethink how systems, roles, and responsibilities shape real outcomes. This is an interactive, reflective session that explores the shift from inclusion programs to sustainable inclusion systems within schools. Listen in to why well-intentioned inclusion initiatives often fail to create lasting change and explore practical pathways for building systemic approaches that embed inclusive practices into every aspect of school operations, culture, and decision-making processes. Join this session to:
• Analyse system vs. program approaches and identifying key characteristics that enable lasting transformation in school culture and practice
• Identify implementation barriers that prevent inclusion programs from becoming embedded systems, including structural, cultural, and resource-related challenges
• Design systemic solutions for transforming isolated inclusion efforts into comprehensive, integrated systems that influence policy, practice, and culture across all school operations
• Build sustainable change strategies and actionable plans for shifting organisational mindset, restructuring roles and responsibilities, and establishing accountability measures that support long-term inclusive practices
