29 September - 1 October 2026
|
The Arena, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia.
Shannon Pipes
Principal - One World International School
I am an educational leader with over 18 years of international experience, committed to advancing high-quality learning, literacy development, and the holistic growth of every child. My professional journey across the United States, South Korea, China, United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has shaped a clear and purposeful vision for what effective schooling should look like in a rapidly evolving world.
As Principal of One World International School Riyadh, I lead with a focus on academic rigor, student wellbeing, future readiness, and systems that prioritize consistent excellence. Under my leadership, the amazing team at OWIS Riyadh has earned major achievements including ISO certification, IB PYP accreditation, recognition through the EFQM excellence framework, and becoming the first Apple Distinguished School in Saudi Arabia. Each milestone reflects our commitment to high standards, evidence-based practices, and continuous growth as a learning community.
I stay connected to the broader education community by taking part in events such as yearly Edu-Tech Summits, the Education Experts Conference, the MENA Investment Summit, and other regional platforms.
A core part of my work is my passion for professional development. I strongly believe that empowered educators create empowered learners, and I actively encourage my team to continue their learning journeys.
Speaker Sessions
Leaders in Education
1499
-
Reimagining Tomorrow: Transforming Education for the Next Generation
Session Summary:
Education stands at a transformative crossroads, shaped by rapid technological advancement, evolving workforce demands, and changing societal expectations. This forward-looking session explores emerging trends, innovative practices, and paradigm shifts that will define the future of teaching and learning in the coming decades. The session highlights how artificial intelligence, personalised learning technologies, and new pedagogical approaches are reshaping educational delivery and student engagement. The session addresses critical questions about preparing learners for jobs that don't yet exist, fostering skills like creativity and critical thinking, and creating flexible, adaptive educational systems that can evolve with changing needs. Join this session to:
• Analyse emerging educational trends and evaluate key technological, social, and pedagogical developments that will significantly impact future educational practices and student learning experiences
• Design future-ready learning environments for creating flexible, technology-enhanced educational spaces that support personalised learning, collaboration, and adaptive instruction methods
• Prepare students for unknown futures by creating curriculum and instructional approaches that emphasise transferable skills, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability rather than solely content-based knowledge
• Build adaptive educational systems through organisational structures and policies that enable educational institutions to evolve continuously, embrace innovation, and respond effectively to changing societal and economic demands
• Going beyond IQ: How to deep the humanness alive and intact?
Speakers
Shannon Pipes
|
Principal - One World International School
Hugh Viney
|
Founder & CEO - Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA)
Special Needs and Inclusive Education: Creating Equitable Learning Opportunities
Session Summary:
This interactive session explores comprehensive approaches to supporting Saudi students with diverse abilities, creating equitable educational opportunities aligned with Vision 2030's inclusive education goals. Special education experts, learning specialists, and parents share evidence-based strategies for implementing inclusive practices that support students with learning differences, disabilities, and special needs through pedagogical innovation and environmental adaptations. Participants will discover research-backed instructional methods, classroom modifications, and support systems that create inclusive learning environments where every Saudi student can thrive. Through collaborative discussion and practical application, this session empowers educators to develop comprehensive inclusion strategies that go beyond accommodation to create truly accessible learning experiences that celebrate neurodiversity and support all students in reaching their full potential. Join the session:
• Implement inclusive instructional strategies for Learning principles and differentiated instruction techniques that accommodate multiple learning styles, abilities, and needs across Saudi curricula and cultural contexts
• Design accessible learning environments physical and instructional environments that support diverse learners through strategic classroom organisation, sensory considerations, and culturally responsive teaching practices
• Build Collaborative Support Networks: Develop effective partnerships between educators, families, specialists, and community members to ensure comprehensive student support that honours cultural values and educational goals
• Develop individualised assessment approaches: Implement alternative assessment strategies and progress monitoring methods that provide meaningful feedback for students with special needs while maintaining academic rigor and standards
Speakers
Dina Yassin
|
Head of Inclusion - West View & Scholars International Language Schools, Egypt Education Platform (EEP)
Shannon Pipes
|
Principal - One World International School
Categories
Special Education Needs (SEN)
Wellbeing and Mental Health
-
Strategic Positioning for Excellence: Building Long-Term Recognition and Resilience in Higher Education
Session Summary:
In an increasingly competitive higher education landscape, institutions must develop comprehensive strategies that ensure both immediate relevance and long-term sustainability. This strategic session explores how universities can position themselves for enduring recognition while building organisational resilience to navigate demographic shifts, technological disruption, and changing student expectations. Participants will examine successful transformation case studies and develop frameworks for strategic decision-making that balance tradition with innovation. The session addresses academic program optimisation, research excellence, industry partnerships, and stakeholder engagement strategies that create lasting competitive advantages. Join this session to:
• Develop strategic positioning frameworks that differentiate your university in competitive markets while building sustainable competitive advantages
• Build organisational resilience that enables institutions to thrive through demographic changes, economic uncertainty, and technological disruption
• Optimise academic portfolio and research initiatives with market demands while maintaining academic excellence and mission alignment
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement that support institutional growth and reputation
Speakers
Shannon Pipes
|
Principal - One World International School
Rana Khan
|
Assistant Professor, School of Business - Canadian College Kuwait
Categories
Higher Education
-
Building Seamless Pathways from K-12 Through Higher Education to Meaningful Employment
Session Summary:
The journey from kindergarten to career shouldn't feel like navigating disconnected islands—yet students face jarring transitions at every stage: primary to secondary, school to university, education to employment. Each transition brings new expectations, unfamiliar systems, and critical decisions made with insufficient preparation. This session examines how schools can build intentional pathways that prepare students for each transition while developing the adaptability to navigate future changes independently. Explore comprehensive approaches spanning career awareness in early years, academic preparation and university readiness in secondary school, and employment skills development throughout. Learn how successful schools create continuity across transitions, partner with universities and employers, and ensure students don't just survive transitions—they thrive through them, arriving at meaningful careers prepared and confident. Learn how to:
• Design developmentally appropriate career education pathways that introduce career awareness and creating coherent progression rather than disconnected interventions at each level
• Implement effective transition support systems including academic bridging programs that address readiness gaps, university application guidance and decision-making support, partnerships with higher education institutions that demystify expectations, and employment preparation
• Develop student agency and transition competencies by teaching skills that enable students to navigate transitions independently, make informed choices and manage the uncertainty
Speakers
Shannon Pipes
|
Principal - One World International School
