Wajdan Alshuaibi

Senior designated safeguarding lead - MISK Schools

Wajdan is an experienced educational leader and safeguarding professional, currently serving as Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead at Misk Schools, Saudi Arabia. With a background in Special Education, Child Development, Educational Psychology, and Counselling, Wajdan holds a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University, where she graduated with distinction. Wajdan is passionate about promoting student wellbeing, safeguarding, and inclusive learning environments where every student feels safe, valued, and supported.

Throughout Wajdan's career, she has led the development of safeguarding and wellbeing policies, programmes, and initiatives, working collaboratively with school leadership, staff, families, and external agencies. Wajdan's experience includes leading counselling and cultural development, coaching educators, and supporting whole-school approaches to student development. Wajdan is committed to strengthening safeguarding cultures through proactive prevention, reflective practice, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that student safety and wellbeing remain central to educational practice.

Speaker Sessions

GESS Talks Live 1525

Sep 29 2026 | 2:40pm - 3pm

Glocalising Safeguarding: A Saudi-Led Model for Leadership, Risk and Awareness

Session Summary:

Misk Schools is advancing safeguarding excellence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a pioneering approach that brings international best practice together with Saudi values, culture and educational ambition.

This session showcases Misk Schools’ leadership in developing a “glocal” safeguarding model: internationally informed, authentically Saudi and embedded throughout school life. It demonstrates how a school can set a benchmark for safeguarding by connecting strong governance, proactive risk management and a shared culture of awareness.

Emily Konstantas and Wajdan Alshuaibi will explore three foundations of this approach:

- Leadership: placing safeguarding at the heart of strategic decisions, with clear accountability, Saudi leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Risk: developing the awareness and systems to anticipate concerns, recognise emerging risks and act early to protect students.
- Awareness: building understanding, confidence and shared responsibility across staff, students and families through culturally aligned communication and trusted relationships.

Drawing on Misk Schools’ approach, the speakers will demonstrate how international expertise and local knowledge strengthen one another, creating safeguarding practice that is ambitious, practical and responsive to the community it serves.

The session highlights Misk Schools’ contribution to shaping the future of safeguarding in the Kingdom, sharing learning that can support schools across Saudi Arabia and contribute to international safeguarding practice.

At Misk Schools, safeguarding is integral to leading educational excellence.

Speakers

Emily Konstantas | Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer - The Safeguarding Alliance
Wajdan Alshuaibi | Senior designated safeguarding lead - MISK Schools