Committee
Dr Lizana Oberholzer
Chair, IPDAChair, England
Institution: University of Wolverhampton
Lizana Oberholzer is a senior lecturer in Teacher Education and Postgraduate provision. She is the programme lead for the University of Wolverhampton’s International MA in Education, as well as the Early Careers Framework and National Professional Qualifications for school leaders. She is passionate about leadership development, governance and teacher development. Lizana supports the BELMAS Research Interest Group for Governing and Governance as a convenor. She is also a BELMAS Trustee as well as a BAMEed Trustee. Lizana works with WomenEd as a regional lead in the West Midlands. She currently the IPDA England Chair, as well as Chair of the IPDA International committee. She chairs the UCET’s CPD forum and is a member of the UCET Executive Committee. Lizana is a member of the APPG for the Teaching Profession, and Chairs the APPG SIG for Teacher Development for the APPG for the Teaching Profession. She is a proud trustee of a Multi Academy Trust, and is a committed educator, striving to provide learners with learning opportunities and life-chances. Lizana is actively involved in the British Psychological Society’s Division of Coaching, and she is the Chair Elect for the division. Lizana is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, an IPDA Fellow as well as a CMI Fellow. Her research interests centre around professional learning, mentoring, coaching and leadership development within education.
Dr Catriona Oates
Vice-Chair, IPDA
Chair, Scotland
Affiliation: University of the West of Scotland
Catriona is a lecturer in education at the University of the West of Scotland. Her interests in professional learning are mainly focused on professional learning of teachers and educators in practice, with a bit of a fascination on collaborative practices that support professional relationships and knowledge-building.
Dr Trina Emler
Hon. Secretary, IPDAChair, USA
Affiliation:University of Kansas
Trina Emler is a graduate of the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies department at the University of Kansas. She serves as a researcher for the Center of Creativity and Entrepreneurship Education. Emler’s research and work focuses on future-oriented pedagogies of education, targeting entrepreneurship, creativity, and personalized learning through curriculum and practice, technology, and the policies that impact lifelong learning. She co-authored An Education Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste (2019).
From 2006-2016, Trina Emler was an educator in the private and public sectors of K-12 education in Lee County, Florida. She taught at first the middle school level, teaching English language arts and Spanish before moving to all subject areas in the elementary classroom. She is a three-time Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction and was the 2016 School District of Lee County Teacher of the Year for English Language Arts.
Dr Linda Devlin
Treasurer
Affiliation: University of Wolverhampton
Linda Devlin is an Associate Professor at the University of Wolverhampton. She is the faculty Head of International Outreach & Recruitment, and Linda leads on the PHD in Education. Linda is a IPDA International Committee Member, and treasurer for both the IPDA IC committee and IPDA England. Linda’s experience and research includes educational leadership, and professional learning, and Linda supports a wide range of national and local partnerships, including the West Midlands CPD partnership.
Derek Boyle
Deputy Treasurer
Derek has been the SCITT director at Bromley Schools’ Collegiate since September 2013, but prior to this, he worked in a variety of teaching roles across a number of different schools in Kent. Originally qualifying as a physics teacher, he has also worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Medway and as an assistant head teacher in Tonbridge, with pastoral, vocational and careers guidance areas of responsibility. During his time as an assistant head teacher, he had the privilege to work with the link governors from the school and play a significant role in peer mentoring.
Dr Balwant Singh
Chair, India
Affiliation: Partap College of Education, Ludhiana, India
Specialism: Leadership & Mentorship in Teacher Education; Educational Technology
Balwant has 42 years’ experience of teaching, research and administration in various institutions in India, served for 18 years as Director at the Training centre, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India. He was the Founder Principal of University College of Education, Punjabi University and Founder Principal Partap College of Education, Ludhiana. Balwant is a member of the Board of Studies, Panjab University and Life Member of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, government of India. Balwant has presented research papers and keynote addresses in more than 50 national and international conferences. He has also published six books. Balwant is a Constituent Member of IPDA, UK and International Study Association of Teachers and Teaching and is Chairperson of IPDA India. He organised International Conferences in collaboration with IPDA UK since 2013. Title of Award of Fellow, of IPDA, UK was presented to him in 2016 by the President IPDA, UK. He is actively engaged at Kazan Federal University, Russia in Teaching as visiting Professor and Steering Research Projects.
Thi Thu Trang Nguyen
Chair, Vietnam
Affiliation: HCMC University of Education
Bio coming soon.
Prof Nabil Jondi
Chair, Palestine
Affiliation: Hebron University
Professor in psychology and education, got his PhD in 2003, He has been a manager and coordinator of more than 7 international funded projects (Erasmus+, and World Bank QIF & TEIP projects). He published more than 50 research articles in referee Journals; contributed to many national and international conferences. Moreover, he worked as a dean of College of Education at Hebron University form many years; organized many national conferences in Education and Psychology; carried out dozens of international training workshops linked to Education and Psychology. He has a wide overseas experience in project coordination in cooperation with EU partner universities such as UK, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Norway, and other EU countries during the implementing the various projects at which he was involved. He Worked as external evaluator for many projects; built many Strategic Plans for local Charities and Associations.
He worked closely with the Ministry of Higher Education in Palestine on many educational initiatives; supervised more than 100 masters students; a reviewer for some National and International Journals; in addition, he has a wide experience in teacher training and (ToT) and in teaching in the College of Education at Hebron University. He built and developed many new programmes in HU. He is an expert in data analysis both qualitative and qualitative using the appropriate software.
Prof Gary Beauchamp
Chair, Wales
Gary is a Professor of Education in the Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He was Associate Dean Research/ Director of Research from 2009 to 2020. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Education at Durham University.
Gary began his career in education as a primary school teacher, before moving into higher education at Swansea University. He has been Programme Director for Education Studies and Primary PGCE courses, as well as supervising and examining doctoral students. His innovative teaching with technology in higher education was recognised in 2015 with the award of National Teaching Fellow (NTF).
He has been external examiner at 11 universities. He also has experience as an Additional Inspector for Estyn (Her Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Education and Training in Wales) in a range of educational settings.
Gary has published widely in international academic journals, curriculum publications, and books. His research focus is the use of interactive technologies in learning and teaching, although he has also published work on primary education, music education (the area in which he gained his Ph.D. in 1996) and primary school science education.
Olutola Olujuwon
Chair, Nigeria
Olutola Olujuwon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Management, Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin with a campus at Noforija, Epe, Lagos. Tola began his career 19 years ago teaching Educational Management and Educational Foundation Courses.
Olutola’s research focuses on teacher leadership, collaborative professional learning, values and rights to education, and its impact on teaching and learning. He has published several research-based, peer-reviewed articles to his credit nationally and internationally in his area of focus. As a result of this, some of his research papers have been recommended and available on ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Google Scholar for free download.
He is currently the African Representative on the Board of the International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET). He is currently the African Representative on the Board of the International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET). Olutola is an Editor, reviewer of journal articles. an External Examiner and Moderator to some African Universities. Olutola is a Chair of IPDA, Nigeria.
Mayamin Altae
Chair, IPDA Arabic
Mayamin Altae is Head of Initial Teacher Training International Programmes at the University of Buckingham, where she leads innovative programmes, including the first PGCE in Arabic for teachers in international and local schools across the MENA region. With over 20 years’ experience across the UK and Middle East, she has worked in schools and higher education, including Qatar University. She holds a PhD from the University of Leicester and an MA from the University of Manchester. Mayamin supports educational initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Quality Education and Climate Action, and her research focuses on AI, professional development, inclusion, and international teacher education.
Prof Alex Kendall
Representative, Practice
Affiliation:Birmingham City University
Bio coming soon.
Dr Amanda Nuttall
Early Careers Researcher Lead
Amanda Nuttall is Associate Professor in Education at Leeds Trinity University. She began her career as a primary teacher before moving into teacher education in 2013. Her work is grounded in a commitment to social justice and the belief that transformative places and spaces are essential for teachers, teacher educators, and professionals across other fields. Amanda’s research focuses on identity, belonging, and professional learning, using narrative, creative, and embodied approaches, with particular expertise in life-history, biography, and film methods. She is passionate about supporting early career researchers and fostering collaborative, inclusive academic cultures. Amanda also co-convenes BERA’s Research Methods SIG, where she champions interdisciplinary approaches for educational and social justice research.
Dr Adu Emmanuel Ifedayo
Early Careers Researcher Deputy Lead
Dr Adu Emmanuel Ifedayo is an educational technology expert with special interest in podcasting, instructional system design, cloud based learning, augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
JP Mynott
Co-opted Member, IPDA Scotland
JP is Dean for Portfolio and Programme Development, at the University of Aberdeen. He has a background in primary school teaching. He was a headteacher in a large school, North of London, for ten years before moving to Aberdeen. His research interests are in the longevity of professional learning and collaboration. His current research is looking at the factors that help learning be sustained or diminished after a professional learning opportunity comes to a close. He has a specific interest in Lesson Study and enjoy working with people from different settings who are using Lesson Study approaches.
Fatima Zahra Elboussaidi
Co-opted Member, IPDA Morocco
Fatima Zahra Elboussaidi is an English language educator with over twenty years of experience in public education. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), Mohammed V University, Rabat. She is pursuing doctoral research at the Laboratory of Literature, Arts, and Pedagogical Engineering at Ibn Tofail University. Her scholarly work focuses on professional learning networks (PLNs), continuous professional development (CPD), environmental education, and intercultural teaching methodologies.
Elboussaidi is an ICSEI Junior Scholar Fellow (2023–2026) and an active member of the ICSEI PLNs, she is a Catalyst 2030 associate. She is a coordinator at the EcoManka initiative, advocating community-based environmental learning. She is a graduate of the International Class at the East Side Institute (USA, 2023/2024).
She is a textbook designer; she has presented original research at global academic platforms including ICSEI, IPDA, and TASP. Her published and forthcoming works explore transformative pedagogical practices, play-based learning, and equity-oriented education in African contexts, particularly through her initiative, Morocco2050.
Pauline Smith
Pauline is an Independent Consultant. She has worked nationally as a senior education advisor for DFE, working in close partnership with local authorities and schools in raising attainment; and contributing to the National CPD Policy. Pauline has also worked for the TDA and the National College for School Leadership, providing support for the Teaching School Alliances and the School-based ITT, school to school support, CPD, Research and Leadership Development agendas.
Before her national advisory roles, Pauline was Head of CPD in Manchester Metropolitan University, lecturing and external examining at post graduate level in CPD, leadership development, school- based training, induction, mentor development and performance management. She has also published books and articles in these fields; and has carried out national evaluations.
Pauline has been an IPDA member for the past 30 years and has been a past President and Chair of the association. Her research interest is in the Quality of CPD and it effectiveness. She is an active member of the west midland’s CPD Partnership.
Support Team
Mounir Khallouk
Membership/Administration
Mounir Khallouk is an Education Leadership masters graduate. He currently supports IPDA as Lead Administrator, assisting with IPDA’s Annual Conference and several of the organization’s duties. Mounir’s current research interests are focused on neurodivergent leaders and their development.
Russell Goffe-Wood
Communications Support
I’m Russell, I’ve been working with IPDA for almost a decade supporting with the all aspects of communications from building the website to the conference and event flyers and posters, social media and much more. You might have also spotted me taking photos and videos at the conference.
I have worked with several universities as a freelance designer over the years, supporting research centres, as well as creating online learning. I studied international business with French, which came in quite handy when one University decided to send me to the Congo a few times to support their events there.
If you need support with any online IPDA access, you know who to call.