SPEAKERS’ BIO
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Jason Lodge
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
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Luigi Pessina
DIRECTOR, INTEL COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS
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Melissa Law
INTEL SFI, APJ PARTNERSHIP MANAGER
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Dr. Drs. H. Maidi, S.H., M.M., M.Pd
MAYOR, MADIUN CITY
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Dr. Kamon Jirapong
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DEAN
SCHOOL OF DIGITAL MEDIA
SRIPATUM UNIVERSITY -
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Larry Nelson
ASIA REGIONAL BUSINESS LEADER, EDUCATION GENERAL MANAGER, MICROSOFT CORPORATION
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Prof. Richardus Eko Indrajit
RECTOR OF PRADITA UNIVERSITY & EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EXPERT
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Darren Menachemson GAICD
PARTNER AND HEAD OF AI AND DIGITAL SOCIETIES, THINKPLACE GLOBAL AND CHAIRMAN, EDUCATION FUTURES, AUSTRALIA
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Venky Shankararaman, PhD
VICE PROVOST (EDUCATION) AND PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, SINGAPORE
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Michelle Alarcon
PRESIDENT, ANALYTICS & AI OF THE PHILIPPINES
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Dr. HC Aslam Khan
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR AND VICE CHAIRMAN, ERICAN EDUCATION GROUP, MALAYSIA
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Kimberley Hall
ASIA PACIFIC HEAD OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, GOOGLE FOR EDUCATION
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RCM Reddy
MD AND CEO, SCHOOLNET INDIA LIMITED & LEARNET SKILLS LIMITED
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Musa M. Tagal
DIRECTOR FOR OFFFICE OF THE STUDENT AFFAIRS FROM THE COTABATO FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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John Gillooly
SENIOR TECHNICAL MARKETING MANAGER, APAC SOUTH AND INDIA
Jason M. Lodge, PhD, PFHEA
Professor of Educational Psychology, The University of Queensland
Professor Jason M. Lodge, PhD, PFHEA is an internationally recognised scholar and leader in the learning sciences, educational psychology, and educational technology. He has published over 130 refereed articles and is a multi-time national award-winning educator.
Jason is the Director of the Learning, Instruction, and Technology Lab in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, Australia. He and his team focus on the cognitive, metacognitive, and emotional mechanisms of learning, primarily with technology.
Jason currently serves as Editor of Student Success. He is an expert advisor to the OECD, Australian Department of Education, and Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
Luigi Pessina
Director, Intel Commercial Programs
Luigi leads Global Commercial Programs and Strategy across Education, Government, Large Enterprise, and SMB segments, driving ICT adoption and digital transformation through global teams.
He builds strategic partnerships and drives the Intel® Skills for Innovation initiative, empowering educators to integrate technology into learning.
With over 20 years at Intel, Luigi has expertise in end-to-end solutions, program management, strategy, and marketing.
Previously, he was a Financial Consultant at KPMG and holds a Business and Administration degree from Munich European Business School.
Melissa Law
Intel SFI, APJ Partnership Manager
Melissa Law is the APJ Partnerships Manager for the Intel Skills for Innovation Program, where she drives technology integration in education. With over eight years of experience, she has spearheaded the implementation of tech-driven solutions in classrooms, creating dynamic and innovative learning experiences.
A passionate EdTech advocate, Melissa has led numerous workshops for educators and students, empowering them to harness technology for enhanced learning.
She co-created the Intel AI for Youth program, making AI accessible to students, and has developed cutting-edge initiatives like Junior AI Explorer and AR/VR-based learning modules.
Her work leverages immersive technologies to transform abstract concepts into engaging, hands-on experiences. With a background in computer science, Melissa is dedicated to making learning fun, inclusive, and future-ready.
Dr. Drs. H. Maidi, S.H., M.M., M.Pd
Dr. Drs. H. Maidi, S.H., M.M., M.Pd is the Mayor of Madiun City, East Java, known for his visionary leadership in advancing digital transformation across the city, particularly in the education sector.
With a distinguished background in education and public administration, he has served in various strategic roles, including Regional Secretary and Head of the Education Department.
A dedicated public servant and reformist, Dr. Maidi also contributes actively to national organizations such as PGRI (Indonesian Teachers Association) and KORPRI (Indonesian Civil Servants Corps).
Mayor of Madiun City
Dr. Kamon Jirapong
Associate Professor and Dean
School of Digital Media
Sripatum University
Dr. Kamon Jirapong is an internationally recognized expert in digital content and 3D design with a strong background in architecture. Before his academic career, he worked as an architect in the United States where his innovative 3D projects earned awards and were featured in renowned publications such as Best 3D Graphics Magazine.
Upon returning to Thailand, Dr. Jirapong leveraged his expertise as a consultant for government, private sector, and educational institutions, contributing to pivotal research and industry reports on Thai digital content in animation and gaming.
Currently, as the Dean of the Faculty of Digital Media at Sripatum University, he leads strategic initiatives including the Thailand Planet project under the Creative Economy policy of the Prime Minister’s Office, and he serves as a board member of the National Creative Economy Institute in the Software division.
His dynamic approach and industry insight continue to shape the curriculum and research directions of the digital media field.
Asia Regional Business Leader, Education
General Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Larry Nelson
As General Manager of Education for Microsoft Asia, Larry Nelson leads the education business unit for primary, secondary, and higher education institutions and drives digital transformation projects in educational organizations across India, China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and all other countries in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Nelson and the Asia Industry Team bring Microsoft’s mission of empowerment—and cutting-edge technology—to life for our education customers and partners. They stand on the front lines of innovation, working side-by-side with customers to drive value across the entirety of their digital transformation journey.
Before joining Microsoft in 2009, Nelson led strategic planning of telecom services at Stanford University. He was also the principal at Global Educational Technology Knowledge, LLC, where he provided strategic planning, marketing, operations, market research and business development expertise to corporations, schools, universities and Ministries of Education.
With more than three decades of experience, Nelson has held a series of executive positions in multinational technology corporations, including Director of Global Citizenship and Acting-Executive Director of the Global Education and Learning Community (GELC) at Sun Microsystems. Nelson converted the GELC to an independent non-profit corporation now known as Curriki.org.
Nelson was also the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Finance at SchoolCity.com, and the CEO of the Decision Development Corporation (DDC), a privately held educational software publisher. Before entering the technology industry, he grounded his business skills at General Foods, Procter & Gamble, and Bloomingdale’s.
Prof. Richardus Eko Indrajit
Rector of Pradita University & Educational Technology Expert
Richardus Eko Indrajit is a professor of computer science who currently serves as the Rector of Pradita University in Indonesia. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology in Surabaya and has earned several Master’s degrees from institutions including Harvard University, the Maastricht School of Management, Leicester University, the London School of Public Relations, the Swiss-German University, and the University of the People.
He holds five doctoral degrees from the University of the City of Manila, the University of Information Technology Management in Poland, the State University of Jakarta, the Indonesian Defense University, and LIGS University.
Prof. Indrajit has published more than 250 books and hundreds of popular articles and journal papers. He is actively involved in assisting the Indonesian government across various ministries, particularly in areas related to information and communication technology, education, human resource development, and national defense.
A forward-thinking academic and consultant, Prof. Indrajit is a leading advocate for the transformation of traditional smart schools into Intelligent Schools. In line with the rise of AI-powered learning, he emphasizes the importance of integrating artificial intelligence, big data, and adaptive technologies into the educational system. His current focus is on how AI-driven analytics, immersive technologies, and machine learning can create personalized learning experiences that develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students. By bridging human cognition with artificial intelligence, Prof. Indrajit envisions Intelligent Schools as the new standard for future-ready education.
In addition to his academic and public sector roles, he also serves as a consultant and advisor to various industries, such as healthcare, education, finance and banking, manufacturing, retail and distribution, transportation, military, and other services.
Mr. Darren Menachemson GAICD
Partner and Head of AI and Digital Societies, ThinkPlace Global
Chairman, Education Futures Foundation, Australia
Darren Menachemson is a partner at ThinkPlace Global, and serves as its Head of AI and Digital Societies and its Chief Ethicist. He is also a co-founder of the multi-award-winning Ed Institute, which creates breakthrough curricula and education experiences for young people, and he chairs the Education Futures Foundation, whose mission is to lift education system capacity to grow future ethical leaders.
He works with intergovernmental organisations like the UN, and education systems and institutions, to help them transform in the interest of society and public good. He has worked extensively in shaping safe, responsible AI futures, in areas such as AI policy, strategy, standards and governance.
Darren sits on a number of boards, including the Global Health Security Network which works to lift global health security capability, build networks for the prevention of health threats and to support equitable health outcomes, with a focus on the Global South.
Venky Shankararaman (PhD)
Vice Provost (Education)
Professor of Information Systems (Education), Singapore
Venky Shankararaman is a Professor of Information Systems (Education) and Vice Provost (Education) at Singapore Management University (SMU). He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
His current areas of specialization include digital transformation, business process management and analytics, enterprise architecture and integration and higher education leadership. He has around 30 years of experience in the IT industry in various capacities as a researcher, academic administrator, educator, IT professional and industry consultant.
Professor Venky has contributed significantly to Computing and Information Systems education nationally and internationally. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) and Public Administration Medal (Bronze) by Singapore Government for his contribution to education. He was awarded the SAP Outstanding Academic Award for Southeast Asia; the award was presented by SAP to recognize his contributions to enterprise systems education. He was also awarded the Association of Information Systems (AIS) Award for Outstanding Contribution to IS Education.
He is member of the ACM Education Advisory Committee, and senior member of Singapore Computer Society (SCS), and member of the executive committee for the SCS Cloud Computing Chapter. He has published over 100 papers in academic journals and conferences.
Michelle Alarcon
President of Analytics & AI of the Philippines
Michelle Alarcon has over two decades of experience as an analytics practitioner in the private sector and started her own firm, of Z-Lift Solutions, a pioneer analytics consulting firm she founded in 2013.
She is the President and Co-Founder of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), the country’s leading industry body for AI and data analytics.
In this role, she champions responsible AI adoption, ethical data practices, and cross-sector collaboration, helping shape national policies and governance frameworks for the digital economy.
Dr. HC Aslam Khan
Academic Director and Vice Chairman of ERICAN Education Group, Malaysia
Dr. HC Aslam Khan is currently the Academic Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Erican Education Group, an Executive Council Member of NAPEI (National Association of Private Education Institutions) in Malaysia, the Council Member of MAE (Malaysian Association for Education), and also an Advisor and Committee Member of AsiaTEFL ProfNet.
In 2008, he was awarded with the title, “Excellent Senior Lecturer”. He has received four National Excellent Service Award and one International Excellent Service Award from Ministry of Education Malaysia.
He obtained his academic and professional qualifications in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. He has also been awarded the Doctor of Exellence (Dr. Honoris Causa) in English Language Education and 21st Century Education.
In December 2022, he received The Global CSR Excellence and Leadership Awards for Best Education Sector/Community Award. He has vast experience in planning, implementing, coordinating and managing national and international Teacher Education and Professional Training Programmes.
He has contributed quite substantially in seminars, conferences, trainings, journal articles and programmes development for the past 25 years, especially as the Head of International Department in the training of academics from more than 90 countries under the Malaysian government’s MTCP scholarship programmes.
He has also served as an Executive Committee and Vice-President of MELTA (Malaysian English Language Teaching Association) for 23 years. He served the Ministry of Education Malaysia for 39 years prior to his retirement.
Known for his widely recognized inspirational tagline, “Let’s Change Lives And Make A Difference Through Education.”
Kimberley Hall
AsiaPac Head of Digital Transformation, Google for Education
Kimberley is an award-winning teacher and tech enthusiast with a passion for transforming learning. She has extensive experience in primary, secondary, and higher education, and has collaborated with systems of education around the world.
Kimberley was the first female in Australia to be both a Google for Education Certified Innovator and Certified Trainer, and she specializes in helping educators and education systems leverage technology for impactful change.
Her work at Google focuses on empowering leaders and learners, building global communities, and fostering innovation through the effective use of Google tools.
RCM Reddy
MD & CEO at Schoolnet India Limited & Learnet Skills Limited
RCM Reddy is a visionary leader with over 36 years of experience spanning government, international organizations, and the private sector. A former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, he has held leadership roles with Central and state governments, apart from serving with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
He currently serves as the Managing Director of Schoolnet India Limited and Learnet Skills Limited, two mission-driven enterprises delivering large-scale impact in education and employability.
Under his leadership, Schoolnet has emerged as India’s leading K-12 EdTech service provider, partnering with nearly 100,000 schools through an integrated ecosystem that includes devices, digital content, teacher training, personalized assessments, monitoring and learning management systems. Its proprietary all-in-one integrated teaching device (K-Yan) has been an innovation that converts any traditional physical space into a digital classroom.
With the Asia-Pacific region rapidly scaling its EdTech infrastructure, Mr. Reddy brings insights into how digital infrastructure, when combined with localised content and teacher enablement, can augment learning outcomes and create inclusive growth. Schoolnet’s scalable and customizable model offers a relevant blueprint for regional collaboration—aligning perfectly with Acer’s vision of accessible, innovative education for all.
Musa M. Tagal
Dr. Musa M. Tagal is a seasoned educator, researcher, and student affairs leader currently serving as the Director for Student Affairs and Services at Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST), a role he has held since 2016. With a strong foundation in both academic leadership and student development, Dr. Tagal has contributed significantly to higher education and community building.
Dr. Tagal has presented at various prestigious conferences, including the 2017 PREO International Research Conference in Pampanga and the 2nd ICRU International Conference on World Sustainable Development 2020 in Thailand, where he was honored with Best Presenter and Best Paper awards.
He is an active member of several professional organizations, including Philippine Association of Research Managers, Inc., The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles, and the Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services, Inc.
Dr. Musa M. Tagal exemplifies leadership grounded in academic excellence, research advocacy, and a deep commitment to student welfare and national development.
Director for Office of the Student Affairs from the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology
John Gillooly
Senior Technical Marketing Manager, APAC South and India
John has spent the past decade working on NVIDIA’s Technical Marketing team, based in Singapore. He works across the consumer and enterprise business, covering the company’s innovations in 3D Graphics and AI. This involves education of press, partners and the public as well as involvement in product go to market and events throughout the region and globally.