Dr. Khalaf AlAbri is an assistant professor in the leadership of education systems and policies in the Department of Educational Foundations and Administration, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University. He obtained a BA in Education majoring in English Language from Sultan Qaboos University in 2006, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Queensland in Australia, and a PhD in Education Systems and Policies from the University of Queensland in 2016. Khalaf is currently the Director of the Main Library at Sultan Qaboos University, and prior to that (2016-2020) was the Head of the Quality Assurance and Academic Accreditation Unit at the College of Education. He is an external reviewer in the register of the Omani Academic Accreditation Authority. Khalaf is interested in studying the impact of globalization on education systems and policies. His current research focuses on education for global citizenship, education goals for sustainable development, and internationalization of education.
Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior to this appointment, she was the Acting Director of Research at the Dubai School of Government. Natasha has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector including in Singapore and Australia. She holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master's in International and Community Development from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.
Natasha has more than 30 publications, including a book entitled Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local and another entitled Philanthropy in Education: Diverse Perspectives and Global Trends. Her latest research focuses on philanthropy and education in the MENA region as well as the nature and impact of father involvement on education in the Arab World. In addition to being a founding Executive Board member and former President of the Gulf Comparative Education Society Natasha is also serves on several boards including the NORRAG Advisory Board, EduAlliance and the RAKEZ Academic Zone Board.