Leading Australasian Educators to take stage at Education Project

BAHRAIN:  A trio of education experts from Australia and NZ are among an elite list set to address a global summit in Bahrain this October.
Andrew Blair, President of the International Confederation of Principals, Australia; Patrick Griffin, Chair of Education at the University of Melbourne and Executive Director of the Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills (ATC21S); and Kevin Knight, Director of School Improvement Services at the Graduate School of NZ, will join speakers from Harvard University, the European Commission, 10 Downing Street and Microsoft at the Education Project 2010.
The second occasion of the annual event – initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Kingdom’s Economic Development Board (EDB) – runs from 8th to 10th October.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB which is organising the event, said: “Education is the single most important factor in bringing stability, productivity and prosperity to all societies.  Our goal in Bahrain in establishing the Education Project was to bring together an international community of educators. 
“To have experts from Australia and NZ – to offer their expertise in identifying practical solutions to address the gap in the global education system – will help to ensure a platform from which to further inspire positive change.”
Despite increased government spending, education outcomes worldwide have declined over time.  The Education Project was established to share best practice and create a practical approach that educators can follow to make a difference.  Hundreds of professionals from 36 countries joined together last year. 
In October, leading figures from academia, business and politics will again take the stage; Blair, Griffin and Knight will offer valuable insight.
The Education Project is free to attend for educational professionals from all sectors as well as from public and private sector institutions with an interest in developing new models and standards in education.  Entry is by invitation only; for more information and to register online visit: www.educationprojectbahrain.org
Other speakers confirmed for the Education project 2010 include:

• Charles Leadbeater, advisor to the government of Shanghai, European Commission and 10 Downing St, UK
• Cindy Johanson, executive director, George Lucas Educational Foundation, USA
• Edward B Fiske, former education editor, New York Times, USA
• HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, United Arab Emirates
• Helen Ladd, Prof. of Public Policy, Duke Sanford School of Public Policy, USA
• Kaya Henderson, Deputy Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools, USA
• David Hogan, Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, National Institute of Education, Singapore
• Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder, KIPP
• Mona Mourshed, Partner Middle East, McKinsey & Company, United Arab Emirates
• Patrick Griffin, Executive Director, Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills, AT21C & University of Melbourne, Australia
• Ralph Tabberer, Chief School Officer, GEMS, United Arab Emirates
• Steven Joel Trachtenberg, former President of George Washington University and author of Big Man on Campus, USA
• Tom Payzant, Professor of Practice, Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA
• Tony Wagner, Co-director of the Change Leadership Group, Harvard Graduate School of Education.