TEAM & COLLABORATORS

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Dr Randa Grob-Zakhary, M.D., PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Education.org (EO). Motivated by training in medicine and neuroscience, she moved into global education to contribute to reducing the gap between knowledge and practice and has worked closely with ministries of education and other education leaders. She is a former Board Member with the Global Partnership for Education, and the former Chair of its Strategy and Impact Committee. Prior roles include: CEO, LEGO Foundation; Global Head of Education, Porticus; High-Level Working Group OECD Education 2030; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute; Management Consultant, McKinsey. Dr Randa Grob-Zakhary holds an M.D. and PhD in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University (USA).   

Dr Suzanne Grant Lewis is Chair of Education Science and Policy of Education.org. She provides strategic and technical guidance into global and country programme design and implementation, helps to build critical partnerships and participates in further building of EO’s technical team. She has extensive experience in improving educational opportunities in the developing world, particularly in education policy and planning in Africa. Prior roles include: Director of the International Institute for Education Planning (IIEP-UNESCO), co-founder of the International Education Funders Group (IEFG), Director of the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa and Harvard University faculty member (1997-2006). Dr Grant Lewis pursued graduate studies at the Kenyatta University (Kenya) and holds a PhD in International Development Education from Stanford University (USA).   

Deng Deng Hoc Yai is Co-Chair of Education.org’s Global Council, where he provides leadership and facilitates exchanges among members to catalyse problem-solving and accelerate progress for the most pressing education challenges globally. He is the former Minister of General Education and Instruction of the Republic of South Sudan (2016-2020) and a highly respected global education expert. Prior to serving as Minister of Education, he served as Minister of the Environment (2013 to 2016), Undersecretary of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (2011 to 2013), Executive Director, South Sudan Anti-corruption Commission (2009 to 2011) and Director General of Special Programmes in the Office of the President (2006 to 2009). He has also held responsibilities at international and non-for-profit organisations and contributed to the work of several other non-governmental organisations in voluntary capacity. Other roles include: Board Member, Global Partnership for Education, International Consultant, UNESCO; Policy Advisor, Teachers and Lecturers (ATL); Senior and National Policy Advisor, the British Refugee Council. Deng Deng Hoc Yai holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Cairo University (Egypt) and a Masters in Second Language Materials Development from Luton University (UK). 

Graham Marshall is Chief Product Officer of Education.org, responsible for the strategy and execution of the product vision, product development, and building a product organisation for all our communities. Graham's experiences span across the consumer insights industry covering general management, product leadership, operations and investment management in both multinationals and start-ups organisations. He has worked in Kenya, South Africa, the East African region and the UK. Prior roles include UK Director, Crowdtech; Partner, Ask’d; African Investment Lead, Managing Director Sub Sahara Africa, Nielsen. Graham holds a BA Honours in Business Studies from The Nottingham Trent University (UK).

Dr Evangeline N. Nderu is a Programme Director, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is responsible for the overall implementation of EO's first country programmes in close collaboration with partners and contributes to shaping global initiatives. She is building a Kenya-based, globally-active technical hub and provides leadership in the design, delivery and evaluation of programmes to increase accessibility and inclusiveness of evidence and to enhance capacity for evidence in decision-making and implementation at leadership levels. Dr Nderu brings profound experience in education research, programme management, technical guidance, capacity-building and Monitoring and Evaluation and has worked in South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, UK, and USA. Prior roles include Programme Manager, Porticus; Chief of Party, Tayari ECD Programme, RTI International; Regional Education Advisor, Sub-Saharan Africa, Family Health International. Dr Nderu holds a MSc in Education from Western Illinois University and a PhD in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota (US). 

Montse Mendez is Director of Operations of Education.org. She is responsible for growing and safeguarding the efficiency of the foundation’s operations to accelerate project development and maximise impact. Montse’s experience spans from the energy sector to the retail and consumer industry within financial reporting, budgeting and analysis as well as working capital and shareholder’s management in multinational organisations in the US, Latin America and Europe. Prior roles include Financial Services Manager, Canada Goose; Managing Director Office, Noble Drilling; Senior Controller, AEI Services; Audit Manager, KPMG. She holds a BA in Accounting from Universidad Panamericana (MX) and an MBA in Management and Finance from Western Illinois University (US). 

Rina is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of communications strategies and projects. She also plays a key role in the growing of the brand's awareness. Her experience spans across the corporate communications and marketing sector with experience in industries such as education, biotech and media. She holds a double BA in Sociology and Film & Media from the University of California, Santa Barbara (US) and an MA in Health Sciences from the University of Lucerne in Switzerland.   

Carmen is originally from the USA and has lived in the Zurich area for more than 20 years. Her administrative experience comes from time spent working and volunteering in both local and international educational organizations in the USA, England, Italy and Switzerland. Carmen holds a BA in Spanish Literature from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.