Appointment of Governing Board Members by the President of the Republic in Accordance with Part 2 Section 4 (2) of The ECD ACT, 2022
Click on the photos for small biography of Board Members
DR. MMANTSETSA MAROPE
Her Excellency, Professor Mmantsetsa Marope is the Executive Director of the World Heritage Group, Honorary President of the Indian Ocean Comparative Education Societies, Honorary President of the Global Curriculum by Comparative Education Societies, Guest Professor at Beijing Normal University (China), and occasional Professor at Kobe University (Japan). She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and a Masters degree from Pennsylvania State University. Her career includes 11 years of university teaching, 2 years as lead specialist consultant for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), and leadership positions in multilateral agencies including 10 years at the World Bank and 11 years at UNESCO where her normative work covered over 190 countries. She has worked directly on programs with 36 countries across Africa, the Arab States, Asia, Europe, Euro-Asia, North America, and indirectly with an additional 44 countries (including in Latin America) promoting equity, inclusion, quality, and future-relevance of education and learning.
In recent years, she has gained eminence as a global thought leader on the urgent need to transform current education systems into future-forward learning systems, leveraging emerging technologies and the sciences of learning for futures education, on the future of education and work, the future of curriculum, development-relevant and gender-inclusive STEM education, and on strengthening knowledge brokerage for futures education and learning. HE Prof Marope has been a sought-after public speaker on these topics, averaging 10 keynotes a year on eminent global platforms across Asia and the Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. She has prominently featured on global platforms convened by Google, Atlas of the Future, AI for Good Global Summit, WebSummit, (here, here,), World Summit AI, Women in Science, Engineering and Technology & Korean Brain Research Institute, WEBIT Europe Festival, World Education Forum, Education World Forum, Berlin Economic Forum, Korean Economic Daily, China Education and Innovation EXPO, South Africa’s Annual Education Cabinet Lekgotla, International Brain Research Organization World Congresses, 3alacarta MÉS 324, and UNESCO Global Congresses. She has also been a hosted speaker by such prominent entities as Cambridge University’s Digital Future Education Initiative: UK, New York Academy of Sciences, Kobe University: Japan, Beijing Normal University: China, Moscow Pedagogical University: Russia, Vytautas Magnus University: Lithuania; and on podcasts hosted by prominent entities like the World Bank EduTech, Cambridge University Partnership for Education, FreshEd, and GreenPlanet BluePlanet. She’s also been featured in diverse magazines, TV programs, and newspapers of countries as she visited them for work.
H.E. Prof Marope has served on advisory boards of diverse entities, including the Cambridge University’s Partnership for Education in London: UK, Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin: Germany, WEBIT Future of Education and Work Summit hq’d in Sofia: Bulgaria, the New York Academy of Sciences’ Global Alliance for STEM Education in New York: USA, the Global Education Monitoring Report in Paris: France, the Global Sciences of Learning Education Network in San Diego: USA, and the Regional Center for Quality Education in Riyad: Saudi Arabia. Between 2014 and 2020, she was the Editor-in-Chief and future-shaper of one of the world’s prestigious journals of education, PROSPECTS: Comparative Journal of Curriculum, Learning and Assessment, as well as the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of an innovative education and learning magazine, IBE IN FOCUS. Her publications cover all levels of education from ECCD to higher education.
H.E. Prof Marope’s career path has empowered her with enviable access to high level political and technical leadership across the globe and enormous networks. She is quite adept at working with Heads of States, Ambassadors, Ministers, Celebrities, and Expert Leaders across the globe. Her career path has also equipped her with enormous capacities for organizational leadership and management in highly diverse and multicultural settings, institution building; leading and brokering high level consultations and complex negotiations; diplomacy; consensus building; high-level institutional representation; leading and convening high-level events of small to global scale, resource mobilization, resource leveraging through technical prowess, research and analytical work; as well as intellectual, technical, and operational work.
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DR. MMANTSETSA MAROPE
Chairperson
ALEXANDROS K. MAKARIGAKIS, Ph.D
Mr. Alexandros Makarigakis has a total of more than 25 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of environmental sciences, 21 of which on the international platform on issues of development in developing and developed countries with focus on natural resources management (water and environment). Twenty years working at UNESCO, eight years of experience in the field of bioremediation of hazardous chemicals and ten years in municipal water and wastewater purification. His experience includes representing UNESCO in Uzbekistan, and in Ethiopia and the African Union; Chief of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit, Global Coordinator of UNESCO’s Water for Human Settlements Programme, Regional Hydrologist for Africa, university lecturing, design and execution of innovative bench-scale treatment systems and mathematical model developments for further scale-up purposes as well as in-situ testing for verification, groundwater remediation and waste management. Authored and co-authored several scientific journal papers and book chapters.
As of 1 July 2023, he is serving as the Director and Representative a.i. of UNESCO’s Multisectoral Regional office for Eastern Africa, in Nairobi.
Mr. Makarigakis has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering. He is an affiliated Member of the following; American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Hellenic Association of Civil Engineers (SPME), Hellenic Solid Waste Management Association (EESDA) and the Technical Chamber of Greece.
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ALEXANDROS K. MAKARIGAKIS, Ph.D
Member
(UNESCO Regional Director)
Nairobi, Kenya
SHIRLEY CHOPPY
Shirley Choppy directs and leads a team at the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) – Category 2 Institute under the Auspices of UNESCO, as the Chief Executive Officer.
A Seychellois with a fervent passion for child developmental discipline and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in the field of education, focusing on early stimulation and learning, national policy planning and quality assurance research, advocacy and multi sectoral initiatives in ECCE (0 7+ years).
From 2004 to 2007, she was Assistant Director of Special Needs Education where she assisted with the coordination , implementation and evaluation of a Special Needs Programme in primary schools . She founded and led the Early Childhood Education Section at the level of the Ministry of Education. This involves curriculum development and assessment in the early years, training and professional development of educators in the early childhood stage of primary schools. Mrs. Choppy assumed various key technical and managerial positions both in schools and at ministerial level.
Besides being a specialist in early childhood development, Mrs. Choppy is also a keen research enthusiast and worked on numerous collaborative projects in ECCE with national sectors and international partners, such as the IBE UNESCO, the World Bank , SEED Institute in Singapore etc Mrs. Choppy is the Chairperson of the Governance and Accountability Group African Union, Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16 25) for ECED. She has also provided technical expertise in various aspects in ECCE nationally and to international organizations and countries , in organizing several national and international conferences and workshops, ( the recent being the World Conference on ECCE in Tashkent in 2022 as a member of the UNESCO’s Programme Committee ), and the co authored a few publications. She is an External Peer Reviewer.
Her technical prowess, strong leadership and exemplary contribution in early childhood development and numerous achievements nationally have led to Seychelles IECD being recognized as a Best Practice H ub for ECCE by the UNESCO – International Bureau of Education in 2017, and the recent designation as a Category 2 Institute for ECCE under the A uspices of UNESCO in 2021.
Mrs. Choppy holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Early Childhood with a high distinction award from the Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, and is the recipient of The President’s prestigious National Award as the best returning graduate for the year 2004.
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SHIRLEY CHOPPY
Member
Seychelles
DR. GERALDINE TEO-ZUZARTE
Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte is the Head of School at St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool. She holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the development of children, especially those in their Early Years. A seasoned speaker, she has presented papers in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally.
Having been in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 30 years, Geraldine held multi-portfolios from classroom teaching to faculty appointments to overseeing the professional development of almost 3,000 Early Childhood educators including pioneering an award-winning child study centre for more than a decade.
Geraldine has deep theoretical and practical knowledge on Early Childhood Care and Education and has been called upon to support national and global initiatives, including being appointed an ECDA Fellow for sectoral leadership in Singapore.
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DR. GERALDINE TEO-ZUZARTE
Member
Singapore
CAPT. DAVID SAVY
Born in May 1960 Captain David Savy’s journey through life has been diverse anddynamic. With a multicultural upbringing spanning the United Kingdom, his native Seychelles, Australia, India, Canada, andthe USA, he embodies a global perspective.
Professionally, Captain Savy soared to great heights in the aviation industry. After completing his flight training, as a Commercial Pilot in India he then progressed in achieving his Air Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL) in the USA. He embarked on a career as a maritime surveillance pilot with the Seychelles Defence Forces, flying specialised maritime surveillance aircraft and helicopters. He underwent management training in the protection and management of Living and non-living maritime resources which built his interestin the protection of the oceans and development of the Blue Economy. His passion for the oceans and the Blue Economy led him to serve as Treasurer and founding Board Member of the James Michel Foundation, dedicated to promoting the Blue Economy while conserving the marine environment.
Captain Savy’s military career is equally impressive, with a distinguished service record, including roles such as Commanding Officer of the Seychelles Airwing, Commander-in-Charge of the Airport Defence Unit, International Liaison Officer at Defence Headquarters,and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Seychelles Defence Forces. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
EDUCATION & CAREER
Captain Savy’s contributions to the aviation industry were nothing short of remarkable. Keen to pursue his chosen career as a pilot Capt. Savy also flew for the national carrier, Air Seychelles Ltd and was appointed to its board in 1986. Other than an operating Captain he progressed to become a trainer/examiner on the international Boeing757/767 fleet and was seconded by the government to
Air Seychelles Ltd. to serve as Director of Operations and Head of Flight Operations.
In 1997 Capt. Savy was called to serve as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer at which he was tasked to turn-around the company to a profitable and significantly larger carrier flying to multiple destinations over four continents.
He was one of the longest-serving Chief Executive and Chairman of an international airline during his 14-year
tenure with Air Seychelles Ltd.
Seychelles’ economy is dependant on tourism, the national carrier was pivotal in assuring convenient and affordable access to the islands. The reliance on tourism has made access to the islands a priority, and Captain Savy’s strategic insights were crucial.
He served on the Seychelles Tourism Board for 20 years up till 2017, developing a deep understanding of distribution channels and destination marketing. Capt. Savy also joined the Board of a listed company in 2001, New Mauritius Hotels (Beachcomber) Ltd, which at the time was the largest hotel group in the Indian Ocean and having its own marketing and & Sales offices in Europe, Southern Africa, and Australasia. He served for 8 years.
On leaving the national airline in 2011 Capt. Savy was called upon to serve as Chairman of the Board of the
Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority whose responsibility was to regulate and manage its airports whilst ensuring that Seychelles is firmly on the world’s airlines sights and access is safe, reliable, affordable, and aligned tocustomer’s needs and expectations. This position he held for the maximum allowable period of 9 years.
In 2011 Capt. Savy was asked by the Director General of IATA to serve as a Governor on its IATA’S Training Fund Council, a non-profit foundation established in 1984 which funds training for aviation professionals from developing nations domiciled in Geneva, Switzerland alongside other retired airline Chief Executives from 2011 till date.
Additionally, Captain Savy’s business acumen has allowed him to serve on several private and publicly listed companies in Seychelles, Dubai, Switzerland, and Mauritius. He currently is the Chairman of Veling Ltd (Aircraft leasing, Aircraft Sales & re marketing & Aircraft Asset Management company/Structured Finance), which has grown to be one of the biggest lessors in Sub-Saharan Africa. He joined this start-up in 2005 and is still actively engaged with offices in Mauritius and in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre).
He is the Chairman of H. Savy Insurance Company, the largest insurance company in Seychelles and of Skychef/Servair Ltd since 2012 till date, an affiliated subsidiary of company of GateGourmet International. This company is the sole airline catering company and largest industrial catering entity in the Seychelles islands. In Dubai Capt. Savy continues to sit on the Investment Board of the publicly listed Emirates REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) since its inception in 2010. The Emirates REIT is the largest listed Shariah Compliant REIT and is incorporated in the UAE DIFC (Dubai Financial Services Authority) and licensed by the DFSA (DubaiFinancial Services Authority).
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CAPT. DAVID SAVY
Member
Seychelles
DR. JONNA KONGAS
Dr Jonna Kangas (University of Helsinki) is a Finnish researcher in Early Education and top contributor to the play-based participatory learning theory and methodology.
She holds a position of an Adjunct professor in University of Turku and a position of a Senior Lecturer at the Teacher training department and joint member of Playful Learning Centre, University of Helsinki, with leading position in the blended teacher training program (1000+) organizing blended teacher education program in 7 Universities across Finland.
She holds a position of an Adjunct professor in University of Turku and a position of a Senior Lecturer at the Teacher training department and joint member of Playful Learning Centre, University of Helsinki, with leading position in the blended teacher training program (1000+) organizing blended teacher education program in 7 Universities across Finland.
In teacher education programs she teaches basic and advanced level educational studies including preprimary education studies, mathematics, playful and inquiry-based pedagogy, curriculum studies, and sociology of play. She is a postdoctoral researcher and author on child participation, playful learning, and pedagogical methods in Finnish Early Childhood Education. Dr Kangas has trained hundreds of early educators in daily pedagogics, children’s learning processes, observation, and documentation, and designed innovative teacher training and mentoring programs for online platforms.
She is co-founder and Education Expert of WellEdu Fennica Ltd, responsible for the curriculum and teacher training programme design for FinlandWay Preschool System being adapted to Brazil, Peru, Morocco, India, and Vietnam. Year 2020 she was acting as a visiting professor of education in the University Primorska, Slovenia with teaching and research responsibilities.
Through her research funded by the Finnish Ministry of Social and Health Affairs and the Capital Region of Finland and later the Finnish Agency of Education, Dr Kangas has since 2010 designed interventions and learning experiences and environments to support teachers’ understanding and pedagogical competencies related to participatory pedagogy, playful teaching, teachers’ professional reflection and development, and contributed to the National ECE assessment methodology by the Finnish Education Evaluation Center. Dr Kangas has published in leading international education journals. She is a member of Playful Learning Center Laboratory and Learning, Culture and Interventions (LECI) expert groups which are devoted to advancing high-quality research, and research-based teaching and societal interaction.
Some of Dr Kangas’ highlighted publications include:
• Harju-Luukkainen, H., Kangas, J. & Garvis, S. (2022) Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care – A Multi-theoretical perspective on research and practice (eds). Early Childhood Research and Education: An Inter-theoretical Focus, Springer. • Garvis, S., Harju-Luukkainen, H., & Kangas, J. (2022). Assessing and Evaluating Early Childhood Education Systems (eds.). Springer
• Kangas, J., Ukkonen-Mikkola, T., Harju-Luukkainen, H., Ranta, S., Chydenius, H., Lahdenperä, J., Neitola, M., Kinos, J., Sajaniemi, N., & Ruokonen, I. (2021). Understanding different approaches to ECE pedagogy through tensions. Education Sciences, 11(12).
• Kangas, J., Harju-Luukkainen, H. K., Brotherus, A. M., Gearon, L., & Kuusisto, S. A. E. (2019). Playing to Learn in Finland: Early childhood Curricular and Operational Context. In S. Garvis, & S. Phillipson (eds.), Policification of Childhood: Early Childhood Education in the 21st Century (Vol 3). Routledge.
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DR. JONNA KONGAS
Member
Finland
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