My name is Ioana Botez, and I began my professional journey at Avenor College in 2013. Currently, I support the nursery teams as Culture and Community Lead, Counsellor, and Designated Safeguarding Lead. My diverse professional background includes systemic family psychotherapy, conflict mediation, and clinical psychology, with expertise in trauma therapy and victim psychology. I hold a degree in Psychology from The University of Bucharest, a master’s in Judicial and Victim Psychology, and professional training in Couples and Family Systemic Psychotherapy. Additionally, I have earned the Cambridge-issued CAE, CELTA, and CPML certifications. Accredited by The Romanian Psychologists College, I maintain high standards in my work through ongoing professional supervision.

With over 15 years of experience working with students, designing educational materials for disadvantaged groups, and mediating communication with international childcare professionals, I thrive in dynamic school environments. I approach each interaction with creativity, patience, and curiosity, striving to see every student as unique in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. My work is guided by a belief in fostering genuine expression and playful exploration while maintaining a positive attitude. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, singing, creative pursuits, and traveling, having been enriched by European, South American, and Asian cultures. My motto for this year is: „The best is yet to come, so let’s enjoy this new beginning together!”

Joe Dale, an independent UK-based languages consultant, has worked with organizations including Network for Languages, The British Council, Microsoft, and The Guardian. A former host of the TES MFL forum and SSAT Languages Lead Practitioner, Joe is a sought-after speaker and expert in technology-enhanced language learning, presenting at conferences and running training sessions across six continents.
He has contributed to high-profile projects such as the Linguanet Worldwide initiative, Erasmus Plus programs, and the Institut Français Primary French courses. Recently, he co-hosted the Saturday Tech-Talk webinars with the British Council Indonesia and worked on the Nusantara Go project.
Currently collaborating on the Stories on the Move project with the University of Reading, Joe is also the creator of the thriving Facebook group „Language Teaching with AI,” which has over 5,300 members. The Guardian has described him as an „MFL guru” and the leader of the #mfltwitterati community.

Marina Falasca, M.Ed., M.A., is a seasoned educator with a focus on higher education and language teaching. She currently lectures at I.E.S. en Lenguas Vivas Juan Ramón Fernández and INSPT UTN in Buenos Aires, where she teaches courses on TEFL Methods, Multimedia Learning, Discourse Analysis, and Educational Research.

Since 2023, Marina has led STAR Argentina as the Country Director, organizing international workshops and programs that promote global education and intercultural learning. Her research interests include educational technology, intercultural communication, differentiated instruction, and global education. She is the co-author of two books: „Alfabetización y Competencias Transmedia: Propuestas Didácticas para el Nivel Secundario y Superior” (2022) and „Current Trends in Global Education: Bridging K-12 and Higher Education for an Interconnected World” (2024).

Anna Plaksiienko is a Cambridge-certified English language teacher and teacher trainer with over 15 years of experience in ELT. She holds a Master’s degree in the Theory and Methodology of TESOL as well as CELTA, TKT (Module1,2,3 Band 4), CAE (A). She has been actively involved in conducting professional development courses, sessions, and workshops for a diverse array of institutions and companies. Anna’s expertise spans several key areas, including Education for Sustainable Development, smart and strategic usage of technology in education, and teaching lexically to enhance increased learners’ outcomes. As the founder and owner of English Studio, she provides consultancy services for ESL teachers globally. Anna is also a conference speaker, frequently presenting at CPD events worldwide.

André Hedlund holds an MSc in Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol, is a Chevening Alumnus, and works as an educational consultant and teacher trainer in partnership with institutions such as National Geographic Learning, ELi Publishing, e-Future Korea, and LanguagEd. André is a guest lecturer of Bilingualism and Cognition at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, and is the author of „The Owl Factor: Reframing Your Teaching Philosophy” and „Studying with the Science of Learning.” Currently, he leads the Mind, Brain, and Education Special Interest Group at BRAZ-TESOL, is the co-host of the „Chá Pedagógico” podcast, founder of Learning Cosmos professional development hub, and serves as an e-moderator in training projects with the British Council.

Originary from Pakistan, Maryum has got extensive teaching experience with students of all ages, from primary school children and up to adults.

She believes that the key to having successful lessons lies in the degree of motivation the students have which is why she has focused a lot on this aspect all throughout her teaching career.

Scott Thornbury has taught and trained in Egypt, UK, Spain, and in his native New Zealand. Until recently, he taught on an online MA TESOL program for The New School in New York. His writing credits include several award-winning books for teachers on language and methodology, including About Language (Cambridge) and The New A-Z of ELT (Macmillan).

His latest books are 30 Language Teaching Methods,101 Grammar Questions, and 66 Essentials of Lesson Design (all Cambridge). He is also the series editor for the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers. His website is www.scottthornbury.com