MEET THE TEAM
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People with passion can change the world
Why Stars Align Exists
Stars Align was born from a simple but urgent question:
What did you do for our world and for our planet, when you had the chance?
Forty years ago, Live Aid demonstrated the power of music as a universal language—bringing the world together across borders, cultures, and politics in an unprecedented act of collective compassion and hope.
In a time of growing division and complex global challenges, Stars Align exists to revive and preserve that spirit as a living, global education movement that places those same core values back into the hands of the next generation.
Stars Align is where global unity becomes responsibility, to ensure we do not look back and ask why we did nothing when we had the chance.
These are our core values: Inspiration, Empathy, Unity, Hope, Collaboration, Accountability
We believe that the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that actually do.
OUR TEAM
We are a diverse, passionate, like-minded team of experts, journalists and artists in fields that cross areas that include science, space-technology, open-source intelligence, and business intelligence in the area of space and new space, sustainability, the arts including video production and traditional stills photography, print media, and music production.
BOARD
Board of Directors
Leadership Team
Veronika Stihler
ISU SHSSP23 I ISU ESC-TLV22 I Project & Programme Management | Strategy | Connector
'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.' - Nelson Mandela My intent, my goal, my overall vision is to provide the vehicle, the platform, the date, for the world to come together to make a global difference - for future generations to come Music, space, sustainability, our planet, our children of tomorrow My passion My WHY
Sergey Stanovkin brings a rich tapestry of international experience, creative communications, and knowledge as the BBC Studios Commercial Representative in Eurasia and Managing Partner of Dars Consulting. With an extensive background spanning public relations, international economic relations, aerophysics, space research, and strategic communications, Sergey Stanovkin seamlessly blends his profound insights from diverse sectors to deliver compelling narratives and creative solutions. His exceptional strategic communication skills and innovative approach to content production enable him to craft impactful campaigns that resonate across global audiences, driving engagement and fostering meaningful connections. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanovkin/
As the Publisher and CEO of SpaceWatch.Global, I lead a team of experts and journalists who provide global outreach, open-source intelligence, and business intelligence in the area of space and new space. With over 30 years of experience in space management, broadcast technology, information technology, and satellite communication, I deeply understand the trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic and evolving sector. My mission is to publish SpaceWatch.Global, a platform that analyses space activities of emerging markets in a geopolitical context, and to educate and inspire the next generation of space leaders and innovators. I share my knowledge and passion for space with audiences from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. I hold an MBA in Space Management from the International Space University, as well as several certifications in leadership, critical thinking, and digital sound design.
Terry Lowry is the composer of over 200 works, including piano concertos, oratorios, symphonies, chamber works, song cycles and numerous works for solo instruments, especially piano. His iTunes podcast, “Tone Poem”, through which he often releases new compositions, has subscribers in over 100 countries. He was the Georgia Music Teacher Association Commissioned Composer for 2019. As both pianist and conductor, Mr. Lowry maintains a very busy performing schedule. A Steinway Artist, he has performed over 1000 solo piano recitals throughout North America and Europe and he has appeared on the podium in the United States, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Italy. He is the Conductor and Music Director of the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, the Carrollton Wind Ensemble and the Carrollton Jazz Orchestra. He is also the Organist-Choirmaster at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Atlanta, and the pianist of the chamber ensemble Atlanta by Six. His performance repertoire ranges from Thomas Tallis to composers born in the 21st Century, and - harkening back to the days of the composer-virtuoso - he often closes his programs with improvisations on themes provided to him by the audience. He has released 17 albums, including a 2021 recording of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier. In 2012 he co-founded the online community Musical Overture and continues to serve as its CEO. Musical Overture is a digital platform that helps musicians connect and play together online with virtually no lag time through its Gig Room application. He is the Executive Producer of the award winning film (and upcoming docu-series), Hear Us, which premiered across North America in 2018, and he worked as producer on over 50 episodes of the syndicated radio program “The Hymn of the Week with Larry Frazier”. He is the volunteer chairperson of the Harmonies for Healing music therapy program at Tanner Medical Center and through a partnership between the CSO and the Carroll County Child Advocacy Center, he provides music instruction for children who are the victims of abuse and/or have been removed from dangerous environments in their homes. In addition, he volunteers each week at Carrollton Elementary School, teaching music to PreK students. He lives with his wife Tara and their five children in Carrollton, a suburb of Atlanta.
Ayush Garg
Founder, Delhi School of Artificial Intelligence
Chair, Global Youth AI Advisory Body
Delhi School of Artificial Intelligence is a pioneering modern institution that works on Democratising AI for the masses by making AI education, knowledge and training affordable and accessible for All, mapping out the technology for a Digital Human world.. We also lead the Global Youth AI Advisory Body (AI for Humanity) bringing together multidisciplinary young professionals and experts from around 30 different countries around the world to innovate in AI and work towards 'AI for Good'. Together, combining their domain expertise, the experts are producing a major report for the United Nations, UNGA 80 for September 2025
Ben Newsome
Founder Fizzics Education | Churchill Fellow | UTS Chancellor's Award for Excellence | AMP Tomorrow Maker | Aust. Small Business Champion | WSABE Winner | Collaborator | Social Impact Champion | Author
Ben Newsome founded Fizzics Education to deliver science education across Australia, having now reached 3 million kids since 2004. He is a qualified science teacher, 2013 Churchill Fellow, 2020 AMP Tomorrow Maker, 2015, 2016 & 2018 Australian Small Business Winner for Children’s Education Services, 2020 WSABE Outstanding Business Leader of the Year, 2019 Blacktown Business Person of the Year, and the receiver of both the 2023 University of Technology Sydney Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and the Faculty Award of Excellence for Science plus several Pinnacle Awards from the Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration. Ben is a board member for Educating 4 Leadership, is an advisory board member of the Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration, an Ambassador for the Association of Science Education Technicians NSW and is part of the NSW Churchill Fellows Association committee. He is also the author of ‘Be Amazing! How to teach science the way primary kids love’ & the host of the FizzicsEd Podcast. In 2012 Ben co-founded the non-profit Virtual Excursions Australia which has now grown to include over 40 major cultural institutions and departmental distance education managers, where together VEA members create collaborative video conference events and share tips and tricks on best practice. In 2015 he co-founded another non-profit called the Pinnacle Education Collaborative, a network of over 30 cultural organisations in North America that deliver virtual excursions to schools, retirement homes, remand centres and more. Ben is a regular speaker at teaching & learning conferences and presents at teacher professional development sessions for K to 12 science class delivery wherever possible. Putting together collaborative educational events with cultural organisations as well as the corporate sector is a major role these days which he thoroughly enjoys!
Sandra Tricoli
PR/Social Media Marketing at Savvy Creations
Located in Perth, Savvy Creations is a PR consultancy, marketing, social media marketing, content marketing and event management agency. We work to a set of ethics and principles that reflect our sense of social responsibility and ensure that we deliver the desired and promised PR and marketing results for our clients. Sandra Tricoli who is the Director of Savvy Creations PR, established the Agency in 2015. Sandra Tricoli holds a degree in communications with a double Major in Journalism and Public Relations and has experience working with many national and international business sectors. She is known for her persistent work morality and passion for innovation, communication, and creation. Savvy Creations pride themselves on establishing lifelong relationships with their clients. Savvy Creations believes in developing contacts with reputable firms, so our clients benefit from the relationships we have with marketers, bloggers and PR event industry influencers. We provide all the services under one umbrella. We’ve built a team of experts, so our clients benefit from better planning and a quicker response time. Above all, customers’ convenience is our priority. In addition, we provide social media courses where we teach our clients on how to use social media to engage with their target market. The social platforms that we educate our clients on are Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Our team believes in blending years of experience with the dynamic creativity of the modern digital world. Our business strategy revolves around the fact that we have to grow with our customers. At the core of our business are strong long-term relationships with our clients and industry influencers. We partner with our clients to develop communication strategies which lead them towards the success of their business. Savvy Creations PR cultivate a diverse team that upholds global standards and international PR practices through delivering strategies that are significant, creative and measurable.
Aria Nominee Ian Ritter shot his first photograph at age 5 in Singapore, and never looked back. Combining a love and deep understanding of both music and the visual arts, Ian combined both of these skillsets to carve a career and gain a worldwide reputation as a master of creating visuals, especially in and around the music universe. Ian has created visual content, from album artwork, music videos, photographs through to merch design and print materials for a broad range of artists and musical styles, including iconic names like Suzi Quatro, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather, Tommy Emmanuel, Jack Jones / Southern Sons, Electric Mary, The Androids, Jason Singh / Taxiride, Reece Mastin, Nat Allison to name just a small selection. Ian continues to learn and break the rules in creating visuals that not only complement, but elevate the artist.
Sean Sennett
Podcast & Media and Artist Engagement
SEAN SENNETT’s collection of over a thousand artist interviews reads like an enviable festival line-up with headliners like David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Bruce Springsteen. He is an accomplished musician, radio broadcaster, podcast host and author, with work appearing in The Age, The Australian and Rolling Stone magazine, both at home and in the US. For two decades, Sean owned and ran Queensland’s highest-circulating street press, Time Off. He continues to live and work in Brisbane today.
Flangr is a Chilean astro-pop artist who mixes astronomy with his music. He is the first artist in the world to make pop music with sounds from space thanks to the ALMA Observatory: “the universe in your headphones”. Flangr is an official member of the Chilean Space Association and Converse All Star. He has had 3 tours in the US and 1 in Argentina. He was part of the opening show of FIDAE 2022, FIG Festival and participated in Expo Dubai with 3 shows at the Jubilee Stage, where Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay also performed.
Ambassadors & Collaborators
Larry Klein
Producer, American Music Awards,
Live Aid
Joining Dick Clark Productions in the mid-70's, award-winning Larry Klein has produced numerous shows spanning multiple genres from series to live awards shows, such as 'MTV Music Awards' and the 'American Music Awards'. Along the way he has also produced live events such as 1985's 'Live Aid' on ABC and 2004's 'Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope' for NBC. Along with his television credits, Larry has been behind hundreds of corporate dates, major festivals, fairs, and casino events. For the last 20 years, Larry has spent his time living between Los Angeles and Turks and Caicos. Larry's passion in life is working with talent. 2015 he was featured on the cover of Turks and Caicos Magazine.
Gregory A. McPherson
Producer, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Performer, Film Producer
Dr. Gregory Allen McPherson is a major figure in entertainment, being one of the most sought-after song writers, composers, arrangers, performers, conductors & producers involved in modern music. Some of the artists and ensembles benefiting from his talents and expertise include jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughn, Clark Terry, James Moody, Max Roach, Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Warren Hill, Betty Carter, George Russell, Ron McCurdy, and Nancy Wilson. In television, R&B, popular music, film, & musical theatre have included his work with New Kids on The Block, Bobby Womack, Smokey Robinson, Kashif, James Brown, The Pointer Sisters, Jayne Kennedy, Bill Overton, Lalah Hathaway, Tiffany, Larry Leon Hamlin, Patti Austin, Tatyanna Ali, Martin Lawrence, Boyz II Men, Tamia, James Ingram, Bon Jovi, Peabo Bryson, Cindy Lauper, Vanessa Williams, Howard Hewett, and Peter Wolf. He has also worked as lead and associate producer on several production teams for recordings that have won several Grammys, Oscars, NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards, Emmys, ASCAP & BMI Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Grammy Legends Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. Dr. McPherson has produced records for Quincy Jones’ QWEST Records, CBS, RCA, BMG, MCA, Elektra, Capitol, Arista, SONY, Atlantic, Polygram, Warner Brothers, Motown, EPIC, Disney, and several other labels, and as a ghost writer, orchestrator, arranger and composer for soundtracks for New Line Cinema, PBS, SPLC, ABC-Disney, Sony Pictures, and Columbia-TriStar. His label, Silent Images, was also distributed by QWEST/Warner Brothers Records for his multiple jazz, pop, r&b, and longform pieces. In advertising, he’s had some of the biggest ads and clients around the world including Coca- Cola, Pepsi, Mattel. McDonald’s, General Electric, Toyota, Lincoln Properties, L. A. Gear, Fox T.V., Reebok, The New England Patriots, ComputerVision, Pizza Hut, The NBA, Hasbro and many others. Many of his classical works have been performed by several orchestras and select chamber groups from & including the Florida Symphony, The Carolina Philharmonic, The Dallas Symphony, The Atlanta Symphony, The Charleston Symphony Orchestra, The Boston Ballet, The Louisville Orchestra, The Alabama Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Baltimore Philharmonic Orchestra, The Boston Pops Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others. As an educator, Dr. McPherson is the Choir Director at Delaware State University. He has served at the University of South Florida, Texas College, Washington State University, Alabama State University, The University of Massachusetts, and a lecturer at Boston College, Harvard University, Kobe University and The New England Conservatory of Music. He has also held senior leadership & faculty post at the Berklee College of Music, Allen University - Morris Brown College, and Stillman College respectively. He has a BFA from Alabama State University and an MM from the University of South Florida, with additional studies at The University of the Virgin Islands, Universite d’Etat d’Haiti, as well as the New England Conservatory of Music with noted black composer & author, George Russell. He is also the recipient of several Honorary Doctoral Degrees, and the Doctor of Music Degree (honoris causa). He has also recently completed a new book on the roles and responsibilities of African-Americans in today’s music industry entitled “A Black Face In Today’s Music Business”, which takes a clear open analytic view on many problems in entertainment, thus, offering suggestions for possible solutions. For his outstanding humanitarian achievements he has recently been awarded the prestigious The Quincy Jones Leadership and Humanitarian Award.
Michael Hawthorne
Klean Energy Kulture
Rebranding the Clean Energy Movement
Michael Hawthorne Jr. is a humble and dedicated Climate Policy Activist who has devoted his life to advocating for Energy Justice and to seeing an equitable Clean Energy Economy transition take place in Black Communities. Michael serves on numerous climate and energy focused boards and serves as a stakeholder for regulatory agencies. Additionally, Michael is the Co-Founder of Klean Energy Kulture, a not-for-profit production company that partners with Billboard Topping Hit Music Artists to accelerate awareness of the Clean Energy transition in Black Communities. Over the last decade, Michael has led pivotal campaigns that successfully generated awareness and engagement in Communities of Color resulting in substantial participation in Climate Change Advocacy. Through Michael's leadership experiences as the Georgia Deputy Field Director for Barack Obama's first Presidential Campaign to Vice President Al Gore's Repower America Campaign, Greenpeace, and the Beyond Coal Campaign with the Sierra Club, Michael has garnered the respect and trust of High-Ranking Elected Officials, Partners at Climate Focused Venture Funds, and Community Stakeholders at all levels.
Corey "Mr. Hanky" Dennard
Klean Energy Kulture
Hip-hop producer
Corey Dennard, better known as producer Mr. Hanky, is a chart-topping beatmaker born and raised in Atlanta. Riding a newfound wave right now with the success of the 2021 summer anthem, “Twerkulator” by City Girls, for him, it’s just another addition to an already impressive resume. A Mr. Collipark-protege, Hanky’s decade-long resume includes hit songs from T.I., Soulja Boy, 2 Chainz, Colonel Loud and Lil Duval. Hanky’s big break came in the 2016 DJ Luke Nasty hit “On The Way.” Before “Twerkulator,” Hanky’s biggest hit to date was the 2018 Lil Duval smash, “Smile (Best Life).” Mr. Hanky’s ability to tailor fit any artist’s persona to his signature sound, at will, and produce a chart-topping hit, consecutively, is a one-of-a-kind specialty that only a select group of superproducers can manifest. While the foundation is laid with deep basses, the producer’s selection of rarities are perfectly well-blended and unlocked the artist’s creativity to uncharted territories that the airwaves attract to, instantly. While Hanky been cranking out hit after hit, after hit for some time now, he’s provided an all-new, all-original club-ready go-to sound when we need it the most. The world is ready to party again and Mr. Hanky has given us an anthem that bridges the gap between ages and given us a decade of hits that will have us all dancing together from now till the end of time.
Brandon Rochon
Klean Energy Kulture
Managing Chief Creative Officer - Kastner
Brandon has spent his entire career proving that advertising means nothing if it can’t make a lasting impact on culture. But like any visionary, he learned the rules before he broke them. From New York to Paris to Chicago, Brandon cut his chops on some of the world’s most iconic brands; Absolut Vodka, McDonalds, PlayStation, Heineken, Coke Zero and eventually taking the helm as Global Creative Director of Samsung during his time at Leo Burnett. After that, he continued west to Los Angeles, becoming the Managing CCO and CEO of Kastner North America. At the same time, Brandon was driving other entrepreneurial triumphs as co-founder and CCO of SNKR INC. and founder and CCO of Fluent – a venture-building innovation studio with the cultural impact of a lifestyle brand. And despite all the accolades that have come with Brandon’s success, including 2019 AAF Hall of Achievement Inductee and Ad Age 40 Under 40. When you meet Brandon, you’ll realize he’s just a big kid with a big laugh and an even bigger heart.
Aaron Olivera
Founder, Chief Executive Officer EARTH 300
Aaron Olivera has been an entrepreneur all his life, having worked in a myriad of industries; from training and development, to publishing, hospitality, retail and yachting. In 2015 Aaron learnt about the urgency and the gravity of the state of our planet and now dedicates himself exclusively to its preservation.
Michelle is a leader sitting across the space and resources industries intersection. Passionate about space and making space accessible to all, rethinking how we mine, how we bring together a more diverse workforce, how we create opportunities via mentoring and how we decarbonise the planet. She was awarded the Australian Space Professional of the Year in 2023 and committed to using this award to focus on continuing to bring together the space and resources communities – to solve the largest challenges we face in mining, in our pursuit of zero emissions. Our future is however resting on a new generation as well, and so she is also firmly focussed on bringing the Milo Mission Academy for Lunar Exploration to Australia-New Zealand eventually Indo-Pacific. The Milo Mission Academy is modeled after the highly successful NASA-sponsored L'SPACE Program and leverages a successful, award-winning heritage that has empowered thousands of STEM students in the US. And so her goal is to help empower those in Indo Pacific as well.
Dr. Chris Boshuizen
Publisher and CEO at President, Center Board Member of Space for Humanity; Australian astronaut, scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and musician
Dr. Chris Boshuizen is an Australian astronaut, scientist, entrepreneur, investor, and musician. Boshuizen completed his PhD in physics at The University of Sydney in 2005 before accepting a position at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. There Dr Boshuizen established Singularity University and most notably co-created the NASA Phonesat. After leaving NASA he co-founded Planet Labs, the first company to employ nanosatellites in a commercial capacity, radically reducing the cost of lifting payloads into space and paving the way for today’s large constellations of spacecraft. Today, Planet operates the largest fleet of Earth-observing satellites and maps the entire surface of the Earth daily, enabling key insights into our changing world that were previously unobtainable. Boshuizen was the 2014 Advance Global Australian of the Year award winner, and has subsequently become a member of the Advance Board of Directors where he is an active spokesperson for successful Australians abroad. He is the founder and managing partner of Interplanetary Capital, an angel fund focusing on new space industry and deep tech start-up companies , leveraging his prior experience as a company operator, and investment Partner at Bay Area-based DCVC. Boshuizen is also a musician and releases music under the name “Dr Chrispy”. He also runs an independent record label, Interplanetary Records, which supports over a dozen independent musical artists. In 2023 he was an executive producer on an upcoming film, starring Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, which draws upon the writer-director’s personal experience as a military veteran. Dr Boshuizen flew to space as a commercial astronaut on Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-18 mission on October 13 2021. Chris was previously the (first!) Executive Director of the Space Generation Advisory Council (formerly UNSGAC), a non-voting member of UN COPUOUS. SGAC aims to represent youth view on space to the UN and to other stakeholders. He raised funds for the organization, ensured the smooth operation of the office, and maintained our youth delegates' presence at UN events around the world. He further ensures the smooth election of SGAC's global chairs and regional and local coordinators, which are elected with a UN-style system. He also ran SGAC's annual conference, the Space Generation Congress (SGC), from 2003 through 2009, bringing together over 100 delegates from almost every country. In 2022-23 he was UN World Space Week Global Ambassador, mentoring 6 university students from different coutnries around the world. He is currently working with UN Chamber Music Society on a new record as tribute the to Voyager Golden record, which will include recordings from all major blocks of the UN.
As a pioneering force in the Australian space sector, I have steered transformative initiatives across non-profits, high-tech entrepreneurship, and strategic consulting. Since December 2018, I have served as the Vice President of the National Space Society (NSS) in Australia, driving significant organizational growth and ensuring our activities resonate deeply with our foundational mission. As Strategic Initiatives Delivery Lead at AROSE, I am part of the team working on an Australian mission, the “Roo-ver” lunar rover project. This Phase 2 project aims to utilize lunar soil for NASA’s In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) team. My role involves building partnerships and organizing key events to support our mission objectives. As the founder of the New Horizons Summit, I have successfully convened leaders from top industry players including Blue Origin, SpaceX, Amazon, Rolls Royce, Microsoft, Axiom, NVIDIA, Lockheed Martin, and Rocket Labs. These summits focus on creating a sustainable lunar presence and developing a robust supply chain. In the entrepreneurial arena: As CEO and Co-founder of Arbiter, I led the company to a million-dollar valuation by developing advanced security solutions. Our work focuses on general security, leveraging innovative approaches and strategic partnerships, particularly with NVIDIA and Microsoft, supported by Moonshot, an investment group composed of founders from some of Australia’s largest space companies. At Arlula, a satellite imagery marketplace, my contributions in developing growth strategies and enhancing sales processes were instrumental in the company’s early growth stages. Since then, Arlula has achieved a valuation in the tens of millions, with substantial investments from organizations like Lockheed Martin and Main Sequence Ventures. During my two years as an Advisory Board Member and Director of Innovation for the United Nations Association in Australia, I engaged with global space industry leaders and government officials, fostering pivotal dialogues for space development. In my consultancy role at PwC, I enhanced Australia’s space tech capabilities, effectively managed the Seven Sisters lunar mission, and developed strategic digital solutions for the Defence and government sectors. Personally, I am deeply committed to sustainability in space, focusing on developing supply chains that enable individuals to be as self-sufficient as possible, whether here on Earth or in space. This vision drives my efforts to promote sustainable practices within the space industry and beyond. With a proven track record of visionary leadership and strategic innovation, I am committed to advancing the NSS mission, driving innovative initiatives, and fostering global collaborations that extend our impact in the space industry.
Joaquín Macaya C
Artist at FLANGR
Flangr is a Chilean astro-pop artist who mixes astronomy with his music. He is the first artist in the world to make pop music with sounds from space thanks to the ALMA Observatory: “the universe in your headphones”. Flangr is an official member of the Chilean Space Association and Converse All Star. He has had 3 tours in the US and 1 in Argentina. He was part of the opening show of FIDAE 2022, FIG Festival and participated in Expo Dubai with 3 shows at the Jubilee Stage, where Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay also performed.
The Global Youth AI Advisory Body brings together multidisciplinary Young Professionals, Experts and Specialists from across all continents and major geographies, to map, debate, discuss and report on the impact of artificial intelligence on Humanity The Body is in the midst of expansion and 15 additional Young Specialists are joining us from different countries. The new members will be announced on 1 Jan 2025
Future of Space
We are a pioneering initiative committed to redefining our tomorrow in Space and here on Earth. Our vision is bold: to transcend boundaries and transform Space from being a distant frontier into a shared domain that enriches and elevates humanity while addressing Earth’s challenges. Space is the continuation of the human story.
Ian Preston
Deputy Principal
NSW Virtual STEM Academy
Global Teacher Ambassador (Varkey Foundation)
Ian is an accomplished transformational educator leader with proven experience over 34 years in implementing and nurturing innovative educational programs. Ian offers a history of success in delivering quality educational programs and equity for students in regional, rural and remote communities. His contribution to regional, state, national and international STEM Education Programs has achieved extensive recognition both locally, nationally and globally. Ian is one of 400 Global Teacher Ambassadors following his top 50 finalist award for the 2023 Global Teacher Prize by the Varkey Foundation. The Top 50 finalists of the 2023 Global Teacher Prize re selected from over 8000 nominations from 130 countries. They come from all corners of the globe and are all champions of change and are inspiring their students and communities around them. They advocate for inclusivity and for child rights, integrate migrants into classrooms and nurture students’ abilities and confidence.
Niko DeCesare
Partnerships Lead
Shared Studios
Experienced in business dev & branding. Living and working across 5 continents has taught me that I thrive in dynamic environments where I'm thrown into the deep end. Engaging with new cultures has taught me empathy and seeing how business works (and sometimes doesn’t) has shown me the importance of innovation and knowledge sharing. I'm looking to apply those lessons to bettering the world we live in (environment, social justice, urbanization, the list goes on & on..unfortunately). Shared_Studios brings the world together despite distance and difference. Through immersive portals, we connect people and organizations all around the globe for transformative experiences that feel as if they are in the same room together. Through curated experiences, we explore the shared human experience and bring together inspiring minds to tackle the world's most important challenges.
Valary Oleinik
USDLA 2024-2025 President and Advisory Board
Valary Oleinik is half geek and half artist and 100% committed to helping people develop and deliver more engaging and effective learning experiences and lives by the motto “learners deserve better.” Her decades of experience in workplace training and higher ed professional development and her innovative approach as a speaker and consultant on gamification of learning and creative problem solving have earned her the titles of "maven of new thinking" and the "MacGyver of training." Valary wears many hats: a Project Manager at the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; the Owner and Chief Disruptor at her consultancy DandeLearn LLC, where she offers one-on-one coaching, as well as workshops and keynotes; and the 2024-25 President of the USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association). Valary is also a certified facilitator of The BOX Experience, a proven methodology for those times when thinking out of the box is not enough. Throughout her endeavors, she is assisted by her cat and bunny who are lousy typists but great at shredding papers. United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) was the first nonprofit distance learning association in the United States to advocate for and support distance learning research, development and praxis across the complete arena of education, business, health, and government. Founded in 1987, its vision and mission to advocate, research, and share best practices in the utilization of distance learning modalities in education, business, health, and government nationally and internationally continues today. USDLA offers its members networking opportunities through its annual conference, monthly/weekly webinars, and discussion with peers, thought leaders, and researchers in the field of distance education. Volunteer opportunities include committee membership, support to local state chapter, and/or selection to the Board of Directors. USDLA represents constituencies in education, business, health, and government nationally and internationally as its voice continues to influence policy development, research, leadership, and best practices in Distance Education.
Tami Moehring
Director of Member Relations, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
Tami Moehring manages overall CILC Member operations providing support, training, and mentoring to Content Providers and educators. In her role, Tami helps CILC grow and expand its impact for CILC Content Providers, as well as educators and students. Before coming to CILC, she spent over 10 years in museum education working at various museums including the Minnesota Historical Society. She has presented at state and national conferences on the importance of virtual learning. Tami co-authored the book Museums & Interactive Learning, which was released in 2022, an most recently co-founded and co-hosts the popular education podcast, Why Distance Learning?. The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to igniting a passion for learning by expanding access to treasured museums, science centers, aquariums, zoos, historic sites, field experts, and more. Founded in 1994, CILC has been a leader in the interactive virtual learning space before “remote learning” and “virtual experiences” were catchphrases. Over three decades, CILC has developed hundreds of partnerships with over 200 Content Providers and has delivered over 130,000 virtual field trips to 3.6 million learners in over 112 countries throughout the world. CILC is committed to changing lives by making learning accessible for all. For more information about CILC, please visit www.cilc.org.
Allyson Mitchell
Director of Partnership and Engagement, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
Before joining CILC as Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Allyson Mitchell has held leadership positions within departments of learning in art, history, and university museums. In these roles, she supervised the design of multiple Distance Learning studios, the development of the supporting Interactive Virtual Learning programming, and the training of affiliated staff or experts. Allyson has presented at a series of national and international conferences to discuss the implications of integrating distance learning in museum settings and diverse learning environments. Allyson has actively published scholarship on this topic, including being the co-author and contributing artist of the 2020 book Museums & Interactive Virtual Learning. Most recently, Allyson co-founded and co-hosts of the popular education podcast, Why Distance Learning, to continue her research in the field. The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to igniting a passion for learning by expanding access to treasured museums, science centers, aquariums, zoos, historic sites, field experts, and more. Founded in 1994, CILC has been a leader in the interactive virtual learning space before “remote learning” and “virtual experiences” were catchphrases. Over three decades, CILC has developed hundreds of partnerships with over 200 Content Providers and has delivered over 130,000 virtual field trips to 3.6 million learners in over 112 countries throughout the world. CILC is committed to changing lives by making learning accessible for all. For more information about CILC, please visit www.cilc.org.
Karen Player
Director Virtual Excursions Australia and Founder Australian Environmental Education
Karen is a trailblazer in environmental and science education, widely recognized for her leadership and innovative methods of engaging diverse audiences in Australia and beyond. As the founder of Australian Environmental Education and the Director of Virtual Excursions Australia, she has successfully combined her passion for science, sustainability, and education with immersive learning and digital platforms. As the Director of Virtual Excursions Australia, Karen has shown remarkable foresight in leveraging digital platforms to expand the reach of science education. Under her leadership, the organization has become a prominent provider of virtual learning experiences, enabling students, educators, and the public to access high-quality environmental content from anywhere in the world. These virtual excursions deliver interactive and engaging content that addresses critical environmental issues, making science and sustainability more accessible and engaging for all.
Edward Filetti
CEO, ClickView
ClickView empowers teachers to discover quality videos to engage and better understand their students. Our team is driven by a shared passion: we believe video has the unique ability to engage, inspire, and improve learning outcomes for students of all ages and learning needs. ClickView is home to high-quality videos for every learning level and subject. With ClickView, teachers: - Find the perfect video, for any class, in seconds. - Boost engagement with interactive video. - Personalize learning with data-driven insights. ClickView was founded in Australia where it is used by 9 in 10 secondary students and 1 in 2 primary students. Having now expanded to the US and the UK, ClickView is revolutionizing how teachers use video to reach every student - one classroom at a time. Discover why ClickView is the leading video solution for schools: clickview.net
Edwina Baden-Powell
Head of Production, ClickView
ClickView empowers teachers to discover quality videos to engage and better understand their students. Our team is driven by a shared passion: we believe video has the unique ability to engage, inspire, and improve learning outcomes for students of all ages and learning needs. ClickView is home to high-quality videos for every learning level and subject. With ClickView, teachers: - Find the perfect video, for any class, in seconds. - Boost engagement with interactive video. - Personalize learning with data-driven insights. ClickView was founded in Australia where it is used by 9 in 10 secondary students and 1 in 2 primary students. Having now expanded to the US and the UK, ClickView is revolutionizing how teachers use video to reach every student - one classroom at a time. Discover why ClickView is the leading video solution for schools: clickview.net
Sekitto Francis
Coordinator for Distance, Opened and E-Learning for East African School, Makerere University, Uganda
Ssekitto is also an information and knowledge professional, trainer and speaker. Ssekitto holds a bachelor's degree in library and information science, and a masters in information technology with a strong bias in management of records Ssekitto also serves as a coordinator for distance, opened and e-learning for East African school for library and information science at Makerere university, and a champion of e-learning under the auspices of Mastercard foundation e-learning project at MakerereSsekitto Francis is an experienced instructional designer, who champions the creation of learning experiences and materials in a manner that results in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. Good Shepherd schools is a Christian centered, Nursery and Primary school serving over 523 kawaala Learners in the community and beyond. Since it's founding, Good Shepherd has continued to grow the academic and sports programs helping to elevate students to their highest level of achievements. Developing character strength has led our learners to grow into good serving citizens across the globe.
Kasumba Hannington
Research Secretary, National Private Educational Institutions Association, Uganda
Kasumba Hannington is an educationist. A teacher by profession. I am the director of Good Shepherd Primary School in Kampala Uganda. I'm also the Research Secretary of the National Private Educational Institutions Association in Uganda. I hold a bachelor's degree in education specialized in Early Childhood Education.
Dinoj Mahendranathan
Head of DreamSpace Records
I'm Dinoj, a dedicated and passionate musician with over 3+ years of experience in the industry. Through digital composition and track recording, I create captivating musical experiences. As an entrepreneur, I build sustainable opportunities for artists, fostering a thriving community. Additionally, I find joy in teaching, guiding aspiring musicians and inspiring the next generation of creative minds. DreamSpace Academy is a non-profit social enterprise tackling local socio-economic and environmental challenges through challenge-based learning, grassroots innovation and impact venture building. Our mission is to achieve sustainable development goals in Sri Lanka by empowering underserved communities, protecting environmental ecosystems, facilitating peacebuilding and fostering sustainable startups. Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka caused a massive impact on socio-economy and environmental ecosystems. International aid provided significant support, but imported solutions couldn't solve fundamental local problems sustainably. We set out to empower locals to solve complex local challenges
Kamini Velusamy
Project Manager DreamSpace Academy
DreamSpace Academy is a non-profit social enterprise tackling local socio-economic and environmental challenges through challenge-based learning, grassroots innovation and impact venture building. Our mission is to achieve sustainable development goals in Sri Lanka by empowering underserved communities, protecting environmental ecosystems, facilitating peacebuilding and fostering sustainable startups. Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka caused a massive impact on socio-economy and environmental ecosystems. International aid provided significant support, but imported solutions couldn't solve fundamental local problems sustainably. We set out to empower locals to solve complex local challenges
Angeline Lakshanya Muthulingam
Head - Partnerships DreamSpace Academy
DreamSpace Academy is a non-profit social enterprise tackling local socio-economic and environmental challenges through challenge-based learning, grassroots innovation and impact venture building. Our mission is to achieve sustainable development goals in Sri Lanka by empowering underserved communities, protecting environmental ecosystems, facilitating peacebuilding and fostering sustainable startups. Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka caused a massive impact on socio-economy and environmental ecosystems. International aid provided significant support, but imported solutions couldn't solve fundamental local problems sustainably. We set out to empower locals to solve complex local challenges.
Daria Chernova
Film Director at Dars Films
We help countries, companies, and individuals to communicate in the most creative and effective way of targeting its audiences across the globe. Dars Consulting has many success stories to tell since the company was registered in 1999. We work with leading international brands, governments, and high-profile people.