Keynote Speakers

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim is currently Director at SEAMEO Secretariat (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat) (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027). She is also Honourary Fellow at MASA Institute, Senior Advisor of Edvolution, and Board Member of Teach for Malaysia Foundation and Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka.

Datuk Habibah is the former Director General of Education Malaysia and has served the Ministry of Education Malaysia for more than 34 years before retiring on 6 April 2021. She began her career as a secondary school teacher and among posts held are the Head of the Delivery Management Office for the Executive Director of the Education Performance and Delivery Unit, Director of the Educational Planning and Research Division, and Deputy Director General of Education (Policy and Curriculum). She has extensive experience in policy development, macro planning, programme implementation and evaluation. She played an instrumental role in the development of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, Education Development Master Plan 2006-2010 and Education Development 2001-2010.

Her publications (with other authors) include: 21st Century Competencies and Structural Education Reform, in APEC 2018 Report on Education and Economic Development (2019); Model, Instruments and Unity Index and their Impact on the Unity Policy, in Creative Education 2019, 10(12); and Formulating Policies for Gender-Responsive STEM Education, in IBE-UNESCO (2017), A Resource Pack for Gender-Responsive STEM Education.

Dr. Geoff Payne is the current President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia. Prior to taking on this role in January 2020, he served as the Vice-President, Research since 2015. Dr. Payne is also a Professor with Division of Medical Sciences in the field of vascular physiology. During time at UNBC, Dr. Payne has served in a number of leadership roles including the inaugural Assistant Dean for Education and Research between 2009-2015.

Dr. Payne came to UNBC in June 2004 as founding faculty of the medical school following a Post-Doctoral fellowship at Yale University in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and John B. Pierce Laboratory. He holds a PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland in the field of cardiovascular and renal physiology. Dr. Payne has also held a number of leadership positions at the national and international level and various Board appointments.

Dr. Tim Loreman joined CUE in 2003 as a professor in the Faculty of Education. He is known around the world for his work in inclusive education and pedagogy, and holds a Diploma in Teaching from Monash University, Graduate Diploma in Special Education from Deakin University, Master of Education from Deakin University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Education Psychology from Monash University. Prior to being installed as CUE’s eighth President and Vice-Chancellor, he served as Vice-President Academic and Provost.

Under his leadership, CUE has grown into a place of spirit and discovery, offering students from around the world a boutique learning experience that prioritizes wellness, curiosity, and active citizenship

Dr. Nathalia Holtzman is the Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success at Queens College, City University of New York, and an Associate Professor of Biology. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and her PhD from the University of Oregon. A developmental biologist, she joined Queens College in 2005, where her research has focused on heart development and aquatic toxicology.

Before her current role, Dr. Holtzman served as Chair of the Biology Department and Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. As Associate Provost, she oversees the Learning Commons, Writing Center, Office of Experiential Education, Center for Career Engagement and Internships, First-Year Experience, Office of Honors and Scholarships, and the Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) program. Her current priorities include building a Transfer Hub to improve institutional pathways, investing in experiential learning, and scaling data-informed practices that close equity gaps.

Under Dr. Holtzman’s leadership, Queens College has achieved measurable gains in student success and equity. The number of peer tutoring sessions has more than doubled—surpassing 10,000 annually—while the introduction of math recitations has led to a 10% increase in average course grades among participating students. Her office has secured over $1.5 million in scholarships through private philanthropy and competitive grants, expanding access to high-impact academic opportunities. In support of transfer students, Dr. Holtzman has spearheaded efforts to accelerate credit evaluation and course equivalency decisions, reducing time to degree and improving retention for this critical student population.

Looking ahead, Dr. Holtzman is focused on embedding career readiness into the academic experience—strengthening employer partnerships, expanding paid experiential learning, and ensuring all students graduate with a clear pathway to meaningful careers.