OEGlobal Board Elections 2026

On LinkedIn

Biography:
Doctor of Engineering, Master of Design, Education, and Technology, and Industrial Designer. Associate Professor in the Design Department at Tecnologico de Monterrey and Professor Researcher at the Educational Technology Research Unit of the Institute for the Future of Education. Author of various academic research projects on education and design, as well as projects for accessibility and inclusion at the public and private sectors. Speaker at national and international forums and author of various indexed publications. Her areas of research are Design for Inclusion, Educational Technology, Qualitative Research, and Design Methodologies. She has completed research stays at institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), University of Leeds (United Kingdom), and Chiba University (Japan). Founding member of the Inter-University Design Workshop in Mexico City and peer reviewer of Design Programs in Mexico for COMAPROD. She belongs to international research networks such as the Knowledge Equity Network, the Systemic Design Association, and the International Society of the Learning Sciences. She is also a member of the Mexican Council for Educational Research and the National Researchers System (SNI) in Mexico.

Motivation:
The opportunity to serve on this board of directors will allow me to contribute to a global initiative that is a leader in open education and brings together institutions and organizations seeking ways to continue or integrate best practices for the benefit of people in contexts that limit their access to education. My specific contribution is extensive experience in fundraising and sustainability strategies, gained through my work managing open education projects. I also bring expertise in activities that foster member development and strengthen the sense of belonging within working groups through initiatives and events that strategically connect people, facilitate reflection, and create opportunities for analysis to support the growth of these initiatives.

Through my experience as a researcher and educator, I have had the opportunity to collaborate on numerous projects with a diverse group of valuable individuals dedicated to developing forms and strategies for open education, drawing from academia, civil society, and disciplinary communities.

These projects have allowed me to gain experience and knowledge on how to create new options for open education. For example, events such as the 2024 Bilbao Bootcamp—which brought together more than 80 people from institutions and organizations around the world, including OEG—have given rise to specific open education projects and initiatives to continue advancing this movement. Through this experience and others like it, I was also able to develop the idea of publishing two books of manifestos that articulate this community’s goals for disseminating this work and inspiring more people to collaborate on open education.

My recent work has focused on the research and development of projects that make education more accessible to different populations, always with a focus on equity and inclusion. For example, the ComplexHub project is a repository that collects open educational resources in Spanish, filling a significant gap in the development of networks and communities for the production and dissemination of high-quality open educational resources and using emerging technologies to maximize the benefits, always with people at the center.

Vision:
Promote the development and translation of up-to-date, pertinent, and relevant materials and resources that serve different populations around the world—and especially in Latin America and among the Spanish-speaking population—in coordination with institutions and their representatives who are part of my network.

Collaborate with board members to design new initiatives that will engage institutions and organizations not yet involved in OEGlobal’s activities, using specific strategies tailored to different audiences and regions, and understanding their needs and priorities through dialogue and co-creation processes.

Host an edition of the OEGlobal Conference at my institution, the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in 2028 to foster the continuation of efforts toward open education and the creation of new collaboration hubs with Mexican and Latin American institutions.

Contribute my experience in designing initiatives and interventions to actively support the board’s work, strengthen existing initiatives, and expand OEGlobal’s efforts to institutions and sectors that have not yet participated, such as the Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES) and similar organizations.

Ideas:
As part of the Field Building initiative, define and research a taxonomy—for reference and training purposes—of economic sustainability models based on open-resource strategies adopted by institutions and organizations around the world, through interviews and documentary research.

As part of the Knowledge Exchange initiative, convene expert networks (or working groups) to organize co-creation sessions with various regional stakeholders, fostering opportunities for dialogue and collaboration to design context-specific solutions that expand open education initiatives in different contexts.

As part of the Value Co-creation initiative, propose and promote repositories and systems that enable the reporting and consultation of strategies for adapting and tailoring open educational resources to different contexts—in terms of language, language type, level of complexity, etc.

As a regular outreach effort, publish OEGlobal members’ initiatives aimed at designing strategies, initiatives, products, or OERs to publicize and encourage small-scale actions, in addition to showcasing the OEGlobal awards.

Expertise: Innovation and strategic design for organizations.
My experience in fundraising and project sustainability is based on the development and management of projects funded by institutional and international agency grants (such as Erasmus), in which projects are carried out in collaboration with consortia and experts from various countries and institutions, such the Maker Women Stem project. All resources generated through these projects result in open educational resources and platforms.

Regarding Membership Growth and Engagement, I have experience in developing social activation initiatives through the Interuniversity Design Workshop, an academic and civic initiative aimed at generating proposals for community interventions in Mexico City. The workshop held annual sessions from 2018 to 2024, thanks to the participation of its members and a growing and active community of almost 500 designers though anual calls and networking within design schools.

In terms of event planning and services, my experience includes designing and coordinating events such as the 2024 Bilbao Bootcamp, the 2025 UNESCO cathedra, and the 2026 Transition Design conference to be held in July. For these events, I collaborated with a team to design the experience, manage operations and logistics, and conduct follow-up work to generate academic outputs and apply for funding for educational development projects.

In all of these experiences, my skills as a strategic designer have allowed me to visualize the systems and their connections between academia, and social organizations’ stakeholders, that come into play in every issue and situation, always with an eye toward opportunities for collaboration and innovative problem-solving.

LinkedIn • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Francis Brown Taylor is a dynamic and accomplished Education Leader with over 16 years of experience in teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, and school administration. As Ghana Director of the International Teachers Association and a UNESCO MGIEP Global Citizenship Education Graduate, he brings both international credibility and grassroots expertise in open and inclusive education. His work integrating AI and digital pedagogy, training 100+ volunteers and educators, and leading professional development initiatives demonstrates a strong commitment to OEGlobal’s mission of advancing Open Education worldwide. His cross-sector experience spanning early childhood education, senior high school instruction, and higher-level teacher training positions him to meaningfully contribute to strategic governance and board-level leadership.

Biography:
Francis Brown Taylor is an education leader, teacher trainer, and curriculum specialist with over 16 years of experience in teaching, educational leadership, and professional development. Based in Ghana, he has trained educators, supervised schools, and led initiatives that promote quality, inclusive, and technology-enabled education. He currently serves as Ghana Director of the International Teachers Association and has collaborated with local and international organizations to strengthen teacher capacity and expand access to learning opportunities.
Francis is a UNESCO MGIEP Global Citizenship Education Graduate, a NACCA Certified Master Trainer, and an advocate for Open Educational Resources (OER), artificial intelligence in education, and digital learning. His work focuses on empowering educators, supporting underserved communities, and fostering global collaboration. Drawing on extensive experience in governance, training, and educational innovation, he is committed to helping OEGlobal advance its mission of making high-quality education more open, accessible, equitable, and impactful for learners and educators worldwide

Vision:
Foster global partnerships among educators, institutions, governments, and organizations to advance innovation and collaboration in Open Education.
Support the sustainable growth of OEGlobal through strategic governance, financial stewardship, and ethical leadership.
Promote capacity building by expanding professional development opportunities in digital learning, AI, and open educational practices.
Ensure that diverse regional voices are represented in OEGlobal’s decision-making and strategic priorities.
Strengthen OEGlobal’s global impact by supporting its mission to make high-quality education more accessible, inclusive, and collaborative for all.

Ideas:
I envision OEGlobal as the world’s leading catalyst for equitable, open, and innovative education. My priority is to expand the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) by strengthening partnerships with educational institutions, governments, NGOs, and educators, particularly in the Global South. I would champion the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve access, personalization, and the creation of open learning resources. I also believe OEGlobal should invest in building the capacity of educators through professional development, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing communities. By promoting diversity, inclusion, multilingual resources, and sustainable collaboration, OEGlobal can empower more learners and educators while accelerating progress toward quality education for all. I am committed to contributing strategic leadership, ethical governance, and a collaborative spirit to help advance this vision.

Expertise: Open Education, AI in Education, Curriculum Development & Teacher Training
Sustainability: I have experience developing and leading education initiatives through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and resource mobilization. As the Founder of BASEI Global Education and through my leadership roles in education, I have worked to establish sustainable programmes that strengthen institutions, empower educators, and expand access to quality learning.
Membership Growth and Engagement: I have successfully built and supported professional learning communities by recruiting members, facilitating workshops, mentoring educators, and fostering collaboration. My experience with national and international education networks has strengthened member participation and long-term engagement.
Events and Services: I have organized and facilitated educational conferences, teacher training workshops, webinars, and professional development programmes for educators and school leaders. My focus is on delivering high-quality, impactful learning experiences that respond to the evolving needs of the education community.
Open Education, AI in Education, Curriculum Development & Teacher Training: With over 16 years of experience in education, I am a curriculum specialist, teacher trainer, and advocate for Open Educational Resources (OER). I actively promote the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and learning and have trained educators in curriculum implementation, digital pedagogy, and innovative instructional practices. My work is centered on improving educational quality, inclusion, and access through open and technology-enabled learning.

Website

Motivation:
I am pleased to nominate Başak Büyükçelen for the OEGlobal Board of Directors. Başak brings a rare combination of lived experience with open education, senior leadership in the OER ecosystem, and a deep personal commitment to making education accessible to all.
As CEO of Pressbooks, one of the most widely used open publishing platforms in higher education, Başak operates at the heart of open educational infrastructure. She understands not just the ideals of open education, but the practical technology and institutional relationships that make it work.

What sets Başak apart is that her commitment to OER is deeply personal. Having encountered firsthand the barriers that textbook costs create for students, she has built her career around dismantling those barriers. That authenticity and passion will be a powerful asset in advancing OE Global’s mission.

Başak also brings proven board experience, having served on the board of COCo, where colleagues commend her strategic thinking, calm judgment under pressure, and ability to ask the hard questions that move organizations forward. She brings a genuinely global perspective, multilingual, internationally experienced, and connected across the open education community.
I am confident she would be an exceptional contributor to the OE Global Board.

Biography:
I am the CEO of Pressbooks, a digital open publishing platform for educators and institutions, where I have worked for nearly seven years. I envision Pressbooks as infrastructure that makes open education easier to adopt globally.

Before Pressbooks, I founded and served as executive director of Supper Society, a nonprofit that helped newcomers integrate into Canadian society by connecting them with locals over shared meals. I also served as a board member for COCo, a Québec-based nonprofit supporting community organizations. Through this work, I learned that real change happens when you center communities and their needs.

I grew up where education was free. I have lived across Turkey, Mexico, Canada, and worked in many different cultural contexts globally. Those experiences showed me how vastly different access to education looks depending on where you are born.

I believe in the power of communities and in genuine leadership grounded in relationships. I am drawn to OE Global’s mission to transform education systems through openness, and I want to contribute my experience in operations, sustainability, and community building to support this work.

Vision:
I want to help OE Global strengthen its work across different geographies and cultural contexts. Open education is not one-size-fits-all, and I want to support OE Global in deepening its understanding of what works in different regions and how to make the movement more localized.

I also want to bring my experience in operations and sustainability to help OE Global sustain and grow its impact long-term. This includes strengthening membership engagement and building relationships with institutions and communities that are doing this work on the ground.

Finally, I want to support OE Global in advancing open education as a tool for equity and access, particularly for people in regions where education remains inaccessible or unaffordable.

Ideas:
OEGlobal has an incredible platform and community. I think there is potential to deepen the organization’s work in specific regions and with regional networks. What works in North America may not work in Latin America, Africa, or Asia. I think OE Global could invest in understanding and supporting regional approaches to open education more deeply.

I also think there is potential in strengthening relationships with institutions that are already doing this work. Not just as members, but as partners and collaborators. There is a lot of knowledge in the field, and I think OE Global could do more to amplify and connect that work.

Finally, I want to be part of the conversation around how OE Global builds sustainable financial models and operations as the movement grows. I think there’s real opportunity to explore how we can scale impact thoughtfully.

Expertise:
I have a background in operations and financial management across different industries: manufacturing, banking, consulting, video games, film, education technology, and nonprofits. I have worked with large and small teams across multiple geographies and time zones. I also have experience with legal and compliance work.

On fundraising and sustainability, I think strategically about sustainable financial models and am comfortable building donor relationships.

On membership growth and engagement, my 25 years in the workforce have taught me how to build relationships and think about community building across different cultures and geographies. Through my work with Supper Society and COCo, I learned how to center communities and build relationships grounded in genuine care for the people we serve.

My background across multiple countries and cultures informs how I approach all of this work. I believe good operations and financial sustainability are not just about numbers, they’re about making sure the people doing the work feel supported and that the organization can actually serve the communities it cares about.

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Long term and deep commitment to the work of Open Education around the world; many presentations, workshops, consulting, and publications in Open, experience working with OE Global. See karencang.net

Biography:
I have international recognition in Open Education leadership, STEM education, digital pedagogy, and more recently, the intersections of Open and AI. I am frequently invited to keynote or speak at many universities, conferences or educational organizations. In general, my work has been about leveraging Open Education to transform higher ed systems in order to better serve the public. I am co-founder and the Director of Open Education & Open Science for the RIOS Institute where we emphasize social justice and Open in order to improve STEM education. Lately we have been working at the intersections of Open Ed and AI and I have run learning communities and presented at the AAC&U Institute on AI and Pedagogy where I served as a faculty mentor. I am the creator and director for the OCTOPUS project- an Open Science/Open Pedagogy faculty community and curriculum building initiative to bring more Open Science into undergraduate STEM education, and to leverage Open Pedagogy in order to do so. OCTOPUS is a collaboration between the BioQUEST curriculum consortium and the RIOS Institute.

For two years, I served as program director for the very successful OE Global/CCCOER project, RLOE (Regional Leaders of Open Education), and then served as the Director of Membership for OE Global. I am familiar with the staff and basic operations of OE Global (although I realize there have likely been some changes since I left). I also served as the Director for the Every Learner Everywhere Network for the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, where we worked to deliver more equitable learning outcomes for Black, Latino, Indigenous, poverty-affected and first-generation students in the U.S., and to expand our reach, understanding and contextualization of digital learning. As a Professor of Biology at Keene State College for almost 30 years (now emeritus), I brought open pedagogy and OER into my courses and was part of a team that led campus-wide initiatives to integrate Open Education across the University System of New Hampshire. My perspectives on Open Education draw strongly from my experience as a faculty member working with students.

Vision:
My vision is that Open Education will be the principal driver of reimagining our institutions of higher learning primarily as places where students can become the knowledge creators and critical change agents necessary to address the many problems in a world that is desperately facing a global poly-crisis. To achieve this vision I believe that a strong global network of Open Education professionals is key. As we are increasingly vulnerable to powerful political and economic forces working against us, educators can benefit from strong networks of individuals who compose a resilient and tightly interconnected ecosystem that provides valuable support, centers ethics, fosters authentic innovation, and is dedicated to the global good. In particular, establishing even greater connections across existing networks in various countries can strengthen and amplify our work. I have some ideas for how to build and maintain these kinds of interconnected networks.

While I have been a fierce advocate and supporter of increasing the quantity of OER on campuses in order to reduce costs for students, I believe in the future, we need to focus more on practices and the philosophy of Open Pedagogy, and less on resources. As the challenges from commercial publishing, edtech and now AI companies become increasingly prominent, our pedagogical practices are even more critical than they ever have been before.

Ideas:
Sustainability and Network building. Sustainability is incredibly important right now especially as Hewlett funding is disappearing. We need to leverage collaborations among various Open Education organizations in order to think creatively and to prioritize funding for coalitions. This connects to my ideas about network building because networks can develop collaborative funding proposals. A while ago, Paul Stacey and I had a conversation about the possibilities of building a ‘network of networks’ that could strengthen both OE global as an organization and advance the work of Open Education across the world. More emphatically leveraging European and other non-US global partners can be very important now as many of these countries are ramping up some of their Open Education work such as Ireland, South Africa, Canada and other parts of the world. OE Global could more effectively bring together regional network leaders in different parts of the world, not just to share their individual projects, but to intentionally start to construct and work on shared goals and joint funding proposals for Open Education. Think-tank meetings of leaders that are designed to generate new ideas for advancing Open Education could be hosted by OE Global. Within the U.S., the CCCOER could especially focus on community colleges that have strong dual enrollment and teacher education programs, in order to possibly access K-12 education funds that several US foundations have recently prioritized.

Intersections with AI. We have no choice but to be thinking about the intersections of AI and Open Education more deeply. Plenty of people have already been building learning materials, and sometimes OER with AI, but I feel like one of the untapped areas is really the intersections between Open Pedagogy and AI. We definitely need our students to focus on solving global problems and the way that that is going to happen is by allowing students to use AI creatively. The open pedagogical space has been supporting students in creativity for quite a while and so we have a leg up on others in terms of thinking about this kind of innovative context for AI.

The broad scope of Open. Finally, OE Global has been the world leader in the promotion and understanding of the much broader scope of open and the intersections among its various components: open education, open science, open data, open infrastructure, open access, open government, crowdfunding, citizen science, open source, and more. OE Global could tap scientific funding opportunities such as NSF grants in the United States, ERC (European Research Council), NSERC in Canada, UKRI in the UK, DFG in Germany, the ARC (Australian Research Council), NSFC in China, just to name some – which have supported Open Education projects. (The OCTOPUS project is partly funded by NSF funds from an Open Education-Open Science grant to the BioQuest Curriculum). Creative Open Education projects and grants can also arise from collaborations with non-profit organizations that focus on environmental and societal problems.

Expertise: Educator & Leadership
Grant writing. I have extensive experience with collaborative grant writing and idea development. (Hewlett Foundation, Davis Foundation, ORCA, NSF, Gates Foundation and USNH internal grants)

Leadership. I love envisioning new ideas, and bringing people together with shared passions and goals to work on proposal construction, project development, and open education initiatives. I have been a Department Chair or Director in a number of organizations/institutions (Keene State College, RLOE/OE Global, Every Learner, RIOS, OCTOPUS).

Community building and engagement. I love inspiring others and encouraging them to join discussions and work together in a variety of asynchronous and synchronous spaces. I have worked with hundreds of institutions (mostly across the US, but also Canada) with the RLOE network, the Every Learner Network, RIOS and recently with the OCTOPUS project and the AAC&U institute on Pedagogy and AI. As OE Global membership director, I worked to help build the individual membership category. (Alan L and I were beginning to construct more ways for community members to engage, and how to build membership when I left that position.)

Educator. I was a university faculty member for 30 years and consider myself a fierce student advocate, and someone with a deep understanding of teaching and learning and of US higher education institutional context and internal politics. Much of this is similar (although not identical) to higher education contexts throughout the world. I also consider myself a life-long student and learner.

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Serving on the OE Global Board over the past three years has been a deeply valuable experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn, contribute, and support the organisation at an important moment in its development. I have been glad to assist in practical ways, including contributing to the revision of important governance-related policy frameworks and representing OE Global at different events. I am also grateful to my fellow directors, who have brought rich and diverse perspectives to the table, always with the organisation’s best interests in mind and with a strong sense of responsibility, even in a voluntary role. I would be honoured to continue serving for another three years, bringing my practical experience, commitment to Open Education, and willingness to contribute wherever needed in support of this important organisation.

Biography:
I am a Project Manager and Instructional Designer at METID, Politecnico di Milano, working on MOOC design, innovative didactics, and faculty development, especially in Open Educational Resources and practices. I have worked in digital and online learning since 1998. Since 2021, I have also served at SPARC Europe, supporting the European Network of Open Education Librarians (ENOEL) in advancing the implementation of the UNESCO OER Recommendation across Europe and exploring ways to connect open education and open science by bridging existing silos. My work focuses on collaboration and building stronger connections between educators, librarians, researchers, and policy communities. I believe that openness is essential to expanding access to quality education and creating more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable knowledge ecosystems.

Serving on the OEGlobal Board over the past three years has been a deeply valuable experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn, contribute, and support the organisation at an important moment in its development. I have been pleased to contribute to the revision of key policy frameworks affecting organisational governance and to support the Board in strengthening OEGlobal’s foundations for the future. I have also had the privilege of representing and advocating for OEGlobal at conferences, meetings, and community events, helping to promote the organisation’s mission and engage with the global open education community.

I am especially grateful to my fellow directors, who have brought rich and diverse perspectives to our discussions, always with the organisation’s best interests in mind and with a strong sense of responsibility despite serving in a voluntary capacity.
I would be honoured to continue serving, bringing my experience, collaborative approach, and commitment to advancing Open Education worldwide. I remain willing to engage with complex challenges when this helps advance education as a public good.

Vision:
If re-elected to the OEGlobal Board, I would like to continue focusing on three priorities: strengthening an engaged, inclusive, and diverse global community; supporting OEGlobal’s role as a connector across local, national, regional, and global Open Education efforts; and promoting sustainable and equitable access to open educational resources and practices. I would like to continue helping strengthen an engaged, inclusive, and diverse global community and promote sustainable and equitable access to open educational resources and practices by encouraging value co-creation across the wider Open Education ecosystem. I would also support continued attention to OEGlobal’s organisational sustainability and resilience, so that its mission, services, and community can grow in ways that are responsible, inclusive, and sustainable over time. I remain committed to contributing my experience, collaborative approach, and willingness to engage with complex challenges when needed.

Ideas:
I believe the strength of OEGlobal lies in its community. Members may contribute in different ways and at different levels, but all should feel welcome to ask questions, follow discussions, share experiences, and find their own place to participate and learn. I would like to see OEGlobal continue to focus on inclusion, participation, and connection across local, national, regional, and global levels. By supporting openly shared resources, practices, and processes, and by connecting people with relevant projects and initiatives, OEGlobal can help strengthen education as a public good and expand equitable learning opportunities for everyone.

Experience:
I bring experience in community engagement, knowledge exchange, and the design of participatory learning opportunities. I would welcome the opportunity to continue supporting OEGlobal’s membership growth and engagement, building on my contributions during my first three years on the Board. I am happy to help strengthen welcoming spaces where members with different backgrounds and levels of experience can connect, learn, share practices, and find meaningful ways to participate.
For Events and Services, I would be glad to contribute at a strategic and design level, offering my experience to help shape, review, or improve activities where useful. My contribution would focus on supporting inclusive, practical, and valuable opportunities for members, while remaining aligned with the governance role of the Board.

On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Muhammad Hassaan is nominated for the Board of Directors due to his proven leadership in youth development, education, and digital transformation initiatives. As the Founder of Visionary Tech Society (VTS), he has led large-scale AI and digital literacy programs, providing free education to thousands of students, particularly in underserved communities. He has demonstrated strong organizational leadership through national-level projects, event management, media experience, and cross-institutional collaborations. His ability to mobilize volunteers, secure partnerships, and execute impactful educational programs makes him a strong candidate for strategic governance and organizational growth.

Biography:
Muhammad Hassaan is a youth leader, journalist, and education innovator from Pakistan, currently serving as Founder & President of the Visionary Tech Society (VTS), a youth-led initiative focused on AI awareness and digital literacy. He has delivered free education and mentorship programs to thousands of students, particularly in underserved communities, aligning his work with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.

He is one of the youngest nationally recognized news anchors, certified by the National Book of Records and Asian Book of Records, and has professional experience in media through Awaz Group of Media. He has served as a guest lecturer at multiple institutions, including APS&CS, FGEI, and Fauji Foundation College.

His work spans education, media, technology, and youth leadership. He has been recognized internationally through awards, fellowships, and global forums, and has experience in organizing large-scale youth events, leading teams, and building educational initiatives. He is also certified by Microsoft, Google, and other global tech institutions.

Vision:
If elected to the Board of Open Education Global, I aim to:

• Expand access to open and AI-powered education for underserved and rural learners
• Strengthen youth participation in open education initiatives globally
• Support the development of localized, low-cost, and multilingual learning resources
• Promote digital literacy as a core component of global education equity
• Build partnerships between educational institutions, youth organizations, and tech communities
• Encourage student-led innovation in open education ecosystems

My goal is to help make Open Education not just accessible, but practical, inclusive, and transformative for every learner.

Ideas:
I believe Open Education Global can further strengthen its impact by focusing on:

• Developing AI-assisted open learning tools to personalize education at scale
• Creating regional youth ambassador programs to expand grassroots outreach
• Supporting open curriculum development in emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and digital skills
• Enhancing collaboration between developing countries to share Open Educational resources
• Increasing community-based learning models that combine online and offline education
• Launching mentorship networks connecting global educators with students in underserved regions

Open Education should not only provide access to knowledge, but also build pathways for real-world skills, opportunity, and empowerment.

Expertise:
Muhammad Hassaan brings a diverse blend of expertise across fundraising, membership engagement, event leadership, and organizational operations. As Founder of Visionary Tech Society (VTS), he has successfully designed and implemented large-scale educational initiatives focused on AI and digital literacy, mobilizing volunteers, engaging students, and building strong institutional partnerships.

He has experience in fundraising and sustainability through sponsorship acquisition and resource development for youth-led events and programs. In membership growth and engagement, he has built and managed active student communities across schools and colleges, particularly through VTS outreach initiatives.

His background in events includes co-organizing large-scale inter-institutional programs such as the Attock Champions League, where he coordinated logistics, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, his exposure to media, certifications in technology, and leadership roles have strengthened his understanding of structured operations, communication, and organizational planning, including working with teams, managing responsibilities, and supporting strategic execution.

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Dr. Mahmoud Hawamdeh is a distinguished educational technology expert, researcher, and higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience in open, distance, and technology-enhanced learning. Throughout his career at Al-Quds Open University, he has championed initiatives that expand equitable access to education through Open Educational Resources (OER), digital learning, lifelong learning, and educational innovation.

Dr. Hawamdeh has played a leading role in UNESCO-supported OER initiatives across Palestine and the Arab region, contributing to the development of Arabic OER resources, capacity-building programs, and training initiatives that promote Open Educational practices. His work has helped increase awareness and adoption of OER among educators, institutions, and policymakers.

In addition, he has extensive experience managing international projects funded by Erasmus+, UNESCO, the World Bank, FAO, and other development partners. His expertise spans strategic planning, partnership development, institutional sustainability, membership engagement, digital transformation, and educational innovation.

As a researcher, editor, and international collaborator, Dr. Hawamdeh actively contributes to advancing Open Education, digital citizenship, artificial intelligence in education, and lifelong learning. His election to the OEGlobal Board would strengthen representation from the Middle East and bring valuable experience in expanding Open Education in underserved and conflict-affected contexts.

Biography:
Dr. Hawamdeh is a distinguished educational technology expert, researcher, and higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience in open, distance, and technology-enhanced learning. Throughout his career at Al-Quds Open University, he has championed initiatives that expand equitable access to education through Open Educational Resources (OER), digital learning, lifelong learning, and educational innovation.

Dr. Hawamdeh has played a leading role in UNESCO-supported OER initiatives across Palestine and the Arab region, contributing to the development of Arabic OER resources, capacity-building programs, and training initiatives that promote Open Educational practices. His work has helped increase awareness and adoption of OER among educators, institutions, and policymakers.
In addition, he has extensive experience managing international projects funded by Erasmus+, UNESCO, the World Bank, FAO, and other development partners. His expertise spans strategic planning, partnership development, institutional sustainability, membership engagement, digital transformation, and educational innovation.
As a researcher, editor, and international collaborator, Dr. Hawamdeh actively contributes to advancing Open Education, digital citizenship, artificial intelligence in education, and lifelong learning. His election to the OEGlobal Board would strengthen representation from the Middle East and bring valuable experience in expanding Open Education in underserved and conflict-affected contexts

Vision:
Expand the reach and impact of Open Education in underrepresented regions, particularly the Middle East, Africa, and the Global South.

Strengthen global collaboration and partnerships among institutions, governments, NGOs, and international organizations to advance Open Education.

Promote the adoption and creation of high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER) in multiple languages, with particular attention to Arabic and other underserved languages.

Support sustainable membership growth by increasing engagement opportunities, professional development activities, and regional networks.

Advocate for equitable access to education through open, inclusive, and technology-enhanced learning approaches.

Advance the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support Open Education and lifelong learning.

Contribute to the long-term sustainability and strategic development of OEGlobal while ensuring it remains a leading global voice for openness in education.

Foster stronger connections between research, policy, and practice to maximize the impact of Open Education worldwide.

Ideas:
Dr. Hawamdeh vision for OEGlobal is to expand equitable access to quality education through openness, innovation, and global collaboration. He is particularly interested in advancing multilingual OER, the responsible use of AI in education, and supporting marginalized communities affected by conflict and displacement. Drawing on his experience in Palestine, the hope to promote Open Education solutions that help address learning loss, strengthen educational resilience, and ensure that no learner is left behind.

Expertise: Open Educational Resources (OER), Open Educational Practices (OEP), Strategic Planning, International Partnerships, Digital Learning, Educational Technology, Artificial Intelligence in Education, Digital Citizenship, Capacity Building, and Higher Education
Dr. Hawamdeh has over 25 years of experience in educational technology, open and distance learning, and international project management. His expertise includes OER, AI in education, digital citizenship, and capacity building. He led the UNESCO-supported OER SMART Learning Project, teach OER at the master’s level, and have contributed as a UNESCO expert to OER policy and capacity-building initiatives across the Arab region. He has also led and collaborated on projects funded by UNESCO, Erasmus+, and the World Bank.

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
I’ve liked OEG’s work and want to see about throwing some weight around to help. Plenty experience across various directorates, high-level international meetings, publications.

Biography:
KEY EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2016-2026 CHAIRMAN; DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREAS; American Economic Think Tank; International
2025-2029 5th DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE; Revolving Loan Fund Board of Directors; San Joaquin County
2024-2026 UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL
UNV- Africa Youth for Peace and Development
UNV- The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation
UNV- UNDESA USA
UNV- MienTrung Industry & Trade College
2024-2026 EXTERNAL EXPERT
United Nations Functional Convention on Climate Change
KEY EDUCATION
2024-2026 California State University; Stanislaus; Degree: Master’s of Business Administration; Specialization: Finance
2022-2023 U.N. Environmental Law and Multilateral Economic Agreements Institute; Degree: Graduate Diploma of Law; Program: International Environmental Law | Legal Frameworks
2020-2022 California State University; Stanislaus Campus; Degree: Bachelor’s of Science; Major:Agriculture; Agricultural Economics
2017-2019 San Joaquin Delta Community College; Degree: Associate of Arts; Major: Interdisciplinary; Economics and Finance

Vision:
Depends on the needs of the organization. I hope to solidify OEG in its position, grow its connection between higher educational bodies, as well as involvement in various UN and other international and multilateral organizations pushing forward educational initiatives.

Ideas:
I have to have a better vision for how OEG handles itself on the day-to-day and quarter-to-quarter. I don’t have enough of a background in how it approaches interorganizational partnerships to give something concrete.

Expertise: Various; high-level
Exec. Core: Leading Change; Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Vision; Leading People; Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others; Results Driven; Accountability, Decisiveness, Problem Solving; Technical Credibility; Business Acumen; Financial Management; Human Capital Management; Technology; Building Coalitions; Partnering; Political Savvy; Influencing/Negotiating

2025-2029 – 5TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
Appointed to the position for a four year term on March 11th 2025. Appointment lasts from January the 1st 2025 until January 1st 2029.
Results:
∘ Served as 5th Supervisorial District Representative to the Revolving Loan Fund
∘ As required under Resolution R-17-160 completed Public Board Development training and Government Leadership Training
∘ Directed the comprehensive evaluation of loan recommendations submitted by staff, offering strategic counsel and insights to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors regarding their approval. This process encompassed the meticulous assessment of interest rates, the identification of appropriate collateral to safeguard the County’s fiscal interests, and the assurance of adherence to the San Joaquin County Revolving Loan Fund Administrative Plan.
∘ Served an estimated population of 779,000 constituents and total of 23348 business of which generated over $40 Billion GDP.
∘ Individual direct loans averaged between $150000 and $250000, with organizational loans averaging around $1000000.
∘ Managed average of 30 accounts on a month per month basis across various programs under board supervision
∘ Responsibilities expanded beyond board voting duties into relationship management with various municipal economic departments and boards, and business associations.
∘ Position required fulfillment of annual 700 filing, strict adherence to conflict of interest

2016 – 2026 – CHAIRMAN; DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREAS
The American Economic Think Tank is in all essence an informal special vehicle formed for the purpose of UN participation. Boards are formed of stakeholders, academia, and government when required for meeting, project, or partnership undertaken.
Key Achievements:
∘ Leadership in Research and Advocacy: Spearheaded a think tank focused on both theoretical and practical applications for NGOs and governmental entities across emerging and developed economies. Engaged with domestic stakeholders and elected officials to
advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, and economic policy reform across various subsets, other interdisciplinary topics included.
∘ UN Engagement: Successfully registered with the UN Department of Economics and Social Affairs Society, CSO GDC. Accepted member to the UN Innovation Hub and the UN Migration Hub, membership in various working groups, and acted as key expert, applied and invited, across various high-level meetings, various publications.
Overall Core Competencies
∘ Strategic Vision & Organizational Leadership
∘ Multilateral Negotiation & Policy Development
∘ Research Design & Thought Leadership
∘ Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building
∘ Program Design, Monitoring & Evaluation

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
I want to contribute more significnatly in the organization.

Biography:
Delmar Larsen is a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Davis and the founder and CEO of LibreTexts, one of the world’s largest OER platforms. Since launching LibreTexts in 2007, he has led efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality learning materials through open textbooks, digital learning tools, and collaborative faculty communities. His work has advanced OER adoption across higher education, including partnerships with universities, community colleges, and national organizations. Delmar has extensive experience in OER development, educational technology innovation, faculty collaboration, and building sustainable open education ecosystems that support student success and equity.

Vision:
If elected to the Open Education Global Board of Directors, I hope to advance the global adoption of high-quality OER, strengthen collaboration among educators and institutions, and promote sustainable models for open content creation and sharing. I aim to support ethical innovation in open educational technologies, including AI-enabled tools that improve accessibility, learning, and student success. I also hope to help OE Global expand its role as a leader in building a more equitable and accessible global education ecosystem.

Ideas:
OEG should continue to be the leading global network advancing open education through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. My vision is to help move the field from simply providing free resources toward creating connected, sustainable ecosystems where educators can easily create, adapt, share, and improve learning materials. OEGlobal can play a critical role in supporting emerging technologies, including ethical AI, while ensuring openness, accessibility, and equity remain central to the future of education worldwide.

Expertise:
I have extensive experience building and sustaining open education initiatives through my role as founder and CEO of LibreTexts, a nonprofit OER organization. I have led fundraising efforts through federal grants, foundations, and institutional partnerships, developing sustainable models to support large-scale open education infrastructure. I have experience organizing national and international events, workshops, and faculty engagement activities to promote OER adoption and collaboration.

In operations, I oversee strategic planning, organizational growth, partnerships, and day-to-day management of a nonprofit educational technology organization. I have experience with financial planning, grant management, compliance, governance, and legal considerations related to nonprofit operations, intellectual property, and open licensing. These experiences provide a strong foundation for supporting Open Education Global’s continued growth and sustainability.

Website • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
I have been actively involved in advancing Open Education for more than a decade through leadership, advocacy, and community-building efforts in Taiwan and internationally. My work has focused on expanding access to high-quality educational resources and supporting institutions, educators, and learners in adopting Open Educational practices.

As the former Director of the Open Education Office at National Chiao Tung University, I led initiatives that promoted OpenCourseWare (OCW), Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and Open Textbooks. Through these efforts, I helped increase faculty participation in Open Education and encouraged the sharing and reuse of educational resources.

I served as President of the Taiwan Open Course and Education Consortium (TOCEC) from 2017 to 2021 and have continued to serve as a TOCEC Advisor since 2021. These experiences have allowed me to work closely with universities, educators, and international partners to strengthen collaboration and expand engagement within the Open Education community.

In recent years, I have focused on promoting Open Textbooks through workshops, faculty development programs, and collaborations with international organizations. I believe that Open Educational Resources can play a transformative role in improving educational equity and reducing barriers to learning.

My experience aligns particularly well with the areas of Membership Growth and Engagement and Events and Services. Throughout my career, I have worked to build active communities, develop partnerships, organize conferences and workshops, and support initiatives that help educators and institutions participate in the Open Education movement.

I am seeking to serve on the Open Education Global Board of Directors because I believe OEG plays a critical role in connecting Open Education communities worldwide. I hope to contribute my leadership experience, international perspective, and commitment to expanding Open Education throughout Asia and beyond.

Biography:
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and a long-time advocate for Open Education. For more than a decade, I have worked to expand access to high-quality educational resources through OpenCourseWare (OCW), MOOCs, Open Textbooks, and innovative digital learning initiatives.

I previously served as Director of the Open Education Office at National Chiao Tung University, where I helped promote and develop Open Education programs and foster collaboration among universities and educators. I also served as President of the Taiwan Open Course and Education Consortium (TOCEC) from 2017 to 2021 and have continued to serve as a TOCEC Advisor since 2021, supporting the growth of Taiwan’s Open Education community and strengthening international partnerships.

My recent work focuses on promoting Open Textbooks and faculty adoption of Open Educational resources through workshops, conferences, and international collaborations, including partnerships with the LibreTexts community and Open Education Global members.

Vision:
If elected to the OEGlobal Board, I will focus on:

• Strengthening collaboration among educators, institutions, and Open Education organizations worldwide.
• Promoting the adoption of OER, MOOCs, and Open Textbooks by sharing practical implementation models and successful practices.
• Enhancing OEGlobal events and services to provide greater value, professional development opportunities, and year-round engagement for members.
• Expanding international partnerships that support the exchange of Open Educational resources, knowledge, and best practices across regions.
• Encouraging broader participation in Open Education by helping institutions and educators discover sustainable approaches to implementing Open Education practices.

My goal is to help OEGlobal strengthen its global network, foster meaningful collaboration, and increase the impact of Open Education for learners and educators around the world.

Ideas:
I believe Open Education Global should continue to serve as a global platform that connects educators, institutions, and organizations committed to expanding access to quality education through openness, collaboration, and innovation.

My educational philosophy is simple: “When knowledge becomes open and flexible, teaching can become more human-centered.” Open Educational practices should not only increase access to knowledge, but also empower educators to adapt, improve, and personalize learning experiences for diverse learners.

As Open Education continues to evolve, OEGlobal can play an increasingly important role in helping educators move from awareness to practical implementation of OER, MOOCs, and Open Textbooks by sharing successful models, professional development opportunities, and institutional best practices.

I also believe OEGlobal can further strengthen international collaboration by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, resources, and experiences across regions and cultures. By connecting diverse Open Education communities, OEGlobal can help accelerate innovation and increase the impact of Open Education worldwide.

In addition, the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for Open Education. OEGlobal can provide leadership by fostering dialogue and collaboration around the responsible use of AI in education, including how AI can support the discovery, creation, adaptation, and translation of Open Education Resources. I am particularly interested in exploring how AI tools can help educators better identify, verify, and utilize openly licensed content, while promoting greater transparency regarding the sources and licensing status of AI-generated information.

By strengthening collaboration, supporting practical implementation, and exploring emerging technologies, OEGlobal can continue to advance its mission and help make education more accessible, equitable, and effective for learners around the world.

Expertise:
I believe OEGlobal’s greatest strength is its ability to connect people, institutions, and ideas across the global open education community. Moving forward, I would like to see OEGlobal place greater emphasis on four areas:

Supporting the practical adoption and sustainable implementation of OER, MOOCs, and Open Textbooks.
Strengthening international collaboration and knowledge exchange among institutions and open education organizations.
Expanding year-round opportunities for member engagement through professional development, networking, and community activities.
Exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support open education while helping educators better identify, verify, and utilize openly licensed content.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into teaching and learning, educators are often unable to determine whether AI-generated information is based on openly licensed resources, copyrighted materials, or other sources. OEGlobal can play an important leadership role by bringing together educators, technologists, and open education practitioners to explore practical approaches, tools, and best practices for improving transparency and helping users assess whether AI-generated content aligns with open licensing principles.

By helping educators learn from one another and by sharing successful models of open education, OEGlobal can continue to grow its impact and support more equitable access to quality education worldwide.

LinkedIn • On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
Dr. Remya Mohanraj brings a strong commitment to the organization’s mission, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to contribute thoughtfully to strategic decision-making. She is dedicated to supporting long-term growth, accountability, and meaningful impact, while ensuring that the needs and perspectives of members, stakeholders, and the broader community are represented. Her experience in leadership, project coordination, communication, and problem-solving would allow her to contribute effectively to board discussions, support responsible governance, and help advance the organization’s goals with integrity and professionalism.

Biography:
I bring more than 20 years of college teaching experience, along with extensive leadership experience in higher education, including service as Department Chair, Program Coordinator, Assistant Registrar, Principal Investigator, and grant manager for government-funded Open Education Resource projects. I currently serve as the OER Coordinator for Houston City College, where I advocate for the adoption of OER across disciplines, support faculty through training, and help administer internal OER grant opportunities. My experience also includes an international perspective: during the first 10 years of my career, I taught at universities in India, where I developed and used OER in my teaching. This background has shaped a more global, inclusive, and diverse approach to open education and faculty support. I am active in statewide OER leadership initiatives and recently completed the Texas OER Fellowship Program conducted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. I have contributed to four complete Biology Open Educational Resources available in the OERTX repository and serve as the administrator of HCC’s institutional OER Hub within OERTX. In addition, I have presented at statewide and national OER conferences, including THECB DigiTex, the Texas Digital Learning Summit, OERizona, and the Sul Ross Virtual Summit, and I am an active member of the Houston Area OER Consortium.

Vision:
If elected to the Board of Directors of Open Education Global, I hope to:

• Expand awareness and adoption of Open Education across diverse disciplines, institutions, and global learning communities.
• Support faculty development through practical training, mentoring, and resources that help educators create, adapt, and sustain high-quality OER.
• Promote equity, affordability, and accessibility in education by advancing open practices that reduce barriers for students.
• Strengthen collaboration among institutions, regional OER networks, and international partners to share successful models and lessons learned.
• Advocate for inclusive and culturally responsive OER that reflect diverse learners, teaching contexts, and global perspectives.
• Support sustainable OER initiatives through strong governance, grant development, strategic partnerships, and institutional engagement.

Ideas:
My vision for Open Education Global is to help advance Open Education as a truly inclusive, sustainable, and globally connected movement. I believe OE Global can play a key role in supporting educators and institutions as they move beyond simply adopting OER to building strong Open Education ecosystems that include faculty development, student-centered learning, culturally responsive resources, accessibility, and long-term institutional commitment. I would like to support initiatives that strengthen global collaboration, highlight diverse voices and regional perspectives, and create practical pathways for faculty to develop, adapt, share, and sustain high-quality Open Educational Resources. With my background in OER leadership, international teaching experience, faculty training, and grant-supported OER development, I hope to contribute to OE Global’s mission of expanding access, equity, affordability, and innovation in education across communities worldwide.

Expertise: Strategic planning, stakeholder communication, project coordination, and organizational leadership. Dr. Remya brings strong skills in collaboration, problem-solving, member outreach, and helping translate organizational goals into practical action.
My expertise aligns strongly with membership growth and engagement, events and services, operations, and strategic leadership. In my current role as OER Coordinator for Houston City College, I work closely with faculty across disciplines to promote OER adoption, provide training, support internal grant programs, and build sustained engagement around open education. My experience organizing and presenting at statewide and national OER conferences has strengthened my ability to support events, professional development, and community-building initiatives. I also bring operational and administrative experience from serving as Department Chair, Program Coordinator, Assistant Registrar, Principal Investigator, and grant manager for government-funded OER projects. These roles have given me strong skills in planning, compliance, coordination, reporting, communication, and collaboration. In addition, my international teaching experience and active participation in statewide OER initiatives allow me to bring a global, inclusive, and practical perspective to board service.

On OEGlobal Connect

Motivation:
I am nominating myself for the Open Education Global Board of Directors.

I have worked in UK Higher Education for around 18 years in both co-ordination and research roles, on multi-partner, international projects. I joined The Open University, UK (OUUK) in June 2011 and have worked in a variety of capacities on open education projects since January 2013 as a full-time researcher.

I have solid experience and track record in the international open education space and extensive experience of successful collaboration with stakeholders in a wide variety of contexts including South Africa, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Kenya, Canada, United States and across Europe. My work focuses particularly on open collaboration, co-creation and community building. I have led and contributed to a wide range of successful international projects and initiatives around the world including the OER Research Hub, Skills for Prosperity Kenya (SFPK), UK Open Textbooks, Scoping Study: Digital Transformation in Viet Nam Higher Education and Enable eVeryone’s Engagement in EneRgY: the Every1 Project.

I have been Co-Director of the Global Open Graduate Network (GO-GN) for two-years and been an active member of the GO-GN co-ordination team since the network moved to The Open University in 2015. Since June 2016 we have built the network, developing and refining our community of care approach. As of June 2026, GO-GN had an increase of 387% in doctoral researcher and alumni membership over a 10-year period. I lead on operations, events and communications and am jointly responsible for the network’s strategic direction. Our approach is responsive and member led. In the 2025-2026 period we have secured several grants totalling more than $1.1million (USD) for network activities, including funding to explore a more federated model.

I am proud to serve a network of more than 200 doctoral researchers and alumni working in open education and a wider community of over 350 experts and friends. GO-GN has had a long-standing relationship with OE Global, including holding our workshops prior to OE Global conferences. I have personally acted as a reviewer for the conference, had the privilege of participating in OE Global conferences over the years and had work recognised through the OE Global Awards.

The opportunity to use my experiences, to serve and formally give back to the OE Global community whilst playing a role in ensuring its future success in these challenging times, would be a privilege.

Biography:
Dr. Beck Pitt is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Educational Technology (IET), The Open University, UK (OUUK). She has worked in UK Higher Education for around 18 years in both co-ordination and research roles, on multi-partner, international projects. She joined OUUK in June 2011 and has worked in a variety of capacities on open education projects, and since January 2013 in a full-time research capacity as a member of the internationally renowned, award winning Open Education Research (OER) Hub.

Beck has solid experience and track record in the international open education space and extensive experience of successful collaboration with stakeholders in a wide variety of contexts including South Africa, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Kenya, Canada, United States and across Europe. Her work focuses particularly on open collaboration, co-creation and community building. She has led and contributed to a wide range of successful international projects and initiatives including the Scoping Study: Digital Transformation in Viet Nam Higher Education, Skills for Prosperity Kenya (SFPK), UK Open Textbooks and Enable eVeryone’s Engagement in EneRgY: the Every1 Project.

Beck has been Co-Director of the Global Open Graduate Network (GO-GN), which supports doctoral researchers and alumni working on open education topics, for two-years and been an active member of the GO-GN co-ordination team since the network moved to The Open University in 2015. GO-GN has had a long-standing relationship with OE Global, including holding our workshops prior to OE Global conferences. Beck has acted as a reviewer for the conference, had the privilege of participating in OE Global conferences over the years and had work recognised through the OE Global Awards.

She is a member of The Open University’s Open Research Group, co-convenor for the Computers and Learning Research Group (CALRG) and member of the Journal of Interactive Media in Education (JIME) editorial team.

Vision:
The opportunity to use my experience to serve and formally give back to the OE Global community whilst playing a role in ensuring its future success in these challenging times, would be a privilege.

I will use my experience to support OEG in their Strategic Vision 2030 as follows:

Field building: Use my extensive experience of building and sustaining connections internationally to support OE Global. This would include looking at ways OE Global can strengthen its connection to – and participation from – open education researchers internationally.

Knowledge exchange: I will leverage my networks and foster new connections between OE Global and other organisations working in the open education space through encouraging participation in collaborative activities, including building on the successes of existing OE Global face-to-face and online events (e.g. OE Global Tour). Networking and supporting collaboration are key to GO-GN and have a clear benefit for our members. Our recent pilot regional hubs supported our efforts to better understand and serve our growing and diverse membership. Our 2025 equity focused webinar series with Knowledge Equity Network also showed the power of collaborative activity to examine relevant and timely challenges for open communities.

Value Co-creation: I will bring my extensive experience of building relationships and fostering co-creation activity (recent example: Every1 co-creation of OER to support the digital energy transition) to support this strategic priority.

Ideas:
Open education communities around the world are facing a range of complex challenges. The need for understanding, connection and collaboration to address these is key. I would centre efforts on increased collaboration and connection to address these. Specifically, I would anticipate contributing to supporting the development of the proposed researcher connector space.

Expertise:
Fundraising and sustainability: I have sustained, successful experience of bidding for research funding, in principal investigator (PI), co-PI and co-investigator capacities. In the 2025-2026 period GO-GN has secured several grants totalling more than $1.1million (USD) for network activities, including funding to explore a more federated model.

Membership growth and engagement: Since 2015 we have further developed the GO-GN network and refined our community of care approach. I am proud to serve a network of more than 200 doctoral researchers and alumni working in open education and a wider community of over 350 experts and friends. As of June 2026, GO-GN had an increase of 387% in doctoral researcher and alumni membership over a 10-year period. I lead on operations, events and communications and am jointly responsible for the network’s strategic direction. I led on the development of our collaborative code of conduct, member offerings such as our member pack and shaping our member journey. Our approach is responsive and member led.

Events and services: I have extensive experience of coordinating international workshops and other events with an open education focus, including as operational and events lead for GO-GN. I am also currently responsible for membership and the overall member experience for the network.