Education Committee

Oxana Akimova
Chair | Head of IB PYP & MYP at European School Tbilisi
Oxana Akimova started her IB journey in 2002 as a PYP homeroom teacher and MYP English language teacher. That was the moment when she fell in love with IB philosophy. So, from 2002 till now, She has been working in IB schools with the PYP, MYP, and DP/CP programmes. For 20 years, she is fully involved in PYP & MYP programmes’ implementation, systems development, and evaluation visits as MYP coordinator and Head of PYP and MYP. As an IBEN member: MYP consultant, and team member, She is keen on supporting IB schools in our region.
Maria Elena Berardi
DP/CP Expert | MYP Coordinator, IBDP Geography and TOK Teacher at European Azerbaijan School
Maria Elena Berardi is an experienced educator with over 20 years of teaching across American, IGCSE, Italian, and IB curricula. She has studied and worked in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, and Baku. She holds a degree in Political Sciences with a specialization in Sub-Saharan African History from L’Orientale University, Naples, as well as CELTA and PGCSE qualifications. Her expertise includes MYP Individuals and Societies and English Acquisition, and DP History, Geography, Global Politics, and Theory of Knowledge. She is a student affairs team member, Curriculum Leader for Modern Foreign Languages and Individuals and Societies, and has served as an MYP Coordinator for around five years.
Gulzar Abbasbayli
Olympiads, MUN, STEAM, UNI. Coordinator | Olympiads and STEAM Coordinator at European Azerbaijan School
Gulzar Abbasbayli is an experienced educator with over 10 years of teaching expertise. She currently serves as an Olympiad Coordinator and MYP-DP Mathematics Teacher at the European Azerbaijan School. As a qualified IB Mathematics teacher, she has 7 years of experience teaching international math curricula and preparing students for project-based competitions and mathematics olympiads. She has worked with students from Korea, China, the UK, the United States, Spain, Türkiye, and other countries, bringing a global perspective to her teaching. Gulzar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Baku State University and a Master’s degree from Khazar University.

IB Programme Experts

Dinara Rysmagambetova
PYP Expert | Vice Principal for IB Programmes at KAZGASA and KAU Schools
Dinara Rysmagambetova is an experienced IB educator and school leader from Kazakhstan with over 20 years in international education. She currently serves as Vice Principal for IB Programmes at KAZGASA and KAU Schools in Almaty, overseeing PYP and DP implementation and strategic programme development. Dinara is an IBEN Workshop Leader and school visit team member, actively supporting schools in authorization and evaluation processes across the region. Her professional expertise includes curriculum development, transdisciplinary learning, academic integrity, and teacher professional development aligned with IB Standards and Practices. Dinara is passionate about fostering student agency, inquiry-based learning, and building strong learning communities that reflect the IB learner profile. She is committed to advancing high-quality IB education in the Caucasus and Central Asia region.
Reza Maleki Sedghi
MYP Expert | Head of Language and Literature New School International School of Georgia
Dr. Reza Maleki Sedghi, PhD is a dedicated IB educator at New School, International School of Georgia, where he has been teaching since 2018 and currently serves as Head of Language and Literature. With a deep passion for literature and learning, Dr. Sedghi continuously seeks innovative and effective approaches to inspire students and share the magic of reading. After embracing the IB philosophy of nurturing young hearts and minds, he further expanded his professional expertise in 2021 by becoming an IB Diploma Programme English A examiner, including assessment of the Extended Essay. This experience has enabled him to gain a deeper understanding of the assessment criteria and rigor of the IB programme, while refining his pedagogical strategies to support students in meeting the high academic standards of both the MYP and DP.
Nihal Wagannawar
DP Expert | Theory of Knowledge Coordinator and IBDP Psychology teacher at the European Azerbaijan School
Nihal Wagannawar is an experienced IB educator and educational leader, currently serving as Theory of Knowledge Coordinator and IBDP Psychology teacher at the European Azerbaijan School. He is a former Extended Essay Coordinator and University Counsellor brings extensive experience in supporting students and colleagues through inquiry-driven learning and curriculum coherence aligned with IB Programme Standards and Practices. Nihal is an IBEN member, selected for the Diploma Programme Leader role, and serves as an IB Psychology examiner for Paper 2 and Internal Assessment/Extended Essay. He holds a PGCE from the University of Nottingham, an MA in Psychology, and is currently completing an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Buckingham.
Kay Pearl Didimalang
Leadership & Cross-programme Expert | Director of The English School of Uzbekistan, Tashkent
Kay Pearl Didimalang is an experienced international education leader with over 30 years of service across Africa, Asia, Australia, and the UK. She has led schools in Botswana to record PSLE and Cambridge results and successfully introduced the British Curriculum, Cambridge accreditation, and the International Baccalaureate in multiple countries. A BSO-qualified UK School Inspector with extensive leadership experience as a Headteacher, Principal, and Director, she specialises in strategic planning, curriculum development, and school improvement. Her transformational leadership approach focuses on raising academic standards, empowering educators, and fostering high-performing, globally minded school communities.