Author profiles

Abbi is responsible for leading the development of Cambridge’s Primary and Lower Secondary curricula, including the expansion of subjects on offer as part of the programme. She has co-developed an approach to education system evaluation based on the theory of curriculum coherence and has most recently carried out evaluation work in the US, Bermuda, Kuwait, India and Ethiopia. She has a particular interest in formative purposes and uses of assessment. Before joining Cambridge International, Abbi worked as a local authority education consultant, focused on school improvement in secondary schools, particularly working with English departments and on whole school literacy. She started her career teaching secondary English in the UK. From 2002-7 she taught IB English A1 and Theory of Knowledge at Bangkok Patana School, a British international school in Thailand. Abbi has a degree in English Studies from the University of Nottingham, and a PGCE from the University of Manchester.

Alison Borthwick is an international education and mathematics consultant. She is a trainer, teacher, facilitator and advisor and has experience in the UK and internationally. She has worked with many different educational organisations, including several departments within the University of Cambridge. As part of her work for Cambridge International, she has written and delivered training, conducted monitoring and evaluation capacity development, reviewed curricula and been involved in the Cambridge conferences. Alison is also an active researcher, writer and co-author. She has edited and published several books, journals, academic papers and blogs.

Amy is an educational consultant who spent 15 years as a high school teacher and guidance counselor in Canada and The Netherlands. She holds a Masters Degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University and in 2012 she co-founded MindWell (mindwell-education.com) whose aim is to support educational communities in fostering Awareness-Based Wellbeing through mindfulness and social-emotional learning. She is a lead teacher trainer for the Mindfulness in Schools Project (UK) and is also a facilitator for the CARE program (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) from the Garrison Institute. Amy supports the Community of Contemplative Education through Mind & Life Europe and she is also a staff member and mentor for Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme UK) teen retreats. Amy works internationally providing workshops and retreats for educators, students and parents with a focus on self-care and stress management. The Mindful Teacher’s Toolkit, written by Amy with Kevin Hawkins for SAGE/Corwin is out now!

Chris is Head of Online Professional Learning at Cambridge and he has over 10 years experience in developing online learning communities and products. He has lived and worked in a number of countries across Europe, South America and Asia.

Claudia Bickford-Smith is the Director of Development at Cambridge. She is responsible for leading the development of new qualifications, in partnership with Cambridge schools around the world. Claudia worked in the NGO education sector and then in educational publishing in South Africa from the mid-1990s, until she moved to the UK in 2008. She then joined Cambridge University Press, where she was Director of the International Education business unit. She took overall financial and strategic responsibility for developing learner and teacher resources for classrooms in over 160 countries which follow the Cambridge International Examinations system. Claudia holds a History degree from the University of Cape Town, where her postgraduate research focused on the impact of syllabuses introduced by missionaries on schools and communities in rural South Africa.

Gill Budgell is an Early Years and Primary English specialist for first and second language learners. She has over 30 years’ experience in teaching and publishing.

Founding Principal of South City International School in Kolkata, East India. Mr. John Bagul has an impeccable service record spanning 32 years in the field of education. He has been conferred with the highest award at National Level and the most prestigious ‘Derozio Award for Education and Human Enrichment’, for Exemplary Service to School Education and Human Enrichment in the year 2022. He enjoys the recognition of being awarded by multiple organisations for “Exemplary leadership in the field of Education”, “Rashtriya Nirmata Samman”, “Ambassador of Peace Award”. He is presently the Inspector for CISCE Schools. He has also been selected as a Member of the Executive Body, Association of Schools for the Indian School Certificate (ASISC) West Bengal Chapter & NE States”. He has completed a Residential Leadership Management Residential Program on Educational Leadership at IIM Calcutta from 18-20 January 2017 at the prestigious IIM Kolkata, under the aegis of CISCE. Mr. Bagul conducts workshops on critical thinking for principals, teachers and the students. Recently, he has conducted a full day workshop for all Loreto Principals of India at Loreto House Kolkata. A visionary par excellence, he has acquired a rich amount of experience as he moved from College Level Zoology PG to teaching IGCSE abroad to CBSE as the Vice Principal of a leading school in Maharashtra and continuing his journey as a successful Head of the current CISCE Affiliated South City International School.

Dr Jude Brady is a researcher for the Cambridge International Research Hub. In 2020, Jude joined Cambridge International as an Assessment Manager after completing a PhD in Education at the University of Cambridge. Prior to this, she was a secondary school middle leader and teacher of English in England.

Louis Bone is an education professional with 13 years of experience. He has taught across various age ranges in the UK and internationally, managing teams focused on academic and pastoral progress. Louis also excelled in teaching online before transitioning to his current role as the Online School Development Manager at Cambridge. In this capacity, he oversees the approval process for UK schools and maintains strong relationships with them.

Lynda has been Cambridge International’s School Liaison Manager since 2015 and has worked in the education sector throughout her career as both a teacher and an editor in education publishing. She is passionate about the importance of the role of teachers and learners in the development of new products and services.

Melissa Balzano is Training Events Coordinator for Cambridge International Examinations.

Nidhi Birla is the Business Management Teacher at Global Indian International School, Smart Campus in Singapore.

Nivedita Bose is our Professional Development Manager, South Asia. She is responsible for promoting and nurturing all professional development activities in the region. Nivedita gained a Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry, and a Bachelor of Education degree from Delhi University between 1992 and 1995. Since then, she has spent over 20 years teaching in schools across India. Along with classroom teaching Nivedita engaged with curriculum development and has written science course books for the Indian National Curriculum. She has also been actively involved in teacher training and has been a trainer and programme leader for Cambridge PDQ in teaching and learning.

Paul is Head of Professional Development Qualifications at Cambridge International Examinations. He has a PhD in Social Anthropology and an MEd in Educational Assessment.

Paul is a Group Manager, Development at Cambridge International, responsible for responsible for the development and review of all our Business, Humanities and Social Science qualifications. He has worked at Cambridge Assessment both in assessment and syllabus development for nine years, prior to that he had nine years as a teacher and Head of Department, and before moving into the educational world he had 20 years’ experience in business, primarily in sales, marketing and general management roles.

Ms Pooja is the Head of The Primary School at the Ardee School, New Friends Colony, South Delhi, India. She has been an educator in India for the past 13 years. She has completed a master’s in international business, is a certified Montessorian and has attended numerous Cambridge International training courses.