Women In Education Special Interest Groups

Pauline O’Brien is an accomplished and visionary professional in recruitment, currently serving as the ISS Director of Global Recruitment Strategy & Leadership. With a strategic and global mindset, she has made remarkable contributions to the education sector, focusing on school leadership and teacher recruitment.

Pauline’s expertise lies in crafting innovative strategies to meet the hiring needs of educational institutions, ensuring they attract the finest talents and cultivate an environment of excellence and growth. She has revolutionized recruitment practices by introducing competency-based strategies, skills-based interviews, and STAR application profiles, connecting schools with top-tier professionals and educators worldwide.

Her appointment as Chair to the ECIS Women in Education Special Interest Group demonstrate her commitment to creating more opportunities for women to thrive in leadership roles within the education sector.

Driven by her passion for mentorship and advocacy, Pauline dedicates boundless energy to guide and coach international school leaders and teachers. She ignites their passion and nurtures their career aspirations, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives. Her dedication to empowering women in leadership positions stands as a testament to her commitment to fostering gender equality. As a speaker at regional educational conferences, she adds her powerful voice to the global conversation, pushing boundaries and paving the way for more women to flourish in leadership roles within the education sector. 

Pauline’s impact also extends to child protection, where she plays a crucial role on the International Task Force for Child Protection (ITFCP) and leads the Recruitment, Regulations, and Reporting Committee. Her efforts set exemplary standards for safer and more effective recruitment practices in international schools.

With a vibrant and compassionate approach, Pauline is a catalyst for positive change in education, making a world of difference.

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President, SEK Education group

An expert in learning innovation, Nieves Segovia is President of SEK Education Group, comprising of University Camilo José Cela and SEK International Schools..

Nieves Segovia sits on the Education Advisory Board of the Spanish Ministry of Education, chairs the Felipe Segovia Foundation, is a member of the Board of Trustees of Fundación Europea Sociedad y Educación, and Fundación Transforma España.  She is Vice-Chair of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities Steering Committee. She is also Vice-Chair of the Global Sports Innovation Center, the Club Excelencia en Gestión, and the Edutech Cluster Spain.

She founded the Global Education Forum, and SEK Lab, the first EdTech start-up accelerator in Spain. In 2017 she launched the UCJC Integra Programme, which has been joined by Sphera and EachTeach.

Recognized among the most influential women in education, she has received the UNICEF Prize for Education in Values, is a regular speaker at education forums, and writes frequently for the media.

Founding Director and owner of Educational Aspirations, an educational consultancy that has focused on the  principles of UBUNTU, working with schools in the capacity of an education advisor, board member, professional development provider, consultant, coach and mentor of school leaders and young educators. Proserpina is passionate about education in Africa, international education and  learning and teaching. She is also a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging as well as women empowerment  Warrior, believing that as educators, we should aspire to have a positive impact on our learning communities, and ensure that all our stakeholders feel that they are fairly and positively represented at the decision making table.

She has worked in state, national and international schools and in global educational organisations in Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America. Her work has enabled her to interact and collaborate with students, parents, teachers, non- teaching staff and school leaders, tertiary institutions and governments. She is a conference presenter and speaker and is a  contributor to the OECD 2030 Education Paper. She has written educational articles for The International Educator and International School magazine on racism, sexism, international education and other topics.

Proserpina has been a teacher, head of department, coordinator, vice principal and principal and this journey has empowered her to support others coming after her as she stands on the shoulders of giants that have influenced who she is as an educational leader.

She is presently employed by the International Baccalaureate as a Senior IB World Schools Manager working directly with IB world schools globally, a job she cherishes and one she says teaches her more about humility and inclusion on a daily basis.

Her  personal motto is: I aspire to inspire!

Shireen’s commitment to international education spans almost two decades and is supported by her training as a psychologist. She has led projects on curriculum change across multiple disciplines, teacher and leadership training, as well as training on workplace culture change within the international school environment.

Shireen is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, a network lead for WomenEd Switzerland, and is a regular speaker and presenter at international school conferences. Shireen’s research interests lie in exploring wisdom in educational settings, from young learners to educational leaders.

She is completing her PhD in this field and is creating a framework for wise leadership as part of her studies. The value and wisdom of women Shireen sees in international education, especially at the highest levels of leadership is one of the motivating factors that brings her to this Special Interest Group

Tonia Whyte Potter-Mäl is Head of Primary School at International School Hannover Region (ISHR) in Germany. She is a global learner and a thought leader. Tonia has immense gratitude for life’s small joys and courageous actions in our complex and fast-paced world that exemplify hope, empathy and our collective sense of humanity. 

Tonia’s passionate advocacy of inclusive cultural practices celebrates human commonalities while honouring diversity. She also has an unwavering belief in championing the empowerment of girls and women through equitable opportunities.

To genuinely lift a plethora of voices, Tonia understands the profound importance of shared stories, multiple identities and resilience. She recognizes the pivotal roles of connection, care and active listening in fostering a genuine sense of belonging in communities.

With 24 years of experience as an IB educator, Tonia has taken on a range of teaching and leadership roles spanning Early Years, Primary and Middle School. She deeply appreciates the exceptional mentors who have provided profound inspiration since the start of her career. Tonia has been truly fortunate to cultivate meaningful relationships with remarkable students, educators and families while pursuing her professional journey on three continents. Through her travels to many countries, she has cultivated a profound curiosity about culture and an appreciation of sociolinguistic landscapes.

In the ECIS network, Tonia is also a member of the International Schools Anti-Discrimination Task Force (ISADTF) and the Leadership Conference 2025 Think Tank. Previously, she has been a guest speaker at the annual ECIS Advice to my Younger Self event (Women in Education) and a member of the Leadership of Culture Special Interest Group.

In 2025, Tonia looks forward to extending her educational partnerships as a mentor for a teen leader with Girls Gearing Up, an organization dedicated to “empowering the next generation of globally-minded female leaders”. She will also collaborate with the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership (UK) to assist selected Master’s students as they progress in their Leadership for the Learning Community module. Tonia views it as a responsibility and a privilege to support aspiring leaders and changemakers in the broader global community.