ASIA PACIFIC

Simon Lebus was appointed Group Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment on 1st July 2002. He became Chairman of OCR in 2004. A Bye-Fellow of Emmanuel College, Simon has spent his career operating in complex and competitive business environments, where the drive for excellence and quality, good teamwork and the need for continuous improvement are essential for success. These are all characteristics that have made Cambridge Assessment a world leader in educational assessment. Simon came to Cambridge Assessment from the food industry where he had worked since 1989 in a variety of senior managements roles. Prior to that, he spent eight years in the City as an investment banker involved in both corporate finance advisory and capital markets work.

Simon was a scholar at St John's College, Oxford, where he obtained a first in Modern History before going on to St Antony's College, Oxford, where he spent three years doing research on Modern English Philanthropy. Simon is also on the Board of the University Education Faculty and is a member of the Management Committee of the Cambridge University Centre for Applied Research in Educational Technologies.

Stephen Bax joined CRELLA in 2009. He has a PhD from the University of Kent in the area of Discourse, and an MLitt and MSc in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of North Wales, Bangor. He also holds the Final Diploma in Arabic Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists, of which he is an elected Member.

At CRELLA he is involved in researching language learning, including the use of computers in language learning (CALL), the use of computers in language testing (CALT), and areas of discourse including Computer Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA). He also teaches on the MA in Applied Linguistics, and supervises research students. Before joining CRELLA as a Reader Stephen was a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University and director of the CRADLE research centre, and prior to that he worked for Edinburgh University. He has also worked extensively in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

Sudhir worked with Tata Engineering and ITW Signode (Illinois Tool Works) before he joined a team to start and run an innovative school project in Ahmedabad under the aegis of Eklavya Education Foundation. At Eklavya, he focused on curriculum development, architectural design and facilities planning, parenting workshops and writing articles.

He is currently a Director at Educational Initiatives, taking charge of bringing the assessment services out to schools and ensuring that the services make the desired impact of helping students learn with understanding.

Stephen's "eyes on the horizon, feet on the ground" approach, coupled with a vast portfolio of effective large scale projects over three decades, have established him internationally as a widely and fondly recognized leader in the fields of learning, new media and technology. He has worked, and is working, with governments around the world, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, with schools and communities and with many influential trusts and organizations.

Martin Ripley is a leading international adviser on 21st century education and technology. He is co-founder of the 21st Century Learning Alliance, and owner of World Class Arena Limited. Martin has spent 18 years in test development, including as director of England's school testing programme and as director of the government's e-Strategy Unit.

He has been at the heart of innovation in the design of tests in England: he developed England's national assessment record for 5 year-old children; he developed England's compulsory testing in mathematics and science for 11 year-olds; he introduced the UK's first national, on-demand testing programme; he developed World Class Tests – on-screen problem solving tests that are now used world-wide as a screening tool for gifted students. These problem solving tests are now sold commercially around the world, including in China and Hong Kong.

Mr Sinnakarupan is the main shareholder and Chairman/CEO of Singapore Education Academy Pte Ltd (SEA). He has served and continues to serve on the board of directors in various organisations such as the National Healthcare Group Pte Ltd, Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Technical Education, Singapore Polytechnic, Media Development Authority, and Accel Frontline (India). He served as a member of Parliament (1991-2002) and the Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC (1994-98).

Professor Gordon Stanley is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Education at Oxford University and Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Sydney. Previously he was the inaugural Pearson Professor of Educational Assessment and Director, Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment (2008-10); and President of the Board of Studies in New South Wales in Australia (1998-2008) when major reform to school curriculum and assessment occurred.

Matt has over twenty-two years experience within the UK education market including seven years as a primary school teacher and ICT Coordinator and over thirteen years experience working in a variety of roles for TAG Developments, a leading provider of e-Portfolio/evidence based e-assessment solutions for schools, F.E., H.E. and work-place training.

Matt is also the membership secretary for the eAssessment Association and has built-up significant understanding of the issues relating to assessment within education. Matt is dedicated to building close and highly productive partnerships with key stakeholders within the wider education market, so that through promoting greater awareness of the innovative e-assessment and e-verification/moderation systems available, he can continue helping educators and learners to gain the most out of using effective e-assessment as an integral part of teaching and learning.