TALKS & MEDIA

Ghana Foundational Learning Evidence Day 

August 2026 | Accra, Ghana

I presented findings from two studies on children’s first language (L1) and early reading to Ghana’s Minister of Education and officials from national and subnational education offices. The research addresses a distinction often obscured by broad labels such as “mother-tongue instruction.” Learning to read in L1 and learning through L1 operate through different mechanisms and require different decisions on instruction, teacher deployment, and language policy. Imprecise concepts obscure intended outcomes and causal pathways. At Ghana Evidence Day, I brought this analytical precision directly into national policy dialogue. 

Presentation Slides | Media

Africa Foundational Learning Exchange, FLEX

July 2026 | Lilongwe, Malawi

I served on the organizing committee for FLEX 2026 and helped shape its high-level policy dialogue on children’s education across Africa. The forum convened delegations from 31 countries, including 16 Ministers of Education, four Deputy Ministers, five Secretaries, and key partners. It also brought together the strands that have defined my career. I helped center the dialogue on connecting evidence, policy leadership, and institutional work to move reform from commitment to implementation at scale.

World Bank Policy Academy

November 2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I served on the World Bank Host Team for the Leadership for Progress in Foundational Learning Programme (LEAP), shaping the technical content and learning design for more than 50 ministry delegates from 13 countries. I developed sessions on school leadership and worked directly with teams from Malawi, Rwanda, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone to apply comparative evidence to the institutional levers that shape teaching and foundational learning. Helping education leaders test assumptions, learn across systems, and make stronger reform choices is one way I translate evidence into stronger education reform.

Educators Shaping Futures Conference

November 2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I designed sessions and framed the technical questions for a high-level World Bank dialogue on the future of teacher development. The convening brought global experts together to connect international research with national policy and examine the institutional mechanisms needed to support and scale a professional teaching workforce across diverse contexts. A professional teaching workforce cannot be built by scaling training alone. It requires alignment across professional standards, school leadership, career structures, and sustained instructional support.

Event Highlights

The LIBROS Study: Book Supply Chains & Literacy

September 2024 | Global Book Alliance

I presented findings from the USAID LIBROS study (Learning to Improve Book Resource Operational Systems) during the Global Reading Network's event, "Increasing Literacy through Access." Examining book supply chains in Cambodia, Honduras, and Rwanda, the study underscores that years of schooling alone are insufficient. Consistent access to quality materials is the critical factor in developing foundational skills. 

Full LIBROS Package Here(Report, Brief, & Manual)

GBA-ELRN Webinar: Children's Book Development 

July 2024 | Global Book Alliance

As an invited speaker for the Global Book Alliance (GBA) and Early Learning Resource Network (ELRN) webinar, Developing Books that Children Want to Read, I discussed strategies for book content development in underserved languages alongside a panel of publishers and literacy experts. I shared real-world approaches for navigating local publishing markets, conducting content testing, and utilizing the 100 First Books Framework to create inclusive, high-quality learning materials.

Event Page 

International Literacy Day 2024: Books for Every Child

September 2024 | Global Book Alliance

To celebrate International Literacy Day, the Global Book Alliance hosted a high-level event focused on closing the "global book gap." I joined experts from the World Bank, USAID, and UNICEF to discuss how sustainable book supply chains and the availability of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) directly impact literacy development in underserved communities.

Event Highlights | Presentation Slides

Cross-Country Policy & Evidence Exchange

June 2024 | Rwanda Ministry of Education - USAID  

As Principal Investigator of the multi-country book supply chain study, I co-hosted a national convening to translate evidence into operational reform for the Rwanda Basic Education Board. The event brought together government officials, development partners, and publishers to address textbook supply chain bottlenecks. By linking Rwandan policymakers with Cambodian research teams, the convening enabled South–South learning and informed concrete implementation strategies.

Event Highlights