Bio: Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior to this appointment, she was the Acting Director of Research at the Dubai School of Government. Natasha has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector including in Singapore and Australia.

Natasha holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master's in International and Community Development from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.

Natasha has more than 50 publications, including a book entitled Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local published by Teachers College Press. Her latest research focuses on philanthropy and education in the MENA region as well as the nature and impact of father involvement in the Arab World.

In addition to being a founding Executive Board member and former President of the Gulf Comparative Education Society Natasha is also a member of the NORRAG Advisory Board and the Board of EduAlliance.

Natasha is passionate about all things related to education and hopes that the work of the Al Qasimi Foundation will continue to make a positive impact on the lives and education of the people of Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE and beyond.

Bio: Prior to joining the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, Susan Kippels conducted research for UNICEF, did advocacy work with an international NGO in Uganda, and oversaw a business in Lebanon. With UNICEF, Susan researched non-formal education strategies as well as early learning in emergency contexts. Her background also includes professional development, recruiting, and tutoring experience in San Francisco, CA.

Susan, an American, holds a dual bachelor’s degree (Economics and Arabic) from the University of Notre Dame as well as a master’s (International Education Policy) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, both in the United States. She also spent a year studying at the American University in Cairo and has taken Arabic courses at the American University of Beirut.Susan’s research interests at the Al Qasimi Foundation include philanthropy in education, private education in the Gulf, and migrant teachers.