Speakers

Gabor Maté (pronounced GAH-bor MAH-tay) is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of five books published in 43 languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his ground-breaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. His most recent book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture is a New York Times and international bestseller.
His next book, co-written with his son Daniel, will be Hello Again: A Fresh Start for
Parents and their Adult Children, based on their popular workshop.
www.drgabormate.com

Professor Alain Tschudin completed his PhD in Psychology in 1999 through the then University of Natal (The University of Kwazulu-Natal) on the comparative evolution of social complexity and intelligence in dolphins and primates, registering as a professional psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. In 2007, he completed his second PhD in moral philosophy and theology on the meaning of being, at the University of Cambridge. Alain worked for the University of Seville and the European Commission on a project to foster social integration and economic participation for immigrant and ethnic minorities in Spain. He later returned to South Africa and ran the Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal using dialogics to pursue solidarity among residents and refugees, along with peace, democratisation and human rights initiatives in marginal communities. He has done humanitarian work with Save the Children International, with UNICEF in the Central African Republic and served as the UN's inter-agency Child Protection Assessment Coordinator for Northern Syria. Alain was Executive Director of Good Governance Africa, a pan-African NGO, in Johannesburg, Professor in the WITS School of Governance and lead consultant for the UN Special Advisor on Africa on the nexus approach to fast-tracking the SDGs across Africa. Subsequently, he was Director of the International Centre of Nonviolence at the Durban University of Technology. He has been a Visiting Fellow at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland and is a Senior Research Associate at St Edmund's College, Cambridge. Since 2022, he has served voluntarily as President of the Association Montessori Internationale, the NGO set up by Dr Maria Montessori in 1929, headquartered in the Netherlands and he recently joined the Board of the Gorée Institute in Senegal. In 2025 he was named the UNESCO Gandhi-Montessori-Luthuli Chair on Education for Peace and Transformative Solidarity hosted by Stellenbosch University and co-hosted by St Edmund’s College, Cambridge University.

Born in a family deeply involved in India’s Freedom Movement, Anuradha Shankar grew up strongly committed to Gandhian values. Anu has been actively engaged with Ekta Parishad, a grassroots movement for land rights and Jai Jagat, an international movement for peace and non-violence. She is on the board of the Universal Solidarity Movement, which works to develop responsible, ethical citizenship in school children in India. She mentors groups of young adults working on a non-violent economy and harmony between communities. She has been a Focal Point for UNICEF, developed capacity-building programmes for child-friendly policing, and given inputs to UNICEF’s 5-year country plans as well as critical feedback on their programme implementation. She is a decorated senior officer of the Indian Police Service and has leveraged her position to ensure safety and security regimes for the vulnerable, particularly women and children. As the leader of a regulatory organisation, her core competence is critical analysis for ensuring optimum results in the delivery of justice and her primary mandate is oversight of the mechanics of governance in a democracy. She is seen as a change agent rather than an upholder of bureaucratic perimeters. Anu has travelled widely to speak on Kasturba Gandhi and the role of women in India’s struggle for freedom.

Eder Cuevas Iturralde is Executive Director of Montessori Mexico, Head of the Chihuahua Montessori School, AMI trainer for school leaders, and AMI board member.
He is passionate about Montessori's social contribution through Horme and ESF, with programs such as Montessori environments in prisons He has supported Montessori schools in the process of continuous improvement, developing programs for adolescents and workshops for families in more than thirty countries.
Eder has studies in physical education and sports, a master's degree in sports psychology, and a bachelor's and master's degree in education. His Montessori training includes AMI elementary in Bergamo, Italy, and AMI adolescent training in Ohio, USA. He was a professor at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua at the bachelor's and master's levels for 15 years in the areas of sports and is currently a consultant for Montessori Sports.

Julia Ballesteros Sentíes is a Human Communication therapist specialized in cognitive neurorehabilitation from the Complutense University of Madrid, with over 25 years of experience working with adults and seniors in clinical and community settings. She is a Board Member of Montessori Mexico, a member of the Mexican College of Human Communication Therapists, and the first AMI Montessori trainer in Spanish for aging and dementia. Certified as a Montessori guide (3–6), in Montessori for aging and dementia, and as a Death Doula, Julia has pioneered the integration of Montessori philosophy into aging, dementia, and palliative care, training professionals internationally and founding NUÚP honra.conecta. She also organized the First International Montessori Congress on Adults and Seniors and continues to focus her work on dignifying every stage of life, fostering compassionate caregiving, and honoring human authenticity through Montessori principles.

Lynne Lawrence has served as Executive Director of AMI since June 2008. Prior to this role, she was Acting Secretary General and Chair of the Association’s Human Resources Committee. She also worked as a trainer with the Maria Montessori Training Organisation (MMTO), now known as the Maria Montessori Institute.
As Executive Director, Lynne actively promotes the inclusion of the Montessori Movement in developing countries, while also working across other areas of the Association, including Montessori training programs worldwide, research and development initiatives of the Board of Directors, and the coordination of AMI’s committees and staff.

Mirka Vlčková is the Founder and Chief Enthusiasm Officer at Montessori Institute Prague. What began as a volunteer mothers’ group grew into a Montessori parent–child program, which later flourished into a thriving Montessori kindergarten and elementary school. Continuing her mission, she successfully opened and now manages an international AMI Montessori teacher training center. Taking it a step further, she acquired a farm and land to launch an exceptional adolescent program. Mirka supports enthusiasts in bringing Montessori to their own communities. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than 2.3 million euros in grant funding and now teaches others how to do the same.

Paige M. Bray, Ed.D. is the Director of the Center for Montessori Studies and Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Hartford, Connecticut. She has worked to address systemic inequities for over three decades. Her teaching expertise focuses on the personal “reflexes” and professional identity transitions fostered through dynamic inquiry and the use of meta-cognitive tools with pre-service teachers as well as credentialed teachers across the career continuum. A community engaged scholar, Paige works with and in community using critical and humanistic pedagogy, including Montessori, to support agency and belonging.

Selda's journey in education has been both transformative and enriching. Starting with her background in mental health nursing, she developed a keen awareness of the intricate connections between emotional well-being and overall development. This foundational experience inspired her to explore the Montessori approach where she discovered her lifelong passion for working alongside children and families.
To enhance her expertise further, Selda pursued a Master's degree in Inclusive Education, reinforcing her dedication to creating equitable and accessible learning experiences for every child. Her diverse experiences across various countries have broadened her perspective, allowing her to appreciate and respect cultural variations in education. Currently, Selda is actively expanding her
knowledge through doctoral studies, which enables her to integrate the most current research findings and exemplary practices within her field into her professional practice.

Veronica Burbano is a highly experienced 3-6 AMI Primary Trainer and international examiner with over 16 years of expertise in Early Childhood Education. She currently works as a Primary trainer for the Montessori Training Center Northeast (MTCNE) in Melrose, Massachusetts, where she helps shape the next generation of Montessori educators. Veronica began her career as an early childhood educator at the GVSU Lab School in Michigan, where she worked for two years. She earned her AMI Primary diploma from MTCNE while serving as a Spanish specialist and assistant at the Amherst Montessori School in Massachusetts. Following her training, she developed and launched a bilingual program for one of the Casa de Niños classrooms at the school, where she spent over a decade guiding children, mentoring assistants and new guides, and supporting families.

Alissa Stolz, M.Ed., is Head of School at a Montessori program serving preschool through early adolescence since 1981. AMS-credentialed in Secondary I & II and Administration, she has taught in and founded middle school programs. Alissa is also a teacher trainer, field consultant, and frequent presenter on Montessori philosophy, adolescent development, and leadership. She consults with and serves on Montessori school boards while pursuing her doctorate on the critical transition from the Second to Third Plane of development, exploring how Montessori education supports children and families at this pivotal stage.

Doctor of Engineering/ MBA (Master of Business Administration)
Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Osaka
Montessori Care Association Japan Representative Director
Individual Psychology counselor

Inga Sieminski’s 40-year Montessori journey spans primary and elementary teaching, school leadership, and initiatives in underserved communities. She holds an AMI diploma from WMI, M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland, and an MA in Arts Administration from American University. Certified in Orff-Schulwerk-Music for Children, she developed a child-centered music and movement curriculum that aligns with Montessori principles, together with a 230-page lesson manual. This inclusive and culturally adaptable approach has been shared through international workshops, including AMI/USA, IMC Thailand, and Montessori Europe. Inga currently serves on the Executive Board of Washington Montessori Institute (WMI).

Carolyn Magnussen is an educator, author, and consultant with over 30 years of experience in Montessori education. She began her career as a special education teacher in the U.S., where she discovered the transformative power of Montessori. After moving to Norway, she spent over 25 years in Montessori schools before becoming a leader in adapting Montessori for people living with dementia. Co-founder of Montessori Care, she published a book in June 2025 on Montessori-based programming for persons with dementia (published in Norwegian). An award-winning artist, lifelong learner, mother, and grandmother, Carolyn bridges research and practice to create environments that foster dignity, independence, and joy.

Simone Davies is an AMI Montessori educator since 2004, author, and mother of Two young adults. She is the author of The Montessori Toddler and co-author of The Montessori Baby and The Montessori Child, international bestsellers translated into over 30 languages. Simone also shares Montessori inspiration globally through her blog, podcast, and Instagram account The Montessori Notebook. Based in Amsterdam, she runs Jacaranda Tree Montessori, offering parent– child classes for families. Simone is passionate about helping families bring Montessori into daily life - supporting children with kindness, respect, and independence, while nurturing their natural love of learning.

Tina Booth is the Director of Adolescent Training at Train Montessori (USA). She has served as a Montessori guide and administrator across public, private, and land-based adolescent communities since 2001. Trained at both the 6–12 and 12–18 levels, Tina specializes in adolescent development, community-based education, and the professional formation of Montessori adults. She is deeply engaged in research on adult learners, equity in teacher education, and Youth Participatory Action Research.

Pavan Goyal and Munira Hussain are the Co-founders of Blue Blocks Montessori School, Hyderabad, India. Pavan holds AMI Diplomas at all four levels and Munira holds AMI Diplomas for the 3–6 and 6–12 levels. Both have over 17 years of experience in Montessori education and parent engagement, working with more than 45,000 parents worldwide. Pavan, with a background in entrepreneurship, integrates real-world expertise into the Montessori adolescent community. Together, they have pioneered one of it’s kind Cube Satellite project from a Montessori environment, showcasing how adolescents, when trusted and supported, can lead innovation, bridge scientific inquiry with Montessori principles, and contribute meaningfully to society.

Jip Bartels is a former professional athlete at the AFC Ajax football academy. Named Student Talent of the Year (2015) at VU University and earned a Master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam (2017). Founded and led Montessori Sports programs in Australia (2018–2021) and holds AMI certificates for the 6–12 age group, School Leadership, and the Core Principles course.

Liza Davis started in Montessori at age three, and her first job at fourteen was working in art education alongside artists. She has served in diverse roles within public and private
schools and currently serves as an AMI 3–6 Trainer and Executive Director at the Montessori Center of Minnesota. Grounded in both scholarship and lived experience, her recent work explores the intersection of trauma and Montessori, highlighting how prepared adults and communities can cultivate resilience and joy.