Rob is a seasoned industry advisor with over 20 years of experience leading transformation across the Education and Public Sector. As Director, Industry Advisor for Education, Rob works closely with national ministries, institutional leaders, and policy makers to shape forward-looking strategies that strengthen education systems, promote digital equity, and build institutional resilience. His deep regional expertise—particularly in Southeast Asia—combined with a practical understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, enables him to guide leaders in navigating the evolving intersection of policy, pedagogy, and innovation. Rob is a trusted voice in engagements focused on modernizing education, fostering public-private collaboration, and unlocking the societal potential of technology.
Dr. Margarita Pavlova (PhD Australia, PhD Russia, MEd USA) just stepped down as the Director of the UNEVOC Centre, Hong Kong (part of the global UNESCO-UNEVOC network). Now she is a Research Fellow at that Centre and a Visiting Professor at UTHM, Malaysia. Her research focuses on policy, teacher capacity building, planning, and curriculum development in vocational education at the national and international levels. She has a particular expertise in education for sustainable development, green skills development, as strategies for an inclusive and just transition towards greener economies and societies and fostering innovation and greening with AI as an important consideration. Dr. Pavlova has been engaged in numerous regional research and development projects across Asia and Europe in multiple roles collaborating with governments and esteemed organisation such as SEAMEO VOCTECH, the SkillsFuture Singapore, Skills New Zealand, Korean Research Institute on Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), and others. They were funded by agencies including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, UNESCO, GIZ, SIDA, HELVETAS, and the European Training Foundation (ETF). She is among 0,05% of highly ranked scholars worldwide in technology education (based on ScholarGPS ranking). She currently serves on the editorial advisory boards for two prestigious Springer book series: Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues, Concerns and Prospects and Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects.
