About Us – EDUMEA2040

Every Learner Matters

Our mission is to build agile, resilient ecosystems that prepare every learner for a fast-changing world through ethical innovation, deep learning, and system ownership.

Our Mission

What education must become between now and 2040 — focused on

By 2040, over 50% of the global youth population will live in MEA. This makes education systems the critical lever for lifting millions out of poverty, inequality, and unemployment.This 15-year call to action is rooted in building future-facing education ecosystems that not only expand possibilities but also solve critical challenges through deep technical knowledge and applied expertise. By setting our sights on 2040, we focus our efforts on long-term, transformative impact that improves life chances across the region.

Deep Learning & Adaptability

Equip learners with the mindset and skills to thrive in complexity—rooted in neuroscience, cognitive science, and lifelong learning.

Equity & Ethical AI

Harness the power of technology responsibly to close gaps, not widen them—always centering fairness, privacy, and dignity.

Interdisciplinary Creativity

Blend diverse domains—arts, sciences, technology, and ethics—to cultivate innovation, problem-solving, and new possibilities.

Systems Innovation & Culture Change

Shift mindsets and structures through evidence-based reform, behavioral insight, and deep collaboration with local actors.

Our Mandate

A Bold Commitment to Transform Education

problem-solving skills, and a mindset of continuous learning. Advances in neuroscience and cognitive psychology highlight the need for deep learning, retention, and practical application of knowledge.

To achieve this goal we have established a unique project with the sole purpose of developing agile, equitable, and resilient education systems that go beyond short-term interventions and conventional thinking. Through helping Governments, institutions, and practitioners to adopt technologies, policies, competencies, and behaviors that look to the future and create the platform for every learner to fulfill their potential by 2040. We do this by against students becoming passive consumers of AI-generated outputs. EduMEA2040 places a priority on the importance of fostering flexibility, creativity, and interdisciplinary skills to prepare individuals for opportunities that do not yet exist.

Imagination

we dream big and challenge the current assumptions underpinning education.

Focus

our time is spent on what matters, not on what convention tells us is important

Empathy

Incredible things happen at the intersection of domains. We bring expertise, passion, and enthusiasm.

Radical Optimism

We build for the future rather than the past, we work around possibilities rather than constraints.

Why We Exist

The purpose of the system is what it does.

Despite the levels of investment, education outcomes in most parts of the Middle East and Africa consistently fall below international standards. The longer-term implications are profound and have stifled economic growth, innovation, social stability, health outcomes, and overall development.

The Core Problem

Underperforming education systems are failing to equip learners for today—let alone tomorrow.

The Cost of Inaction

Poor education outcomes ripple across society—weak economies, fragile communities, and lost futures.

Why Quick Fixes Fail

Short-term pilots and top-down interventions ignore real-world complexity and lack staying power.

Our Better Way Forward

We co-create lasting change through deep systems thinking, behavioral insights, and local ownership.

Our Approach

Who We Are

We offer different perspectives, varied experiences, and width to our way of thinking and doing. We have also failed along the way; however, failing forward and learning from these experiences gives us that edge.

Diverse Perspectives & Rich Experience

We bring a variety of viewpoints and deep, hands-on experience that broaden our approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Resilience Through Failure

We've encountered setbacks—but we've learned, adapted, and grown stronger. Failing forward gives us a unique edge.

Bespoke Talent Clusters

For every project, we build specialized, tight-knit teams driven by technical expertise, passion, innovation, and evidence-based thinking.

Proven Impact in Education

Our teams have: Supported national education systems Led institutional transformations Operated at both strategic and grassroots levels

Our Team

We are a network of systems thinkers, behavioral scientists, AI specialists, policy experts, and frontline practitioners. We’ve helped lead reforms across national ministries, institutional turnarounds, and grassroots movements.

Hebah Foda

Hebah Foda is a policy strategist and systems thinker with over a decade of experience advancing education reform, equity, and innovation across the MENA region.She has led large-scale initiatives with USAID, Save the Children, and the International Rescue Committee, focusing on early childhood development, inclusive education, data governance, and AI integration in public systems. Hebah holds an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCL, a bachelor in Psychology from Lancaster University and has completed executive training at Harvard and LSE. Her work bridges policy, research, and practice—crafting scalable strategies that are both locally rooted and globally informed. She is especially passionate about transforming education systems to be more adaptive, just, and future-ready.

Cameron Mirza

Cameron is a senior education strategist with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale education reform across the UK and MENA region. He has held leadership roles in government, universities, and international development, focusing on system transformation, workforce alignment, and institutional performance. He has served as Head of Strategy at Bahrain’s Ministry of Higher Education, Director of Strategy at the University of Bahrain—where he led digital transformation , tripled research output and led the university to its highest global ranking—and MENA Director for Nottingham Trent University. Cameron has advised Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education on the improvement of over 40 universities and served as Chief of Party for two USAID-funded education reform programs in Jordan. His expertise includes policy reform, digital innovation, employability, teacher education, and quality assurance. He is a board member of Global Impact Initiative, a published author on higher education reform, and a regular speaker at international education conferences.

Razan Elayan

Razan Elayan is a data analyst with deep expertise in leveraging data-driven insights to shape impactful programs. With a strong foundation in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, she has supported organizations in designing evidence-based strategies, monitoring systems, and evaluation frameworks that prioritize equity and contextual relevance. Her work spans wrangling complex datasets, building interactive dashboards, conducting field research, and translating findings into actionable recommendations. Razan holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Jordan, and her academic background informs her analytical rigor and systems thinking approach. She is passionate about harnessing data to improve decision-making, uncover hidden insights, and support inclusive, sustainable development. She ensures data is not only understood but used meaningfully to drive progress.

Rula Al-Jundi

Rula Al-Jundi is an education specialist with over 20 years of experience supporting education reform across Jordan, the Gulf region, and Africa. Her expertise spans early grade literacy and numeracy, teacher professional development, instructional leadership, curriculum enhancement, educational technology integration, and capacity building at both school and system levels. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with ministries of education, international development organizations, and local partners to drive sustainable improvements in learning outcomes. Her work emphasizes the use of data-driven approaches, inclusive practices, and building resilient education systems capable of sustaining long-term impact. Ms. Al-Jundi holds advanced degrees in International Education, Educational Technology, and ICT in Education. She is fluent in Arabic and English, with additional proficiency in French, and is passionate about empowering educators and institutions to lead transformational change.