Transforming Global Education Summit
Redefining Education as Global Infrastructure
1 May 2026 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (EST)
ECOSOC Chamber · United Nations Headquarters · New York
The Transforming Global Education Summit convenes heads of state, multilateral leaders, technologists, educators, and youth to reimagine education as global infrastructure and advance resilient, inclusive, and future-ready learning systems.
#TGES
Education is more than a system, it is the foundation of every nation’s future.
Organized by PVBLIC Foundation and co-hosted by the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Learning Economy Foundation, the Transforming Global Education Summit brings together Heads of State, multilateral leaders, technologists, philanthropists, and youth to reimagine education as global infrastructure as a catalyst for resilience, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.
From Dialogue to Design:
The Summit moves beyond dialogue to structured collaboration, linking policy with technology, capital, and community impact. It is where ideas are translated into actionable blueprints to transform how the world learns.
Our Shared Vision:
To ensure that every learner, everywhere, can access the tools, networks, and opportunities to thrive in the century ahead.
Why this, why now: repositioning education as global infrastructure
A global learning crisis and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redesign the system
Only
58% Of students
Reach minimum reading proficiency by the end of primary school.
SOURCE: UNESCO, GEM REPORT 2024
$97 Billion
Is the annual financing gap needed to ensure quality education for all.
SOURCE: UNESCO, GLOBAL EDUCATION MONITORING REPORT 2023
4 Out of 5
Countries
Experienced significant learning losses due to school closures during the pandemic.
SOURCE: UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR STATISTICS (UIS) & WORLD BANK, 2023
Less than half of primary schools
Have adequate infrastructure or internet access globally.
SOURCE: UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR STATISTICS, 2024
The evidence is undeniable, the crisis is structural. Education must be treated as infrastructure.
300M
84M
Youth who will still lack basic literacy andnumeracy skills by 2030.
Children projected to remain out of school by 2030.
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Source: UN, “SDG Progress Report 2023: Special Edition” (SDG 4 section) | UNESCO, “Global Education Monitoring Report 2023: Technology in Education – A Tool on Whose Terms?”
Centering Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
By placing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the center of the convening, the Summit highlights their role as early adopters of sovereign, technology-enabled education systems.
Facing unique structural challenges, including geographic remoteness, limited resources, and heightened vulnerability to global shocks, SIDS are advancing approaches that prioritize resilience, adaptability, and long-term capacity building.
These countries demonstrate how nations can leapfrog legacy infrastructure and build integrated, future-ready learning ecosystems by aligning policy, technology, and investment.
Hosted at the United Nations Headquarters, the Summit serves as a neutral convening space for governments, private sector partners, and civil society to collaborate on modernizing national learning systems, scaling digital inclusion, and aligning education with purpose and results.
Designed as a high-level working platform, the Summit brings together cross-sector leadership through a structured convening format that enables both dialogue and collaboration.
The Organizers
Host
PVBLIC Foundation is a global institution transforming how societies build the systems that enable resilient and future-ready development. Operating at the intersection of diplomacy, development, and innovation, PVBLIC serves as a trusted platform connecting governments, the United Nations, global family offices, and the private sector to design and implement scalable development frameworks. Through its four pillars of Nature, Technology, Capital, and Multilateralism, PVBLIC builds the infrastructure of the future by advancing environmental resilience, mobilizing catalytic capital, transferring technology, and convening high-level partnerships that drive measurable global impact. The foundation has managed programs and partnerships that have reached more than one billion people in 125 countries. Our mission is to mobilize action for sustainable and economic development and establish practical frameworks that translate policy into implementation.
Co-Hosts
Antigua and Barbuda
Kingdom of Tonga
Learning Economy Foundation (LEF) works to advance next-generation education systems that align learning with economic opportunity, technological transformation, and societal resilience, supporting countries in building future-ready national learning ecosystems.
Co-host of the Summit, Antigua and Barbuda plays a key role in advancing global dialogue on education, resilience, and sustainable development within multilateral platforms. A twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean, the country reflects the opportunities and challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, including the need to strengthen systems that support long-term resilience and inclusive growth.
As co-host, the Kingdom of Tonga contributes to shaping discussions on education systems, resilience, and development priorities, particularly within the context of Small Island Developing States. An archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, Tonga brings a perspective grounded in cultural continuity, geographic dispersion, and the importance of building systems that support both national development and community resilience.
Supporting Partners
Agenda
10:00 AM
-
Welcome Remarks
Kerry Bannigan
President of the Board, PVBLIC Foundation
Including remarks by Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Executive Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation
10:05 AM
-
Special Remarks
Clare L. Browne
Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, Antigua and Barbuda
10:10 AM
-
Special Remarks
Hon. Dr. Mo’ale 'Otunuku
Minister of Education and Training, Kingdom of Tonga
10:15 AM
-
Opening Remarks
Maher Nasser
Director of the Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Global Communications
10:20 AM
-
The Education Reality: A Fragmented Global System
Moderator
John Goodwin
Former CEO, LEGO Foundation, Strategy at Learning Economy Foundation
Hon. Dr. Bernard M. Doro
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Federal Government of Nigeria
Isikeli Ngalu Oko
Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Education and Training, The Kingdom of Tonga
Jayashri Wyatt
Chief, Human Rights Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications, United Nations
10:40 AM
-
Special Remarks
Amir Dossal
President & CEO, Global Partnerships Forum and Founder and Curator, Vision for the Future
10:48 AM
-
Reframing Education as Infrastructure
Moderator
Dr. Steven Azeka
Senior Program Officer, Mozilla Foundation
Diana Krogh
Vice President, Social Responsibility, The LEGO Group
Melanie Dukes
Partner, Network Building, LearnerStudio
Simone Ravaioli
Senior Director, Global Learning Ecosystem, Instructure
11:16 AM
-
Case Study
Dr. Dan Brenner
Executive Director, United Nations International School (UNIS)
11:31 AM
-
Focus on SIDS: Small Island Developing States
Moderator
Roland Mollerus
Director, UN OHRLLS
Clare L. Browne
Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, Antigua and Barbuda
Hon. Dr. Mo’ale 'Otunuku
Minister of Education and Training, Kingdom of Tonga
Ashaki Goodwin
Director of Government Affairs, PVBLIC Foundation
11:54 AM
-
Portable Learning Records: Building the Interoperable Layer for Lifelong Learning
Moderator
Chris Purifoy
CEO, Learning Economy Foundation
Kyle Winters
Initiatives and Communities Lead, Advanced Manufacturing and Value Chains, World Economic Forum
Kymberly Lavigne-Hinkley
National Philanthropic Partnership Director, Western Governors University
Dawn Karber
Executive Director, SkillsFWD, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
12:22 PM
-
Youth Commitment Moment
Representatives of the UnitEd Youth Council, Scouts and Students
12:35 PM
-
Scaling the Model: From Youth to National Development
Moderator
Dr. Alison Bryant
Chief Operating Officer, Learning Economy Foundation; Former Chief of Learning & Research, Sesame Workshop
Ruhana da Silva
Director, Digital Transformation, Information Technology, World Scouting
Michael Preston
Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, Sesame Workshop
Janet Simon
Teacher, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, and Volunteer, Antigua and Barbuda
01:00 PM
-
Break
01:15 PM
-
Leadership for the Future of National Education Systems
Moderator
Dan Thomas
Chief Communications Officer, United Nations Global Compact
Hon. Kenson Joel Casimir
Minister of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Saint Lucia
H.E. Dionisio Babo Soares
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the United Nations
Marie Unger
Chief Learning Officer, Emergenetics, Intl.
Kevin Frey
CEO, Generation Unlimited, UNICEF
01:43 PM
-
Case Lab: Global Best Practices in Transformative Education
Moderator
Ashaki Goodwin
Director of Government Affairs, PVBLIC Foundation
H.E Brian Wallace
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations
Paul Skoczylas
Private Sector Partnership Service, World Food Programme
Heew Kim
Team Leader and Senior Advisor, Impact & Efficiency, United Nations Joint SDG Fund
02:10 PM
-
Redefining Education Systems for the Future: Integrating Mental Health, Nutrition, and Holistic Youth Development as Global Priorities
Moderator
Dr. Jrucilla B. Samuel
Director, Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation
Pia Nichols
President, National Youth Volunteer Corps; Former CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Antigua and Barbuda
Janet Simon
Teacher, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Volunteer, Antigua and Barbuda
Chevaughn Burton
Assistant to the Focal Point, Safe Schools, Ministry of Education Antigua and Barbuda
02:30 PM
-
Break
03:00 PM
-
National Education Systems in a Global Digital Ecosystem
Moderator
Dhruv Sehra
Founder and CEO, 256 Network
Stuart Smith
CEO, NCUK
Archana Jahagirdar
Founder and Managing Partner, Rukam Capital
03:28 PM
-
UN Agencies, the Multilateral Communities and the Responsibility Towards Global Education
Moderator
Robert Skinner
Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement, United Nations
Anne-Claire Grossias
Associate Programme Officer, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Nina Brandt
Chief of Section, Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, United Nations Youth Office
Ola Goransson
Sustainable Development Officer, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
03:56 PM
-
Building the Human Infrastructure for New Education Operating Systems
Moderator
Laurence Kalinsky
Executive Director, Family Offices for Sustainable Development, PVBLIC Foundation
Pawan Varyani
Executive Director, Academic City University US Foundation (ACUF)
Laura Bakosh
Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, Inner Explorer
Jennifer Kushell
Founder and CEO, Exploring Your Potential
Kumu Ramsay Taum
President, Privy Council, Royal House of Hawaii
04:19 PM
-
Education and the Most Vulnerable
Moderator
Kerry Bannigan
President of the Board, PVBLIC Foundation
H.E. Viliami Va'inga Tōnē
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations
H.E. Tapugao Falefou
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations
Chaitanya Raj Singh Jaisalmer
Chairman and Board Member, Jaisalmer Fort Palace and Citta India Foundation
04:42 PM
-
Systems in Motion Beyond Classrooms: Hybrid Learning, Micro-Credentials, and AI Agents: Exploring AI’s Impact on Education and Its Potential to Leapfrog Societies
Moderator
Chelsea Toler
Co-Founder, Logictry
Dr. Dan Brenner
Executive Director, United Nations International School (UNIS)
Dr. Mariana Dahan
Founder, World Identity Network
Charlene Chelagat Ruto
Founder, The Young People’s Network International
05:05 PM
-
Capital and Curriculum
Moderator
Amanda Slavin
Chief Development Officer, Learning Economy Foundation
Pinar Ozcan
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Gabi Leibowitz
Partnerships, ElevenLabs
Beth Bray
Senior Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation
05:30 PM
-
Plenary Session: Statements by Country Delegations
05:50 PM
-
Closing Remarks: From Summit to System: The Adoption Pathway
Chris Purifoy
CEO, Learning Economy Foundation
05:55 PM
-
Closing Remarks
H.E. Viliami Va'inga Tōnē
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations
06:00 PM
-
Closing Remarks
Kerry Bannigan
President of the Board, PVBLIC Foundation
Join our global effort to advance education as infrastructure
We provide structured pathways for institutions, organizations, and partners to engage with the Transforming Global Education Summit and its broader education initiatives.
Engagement is designed to align participation with long-term impact, offering access to high-level dialogues, visibility across global platforms, and opportunities to contribute to the development of education systems.
Partners may participate in the Summit, support ongoing programs, or engage across our global initiatives through tailored, multi-level collaboration.
Let’s shape the future of education, together
The Transforming Global Education Summit convenes global leadership to explore the connections between policy, technology, and human potential, and to advance the role of education as a foundational pillar of national development.
As systems around the world continue to adapt to evolving global challenges, the Summit provides a platform for collaboration, shared learning, and the development of approaches that support resilient and future-ready societies.
For further information about the Summit or to explore opportunities for engagement, please contact: