EDUCATION CONSULTANTS

AT-HOME & INTERNATIONAL

DR.

MAGDY

ELKADY President, Canwell Educational Consultants, New Cairo, Egypt.

Dr. Magdy Elkady is the president of Canwell Educational Consultants, the holding company responsible for bringing Canadian tertiary education to Egypt. Dr. Elkady is an Egyptian-Canadian who achieved his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Asiut University. As president of the Canadian International College (CIC) since its opening in 2004, he encouraged the introduction of cutting-edge educational methodologies at both the New Cairo and Sheik Zayed Campuses. Dr. Elkady was honored with his LL.D from Cape Breton University. Dr. Elkady’s latest accomplishment is the establishment of Universities of Canada in Egypt (UofCanada). Located in the New Administrative City, this new campus promises the continuation of Dr. Elkady’s legacy of bringing Canadian educational excellence to Egypt. The consultancy program’s main purpose is to assist in the preparations of the students to adapt to the rapid changes in the local and global markets. The program analyzes, designs, implements, and evaluates vocational programs. Understanding the requirements of the market and the needs of the students, the program ensures to provide distinguished Canadian learning opportunities.

DR. LAYNE DILLARD

Senior Educational Consultant, E3 Strategic Solutions, Auburn, AL

Dr. Layne Dillard has been an educator in Alabama for 24 years, including 16 years as an administrator in public and private schools. She is currently the principal of a Title I turnaround school in North Alabama that has made a 26 point gain on the State Report Card in just two years. This achievement makes Layne’s school the 3rd most improved school in Alabama. Before this role, she served as a Director of Secondary Education, Staff Evaluations, Public Relations, Community Relations, Alternative Education, Program Implementation, Principal Mentorship, Alabama OSR Pre-K, Counseling, and Safety.

Layne is passionate about finding innovative ways for every student to experience success. She has conducted extensive research in high-performing, high-poverty schools and the steps necessary to impact students in this challenging environment. Layne earned her B.S. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of North Alabama. She earned a Doctor of Education in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gwynne Hales

Founder & President, Great Lakes Educational Consulting, Northfield, IL

Since 2000, Gwynne Hales has placed thousands of students in emotional-growth boarding schools, residential treatment centers, outdoor therapeutic programs and traditional boarding schools. She spends one to two weeks per month identifying, researching and visiting residential schools and programs for adolescents and young adults – and has been to over 300 to date. Gwynne has visited and thoroughly evaluated every program or school she recommends to a family. She is an active member of The Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) since the year 2000 and serves on the Scholarship Committee for Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Wyoming.

Gwynne started Great Lakes Educational Consulting in 2004. Prior to operating her own firm, she was an educational consultant with Steinbrecher & Partners, where she managed their Chicago office for three years. Before that, Gwynne was an admissions counselor and regional marketer for Aspen Educational Group. She founded and directed Alpine Adolescent Services, an adolescent crisis-intervention company which located runaways and transported and assisted adolescents in crisis. Prior to that, Gwynne was a wilderness and mountaineering guide for adolescents in Wyoming.

A graduate of The Taft School, Gwynne attended the University of Vermont and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Gwynne was an All-American lacrosse player, played on the National Lacrosse League and was lacrosse coach for University of Colorado Women’s team.

Kate Hardy

Senior Associate Director of Admission, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

A Bard alumna, Kate majored in Literature with a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies and went on to earn her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University. While at Columbia, she interned at a middle school in the Bronx and a small harm-reduction agency in midtown Manhattan while continuing her work for Bard Admissions. After a decade of working regionally in New York City, Kate and her family relocated back to the Hudson Valley in 2022 where she works based on campus. Kate is the primary Admissions contact for applicants from the Bard Early College network and works collaboratively with the Office of Equity and Inclusion to support students applying to the Equity and Inclusion Programs (HEOP, BOP, ECO and Posse).

TONY LAI CHEE HOONG Director, Marketing, Admissions & Communications, St. Joseph’s Institution International School, Tropicana PJ Campus, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Tony is busy with the organization, administration, and strategic development of all initiatives relating to the marketing and promotion of SJIIM in order to drive students recruitment at all levels. This includes development of links and partnerships with recruitment agents and community contacts, whilst raising the profile and position of SJIIM.

Tony’s key duties and areas of responsibility are as follows: Producing the annual marketing plan including management of the marketing budget; implementing advertising, communications and event activities to support recruitment, profile raising and retention of students; leading digital initiatives, including the social media, digital marketing campaigns, etc; establishing links in both online and offline communication channels; forging new partnerships to optimize students recruitment opportunities; carrying out regular reviews of the admissions process to ensure that it is fit for purpose and promotes the right image of SJIIM; and more.

Before SJIIM, Tony has served in Admissions with Epsom College, Malaysia, for 5 years.

Astrid joined St. John’s School way back 15 years ago. She has consistently applied herself in administration and marketing and has now headed the admissions duties at the school for several admirable years. Originally, she was an Industrial Engineer graduate from Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina Her career started as an IT support specialist at Egon Zehnder. When she joined St. John’s school, her skills in recruiting, human resources, operations management, and navigating conferences made her a natural standout in admissions.

JINI JIMYUNG YOON Music Therapy Consultant, NRIO, Division of Bayshore Therapy & Rehab University of Toronto, Etobicoke, ON

Jini has had various experiences in music, music therapy (creative arts therapies), counseling and teaching.

ASTRID BAGNALL Head of Admissions, St. John’s School, Martínez, Argentina

THERAPY JOANNA LONG Occupational Therapist, Ability Action Australia, Melbourne, Australia

After postgraduate training in music therapy, she took her second Masters degree in Music and Health Science, in a collaborative program in neuroscience, University of Toronto. After several work experiences as a music therapist, she joined and has stayed with NRIO for the last 7 years.

Joanna is an Occupational Therapist, passionate in working with individuals with disabilities from all age ranges, to provide high-quality client-centered care. She is specifically interested in the areas of Paediatric and Assistive Technology. Joanna hopes that with growth in knowledge and experiences, she will make positive changes to someone’s life and assist them in reaching their full potential. Her motto: “Believe that you can and you're halfway there.”

Joanna completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from Monash University in Melbourne. She has boosted her skill set in various certificates and licenses in specialized areas such as safety, pressure care, practical training, infection prevention and control, primary care advancing competency to support family violence survivors, and more.

“Tree”

(1368–1644),

vintage Chinese painting by Chen Hongshou. Public domain image from The Cleveland Museum of Art. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.