Plommer Watson Associates

John, a Canadian, studied as an undergraduate and graduate in Canada, and has a Master of Arts in International Education from the Centre for Education in an International Context at the University of Bath.  Since 1974, John has supported the IB and several times been involved in important IB developments, including the first criterion-based assessments.  During the past two decades, he has nurtured several schools through the process of becoming IB World Schools.  Education-related roles beyond consultancy include teacher, head teacher, principal and international school director at various times in his career.  He has been actively involved in school design and in working with architects.  Design of curriculum and of assessment models— both in national systems and, as noted, with the IB—have been constant over the years. At present, John’s principal base is in Victoria, British Columbia, punctuated with regular long-term stays in the UK and Italy.

Andrew Watson is on the Governing Board of United World College (UWC) Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has worked in four continents, often at times of political upheaval. He is passionate about the potential of education to transform conflict and post-conflict contexts. 

Trained as an Artist, he exhibited in London before entering international education in Jerusalem during the “2nd Intifada”. He has since worked with schools and government agencies in countries around the world including Albania, Armenia, Israel, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and Venezuela.

In 2010 Andrew began working with the IB as a Regional Manager for the Diploma Programme in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with whom he continues to work extensively in a number of areas through PWA. A Londoner by birth, Andrew now lives in the Cotswolds in the UK with his wife and two daughters.

Joni has worked as IB teacher trainer as well as IB examiner in several subjects including TOK, Philosophy and History. He has worked in three different countries in various positions, most recently in the United World College of Norway and British International School, Thailand. He has an M.A. in History, a BA in Philosophy and has taught History, Philosophy, Psychology and TOK for several years. He has also worked as IB teacher trainer for Philosophy as well as IB examiner for Philosophy and History. He was the first OCC curriculum member for Philosophy. He has also created a new school based syllabus, Human Rights, that has now gone mainstream as part of the IB Global Politics course. 

Shamayim recently graduated from the University of Oxford, with an MSc in Comparative and International Education. Her dissertation explored how the International Baccalaureate and United World Colleges attempt to fulfill their mission of creating global citizens and lifelong learners in different cultural contexts. Shamayim’s passion for education in an international context was born from the experience of being a “Third Culture Kid (TCK)” and going to school in Jerusalem at a time of conflict. 

Shamayim’s most recent paper, Compassion and World Affairs, was published by the Dalai Lama Centre for Compassion in Oxford. She is particularly passionate about the role of the United Nations in developing understanding of the rights and responsibilities of education around the world, and feels that schools need to provide access to multiple perspectives for their students in a compassionate learning environment. Shamayim obtained her undergraduate degree in Archaeology from University College, London.

Eef Dijkstra is an expert in social media marketing strategies. He develops, implements and manages social media marketing strategies for leading companies around the world across a broad range of industries, including education. His platforms include FaceBbok, Twitter and Linkedin. His clients include global operators such as The Royal Barenbrug Group, Adama Northern Europe, Ritra Cargo and VarenDoeJeSamen (Rijkswaterstaat).

Eef works with Social Media in Education in two ways. First, he helps Schools, Colleges and Universities build a strong online presence by developing a focus on “content marketing and management”. Second, he works with educators to develop strategies for integrating the use of Social Media in teaching and learning.

Eef knows that “content marketing” gives organisations the competitive advantage. His goal is to find and stream the knowledge available in the company towards social communities in order to build trust and credibility and be recognized as leaders in their field.

Eef is an accomplished guitarist and he sings and performs in and around Den Haag in the Netherlands, where he lives.