Anisha Abraham, MD, MPH is a pediatrician and adolescent health specialist with 25 years of global experience. Her career encompasses clinical care, teaching, research, public health, and media. Anisha is based in Amsterdam, NL and currently on the faculty at the University of Amsterdam, Georgetown University Hospital, and Chinese University of Hong Kong. She previously served as an active-duty physician in the US Army. Anisha works with young people on a variety of issues including handling transition, substance use, stress, and depression. Her personal experience as a CCK is the basis for her passion in helping global kids to discover their strengths, build resilience, and successfully navigate a changing world. Anisha is currently writing a book for parents, educators and health providers entitled Raising Global Teens which is to be published in 2020. Her website is dranishaabraham.com. Tabassim Ali is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Zayed University. She qualified as a social worker in 2008 and specialized in child protection. She worked in a number of inner city local authorities within the UK in front line first response child protection teams, safeguarding vulnerable children and supporting families to meet the best outcomes for children. She moved to Zayed University in 2016 as Assistant Professor in Social Work to support the setting up of a Social Work programme in Zayed University. Her research interests are around the newly set up child protection procedures within the UAE, domestic violence and third culture children Dr Anderson, a child and family psychologist, has worked with children and families for 20 years, and is licensed in Hawaii and California. She is an international speaker and has lived, worked and parented out of the United States on several occasions. She has provided counseling to communities and agencies following major international natural disasters, and has lived abroad in regions with distinct personal safety concerns. Dr Anderson is based primarily in Oakland, California, and provides videohealth services to the expatriate community. Her areas of expertise include school consultation, helping children cope with anxiety, parenting adolescents, improving family communication, assessing children and adolescents, and support for adoptive families and families with gender-expansive family members. Her website is www.drlsanderson.com. Rubina Anis is a counseling psychologist, autism coach and mother of 2 TCKs with 18 years experience in India, UAE, Netherlands, Brunei and her current home, the USA. She holds a double Masters’ degree and has held positions as a Counselor and Special Needs Educator. Rubina considers herself an adult TCK and is passionate about travelling and thrives on experiencing different countries and cultures. Having worked with over 50+ nationalities, and been confronted with different cultural perspectives of disabilities/coping strategies, she has first hand experience of the special challenges that come with cross-border living for children with disability. Her website is www.hearts2care.com. Dana Bachar is an international mediator and trainer and founder of MeD8. For nearly 25 years, she has been training people, and this is her passion and drive. She wants to simplify life for those around her by seeing the reality as it is, yet to clarify it. She chose to become a mediator over a lawyer for the exact same reason and believes there is always a better way to communicate and avoid escalation. Dana believes empathy is a centric tool for life. Empathy is being able to emotionally read and understand other people’s point of view. Once we act with empathy, we create a common ground and a basis for healthier and effective dialogue. Therefore her purpose is to awaken empathy for people to be their best self and inspire others. Like raindrops on a lake, the ripples of goodness expand, and together we impact more human beings around us to brighten our world. Her website is med8.com.sg. Neta Barel has been living a mobile life for the past 20 years, in North America but mostly in Singapore and Asia. She has a Master's degree in Social Work specializing in group and personal therapy and is in the final stages of her doctorate on the subject of "Women in Relocation." For the past four years, Neta has conducted workshops in Singapore for trailing spouses. For the past two years, Neta and her co-presenter, Maya Peker, have been writing the successful weekly Facebook blog "Neta and Maya Write Relocation," where they provide real-life experience, perspectives and practical tools for women in overseas relocation and their common mental and daily life challenges. Sandra Bissell is a professional life transitions coach helping individuals to use their life or location transitions to gain clarity, find purpose and create their dream life, anywhere! A Japanese-Italian-Brazilian citizen, living the expat life for more than two decades, she is married to an adult Third Culture Kid and proud mother of three TCKs. In Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States, Sandra has enjoyed a variety of roles until she found her life’s calling in motivating and inspiring individuals to live to their full potential. She is the founder of the ExpatJoy Blog: Passionate Global Living -- a blog about the joys and struggles of international living. Her website is www.sandrabissell.com. Ragnhild is an adult TCK who grew up in Norway, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran and France. She has lived in many places after she started studying, including 8 years in Berlin. She now lives in Lillehammer, Norway, and because of the people, her work, and her strong connection to Norwegian nature, she plans to stay. Ragnhild has a bachelor’s in Social Anthropology and a Master’s in Political Science, and is currently writing her PhD on emotional aspects of growing up as a TCK, focusing on adults who grew up in the Norwegian Foreign Service. Sarah Black is the founder of Athru Communications, a tiny PR and marketing communications consultancy with a big attitude and a big heart. Sarah has more than 30 years of PR and marketing experience, is a former Director of a global PR agency, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK) and a former member of its executive leadership team. Originally from Ireland, Sarah has worked for business start-ups, global brands and nonprofits while living as an expat in Norway and the United States. Sarah believes passionately in the power of effective communications to drive change, and that it is possible to do well for yourself while doing good for others through aligning marketing goals with great causes, benefiting both. Nicole Blyth grew up as a TCK, but never knew it until coming to FIGT for the first time in 2016. For the first time in years, she felt a sense of belonging that she had always felt was missing in her life. It was a relief to finally understand why she had felt out of place for so long. After 16 moves, she got frustrated with the struggles of moving and settling in new places, so she went back to university and earned an MSc in International Marketing. With a belief that everyone deserves to feel they belong no matter where they live or where they come from, she created RelocateGuru to be a one-stop-shop for everyone to share local tips and find connections, so everyone can feel at home BEFORE they arrive. Jacqui was born in London, England, moving first to Zambia and then Zimbabwe in the early nineties. She attended university in Canada, where she began to tackle the idea of ‘home’ and the question ‘where are you from?’ Subsequently living in Jakarta and London, she moved to Thailand three years ago where she works as a university counsellor at the British International School, Phuket. She recently had a baby boy with her Irish partner. Laura is a certified executive coach specializing in transitions, leadership and organizational behavior in a global setting. “See change as an opportunity for growth and renewal” is what Laura tells herself every time she goes through a transition. And she says that a lot. Born and raised in Italy, she has relocated with her family to 9 different countries over the past 19 years. Before becoming a coach, Laura had the privilege to work as a marketing manager for global organizations where she led multifunctional teams across Europe, understood and leveraged diversity, and advanced her interpersonal, communication and organization skills. Laura holds an MSc in Organizational Psychology from the University of London (UK) and coaching certifications including an Advanced Coaching Certificate from Columbia. Her website is www.onehourcoaching.com. Cath Brew is an Australian living in England with her wife and elderly dog. She works as a heritage interpreter, storyteller and artist and is particularly interested in the way in which people make meaning through the intangible -- the invisible layers of culture, rituals and traditions. Her website is www.drawntoastory.com. Dr Mark Burdick is a published author and dual licensed US Psychologist (educational and clinical), Chartered UK Psychologist (Associate Fellow designated), and European Psychologist. He is a true ATCK who was schooled in Europe and US, and lived in UAE as well. He is committed to supporting ‘healthy' families worldwide, and finds solutions for companies and organizations. His website is www.americanpsychologist.nl. Shellee Burroughs is a UK/Canadian-trained Art Psychotherapist and Trauma Specialist who has worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings since 2003. Having worked as an international school counsellor, she utilized her skills as an Art Psychotherapist in social groups, workshops and individual clinical sessions. She has lived and worked in Europe, Canada and Asia and has two TCK children. Shellee now lives in the UK and works with post-adopted children.The skills she developed whilst working internationally are now proving to be invaluable as she comes across increasing number of TCKs in her private practice. She is now moving in the direction of training teachers and counsellors in how to use a variety of creative approaches. Her website is www.shelleeburroughs.com. Trisha Carter is an Organizational Psychologist and Intercultural Specialist, helping people from different cultures work effectively together. She is the founder of Trans Cultural Careers and the Cultural Intelligence Collective, providing in-person training, coaching and consulting as well as online training and resources to help you work well and live well in another culture. Her clients include a variety of Australian and global organizations as well as Australian and Papua New Guinean Government departments. With Rachel Yates, she co-authored "Finding Home Abroad: A Guided Journal for Adapting to Life Overseas." She currently lives in Sydney, Australia and has colleagues, friends and clients spread around the world. Lindy became a Realtor in Dallas, Texas, after numerous moves around the US and internationally. As a client turned real estate industry "insider," she discovered why the outdated industry often fails consumers, especially relocation clients, and has made it her mission to educate buyers and sellers in order to protect their equity while finding "home" in today’s disrupted real estate field. As Lindy builds a relocation company that offers tailored concierge services for employees, she remains passionate about serving individual clients as well as educating realtors on the unique needs of the relocation family, especially the "trailing spouse." She is the mom of four (18-25), an international speaker for a marriage conference she and her husband helped established while living in Germany (www.thesignificantmarriage.com), a member of Worldwide ERC, FIGT, Metrotex Global Business Council, and holds numerous real estate designations. Her website is lindychapman.com. Vivian is the founder of Expat Nest which promotes the emotional well-being of expats, by offering online counselling services. She is a psychologist with Masters degrees in both Child & Adolescent Psychology and Health Psychology. A multilingual bicultural and expat with family all over the world, Vivian herself feels most at home in the international community and is inspired by its diversity. She was a counsellor at a top international school in the Netherlands, taskforce member of the International School Counsellor Association and an online facilitator with the Council of Europe’s Pestalozzi Programme. Vivian is the FIGT Affiliates Director and also the co-chair for the FIGT Affiliates in The Netherlands and Greece. Kyoung Mi Choi is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation at California State University, Fresno. She has extensive multicultural study, research and work experiences in various countries (ie, United States, Korea, Guatemala, Egypt, South Africa, India, France, and Bangladesh). Through her private practice, SF Cross-Cultural Understanding she offers consultation services to individuals and couples. Sara Coggiola is a Life CoActive Coach focusing on expats, families in transition, trailing spouses and Third Culture Kids. She facilitates cross-cultural workshops and training for both corporate and private sector. Sara built her portable career after realising that while moving countries, it would have been challenging for both spouses to grow their respective career paths. She has later co-designed and co-lead a series of workshops about personal and professional reinvention. Her website is www.between-cultures.com. Edward Cole is a UK based cross border financial adviser who specializes in helping globally mobile individuals with their financial planning. His interest in cross border planning started when he spent a year studying in the US and upon his return to the UK working as a financial adviser, he discovered that many advisers were unable to continue helping their clients once they became expats. His clients come from all around the world, but they often have or had a connection to the UK. As a firm believer that financial advice should be delivered in a ‘joined up’ way with the right tax and legal experts where appropriate, Edward has built up a trusted network to help clients across the world. Jonathan Condo is an experienced international educator and third culture kid, having grown up in Venezuela as well as his native Spain. He has worked at international schools in Venezuela, Guatemala, Malaysia, China, and Nepal. Jonathan has been an Elementary Principal, Math Specialist and WASC Coordinator. He has presented in workshops at the EARCOS Leadership Conference, at Level 5 for ISS and Teach for Nepal amongst other places. Jonathan aims to be a catalyst for change by sharing research-based practices through his presentations. Ann Baker Cottrell, PhD, is sociology professor emerita at San Diego State University where her teaching and research were comparative and/or focused on people whose lives are cross-national in some way. She made a large study of Adult American TCKs who lived abroad between the end of WWII and end of Cold War with Ruth Hill Useem and continues to write and present on TCK research. A founder of the TCK Research Network, Ann actively encourages TCK and expat research, and mentors new researchers. As an adult, Ann has lived in India, Italy, England, Scotland, and had summer work experience in Switzerland and Ivory Coast. Matilda Criel-Ewoldt is an adult TCK and is currently working toward her doctorate in clinical psychology. Her doctoral quantitative research focuses on ATCK's reactions to daily events. As a clinical psychology student, Matilda has been exposed to numerous types of psychological treatment settings and quickly noticed the lack of awareness around the global nomad lifestyle and its effects. Subsequently, Matilda has presented at universities in the Southern California area to attempt to create further understanding for the clinical implications of the ATCK/TCK population. Currently, Matilda is working as a clinician intern at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the biggest LGBT-specific treatment center in the world. Her goal is to empower ATCK/TCKs through better clinical psychological resources. Matilda hopes to create her own psychometric psychological assessments focused toward better understanding of the potential psychological ramifications that come from such a lifestyle. Matilda is a 2019 David C Pollock Scholar. Tanya is an Australian, married to a bicultural American TCK, living in China. She has spent 14 years living outside Australia (China, Cambodia, US) and has repatriated twice. She is passionate about providing cross-cultural families with information, encouragement and support. Over the past 13 years, Tanya has mentored teenage/young adult TCKs and supported parents. Tanya is the author of "Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century" based on extensive research with TCKs, and is now working on a book for twenty-something TCKs. Tanya speaks on TCKs and cross-cultural issues around the world, as well as writing for for multiple expat-related blogs, including her own. Amel Derragui is a business and marketing coach and the founder of Tandem Nomads, a podcast show and entrepreneurship platform designed to help expat partners and global nomads grow a successful portable business and create the impact they want to make, even when living on the move. After a career in advertising, she joined her husband abroad and launched a marketing consulting business cross three continents. Six years later, discovering a real need for expat spouses to find their own source of fulfillment and financial freedom, she launched Tandem Nomads. Featured in Forbes Magazine, Global Living Magazine and other media, Amel speaks at various events for corporate companies and organizations such as the UN or the World Bank. Anna Dillon is the Chair of the Department of Education Studies and Associate Professor in the College of Education at Zayed University. She is the former Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center, the on-campus laboratory nursery. She has worked in education as a class teacher, head of faculty, school principal and teacher educator. Her research interests include dual language education in the early years, classroom-based research and co-teaching. Darlene Fisher has worked for 30 years as a leader and teacher in in Australia, Oman, Thailand, India, Turkey, the UK and the USA. She is currently a doctoral student at Bath University UK, focusing on the impact of culture on effective leadership practices. Darlene’s recent work includes Chief Learning Officer at ECIS, with responsibility for developing and presenting teacher and leader professional development. Darlene has experience with IB as a teacher, examiner, consultant, lead educator and workshop designer and facilitator. She has worked with teacher training for Cambridge (CIE) and ECIS, as well as mentoring heads of school and consulting on curricula and teacher development across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Darlene is now an accreditation consultant for NEASC and works with schools and leaders across the globe to develop strong learning communities. Amber Folkman is a teacher, adventurer and lover of people and stories. After spending her university years on the shores of Oahu, Hawaii and enjoying a short career as an educator in Seattle, Washington, she relocated to Manila in 2009. Learning to love her new surroundings led her to become a champion of the Philippines, encouraging others to share her positive perspective. She is a self-initiated, place-attachment specialist and through her blog, "A Momma Abroad," she shares her experiences and love of all things Filipiniana. As a freelance writer, she has contributed to "Smart Parenting" and "Real Living" as well as her own website. Amber helps others use social media as a primary tool for cross-culture success. Alison Goldstein is a certified Global Transition and Life Coach. She partners with people experiencing a life transition who want to reach their full potential -- personally and professionally. She has 15 years' experience living overseas and has transitioned careers more than a handful of times, including Engineer, Project Manager and Political/Economic Analyst for the US Government. Born in the US, she was raised by deaf parents, which afforded her unique talents: a natural tendency to view challenges as opportunities, an ability to see people for their gifts, and the knowledge that while we are all different, we all belong. These qualities all strengthened her ability to partner with her clients to explore their concerns and identify what’s getting in their way of reaching their potential. Her website is www.alisongoldstein.com. Sarah Gonzales is Director of Graduate Programs at the Williams S Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In addition to her work in higher education, Gonzales serves the NAFSA: Association for International Educators on their Trainer Corp team teaching Intercultural Communication in Practice, Admissions and Placement of International Students, and Assessment and Evaluation for International Educators. She has also taught Cross Cultural Negotiation and Conflict Management at Pepperdine Law for five years prior to joining UNLV, and is co-coordinator of the Research Network Affiliate for Families in Global Transition. Denise Granai has a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy - Dance and Movement Therapy. She has worked in California, Serbia, Egypt, and the Netherlands before moving to Bangkok. This is her 1st year as a middle school counsellor at NIST. Lucy Greenwood is a partner at iFLG (The International Family Law Group LLP) based in London, and has specialised exclusively in family law for over 20 years. She has a broad depth of knowledge in resolving family law issues for international families. She is conscientious, meticulous and always ensures her clients are protected as much as possible from the rigors of litigation. The Legal 500 described Lucy as 'accurate, commercial and fast', in previous years she was ranked as a 'Leading Individual'. Lucy writes for websites, legal journals, presents seminars and lectures for the legal profession around the world. She is also a member of various professional groups which look after the interests of international families. IFLG advise complicated international cases, involving jurisdiction issues, finances and children issues including child maintenance and its enforcement. Janelle was born in Buffalo, NY. Fifteen years working in schools and universities in the US and overseas, both as a teacher and counsellor, provided her with many opportunities to reflect on the nature of education in the lives of children and adolescents. She has lived in Australia, Taiwan, and the Philippines before Thailand, where she now lives with her husband and two young children. Jodi Harris is a mother of three, wife of a US diplomat, certified coach, mindfulness teacher, Personal Leadership facilitator, and writer. She is the author of "The Expat Activity Book: 20 Personal Development Exercises for Gaining Insight and Maximizing Your Potential Wherever You Are" and co-author of "Kids on the Move: 25 Activities to Help Kids Connect, Reflect and Thrive Around the World." She is originally from Austin, Texas and has lived in Spain, Northern Ireland, the Dominican Republic, Madagascar and Japan. She provides coaching and personal leadership program facilitation to diverse, internationally mobile clients through her company World Tree Coaching and specializes in helping expats find home, no matter where they are. Thrust into the world as a biracial third culture kid during the eve of Perestroika, Mishell Hernandez navigates the world with eyes wide open about language, culture, and identity and how they affect human psychology and everyday life. An advocate of the maintenance of mental wellness and the destigmatization of mental ailments, Mishell also aims to educate anyone willing to listen about the importance of communicating with discernment and knowledge about these topics in the family unit. Mishell is fluent in Spanish, Mongolian, and English as a result of her nomadic childhood in the 90s. She is currently living in Shanghai, China and working to help bridge cultural gaps in the global workplace and within the family unit. Mishell is a 2019 David C Pollock Scholar. David Hodson OBE, MCIArb is co-founder and Partner at International Family Law Group. A highly experienced family law dispute resolution specialist, especially involving international elements or complex assets, in 2014 David was appointed an OBE for “Services to International Family Law." David is a mediator, arbitrator, Deputy District Judge at The Central Family Court in London and an Australian solicitor and barrister. He is Visiting Professor at the University of Law and Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Leicester. He is the primary author of “The International Family Law Practice,” the leading textbook for practitioners and is co-author of “When Cupid's Arrow Crosses National Boundaries: A Guide for International Families." David writes extensively on family law and speaks at conferences internationally. Katarina Holm-DiDio is a global leadership/executive career development and team coach and trainer with a passion to help organizations and individuals succeed in today's global and increasingly diverse business environment. With 20 years of international experience in human resources, learning, and development and as an entrepreneur, she provides results-focused coaching and training for improved leadership and organizational and individual performance. A former UN staff member, she serves as a Staff Wellbeing and Career Coach with UNFPA while also working in the for-profit arena, helping global staff succeed in their international assignments. She grew up in Finland and has called the USA home for the past 20 years. She lives in New Jersey. She is a former Vice President of FIGT and a current co-leader of the FIGT Tri-State Affiliate. Her website is www.khdinternational.com. Oxana Holtmann, MA, is a Director of Public Relations and Online Education at the Jung Society of Washington. She has been a participant of the Conscious Leadership Forum in Washington, DC for the last three years. Previously Oxana led a Creative Nomad group and presented for international spouses at the World Bank. She is a certified as a Big Leap coach by the Hendricks Institute and as a Co-Active coach by Coaches Training Institute. Oxana is the author of "Shake It Up: Renew and Rediscover Yourself Through Wonder and Body-Mind Adventure." Oxana was born and grew up in in the Siberian part of Russia. She has made several big moves throughout her life, first to Moscow, then to Germany, and then to Washington, DC where she now lives with her husband and her younger son. Their other two children live in Los Angeles and Berlin. Her website is www.oxanaholtmann.com. With a 20-year career in the music industry as a Musician, Producer, Singer, Composer and Lyricist, Melissa Indot’s intrinsic affinity with music created the Intuitive Music Programming (IMP) concept in September 2016. IMP is a "healing with music" modality. Her work helps clients tap into their playful side, feel empowered and balanced in times of stress. Melissa spends much of her time traveling the world. As a digital nomad she is accustomed to familiarising herself and settling in at different locations around the world. Her parents were expats and also hosted expats during her Father's time at Shell when she was growing up. Melissa's website is www.intuitivemusicprogramming.com. A German-French psychologist, psychotherapist (CBT) and PhD, Sonia has been living a location independent life as a digital nomad for the past four years while working as an online therapist, providing online counselling to expats and other globally mobile clients in German, French and English. Growing up with two languages and cultures herself she experienced the challenges and advantages of the mobile and international life from an early age. After finishing her PhD in clinical psychology she decided to take a break and travel the world. However, instead of returning home afterwards she decided to start an online private counselling practice and has been traveling the world ever since. In 2018 alone she went to (and worked from)12 different countries, from Australia, to Europe all the way to Latin America. Her website is www.sonia-jaeger.com. Adrian Jefferson Chofor is the owner of Aspire2Inspire Transformational Practice LLC. As a global personal and business transformation strategist, she specializes in helping women figure out their WHY and empowers the WILL so that they can move forward powerfully and WIN! Adrian’s personal journey from abused child to audaciously happy and successful entrepreneur has been inspiring women worldwide to live a joyful, purpose-driven life. The former expatriate and travel enthusiast knows the struggles and joys of ‘living out of a suitcase’ supports the frustrated newly-minted nomads and fellow expatriates with successful strategies to acclimate to moving and living abroad. Adrian is an award-winning international speaker and #1 international bestselling author of two co-authored books, including her recently "Aspire to Your Greatness" which has been nominated for an Indie Author Legacy Award (IALA). She is married, the mother of two beautiful children, and resides in the Bay Area in northern California. Jerry Jones is a cross-cultural trainer and coach who lives with his wife and two children in Qingdao, China. He works as a transition specialist with Leadership Development International, serving the staff of seven international schools in China and the United Arab Emirates. He loves exploring the joys and challenges of crossing cultures and helping people start, stay and leave their international assignments well. He writes about transition and life abroad at www.thecultureblend.com. Amy Jung is a professor at the University of Florida. She holds a PhD in Communication Studies focused on Intercultural Communication and Qualitative Research Methods. As a MK-TCK she learned early to navigate and integrate cultural values of Minnesota farms, California cities, Ghanaian villages, and the international missions community. She conducts qualitative and rhetorical research, and writes about intercultural communication from a multi-hemisphere and liminal perspective. She daily brainwashes her CCK kids with Tintin and Asterix comics, culture-specific percussion instruments, and a variety of paradoxical paradigms that emerged from and shaped her quirky life. Debbie Kramlich is an Educational Consultant for transformative learning at Freedom Resource International. She teaches English in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Intercultural Communication in Asia, and consults with schools and nonprofits to implement principles of transformative learning in their curriculum and instruction. Debbie has written curriculum on academic reading and intercultural adjustment and has taught English in four countries ranging from primary school to university. Her PhD research focused on teachers fostering and facilitating transformative learning through their person and practice in European theological schools. Her passion as a language teacher comes from her own experience as a language learner and supporting her children in national schools. Dr Sookyoung Lee is an assistant professor in the Division of Counseling Psychology at Sungkyul University. Majoring in Counseling Psychology (MA), and Educational Counseling and Psychology (PhD) has broadened her understanding and knowledge of multiculturalism, acculturation, and school violence. Her research interests have developed through her work with third-culture students, international students, and teachers. She has work experiences in various fields (ie, high school, university, counseling center for missionary kids, adolescents). Anne is a global HR professional, specializing in organizational change and leadership development for multiple industries, including, automotive, government and, most recently, nonprofits. By developing her professional career from engineering to executive management, she was able to translate strategic goals into operational results. Anne is confident in interacting with senior-level leaders to build and gain buy-in for global initiatives. Her extended language skills and the experience of having lived and worked in several countries around the world enable her to effectively support global organizations. Her goal is to support organizations in recognizing opportunities and possibilities for their employees during organizational transformations. Anne's website is the-expat-expert.com. Dr Anastasia Aldelina Lijadi is a psychologist, dedicating her time for research in the topics of TCKs, social change and quality of life. She is a research scholar in the World Population Department at the International Institute of Applied System Analysis in Austria. Ai Jun is a cross cultural coach, co-founder of Let’s Be Education and Shenzhen Xingkong, is the co-founder of the FIGT China Affiliate, and founder of the Chinese NPO Group Raising TCK/CCK. She has spent more than 10 years as an expat in 5 countries and 6 years raising TCKs in 3 countries. She now lives in Athens. Erin Long is the President and founder of Worldwide Speech. She developed the idea for for the company after opening independent practices for expatriate children in both Mexico and Brazil. Through her experience with these practices Erin became aware of the large, but dispersed demand for native English-speaking speech pathologists among the expatriate community and realized that the key to meeting this demand was online services. For Erin, finding a way to provide speech therapy and other special education services to children abroad is not only a business opportunity; it is a personal passion. As a member of the US Foreign Service community Erin has a unique understanding of the challenges that expatriate families have when trying to find appropriate educational support for their children outside the United States. This is why Worldwide Speech's primary focus has always been on expatriate children, and what drove Erin to eventually expand the company to include occupational therapy and reading intervention. Ellen Mahoney founded and leads Sea Change Mentoring, an organization that builds and supports mentoring and social-emotional learning initiatives for International schools and provides mentoring experiences for Third Culture Emerging Adults. She is an alumna of international schools herself and has worked in education and youth development as a teacher, counselor, and director since 1997. Her work has been recognized by the Council of International Schools (CIS), New York City Council, and Echoing Green and has been featured in the books "Third Culture Kids" (Pollock and Van Reken), "Misunderstood" (Crossman), and "Monday Morning Emails" (Parfitt and Wilson). She has served on the board of FIGT, was a co-founder of TCKchat and a co-founding committee member of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN). Isabelle Min was born in transition, repatriating to Korea a few months after birth. She grew up in 6 countries, speaking 5 languages before permanently settling in Seoul. As CEO and Founder of Transition Catalyst Korea Institute, Isabelle combines her multicultural upbringing with 30 years of career as a public broadcaster, adjunct professor, intercultural trainer, certified coach and facilitator to empower individuals and teams through transition. Aiko Minematsu is an adult TCK residing in Tokyo, Japan. Enrolled in seven elementary schools in Japan and the USA because of her father’s job, her childhood was a constant move between different cultures. She holds an MA in TESOL from Teachers College Columbia University and a secondary school teaching license for teaching English in Japan. She has taught English to returnee students in Japan for over ten years, and currently is a university lecturer in Tokyo. Her research interests are identity trajectories of TCKs and adult TCKs, language education and multilingualism, and teacher education. Her life goal is to empower TCKs in Japan through education. Ian has taught in a variety of schools for more than 35 years and, for the past 18 years, in international schools. He has been a school counsellor for 20 years, having obtained his Masters Degree in Educational Counselling in Nebraska, USA. He was previously the Head of Counselling at UWCSEA Dover and has now taken on a new counselling role at Dover Court International School, both in Singapore. Ian has taught Mathematics, Physics and English as an Additional Language, and has lived in Japan, USA, Australia and Singapore. He loves working in an international context, is a strong advocate for developing good working relationships in a school community, and has pioneered a “Secret Dads' Business” group to discuss various parenting issues, including the CCK experience. He is a dad to 2 TCKs who have both repatriated back to Australia. Megan Norton is an intercultural training specialist and researcher focusing on trends in transnational higher education and its influence on intercultural relations. Her expertise as an intercultural trainer combined with her experience in international education has enabled her to design socio-emotional and educational programming tailored to globally mobile students. A self-identifying Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK), she attended 7 schools on 4 continents throughout her childhood and understands the needs of globally mobile youth as they prepare for university. She has presented her research at global conferences including FIGT , SIETAR, NAFSA, IMI, and CIES. She has also participated as a panel member in several platforms on why the growing cultural complexity for students matters for educators. Megan holds a MA in Intercultural Communication, a MA in Business and Strategic Communication, and a BA in Public Relations. She is an independent education consultant with Intercultural Transitions and the Assistant Director of Daraja with Interaction International. Chris is a passionate and diverse author and speaker who uses a unique blend of storytelling, humor, and provocative insight to engage and challenge a wide variety of audiences. Addressing topics relevant to the international community and beyond, ranging from transition and repatriation to globalization and cultivating community and increasing empathy, Chris communicates with energy and personality. Chris’s book, "Arrivals, Departures, and the Adventures In-Between," is written specifically to empower TCKs and help them make the most of their cross-cultural experience. It has also been used to teach cross-cultural skills and instill global awareness in a variety of disciplines at the college level and in business. His website is www.chris-o.com. Mariam Ottimofiore is an adult TCK and a Pakistani expat, who has lived in Bahrain, US, Pakistan, UK, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, UAE and Ghana. She is an economist, writer, researcher, author and blogger at And Then We Moved To in which she explores expat life, raising multicultural and multilingual children, and world travel. Her newly published book "This Messy Mobile Life; How a MOLA can help make sense of a multicultural and multilingual life on the move" (Summertime Publishing, 2019) is the first book in the expat genre that ties in multiculturalism, multilingualism and mobility to equip international families to navigate the complex challenges they face as a MOLA family. Canadian by birth, born in Mont-Joli, a rural area of Quebec, Pascale lived 18 years in Scotland and England and now lives south of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and three children. She has completed a degree in Psychology in Quebec, a Masters in Psychology and Education at the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Doctorate in Child, Adolescent and Educational Psychology at the Institute of Education, London, UK. A member of the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) in the UK, she is a qualified Educational and Child Psychologist and worked in Essex as a trainee and qualified Educational Psychologist in different educational settings such as special, primary and secondary mainstream schools. Pascale is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist registered in Australia. Her website is 3ppsychologies.com. After discovering that her professional training was in reality perpetuating an outdated model and failing consumers, Jennifer Patterson created a new model for life and wealth in today’s global village and delivered it in her best-seller Financial Planning for Global Living. On a mission to close the gap between what global families need and the ability of regulated financial services firms to serve, she founded the Cross Border Living Institute to teach cross-border technical and practice related topics to practitioners and be the hub where the globally mobile go for the information, tools and training they need to thrive both today and tomorrow. She is also the founder of Patterson Partners, an independent advisory firm specializing in cross-border tax and financial planning. Jennifer has lived overseas over half her life, is the proud mama of two tri-nationals. Ginny Philps is a social anthropologist with a global career encompassing sustainability reporting, stakeholder relations and social impact analysis. She has consulted for various NGOs and social enterprises and established communications infrastructure for diverse, remote and city-based clients. Ginny believes that many people would like to put their skills to good use in their communities but can lack the tools to do so. She is keen to share her experience and learnings to empower individuals as volunteers and help them avoid some common pitfalls. Her website is uncoverdiscoverconnect.com. Lauren has lived in the USA, the UK, Singapore, and Japan. As an entrepreneur, writer, and academic, she has dedicated herself to better understanding the acquisition of cultural competency and successful migration and integration. Her written work has appeared in publications in the USA, UK, Singapore, and Canada. Currently, she is a graduate student at the University of Tokyo and, as a Koga Shinsuke Research Fellow, is conducting a comparative ethnological study of Singapore and Tokyo as metropolitan hubs to attract and retain global talent. Lauren first attended FIGT as a Parfitt-Pascoe Writing Residency Scholar in Washington DC. Her website is www.laurenspower.com. Back to topEunice is Clinical Director at Adaptable Human Solutions. She has been a mental health professional for over 20 years and practicing psychotherapy in Los Angeles, Sydney as well as Seoul. Eunice went to Seoul National University for BA & MA, and got her MSW from University of Southern California. Her specialties are anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, cultural identity and interpersonal relationship in a multicultural setting. Eunice provides individual therapy, couple therapy and family therapy with an emphasis on self-discovery, healing and compassion. She is also teaching culturally competent mental health services to practitioners in both Korea and abroad. Peter is an American (by passport), born in Kenya, and has lived abroad for 26 years, in places including Kenya, Nepal, the USA, South Africa, China, and Thailand. He currently lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his wife, Chrizelle, and 7-year-old son, Joel. He is currently a partner of Stak Services, an international company based in China that specializes in custom product development and manufacturing. Passionate about pushing personal boundaries and venturing beyond the comfort zone, Peter also coaches and leads families on adventure based excursions. He is thrilled when he can help someone see things differently and consider possibilities that they weren’t aware of before. Sue is IB Head of Professional services and online learning. Her focus is the development and implementation of system-wide learning programs for students, teachers and leaders in the school and tertiary sectors. Sue has collaborated with academics and leaders in higher education in the research and development of teacher education pathways and international leadership development. She has led the development and implementation of Pre K - 12 curriculae, international programs and institutional partnerships, as well as representing Australian international education in state delegations and on policy committees. She is an active international conference presenter in the areas of teacher professional learning and school leadership. Bridget is a Principal at Mobile Relocation. Through her background as an expat, international trade negotiator, communicator and analyst, Bridget brings new perspectives to the global mobility industry. Partnering with New Zealand and international businesses, Bridget and her team provide specialist services to recruit, resettle, retain and develop the offshore and expat talent on which the New Zealand economy depends. Bridget also welcomes the opportunity to share, through speaking engagements and consultancy, the insights gained through this multi-faceted experience of global mobility. As a teenager, Diana Rongen always had the dream of working abroad. So she did, and started a family, living in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and returned back to the Netherlands 15 years later. She is a trained teacher, pedagogue, a child coach and a child and youth therapist and has many members of the international community consulting her about the problems parents encounter with their children and teenagers. Diana runs a child and youth practice in the south of the Netherlands, called "Wereldkind" ("Child of the World") where the numbers of expats are growing. "Connect," "Lead" and "Change" are her words in her practice: "Connect" again with your children, "Lead" them to a sense of security and make them feel that "Change" comes with great and sometimes scary challenges.
David was a Tax partner in PwC Singapore until his retirement in 2014. His work covered all aspects of international transactions, both personal and corporate, in many industries. He now runs his own tax consultancy practice. He headed the Fund Management part of the firm’s tax practice for a number of years, and also led its Tax Training and Technical Department. He wrote the Singapore volume of CCH’s Tax Planning and Compliance in Asia. An expat himself, he has helped many individual clients navigate the tax complexities of international assignments over the years. A graduate of Cambridge University, David has worked in London (10 years), Melbourne (2) and Singapore (28). He is a UK Chartered Accountant (ICAEW). Jessica Sanfilippo-Schulz was raised in Liberia, Italy and the UK and holds three passports. She currently lives in Muenster, Germany, where she obtained her MA in National and Transnational Studies. During her master's studies, she discovered not only the TCK model, but also Antje Rauwerda’s literary classification "Third Culture Literature." Fascinated (and somewhat mutated) by these discoveries, she has since then focused her scholarly research on the narratives of individuals who were raised navigating between cultures, nations and languages. She has published articles on this topic in international academic journals. Furthering the study of cross-cultural kid-ness within the literary field has not been an easy endeavour, but she persisted and Jessica is proud of finally beginning a PhD program at the University of Leeds, School of English. Jessica is a 2019 David C Pollock Scholar. Sundae is a solution-oriented coach and intercultural strategist who specializes in minimizing time to adapt and maximizing satisfaction and success abroad. Sundae helps individuals adapt as quickly (and painlessly!) as possible to the ever-changing circumstances of international life. Her expertise is sought out by clients ranging from European multinational organizations to international NGOs, from West and East African country directors to seasoned accompanying partners. Sundae helps individuals and organizations expedite success, create meaningful connections (abroad and at home), and cherish the experience. Her Expat Happy Hour podcast has been rated the No 1 episode in Places and Travel on iTunes. Sundae is the founder of Trailblazing Spouseⓒ and her work can be found on www.sundaebean.com. Stephanie Schwarz, a registered psychologist in Australia, has a solid understanding of the challenges of cross-cultural ministry, having served in Ethiopia for five years. Over the last 20 years, she has been providing care for mission workers, informed by strengths-based, solutions focused, attachment and systems theory approaches. As a mental health practitioner in the missions sector, she has engaged with a diverse range of issues affecting leaders in mission. Stephanie is currently the Resilience Lead for SIM International, coordinating mental health support for workers globally. Laurie Shapiro is a Team Leader of Intercultural and Language Services for BGRS in the Asia Pacific region. Based in Singapore, she has regional responsibility for the implementation of intercultural services for clients, including intercultural and repatriation training. She is an Adult Cross-Cultural Kid who was born and raised in Taiwan, and has also lived in the USA, China, and Singapore. She is the daughter of an American father and Taiwanese mother and studied Cross-Cultural Communication at American University in Washington, DC. Having grown up in a household that combined Eastern and Western cultures has provided her with first-hand information about the importance of style switching when speaking with people of different cultural backgrounds. Laura is a lawyer-turned-expat career strategist. As the wife of a US diplomat, Laura has lived in eight countries over a span of more than 15 years. With great determination, she succeeded in finding ways to continue her professional development despite her many moves. Laura now utilizes her diverse personal and professional experiences to empower her fellow “trailing spouses.” She has served hundreds of expats in the East Asia Pacific region in their individual endeavors to find and create international employment opportunities. For her efforts, Laura was featured on the Thriving Abroad podcast in March 2018, selected as a speaker for TEDx Hanoi 2018, and is the 2018 recipient of AAFSW’s prestigious Champion for Career Enhancement award. Her website is www.epcareerstrategies.com. Julia Simens connects with families around the world and helps their children be the best they can be. She is an Author, Counselor, Educator and Presenter on Family Therapy and International Education. Her specialties include International Education, Early Childhood Education, Family Therapy, and Transitions. She has worked with more than 8,000 families on five continents and blogs at jsimens.com. Trisha Smith-Pierce is a teacher and English language specialist who works with schools and governments to teach English, write curriculum, and train instructors. She believes that learning languages can open doors for students and that helping teachers through training and curriculum support allows them to facilitate student opportunities. A US citizen with a love for languages and global cultures, Trisha has lived and worked in Asia, South America, North America, Africa, and Europe. Most recently, she worked with the US Embassy in Bangkok to write outreach curriculum for the Great and Good Friends exhibit. Trisha holds a master’s degree from George Mason University in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Griselda Späth is a social anthropologist and recently a doctor in Natural Sciences for University of La Plata. Her doctoral research focuses on how TCKs construct their identities as adults, using life history interviews. An ATCK herself, Griselda was born in Argentina to a father of German heritage. Her family lived in Australia during her childhood and she also lived in Switzerland for part of her university studies. Margot Stroeken, LLM, is a certified coach and trainer. She supports expats in navigating the ups and down of life and career abroad with clarity and joy. Originally from the Netherlands, Margot has lived and/or worked in six countries on three continents including China and Spain. She’s currently living with her husband and two little global nomads in Brunei Darussalam on the beautiful island of Borneo. Her own expat journey has taken her from international law via a.o. teaching and communications work until she discovered her love for strengths coaching. In addition to having her own coaching practice Expat Energy, she is an associate at Clarity Brunei. A curious educator-counselor-researcher, Esther’s passion is to help people with cross-cultural experiences and identities thrive in a globalized world and discern career decisions. With 20 years of experience in the education field, she was a supervisor for career counselors in the Ministry of Education, a trained counselor (MEd in Risk and Prevention/Counseling) from Harvard University, formerly held the Head of Chemistry position in a top Junior College in Singapore, and is also a dedicated researcher pursuing in-depth psychological sciences research at a PhD program at the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. She integrates varied disciplines to help people build bridges across intercultural ventures, gain deeper self-awareness and identity in multicultural contexts to move towards their desired destinations Jody Conibear Tangredi has over 20 years of first-hand Fortune 500 and non-profit experience in the development and implementation of international programs and people. Her roles encompass leadership, consulting, program design, coaching and facilitating. She is a Canadian TCK, reservist military spouse, lives in the US, has an MA in Intercultural Relations, and is certified in intercultural communication and global leadership instruments. Danau Tanu PhD is the author of Growing Up in Transit: The Politics of Belonging at an International School and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Danau mainly writes about Third Culture Kids, international schools and mixed-race identities. Her research is driven by a desire to uncover the hidden voices among Third Culture Kids while trying to understand her own experiences of being born in Canada with Chinese Indonesian and Japanese heritage and growing up in several countries. Jackie has almost 20 years of experience in international business and academia. Her expertise lies in cross-cultural communication, marketing and strategic media planning. She held a number of senior positions in international organizations and has experience working with top management from various industries such as media, publishing, travel and entertainment. As a cross-cultural consultant, Jackie has worked with senior executives from around the world helping them adapt in different multicultural working environments. With a PhD degree in applied linguistics and cross-cultural communication, Jackie delivers talks and lectures to university students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her areas of interest include the use of English and its cultural impact in multinational business contexts. Daniela Tomer is an Israeli-licensed clinical psychologist. She has lived in Latin America, Israel, Europe and Boston USA. Daniela has worked professionally as a clinical psychologist in the field of psychotherapy and psychological evaluation, including working with many new immigrants crossing cultures. In the past 10 years she dedicated most of her time to work with global organizations and families in global transition. Alongside her clinical work, Daniela enjoys teaching and leading teams. She is the co-founder of GNW -- Global Nomad’s World, a consultancy supporting global organizations and families who experience a global mobile lifestyle. Daniela also served on FIGT's Board of Directors as the Program Chair, leading the global annual conference. She is the proud mother of four TCKs. Originally from Australia, Stephen grew up in a remote area 450 km west of Sydney. He now lives in Mumbai, India -- a far cry from the open fields and fresh air of rural New South Wales. Stephen graduated from university in 1995 and began his teaching career in a small, isolated K-12 school 6.5 hours northwest of Sydney. He left Australia in July 2001 to work in a middle school in Atlanta, Georgia and it was there that his passion for middle school education began after teaching grade six for three years. Stephen's first international school experience was in China, beginning in January 2005. From there, he moved to Frankfurt, Germany and then to India where he and his wife are raising three Third Culture Kids. Deborah Valentine, professionally, is Executive Director of ACCESS a not-for-profit volunteer organization in the Netherlands as well as Membership Chair of FIGT. Personally, she is a Canadian born in Germany; her parents are from Canada and Jamaica. She lived in three countries before the age of six and since then relocated every four years until she "hit" Holland. Alter 11 relocations, five languages, and experiences as "child of," "spouse of," "mother of," not to mention expat professional herself with the UN, she more than understands what it is to live and work in other countries. As Chair of Membership, in the transition year of a new strategy, she wants to know: what can and/or should we be doing? van der Boom is a professional communicator with a deep interest in the impact of technology and the media on human behavior, relationships, culture and society. Her work spans corporate communications, public relations and community development. She’s also the co-founder of International Safe Zone, an initiative that supports international LGBTQ+ students by providing workshops and resources to them as well as educators, counselors and other professionals who support this vulnerable population. She holds a master's degree in communications and cultural media studies from the University of Amsterdam. Gerda is a relationship coach based in Muscat, Oman. As one of the founding members of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Oman Chapter -- and current president -- Gerda firmly believes that coaching is life-transforming and that families, whether in transition or not, benefit from relationship systems coaching. In 2006, Gerda moved overseas from her native Netherlands to Dubai where she worked for four years as a "Focal Point" for Shell Global Outpost Services, the expat support network. After this enriching experience, she went back to school and became a certified and credentialed coach with a keen interest in inter-cultural intelligence. Her passion is to help people to be in the right relationship with themselves and their environment. Her website is www.3ccoaching.org. Ruth Van Reken is a second generation third culture kid (TCK) and mother of three ATCKs. She is co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed, multiple other writings, and co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition. Katharina is on a mission to empower expat partners by offering coaching, sharing career guides and inspirational stories of strong expat partners and mothers rejoining the job market after spending time with the family. With her specifically developed six-phases-coaching program, she supports women around the world to find their professional identity abroad. Based on her own experience as the expat partner and her background in consulting and coaching, Katharina knows the pitfalls, challenges but also opportunities of an expatriate. Her goal is to give support and orientation in times of turmoil and change. Her work aims to identify career paths and to help find professional identity abroad. Her website is www.sharethelove.blog. Veronique Vranken was born in Belgium and spent a significant amount of her developmental years abroad.Having spent those years abroad and moving around, she has personally experienced all the ups and downs of life as a TCK. After working in customer care for several years, the time had come to get to the core of her international upbringing. It is, after all, a very large part of who she is. She is now a certified coach with a start-up business in coaching internationals. Her website is www.thaumo.com. Randy Wallis has a background in social work from Canada and been working at NIST International School for the past 16 years as a middle school counsellor. He is the founder of the Samakee group and a strong support to growing the program to what it is today. Justin West has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. He worked as a School Counsellor/Psychologist in Australia for 10 years before adventuring overseas where he in his 10th year of international school counselling, having worked in China, Malaysia and is now in his second year in Thailand. Ian Young is a charismatic speaker with a natural talent of being a positive, uplifting and thought-shifting influencer. In 2001, aged 29, after 13 years of chronic alcohol and drug addiction, homelessness and living outside of society, he discovered the solution to his debilitating lifestyle, creating a life filled with laughter and love – addiction free! He founded two very successful rehabs in the UK before starting Sober Services, focused on pioneering Sober Transportation, offering Sober Companions and also emerging as one of the world’s leading Interventionists. His current focus is The River Rehab, a five-star luxury residential rehab facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with a Signature 12-week Program at affordable prices. Ian is the Founder and Senior Trainer at Sober Academy, delivering the only Certified Interventions training outside of North America. The author of “It’s Not About Me," he discloses his life story, whilst exploring practical and spiritual lessons he’s learned along the way. |