Presenter Biographies

Keynote

Talking Across Divides: Communicating through differences

Hanlie van Wyk is a psychologist, researcher, and leadership consultant whose work explores how people communicate and connect across deep cultural, ideological, and historical divides. With more than two decades of international experience across Africa, Europe, and the United States, Hanlie works at the intersection of social psychology, organizational leadership, and intercultural dynamics—helping leaders, teams, and families find constructive ways to engage through difference.

She developed the Four Powers Model—a practical framework for understanding and shifting power dynamics in conversation, bridging the gap between self-awareness, social systems, and ethical action. Hanlie’s work draws from her global research on hate studies, cultural intelligence, and trust, offering evidence-based tools for dialogue in polarized and emotionally charged contexts.

FIGT Forum 2026 Presenter Biographies:  

Bianca Vowell is a Linguistics and Speech-Language Therapy researcher from New Zealand. She grew up in Hong Kong and later worked there as a Speech-Language Therapist in the international school system. This background, and her interest in Linguistics, led her to explore the relationship between TCKs and accent in her PhD entitled ‘Dialect Change in ‘Returning’ Third Culture Kids’. She now works as a Speech-Language Therapy Lecturer at Massey University in New Zealand and is interested both in how Cross-Cultural Kids speak and in how learning support services can meet the needs of our CCK populations.

Daniela Draugelis is a certified professional coach (CPC) and intercultural trainer with a global career spanning over two decades. She specializes in Cultural Intelligence (CQ), global mobility, and leadership development, supporting executives, expats, and families through international transitions. Daniela combines her corporate background, personal cross-cultural journey, and expertise in energy leadership coaching to help clients thrive across cultures. Originally from Argentina with Lithuanian roots, she has lived and worked on four continents and enjoys facilitating cross-cultural understanding, empowering globally mobile communities, and exploring the intersection of CQ and AI to create truly inclusive global experiences.

Eleni Vardaki is a Therapeutic Coach, Accredited Advanced Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner, and Educational Consultant with experience both as a teacher and mental health professional. She understands the joys and challenges faced by globally mobile families and students having experienced diverse education systems (British, American, International Baccalaureate, European) herself as a TCK who moved from Zimbabwe, Sudan, Belgium, Pakistan, Russia, and the UK.

In her previous career working in British and IB schools, Eleni taught thousands of secondary school students, notably at St Catherine's British School in Athens, where she was a high-performing History and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) teacher and TOK Coordinator.

Now, as a clinical EFT Practitioner and coach, she specializes in supporting individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, and academic achievement. Eleni combines her expertise in teaching and tapping techniques to develop mindful tapping meditations for free on social media. She offers personalized 1:1 support for students, parents, grandparents, school psychologists, educators, and employers/leaders in other industries. Her work focuses on emotional regulation, wellbeing, and resilience, particularly for those with cross-cultural identities navigating life transitions. Learn more: https://elenivardaki.com/

Helen Ellis is a New Zealand researcher, author, and anthropologist, as well as a veteran of Distance Parenting and Grandparenting. She is the founder of DistanceFamilies.com and the author of a book series that blends global research with her personal experiences. Three of her four children and six of her seven grandchildren, aged 2–26, live 16 to 30 flight hours away in the US, England, and Scotland. Through her research, Helen asks: “How is distance familying for you?” Her work aims to help each generation of Distance Families better understand one another and share practical strategies for staying connected across time zones and oceans.

Jemina Watstein has been a national and international art educator for the past 20 years in France, the United States, Germany, and Thailand. She has a master’s degree in Fine Art Photography and a Ph.D. in International Educational Leadership. Jemina believes in providing an inquiry-based learning experience to help fill students’ internal toolboxes as they develop into their best selves. Jemina currently lives in Kalamazoo, MI. When she is not 'in the field', Jemina is playing with her two daughters, hiking and swimming in the local lakes during the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Karítas Pálsdóttir is the first person from Iceland to hold a PhD in creative writing. She is a visiting research fellow at the University of East Anglia and author of the monograph Readaptation Narratives in Sojourner Literature published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2025. Moreover, Karítas is a pioneer in Icelandic easy language fiction and has published three flash fiction collections that promote linguistic and cultural literacy in Iceland.

Kathleen Smith is a licensed Pastoral Care person in the Church of England (rural district) and a Connect Group leader in one of London’s largest multi-culture churches. She qualified as a Chaplain from Spurgeon Bible College, London. Kathleen often sites previous work in disaster relief as the more qualifying factor in assisting multi-cultural/ expat family life to flourish.

Sharing her identity as a Christian with friends of other religions, for the purpose of healthy communication and not conversion has given her a language for identity as well as developing insights into incorporating the South Korean culture where her parents lived as missionaries in their later years. Kathleen has lived in Jamaica, Scotland, England, USA and studied Political Science, International Relations as an undergraduate and postgraduate at American and British universities, as well as a Winter Term at the University of Moscow. She is now in the process of being an online “mature” student at the Harvard Business School. Kathleen recently wrapped up a four year term as Director of Membership for Families in Global Transition and is the founder of a new gathering called Global Grandmas, for Expat Grandmothers.

Kirsten Wachter is a paediatric Speech Language Therapist/Pathologist working in the education sector in New Zealand. She is currently completing her Master's degree at Massey University exploring the lived experiences of Third Culture Kid (TCK) families accessing Speech Language Therapy/Pathology services whilst living internationally in host countries. She is originally from the USA and moved to New Zealand during childhood, as a TCK. As a TCK and current practising Speech Language Therapist/Pathologist, she is passionate about bringing representation to families who manage a variety of challenges in raising highly mobile children through their crucial early developmental years.

Lisa Liang is a speaker and facilitator on autobiographical storytelling, intercultural upbringing, intersectionality, and the intersections of identity. She speaks and keynotes at international conferences, leads workshops around the world, and provides on-site presentations and workshops. Lisa is also an award-winning actor, published writer, podcast host, sensitivity editor, and producer of stage and screen. Her one-woman show, Alien Citizen, toured internationally and is now an award-winning film. Lisa grew up in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Morocco, Egypt, and Connecticut as a Guatemalan-American business brat of Chinese-Spanish-Irish-French-German-English descent. She graduated from Wesleyan University.

Mariann Dienes is an intercultural consultant and applied linguist with a background in both business and Applied Linguistics. Having worked for multinational organizations for more than 10 years, she brings a wealth of experience to intercultural consulting. Her qualifications in Applied Linguistics, Neurolanguage Coaching and English Teaching provide an excellent skill set that facilitates intercultural understanding at its best. Her primary aim is to assist clients in achieving an increased awareness of cultural dimensions, and foster understanding and cooperation in organizations.

Mathieu Gagnon, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. His research focuses on human emotion, including complex meaning-making emotions such as awe and nostalgia among Adult Third Culture Kids. A former diplomatic TCK himself, he grew up in six countries across three continents. Mathieu is an active member of Families in Global Transition (FIGT) and hosts The TCK Research Podcast, the only podcast devoted to scholarly research on Third Culture Kids. He also collaborates with organizations including the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) to raise awareness of TCK issues in the Canadian military community.

Megan Norton-Newbanks, MA, MS, is an author, CCK/TCK consultant, intercultural trainer, podcaster, and writer at adultthirdculturekid.com. Megan grew up in six countries and has since lived in four more as an ATCK, in addition to six U.S. states. Her book, Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging, equips and empowers readers to recognize their cultural competencies and apply them in various contexts. Megan spearheaded the book, Letters Now Sent: A Collection of Letters from the Globally Mobile, which has over 90 contributors. Combining her expertise in intercultural training with a strong background in international education, Megan designs socio-emotional programming tailored to the needs of TCKs, CCKs, and globally mobile families.

Norman Viss is USA-born and is now retired.  He’s lived  in Nigeria, the Netherlands and the USA. He has been active in the faith-based sector, in leading local faith groups, as well as teaching. He’s been employed doing social work, and has run a couple of small businesses, one in life coaching, one in home health care. He has been involved in volunteer activities for many years, and continues that involvement today.

Patrick Akrivos is an Austrian-Greek licensed psychotherapist in Austria and licensed psychologist in Greece. He holds a postgraduate degree from Middlesex University, a postgraduate diploma in the Person-Centered Approach from the University of Strathclyde and has completed his training in Person Centered Psychotherapy at the FORUM in Vienna, Austria. He is also a certified Gordon Trainer (Parent, Teacher, Youth and Leader Training). He completed his training in Person Centered Child and Youth Psychotherapy in Verein Rogerianischer Psychotherapie & Forum, Vienna. He is trained in Emotional Focused Couples Therapy, Trauma Therapy and others. He has years of experience in education of parents and teachers as well as consulting and educating staff and employees in Greek and International companies and educational institutions. Patrick Akrivos has a significant number of publications and conference presentations and is continuing to deepen his understanding of psychotherapy with additional trainings, always being sensitive to persons with different cultural backgrounds. For more information visit: praxis-akrivos.at

Stephanie Cook was born and raised near Munich in Bavaria, Germany and trained as a translator and interpreter. She moved to the UK in her twenties, where she gained a Master's degree in literature and an English husband. She lived in London and Kent for just over a decade before moving to the US with her two young children, first to California, then to Texas, then back to England, back to Texas, and most recently to New Jersey. After years of working as a copywriter and translator, she launched a podcast, “Transcontinental Overload” (now “Get the Boots”) in 2020, and wrote her book “Transcontinental Overload - a Memoir of Movement, Meltdowns & Making a Life In Between”, which was published in October 2025. She’s passionate about languages, bridging cultures and the influence of living abroad on our psyche and well-being.

Dr Sulette Ferreira is a South African emigration therapist and researcher specialising in the emotional and intergenerational impact of emigration. Her work focuses on parents and grandparents left behind after adult children emigrate, with a particular interest in ambiguous loss, transnational caregiving, and the psychological effects of distance. She holds a PhD from the University of Pretoria and has published internationally. Sulette provides counselling to transnational families and leads the online support community “Worlds Apart Living in One Heart.” Through research, writing, and practice, she aims to deepen global understanding of the emotional realities of emigration and strengthen support and understanding for families living across borders.

Tanya Crossman is the Director of Research and International Education at TCK Training and previously served on the FIGT board. She has 20 years' experience working with TCKs, CCKs, and globally mobile families in 20 countries, particularly China and Cambodia. Tanya is the author of Misunderstood (2016) and Thongs or Flip Flops (2024), and lead author of five research reports on TCK experiences for TCK Training.

Tone Indrelid is an anthropologist specializing in global mobility dual career support. She brings experience from both research and as a practitioner, as well as lived experience, to the table and has moved internationally six times – for her own work as well as for her partner’s. Tone knows firsthand what career discussions are held behind the scenes before a relocation. 

Tone currently supports skilled migrants in finding relevant roles in Norway through a specialized mentor program that focuses on intercultural understanding and communication, social sustainability, and equitable hiring processes. By connecting people with companies and facilitating communication across differences, the mentor program bridges people and opportunities.

Vivian Chiona is the founder of Expat Nest (www.expatnest.com), which promotes the emotional wellbeing of expats by offering online counselling services. Vivian is a psychologist with Masters degrees in both Child & Adolescent Psychology and Health Psychology. A multilingual, bicultural expat with family all over the world, she feels most at home within the international community and is inspired by its diversity. Vivian was recognised in 2020 as one of the '100 most inspirational women in the world' by Women Appreciating Women. Other accolades include being in Fortune magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2023 as well as winning the Psychology and Education category at the 2023 Greek International Women Awards.