Masterclass 2024 on Future-Proofing International Associations

Cyril Ritchie is President of the Union of International Associations (UIA) since 2017, and he has been a member of the Executive Council since 1984. His role extends beyond the UIA, as he serves as the UIA Representative to the United Nations in New York, Geneva, and Vienna since 1988, as well as to other international agencies and NGOs.

Mr. Ritchie holds or has held several significant positions within the international community. He is the President of the Federation of International NGOs in Geneva (FIIG), CoNGO (the Conference of NGOs), and the Council of Europe INGO Grouping “Civil society and democracy in Europe.” These roles involve regular meetings in Strasbourg and active participation in shaping civil society and democratic processes. Furthermore, he serves as the Chairman of the Environment Liaison Centre International, headquartered in Nairobi.

In addition to his leadership roles, Mr. Ritchie was the long-term President of the Switzerland Chapter of the Society for International Development. He also held the position of Executive Director at the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) for an impressive 14 years. His commitment to global issues is evident through his participation in most United Nations Summits and World Conferences, covering topics such as food, environment, women, habitat, nutrition, social development, and sustainable development.

Johannes Kellner is a dedicated PhD Candidate at the WFI Ingolstadt School of Management, which is part of the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. As a researcher, he focuses on Institutional Economics and its intersection with Vocational Training. His work contributes to understanding how institutions shape economic behavior and outcomes, particularly in the context of vocational education and training. Johannes Kellner’s research endeavors contribute to this ethos by exploring how institutional frameworks impact vocational training systems. His work has implications for policy development, economic growth, and social welfare. As a PhD Candidate, he engages with cutting-edge research methodologies, collaborates with fellow scholars, and contributes to advancing knowledge in his field.

Max Senges is an entrepreneur, educator, and founding CEO of 42 Wolfsburg and 42 Berlin, two innovative and tuition-free coding schools in Germany. He is also Entrepreneur in Residence at the Stiftung Entrepreneurship. Max has over 20 years of experience in various fields such as digital transformation, innovation management, online education, and internet governance. He has worked with leading organizations such as Google, Stanford University, World Economic Forum, and Mozilla Foundation, as well as co-founded several startups and social enterprises. He holds a PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Technology Dresden, and has published several books and articles on topics such as open innovation, peer production, and digital citizenship.

Jan Muehlig is the Vice-President of ICoBC and the CEO of relevantive GmbH, a company that specializes in UX strategy and lean transformation. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of user-centered design, usability engineering, and agile development. He is also the founder and board member of Open Usability e.V., a non-profit organization that promotes the collaboration between open source projects and usability experts. Jan Muehlig holds a master’s degree in computer science from TU Dortmund University, where he conducted research on modern hardware and database systems. He is fluent in German, English, French, and Japanese, and has a passion for Japan, sailing, and Aston Martin.

Rolf Reinhardt is a Senior Account Director at LinkedIn, where he is deeply committed to creating widespread economic opportunities, particularly for those who are most in need. His work involves collaborating with government bodies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to understand their unique requirements and long-term goals. Leveraging LinkedIn’s suite of products and solutions, Rolf assists these entities in optimizing their talent strategies, from planning and acquisition to development and retention. With over 17 years of experience in account management, technology deployment, research, and networking, Rolf has made significant contributions to the social impact sector. Beyond his primary role at LinkedIn, he actively participates in global initiatives and networks aimed at enhancing the quality and recognition of digital badges and credentials across diverse sectors.

Jorge Muract is a mechanical engineer with a Master of Science degree who has been involved in various research projects. He worked as a research assistant at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and as a research and development engineer at AVEC Inc. In 2006, he joined Tenaris as a Finish Process Specialist, where he implemented definitions and standardizations of production best practices worldwide. In 2014, he became the Manager of steeluniversity, an initiative by the World Steel Association, where he played a crucial role in talent development for the steel industry. Under his leadership, steeluniversity became a recognized leader in providing high-quality learning solutions and development programs globally. Jorge’s contributions include rejuvenating steeluniversity’s e-learning platform, creating innovative learning tools such as serious games, simulations, virtual reality, and augmented reality, and designing a collaborative tool to disseminate education and training across the worldwide training ecosystem.

An innovative and professional education project manager with more than 15 years of experience in the international development and education field, Khusraw Parwez has dedicated over 10 years to integrity education. His expertise extends to e-learning project management, instructional design, interactive learning content production, and administering learning management systems. Khusraw is skilled in project management, higher education administration, and interactive curriculum development for online and blended programs. His strong community and customer service orientation make him an asset in any educational context. Khusraw holds a Master’s degree in Anti-Corruption Studies, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics, and a diploma in digital learning design. Proficient in several languages, including Persian/Farsi, English, German, and Dari, Khusraw has worked across different countries, including Afghanistan, Austria, and Ethiopia.

Sue Martin is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the areas of certification, assessment, and learning technology. She is currently in the Board of the International e-Assessment Association (eAA) and the Global Head of Personnel Certification at TUV Rheinland, where she has been instrumental in driving business transformation and workforce credentialing initiatives. Prior to this role, Sue was the Global Head of Certification at SAP and held various leadership positions in the certification industry, including Regional Manager for Central & Eastern Europe for Drake Prometric, Head of EMEA Business Development for Pearson VUE, and Director of International Operations for Computer Adaptive Technologies. Sue’s expertise also extends to consulting, having worked as a systems consultant for the leading German consulting company Roland Berger. She is a board member of the eAssessment Association and served as the European Chair of the Association of Test Publishers in 2012. Sue’s specialties include certification, assessment, learning, consulting, business transformation, workforce credentialing, and badging.

Tim Riches is the Executive Director if Navigatr with a passion for open innovation and driving change to support people in reaching their full potential. He is the co-founder of Digitalme, the UK’s leading Open Badges provider, which is now part of the City & Guilds Group. Tim was also engaged by the Mozilla Foundation to drive adoption of the Open Badges standard across the UK and internationally. He has over 10 years of experience collaborating with senior executives, stakeholders, and tech teams to realize innovation and launch new products. Tim is an early adopter and led the first organization to use Open Badges in the UK. In his current role as Executive Director, he is supporting City and Guilds, an international organization with nearly 150 years of history, in moving from issuing paper-based certificates to digital credentials using Open Badges. Tim’s expertise and leadership in Open Badges have been instrumental in advancing the adoption of this innovative technology in the UK and beyond.

Katharine Courtney is an Open Internet enthusiast with 9 years of experience in the world of Open Badges. She is passionate about utilizing innovative technologies to improve outcomes for people. Currently, she works as a Customer Experience Executive at Navigatr, where she collaborates with a team of 6 to build unique products that help people achieve more in their careers. Katharine is deeply passionate about creating loved and trusted products that help people navigate their careers and achieve their career goals, regardless of their background. She is motivated by improving products and services for customers by using data analytics, setting up tools, and creating and maintaining processes. Outside of work, Katharine is a part-time Virtual Assistant, helping clients scale their visions with a purpose or positive impact on community and mental health. She is also a part-time vanlifer and loves all things crafts and DIY.

Patrick Coates is the CEO of the e-Assessment Association (eAA), having served on the board for over 10 years. With more than 25 years of experience in the Assessment Industry, he has played a key role in the growth and impact of the eAA within the global assessment community. Under his leadership, the eAA has achieved significant milestones through initiatives such as the E-assessment Conference and Awards, strengthened relationships with stakeholders, and the establishment of several Special Interest Groups. Patrick’s vision for the future development of the Association aligns with its mission to promote better assessment of knowledge, skills, and capabilities of people through technology.

Kai is an experienced sales professional with a track record of driving revenue growth and delivering exceptional results. He has over 5 years of experience in the SaaS landscape, working with companies such as LinkedIn, Microsoft, Personio, and CoachHub. Kai values honesty and transparency in all his interactions and tailors solutions to meet the diverse needs of his clients. He is committed to excellence and customer satisfaction, ensuring valuable results and lasting customer relationships. In his free time, Kai enjoys spending time with family, traveling, doing sports, meditation, and taking care of healthy nutrition.