Kieran Galvin MBA CMgr FCMI FRSA is the Founder and Worldwide CEO of Kipinä, an international early childhood education group inspired by Finnish pedagogy and operating across multiple countries. Through Kipinä and its associated systems, he has focused on developing scalable operational frameworks that combine curriculum, teacher development, parent engagement, and technology into a unified educational model designed for both independent schools and multi-campus groups.

Over the past decade, Galvin has worked extensively across Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, supporting the launch, development, licensing, and operation of international preschool campuses and education partnerships. His work has included strategic expansion planning, operational systems design, investor relations, and international brand positioning within the education sector.

He is also closely involved in the development of KEYS (Kipinä Early Years System), a curriculum operating system designed to help schools integrate pedagogy, assessment, planning, compliance, communication, and child development tracking into a single operational framework. The system reflects his long-standing interest in scalable, affordable educational infrastructure and the intersection between operations and technology.

Prior to entering the education sector, Galvin worked in commercial property brokerage and investment-related roles, including capital raising and strategic advisory work connected to property trusts and syndicated developments. He was also involved in a number of independent creative projects.

Today, his primary focus is the international growth of Kipinä, the continued development of curriculum-driven education systems, and supporting education operators seeking more scalable and academically coherent operating models.

LinkedIn:

Kieran Galvin LinkedIn Profile

Ali Irfan MBA is credited with establishing the first Kipinä Preschool in the United Arab Emirates.

He brings more than 20 years of senior management experience across global Telecommunications, Media, and Technology firms, and previously worked as a strategy consultant in the United States, focusing on operational enhancement for Fortune 500 companies.

Ali holds an MBA from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School.

Jeannine Laubner MAT is a fourth-generation educator with over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and Cross-Cultural, Language, and Academic Development certification.

As President of Global Education at Kipinä, Jeannine has been pivotal in designing and refining the Kipinä Enhanced Finland Curriculum, adapting it across 15 countries and eight languages. She has led the creation of innovative teaching tools and professional development programmes, empowering more than 500 educators worldwide.

Her deep grounding in pedagogy and psychology drives her commitment to advancing high-quality early learning and supporting Kipinä’s mission to set new benchmarks in global preschool education.

Jeannine is also the author of Millennials’ Guide to Early Childhood Education.

Faizol Musa MBA is an international education leader with extensive experience across Southeast Asia. He holds a Master’s in Corporate Communication and Public Relations.

Before joining Kipinä, Faizol spent more than a decade with the International Baccalaureate as Regional Development and Recognition Manager, and previously held senior positions with Cambridge Assessment International Education and the British Council.

Based in Malaysia, he leads Kipinä’s expansion across Asia, bringing strategic insight and a strong track record in building partnerships, school networks, and institutional recognition.