Directors - Kipinä Corporate Profile

kieran galvin

managing director

Kieran is the originator of the Kipinä concept and brand. Kipinä was developed because of his experience in education management, licensing and packaging. An entrepreneurial leader, builder and proven manager – Kieran has more than 25 years of business experience in the UK, Australia, and the Middle East, occupying C-level and board level roles for 15 years.

Kieran is the engine behind Kipinä’s global expansion through Franchise partners and Joint Ventures.

jeannine laubner

academic director

Jeannine is a fourth generation teacher, and mother of two Kipinä-educated kids. Hailing from San Francisco, USA, she is a successful leader in education with over 18 years experience. She holds a Masters degree in Teaching, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development certification. Jeannine is currently working on constantly enhancing and developing teaching tools for the Kipinä Enhanced Finland Curriculum. She is the author of “Millennials Guide To Early Childhood Education.”

ali irfan

finance director

Ali is credited with setting up the first Kipinä school in the UAE and establishing and operating a successful proof of concept. With an MBA from Yale and an undergraduate degree from Wharton, Ali has 20 years of experience in senior management positions for globally renowned Telecommunications-Media-Technology firms. He has previously worked as a strategy consultant in the US market focusing on the operational enhancement of fortune 500 companies.

BEN ROMdhane

operations director

Ben is the most senior staff member for the MENA and Africa.

He has over a decade of leadership experience at Mercedes Benz including earning their highest c level- operational management rating. In addition to this, he has a Masters in Business and an Engineering degree. He speaks fluent English, French, Arabic and German.

Ben focuses on after-sales operations leadership for all our schools, managing the processes of construction, renovation, localisation, procurement, fit out, compliance and training.

Managers

Hind Bouzekri

Morocco

Hind brings the perfect blend of experience as an educator and understanding as a mum.  A university professor, she holds a Master's degree in pedagogy from UQAM University in Montréal, Canada, as well as certification in Finnish Pedagogy from Häme University in Finland

Farah Isa

United Arab Emiratess

Farah holds a Bachelors in Business Management and has been working in the Early Education field since 2006. She has managed different sized settings in  Abu Dhabi. She has completed multiple courses in; Managing Early Years Facilities; Occupational Health and Safety; Pediatric First Aid; Child Protection and Safeguarding.

Gulshan Mammadova

Azerbaijan

Gulshan holds a Master's degree in Pedagogical Sciences. She has been working in the field of education for 25 years. 






Imane Bouchara

Morocco

Imane holds post graduate certification in Finnish Pedagogy from Häme University in Finland in addition to qualifications in Financial Accounting and Business Administration from Concordia and UQAM universities respectively.



Delia Ionele

Romania

A passionate educator, Delia holds a Masters degree in Educational Management & Services and a Bachelor's degree in Pedagogy and Educational Sciences.




Arianne Zgela

Bahrain

Arianne obtained her early
childhood education certification in Canada in 2011.  She has been working with Kipina Kids Bahrain since 2019, first as a lead before being promoted to General Manager  in 2020.  




Alina Syerik

Egypt

Alina is delighted to share her 18 years of experience in the Middle East as a professional Early Years Educator and UK Qualified Nursery Manager.





Nicoleta Stancu

Romania

A passionate education specialist, Nicoleta has been working in the education field for 26 years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Management and a Bachelor's degree in Educational Sciences - the pedagogy of primary and preschool education.