THE SPAN TEAM
Doug Ota
SPAN Founder, Advisor to the Board and Interim Co-Director
Dr. Doug Ota is a child psychologist, presenter, researcher, and specialist in how transitions affect people. Doug has always had a passion for the theme of mobility and belonging. He is the author of Safe Passage: How Mobility Affects People and What International Schools Should Do About It (2014). Safe Passage led to the founding of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) in 2016, an international non-profit supporting transitions in educational settings. Doug studied Religion at Princeton University (1993) and Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Leiden (2000, cum laude). Doug earned his PhD in developmental psychology, under the supervision of Professor Marinus van IJzendoorn, one of the world's leading researchers in attachment theory. His PhD investigated levels of attachment security in international schools, and the novel idea that schools could be attachment objects for their students. Sponsored by the Council of International Schools (CIS), Doug’s work has led to transitions-related standards becoming adopted into CIS accreditation standards for its schools worldwide. His clinical qualifications are as a NIP Child Psychologist (2008) and a BIG-registered Gezondheidszorg (GZ) Psychologist (2023), and he operates a private and online practice in The Hague, Netherlands, as a child, family, and couples therapist (www.safepassage.nl). He has three grown children, and runs marathons for fun.
SPAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Claudine Hakim
Chair and Interim Co-Director
Claudine Hakim is Head of Transitions, Student Support and Advancement at the International School of London (ISL) and is the leader of the award winning ISL Crossroads Transitions programme. Claudine was previously a Head Teacher at an independent Special School and another International School. Claudine holds a Masters degree from the University College of London, Institute of Education in Educational Leadership and Management and a BA in Psychology and Counselling from Richmond International University. Claudine is a citizen of the United Kingdom, is originally from the Lebanon and born and raised in Ghana. She is married and has a daughter. Having lived in three continents, Claudine is passionate about fostering well-balanced and inclusive international communities. She is a public speaker who actively promotes the importance of transitions-care and attachment security. Claudine is also a member of the ECIS Admissions Special Interest Committee.
Ruth Van Reken
Vice-Chair
Dr. Ruth Van Reken is a US citizen who grew up in Nigeria as a second generation Third Culture Kid (TCK) and raised her three daughters in Liberia. In 1984, Ruth began journaling while seeking to better understand both the benefits received and challenges faced from a globally mobile childhood. That journaling ultimately became her first book, now Letters Never Sent. As others responded to her story, she realized she was not alone and for over thirty-five years, Ruth has traveled extensively speaking about issues related to global family lifestyles. Currently, she is seeking to understand how lessons learned from the traditional TCK experience can be part of a mutually beneficial conversation with others studying, working with, or living the experience of the larger cohort she calls Cross-Cultural Kids (CCKs)—those raised among many cultural worlds for various reasons. Ruth is also co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd edition, multiple other writings and co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition. In 2019 she received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree (Litt.D) from Wheaton College for her work in this field. Learn more at: www.crossculturalkid.org.
Michael Iannini
Treasurer
Michael Iannini is ACAMIS's Contracted Leadership Development Facilitator and an affiliated Council of International School’s consultant with the following areas of expertise: Appraisal and professional development, Leadership training, School governance and Strategic planning. He recently published a book on how to improve Middle Leadership in schools, Hidden in Plain Sight: Realising the Full Potential of Middle Leaders. His journey in education began 20 years ago as a research assistant at Arizona State University’s Child Development Laboratory, where he honed his talent for developmental education. Since moving to China in 1999, Michael has advised the Boards and Senior Leadership of a number of Not-for-Profit Organizations, International Schools, and Chinese Bilingual schools on how to develop curriculum, train teachers, create parent engagement strategies and devise staff capacity building strategies. His exhaustive efforts have helped nurture a long and mutually beneficial relationship with ACAMIS and Search Associates network of schools in China. Michael lives in Hong Kong with his wife Barbara and their two children, Helena and Marco.
Graham Ranger
Secretary
Dr. Graham Ranger has been Academic Director of The Aga Khan Academies since January 2017. Currently, he is (interim) Director of The Aga Khan Academies. He is an experienced leader of change and development in school systems in the public and private, not-for-profit, sectors. He was Director of School Support & Evaluation at The Council of International Schools (CIS) from 2012-2016, with global responsibility for all aspects of the quality assurance and development of international schools. Prior to this, Graham was Head (Director) of The British School, New Delhi, and Director of Education for the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong, a group of 20+ high-achieving schools, where he oversaw the introduction of the IB programmes and helped establish two new K-12 international schools. His doctorate, awarded by the University of Durham (England) in 2012, after fieldwork in India, focuses on the professional development needs of Heads of international schools.
Rami Madani
Honorary Board Member
Rami Madani is the Head of the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prior to that, he worked in schools in Yemen, UK, Zambia, and India, serving students and faculty at all school levels. He has taught subjects ranging from Mathematics to Music to Theory of Knowledge. He has served in various leadership capacities, including Director of Learning. Rami has designed a variety of professional development and training programs. He is passionate about aligning a school's systems with its mission, and ensuring that teaching and learning are the focus of what schools do. Rami presents at conferences and works with schools on areas related to strategic planning, leadership, growth & evaluation, curriculum, assessment, and instruction. His primary focus is on nurturing minds, empowering everyone, refining systems and tools to support student and adult holistic growth.
SPAN LEADERSHIP TEAM
Amy Shuflin
Resources Lead
Amy Shuflin has served for 16 years with Oasis International Schools, first for ten years in Venezuela and now in Malaysia since 2018. Amy is passionate about schools intentionally caring for the needs of the entire community (students, staff, and parents) and has integrated positive transitions care into her work as a teacher, curriculum writer, social-emotional counselor, and chaplain. She is committed to sharing resources to be able to reach the growing population of CCKs and CCK caregivers around the world. She has a B.A. in Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and is a certified debriefer and Youth Mental Health First Aider. Amy found a community in The Nest and began volunteering for SPAN by co-authoring the Safe Passage Book Study. She enjoys meeting people, sharing coffee, making food, and spending time with her husband and two TCK children.
Gera Klijnsma
Front Office Representative
Gera Klijnsma is a Dutch Repat, whose globally mobile life as accompanying partner
spans over 30 years, 8 countries and 4 continents, while raising 2 TCK’s. During their first re-entry Gera worked at American School of The Hague, where she joined Dr. Douglas Ota’s Transition Program Team as a parent. Recently retired, and having become a CCK Grandmother since, she is excited to work with Doug again, now at SPAN. From joining Doug’s TPT in 1999, through initiating and leading international school transition teams, to becoming part of the SPAN Leadership Team in 2025, Gera’s life in positive transitions care has come Full Circle.
Cătălina Gărdescu
Resource Partner
Catalina Gardescu is a consultant, connector, and systems thinker with over 25 years of experience in admissions, marketing and communication in international schools. She partners with schools and organizations to strengthen inclusion, belonging, and trust across admissions, communications, and community engagement. Catalina is widely recognized for her pioneering work in professionalising international school admissions and for building global communities of practice that bridge roles, cultures, and perspectives. Through her consultancy, Ideas Into Action, she supports schools in aligning strategy, story, and systems with their values—especially during moments of transition and change. Her work is grounded in empathy, clarity, and a deep commitment to safe passage for every individual within school communities.
Julia Love
Engagement Partner
Julia Love served most recently as Director of Admissions at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) for 11 years. During her time at ISKL, she was instrumental in developing the Transitions Care Team. Before joining ISKL in 2012, Julia was Dean of Admissions at an international school in London and prior to that, Julia worked in admissions in independent schools in the United States. She is an active member in several global admissions networks and has established herself as a thought leader in the international school admissions community. With 25 years’ experience in Boarding, Primary, Secondary and International school admissions, Julia is passionate about and committed to ensuring that school placement meets the requirements for every child. Having spent much of her childhood overseas, attending German, British and international schools, Julia understands firsthand the complex transitional needs of children during international relocation. Julia holds a B.A. in Sociology and Education from St. Lawrence University and currently resides in Montreal with her husband and son.