AMS Asia Conference

Li Meijin

Li Meijin, author of numerous influential books and essays that bridge professional psychology and public education, is a prominent Chinese psychologist and a leading scholar in the fields of crime psychology, juvenile delinquency, and youth mental health. She has played a significant role in public education. Her lectures and media appearances are known for their clarity, realism, and strong preventive perspective. She consistently emphasizes the critical role of early family education, emotional security, rule awareness, and parental responsibility in safeguarding children’s psychological well-being and reducing the risk of extreme or antisocial behavior.

Dr. Xiao Ran

Xiao Ran is a renowned psychologist specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine–based approaches to mental health. He is a senior clinical expert and serves as a Director and expert member of the China Medical Education Association’s Special Medical Work Committee. He is also President of the Canadian Association of Physical and Mental Health, Director of the World Chinese Psychologists Association, and founder of the Body–Mind Holographic Culture framework.

He is an invited lecturer at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a TEDx speaker known for his talk “Disease May Be the Trauma You Carry.”

Xiao Ran currently serves as Chairman of Beijing Xiao Ran Culture Communication Co., Ltd. and co-founder of Ran Health. He has appeared as an invited expert on national broadcasts including CCTV-1 (My Father and Mother), CCTV-2 (Entrepreneur Heroes), CCTV-12 (Psychological Interview), and China Education Channel 1 (Growing Up Without Worries).

He has also delivered keynote lectures for the Chinese Psychology Masters Public Lecture Hall and spoken at the Fourth Chinese Psychologists Conference.

Munir Shivji, Executive Director

Munir Shivji is the Executive Director at AMS. For over 20 years, he has been a noteworthy leader in Montessori education — as a former teacher, instructor, school administrator, and teacher education program administrator. He is an inspirational multi-AMS-Montessori credentialed leader who observes, connects, and tells stories that inspire action while also being grounded in business and financial acumen that levers the American Montessori Society for future success. Munir takes the collective voice and vision and makes it a reality through creative strategy development. Respected as a leading voice in Montessori, Munir connects AMS members and the Montessori community, establishes meaningful experiences for all stakeholders, and leads by example, always doing his best and encouraging others to do the same.

Dr. Vanessa Rigaud

Dr. Vanessa M. Rigaud serves as the Director of Research and Innovation at the American Montessori Society, where she advances research, innovation, and professional learning across the Montessori ecosystem, including curriculum, leadership development, and higher education. With more than 25 years of teaching and 20 years of leadership experience, she has supported Montessori communities in public and private settings in the U.S. and internationally, including serving as a professor and program director in higher education at Xavier University and as the Dean of Curriculum at the first AMS-accredited and IB PYP-authorized world school in China. A credentialed Montessori educator and consultant, she publishes peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and presents internationally, translating evidence into practical tools and programs that strengthen teaching, leadership, and teacher education.

Hannah Baynham

Hannah Baynham (she/her) is the Director of Montessori Learning and Content Development at American Montessori Society. She has worked in Early Childhood Education in classrooms, leadership, and as a teacher educator in a variety of global settings. Hannah founded a school, has worked in teacher education and consulted on Montessori education around the world.  Hannah has a 0–7 International Montessori diploma and teacher training qualification from Montessori Centre International in London, UK.

Melina Papadimitriou

Melina Papadimitriou is the Director of Teacher Education at AMS. She is a long-time Montessorian with experience as a teacher, head of school, university TEP program director and instructor, and public and private school consultant. Together with the whole teacher education team, Melina provides guidance and support for aspiring, new, and existing AMS-affiliated teacher education programs.