SkyGems Academy

Thank you for tuning in to SkyGems Academy Podcast Series 2 final episode, Discovering 21st Century Skills. Thank you for your encouragement and continuous support. Last year 2021 has been a challenging year for all of us. As a community, we continue to stay vigilant, agile and adapt to the challenges faced and ever changing landscape. Covid-19 has accelerated digital transformation on a global basis. Since 2020, we have been living in the digital world. Almost everything we do now are engaged and conducted digitally; from how we learn, how we shop, to how we live. We believe that digital transformation will continue to evolve and transform the way we live, work and play. In this new year 2022, we will continue to see more digital disruption and new ways of doing things digitally. To remain relevant, we need to have a growth mindset, observe and learn to embrace changes ahead of us. Some key areas to observe and continue to transform especially in education, finance and decentralization in many areas transforming the way we live, work and play. SkyGems Academy Podcast Series 3, we will focus on the digital transformation topic of discussion that is happening now and will continue to impact our daily lives. Stay tuned to SkyGems Academy Podcast Series 3 entitled Everything Digital coming your way very soon! We hope that 2022 will be a better year for everyone. We wish you and your loved ones good health, peace and happiness. Happy New Year 2022! Stay healthy and be happy! Please visit and join us at: SkyGems Academy https://skygemsacademy.com/ Join SkyGems Academy – 21st Century Skills learning journey launchpad https://learn.skygemsacademy.com/

Justin Adams is SkyGems Academy Podcast 10th speaker for Series 2 Discovering 21st Century Skills. Justin is currently the Secondary School Head of Mahsa International School, Selangor, Malaysia. Justin was born in Swansea in South Wales, UK. He is a father of 2 sons. Justin started off his career journey as a Chef as a Hotel Manager at Hilton National and Catering Manager at St Camillus Catering. In 2000, Justin diverted into Teaching after a Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Economics at the University of Wales, Swansea Institute in 2000. He obtained a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Business in 2004. Justin spent 13 years in the UK teaching at St Augustines’s Comprehensive, Redditch and 8 years at Sir Bernard Lovell school in Bristol. He moved to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia to experience the cultures and quality of life in South East Asia. Justin is passionate about exploring, discovering, evaluating and realising the potential strengths of the students that he meets and the colleagues that he works with. Justin has grown and developed in the International School education system from a teacher of Business and Head of Humanities. Recently Head of Teaching and Learning/ Head of Secondary school and Acting Principal of MAHSA International School. His interests  are personal development, traveling, reading and meditation. Justin is a passionate, balanced, calm, mindful and positive individual who loves to communicate, connect, and build relationships. “When a person comes into education, they need that shining light, that outstanding memory, that inspiration that will guide them to visualising the importance to them. How it may shape their present and their future,” said Justin. Let’s tune in to Justin Adam’s Podcast at SkyGems Academy Podcast Series 2 - Discovering 21st Century Skills. Please visit and join us at: SkyGems Academy https://skygemsacademy.com/ Join SkyGems Academy – 21st Century Skills learning journey launchpad https://learn.skygemsacademy.com/

Justin was born in Swansea in South Wales, UK. He is a father of 2 sons. Justin started off his career journey as a Chef as a Hotel Manager at Hilton National and Catering Manager at St Camillus Catering. In 2000, Justin diverted into Teaching after a Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Economics at the University of Wales, Swansea Institute in 2000. He obtained a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Business in 2004. Justin has grown and developed in the International School education system from a teacher of Business and Head of Humanities. Recently Head of Teaching and Learning/ Head of Secondary school and Acting Principal of MAHSA International School. His interests  are personal development, traveling, reading and meditation. Justin is a passionate, balanced, calm, mindful and positive individual who loves to communicate, connect, and build relationships. Visit: www.skygemsacademy.com

SkyGems Academy Podcast Series 2 Discovering 21st Century Skills Episode 9 speaker is Alex Paltos. Alex Paltos comes from Melbourne, Australia and has been an educator for over 22 years. Over half of that time has been spent working outside his native Australia in the UK, China and the Middle East, including working for international schools or schools that have an ‘international footprint’. A recent role was as Founding International Principal of Meisha Academy by Haileybury, in Guangzhou, China. It was a joint venture international school between Haileybury Australia – one of the most academically successful private schools in Australia in recent years – and Vanke Real Estate – a construction giant located in the south of China. Alex also founded one of the first Cultural and English Immersion and Leadership Companies in China for students wishing to visit Australia.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for AustCham South China and Xiaomei, an Education Technology company based in Hong Kong. He has a Bachelor of Arts (History and Politics), Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Monash University, Masters in Education Management and Leadership and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sydney – he is also currently pursuing a PhD. Alex has worked in China for over six years and his current role is as Principal of one the most prestigious IB international kindergartens in Guangzhou. In his spare time Alex enjoys playing AFL, running marathons, keeping fit, eating Cantonese food, studying Mandarin and walking his two dogs and spending time with his two young boys. Now let’s tune in to Alex Paltos Podcast! Please visit and join us at: SkyGems Academy https://skygemsacademy.com/ Join SkyGems Academy – 21st Century Skills learning journey launchpad https://learn.skygemsacademy.com/

Alex Paltos comes from Melbourne, Australia and has been an educator for over 22 years. Over half of that time has been spent working outside his native Australia in the UK, China and the Middle East, including working for international schools or schools that have an ‘international footprint’. A recent role was as Founding International Principal of Meisha Academy by Haileybury, in Guangzhou, China. It was a joint venture international school between Haileybury Australia – one of the most academically successful private schools in Australia in recent years – and Vanke Real Estate – a construction giant located in the south of China. Alex also founded one of the first Cultural and English Immersion and Leadership Companies in China for students wishing to visit Australia.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for AustCham South China and Xiaomei, an Education Technology company based in Hong Kong. He has a Bachelor of Arts (History and Politics), Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Monash University, Masters in Education Management and Leadership and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sydney – he is also currently pursuing a PhD. Alex has worked in China for over six years and his current role is as Principal of one the most prestigious IB international kindergartens in Guangzhou. In his spare time Alex enjoys playing AFL, running marathons, keeping fit, eating Cantonese food, studying Mandarin and walking his two dogs and spending time with his two young boys. Visit: www.skygemsacademy.com