Plenary Speakers

Dr. Allen Quesada Pacheco is Director of the School of Modern Languages at the University of Costa Rica (UCR). With over 30 years of experience in English language education, he specializes in technology-enhanced EFL learning, bilingualism, telecollaboration, and digital language testing. Dr. Quesada was awarded UCR’s Institutional Commemorative Medal in 2022 for his contributions to education and innovation. He is also an active TESOL member, advancing global language education.

César Bizetto holds a MSc. In Nuclear Technology and currently works as Head of Teaching, Learning & Assessment at São Paulo Open Centre where he is Lead Tutor for the Level 6 Qualification Trinity College London Certificate for Practicing Teachers with focus on Teacher Trainer Development, Programme Leader for the Level 4 Cambridge International Certificates in Classroom Practice and Teaching and Learning, Mentor for the Certificate in Teaching Bilingual Learners and CELTA Tutor. 

Damon is has recently completed his doctorate in EDI, Policy and the Law. Born in Manchester and now residing in Scotland, he has enriched his career with international experience, having spent many years in Taiwan and Sicily teaching and conducting research. A former teaching fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in the UK and a member of the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals (IEDP). He is actively involved in several research initiatives at the British Council.

Elsa Fernanda González holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching from the University of Southampton, UK. She is a professor and Director at the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, teaching in the BA and MA programs. A founding board member of LAALTA and a member of the Mexican National Researcher System, Level 1. She has received awards from the British Council and Michigan Language Assessment and contributed to the PISA OECD Foreign Language Assessment Framework.

Ms Gemma Bellhouse is the Test Product Quality Assurance Manager within the Global Assessments team at the British Council. She has been working in the quality assurance, production and management of language tests since 2015 and is especially impassioned by the effects of EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) in language testing. Ms Bellhouse holds an MSc from Oxford in Applied Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition.

Gladys Quevedo-Camargo holds a PhD in Language Studies and is an associate professor at the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation, University of Brasília, Brazil. She is a co-founder and board member of LAALTA – Latin American Association for Language Testing and Assessment and a member of ILTA – International Language Testing Association and BrazTesol Assessment Special Interest Group.

Ivan Siqueira is Full Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Federal University of Bahia since 2022. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of São Paulo, where he taught Portuguese to foreign students and English to Brazilians(2010-2022). BA in Literature (Portuguese, English, Latin, German) from the State University of São Paulo and a specialized degree in Music and Art History from Berklee College of Music, and also has training in AI applications.

Janeth Tello Carrillo holds a BA degree in English and a MA in English as a Foreign Language Teaching, both from the University of Veracruz. She has worked with undergraduates at Universidad Veracruzana for over 20 years. She’s been working as an item writer, and an EXAVER exams examiner since 2014. Currently she is the EXAVER proficiency exams chief coordinator. She has also served as an EXAVER exam trainer for eight years. Her interests lie in exam development, and evaluation literacy.

Mariano leads the artificial intelligence (AI) strategy for language learning and assessment at the British Council. His role involves researching the application of natural language processing (NLP) to language assessment, providing strategic guidance for the development and adoption of AI solutions, and promoting AI literacy and responsible use of new technologies. 

You can look at Mariano Felice work here

Nayibe Rosado-Mendinueta is an associate professor of the Language Institute at Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia. She teaches in the language teacher education program, the masters in Education and TEFL and the doctoral in Education programs at Uninorte. She holds a master and a doctor in Education degrees. She is a co-founder and the current president of the Latin American Association for Language Testing and Assessment, LAALTA.