Concentration: International Policy and Planning
Current position: Executive Director, Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research
Bio: Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior to this appointment, she was the Acting Director of Research at the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government. Natasha has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector in countries including the United Arab Emirates, the USA, Singapore, and Australia.
Natasha holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master's in International and Community Development from Deakin University, and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.
Natasha has over 30 publications, including two books, Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local (2014) and Philanthropy in Education: Diverse Perspectives and Global Trends (2019). Her latest research focuses on philanthropy and education in the MENA region as well as the nature and impact of father involvement in the Arab World.
Something special about TC: My TC experience formed some of the most wonderful years of my life. I loved the international student body that exposed me to so many new ways of seeing the world and understanding the global education sector. Academically it was also extremely engaging and challenging in the best possible way. I was pushed out of my comfort zone, especially in terms of being able to present and speak in public which has proved to be a valuable skill in my current position. My time at TC gave me a wonderful platform from which to launch the next stage of my career in the philanthropic sector and I remain forever grateful for that.