Deirdre Quarnstrom

Vice President, Education Experiences
Microsoft
USA

Deirdre Quarnstrom started the programme at Mojang Studios to bring the video game Minecraft to mainstream education and which now reaches millions of students and educators around the world. In 2021, she joined Microsoft Education as Vice President of Education Experiences, leading product, engineering, and customer engagement teams that create solutions to improve learning outcomes for learners around the world. Deirdre serves as a director on the board of the Block by Block Foundation, a non-profit partnership between Mojang, Microsoft, and UN-Habitat that uses Minecraft to empower youth and women in developing nations. She is a founding partner and advisor at Reaction, a social impact VC fund. She holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from McGill University in Montreal, an MBA from Seattle University, and she completed the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University in 2018. Deirdre, her husband, and their two daughters live in Seattle, Washington.

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Joining as a Trustee is Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies and Assistant Principal for Religion and Society at the University of Edinburgh. She is known internationally as a public intellectual and is a regular commentator in the media.

Dan Mulhall will be joining the board as a Trustee. Dan is a retired Irish diplomat, academic and published author. He is the current Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge and is a consultant with the global law firm DLA Piper.

Also joining as a Trustee is Professor Gayle McPherson, Professor of Events and Cultural Policy and Director of the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). She is also a member of the European Cultural Parliament.

Joining us as a Trustee is Stephen Gethins, Professor of International Affairs at the University of St Andrews. Prior to that, Stephen was MP for North East Fife, the SNP International affairs spokesperson and was twice selected to sit on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Joining in the role of Chair is Shonaig Macpherson CBE, an experienced Chair and non-executive director used to working at the most senior levels of government, private, public and third sectors.

If you're interested in attending Edinburgh International Culture Summit 2022 as media, interviews with contributors and ministers, or photo opportunities, please contact Susie Gray at susie@thecornershoppr.com or 07834 073795.

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