Runna Badwan

Runna Badwan is the Head of English and School Education at the British Council in Palestine, where she leads national initiatives that strengthen English language education and support the wider education system to become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of teachers and learners.

With over a decade of experience in education and program management, she develops evidence-based strategies that balance long-term system transformation with agile responses to immediate educational challenges during times of crisis and conflict. Her work harnesses language learning as a means of empowerment—supporting educators and young people to build resilience, agency, and connection across borders.

Through strategic partnerships with governments, communities, and international organizations, she promotes access to quality education and opportunities for dialogue, even in fragile and complex environments.
Her approach combines global insights with local realities to ensure that innovation in education is both contextually relevant and sustainable.

Runna holds an MA in TESOL from Sheffield Hallam University and is pursuing an MBA in International Business and Strategy at the University of Birmingham. She believes that education, language, and narrative can create bridges—amplifying voices, cultivating empathy, and shaping more inclusive futures.