Verna Lalbeharie

Biography

Verna Lalbeharie is a Managing Director at Results for Development, where she leads its Global Education and Scaling Innovation practices. She also serves as Executive Director of the EdTech Hub, a global research-to-practice initiative that supports education decision-makers in low- and middle-income countries to use evidence in harnessing technology to improve learning.

With over 25 years of experience in EdTech, digital personalised learning, and education reform, Verna has worked across the United States, Africa, and Asia to advance more equitable and effective education systems. She guides complex education portfolios, supports donor and partner engagement, and works to translate research into practical, system-level change.

Her previous roles include senior leadership positions at the American Institutes for Research, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the Friday Institute. She is also an active contributor to global education policy and innovation discussions, including through the Brookings Global Taskforce on AI and Education. Originally from South Africa and now based in the United States, Verna holds a BA from Smith College and a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.