Ger Graus

Dr. Ger Graus OBE is a renowned figure in the field of education, where he holds the position of the first Global Director of Education at KidZania.

KidZania, where children can experience the world of work through role-play, is designed to inspire and empower: “from inspiration to aspiration”. Since its inception in 1999 in Mexico City, KidZania now has a presence in 24 cities on 5 continents with further plans for some 20 locations including the USA and Canada.

Before this, Dr. Graus was the founding CEO of the Children’s University, now a multiple-award winning international charity providing exciting and innovative learning opportunities outside school hours.

Dr. Graus moved to the UK in 1983 when he began his teaching career at Taverham High School in Norwich. He next moved on to a management position at Winifred Holtby School in Hull. He was Education Adviser for Manchester City Council, introducing Modern Foreign Languages into the primary phase, and later Senior Inspector for Salford City Council. After that, he became Director of the two Wythenshawe Education Action Zones based in the south of Manchester, leading improvements in 29 schools.

Dr. Graus was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Staffordshire University in 2011 and was made an Adjunct Fellow by the University of Adelaide in 2013. In the 2014 Queens’ Birthday Honours List Dr. Graus was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children.

Dr. Gaus now works with and advises organisations globally on the learning agenda in its widest sense, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe, Ashoka, the Partnership for 21st Century Learning (P21), as well as businesses such as Tribal Planet Inc, Book Depository, The Void, Highbrow and Britvic.

In his book "Natural Born Learners," author Alex Beard says: “In learning terms, Ger Graus is Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka.”