Dr. h.c. Andria Zafirakou

Andria Zafirakou  is an author, school leader and an arts and textiles teacher based in the United Kingdom. She received the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize in 2018 for her innovation and collaboration to build inclusive curriculums across a variety of subjects for marginalized learners. She is the author of “Those who can, Teach” (Bloomsbury, 2021) and “Lessons in Life” (Quercus, 2023).

Andria holds the title of “Culture Leader” from the World Economic Forum as well as being a member of the The High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession which was established by the UN Secretary-General. She was awarded a Doctor of Letters honorary degree “Honoris Causa” from the University of Worcester.” 
Zafirakou has been praised for her innovative teaching methods, her ability to connect with her students from different cultural backgrounds, and her advocacy for the importance of arts education in schools. 
As a result in 2018 she was made an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her services to education.