Meet Our Board

Our board is composed of dedicated professionals who are passionate about advancing Positive Behavior Support across Europe. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide our network and its initiatives.

Board Members:

Dr. Vesa Närhi - President:

Dr. Närhi is working as a senior researcher in special education at the University of Jyväskylä. His background is in child neuropsychology, in learning disabilities in general and more specifically attention and behavioral problems. He is experienced in teachers in-service training and heavily involved in the implementation of Finnish adaptation of School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support. In his research he has been concentrating on the efficacy studies on behavioral support at school and at early childhood education. He is working, with several colleagues, on positive behavioral support at unit, classroom and individual levels both at schools and early childhood education.
You can contact Dr. Närhi via email:

Dr. Michael Paal - Vice-President:

Dr. Paal is an experienced researcher in Positive Behavior Support with several years in the field. He has authored academic publications and is a regular speaker at international conferences. Currently, he works as a post-doctoral researcher in special education at the University of Oldenburg in Germany. His research focuses on the adaptation and implementation of school-wide concepts (e.g., SW-PBS, MTSS) for inclusive education, pedagogical-psychological diagnostics through learning progress monitoring and controlled single-case studies, and the evaluation of interventions for academic, emotional, and social competencies in heterogeneous learning groups.
You can contact Dr. Paal via email:

Dr. Sui Lin Goei – Past President: 

You can contact Dr. Goei via email: sl.goei@windesheim.nl

Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Hintz – Chair Person (Research):

Prof. Hintz is an expert in Positive Behavior Support and has been instrumental in adapting and developing PBS strategies in educational settings in Germany. She also has lead several research projects focusing on the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of PBS interventions. Her research interests focus on the development and evaluation of Positive Behavior Support interventions in school and out-of-school settings, evidence-based prevention and intervention for learning and developmental disorders (specifically on learning and social-emotional development), and the professionalization of practitioners in the context of educational inclusion.
You can contact her via email:

Renata Greimaitė – Chair Person (Practice):

I am a special pedagogue and educational consultant with deep expertise in implementing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) across Lithuania. I hold a Master's degree in special education from the University of Central Oklahoma and have professional experience in both the U.S. and Lithuanian education systems.  My work focuses on adapting PBIS strategies for Lithuanian educational settings, including preschools, through training, research, and methodological development. I regularly participate in international research symposiums and APBS (Association for Positive Behavior Support) conferences, contributing to the global PBIS community. In 2024, I was honored with the President’s Medal “For Merits to Lithuania” for my contributions to inclusive education and the advancement of PBIS nationwide.
You can contact Renata via email:

Anne Karhu – Chair Person: 

Dr. Karhu is a university lecturer in special education at the University of Eastern Finland. Her professional background is as a special education teacher, and she now works in special education teacher training in university. She has been actively involved in the implementation of the Finnish adaptation of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (SWPBIS). Her research focuses on more individualized and intensive approaches to behavioral support in both schools and early childhood education. Together with colleagues, she is also engaged in inclusive education research, particularly on how Positive Behavior Support (PBS) can promote participation and learning at the unit.
You can contact Dr. Karhu via email:

We are proud to have such a diverse and talented board leading our network. Their expertise and dedication are vital to our mission of improving lives through Positive Behavior Support.