1. Introduction

Global Edu Leaders Forum (“we”, “us”, “our”, “GELS”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal data of users (“you”, “your”) of the website globaleduleaders.org and associated services (forums, membership, newsletters, events). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information, and your rights in relation to it.By accessing or using our website or services, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

2.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

• Registration / Membership Data: name, email address, postal address, phone number, school/organization, position/title, biography, photo, credentials.
• User Content: any content you post in forums, comments, blogs, messages, or during network interactions.
• Event / Summit / Webinar Registration: details needed for participating in events, such as dietary preferences, travel information, etc.
• Newsletter & Communications: subscription preferences, responses to surveys, feedback.
• Contact / Inquiry Forms: information you provide when contacting us via “Contact Us” or support forms.

2.2 Technical / Usage Data

• Device & Browser Information: IP address, browser type/version, operating system, device identifiers.
• Usage Data: pages visited, time and date of visits, clicks, navigation paths, referring URL, session duration.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, local storage to track visits, preferences, and improve user experience.

2.3 Third-Party Data

We may collect or receive information about you from third parties (e.g. social login providers, analytics services, or public data sources) when you interact via those services.

3. Use of Information

We may use your data for the following purposes:

• To provide, operate, and maintain our platform, community, and services.
• To register you as a user, manage your account, verify identity, and provide support.
• To communicate with you (e.g. newsletters, event announcements, updates, promotional content).
• To personalize your experience, tailor content, and recommend connections or events.
• To analyze usage, monitor trends, and optimize our services.
• To enforce our Terms & Conditions and prevent misuse or fraud.
• To comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and protect rights, property, or safety of GELS or others.
• We will only process personal data fairly, lawfully, and in a transparent manner.

4. Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share your data under the following circumstances:

• Service Providers / Vendors: we may engage third parties (e.g. hosting, email delivery, analytics, payment processors) who process data on our behalf.
• Affiliates / Partners: with educational institutions, sponsors, or collaborators, but only to the extent necessary and under confidentiality.
• Event Organizers / Hosts: when you register for events, some information (e.g. your name, institution, email) may be shared with event partners or co-hosts.
• Legal / Compliance: when required by law, or to protect our lawful rights.
• Business Transfers: in case of mergers, acquisitions, or sale of assets.

5. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes listed above or as required by law. When no longer needed, data will be securely deleted or anonymized.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings.
• Understand site traffic and usage.
• Enable features and security measures.

You can control or delete cookies via your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your access to certain features.

7. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. While we strive for high standards, no system is entirely foolproof; absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

8. Your Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have rights including:

• Accessing your personal data.
• Rectifying inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasing or restricting processing (“right to be forgotten”).
• Objecting to processing in certain circumstances.
• Data portability (receiving data in a common format).
• Withdrawing consent (to the extent processing is based on consent).
• To exercise your rights, contact us at globaleduleaders@gmail.com

9. Children

Our services are intended for educators, school leaders, and professionals. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from children under 16 without verifiable parental consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us for deletion.

10. Third-Party Links & Embeds

Our site may contain links to third-party websites or embed external content (e.g. YouTube, social media). This Privacy Policy does not apply to external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

11. International Transfers

Since GELS is a global community, your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, where data protection standards may differ. We will take steps to ensure adequate protection (e.g. contractual safeguards).

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will post the new version on the site with a revised “Last Updated” date, and notify you where appropriate.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, you may contact:
Global Edu Leaders Forum
Email: globaleduleaders@gmail.com