By Samira Larbie
Accra, Sept. 14, GNA – Ms Thara Brigitte Mills Simmonds, an education entrepreneur, has been named the 2026 Forty Under 40 Achiever in Education.
Ms Mills Simmonds, Founder and Strategic Lead of Mulan Smart Educational Center and Mulan Neurodiversity School, received the award at a ceremony in Accra over the weekend.
A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the award recognised her contributions to inclusive education, autism advocacy and initiatives promoting the social and emotional development of children.
Receiving the award, Ms Mills Simmonds described the recognition as more than a personal achievement, saying it renewed her commitment to ensuring that children were “seen, heard, valued, included, and given the opportunity to thrive.”
“I believe inclusion should not be the exception; it should be the standard,” she said.
Ms Mills Simmonds has contributed to discussions on strengthening Ghana’s education system to better respond to children with diverse learning and developmental needs.
Through Mulan Neurodiversity School, she has promoted inclusive education and supported advocacy and public awareness on autism and neurodiversity.
In April, the school organised an autism awareness and screening initiative involving specialists and other stakeholders, with emphasis on early assessment, intervention and improved understanding of children on the autism spectrum.
The initiative also underscored the need for stronger support systems for families and children living with developmental differences.
In August, Mulan Smart Educational Center launched Pyramid SEL Ghana, introducing the Pyramid Model approach to Ghana to support children’s social and emotional development and create environments conducive to learning.
Reflecting on the initiative in her award acceptance speech, Ms Mills Simmonds said the launch represented another step in her commitment to social-emotional learning and inclusive education.
She expressed appreciation to her team and family, saying the award provided her with a stronger platform to advocate for inclusion, challenge barriers and raise awareness within the education sector.
“This award gives me an even stronger platform to advocate, challenge barriers, create awareness, and push for a more inclusive future in education -not only in Ghana, but beyond,” she said.
The 2026 Forty Under 40 Awards recognise young professionals and leaders contributing to Ghana’s development across various sectors.
Ms Mills Simmonds has more than eight years of experience in inclusive education, community development and enterprise innovation, with professional experience in Ghana, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Her work through Mulan also includes inclusive learning and vocational empowerment initiatives.
She said the recognition marked a continuation of her work rather than an endpoint.
“The world should know – we are ready, and we are only getting started,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey