Keynotes 2020

Gideon Shimshon is the Director of Digital Learning & Innovation at Imperial College London. In this role, he is tasked with increasing the level of online and digital innovative education-related activity across Imperial and establishing the College as a centre of excellence in this area within the sector. Motivated by his passion for learning and innovative research practices, Gideon manages a diverse portfolio of projects that examine both the future of education as well as non-traditional applications of up-and-coming technologies. Before joining Imperial, he was the Director of the Centre for Innovation at Leiden University, a university think tank. In that capacity, he co-founded the Leiden Online Learning Lab – which considers how online learning environments can enhance and extend the university’s reach as well as foster new learning landscapes – and HumanityX, a knowledge hub for scientists and practitioners interested in applying Big Data analytics to the fields of peace, justice and humanitarian intervention. Before that Gideon was a Consultant and Project Manager at Accenture. He began his career in the realm of political economy, working at the World Bank on governance issues, subsequently setting up a foundation for serious gaming and simulations in international relations and conflict management. He received his MSc from the University of Amsterdam and currently lives in London.

Download presentation: The Brave New University

Dr. Zachary Walker is an educator, author, and international speaker. He has delivered presentations and advised schools and policymakers in more than 30 countries with extensive experience in Asia, North America, and Europe. Zachary is the author of “Teaching the Last Backpack Generation”; which details the practical ideas and proven techniques that enable organizations to fully engage and utilize the potential of all learners. He often speaks with governments, organizations, businesses, and schools about leading change, generational management, and professional learning. Zachary was named an Emerging Scholar by Think College (2012); a Millennium Milestone Maker by the World Academy for the Future of Women (2015); was awarded the John Cheung Award for the Innovative use of Social Media in Teaching and Learning (2015) and nominated for the Wharton Reimagine Education Awards (2016). Zachary is an Associate Professor with the University College London (UCL) Institute of Education which has ranked #1 globally since 2014 (QS World University Rankings). He holds a PhD in Education; an MBA in International Business; an MA in English Language Learning; and a BS in Human Development.

Download presentation: The Future is People