Armin Hopp is co-founder and president of Speexx, the world’s leading digital language skills testing and learning platform. He is also president of the International Council on Badges and Credentials (ICoBC) He´s passionate about family, digital learning, EdTech, HR tech, learning transformation, guitars – and Speexx.

Empowering People in large organizations worldwide through Speexx Coaching™, digital language training, and skills assessment for all team members.

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Laura Overton is an award-winning research and founder of Learning Changemakers.

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Jo Cook is Director of her company Lightbulb Moment, which specialises in developing, facilitating and training others to deliver great live online training sessions, virtual classrooms, webinars and blended, digital programmes. Jo has a background in teaching, technology and journalism. She facilitates, speaks, writes, blogs and tweets on L&D topics and part-time is the Deputy Editor of Training Journal magazine and website. Jo’s background includes further and higher education, the charity sector, small and large organisations, including CNN News and Bupa International.

Donald H Taylor has worked in learning and technology since the mid-1980s.

He has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference in London since 2000 and writes and speaks world-wide. His annual L&D Global Sentiment Survey, started in 2014, provides a unique perspective on L&D trends from over 100 countries. From 2010 to 2021, he chaired the Learning and Performance Institute.

He chairs the Workforce Development board for VC firm Emerge Education, and advises several EdTech start-ups.

The author of Learning Technologies in the Workplace, Donald is a graduate of Oxford University and the recipience of an honorary doctorate from London’s Middlesex University.

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David James is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and a highly respected voice in the Learning & Development industry. With a focus on harnessing technology to drive impactful learning strategies, David is recognised as one of the top 10 global influencers in the L&D space. His expertise lies in helping organisations modernise their approach to workplace learning, ensuring measurable results and business alignment.

David is also the host of The Learning & Development Podcast, which has amassed almost 1M downloads and ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally. With more than 35,000 LinkedIn followers, he continues to shape the conversation around L&D innovation and best practices, drawing on his deep experience, including his time as Director of Learning, Talent & Organisational Development at The Walt Disney Company.

Natalie Deininger leads the Media and IT Competence for Training Personnel (MIKA) project at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The nationwide, cross-sectoral, and cross-learning-location MIKA training programs are designed for vocational education and training (VET) personnel and aim to strengthen their digital and media-pedagogical competencies for everyday training practice. The standardized training programs are delivered nationwide by nearly 150 specially trained instructors across 98 cooperating educational institutions, companies, and public authorities.

In addition to her work on the professional development of VET personnel, Natalie Deininger focuses on the sustainability and further development of the digital MIKA learning ecosystem. She is also pursuing a doctoral degree.

Brian Mulligan is a leading expert in learning technologies, with a career spanning three decades in shaping digital education in Ireland. As the founder of the Irish Learning Technology Association in 2002, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the field. At Atlantic Technological University, he spearheaded the development of online distance learning, driving innovation in accessible education. Now a consultant with Universal Learning Systems (ulsystems.com), Brian specialises in the strategic application of learning technologies to transform education and expand opportunities for learners worldwide.

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Dr. Sebastian Anselmann is a researcher, project staff, and higher education lecturer specialized in vocational education and training (VET), workplace learning, and the digital transformation of professional education systems. Currently, he serves as Research Associate at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), where he is part of the MIKA Team, working to standardize and promote media and IT competences among training personnel nationwide and across all industries.

His academic work combines empirical educational research with practical implementation. He focuses on how complex learning environments can be designed to strengthen professional competence, cooperation between learning venues, and sustainable innovation in vocational training.

Passionate about developing people John has experience of working as Managing Director for global companies as well as the non profit sector. He is the co founder of Elearn a UK blended learning training company specialising in Leadership, Management and Coaching.

Currently working on a number of coaching assignments and senior level leadership development programmes John specialises in blended and distance learning approaches using a mix of media.

He is President of the European Association for Distance Learning and has research interests in using technology to innovate and support learning.

Oliver Nahm leads the project “Learning Analytics – Distance Learning” at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), which aims to assess the importance of Learning Analytics for vocational distance learning courses, as well as further its implementation.

He has worked as a teacher and trainer for many years, designing and teaching courses both on- and offline. His focus is on a holistic and flexible approach to education, utilizing data, while keeping the focus on the human element.

Ellen Gunning created Irish Academy of Public Relations in 1992. The college provides internationally recognised online professional diploma courses, modular self-learning CPD courses and corporate training in communications disciplines. Ellen is author of three books, including the global third-level core text “Public Relations – A Practical Approach”. She specialises in Crisis PR training and consultancy. Her other business, Mettacomms, is an AI powered platform offering sight of future trends in multiple disciplines. A member of the board of EADL, the European Association for Distance Learning, Ellen’s panel contribution spans both communications and future-vision inputs.

Paul Bacsich is the Founder and Managing Director of Matic Media Ltd, a consultancy in the UK active in online learning since 1996. In the last few years he has also been Professor of Practice for the University of West Indies Open Campus and Visiting Professor at the University of Derby. His consultancy and research interests cover: use of AI in learning and assesment, cost-benefits of online learning, project evaluation and departmental review. He has a long-standing interest in logic (in which he did his doctorate) and artificial intelligence (he led a project on enhancing Prolog in the Alvey Fifth Generation Programme). In 2023 he first started sytematically using ChatGPT as an aid in project research and in early 2025 he began extensive work on the extent to which LLMs could automate the creation and revision of well-referenced long reports (up to dissertation length and beyond) on global topics (e..g virtual schools) and the extent to which such automation was detectable. For many years he was Senior Consultant (EU projects) at Sero Consulting Ltd. He led the Sero team who reviewed Learning Technology Support at the University of Oxford, and the team who developed an accredited vocational short online course to teach teachers to teach online for Wey Education. He has a long-standing interest in Open Education via leading a large EU project (POERUP) and several EU/European Parliament studies. He was a co-author for the JRC 2017 report “Policy Approaches to Open Education in 28 Member States”. His interests in leadership in e-learning were developed during the Erasmus+ D-TRANSFORM project 2014-17, which drew on and continued his work over 20 years on management of open and distance learning. he has also worked on and led EU projects on virtual campuses (Re.ViCa) and virtual schools (VISCED) In addition to his university-related work he consults for a number of international, government, and commercial clients on market/competitor/pricing research, policy, education funding models and retention strategies. He also has consulted for commercial and venture funding clients on due diligence, competitor research and acquisition. In 2015-16 Paul chaired the review panel for the Vision and Strategy Appraisal of the UK Open University Library, where he interviewed over 70 staff and students and carried out substantial comparative and policy research. He also chaired the E-learning review panel for Uppsala University, with three days of intensive meetings and presentations, and spent four months chairing a task force for the National Forum for Learning and Teaching in Ireland to prepare a scoping document on infrastructure issues related to online learning. (He has also carried out a project review last year for an Irish University.) He also has been involved in several early-stage online providers including the UK e-University. In the university phase of his career he was a researcher at Oxford University, had many roles over 25 years at the UK Open University, ending as Assistant Director of the Knowledge Media Institute (KMI) and was for seven years Professor of Telematics at Sheffield Hallam University and then Director (Special Projects) at the UK e-University. He has also been Visiting Professor at Middlesex University, Advisor to the Rector of the Arab Open University, and Visiting Fellow at the University of Canterbury New Zealand, National Institute of Multimedia Japan, Deakin University and the School of the Future at University of Sao Paulo Brazil. He has knowledge of and/or experience in higher education in many developed countries.

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Margaret Korosec is a forward-thinking and strategic leader in open, online, and professional learning, known for her human-centred approach and ability to scale bringing creativity, intentionality, and systems perspective to her leadership in scaling open, online and professional education. As Dean of Online and Digital Education at the University of Leeds in the UK, Margaret holds academic and strategic responsibility for advancing the institution’s online degrees and flexible learning portfolio. She has championed scalable, inclusive models for online course design and led efforts to build resilient and sustainable in-house capabilities ensuring a seamless end-to-end student experience from application through to graduation. Prior to her current role, Margaret made significant contributions to the expansion of online degree portfolios at the University of Derby Online Learning and Western Governors University (WGU). Witnessing the transformative power of inclusive, accessible and flexible education on individuals’ lives and communities solidified her dedication to advancing online and flexible learning initiatives.

Brian Mulligan is a leading expert in learning technologies, with a career spanning three decades in shaping digital education in Ireland. As the founder of the Irish Learning Technology Association in 2002, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the field. At Atlantic Technological University, he spearheaded the development of online distance learning, driving innovation in accessible education. Now a consultant with Universal Learning Systems (ulsystems.com), Brian specialises in the strategic application of learning technologies to transform education and expand opportunities for learners worldwide.

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Glenda Morgan is a Market Analyst at Phil Hill & Associates and the lead analyst at Morgan EdTech Strategies, helping higher education institutions, vendors and investors navigate the edtech landscape. She brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including roles as a faculty member, IT administrator and education analyst at Gartner and Director of Academic Technology Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Morgan holds a PhD in political science from the University of Minnesota.

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Bernie Goldbach is a creative media developer with a track record extending from the late 1990s when he trained European broadcasters how to produce their work for display online. Throughout his 25 years with adult education he has worked with creative filmmakers, digital animators, and social media content developers. He is active with Skillnets in Ireland and in the mentoring of young podcasters with Ireland's Youth Media Team.

Roger is a story creator and consultant who helps small companies stand out. He champions the peculiar and the surprising. His humour courses through his videos, animations, illustrations, photography, podcasts and newsletter writing.

Jef Staes (1956, Belgium) is an authority on learning processes, innovation and culture change. With decennia of professional experience (Engineering Digital Telephony, Training Manager & Corporate Learning Officer), he currently assists CEO’s and Managers to find a comprehensive answer to the changing dynamics of today’s world. He is a passionate & inspirational author, keynote speaker & concept creator. His striking metaphors and stories are guaranteed eye-openers and his thoughts on the future of business and education inspire many. Google 'Jef Staes' or 'Red Monkey' and you know where he stands for.

Professor Salmon is the founder and CEO of Education Alchemists Ltd - formed around her life's work including Carpe Diem learning design, pedagogical transformation, online education, technology-enhanced teaching, the 5 stage model, e-tivities, and Education 4.0. Until recently, Professor of Learning Transformation and pro-vice-chancellor at universities in the UK and Australia, she is now based in London with all workshops offered fully digitally and worldwide. She is a well-known keynote speaker and workshop leader. Her books E-moderating and E-tivities are considered seminal texts. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillysalmon/

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Dr. Caroline Steel, a recognised expert in micro-credentials, provides thought leadership, evaluation models and practical strategies on the rapidly evolving micro-credential landscape, consulting with industries, professional bodies, and educational institutions across the globe. Drawing on her own Micro-credential readiness, maturity and impact model, Caroline specialises in assessing institutional readiness for micro-credentials and guiding organisations from conceptualisation through end-to-end processes, including quality assurance, assessment policies, and alignment with learner needs and industry demands. She was involved in foundational work in the Erasmus+ funded Potential of Microcredentials in Southern Africa (PoMiSA) project.

Caroline is a highly experienced strategic education consultant with over 30 years of experience across more than 35 country and regional contexts. She advises senior leaders, international organisations, universities and professional bodies on strengthening education systems, policy implementation, evaluation and institutional transformation. She has led, advised on and evaluated more than 100 projects spanning education strategy, policy, framework design, organisational capability and digital learning transformation for ministries, universities, professional bodies and international agencies.

Caroline has delivered 50+ international keynotes and presentations, authored 40+ publications and whitepapers, and co-designed and developed benchmark models and evaluation frameworks applied across Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific. Her passion is to advance equitable, skills-aligned learning opportunities and systems that empower individuals and communities through lifelong learning that can make a genuine difference to lives.

Prof Herman van der Merwe is Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at North-West University, South Africa, and former Executive Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Information Technology, having served two consecutive terms. He brings more than four decades of experience in higher education leadership, curriculum innovation, and technology-enhanced learning.

He is a recognised leader in advancing micro-credentials in the Southern African context and has contributed to regional frameworks and institutional readiness through his involvement in the Potential of Microcredentials in Southern Africa (PoMiSA) initiative.

Prof Herman has led large-scale digital learning and institutional transformation initiatives, driving the integration of technology-enabled and technology-managed teaching and learning systems to enhance student success and align curricula with future skills and industry needs. His work bridges strategy, policy, and implementation within complex, multi-campus university environments.

He is also CEO of the Centre for the Utilisation of Technology in Education (CUTE) and one of the founding directors of the International Association for Mobile Learning (IAmLearn) and has played a pioneering role in advancing online and multi-modal teaching and learning in higher education in South Africa.

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Michael Dietrich has been working in the field of technology-enhanced learning since 2001. He started as a research assistant and, after completing his graduation, became a full member of a research group at Saarland University. In 2012, he joined the Educational Technology Lab at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Throughout his career, he has worked as an engineer on intelligent tutoring systems for mathematics, physics, chemistry, and medicine, as well as on health-related mobile applications for kindergarten staff. In addition, he has contributed to projects focusing on performance support and knowledge application for industrial shop-floor environments.

Dr. Sheikh Faisal Rashid is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the International University of Applied Sciences (IU) and a Senior Researcher and Project Lead at the Educational Technology Lab, German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Berlin. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science specializing in machine learning, with over 15 years of experience in academia and industry. His research focuses on supervised machine learning, generative AI, and responsible AI applications in healthcare and education. Dr. Rashid has authored around 40 publications in leading conferences and journals and received international recognition, including a Best Paper Award and first prize at ICDAR 2013. He also serves as Vice President of the Pakistan Pattern Recognition Society (PPRS) and was a professional member of the ACM.

Dr Miloš Kravčík is a Senior Researcher at the Educational Technology Lab (EdTec) of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in Berlin. His research focuses on learning technologies, particularly personalised and adaptive solutions in university and workplace settings. He has successfully acquired funding for, and contributed to, several EU and national projects. These have included projects focusing on developing adaptive learning environments and tools for self-regulated learning, as well as solutions that support personalised competence development, scalable mentoring, and psychomotor training. Dr Kravčík is the editor of various conference and workshop proceedings as well as the author of numerous publications, articles and book chapters.

Alexander does technical support and software development at DFKI Berlin. He is interested in AI technology and finding new applications for it.

Laurie Forcier works at the intersection of education, innovation, and systems change. Over two decades, she has helped EdTech startups, universities, large corporates, and think tanks make sense of complexity and move good ideas forward - across K–12, higher education, and skills. She has led global teams, launched new initiatives, and built partnerships at scale. As a communicator and
editorial strategist, she is often the public voice for the organizations she represents, and specializes in making complex ideas clear and actionable. That approach shaped her contribution to Intelligence Unleashed, one of the most widely cited reports on AI in education.

Nina Huntemann has spent two decades helping organizations get learning right at moments of growth, transformation, and technological change. As Chief Academic Officer at Chegg, she led product strategy through the integration of AI into the student experience, pushing teams beyond engagement metrics toward proficiency, confidence, and independence. As VP of Learning at edX, she led learning strategy across 160+ university partners, 3,300+ courses, and 40 million learners. At EDT&Partners, she advises EdTech companies and higher education institutions on product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and positioning across US higher education and K–12. She is a founding member of Women Applying AI.

Inge Donkervoort is a passionate educator with a strong belief that digital learning should be accessible to everyone. Known for her enthusiasm, warmth, and practical mindset, Inge helps teachers, organisations, and beginners feel confident using Xerte. She enjoys turning complex accessibility requirements into clear, usable guidance, and she thrives on empowering others to create inclusive learning materials. Inge is an active and supportive member of the Xerte Community, always ready to share knowledge and inspire creative learning solutions.

Tom Reijnders is a lead developer and core maintainer of the Xerte open-source authoring environment. With extensive experience in software architecture, accessibility implementation, and standards-based development, Tom has been instrumental in modernising Xerte’s codebase and ensuring its alignment with WCAG guidelines. He specialises in developing scalable frameworks, improving authoring workflows, and integrating emerging technologies while maintaining the tool’s accessibility-first philosophy. Tom plays a critical role in coordinating contributions across the global developer community.

Joitske is intrigued by technology (and lately gen AI) which makes innovative learning possible. From good blended design to learning via chatbots. She missed the start of the internet when I worked in Mali in 1995, but made up for it by diving into online learning. She is always looking for new tools and platforms (tries out at least one new tool every month), which allows her to stay at the cutting edge.

She works with Sibrenne Wagenaar at Ennuonline. Ennuonline helps learning professionals make the transition from traditional to innovative learning. They inspire them to use technologies for learning through positive experiences and practice. Joitske en Sibrenne love writing and share a lot in blogs (see ennuonline.substack.com), but also in books. Their latest book is Workplace learning with AI. Specialties include: designing and facilitating blended learning; tools and platforms; AI for learning. Joitske co-facilitated OEB pre-conference workshops in 2019 (chatbots for coaching and reflection) and 2024 (AI and creativity).

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Steven van Luipen is an independent consultant specialising in professional learning, team collaboration and organisational change — primarily for public-sector organisations navigating complex challenges such as digitalisation, leadership development and cross-organisational collaboration. He works largely within public construction and infrastructure, where he designs learning programmes and facilitates change for organisations tackling shared, high-stakes issues. His aim is to help teams reach a better understanding of the problems they face, agree on lasting solutions, and improve how they perform together.

His practice combines hands-on programme design with a strong interest in the theory beneath it, drawing on institutional and organisational thinking to make sense of how professionals learn inside complex systems. He is increasingly focused on how AI can support learning and behaviour change in the flow of work, rather than as a bolt-on to traditional training. Steven co-facilitated OEB pre-conference workshops in 2019, on using chatbots for coaching and reflection, and in 2024, on AI and creativity.

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Natasja van Schaik is captivated and inspired by people taking action. She is a passionate trainer and change program designer with an eye for unique combinations of talent and opportunities aimed at progress. She is an independent consultant specialized in code of conduct and social safety in the workplace. She is also a Lecturer in Behavioural Design at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), where she teaches in the Behaviour Design minor within the Communication and Multimedia Design programme. She specialises in designing interventions that change behaviour in professional contexts — combining insights from behavioural science, speculative design and emergent technology. Natasja is the author of Het waait niet vanzelf over (Boom, 2023) and co-facilitated an OEB pre-conference workshop in 2019 on using chatbots for coaching and reflection.

Sibrenne Wagenaar is fascinated by how people learn in everyday work, in teams, and through professional networks. She is a Dutch learning designer, facilitator, writer, and AI enthusiast who enjoys translating new ideas and technologies into practical ways of learning, collaborating, and improving performance. Her specialties include: designing and facilitating blended and workplace learning; learning in teams and networks; generative AI for learning; and group facilitation.

She works with Joitske Hulsebosch at Ennuonline. Ennuonline helps learning professionals move from traditional training to innovative blended and workplace learning. They inspire people to experiment with technology, especially generative AI, through practical activities and positive learning experiences.

Joitske and Sibrenne love writing and share their ideas in blogs on ennuonline.com and ennuonline.substack.com, as well as in books. Their latest book is Workplace Learning with AI. Sibrenne is also an editor for the Dutch journal TvOO.

Dr Peter Gillis Researcher and Academic with expertise in the psychology of learning, innovation, and digital strategy. Peter has developed a career at the intersection of educational research and organisational practice, with a particular focus on the design and evaluation of technology-enhanced learning. Peter’s academic background includes a First Class Honours degree in Psychology, an MSc in Technology-Enhanced Learning from Trinity College Dublin, and a PhD on the psychology of academic motivation, also at Trinity College Dublin. These studies have provided a rigorous foundation for both Peter’s research and teaching, with a strong emphasis on motivation, learning theory, and applied innovation frameworks. Peter has published and presented on topics relating to innovation in education and has held leadership roles that combine team management with research excellence. His ongoing research interests include the challenges of sustaining academic motivation and learning in rapidly evolving environments, transversal and digital skill development, and the role of structured innovation in shaping the future of work.

I am an International educator passionate about leveraging technology and innovative methodologies to shape the future of education. I've developed my skills where education and technology meet. My journey has focused on empowering educators and students, fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking learning environment. With experiences as a PYP Homeroom Teacher in international schools in Germany and Chile, I've gained insights into inquiry-based learning, personalized instruction, and curriculum development. I've excelled in using technology to teach, seeing students more engaged and actively involved in their learning. I aim to use technology intentionally to boost cognitive development and problem-solving abilities. My core values are inclusivity, innovation, and continuous growth. I believe in fair educational experiences and using modern tools to expand learning opportunities for all. Core Competencies: Curriculum Development | Educational Technology Use | Instructional Design | Collaboration | Personalized Learning | Enhancing Critical Thinking | Professional Development | Advocacy for Inclusive Education.