Friday, March 7th

Opening Address

Kuljit Dharni, CTO Hawkes Learning

KEYNOTE

Daring Leadership in Higher Education: Cultivating Resilience, Innovation, and Trust

This session is designed to help educators step into their leadership roles with confidence, using research-backed strategies to: 

• Create psychologically safe learning environments 
• Foster student and faculty engagement
• Navigate institutional change with courage and clarity
• Balance empathy and accountability in leadership

This keynote bridges leadership and education, offering practical tools that can be immediately applied in the classroom, among faculty, and at the institutional level. 

KEYNOTE

Super Pivot: Navigating the New Frontiers of Educational Technology Without Losing Our Way

In this dynamic keynote session, we'll explore the concept of "Super Pivoting" - the transformational shift happening in education through AI, robotics, blockchain, and gamification.

While these technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance learning, they also present challenges that require careful navigation. Drawing from real-world experience at institutions like UCLA, Stanford, and NYU, this presentation will provide practical frameworks for educators to evaluate, adopt, and implement these technologies meaningfully, rather than falling into the common trap of tech-for-tech's-sake.

Through engaging examples and evidence-based insights, attendees will learn how to harness these tools while maintaining pedagogical integrity and student engagement.