Keynote speakers

Dr. Iwan Syahril

Monday 8 December, 10:00

Dr. Iwan Syahril is a globally recognised systems leader, scholar, and adviser, noted for driving large-scale transformation through a human-centered approach. He brings a rare blend of classroom wisdom, academic rigor, and system leadership to the future of education.

Holding a dual-major PhD from Michigan State University and serving as former Education Dean at Sampoerna University, his teaching spans diverse settings, from schools in Indonesia to districts in the US.

As Director General in Indonesia, he spearheaded reforms that impacted 53 million students and 3.3 million educators. His tenure raised literacy and numeracy outcomes, successfully scaled digital platforms to over 300,000 schools, and established vast professional learning communities across 17,000 islands.

His global influence extends to chairing the G20 Education Working Group and driving key ASEAN collaborations. A recipient of an Honorary Doctorate (Michigan State University), Fulbright Scholarship (Columbia University), and the HP–Cambridge EdTech Fellowship, Dr. Syahril continues to advise system leaders and organisations worldwide on systems change and digital strategy.

He currently serves on Teach For All’s Global Advisory Council and teaches at Monash University Indonesia. His work emphasises that enduring transformation is fundamentally a human journey, built on purpose, empathy, and connection.

Professor Sara Baker

Monday 8 December, 13:30

Sara Baker is Professor of Developmental Psychology and Education, Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge.

Specialist in the science of learning, her academic research aims to improve children’s lives by identifying factors at home and school that can support agency over their own learning, in particular by developing their executive functions and self-regulation. Through her research, she works with educators to translate research from cognitive science into educational contexts.

Sara was a 2022 Senior Fellow in the Science of Learning with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE), International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO). She consults on the science of learning and education for external organisations. Her projects have been funded by the Newton Trust, a Cambridge Humanities Research Grant, the Economic and Social Research Council, the LEGO Foundation, the Nuffield Foundation and the Office for Students, Research England.

Professor Rose Luckin

Tuesday 9 December, 09:05

Rose Luckin is an internationally respected academic and leading voice on the future of education and Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 30 years of expertise, she advises policymakers, governments, and industry worldwide. She is Professor Emerita at University College London and Founder/CEO of Educate Ventures Research (EVR), which provides training and consultancy to help the education sector use AI ethically and effectively.

Rose has held senior leadership roles, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sussex, Co-Founding Director of its Human Centred Technology group, and member of the UCL Institute of Education’s Director’s Strategy Group. She co-founded the Institute for Ethical AI in Education and serves on multiple advisory boards, including the UK Department for Education’s Science Advisory Council.

Her contributions have earned global recognition: the 2025 Bett Outstanding Achievement Award, 2024 Leading Woman in AI EDU (ASU-GSV), 2023 ISTE Impact Award, and the 2018 International Francqui Chair. She has also been named among the most influential people in education (Seldon List, 2017) and one of the 50 most influential women in UK tech (Computer Weekly, 2024).

A prolific author, Rose has published extensively. Her books include Machine Learning and Human Intelligence (2018) and AI for Schoolteachers (2022). A sought-after speaker, she writes for the Times Educational Supplement and leading newspapers, and regularly appears in global media.