Why do we resist change as we grow older? How can we nurture and develop an organisational culture that embraces change and encourages collaboration?

Richard examines why change has become increasingly challenging and how risk aversion can stifle individuals and organisations. He explores how to harness the power of creativity, curiosity and confidence in uncertain times and why we must shift the paradigm to understand that change is not a programme or a strategy but an ever-present organic part of the 21st Century.

• Exploring the current landscape and trends in the international school sector, and discussing key areas of growth and innovation in school management and leadership that have emerged in the past two years
• From Vision to Action: how to create and implement a strong, proactive and future-focused vision to drive growth and school improvement
• Sharing guidance around strategic vision and leadership to support international schools in their efforts to implement and drive forward the Sustainable Development Goals agenda
• Discussing opportunities to further harness the potential of technology as a tool to create a sustainable, equitable and inclusive environment for all stakeholders

• Exploring strategic approaches and evidence-based best practice around tackling stress, anxiety and burnout among teachers and school leaders, and improving whole-school wellbeing and resilience through a culture of care
• Embracing systemic social-emotional learning and implementing SEL in every aspect of the school life to better support and manage staff wellness
• Putting wellbeing at the heart of professional development – understanding how SEL-based PD programmes can serve the high-stress needs of teachers and school leaders alike

Delegates are invited to attend this roundtable discussion on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).

Facilitated by Dr Kulvarn Atwal, Author of ‘The Thinking School’, this roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities around PLCs and professional development in schools.

• Building an emotionally intelligent school workforce based on trust, communication, and positive relationships, that is able to lead better and deliver improved results
• Championing a personalised, adaptive and holistic approach to teacher education and talent development to successfully harness and enable professional growth of all staff, advance whole-school improvement, and improve long-term retention
• Discussing how nurturing autonomy, self-reflection, and accountability, through distributed leadership and coaching and mentoring can improve staff performance and wellbeing

• Exploring the changing trends and patterns in international recruitment – what are the key lessons learned and how can this inform future recruitment, retention and professional development strategies for diverse and multicultural school settings
• Discussing how schools can promote diversity in their recruitment of leadership and faculty, by adopting innovative, equitable, and inclusive hiring practices and structures
• Recruiting for long-term retention – what do schools leaders need to consider during the hiring process, and what should ‘the right’ candidate look like?

Delegates are invited to attend another roundtable discussion.

All roundtables are camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities around a specific topic. 

• Discussing the key priorities and responsibilities for international schools to contribute to a strong education system which places emphasis on local, global and intercultural awareness
• Understanding the responsibility of schools to create sustainable and nurturing environments in which students and staff alike develop global competency skills to thrive in a complex and uncertain world
• The challenge and possibilities of professional learning – exploring ways to create opportunities for all educators to access professional development in order to transform their teaching, their classrooms, their schools—and, ultimately, each and every one of their students

*Programme subject to change