Edtech 2024: Movers, Makers & Market Shakers

Chenyan Xu

Edtech Angel Investor , Jiayi International Education Investment Group

Chenyan is a successful EdTech investor with a strong track record in early-stage investments. Since 2017, his Jiayi International Education Investment Group has successfully invested in several companies in the UK, including EZ Education and Mathigon, both of which achieved successful exits. Chenyan obtained his PhD in Education from Cambridge and since joining Jiayi in 2018, he has overseen overseas investments and led multiple investmemnts in the EdTech sector.

Helen Gironi

Director, Ufi Ventures

Helen is Director of Ufi Ventures, the UK’s specialist investor in EdTech for adults, backing early-stage technology companies focused on the future of work and skills. Helen currently sits on the board of Learnerbly, Learning Labs and Data Literacy Academy, and was previously Investment Director at Nesta Impact Investments.

Dr Melody Lang

Founding Partner, MPA Capital

Dr Melody Lang is Founding Partner @ MPA Capital, an advisory and investment company dedicated to the Future of Learning, Talent & Work. Melody is also Co-Founder @ Mindstone, a Learning Platform that provides anyone, anywhere in the world with the tools, confidence and motivation to take ownership of their own learning.

Before establishing MPA, Melody was a VC investor @ Hambro Perks, and Director of Partnerships & Implementations @ Knewton, the world's leading adaptive learning technology provider. She started her career as an engineer and research scientist, in marine engineering and later in the aerospace industry at QinetiQ.

Melody holds a Master’s Degree in Mathematics with Honours from UPMC Paris VI and an Engineering Doctorate from Imperial College London.

Houtan Froushan

Programme Director, UCL Edtech Labs

Houtan Froushan is the forward-thinking director driving edtech innovation through his accelerator, UCL Edtech Labs, headquartered at University College London, with hubs in Paris and Toronto. His programmes centre on startups achieving sustainable, evidenced impact. He has accelerated over 30 cohorts of founders, supporting 400 businesses; since 2020 alone, the startup alumni have raised over '40 million in 53 separate funding rounds. Houtan's passion lies in helping founding teams clarify their Theory of Change and perfect their sales and investor pitches. He is driven to build an international network that supports edtech's local, national, and global growth and impact. Actively seeking collaborations with investors, edtech entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share a passion for revolutionizing education through technology, Houtan invites you to connect and explore the endless possibilities at the intersection of impact, education, and entrepreneurship.

Al Kingsley

Group CEO & Chair, NetSupport Limited & BESA Edtech Special Interest Group

As well as his CEO and Multi-Academy Trust Chair roles Al is chair of his region's Governors' Leadership Group and chairs the regional SEND Board. With 30+ years of EdTech and governance experience, Al also sits on the Regional Schools Director's Advisory Board for the East of England, is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and sits on the advisory council for the Foundation for Education Development. He is also Chair of the BESA (British Education Supplier's Association) EdTech Group and chairs his regional Employment and Skills Board. An active writer about all things EdTech. He's a well-known face in EdTech around the world; author of "My Secret #EdTech Diary" and the best seller "My School Governance Handbook", plus his most recent book 'My School & Multi Academy Trust Growth Guide', as well as co-author of "A Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy in Education". Al is also the recent winner of the 2023 Edufuturist of the Year award, winner of the BESA 2023 award for 'Inspirational Leader', and winner of the 2023 ERA award for 'Outstanding Achievement'.

Dave Smith

Head of Partnerships and Events, BESA - British Educational Suppliers Association

Dave has oversight for BESA's partnerships and events.  Formerly a teacher and local authority senior inspector in London, he spent over twenty years specialising in computing, education technology and online safety support for schools in the United Kingdom and overseas. He is a former Bett and ERA Awards Judge and served as a member of the Bett Advisory Group. He is currently a member and governor of two primary/secondary Multi Academy Trusts and was previously a teacher/senior leader in 3 London schools and a UK university.

 

Donald H Taylor

Lead Researcher, L&D Global Sentiment Survey

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 about Learning and Development (L&D). 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 recipient of an honorary doctorate from London’s Middlesex University.

Helen Gironi

Director, Ufi Ventures

Helen is Director of Ufi Ventures, the UK’s specialist investor in EdTech for adults, backing early-stage technology companies focused on the future of work and skills. Helen currently sits on the board of Learnerbly, Learning Labs and Data Literacy Academy, and was previously Investment Director at Nesta Impact Investments.

Al Kingsley

Group CEO & Chair, NetSupport Limited & BESA Edtech Special Interest Group

As well as his CEO and Multi-Academy Trust Chair roles Al is chair of his region's Governors' Leadership Group and chairs the regional SEND Board. With 30+ years of EdTech and governance experience, Al also sits on the Regional Schools Director's Advisory Board for the East of England, is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and sits on the advisory council for the Foundation for Education Development. He is also Chair of the BESA (British Education Supplier's Association) EdTech Group and chairs his regional Employment and Skills Board. An active writer about all things EdTech. He's a well-known face in EdTech around the world; author of "My Secret #EdTech Diary" and the best seller "My School Governance Handbook", plus his most recent book 'My School & Multi Academy Trust Growth Guide', as well as co-author of "A Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy in Education". Al is also the recent winner of the 2023 Edufuturist of the Year award, winner of the BESA 2023 award for 'Inspirational Leader', and winner of the 2023 ERA award for 'Outstanding Achievement'.

Paddy McGrath

Head of Education Strategy, Texthelp

Paddy is currently Head of Education Strategy (EMEA) at Texthelp - the worlds largest accessibility and assistive technology company. He's well known as an experienced and passionate educator, and a self-confessed ‘change-maker’ with the Education Technology space. Leading the Texthelp team across EMEA, Paddy constantly shares actionable and impactful thought leadership on how technology delivers change to teaching and learning across primary, secondary and third level education. His particular focus and specialism stretches across inclusion, accessibility and equity for all.

Paddy has worked with education ministries delivering country scale projects and thousands of schools and colleges globally across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa by providing strategic guidance on technology integration with pedagogy at its core. Paddy has designed both practical and curriculum focused programmes from small-scale pilots to many global large-scale accessibility, inclusion, and device programmes. From the wider vision, through culture and capacity in leadership, Paddys thrives on empowering teachers and enabling inclusive learning for every pupil. His specialism is in presenting engaging and dynamic workshops and seminars that deliver meaningful and practical advice to educators - all underpinned with sound teaching and learning approaches and evidenced by good practice.

An Apple Education Mentor and Google Certified Educator and Trainer, Paddy has received the UK Digital Leader 100 and an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Ulster (School of Education).

Robin Beattie

Director, Hays

No bio provided

Mike Tarrant

Head of the EdTech, Higher Ed, and Research, AWS Global Education

No bio provided