2026 Programme

0900-0930 Arrival and Coffee

0930-1015 Session 1: Keynote Disruption and Convergence:  Mark Steed, Steed Education, and Kai Vacher, Principal of the British School, Muscat

1015-1115 Session 2: New Models for Secondary Schooling - Panel: School Founders and CEOs

• Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy [MVA]

• Rob Jamieson, Head of International Channels and Partnerships at Pearson Education

• Melissa McBride, Co-Founder and CEO of Sophia High School

• Ed Richardson, Managing Director at Keystone Tutors 

• James Whiteside, Director of the Hybrid Schools Programme at Dukes Education

• Chaired by Al Kingsley MBE, EdTech Advisor

1115-1145 Coffee Break

1145-1240 Session 3: Remote Teaching Pedagogy - Teachmeet format with provocations by

• Jack Child – Assistant Vice Principal, Learning and Teaching, Minerva Virtual Academy [MVA]

• John Nichols, Company Director and President of The Tutors’ Association

• Ambreen Baig, Director of Hybrid Schools at Dukes Education

• Chaired by Kai Vacher, Principal of the British School, Muscat

1245-1315 Session 4: Incorporating VR into your remote learning experience - Trevor Benstock, Founder and CTO of Campus-XR

1315-1400 Lunch

1400-1430 Session 5: Designing a Hybrid School – Fusing Bricks-and-Mortar with Remote Learning  - Ben Marston, Jestico + Whiles 

1430-1515 Session 6: Remote Learning as solution to the Teacher Recruitment Crisis?  - Discussion Forum with provocations by

• Laura Rigney, Director of School Services at Teacher Horizons

• Rufus Sanders, Head of B2B, Kings InterHigh at Inspired Education Group

1515-1600 Session 7: Challenges:  Parental Engagement, Government Recognition  - Discussion Forum with provocations by

• Euan MacLean, Founder and CEO &Parents

• Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy [MVA]

1600-1615 Next Steps: Mark Steed and Kai Vacher

1615 Close and Coffee