CANVASCON Europe 2024
Featured Speakers
Discover our lineup of captivating speakers ready to ignite your curiosity and broaden your horizons.
Meet our Spectacular Featured Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy in every sense of the word. Aged 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level Computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Oxford.
A recognised and respected thought-leader, Anne-Marie was voted the most influential woman in tech in the UK of 2020 by Computer Weekly, is featured among the top 50 women in tech, globally, by Forbes Magazine and served as President of the British Science Association from 2022-2023. She was also the temporary Arithmetician for 60 episodes on Channel 4’s Countdown, the world’s longest-running game show, and serves as the Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, Co-Chair of the Institute for the Future of Work and Chair of UD Music Foundation. Her first book She’s In CTRL was published in September 2022.
In 2017, Anne-Marie was Awarded an MBE for services to young women and STEM sectors, and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Open University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Kent University, Bristol University, Coventry University, Royal Holloway, University of London & Bath University as well as an Honorary Fellowship at Keble College, Oxford.
Keynote Speaker
Professor Martin Bean, CBE
Professor Martin Bean CBE, CEO of The Bean Centre, is a visionary leader shaping the future of education and work.
Co-author of the book "Toolkit for Turbulence," Martin equips leaders with tools and strategies to navigate change, seize opportunities, and foster resilient teams.
Currently a Professor at the University of New South Wales, Martin's expertise lies in exploring the evolving landscape of work and lifelong learning. He shares his knowledge as a mentor at Mentor List, connecting Australia's brightest minds.
Previously, Martin served as Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University, an institution with over 80,000 students in Melbourne, Australia. He also held the position of Vice-Chancellor at The Open University, the United Kingdom's largest academic institution, and served as General Manager of Microsoft's global Education Products Group in Seattle, Washington.
Acknowledged for his contributions to education, Martin has received prestigious awards, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London and appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to higher education.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jóhanna Birna Bjartmarsdóttir
Jóhanna Birna Bjartmarsdóttir is an Icelandic student at the University of Florida studying education science and health promotion. She is also the founder and CEO of HARTS, an Icelandic-based Ed Tech company offering solutions to educators and professionals to support high-quality, accessible educational environments. Jóhanna also has ADHD, autism, and severe dyslexia, and was in and out of the hospital and in a wheelchair for over two years.
Because of this, she does not have access to education spaces in Iceland and has now dedicated her life's work to making education spaces accessible to all and incorporating health education into the Icelandic education system. Moreover, she is an advocate for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, and hopes to be the role model she never had for students with learning disabilities and be a visible representation that students with learning disabilities do belong and can excel in higher academia.
Vice President of Global Academic Strategy
Ryan Lufkin
Ryan Lufkin is the Vice President of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, where he works to enhance the academic experience for educators and learners, worldwide. With over two decades in the edtech world, Ryan has experience with every major technology platform that institutions use to deliver education, from the LMS to the SIS, and all the systems in between. A well-known thought leader in the edtech industry, Ryan is a podcast co-host, frequent media spokesperson, and speaker at industry conferences and webinars. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations/Communications from the University of Utah and certificates in Data-Driven Marketing and Brand Management from eCornell.
Ready to learn and connect with the best community in edtech?