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BESA x The Key Group: How do we empower humans on the AI journey?
When
Thursday, 18 June 4:30pm - 7:00pmWhere
The Conservatory, Folgate StreetPrice
£5.00Join BESA and The Key Group for an evening of insight, discussion and connection at this EdTech Exchange event, exploring how founders and leaders are preparing for an AI‑first future.
Bringing together EdTech founders, education suppliers, technologists and sector leaders, the session will examine the skills that matter now, and those that will define the next generation of EdTech businesses.
Our panel, ‘Tech skills that matter now (and beyond)’, will explore how the rapid growth of AI is reshaping roles, expectations and leadership across the education sector.
Discussion topics will include:
- How to prepare for jobs in an AI‑first world, including what new entry‑level roles in EdTech might look like
- The skills and support needed to scale and sustain growing businesses
- Job displacement within the education sector and what this means for suppliers
- The changing expectations of boards, investors and product teams
The evening will also feature short mini‑note presentations from selected community submissions, followed by informal networking and drinks.
Key takeaways:
- Practical insight into the tech and leadership skills that matter most right now
- Real‑world perspectives on how AI is changing roles and organisations
- Peer learning from founders and leaders facing similar challenges
- Valuable connections through relaxed, informal networking
The Key Group is a community‑driven organisation supporting founders, technologists and leaders building the future of education and technology. Through events, discussions and peer‑led exchange, The Key Group creates space for honest conversations about growth, leadership, skills and the realities of scaling businesses in a rapidly changing, AI‑first world.
With a strong focus on engineering, product and people, The Key Group brings together diverse voices to explore how technology is reshaping roles, organisations and opportunity across the education sector. Its work is rooted in collaboration, practical insight and shared learning — helping founders and teams think more clearly about what comes next and how to prepare for it. By connecting practitioners, investors and innovators, The Key Group aims to prompt better questions, smarter decisions and more resilient organisations for the future.
Welcome to EdTech Exchange, a vibrant community of EdTech founders and others working in the education sector. Our community houses a wealth of talent and original thinkers from the UK and overseas, with opportunities to meet in person and online, explore and potentially create new opportunities and ways of growing, discuss current challenges, work out the solutions and learn from each other, and sometimes, to simply catch up and wind down with old friends and new.
By joining the EdTech Exchange community, you are making a commitment to improve outcomes for learners and educators through EdTech.
If you are already a member, why not tell someone else about EdTech Exchange and get them to sign-up as a member too, it’s free! The more members the merrier, especially when it comes to our fantastic networking events.
Agenda
4:30pm
Guest arrival & check in
4:45pm
Welcome to the EdTech Exchange community
Matthew Koster-Marcon, CEO, Learning Ladders Education
5:00pm
Panel: Tech skills that matter now (and beyond)
This panel will explore how an AI‑first world is reshaping jobs, skills and leadership across the education sector. The panel will discuss what new entry‑level roles in EdTech may look like, the skills boards and investors need to support scaling businesses, and how job displacement is affecting education suppliers. Offering practical insight for founders and leaders navigating rapid change.
– Dominic Bristow, CEO, Stylus
5:30pm
Mini-note presentations
6:00pm
Informal networking & drinks reception
7:00pm
Close of event
Speakers
Chair: Matthew Koster-Marcon, CEO, Learning Ladders Education
Matt is the Founding CEO of Learning Ladders Education, an award-winning EdTech platform that improves school assessment data management and parental involvement in learning for International Schools across Early Years, Primary and Lower Secondary. He is a former teacher, education author, speaker, Trustee at the charity School Home Support, and is also Chair of Governors at his local school. Matt has been a member of the Executive Council since 2017, and served as Chair of the EdTech Special Interest Group for 5 years. He was voted by BESA members to be Vice Chair in 2024.
To ask any questions, please email eventsteam@besa.org.uk.
