Keynote Speakers
We are delighted to confirm the following plenary speakers for the BAM2026 Conference:
Prof Helen Crompton
Prof Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning, and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University.
Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Dr. Crompton is on Stanford's esteemed list of the Top 2% of Scientists in the World in artificial intelligence.
She has published over 250 papers and her work in technology integration has garnered her numerous accolades, including the SCHEV award for the Outstanding Professor of Virginia.
Dr. Crompton's expertise extends beyond academia to practice, as she frequently serves as a consultant for various governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, leveraging her knowledge and experience to drive meaningful change in the field of educational technology.
Dr Lucy Gill-Simmen
Dr Lucy Gill-Simmen is Associate Dean (Education and Student Experience) at Royal Holloway, University of London in the Faculty of Business and Law. Her work focuses on the intersection of AI, inclusive pedagogy, and employability, with an emphasis on ensuring all students can thrive in an AI-augmented world.
She leads institutional approaches to AI in education, including the development of values-led frameworks for curriculum and assessment design. Her work on a “pedagogy of wonder” explores how AI can support curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in business and management education.
She is an award-winning educator and international speaker, contributing to sector conversations through UNESCO, AACSB, and Advance HE. She brings a strong commitment to inclusive, future-facing education to her role as Chair of this panel.
Dr Chahna Gonsalves
Dr Chahna Gonsalves is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing (Education) at King’s Business School, King’s College London, where she also serves as Education Lead for the Department of Marketing. Her research focuses on marketing education, assessment practices, and the impact of generative AI on learning, academic integrity, and student outcomes. She has published widely in leading journals including Journal of Marketing Education, Studies in Higher Education, and Journal of Service Research. Chahna is particularly known for her work on assessment literacy, transparency, and inclusive pedagogies for diverse student cohorts. An award-winning educator and regular keynote speaker, she leads cross-institutional initiatives on AI and assessment innovation, and actively contributes to shaping policy and practice in higher education in the age of emerging technologies.
Felix Manoharan
With 25 years of experience in the technology sector, Felix Manoharan is a visionary leader who is passionate about helping organisations innovate by leveraging Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence. He is currently Vice President and General Manager at Alibaba Cloud International, leading the development and execution of strategic initiatives with his multinational team to transform the lives of millions thanks to Alibaba's cutting edge Cloud and AI technology.
Previously Felix served as Head of Sales at Google Cloud in the UK, EMEA Lead for AWS Academy at Amazon Web Services, and Regional Sales Manager at Apple in France. Felix holds an Executive Education in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an MBA from Huddersfield University. He views himself as a citizen of the world with a rich multi-cultural background, and is fluent in English, French, and German. Passionate about Education and helping disadvantaged populations.
Felix has launched his own charity called Afidi in 2019 to help children from Cameroon get access to education by opening free libraries. He is driven by his mission to empower youth in Africa to become our next generation of entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators.
Prof Daniel Neyland
Professor Daniel Neyland is Co-Director of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and Professor of Digital Futures in the Bristol University Business School. For over 20 years, he has worked on collaborative sociotechnical projects with computer scientists and engineers, policy makers, industry and community partners, developing new ways of working and thinking.
Daniel has published widely on issues of governance, accountability and ethics in forms of science, technology and organization. He draws on a range of different methods and looks to use technology as a source of methodological innovation.
Daniel's substantive interests are quite varied across a number of research projects he has engaged with: digital markets, cement and carbon trading, security and surveillance, traffic management, waste, airports, biometrics, parking, signposts, malaria vaccines, Universities, algorithms and speeding drivers.
Prof José Esteves
Professor José Esteves is the Dean and President of Porto Business School in Portugal. Previously he worked for 18 years at IE Business School in Madrid, serving as professor of information systems, associate dean for MBA and tech and analytics programs, associate dean for full-time MBAs, and head of the information systems department.
He is also a professor and researcher in the area of information systems and technology management. He is the author of many articles published in international conferences, books and journals. His research interests focus on digital innovation, digital strategy and leadership, impact of information systems on organizations, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, smart cities, gamification and Big Data.
Dr Sara Ratner
Dr Sara Ratner is Founder and Principal Investigator of AI in Education at Oxford University (AIEOU) and a researcher in the Department of Education, University of Oxford.
She began her career as a school leader before moving into senior executive roles in global EdTech, leading the delivery of digital assessments for the OECD. Her research sits at the intersection of policy, pedagogy, and technology, with a focus on participatory and human-centred approaches to AI.
Part of the Learning in Families through Technology (LiFT) project at Oxford, Sara has been working in collaboration with industry partners including Ferrero, Gameloft for Brands, and Microsoft. Their co-developed platform, Let’s Story, has reached over six million children across more than eighteen languages and has received international awards for educational and parent-valued content. Her work demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration between educators, researchers, and industry can support more inclusive, equitable, and impactful digital futures.
Keynote Panels
EDI and the Future of Business: Social Purpose, Impact, and Innovation - Monday 7th September
EDI and the Future of Business: Social Purpose, Impact, and Innovation
Virtual Day
Monday 7th September 2026 I 14:00 - 15:00 BST
TBC
Chair
TBC
Keynote Speakers
TBC
TITLE TBC - Wednesday 9th September
Title TBC
In-Person Conference Day 1
Wednesday 9th September I 10:45 - 13:00
TBC
Chair
TBC
Keynote Speakers
Prof Daniel Neyland
Professor Daniel Neyland is Co-Director of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and Professor of Digital Futures in the Bristol University Business School. For over 20 years, he has worked on collaborative sociotechnical projects with computer scientists and engineers, policy makers, industry and community partners, developing new ways of working and thinking.
Daniel has published widely on issues of governance, accountability and ethics in forms of science, technology and organization. He draws on a range of different methods and looks to use technology as a source of methodological innovation.
Daniel's substantive interests are quite varied across a number of research projects he has engaged with: digital markets, cement and carbon trading, security and surveillance, traffic management, waste, airports, biometrics, parking, signposts, malaria vaccines, Universities, algorithms and speeding drivers.
Reimagining Inclusive Education in the Age of AI: Who Thrives, and How? - Thursday 10th September
Reimagining Inclusive Education in the Age of AI: Who Thrives, and How?
In-Person Conference Day 2
Thursday 10th September 2026 I 11:00 - 12:00 BST
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms business and management education, it brings both promise and peril. AI has the potential to personalise learning, dismantle long-standing barriers, and scale access to high-quality education. But it can also deepen exclusion, encode bias, and widen digital divides unless we act with intention.
This panel brings together leading voices from academia, educational technology, and inclusive pedagogy to explore one fundamental question: How can we ensure that AI in business education drives both innovation and inclusion?
From ethical course design to student agency, from data equity to decolonising digital spaces, our speakers will offer bold perspectives on building AI-enabled learning ecosystems where all students, not just the most privileged, can thrive.
Chair
Dr Lucy Gill-Simmen
Dr Lucy Gill-Simmen is Associate Dean (Education and Student Experience) at Royal Holloway, University of London in the Faculty of Business and Law. Her work focuses on the intersection of AI, inclusive pedagogy, and employability, with an emphasis on ensuring all students can thrive in an AI-augmented world.
She leads institutional approaches to AI in education, including the development of values-led frameworks for curriculum and assessment design. Her work on a “pedagogy of wonder” explores how AI can support curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in business and management education.
She is an award-winning educator and international speaker, contributing to sector conversations through UNESCO, AACSB, and Advance HE. She brings a strong commitment to inclusive, future-facing education to her role as Chair of this panel.
Keynote Speakers
Prof Helen Crompton
Prof Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning, and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University.
Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Dr. Crompton is on Stanford's esteemed list of the Top 2% of Scientists in the World in artificial intelligence.
She has published over 250 papers and her work in technology integration has garnered her numerous accolades, including the SCHEV award for the Outstanding Professor of Virginia.
Dr. Crompton's expertise extends beyond academia to practice, as she frequently serves as a consultant for various governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, leveraging her knowledge and experience to drive meaningful change in the field of educational technology.
Dr Chahna Gonsalves
Dr Chahna Gonsalves is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing (Education) at King’s Business School, King’s College London, where she also serves as Education Lead for the Department of Marketing. Her research focuses on marketing education, assessment practices, and the impact of generative AI on learning, academic integrity, and student outcomes. She has published widely in leading journals including Journal of Marketing Education, Studies in Higher Education, and Journal of Service Research. Chahna is particularly known for her work on assessment literacy, transparency, and inclusive pedagogies for diverse student cohorts. An award-winning educator and regular keynote speaker, she leads cross-institutional initiatives on AI and assessment innovation, and actively contributes to shaping policy and practice in higher education in the age of emerging technologies.
Felix Manoharan
With 25 years of experience in the technology sector, Felix Manoharan is a visionary leader who is passionate about helping organisations innovate by leveraging Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence. He is currently Vice President and General Manager at Alibaba Cloud International, leading the development and execution of strategic initiatives with his multinational team to transform the lives of millions thanks to Alibaba's cutting edge Cloud and AI technology.
Previously Felix served as Head of Sales at Google Cloud in the UK, EMEA Lead for AWS Academy at Amazon Web Services, and Regional Sales Manager at Apple in France. Felix holds an Executive Education in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an MBA from Huddersfield University. He views himself as a citizen of the world with a rich multi-cultural background, and is fluent in English, French, and German. Passionate about Education and helping disadvantaged populations.
Felix has launched his own charity called Afidi in 2019 to help children from Cameroon get access to education by opening free libraries. He is driven by his mission to empower youth in Africa to become our next generation of entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators.
Dr Sara Ratner
Dr Sara Ratner is Founder and Principal Investigator of AI in Education at Oxford University (AIEOU) and a researcher in the Department of Education, University of Oxford.
She began her career as a school leader before moving into senior executive roles in global EdTech, leading the delivery of digital assessments for the OECD. Her research sits at the intersection of policy, pedagogy, and technology, with a focus on participatory and human-centred approaches to AI.
Part of the Learning in Families through Technology (LiFT) project at Oxford, Sara has been working in collaboration with industry partners including Ferrero, Gameloft for Brands, and Microsoft. Their co-developed platform, Let’s Story, has reached over six million children across more than eighteen languages and has received international awards for educational and parent-valued content. Her work demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration between educators, researchers, and industry can support more inclusive, equitable, and impactful digital futures.
Prof José Esteves
Professor José Esteves is the Dean and President of Porto Business School in Portugal. Previously he worked for 18 years at IE Business School in Madrid, serving as professor of information systems, associate dean for MBA and tech and analytics programs, associate dean for full-time MBAs, and head of the information systems department.
He is also a professor and researcher in the area of information systems and technology management. He is the author of many articles published in international conferences, books and journals. His research interests focus on digital innovation, digital strategy and leadership, impact of information systems on organizations, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, smart cities, gamification and Big Data.
Balancing rigour and relevance: Thriving together in translating research to innovative practice
Balancing rigour and relevance: Thriving together in translating research to innovative practice
In-Person Conference Day 2
Thursday 10th September 2026 I 15:30 - 16:30 BST
TBC
Chair
Keynote Speakers
TBC