MESLC 2025's Behind-the-Scenes Adventures

They say running a conference is like conducting an orchestra, everyone sees the beautiful symphony, but few witness the occasional crashed cymbal backstage. As we gear up for our upcoming AI in Education Summit on April 24-25, 2025, in Dubai, I wanted to share some behind-the-scenes "adventures" from MESLC that made our success even more remarkable.

Dr Neil Hopkin , often comments on how calm I appear while running these events. Well, let me let you in on a secret: that serene exterior is merely the lid on a pot of boiling water!

Here's what was really happening behind that peaceful facade:

Picture this: One week before the conference, I received two phone calls within minutes of each other. The first speaker had to cancel due to school inspections (because timing is everything, right? Thanks, ADEK). As I hung up that call, another speaker informed me they needed to leave the country immediately due to an emergency. Talk about a cosmic sense of humour!

But wait, there's more!

Our Day Two chairperson fell ill (we missed you Glen Radojkovich you would have been fantastic!). and just when we thought we had all our badges perfectly printed and ready to go, a group of 30 people decided to register at the eleventh hour. Why not? Who doesn't love a good printing marathon the night before a conference? That was it for sleep the night before.

And just when we thought we'd made it through Day One unscathed, one of our speakers pulled the ultimate disappearing act: no call, no text, nothing. It was as if they had slipped into an alternate dimension! (If you're reading this mysterious speaker, I hope you found your way back safely!)

Yet here's the real magic: Despite these behind-the-scenes shenanigans, #MESLC was a resounding success. Why? because of you, our incredible delegates, generous sponsors, and dedicated exhibitors. Your presence, participation, and support turned potential chaos into triumph.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a fantastic community to run a successful conference, so please allow me to thank some of the members of my village:

Richard Simapili You are amazing at what you do. You keep everything running smoothly, and you do it with a smile. Thank you for all that you do. Business Development manager extraordinaire.

Christina Morris Your help in rallying the troops is remarkable. You stay behind the scenes and do the heavy lifting. Thank you.

Zoubiya ?? Ahmed you are a gem. Thank you for taking over the podcast mic and doing a brilliant job. Look out for the episodes coming soon.

Alex Gray Thanks for allowing us to use your amazing Podbox and for the hours you will undoubtedly spend editing all the footage. You are a star and for everyone reading this please connect with Alex to see how you can use the Podbox in your school or event.

Dr. Loretta Sanders M.Ed, DCC Your friendship and support means a lot to me. Thanks for always being my shoulder when I need a good cry, complain, or anything else.

Sania Green-Reynolds M.S.Ed., B.Ed., Dip.Ed. You are a sister and a friend. Thanks for always being there when we call. We appreciate you a lot.

Philippa Wraithmell I am so grateful for the way you are so willing to help when I call. Thanks for chairing day one so beautifully. Wishing you continued success in all you do.

The conference would not be possible without the kind support of our sponsors Oryx Sky Education Catherine Anstead and Schoolbox Grant van der Kruk . Toddle - Your Teaching Partner Michael Sheehan M.Ed The Safeguarding Alliance Emily Konstantas McGraw Hill DJ West The Happy Confident Company Nadim Saad Savvas Learning Company Matthew Santaspirt Pierre Atallah .

To all our wonderful exhibitors Infinite Learning Rebecca Annand Paola Wingrove World Challenge 3P Learning Rakesh Vijay WCBS Search Associates Bill Turner Camps International Space Camp The University of Manchester - Dubai Hachette Learning BFX Furniture Globed E-Learning Edmentum International The Learning Adventure Tes Membean Educore Systems and Technologies FZE Moustafa Batrouni PowerSchool Smarts-Shapes Red Lester YONDR ManageBac upGrad Lab of Future Nearpod Matific

As we look forward to the AI in Education Summit, I wonder what new adventures await. But I know that with this wonderful community, we can handle anything.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE

Embracing Neurodiversity Among Staff In Education With Shona OCallaghan

This episode explores the often-silent experiences of neurodiverse teachers and the barriers they face within the education system. Shona OCallaghan shares her journey, illustrating the importance of inclusivity for both staff and students and the need for greater awareness about neurodiversity in schools.