What is Connect?
A day of learning inspiration, collaboration and support
As the go-to community for L&D professionals, we host ‘Connect’ – a unique event offering a world of new ideas, fresh thinking and engaging debate to innovate, inspire and empower attendees.
Inspiring speakers, expert presentations, real-life case studies and debates, exclusive networking time and a dedicated exhibition area.
Building the Future of L&D
“The future is up for grabs. It belongs to any and all who will take the risk and accept the responsibility of consciously creating the future they want.”
The last few years have been tumultuous with words like “unprecedented”, “extraordinary”, and “new normal” becoming commonplace. As an industry and as professionals, we had to change quickly, too quickly. Caught in a global panic, decisions were made, courses were created, and virtual calls went on for far too long.
Alongside societal and workplace changes, technology rapidly moved forward with new, disruptive technologies emerging seemingly month by month. All of this has stolen many organisations’ attention away from analytics and value measurement.
But, as panic passes, and organisations return to measuring our value, the question we’re left with is, how do we move from panic to progress?
How do we build the future of learning and development?
This year's Connect will explore:
- How we deliver value to our organisations and clients whilst actively shaping the future of our practice and field.
- Ways in which we can harness new technologies, including AI and XR to do more, with greater impact and increased return on investment.
- Our roles in creating a sustainable and inclusive future for the industry, our organisations, and the world.
- Challenges our organisations may face in the coming years and how we can help overcome them.
The Learning Network invites the L&D Community to join us, discuss and debate the industry’s biggest challenges and, perhaps, begin shaping the future.
Keynote Speakers
The Learning Network is excited to announce that Michelle Parry-Slater and Steve Wheeler will be the keynote speakers at Connect 2023.
Michelle Parry-Slater
Michelle is a senior learning and development business strategist, author, and organisation design and development practitioner. An award-winning workplace learning innovator, Fellow of the CIPD and of the RSA Michelle heads up Kairos Modern Learning, a boutique consultancy which specialises in supporting organisations embrace the shift to more impactful people development. Michelle has brought her years of Learning & Development practice and consultancy to the People Profession as author of a globally popular L&D book, The Learning and Development Handbook, published by Kogan Page.
Michelle is on a career mission to drive cultural change from ‘Injection Education’ traditions to embrace better workplace learning, supporting clients to create effective, efficient, enjoyable and engaging everyday learning and human centred cultures. Michelle offers a rare mix of a practical, pragmatic people professional who really ‘gets it’ when it comes to business impact and strategy.
Michelle works with a variety of clients including international retailers, training providers, government departments, private corporates, charities, universities and youth organisations. Her ideas are regularly shared at conferences, via webinars, podcasts, journals, on Learning Now TV, and via her brand new podcast, Learning From The Edges, plus you can find Michelle regularly on Twitter @MiPS1608 and through her websites https://kairosmodernlearning.co.uk/ or https://thelndhandbook.com/.
Steve Wheeler
Steve Wheeler has more than 45 years of experience working in learning technology, and was a pioneer in computer based training (1980-86), distance education and the use of social media for learning. His blog ‘Learning with ‘e’s” has attracted more than 9 million unique visitors in the last decade.
A former associate professor of learning technologies at Plymouth University (1998-2017), Steve’s career has spanned nurse education, initial teacher training and corporate learning & development. He has presented keynote speeches in more than 35 countries, and has published more than 150 monograms, peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His most recent book, published by Kogan Page is Digital Learning in Organizations.
After taking early retirement from full time teaching and research in 2017 he is now the CEO of Steve Wheeler Associates Limited, and has undertaken consultancy work for a number of high profile companies including Huawei, Hewlett Packard and Smart Technologies. He is a senior fellow of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) and currently a visiting lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University. He also runs his own publishing company, Wheelsong Books, which exclusively publishes poetry and he’s an avid Plymouth Argyle supporter. He lives in Plymouth, on the beautiful South West coast of England.
Sponsors
Timetable
Exhibitor setup continues
Steve Wheeler
Frank Furnari - ARuVR
Erin Donovan - Fuel
Practical Challenges to Accessibility in L&D
Robin Scott - Make Real
How Can We Build a More Sustainable Industry
Roy de Vries - aNewSpring
Tom McDowall & Helen Marshall
Is AI Ready for Prime Time? And How Can We Use It?
Emotional Engagement in Learning - How Hostage Negotiation Improves Business Skills
Philip Williams- CEDR Services
TBC - Guider
The Role of Immersive Technologies in Workplace Learning
Michelle Parry-Slater
Fiona McBride
The above timetable for the day is subject to change. Please check back as new speakers and sponsors are announced.
General Information
Venue, travel and accommodation
LN Connect 2023 takes place at the etc.venues, St Pauls, London on Friday 17th November 2023.
Refreshments and catering
Refreshments and catering are served throughout the conference and exhibition spaces. Special dietary requirements will be catered for according to the details submitted at time of registration. Please make yourself known to the serving staff if you have requested a special diet.
Joining instructions
All attendees will receive joining instructions via email a few days prior to the event. Should you have any questions prior to this please contact us.
Book your Tickets
As with every Connect event there will be a number of different tickets available to purchase. For 2023 though we have introduced a new ‘Super Early Bird’ ticket for Members Only.
Members Only Tickets
Standard Ticket
Available for all LN members - 09/09/23 until 02/11/23-
Costs include, lunch and refreshments and attendance at the post-conference drinks reception.
Non-Member Tickets
Standard Ticket
Available to non-members - 09/09/23 until 02/11/23-
Costs include, lunch and refreshments and attendance at the post-conference drinks reception.
Booking Details
- Super early bird registration closes 9th June 2023 (midnight)
- Earlybird registration closes 8th September 2023 (midnight)
- Standard registration opens 9th September 2023
- Booking deadline 2nd November 2023 (5pm)
Please note: The member discount is only for full Learning Network members and Industry Partner named members. You must log-in to access your discount. Your membership should not be used to buy tickets for non-members. Bulk discounts are available for Industry Partners who purchase six tickets or more. Please contact the LN Membership Administrator to enquire about bulk discounts.
If you’re a non-member, it costs £29 to join per year and you’ll have access to our exclusive members only webinars, our mentoring programme and other great benefits.
Refund policy
Registrations can be refunded up until the booking deadline, thereafter tickets can be exchanged; full details to be emailed to the LN Administrator.
We’d love to hear from you, get in touch with us using the link below or through our contact page.