Keynote speakers

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Paul Redmond

Dr Paul Redmond

Dr Paul Redmond, author, keynote speaker, employment guru, is one of the UK’s leading experts on generational change and the future of work.

As an in-demand speaker, each year Paul presents at numerous conferences and events around the world, helping organisations and professionals acquire the skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s multi-generational workplace. 

Paul writes regularly for national newspapers and other publications and is a frequent guest on radio and TV programmes, appearing regularly on the BBC and independent current affairs shows.

Currently the Director of Student Experience and Enhancement at the University of Liverpool, Paul has held visiting lectureships at various leading universities and has been responsible for guiding the careers of thousands of students and graduates. Paul’s research into ‘Generation Z,’ the post-Covid world of work, the rise of ‘Zombie Jobs’ (the theme of his recent TED talk), techniques for building excellent inter-generational communications, and ‘Helicopter Parents’ has garnered him praise and respect from a range of national and international organisations.

Paul is the author of numerous books, reports and studies, including the best-selling, The Graduate Jobs Formula, and the highly popular diary column for the UK’s Institute of Student Employers’ magazine. Paul is currently working on his new book, The Rise of the Zombie Jobs, which will reveal, for the first time, those jobs and careers that are most likely to be lost to AI and robotics – and those that (for now) are likely to be safe.

In recognition of his writing and research, Paul was awarded a Fellowship of the British Royal Society of Arts.


 

Valerie Besanceney

Valérie Besanceney

Valérie Besanceney (MEd) is the Executive Director of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) and the founder of Roots with Boots. Valérie is Dutch by birth, Swiss by nationality and holds the numerous cultures she has lived in close to her heart. Valérie has been an international educator for the past 19 years, working in international schools in four continents. She consults for families, schools and organizations. The author of two children’s books, B at Home: Emma Moves Again and My Moving Booklet, Valérie is passionate about helping students and their families thrive through their transitions. Together with her American husband and their two teenage daughters, she loves exploring the benefits and challenges of being a multi-cultural family in Switzerland.


 

Angel Perez

Dr. Angel B. Pérez

Dr. Angel B. Pérez is the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), representing over 27,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide. A recognized thought leader on educational equity, access, and success, he advocates for postsecondary opportunities for all students. Growing up poor in Puerto Rico and the South Bronx, Dr. Pérez was the first in his family to graduate from college, embodying his belief that diversity and academic excellence can coexist.

Before joining NACAC in 2020, he held several higher education leadership roles, most recently as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College in Connecticut. As CEO, he navigated NACAC through the challenges of the pandemic, resulting in a restructured organization, doubled membership, new programs, and significant philanthropic gifts. In September 2023, he announced the founding of the Center for Reimagining College Access.

Dr. Pérez has advised the Biden-Harris administration on college access and affordability and has contributed to major media outlets, including the New York Times and NPR. His commitment to education extends to teaching at institutions such as Trinity College and Harvard. He is involved with multiple boards and committees, including the Kresge Foundation's Thrive Leaders Network.

A Fulbright alumnus, he holds a B.S. from Skidmore College, an M.A. from Columbia University, a PhD from Claremont Graduate University, and a Teaching Certification from Harvard University. Dr. Pérez is passionate about cultivating future leaders, particularly in diversifying the education field.


 

Ganesh Kohli

Ganesh Kohli

Ganesh Kohli is a teacher, counselor, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner who has founded, nurtured, and led multiple education-focused organizations over the past 27 years. In his professional journey, Ganesh has visited 450+ universities across the world, personally guiding 4,000+ students in making decisions about their higher education. With the vision of "counseling in every school," Ganesh founded the IC3 Movement, which has reached 90+ countries and has 1,500+ volunteers globally. Ganesh also serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the IC3 Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to training school counselors, teachers, and principals across the world. Under his mentorship, KIC UnivAssist, an organization established to support educational institutions, has grown to help 450+ universities plan and execute their international engagement with high schools and students in 70+ countries. Ganesh’s endeavor to bring meditation and mindfulness to thousands of people in the execution of their work and everyday lives led him to create The Aha Movement, which continues to drive this philosophy through regularly scheduled meditation and mindfulness talks and events.