Ascilite Conference 2026 Nov 29- Dec 2

Keynote speakers

Photo of keynote speaker Maren Deepwell

Dr. Maren Deepwell

Independent consultant FRSA, SCMALT
marendeepwellcoaching.com

Dr Maren Deepwell is an award-winning independent consultant, working with organisations and leaders in education and the not-for-profit sector as a strategic advisor and executive coach. Dr Deepwell’s particular interest lies in how human beings relate to technology, with a focus on holistic approaches to blended learning and working, digital skills and sustainability. From 2012-23 Dr Deepwell served as the Chief Executive of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), the UK’s leading professional body for Learning Technology.

Photo of keynote speaker Rene Kizilcec

Dr. Rene Kizilcec

Associate Professor, Cornell University; Director, Future of Learning Lab
rene.kizilcec.com
 Rene Kizilcec is an Associate Professor of Information Science, a graduate field member in Communication and Physics, and the founding director of the Future of Learning Lab at Cornell University. Rene’s research is on the use and impact of technology in formal and informal learning environments (college classes, online degree programs, mobile learning, professional development, MOOCs, etc.) and scalable interventions to broaden participation and reduce achievement gaps. His recent work is on academic progress and algorithmic transparency and fairness in predictive analytics in higher education.
 
Rene is also known for his research on understanding and supporting learners in online courses. He also works on developing methods for the design and analysis of experiments. His recent work examined the consequences of social identity threat, self-regulation, trust, and cultural differences on individual behaviour and performance using longitudinal field experiments. He leverages techniques from data mining, machine learning, and natural language processing to examine behaviour and motivation, reveal heterogeneous treatment effects, and inform user-centred design.