InnovateEDU 2024

South Africa's STEAM-focused teacher professional development conference.

May 23 & 24, 2025 • Dainfern College • Johannesburg

InnovateEDU logo

Check out the 2024 international experts...

(Click the little arrow on each photo to read the facilitator's bio.)

Georgina Dean

Director of Digital Strategy

Confirmed for 2024!

As a senior education leader, with an innate ability to inspire creativity, innovation, and inquiry-based critical thinking, Georgina supports educators, leaders, and school communities across EMEA and beyond with their school transformation. Leading and implementing digital strategy, with a focus on student-centricity through digitally integrated experiential learning, has inspired her to lead global digital transformation and change management. Georgina believes “it’s an epic time to help our next generation prepare for tomorrow’s unknown and build a sustainable future.” She is a Google Certified Innovator and ISTE Certified Educator. 

Patrick McGrath

Head of Education for EMEA, 

TextHelp Group


Educator, international speaker, blogger, panellist, podcaster and Head of Education for EMEA at the Texthelp Group - the world's largest specialist assistive technology group. Paddy is passionate about ensuring that technology has a positive, meaningful and sustainable impact on teaching & learning through a focus on inclusion, accessibility and universal design. 

A Google Certified Trainer and Apple Education Mentor, Patrick has received the UK Digital Leader 100 Award and an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Ulster (School of Education). Find Patrick on twitter @TH_Patrickm or www.pmcgrath.me

Zaveola Banguel

Science Curriculum Specialist

Zaveola is a Science Curriculum Content Trainer supporting K-12 schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.  Zaveola graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and her Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction of Mathematics and STEM from Concordia University.  With over 10 years of experience in education, Zaveola has served as a math and science teacher at the elementary, middle and high levels and as an instructional specialist and team leader. Zaveola is currently an Ignite Ambassador, delivering project-based STEM training to increase computer science skills in teachers and students.  Zaveola is passionate about empowering teachers to create an innovative and inclusive space where students learn by engaging with STEM in all classrooms.

Kern Kelley

Technology in EDU Specialist

Kern Kelley is the Technology Integrator at Maine Regional School Unit #19. Starting his teaching career in Parawai, New Zealand, he has provided support to educators for over two decades and conducted professional development across the globe, including South Africa! He advises a student-produced technology show for the Maine Department of Education, SLAM Show.org He brings his student presenters, the MLTI Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine to conferences around the world and authored The Google Apps Guidebook. Kern is married with two sons in high school. 

Ken Shelton

Educational Consultant

Confirmed for 2024!

Ken has worked as an Educator for over 20 years and spent most of his classroom experience teaching technology at the Middle School level. Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and a Google Certified Innovator. He regularly presents, consults, and leads workshops, covering a wide variety of Educational Technology, Equity and Inclusion, Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist, Multimedia Literacy, Cultural Intelligences, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. Ken is the ISTE Digital Equity PLN 2018 Excellence Award winner. Ken has also been named by EdTech Magazine as an influencer to follow. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level with a number of State Departments of Education, Ministries of Education, non-Profits, and was appointed by the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Education Technology Task Force

Abid Patel

IT Director

Confirmed for 2024!

Abid has worked in schools & EdTech for over 19 years. As the IT Director for Newham Community Learning, he leads on digital strategy, cyber security and delivery of all digital learning experiences for the Trust.


Abid is a Google Certified Trainer & Innovator. Abid is also leader of the Google Educator Group, GEG UK. Abid is a passionate advocate for sustainable digital transformation in schools. He was described by one of his fellow innovators as "a natural positive force and dreamer with 10X ideas".


Abid has presented and spoken at many conferences and events globally. In recognition of his efforts in helping to improve digital outcomes for learners, he was awarded the title of EduFuturists Network Manager of the Year 2020 and also named in the 2020 EdTech50 “Ones to Note”

Mmamotlhabi Tlailane

Technology Integrator

Mmamotlhabi is a passionate and creative South African Educator based in Stockholm, Sweden. With over ten years of experience in education, she is currently the Technology Integrator at Stockholm International School, where she supports teaching and learning. She believes that technology can transform education, empower communities, encourage critical thinking, cultivate creativity, and provide a voice and platform for all students, our future leaders. Mmamotlhabi has played an integral role in developing and creating a Makerspace and the Learning Commons at Stockholm International School. She is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and Innovator.

Danielle McKernan

Teaching & Learning Specialist,

Texthelp

Danielle is currently a Teaching & Learning Specialist for Texthelp - the world largest accessibility technology company. With over two decades of classroom and leadership experience, Danielle has served as an educator specialising in teaching computer science at middle and high school levels and as a strategic school leader of digital learning. 

Danielle strives to create learning environments where everyone understands and is understood by removing barriers to learning through effective classroom practice driven by an informed digital strategy. Danielle has a particular interest in accessibility, equity, digital skills, and AI.

Danielle is the Northern Ireland Google Educator Group lead, a Google Certified Trainer and Coach, and is committed to empowering educators and building learning communities to advance digital skills, enhance pedagogical approaches, and drive transformative educational practices.

Ben Whitaker

Ed Tech Educational Consultant

Confirmed for 2024!

Ben is an Educational Consultant working with a number of clients on both digital and cultural transformation. Prior to this, Ben worked for 15 years in education as an Assistant Principal and Curriculum Manager, focusing on Apprenticeships and formerly in his subject specialisms of Religious Studies & Sociology. He is co-host of the popular Edufuturists podcast where he explores the future of education by interviewing thinkers from around the world. This culminates in their annual awards event to celebrate those in the education sector who are making it happen.


Ben is chair of governors at a primary school and a trustee of a local charity but most importantly he is husband to Amanda, and dad to Niamh (12) and Martha (8). He tweets at @itsbenwhitaker

Stuart Swann

LEGO Education Academy Certified Trainer

Confirmed for 2024!

Stuart qualified as a primary teacher in 1995 and holds a BEd. Throughout his 27 years' experience, constructionism, innovation and play have been at the heart of his work. He led on music and ICT and developed a bespoke scheme of curriculum integration with ICT through innovative, project-based learning. In 2011, along with a partner, he established IE Solutions Ltd an educational technology consultancy which supports schools in the development and implementation of Computing curricula. 

 Stuart is a LEGO Education Academy Certified Trainer and regularly facilitates training in both primary and secondary schools. He works globally on behalf of LEGO Education; has delivered keynotes training and workshops in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East; and has developed curriculum content for many LEGO Education resources. Stuart works closely with The LEGO Education Academy, helping to evaluate and certify new trainers. He is also an Apple Distinguished Educator and Apple Professional Learning Specialist. Twice a year, Stuart co-runs 4-day creative arts residential courses for young people where he leads on music.

 Regardless of who or what you teach, you’re always focused on student learning.  

Now it’s time to focus on your learning at InnovateEDU next May in Cape Town, South Africa.

We've invited a team of international education experts—not only in ed tech, but also in innovative STEAM pedagogy. Attendees choose from half-day, deep-dive workshops that transform teaching and enable them to engage in the kind of deep learning that transfers back to their classroom and school. 

Here’s what a few of the 500+ educators representing over 120 schools have had to say about past conferences:

You have to send your staff - they're not going to be exposed to such a comprehensive and innovative conference anywhere. If you want your school to succeed, your teachers need to be there! The most inspiring professional development of the year!  – Meghan Jeppe, Wynberg Girls' Junior School 

It was an incredible opportunity to connect, learn and be inspired. The sessions I attended gave me things to do in my classroom as soon as I’m back at school.  –  Leigh Walker, Pridwin Preparatory

​​I would say that this conference alone is enough professional development to last teachers a year! I am leaving with so many tools to experiment with and use in my classroom. I would also like to spread some of the knowledge I've gained with my colleagues who couldn't attend. –  Caitlin Forrester, Star of the Sea Convent School

It is like putting fuel in your tank - new ideas sparking creativity - I can't wait to start planning lessons for Monday. – Celesté Wepener, Hoërskool D.F. Malan

This conference needs to be available all to staff - it has been life changing and the much needed punch of motivation following 2020! –  Jane Lennox, Rondebosch Boys' Prep

This event is really tailored to meet each teacher at whatever level they are at, and you are bound to walk away enriched and equipped with tools to better yourself as a teacher, your classroom and teaching. – Pharryn Jansen, The Grove Primary

Re-ignite your passion for teaching and learning.

Reunite with your professional learning family.

Reconnect with friends and make new ones. 

Tickets for 2025 are now on sale! 

First 125 tickets* ("Early Bird") — R 1,775 exVAT

"Group of Five" tickets do not count towards the 150 Early Bird total.

Group of Five (or more!) rate — R 1,900 exVAT

(14% off Standard Ticket)

Standard Ticket rate — R 2,200 exVAT


* Early Bird Tickets Ts&Cs: limit of ten "Early Bird" tickets per school.