10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
Mike Lowery
Director of Sport - GEMS Metropole
Mike is the Director of Sport at GEMS Metropole School and a leadership consultant with Braver Leaders. With over 13 years of experience in education, he specialises in building high-performance cultures, developing leadership capacity, and transforming team dynamics through strategic vision and clear systems.
At GEMS Metropole, Mike led a powerful shift in the PE and Sport department - transforming it into a high-performing, student-centred unit known for ambition, accountability, and excellence. His leadership style blends honesty with high expectations, empowering individuals while building a shared sense of purpose.
Mike is also a World Rugby Coach Educator and is deeply passionate about growing the women’s game. He has led international initiatives using sport for social change, including the Dubai 7s for Good project in Uganda. With a background in high-performance learning, metacognition, and coach development, Mike supports athletes and educators alike to push past comfort zones and unlock meaningful progress.
Whether coaching teams, mentoring leaders, or advising schools, Mike brings clarity, energy, and a relentless focus on growth.
Speaker Sessions
Workshop Space
1627
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Building Psychological Safety – Tools and Practices to Lead Braver Teams
Session Summary:
This practical, hands-on workshop with Sam Harvey and Mike Lowery dives into the how of psychological safety. You’ll learn the core framework—Co-Create, Respond Productively, and Connect—and experiment with tools like the SCARF model to understand real team triggers and dynamics. Through guided exercises, peer discussion, and reflection, you’ll uncover your own leadership impact and walk away with actionable strategies to build trust, handle mistakes productively, and create a team culture where people feel safe to speak up and thrive.
Sam Harvey
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Founder, Managing Director - Braver Leaders
Leaders in Education
1637
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High Performance Cultures in Schools
Session Summary:
Mike led the transformation of the PE and Sport department at GEMS Metropole, turning this into a high-performance, student-centred unit. As an internal leader, he used honest dialogue, stakeholder input, and clear systems to shift mindsets, raise standards, and build a culture of ambition and ownership. Mike led by example, empowered individuals, and applied a relentless focus on student outcomes and team pride. His story is a powerful example of leading cultural change from within - proving that with vision, belief, and consistency, good teams can achieve great things.
