10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
Hugh Viney
Founder and CEO - Minerva Virtual Academy
Hugh Viney, 37, is the visionary founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), a multi-award-winning online school for students aged 11-18 and Minerva Tutors, a premium 121 tutoring service. Over the past decade, Hugh has championed a simple yet profound question: How can we make school fit the child instead of forcing the child to fit the school?
Founded in 2021, Minerva Virtual Academy is the UK’s fastest-growing school, having grown to more than 1200 full-time students (and counting) across 60 countries in just over 4 years. It is also the largest online school of its kind to be accredited by the Department for Education. Today, he leads MVA’s mission to provide a flexible and supportive alternative to traditional school, giving more young people access to the British Curriculum in a way that works for them. MVA is designed as a viable, flexible, and affordable alternative to traditional education, offering thousands of students the chance to thrive outside conventional systems.
Hugh’s educational philosophy prioritises student wellbeing, confidence and interdisciplinary learning, ensuring that when students are happy, success follows. His dedication to this mission has led his organisation to multiple prestigious awards spanning 2021 to 2024. In 2025 MVA has been nominated for the World's Best School Prize and Hugh nominated for Global Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Winners for both awards due to be announced in November.
Speaker Sessions
Leaders in Education
1637
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The Future of Schooling is Already Here
Session Summary:
For too long, school has looked and felt the same — rows of desks, one-size-fits-all lessons, and a system built for a 19th-century world. But that model simply doesn’t work for every child, and families know it. What’s exciting now is that we’re no longer talking about what schools could be. We can show you what one school already is doing — and how it’s transforming lives today.
In this talk, we’ll lift the lid on a fast-growing movement in UK education, one that’s rethinking everything from teacher time to student wellbeing — with remarkable results. You’ll hear how flipped learning, 1:1 mentoring, and a reimagined school week are being put into action with sincerity and care, not as gimmicks or tech experiments, but as part of a grounded model that any school could adopt with the right mindset.
You’ll also meet the students — young people who are thriving in a model that puts them at the centre, not at the edges. This isn’t the future of schooling in theory. It’s the present, already happening, with outcomes that are transformational, both emotionally and academically.
There’s a reason this school is growing faster than any other school in the UK. The demand is real — from parents, students, and local authorities alike — and the model works.
The future of schooling is already here. It’s time to take a closer look.
Speakers:
Hugh Viney
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Founder and CEO - Minerva Virtual Academy
Kate Bradley
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Head of Secondary - World Academy Abu Dhabi
Categories:
Leadership and Professional Development
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Panel Session: The Future of Education and Learning Environments
Session Summary:
A diverse panel of speakers will share their insights on the future, including the skills and knowledge needed moving forward. What future learning environments might look like, and whether current educational approaches are innovative enough to prepare students for the workforce.
