10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
Darren Bastyan
Assistant Head (Digital Strategy, Assessment and Tracking) and Director of Schools MIS - Harrow International School Hong Kong
Darren Bastyan is a senior leader in education with over 15 years’ experience driving digital innovation in schools. He has led a whole-school digital transformation —overhauling infrastructure, embedding cutting-edge tools, and shaping pedagogy to harness technology’s full potential.
With a background as a secondary mathematics teacher, Darren has a deep passion for data and its power to personalise learning, support wellbeing, and help every student succeed. Recognising the limitations of existing systems, he co-founded Schools MIS, a next-generation school and school-to-home management platform. Schools MIS prioritises data integration, accessibility, and simplicity of analysis, enabling schools to unlock the value of their data without costly resources. Its philosophy is simple: technology should make life easier. The platform removes barriers to data access and use, automates integration with existing tools and streamlines workflows—empowering educators to focus on what matters most: teaching and learning.
Innovation drives Darren’s approach. He is committed to exploring creative, practical ways to enhance education through technology—bridging strategy, systems, and classroom practice.
Speaker Sessions
EdTech in Action
1609
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From Chaos to Clarity: Designing Systems That Make Data Work for You
Session Summary:
In an era where AI dominates the conversation, it’s easy to overlook the foundational systems and strategies that make technology truly effective in schools. Yet without these basics in place, even the most advanced tools struggle to deliver meaningful impact.
In this session, Darren Bastyan shares his school’s journey of digital transformation and explores why getting the fundamentals right—strategy, systems, and data integration—is critical for success. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Darren will show how thoughtful design and automation can unlock the real power of data to personalise learning, support wellbeing, and improve outcomes for every student.
Attendees will gain practical insights into:
• Why disconnected systems undermine impact and increase workload
• How to design for data accessibility and ease of use
• Real-world examples of streamlined workflows and improved decision-making
This session is for leaders and practitioners who want to move beyond hype and build connected, data-driven ecosystems that empower educators.
Speakers:
Darren Bastyan
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Assistant Head (Digital Strategy, Assessment and Tracking) and Director of Schools MIS - Harrow International School Hong Kong
Categories:
AI and EdTech
Leadership and Professional Development
// GESS EDUCATION INSIGHTS
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