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The 2026 lineup

Speakers

Meet the international experts in foreign-language teaching, school leadership and EdTech who take the stage at ADRIES 2026 in Split.

22–24 October, 2026Radisson Blu Resort · Split, Croatia

Confirmed speakers

10 speakers

  • Speaker
    Peter Lucantoni

    Peter Lucantoni

    Cambridge University Press and Assessment

    Session title

    The importance of teacher learning

    Every teacher needs to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better (Dylan William, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment, IOE, UCL). Teacher learning is a critical element in any teacher's professional development, as well as for the organisations where they work. In this session we will discuss the aims of teacher learning, what we are striving for, and the benefits in terms of classroom impact. We will also consider a four-step process to support teachers' professional development and the organisations that they work for, and define three elements for successful teacher training input: personal, professional, practical (Ellman & Lucantoni, 2022).

    Bio

    Peter Lucantoni is Professional Learning and Development Manager for Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and regularly speaks at ELT conferences and trains teachers internationally in both the public and private sectors. Peter has had a long career in English language teaching, teacher training and management, in Europe and the Middle East, and he is now based in Cyprus. He is the author and co-author of a range of popular coursebooks for students, including Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, and Introduction to English as a Second Language, both published by Cambridge University Press. He is also the co-author of From Teacher to Trainer with Matthew T Ellman, also published by Cambridge. Peter's main interests are in teacher development and supporting teachers moving into the role of trainers.

  • Speaker
    Charles Stewart

    Charles Stewart

    Cambridge University Press and Assessment

    Session title

    The basics of AI - supporting teachers and learners

    Technology is constantly evolving, and it can be daunting knowing how to use it effectively as a tool in the language classroom. AI in particular has taken the world by storm, and it has many great uses to enhance language learning. At the same time, we need to remember that teaching "is a deeply human process that AI is hopelessly incapable of meeting in a meaningful way" (Satya Nitta, in Young, 2024). In this talk, we will look at what AI offers both teachers and learners, making reference to how we can implement it into our classes and addressing various concerns for its use.

    Bio

    Charles Stewart is a Professional Learning and Development Specialist at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and is based in Prague. Charles began his ELT journey in 2011 and he has extensive experience in delivering training sessions to teachers in countries across Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. Additionally, he is enrolled in an MA programme in Professional Development for Language Education.

  • Speaker
    Ana Nenadić

    Ana Nenadić

    AN Consulting

    Session title

    How to create an effective marketing strategy for your language school

    In this workshop, we'll cover the key pillars of a successful marketing strategy for language schools. You'll learn how to clearly define your target audience, choose the right marketing channels, craft key messages, and identify your competitive advantage. We'll also focus on building an effective content plan and creating a marketing funnel that turns visitors into enrolled students, without relying heavily on paid advertising and spending a lot of time and money. You'll discover how to capture your audience's attention, build trust over time, and ultimately sell through valuable, strategic content.

    Bio

    I am a language teacher who transitioned into a marketing consultant, with over 10 years of experience in digital marketing. I specialize in content marketing and have helped many language schools develop marketing strategies to promote their courses. I have been a keynote speaker at various conferences, including Konverzija (one of the largest regional digital marketing conferences in Banja Luka and Sarajevo) and The English Book Conference in Belgrade, for language school owners. As a small business owner myself (I run an educational center), I understand the challenges that school owners and language teachers face. My lectures and workshops are always very practical.

  • Speaker
    Jana Chynoradská, PaedDr.

    Jana Chynoradská, PaedDr.

    Learn & Lead Innovation

    Session title

    Applied resilience: a reflective journey for educators

    This 45-minute interactive presentation addresses the growing emotional and professional challenges faced by teachers and learners in today's classrooms. It introduces applied resilience as a practical and accessible framework for turning everyday difficulties into opportunities for learning and personal growth. Grounded in the 9 + 0×0 Principles of a Smart Person, the session focuses on self-awareness, self-reflection, and mindful work with emotions in educational contexts. Through short guided reflections, pair discussions, and real-school scenarios, participants explore tools for identifying inner resources, reframing challenging situations, and maintaining emotional balance throughout the learning process.

    Bio

    Jana Chynoradská is the founder and leader of Learn & Lead Innovation and Harmony Academy, as well as the author and professional guarantor of the Learn & Lead educational framework. She works as a trainer, mentor, and project manager, specializing in personal development and communication within learning organizations. As the Chair of the International Association of Innovative Teachers and Managers in Education (IAITME), she inspires educators and leaders to build trust and foster a genuine culture of learning.

  • Speaker
    Benjamin Rhys Bowkett

    Benjamin Rhys Bowkett

    The English Institute

    Session title

    Miss-communication in social media marketing

    The rise in popularity of social media marketing has changed the way language schools communicate their services to potential customers through their advertisements. It is therefore significant to address the questions of what characteristics language schools are presenting in their social media adverts, the key attributes language school customers value when choosing a language school, and what language schools should emphasise when developing advertising campaigns to create more effective advertising campaigns.

    Bio

    Originally from Wales, I've lived and taught in Mostar for eighteen years, for five of which I've been director of The English Institute language school in Mostar, BiH. I struggled with dyslexia as a child, the help I received for that inspired me to study linguistics. Being made director of a language school sparked further study of business management and marketing.

  • Speaker
    Jonathan Dykes

    Jonathan Dykes

    Green Standard Schools

    Session title

    Green Standard Schools – a win-win-win opportunity

    Green Standard Schools is a not-for-profit association that was established to help and encourage language schools everywhere adopt more environmentally sustainable policies and practices. GSS also offers an accreditation scheme that was designed specifically for the language teaching community. We currently have accredited members in 11 different countries, who can attest to the fact that obtaining GSS accreditation has been good for their schools – in several different ways – as well as being good for the environment. But that's not all - GSS accreditation can also help you achieve approval for your Erasmus applications. This talk will outline how our accreditation scheme works and how your school can also benefit from this win-win-win scenario.

    Bio

    Jonathan has spent most of his professional life in the language teaching industry. He started out as an English teacher, working in Spain, Germany, and the UK, but soon moved into management, and ended up running a small multinational group of schools, several of which he started. Jonathan also set up Net Languages, one of the world's first Web-based language schools, and in 2020 he co-founded Green Standard Schools, a global association of language schools that are committed to protecting the environment. Jonathan has also worked on several Erasmus KA2 projects, including Virtual Reality for Language Learners (VR4LL) which was named as a finalist for the 2022 ELTons awards. He is an occasional author, and has published two novels – a short, illustrated story for teenagers, and an historical novel for adults. Also, just to ensure he's never bored, he is currently undertaking an MSc in Sustainable Development.

  • Speaker
    Emma Hoyle and Belle Dowber-Hawkins

    Emma Hoyle and Belle Dowber-Hawkins

    International House World Organization

    Session title

    More than just box-ticking: adding value through quality assurance

    Quality assurance is often seen as a compliance exercise, but approached differently, it can become a powerful driver of improvement, innovation and new opportunities. In this session, International House World Organisation will share how it has rethought quality assurance to deliver real value to schools. We'll explore how a consultative approach - combining tailored guidance, sector expertise and practical pathways for growth - can turn external review into meaningful and lasting improvement. We'll also look at how recognised quality assurance can strengthen Erasmus+ applications, demonstrate a school's credibility as a reliable project partner, and open access to European funding that may help cover the cost of external inspections.

    Bio

    Emma Hoyle is CEO of International House World Organisation, leading a global network of around 135 independently owned language schools across more than 45 countries. Her work focuses on strengthening the network, supporting international collaboration and ensuring that International House continues to lead in quality, innovation and professional standards across the language education sector. Belle Dowber-Hawkins is Director of Operations and Membership at International House World Organisation, with responsibility for the organisation's quality assurance framework, inspections, membership development and affiliate support. She led the recent redesign of the IH quality assurance scheme, shifting it towards a more consultative, developmental model that helps schools turn external review into practical improvement, innovation and growth. Together, Emma and Belle bring a strategic and operational perspective on how quality assurance can add real value to schools, strengthen international partnerships and create new opportunities for development and funding.

  • Speaker
    Palmina La Rosa

    Palmina La Rosa

    Giga Education

    Session title

    What if yours is next? How one idea became a movement in student leadership

    What if one idea could change not only the lives of young people, but your own? Every meaningful project begins with a moment: a question, a frustration, a conversation that refuses to leave you. Leaders in the Making began exactly that way. What followed was far more than an Erasmus+ project. It became a journey of courage, unexpected partnerships, personal transformation, and the opportunity for thousands of young people to discover that leadership is not about being in charge; it is about making a difference.

    Bio

    Palmina is an educational innovation specialist, teacher educator and certified professional coach with more than 30 years of experience in language education, teacher development and the promotion of future-ready competences. She is Director of Operations at AISLi (the Italian Association of Language Schools), where she leads the Future Skills Agency project, supporting schools in integrating life competencies, leadership and wellbeing into teaching and learning. A former school leader and founder of the Coaching, Training and Development (CTD) department at Giga International House, Palmina has designed innovative pedagogical models, including the SPIRE Model, and has coordinated educational research whose findings were selected by Cambridge University Press & Assessment for publication as a case study on teacher coaching and life competencies. An international speaker, she has presented at conferences including IATEFL, EAQUALS, TESOL Italy, DIDACTA and International House Directors' Conferences, and is the author of numerous publications on coaching, leadership and 21st-century education.

  • Speaker
    Jasmina Šimić

    Jasmina Šimić

    Creation Corner

    Session title

    The school that gets remembered

    Most language schools offer quality teaching, experienced staff, and a welcoming environment. So does every other school in the market. In a sea of sameness, even the best schools struggle to be seen, chosen, and remembered. This workshop gets into why that happens and what to do about it. Through live exercises, real examples from the region, and a hands-on brand differentiation framework, participants will work out what actually makes their school different and how to say it in a way people remember. The session is practical, fast-moving, and built specifically for language schools. Everyone leaves with a Brand Voice Card for their own school, a concrete first step toward standing out in all the right ways.

    Bio

    Jasmina Šimić is an English teacher turned digital marketer who never quite left the classroom behind. That combination, knowing how language schools work from the inside and knowing how to make them visible on the outside, is what led her to found Creation Corner in 2023. Since then, she has worked with language schools across Serbia, Croatia, Italy, and beyond, helping them find their voice and reach the students they deserve. She started this agency because she believed language schools are some of the most underrated brands out there, and she is on a mission to change that.

  • Speaker
    Roshan Patroo

    Roshan Patroo

    British Council

    Session title

    The evolution of language testing: lessons from the past, directions for the future

    Language testing and assessment (LTA) has become increasingly important in recent decades, playing a critical role for governments, educational institutions, employers and learners worldwide. At a time when technological developments, particularly advances in artificial intelligence are transforming many aspects of education, language testing is under greater scrutiny than ever before. This keynote reflects on what innovation means in language testing and assessment and considers how the field can respond to continuing educational, social and technological change. It then considers the role of language testing and assessment from the perspectives of different stakeholders, including test takers, test users, educators and assessment providers. Sustainable innovation in language testing depends on responding to changing learner needs, educational priorities and societal expectations while maintaining trust, validity and relevance in an increasingly complex world.