The conference will feature international keynotes alongside three rounds of parallel sessions, with presentations, workshops and symposia drawing on research, practical experience and new approaches to lifelong learning. The parallel sessions will be organised into thematic pathways, covering topics from pedagogical approaches and learning design to institutional development, policy and strategy. Below, you can meet some of the keynote speakers who will contribute to the programme, alongside the many other speakers and contributors taking part throughout the day.
Eileen Fugelsnes
Minister of Research and Higher Education, Norway
Eileen Fugelsnes is Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education, a position she took up in September 2026 after serving as State Secretary for Research and Higher Education. She holds a PhD in Political Science from BI Norwegian Business School, where she is an Associate Professor on leave. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff to the Governing Mayor of Oslo. At the conference, she will bring a Norwegian policy perspective on lifelong learning, skills development and the relationship between education and the changing needs of society and working life.
Andreas Schleicher
OECD
Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills at the OECD. He initiated and oversees the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international instruments that have created a global platform for policy-makers, researchers and educators across nations and cultures to innovate and transform educational policies and practices.
He has worked for over 20 years with ministers and education leaders to improve education. Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that Schleicher “understands the global issues and challenges as well as or better than anyone I’ve met, and he tells me the truth”. Former UK Secretary of State Michael Gove called Schleicher “the most important man in English education” – even though he is German and lives in France. He is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the “Theodor Heuss” prize, awarded in the name of the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany for “exemplary democratic engagement”. He holds an honorary Professorship at the University of Heidelberg.
Anastasia Pouliou
Cedefop
Anastasia Pouliou is an Expert in Qualifications and Credentials – Future of VET at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop). Her work focuses on qualifications, micro-credentials, learning outcomes and the future of vocational education and training, and she currently leads Cedefop research on micro-credentials for labour market education and training. Her expertise will bring an important perspective to the conference discussions on recognition, flexible learning pathways and the role of micro-credentials in lifelong learning and qualifications systems.
Stian Kirkeberg
Head of AI & Machine Learning at Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM)
Stian Kirkeberg is Head of AI & Machine Learning at Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global — the world's largest sovereign wealth fund. He leads NBIM's AI transformation across more than 700 employees in four global offices. The work has been as much about skills, ways of working and culture as about technology, and he brings a practical perspective on what it actually takes to bring AI into daily use across a large, knowledge-intensive organisation.
Borhene Chakroun
Director, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO
Borhene Chakroun is Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO. His work spans education and learning throughout life, from school education to higher education, vocational education and training, and adult learning. With a background in engineering and a PhD in Education Sciences, he has extensive international experience in skills development and the reform of education and training systems. His work focuses on global trends in lifelong learning and skills development in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In his opening keynote, he will bring a global policy perspective on how lifelong learning systems can support employability, inclusion and a sustainable future.
Tristram Hooley
Professor of Career Education, University of Derby
Tristram Hooley is Professor of Career Education at the University of Derby and a Visiting Professor at the University of Inland Norway. His work focuses on career guidance, education and the labour market, and he has advised governments internationally on career guidance policy. His recent research explores how career development support can help working adults navigate changing skills needs and connect with relevant education and training opportunities. In his keynote, he will bring an international perspective on the role of career guidance in making lifelong learning accessible and relevant throughout working life.
