Sam Thomson’s Post

Neurodiversity Toolkit and Guide for Event Planning La Trobe University has a neurodiversity toolkit for event planners, put together by Beth Radulski. While focused on academic events, it's nonetheless applicable to far more than students and visitors. Covering everything from sensory issue to cultural challenges, communication and language, and events both online and off, it's a comprehensive dive into both challenges and potential solutions. If you're an event planner looking to make your next event neurodiversity-friendly, this toolkit might give you some ideas, and perhaps a couple of things to check. https://lnkd.in/gSDjCBaf #diversityequityinclusion #neurodiversity #dei #DEInetwork #australianneurodiversity #diversity #neuroinclusion #neurodiversityawareness #neurodiversityinclusion #eventplanning #eventmanagement #latrobeuniversity

Here’s a quick glimpse into our current research and educational projects, shared on this recent talk show. Excited to dive deeper into these topics and share my insights with you!

🌍 Strengthening Communities Through Knowledge and Collaboration in Samen Nieuw-West During a recent meeting, Rob Andeweg introduced the Nationaal Programma Samen Nieuw-West, emphasizing its execution strategy and the significance of learning through action. This program aims to preserve the value in Nieuw-West neighborhoods and strengthen well-being at the community level. Key highlights: 🔎 Collaborative Partners – Current partners are the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) and ROC van Amsterdam who are actively buildling a Kenniscoalitie to strengthen the knowledge infrastructure in Nieuw-West. University of Amsterdam, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, MBO College Westpoort | ROC van Amsterdam - Flevoland and Mediacollege Amsterdam, were also part of the conversation and might join as well! 🧠 Integrating Knowledge – By combining scientific, professional, and everyday knowledge, the program fosters sustainable reflection and engagement while addressing real questions from the community. This ensures research aligns with local needs, avoiding top-down approaches and "research fatigue." 🤝 Community-Driven Initiatives – Initiatives like Kracht van West showcase how resident-led projects, such as citizen journalism, generate meaningful insights and solutions for the neighborhood. 🎓 VU Participation – Our very own Geertje Tijsma from the CSL team joined this meeting, reinforcing our commitment to collaboration and knowledge-sharing within Nieuw-West. 🚀 Next Steps – Defining roles within the knowledge alliances, evaluating existing projects, and learning from past successes (and challenges) will shape a stronger “Way of Work.” This includes thematic focus areas like sustainability and loneliness, and bolstering collaboration between universities and social partners like the OBA. Together, we can ensure that knowledge doesn’t just stay in classrooms but resonates in the heart of Nieuw-West. 🌟 #SamenNieuwWest #CommunityEngagement #KnowledgeInAction #Sustainability #Loneliness #UrbanInnovation

INSPIRE: AN UPRISING - CHALLENGE, ADVOCATE, RESIST Welcome to the forefront of change, where traditional boundaries dissolve, and innovation ignites. The biennial ‘Inspire’ conference beckons, inviting early childhood educators and teachers from across Australia and overseas to embark on a transformative journey like never before. In 2025, we seize the reins of empowerment, rallying under the banner of ‘Inspire: An Uprising’ to challenge the norms, advocate fiercely, and elevate our voices as guardians of education. This conference isn't just an event; it's a movement—a clarion call to revolutionise the landscape of early childhood education. At the heart of our theme lies the recognition that true progress stems from the courage to question, to dissent, and to push against the status quo. We champion advocacy, not as a mere concept, but as an imperative tool for effecting tangible change in policies, practices, and perceptions. Together, we'll explore the power of resistance, understanding that it's not merely an act of defiance but a catalyst for growth and evolution. ‘Inspire an Uprising’ isn't just about stirring the pot—it's about nurturing a culture of empowerment where every educator and teacher finds their voice and their purpose. Through dynamic keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, we'll delve into the heart of what it means to be an advocate, a disruptor, and a beacon of change in the field of early childhood education. Join us as we shatter barriers, challenge conventions, and ignite a revolution of thought and action. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a fresh face in the sector, your presence is vital in shaping the future of our profession. Together, let's pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow—one where every child's potential is not just realised but celebrated. Prepare to be inspired. Prepare to rise. Prepare to ignite the uprising. We'll see you at the forefront of change. Have you got your ticket yet?

As the sun sets behind Rodenkirchen, a sleepy suburb of Cologne, I'm writing a few thoughts about Practical Pedagogies 24. This is an education conference by teachers for teachers, & while it was great that we had the inimitable Hywel Roberts entertaining us with his witty and insightful thoughts, I'm sure he would agree that the meat of the event is the myriad of seminars & workshops run by the delegates themselves. Many cleverer & better read than me will comment on the educational content, so I will content myself with thanking the session leaders who's sessions I attended for providing such stimulating learning. Thank you Alex Beck, Alka Townend MRes (Ed), BA(Hons), QTS. Lewis Cropton, Joanne Kilburn, Emily Buttriss & Victoria Harrison for giving up their time to provide me with so much food for thought. I thought I would comment primarily on the sustainability of the event. After all, getting 260 together for such a conference is no small undertaking. Having surveyed about a fifth of the delegates (thanks to all who completed the survey), I calculated very roughly that the carbon footprint of the event was about 86 tonnes of CO2. This is not an insignificant amount, & kudos to those who made their way by train, bus and bicycle. Was it worth it? From my point of view, most definitely. This was the first education conference I have attended in 6 years, & the buzz & excitement throughout the event was palpable. This showed that although much of what we do these days maybe on Zoom, it simply cannot compare to getting human beings together to learn. That said, we need to be very picky about when we spend our carbon budget. Hopefully, PracPed will return in 2026, & I'll definitely make the effort to go. But, here are a few pointers for delegates & organisers to increase the sustainability of the event: The number one item, by far, is to try and travel to the event sustainably. It's heartening that there were relatively few short haul flights from European delegates, but there were some. Cologne is a big rail hub for Europe & has great connections to London,as well as all the major cities. I went by train from Lancaster, & although it took longer (not as much as you might think), it was much more relaxing & productive than flying (also about 50% more). For the organiser, Russel Tarr & Russell Johnston, anything you do is low impact compared to sustainable travel - the group buses from Cologne etc are great, but there are a few small things: - Encourage all delegates to bring a reusable coffee mug. - Use delegate tags that aren't dated so they can be used next time - just collect them in at the end of the conference. - Think about coffee pods. About 29,000 coffee pods go to landfill PER MINUTE! These take around 500 years to decompose. - Consider vegetarian/vegan lunch only - the humus & tomato and mozarella sandwiches were great & I suspect most delegates would be perfectly happy with a vegetarian menu. See you next time! #PracPed24

I feel a bit late to the party with this wrap-up post and reel, but I’m still very much having a career ‘pinch me moment’…. 🫶🏼 Last week was an all-time personal high in my career, three days jam packed with networking, panels, discussions, events, and of course the ever famous Moda After Party 🪩 🕺 I sat on my first panel in the Caddick Construction Limited Caddick Developments + Moda, Places for Life Pavilion. Thank you to all who attended (it was a big crowd that did make me gulp when I first took the mic) 😬 but the abundance of positive feedback for the panellists and I has for sure meant that this will be returning next year 👏🏼 - thank you Katie O'Neill, Kelly-anne Watson and Jamie Harris + our Chair Lem Bingley. A few mental notes I made throughout the week… Challenges the sector faces: Building safety act is going to cause disruption to the sector’s construction and PBSA doesn’t have the flexibility around timings that BTR does. How can we work around this, or what can we introduce to ensure that there is protection for developers so they’re not missing that make or break September intake? Affordability is an ever growing issue. To make underwrites viable these costs start at £175-£200, out of the price bracket for the average domestic student. More beds are needed at a middle market price point. 21% of existing PBSA stock won’t meet upcoming ESG standards and 56% are fuelled with natural gas, whilst there is increasing pressure to hit new legal standards by 2030. If not actioned soon, it puts huge pressure on the demand outweighing the supply even more so than it does today. Successes the sector has delivered: The ‘S’ in ESG has been done very well. Managing the welfare of students and providing benefits to living experiences that sees improved university results (however I still challenge the welfare link between Provider to HEI). Brands have been forced to become innovative with how they activate their spaces, as a big culture shift means that socialising doesn’t revolve around alcohol like it did five years ago! This also brings me on to how PBSA is breaking down barriers and creating thriving communities of students from all over the world. 80% of a student’s time is spent in the accommodation when studying at a UK university, and because of the evolvement of amenities and services it now means students can group study downstairs in their buildings WITH their course mates, next door neighbours and friends. That struggle for a spot in the library is long gone in the past. We make these places become home 🏡 ❤️ Thank you to everyone who said 👋🏼 at UKREiiF. Should you wish to discuss anything further, drop me a message. See you again next year, Leeds! 💙

Ahead of #ipsef this year, I really enjoyed writing this article for ITM - hopefully useful for those looking at the broad topic of sustainability when developing international schools. Looking forward to sharing it at the event this week, with a few more insights too 😁 #sustainability #environmentaldesign #schooldesign

What do you get when you combine cutting-edge technology, forward-thinking professionals, and a passion for education? The 2024 AETM - the association for Audiovisual & Educational Technology Management Conference! Hosted by Flinders University, this year’s conference was a masterclass in how technology is transforming learning spaces. From thought-provoking presentations to hands-on experiences, every moment offered something valuable. Here are my top highlights: 🌏 Hearing Global Perspectives: Member presentations from delegates across Australia, Hong Kong, the UK, and the US tackled the shared challenges we face—delivering bold ideas and solutions. 🤝 Building Connections: Conversations with like-minded professionals who understand the unique complexities of our field reminded me why community is key. 🎥 Exploring Innovation: Touring Flinders University’s new City and Bedford Park campuses, including their cutting-edge "The Void" virtual production and motion capture studio (check out the photo below 👇), gave me a firsthand look at how advanced AV spaces are shaping modern education. It’s experiences like this that reinforce the importance of coming together as a community—not just to learn from one another but to spark ideas that push us all forward. Thank you to Flinders University and the AETM for organizing such an insightful and inspiring event! I’m walking away with fresh ideas, renewed motivation, and a deeper appreciation for the role we play in transforming education through technology! What’s been your biggest takeaway from attending professional conferences this year? Let’s keep the conversation going! #AETM2024 #LearningSpaces #AVTechnology #ProfessionalGrowth

The REACH Events Scholarship was set up by Robert Kenward and Gabrielle Austen-Browne FRSA (she/her) after they discovered that 40% of Event Management Degree students drop out due to the £5k per year cost of living expenses on top of everything else. Of this number, 92% were from a Black, Asian or unpresented minority background!!! Every survey over the last few years has shown the #eventprofs #meetingprofs #experientialmarketing sector is 80-90% white. Most of the respondents were London based where the UK split is 50/50. You do the maths. The scholarship aims to change this number. Last week the team attended the The Manchester Metropolitan University UK House of Lords celebration of philanthropy and thanks to people in the pictures like Andrew Orr Harriet Bullen TRO Dale Parmenter DRPG Sophia McNeill MInstF(Cert) Marie Kuffour and many others, we're making real change. This year we're working with Bournemouth University and if you're a company looking to instigate real #EDI change in our sector, please get in touch with one of our co-founders. You have the power to change the future. gabby@diversityalliance.co.uk robert@recruitmentprof.com

An Exciting few days ahead at the Education Estates® Exhibition | Conference | Awards  I'm thrilled to be attending the Education Estates® Exhibition | Conference | Awards again this year, and to represent Impact Controls Ltd and our services. As a leader in Building Management Systems (BMS), we're passionate about helping educational institutions optimise their facilities for efficiency, sustainability, and safety. 🏫 Educational estates present unique challenges, and we’re here to share how our smart BMS solutions can: Enhance energy efficiency 🌍 Improve indoor air quality 💨 Lower operational costs 💰 Boost overall comfort and productivity for students and staff 👩🏫👨🎓 It’s will be an incredible opportunity to connect with Facility Managers, Educational Leaders, Architects and Consultants who are shaping the future of learning environments. Let’s build smarter, greener, and more efficient campuses together! If you’re attending, come visit us at Booth 719 – we’d love to chat! 🙌 #BMS #BuildingManagement #SmartBuildings #Sustainability #Education #FacilitiesManagement #Innovation