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Keynote speakers

Meet our keynote speakers

Anne-Marie Scott

“Things cannot be made simple”

As leaders of people we aim to create environments in which others can thrive and do their best work, but sometimes the forces that create complexity around us are simply too large and too monstrous to overcome. So how do we lead people in these moments? 

In a period that included global pandemic, climate crisis, labour disruption, unprecedented levels of government interference, and grappling with the grimmest realities of the Canadian Residential Schools system, this talk explores how to keep walking in the deepest and darkest of forests, how to continue to find the right path, and how to continue to hold out hope for a happy ending.

Biography

Anne-Marie was Deputy Provost of Athabasca University, Canada’s equivalent to the UK Open University until March 2023. Prior to her time in Canada she held a number of roles at the University of Edinburgh, including Deputy Director of Learning, Teaching and Web Services 

She is the Board Chair of the Apereo Software Foundation and a member of the Board of the Open Source Initiative, who globally steward the license definitions for open source software. She has been part of the Government of British Columbia’s Digital Advisory Committee since 2022, advising on how to embed and upscale digital learning across the province. She is a member of the After Surveillance network, a global group of scholars and practitioners concerned with surveillance practices in HE, part of the leadership team of the OpenETC, a shared set of open technologies for post-secondary institutions within British Columbia Canada, run along platform cooperative principles.

As a practitioner and leader she is committed to sharing openly her blog, along with presentations and publications. You can find her online at @ammienoot (Twittter) @ammienoot@ds106.social.us (Mastodon) and https://ammienoot.com.

Read Co-Chair Lawrie Phipps’ introduction to Anne-Marie Scott.

Satwinder Samra

Collaborative Practice: Designing, Communicating and Diversifying Architecture

In this session, Satwinder will explore the designing of a new Masters practice based architecture programme. He will highlight the challenges faced by educators in delivering change and why we need to embrace opportunities which offer greater choice and pathways for students. Satwinder will share and reflect upon tactics for better communicating both within and beyond the academy and what we can learn from the worlds of broadcast media. Ultimately, the session will reveal how a more agile teaching approach allows for better inclusion and increased diversity. 

Biography

Satwinder was born in Huddersfield to Punjabi parents. His early education was at Deighton High School and Huddersfield New College. After gaining a first class honours degree and distinction at Masters level from Sheffield University he worked with Urban Splash in Liverpool and Proctor & Matthews in London before co-founding his own practice Sauce Architecture. He now collaborates with William Matthews Associates on international design projects.

Simultaneously Satwinder has become an accomplished architectural educator. He has taught as a visiting design tutor, guest reviewer and external examiner globally including the Royal College of Art, Hong Kong Design Institute and Yale School of Architecture. He is currently Director of Collaborative Practice at Sheffield University School Of Architecture.

His insights, expertise and ability to communicate with passion means he is a presenter, host and broadcaster in demand. Highlights include BAFTA award winning CBBC The Dengineers, Grand Designs Live and hosting the RIBA Building Stories Stephen Lawrence Prize.

Ultimately all his work promotes making architecture accessible to everyone. Learn more about Satwinder and his work on his website.

Student voices: Shaping the Post-Pandemic Campus

Higher education has been impacted by a host of challenges over the last 10 years. Pandemic disruptions, shifts in government policy and priority, and emerging technologies are just some of the drivers of sector change.  

The ALT Conference has always sought to centre our discussions around voices of both staff and students, and this year our panel is made up of students who have recent experience of these changing times. The panel will provide first-hand insights into the lived experiences and perspectives of learners experiencing campus life in the UK in 2023. 

Recognising the importance of the student voice, this panel aims to encourage dialogue and collaboration between policy makers, educators, and learners. The ALT audience brings an important perspective and we hope that this panel will be an engaging learning experience for all involved.