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D2L Connection: London

D2L Connection: London is where education meets innovation. Join educators, leaders and changemakers for two powerful days of ideas, insights and inspiration—all focused on shaping the future of learning and work.

Don’t miss your chance to hear from leading thinkers on the future of education and work. Learn and collaborate on topics such as:

  • AI-enabled Learning
  • accessibility and inclusion learning
  • learner engagement and retention
  • certification and micro-credentialing
  • D2L Brightspace tips and best practices

From bold keynotes to hands-on sessions, you’ll dive into how emerging tech is transforming education, giving learners more flexibility, confidence and control over their journey.

Register Now

Date

Duration

1.5 Days

Location
Queen Elizabeth II Centre
Three professionals sitting in lecture hall during business event
A group of professionals laughing at business convention
Woman presenting on stage at D2L Connection event
People smiling and talking at table during convention
John Baker and a group of D2lers posing for a group photo

Ignite the Joy of Learning

This year’s theme—Ignite the Joy of Learning—is a celebration of what makes learning truly meaningful. It’s an invitation to reignite curiosity, creativity and connection in every learning experience. In a time of transformation, we’re reimagining how learning can be more engaging, more personalised and more human.

Together, we’ll explore how innovation, especially through AI and emerging technologies, is unlocking new opportunities to help meet the evolving needs of today’s educators and students. From inspiring keynotes to immersive sessions, you’ll discover how these tools are helping learners build confidence, embrace flexibility and take ownership of their journeys like never before.

Whether you’re reshaping the classroom, leading institutional change or preparing for the future of work, this is your moment to connect with a like-minded community that believes in the power of joyful, impactful learning.

Join us as we navigate the intersection of education and technology, unlocking how to pave a brighter future together.

Excellent opportunity to get to know others using the platform in innovative ways.

 – Attendee, D2L Connection: Amsterdam 2024

I liked hearing the roadmap session, engaging with other organisations and hearing how they are using the platform.

 – Attendee, D2L Connection: Amsterdam 2024

Superb organisation, great location, I felt very welcome.

 – Attendee, D2L Connection: Amsterdam 2024
Two women talking at Connection sign in table

Why Attend?

  • Gain fresh insights into how technology-enhanced learning is evolving to meet the needs of today’s learners
  • Stay ahead of the curve with the latest trends, product innovations and proven strategies for success
  • Connect directly with D2L experts, ask questions, share feedback and shape what’s next
Outside the Queen Elizabeth II Centre

Where?

Queen Elizabeth II Centre

Broad Sanctuary Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE, UK

Agenda

Nov 4, 2025

Day 1

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Registration Opens | Tea and Coffee Available

1:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Welcome + Opening Remarks

Speaker:

  • Stewart Watts, Senior Vice President, EMEA & APAC, D2L
1:15 pm - 1:35 pm

Driving Innovation in Learning

AI is everywhere—but generative AI is changing the game, especially in education. Join D2L’s VP of Product Marketing, Imran Ahmed, for a fast-paced session on how AI can personalize learning, improve access, and empower educators—without losing the human touch. Discover how purposeful AI design can unlock deeper engagement and better outcomes for learners of all kinds.

Speaker:

  • Imran Ahmed, Vice President Product Marketing, D2L
1:35 pm - 1:40 pm

Podium Change

1:40 pm - 2:25 pm

Guest Keynote | TBA

2:25 pm - 2:55 pm

Coffee Break

2:55 pm - 3:40 pm

Panel Discussion | Top 10 Takeaways from 10 Years with D2L Brightspace

What can a decade of Brightspace experience teach you? Join D2L customers as they share their top 10 lessons learned from 10 years of supporting users, boosting engagement, and maximising Brightspace’s admin features. Whether you’re new to the platform or a longtime user, these insights can help you maximise your use of your LMS.

Moderator:

  • Michael Kavanagh, Senior Director, International Customer Success, D2L
3:40 pm - 3:45 pm

Podium Change

3:45 pm - 4:30 pm

D2L Solution Spotlight

Join us for an inside look at our latest product developments and enhancements. We’ll walk you through recent updates, highlight the features we’re most excited about, and give you a preview of what’s coming next on the roadmap. This session is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready to make the most of what’s ahead.

Speakers:

  • Imran Ahmed, Vice President Product Marketing, D2L
  • Louise Plunkett, International Product Strategy Director, D2L
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Fireside Chat | A Conversation with John Baker + Brian Finnerty

Host:

  • Brian Finnerty, CMO, D2L

Guest:

  • John Baker, President and CEO, D2L
5:00 pm - 5:10 pm

Day One Closing Remarks

5:10 pm - 6:15 pm

Networking Reception

Join your fellow attendees and keep the momentum going at our Networking Reception. Mingle with fellow attendees and speakers for meaningful conversations and spontaneous connections. Whether you’re diving deeper into day one insights or simply enjoying good company, this is your chance to unwind, engage, and get excited for what’s ahead on day two.

Nov 5, 2025

Day 2

8:15 am - 8:50 am

Registrations

8:50 am - 9:00 am

Welcome + Opening Remarks Day Two

Speaker:

  • Stewart Watts, Senior Vice President EMEA & APAC, D2L
9:00 am - 9:45 am

Panel Discussion | Personalised, Flexible, and Future-Ready: Igniting the Joy of Learning

Learners today expect more than content delivery — they want experiences that are flexible, personalised, and meaningful to their future. In this panel, higher education leaders and corporate learning experts from across EMEA will share how they’re reimagining learning with AI, blended and HyFlex models, and competency-based pathways like micro-credentials. Together, we’ll explore how data-driven personalisation, inclusive design, and thoughtful change management can spark learner motivation, improve satisfaction, and better connect course content to career readiness. With practical examples from Brightspace, panellists will highlight how institutions and organisations are creating dynamic, accessible, and joyful learning environments that foster growth.

Moderator:

  • Rob Telfer, Senior Manager, EMEA Higher Education, D2L

Panellists:

  • John Baker, President and CEO, D2L
  • Lisa Nelson, Director of Education, Kaplan Professional Education
  • Stuart Samuels, Flexible Learning Manager, Nottingham Trent University
9:45 am - 9:50 am

Podium Change

9:50 am - 10:20 am

H5P Deep Dive | Smarter, Better, Faster: Supercharging H5P with AI

What if you could create deeply rich, highly engaging, interactive learning content in a fraction of the time without sacrificing quality or creativity?!

In this high-energy breakout session, discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the way educators, instructional designers, and content creators use H5P. You’ll learn how to dramatically speed up content production so you can focus on what matters most: learning outcomes and learner engagement.

Watch live demonstrations and receive practical, creative tips on how to accelerate your workflow. You’ll also see H5P’s Native Generative AI feature: Smart Import in action: a game-changing technology that converts your existing text, audio, video, or web content into interactive quizzes, videos, crosswords, and more in just seconds!You’ll leave this session inspired and ready to build H5P content 5x faster.

10:20 am - 10:50 am

Make Accessibility Your Advantage | Accessibility+

Join Dr. Sam for a closer look into Accessibility+. A purpose-built content audit and remediation solution for D2L Brightspace customers. It combines AI automation and expert human oversight to streamline compliance, reduce manual work and deliver accessible content when it matters most.

Speaker:

  • Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Global Accessibility Lead, D2L
10:50 am - 11:20 am

Coffee Break

11:20 am - 12:00 pm
Track 1

Higher Education Deep-Dive: Accelerating Innovation in Higher Education

Speaker: Rachel Foster, Principal Solutions Engineer, D2L

Discover how D2L Brightspace is accelerating innovation in higher education through AI-powered workflows, consistent evaluation tools, and engaging in flexible learning experiences while helping institutions save time, drive retention, and support lifelong learning at scale.

 

Track 2

Corporate & Associations Deep-Dive: Evolving Professional Development with Scalable Innovation

Speaker: Zain Qaadri, Senior Solutions Engineer, D2L

Today’s learning leaders are being asked to achieve more with fewer resources. In this session, we’ll explore how D2L is evolving to support the shifting needs of professional learning and development. We’ll begin with an overview of the current industry landscape and future trends, followed by a closer look at the D2L tools and innovations that enable personalised learning and flexible customisation. Learn how to elevate your content and deliver impactful, scalable learning experiences using modern technology.
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

Room Change

12:05 pm - 12:45 pm
Track 1

Panel Discussion | Surviving and Thriving in a Disrupted Sector: Navigating Financial, Tech & Enrolment Pressures

Speaker: TBA

From economic uncertainty, evolving learner demographics and technological disruption higher education institutions must reimagine how they offer value, operate sustainably and remain relevant. This session explores four primary themes that are essential levers for transformation:

  • Revenue diversification
  • Learner adaptation
  • GenAI integration
  • Digital resilience

 

Track 2

Strengthening Minds and Winning Hearts: How Learning is Advancing the Healthcare Industry

Speaker: TBA

Medical tertiary associations play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare professionals remain at the cutting edge of practice while also fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose. Learning is at the heart of this mission — not only strengthening clinical knowledge but also building the trust, loyalty, and engagement that sustain membership.Drawing on themes from D2L’s Connecting Associations to More whitepaper, we’ll show how learning strategies can deliver more than just CPD — they can drive stronger member engagement, enhance industry reputation, and future-proof associations against changing expectations.
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch + Networking

1:30 pm - 1:50 pm

Partner Symposium

Partner Symposium—your chance to connect directly with D2L’s trusted partners. Learn about innovative solutions, discover unique advantages, and explore offerings designed to elevate your learning ecosystem. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, insights, or implementation ideas, this is your opportunity to ask questions, spark conversations, and find the right fit for your goals.

1:50 pm - 2:30 pm
Track 1

Customer Story

Speaker: TBA

Track 2

Interactive Workshop | Learning Investment Strategy: Driving Organisational Transformation Beyond Educational Delivery

Speaker: TBA

Your learning programmes deliver results. Your members engage. But when leadership conversations turn to budgets and strategic priorities, does your learning investment speak the language of organisational transformation?The most successful associations understand that learning investment as organisational transformation—not just educational delivery—creates compounding strategic advantages. Whether you’re positioning renewal investments, expansion strategies, or transformation initiatives, this session provides the leadership frameworks that secure not just approval, but enthusiastic strategic commitment.

Learning objectives:

  1. Transform learning performance into strategic business language
  2. Develop compelling narratives that position learning investment as organisational infrastructure rather than educational service
  3. Articulate why strategic learning partnerships deliver transformation returns that basic educational offerings cannot match
2:30 pm - 2:35 pm
Track 1

Leveraging Brightspace to Foster Academic Development and Immersive Pedagogy

Speaker: Dr. Carmen Miles, PFHEA, Strategic Lead for Digital Education/Deputy Head of DMU Education Academy, De Montfort University

In this interactive session, Carmen Miles from De Montfort University will share insights into their VLE implementation and how they are driving pedagogic innovation through immersive learning and block teaching. This session will showcase:

  • How taking a pedagogy first approach to design of digital learning spaces supported De Montfort’s adoption of block teaching.
  • Use cases of how De Montfort is leveraging Brightspace to support the development of student ownership, create personalised learning experiences and monitor learner progression.
  • De Montfort’s holistic approach to enhancing teaching practices and improving the student experience.

 

Track 2

Panel Discussion | The Ripple Effect: How Learning Programmes Transform Industries, Not Just Members

Speaker: TBA

The most influential associations understand that exceptional learning programmes create impact far beyond their membership—they transform entire industries.Join three association leaders whose learning strategies are driving sector-wide change: elevating professional standards, shaping industry direction, and creating lasting transformation that extends across their entire professional landscape. Discover how strategic learning excellence creates ripple effects that influence non-members, shape sector standards, drive policy change, and position associations as true industry leaders rather than just member services organisations.
3:20 pm - 3:45 pm

Coffee Break

3:45 pm - 4:30 pm

Guest Keynote | TBA

4:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Day Two Closing Remarks + Thank You

Speaker:

  • Stewart Watts, Senior Vice President, EMEA & APAC, D2L