International Conference
on
Cultivating Thinking Cultures
Herschel School, Cape Town: 9th & 10th May 2025
Kingsmead College, Johannesburg: 13th & 14th May 2025
Click here to watch a video clip about Herschel Girls School.
Join us at this transformative conference designed for leaders, educators, education professionals, or anyone committed to advancing student learning. Here, we will focus on practical, intentional strategies to enhance critical thinking and foster an inquiry-based approach to education. You'll gain tools to drive meaningful student outcomes, proving that small shifts in the classroom can lead to powerful outcomes.
Over two dynamic days, renowned speakers from around the globe will lead keynotes and interactive workshops, offering actionable insights for your teaching practice. Together, we’ll inspire a culture of critical, creative, and collaborative thinking within schools, nurturing students to become independent, lifelong learners and skilled problem-solvers.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Trevor MacKenzie
Trevor MacKenzie is a part-time high school teacher in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. His research consultancy and authorship have reached all parts of the world as he works with schools, districts, organisations, and ministries and departments of education in a variety of contexts. Policy advising, curriculum development, professional development, and systems change are Trevor's area of expertise. His four publications are globally recognised as "must reads" in the inquiry-based school of thinking. He is a highly regarded speaker known for his heart-felt storytelling, kind demeanour, and person-first philosophy.
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Shirley Eadie
(Cape Town only)
Shirley is an entrepreneur, researcher, and educationalist with over 20 years of experience spanning the commercial, policy, and education sectors. She holds an M.Ed in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is passionate about advancing whole human development.
As the founding Director of Whole Human Studios, an education consultancy based in Cape Town, Shirley specialises in creating innovative solutions for the future of education. Shirley leads a dynamic team that collaborates with diverse clients, including governments, civil society organisations, edtech companies, and development agencies. Together, they tackle complex challenges at the intersection of education, human development and technology, driving impactful and sustainable change.
Jessica Vance
Jessica’s journey and experience as an inquiry educator fuels her passion and global work in coaching both teachers and leaders in their roles across a variety of rich contexts. With a rich background in teaching and leadership across private and public international schools (as an IB PYP Educator and PYP Coordinator), Jessica brings a unique perspective to her work. Her commitment to student-centered learning, collaboration, and coaching is deeply rooted in her inspiration from students’ natural curiosity and their genuine engagement in learning both inside and outside the classroom. In her bestselling book, Leading with a Lens of Inquiry (published by Elevate Books Edu), Jessica explores how leaders can support and empower teachers in the same inquiry-driven ways that teachers are encouraged to engage with their students.
Listen to Trevor MacKenzie here!
Listen to Jessica Vance here!
Keynotes
Keynote 1: Shirley Eadie
Cape Town only
​The Human Advantage: Rethinking Education in the Age of AI
Keynote 2: Trevor MacKenzie
The Most Important Thing We Can Do in Education
Keynote 3: Jessica Vance
The Power of Questions & Listening in our Inquiry Spaces
Keynote 4: Trevor Mackenzie
A Different Kind of Learning: Stories from the Inquiry Classroom
PRESENTERS
All breakout sessions will be conducted as workshops.
The online workshops, presented by international speakers, will include a local on-site facilitator to ensure seamless communication and active engagement between participants and the presenter.
For our in-person workshops, experienced South African educators will lead interactive sessions. These professionals will share tested methods and strategies to promote critical thinking, inspire curiosity, and boost engagement in the classroom.
