Today’s a bit different. On this, the penultimate day of the 2025 24DaysOfAI Appvent Calendar, I wanted to, instead of highlighting a tool, share five brilliant people you should be following as we move into 2026. These are educators and innovators who consistently deliver value, challenge thinking, and most importantly, keep students at the heart of everything they do in the world of technology and AI.
Alex More – If you want someone who truly gets the journey from classroom to consultancy, follow Alex. Having recently made that transition himself, he brings that crucial, authentic classroom voice to AI strategy discussions. As host of STEM Learning UK’s AI Sprints, Alex is brilliant at bringing people together around practical, pedagogically sound AI integration. Safeguarding sits at the heart of everything he does – always strategic, always children first. Come see us both at AI Sprints Live at Bett – Stand SN50 on Friday morning – it’s going to be brilliant (and I’m going to be speaking on the stand with the next person in my list of 5 people connect with in 2026).
Dr Neelam Parmar – I’ve known Neelam for years, and what I love about her is that she does the hard, quiet work that actually matters. She doesn’t post often – but when she does, you can guarantee you’ll take away something that makes you think, helps you, or inspires you. With a career that spans both UK and international contexts, she brings deep pedagogical knowledge grounded in evidence of what actually works. Some people talk the talk – Neelam walks it, and that’s what makes everything she shares so genuine and useful.
Matthew Wemyss – Still firmly grounded in the classroom, Matthew is doing exactly what I used to do all those years ago – sharing the brilliant things that work AND the things that don’t. He’s student-focused, and his newsletter is solid gold. Oh, and when it comes to understanding AI, particularly the EU AI Act – Matthew’s your person. Great inquisitive expertise from someone still doing the day job.
Trudi Barrow – I’ve come across Trudi so many times on LinkedIn this year, and I’ve always left impressed. She’s a real ambassador for using technology for good, particularly in design and technology, working with influential organisations like the V&A and numerous trusts across the UK. If I were to recommend anyone for creative approaches to using technology in the curriculum, Trudi would be one of my first go-to people. She’s high on my ‘one to watch’ list for 2026 – her shares are always spot on and I’m looking forward to welcoming her as a guest on the ListEd podcast in 2026, recorded live at Bett.
Steve Bambury – If you ever wanted to connect with someone at the cutting edge of innovation in education, think Steve Bambury. He puts young people, their progress, impact on the world and future skills at the front of everything he does. I first met Steve at an Apple Distinguished Educator Institute ten years or more ago. From inviting me to keynote at the first JESS Digital Innovation Summit to contributing to The EdTech Playbook, Steve is a force of nature. Now leading the AI in Education Think Tank in Dubai as well as AI and Digital Innovation at the JESS school, he continues that collaborative leadership that makes him always worth listening to, connecting with, and learning from.
These five create a brilliant network of perspectives – from classroom practitioners to international innovators, from quiet evidence-based work to creative cutting-edge thinking, who all add value to me as part of my PLN.
Follow them. Learn from them. Connect with them. You won’t regret it.
