Keynote Speakers

Dr. Mirjam Hauck is Academic Lead for AI in Learning, Teaching and Assessment at the Open University/UK and a Senior Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy. She has published widely on the learning and teaching of languages and cultures, in virtual exchange (VE) contexts in particular. She is the President of the European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL), serves as Associate Editor of the CALL Journal and is an editorial board member of ReCALL and LLT. She is a founding member of UNICollaboration.org and has been a co-investigator in several VE projects funded by the EU and the US-based Stevens Initiative.

Title: Online Learning of Languages and Cultures for Social Justice and Inclusion

Petr Torak MBE is a Roma activist, community leader, and consultant. In 2005, Petr began leveraging his linguistic and cultural expertise to foster community cohesion in Peterborough and across the UK. Recognised with an MBE for his contributions to the Roma community, Petr has served as a police officer, charity CEO, and Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic. With expertise in community cohesion, modern slavery, and cultural integration, he is a sought-after speaker and advisor, dedicated to fostering understanding and harmony across diverse communities. Petr completed the Obama Leaders Programme, further enhancing his leadership skills and expanding his capacity to create lasting, meaningful change. 

Title: "Best practices in breaking the vicious circle of Roma segregation and the vital role languages teachers can play in overcoming barriers to learning".

Bianka Zemke, Ofsted Subject Lead for Languages, is a qualified teacher with extensive experience in education. Before working for Ofsted, Bianka was a senior leader in large comprehensive schools. She also has extensive experience in school improvement and ITE. Her particular areas of expertise include modern foreign languages and English as an additional language.

Title: TBC