Coffee, Cake and Conversation with Holly Clark

Coffee, Cake and Conversation with Holly Clark

A rare and valuable opportunity for school leaders to engage with a global AI-in-education expert.

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Classrooms – Today

Join Holly Clark, one of the world’s leading voices in AI for education, for a relaxed, in-person session created exclusively for principals, deputy principals and school AI leads.

Come for the cake. Stay for the clarity. Leave with direction, inspiration, and practical insight.

Who Is Holly Clark—and Why Spend Time with Her?

• International thought leader in AI, blended learning, and student agency
• Author of best-sellers including The AI Infused Classroom
• Has worked alongside 100,000+ educators globally and advised ministries of education
• In 2024 alone, worked with over 1,000 Kiwi teachers and leaders
• Headlining ISTELive 2025 (18,500+ participants) as the top speaker on AI in education
• Named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Educators in the World (2024)

Holly is not just another presenter—she is a practitioner, strategist, and changemaker with boots-on-the-ground experience in real classrooms and boardrooms alike. Known for her authentic delivery (and yes, she often apologises for being American!), she brings fresh global insight, practical examples, and a deep understanding of what’s possible when AI meets great pedagogy.

What About Our Own Experts?

New Zealand has some exceptional educators and thought leaders in this space—and we deeply value their mahi. This isn’t about replacing local expertise. It’s about complementing it.

Holly brings a next-level global perspective to the conversation—sharing what’s happening in classrooms and systems around the world, and helping us imagine where Aotearoa could sit in that landscape. It’s a chance to see the bigger picture, challenge our assumptions, and strengthen what we’re already doing well.

Why This Event Matters

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s already embedded in the tools, platforms, and environments our students engage with every day. As school leaders, we have a responsibility not just to respond, but to lead with insight and purpose.

But in a rapidly evolving space, not all guidance is created equal. The proliferation of short courses and self-declared experts has created a noisy landscape where genuine expertise can be hard to distinguish from surface-level hype.

Holly Clark offers something different. With decades of experience, deep pedagogical knowledge, and a global perspective, she brings both clarity and credibility to the conversation. Her insights are grounded, practical, and informed by her work with educators and education systems around the world.

We’re fortunate in Aotearoa to have many talented educators innovating in this space—but Holly’s visit offers a rare opportunity to broaden our lens, benchmark globally, and reflect on where we want to position ourselves as a nation.

In a world full of bold claims and quick fixes, don’t get caught up in the noise—or the 'heard'. Take time to think deeply, engage critically, and lead wisely.

What You Will Experience

• A relaxed, small-group setting with great coffee, cake, and conversation
• Real case studies from real classrooms—both international and local
• Insights into global trends and where NZ could fit in
• Open Q&A—ask anything, challenge everything
• Practical ideas and leadership strategies you can use tomorrow

Event Details

Hosted by EDconnect
Tuesday 8 July 2025

• 9 am – 12 noon
• Stonefields School
• Value - $150 + GST

RSVP Now – Limited Spaces Available

“AI is already in our schools. The real question is: are we ready to lead with it?”
— Holly Clark