Clive Shepherd – Blended Learning Specialist and Towards Maturity Workshop Programme Director
Clive is widely acknowledged as one of the UK's foremost experts in learning technologies. He is a prolific author and blogger, and speaks regularly at major international conferences. He was formerly Director, Training and Creative Services for American Express and a co-founder of Epic Group plc. He was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to the Training Industry at the World of Learning Conference in 2004.
Laura Overton – Implementation Specialist
Laura Overton has over 2 decades of experience helping organisations developed sustainable strategies to improve business impact of learning technologies in the workplace, specialising in engagement and communication strategies. Laura is the co- author of 'Towards Maturity' a study into effective e-learning practices in the workplace (published by e-skills UK Feb 07) and author of 'Linking Learning To Business' looking at good practice from 16 successful implementations (Jan 04) and is the founder of Towards Maturity CIC. She has contributed to wider skills policy through work with the European Commission, the UK Sector Skills Councils, the LSC and Becta.
Laura is a Fellow of the Institute of IT training and of the British Institute of Learning and Development and is a regular industry commentator and contributor to conferences, online seminars and industry publications.
Howard Hills – Research Specialist
Howard Hills BA FCIPD FBILD is Head of Research at Towards Maturity CIC (a not for profit independent consultancy spreading best practice in e-learning implementation).
Howard is a published author on embedding e-learning, personality and team learning with several of his research reports available at www.towardsmaturity.org. His career includes senior training roles in the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy, PwC and Head of Training in LloydsTSB. He ensures individuals and organisations get more out of learning with online guidance tools and organisational learning diagnostics.
Nige Howarth – Marketing Specialist
Nige Howarth has over 35 years experience in Information Technology and specifically the application of Technology to Learning.
Nige was one of the original pioneers in the field of e-learning which included 23 years with Thomson NETg, now part of Skillsoft, before setting up his own consultancy. He was responsible for the Global Marketing Strategy covering branding, messaging and positioning, implementing the supporting marketing plans and programmes and establishing the organisation as the global leader.
He combines strategic insight with operational implementation and has a proven track record of implementing Marketing programmes in many organisations.
Barry Sampson – Web 2.0 Specialist
Barry is a consultant focussing on the use of web technologies to improve organisational learning, communication and performance. As Learning Technology Manager at B&Q he worked on a number of award-winning elearning and blended learning programmes, and championed the adoption of emerging tools such as blogs and wikis. Barry is an active committee member of the eLearning Network, where he has particular responsibility for their web presence and use of technology. He is a regular conference speaker on a wide range of subjects including web 2.0 technologies, social media and open source learning tools.