Let's Talk Early Years
HomePodcastEventsServicesAboutBlogNewslettersContact
Let's Talk Early Years - Dubai
ConferenceIn-Person Event

Let's Talk Early Years - Dubai

Foundations for the future

Saturday, 7 November 2026
BC Academy International School, Dubai

Headline Partner

Dryad
View the agendaGet Tickets

Strategic Partner

  • Parent App

Venue partner

  • BC Academy

Digital Partner

  • Roqcx

About This Event

Following an incredible first conference in 2025, Foundations for the Future returns for its second year, bringing the Let’s Talk Early Years community together in Dubai for a full day of learning, conversation, new ideas and connection.

This year, we’re Innovating Childhood.

What does innovation really look like in early childhood, and how do we embrace what is changing without losing sight of what young children need most?

Across the day, we’ll explore AI, EdTech and new approaches to documenting learning, alongside future-ready skills, creativity, making, movement, wellbeing and the evolving role of the early years educator.

Expect thought-provoking speakers, practical workshops, hands-on experiences and honest conversations about the opportunities and questions facing our sector right now. Meet educators, leaders, specialists and organisations from across the early years community, discover new ideas and resources, and leave with thinking you can take back into your own setting.

Come curious. Leave inspired.

Meet your MC

Stephanie Martin

TEDx Speaker, The Voice Lab, Edvance Consultants

Event Details

Date

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Time

8am – 4:30pm

Lunch & Light refreshments included

Venue

BC Academy International School, Dubai

Category

Conference

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Neil Hopkin

Director of Education at Fortes Education

Dr. Neil Hopkin

Holding Your Nerve: What Early Years Should Do About AI

Biography

Dr. Neil Hopkin

Dr Neil Hopkin is Director of Education at Fortes Education, leading academic strategy across the group’s schools. With 30 years’ experience across the UK, Singapore, China and the UAE, he has led eight schools and contributed to national education policy and research. His work spans leadership, teacher development and educational innovation, with a current focus on AI while protecting the human purpose at the heart of education.

Sam Tabshouri

Strategy and Digital Transformation Leader

Sam Tabshouri

Generation Alpha: Rethinking Childhood

Biography

Sam Tabshouri

Sam is a social, digital and brand strategist with more than 20 years of experience helping organisations build relevance and connect with audiences. He currently serves as Head of Strategy & Marketing at blinx, where he focuses on audience behaviour, content, brand positioning and the evolving relationship between people, technology and media. He is also the founder of SPARK, a strategy consultancy working across sectors including early childhood and education. His work in the early-years space explores how educators can communicate their philosophy authentically, build stronger communities and better understand how parents experience education in a digital world. He brings a perspective that sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, digital behaviour and human connection.

Closing keynote

To be announced

Franklin Covey

Panel Discussions

Innovating Childhood

Moderator

Melonie KarriemFounder & Host, Let’s Talk Early Years

With 30+ years of experience across Africa and the Middle East, Melonie Karriem is an early childhood education leader, consultant and mentor passionate about quality, collaboration and meaningful conversations.

What's Happening in Early Childhood & Why

Moderator

Dana AlqinnehHead of Innovation Pedagogy at Parent app

Founder of The Early Years Academy, she is a certified trauma-informed trainer, author and advocate for early childhood education.

Agenda

Coming soon

The day's schedule will be published here.

Workshops

Nellie Parsons

Growing Minds in the Digital Age: An Interactive Workshop on Early Childhood Development and AI

Nellie Parsons

Growing Minds in the Digital Age: An Interactive Workshop on Early Childhood Development and AI

This interactive workshop explores how early childhood development can be supported, strengthened, and protected in an era shaped by rapid technological change and the rise of artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing on devices or digital tools, the session centres on the human foundations children need in order to thrive — cognitive, emotional, social, and creative. Participants will engage in guided reflections, and practical demonstrations that reveal how young children learn, process information, and build essential developmental skills in the first years of life. The workshop introduces a human‑first framework for integrating AI into early childhood environments responsibly and meaningfully, ensuring that technology enhances — rather than replaces — the adult’s role in nurturing healthy development. Educators will leave with a clearer understanding of: - The developmental needs of children aged 0–6 in a digital world - how AI is reshaping learning environments and adult–child interactions - Practical strategies for supporting attention, creativity, communication, and self‑regulation - Ways to use technology intentionally while preserving human connection, play, and exploration The session is designed for early years educators, nursery leaders, and professionals seeking a balanced, developmentally informed perspective on AI in early childhood education.

Hannah Rudling Stockley

Future-Ready Literacy: Balancing Technology and Human Connection

Hannah Rudling Stockley

Future-Ready Literacy: Balancing Technology and Human Connection

Hannah Rudling is Head of International Development at Monster Phonics and an experienced educator and school leader with a background in early years, literacy and phonics. Having worked in schools across the UK, Malaysia and the UAE, she now supports schools, teachers and education groups internationally to implement high-quality phonics provision.

Seminars

Dr. Bochra Kaddoura

What Children Want - What Children Need

Dr. Bochra Kaddoura

Avril Mc Monagle

Rethinking Documentation: What are we really capturing?

Avril Mc Monagle

Exhibition Partners

Signature Experience Partners

The Sunshine Stop

  • Nutricub
  • Cooking Lama

The Calm Collective

  • Green Heart
  • Yoga Bears
  • My Happy Mind

The Literacy Lounge

  • My Booktopia
  • Evisa Simpson Stories
  • The Majlis Academy
  • Monster Phonics

The Innovation Hub

  • Avientek
  • Change Education

Exhibitors

  • PrepMe Learning
  • Play Therapy Centre
  • Mosaic
  • aKINDemy
  • KhaleejiLand
  • Enaya Education
  • Drawing By Me
  • Nellie Parsons

Tickets

Secure your spot

Back to Events

Tickets

Secure your spot

Get Tickets

Let's Talk Early Years

A growing professional platform for the early childhood sector.

Bringing together educators, leaders and specialists through conversation, events, professional learning and shared insight.

Explore

  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Events

Connect

  • Contact
  • About
  • Resources
  • Newsletter

Legal

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 Melonie Karriem. All rights reserved.

Designed & built by ROQCX

Tickets

Secure your spot

Choose how many tickets you need — we'll apply the best pack mix automatically.