Keynote Speakers
Dr John Weldon, Victoria University
‘The Block might not be the right answer for every institution, but it does ask the right questions’
Associate Professor John Weldon is an educator, researcher, and writer specializing in curriculum innovation, digital media, and creative writing. As Head of Curriculum at Victoria University’s First Year College® (2017–2021), he played a key role in designing and implementing the VU Block Model®. From 2022–2023, he led the revitalization of VU’s business degrees.
Weldon co-edited Block Teaching Essentials: A Practical Guide (2025), the world’s first book on block teaching in higher education, and co-authored Content Production for Digital Media (2021). He founded the International Block and Intensive Learning and Teaching Association (IBILTA) in 2020, serving as its Founding President until 2023.
A former Professional and Creative Writing academic, Weldon is also a novelist and journalist, with work published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The ABC, and more. His career reflects a commitment to educational transformation and impactful storytelling.
Professor Leanne de Main, De Montfort University
‘Myths, Folklore and Legends: Leading educational change on the Ship of Theseus?’
Leanne is an experienced senior leader in Higher Education, currently as Professor of Education, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Interim Dean at De Montfort University. She is a Principal Fellow with Advance HE (PFHEA), holds the CMBE with the Chartered Association of Business Schools, is a member of the British Academy of Management (BAM), an Advance HE Aurora Mentor and an Associate Member of the Association of Learning Technology (ALT).
Leanne is a Peer Reviewer for the European Federation of Management Development (EFMD) supporting Business Schools globally in achieving EFMD accreditation. In January 2022, Leanne joined the Advisory Group for the QAA review of Business and Management Benchmark Statements and has recently completed two QAA funded Collaborative Enhancement Projects looking at student experience post-covid and Block Teaching. In January 2025, Leanne won funding from Advance HE and is collaborating with international universities on Block 2.0.
Leanne researches teaching and learning, neurodiverse learners, widening participation and opportunity in HE with a focus on curriculum design models, block teaching and design sprint methodology: a strategic transformation she led as Associate PVC Education at DMU. Her book, 'Achieving Teaching Excellence' was released in 2021. More recently, in January 2025, her chapter on 'Quality in Block Teaching' was published in 'Block Teaching Essentials'.