Digital Safety in an Interconnected World

Adrian Hall is an independent consultant with a respected profile in the use of mobile, game and social media technologies for learning. Prior to this Adrian held the position with Steljes Limited, one of the UK’s leading technology integration companies, is to develop thought leadership around the use of technology in education. He has worked on the Project Inkwell Group, an American based international think tank/lobby group for one to one access to technology for children.

Prior to this, Adrian worked for the UK’s Department of Education and Skills as a senior policy advisor on educational software. His responsibilities included developing the government’s policy in relation to the educational software industry, commissioning new and innovative curriculum software, including software to work on mobile devices, and developing thinking on the use of games in education.

Prior to this Adrian worked as an Archaeologist.

Graham Brown-Martin has been described by his peers as a disruptive, maverick and he applies the principles of activism to all that he undertakes.

Graham's own direct experience of cybercrime is as a result of the continued cyberstalking of his family by an individual from overseas and currently beyond the direct reach of UK authorities. The case has been the subject of mainstream media attention including this documentary.

Graham is the managing director and founder of Learning Without Frontiers (LWF) whose mission is to provide continuous dialogue concerning new learning and teaching practice leading to improvements of a transformational nature. To achieve this mission LWF hosts online communities, conferences and publishes content for international thought leaders, innovators and practitioners in the education, technology and entertainment sectors. Example communities including Handheld Learning and Game Based Learning. New communities with a focus on digital safety and recognition of innovation amongst young education professionals will be launched during 2009.

Prior to this Graham has enjoyed a career spanning the education and entertainment software industries, having built a number of creatively and technologically innovative enterprises that were sold to larger corporations including Philips Electronics and Virgin Interactive. Before starting his own companies Graham worked with the Open University and Research Machines. Graham has also worked in several developing nations.

Aside from his work and entrepreneurship in technology, Graham has also directed music videos for The Fall, Malcolm McLaren, Salt Tank and Future Sound of London amongst others and with artist, Buggy G Riphead, he designed the ship’s computer for the feature film, “Lost in Space”.

Graham has also appeared in a variety of media including The TES, The Assignment, Trace, Transculturalism, the BBC Money Programme, The Guardian, Management Today and The Times.

Graham has 4 children and lives in a leafy enclave between Peckham and Deptford in South-East London, UK.

Stephen Carrick-Davies is an independent freelance professional working in the fast-changing field of new communications technology, predominantly where it impacts on the lives of children, parenting, schools and the wider society.

Most recently Stephen was CEO of Childnet International where for ten years he led on developing award-winning internet education and awareness programmes for young people, families and schools such as the Kidsmart schools’ outreach programme and Childnet’s “Dot Hope” Academy programme which supported and rewarded young people around the world who were using the Internet for good. Stephen has worked closely with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and BECTA on producing advice for Parents on safe use of the internet. This work involved the production and distribution of over 1.5 million copies of the interactive ‘Know IT ALL for Parents’ CD rom (translated into 8 languages) and distributed to schools free of charge. Stephen also worked with the DCSF on guidance for schools on how to prevent and respond to Cyberbullying. This work involved extensive consultation, the running of two national conferences with Government Ministers, and the production of a ground-breaking Cyberbullying education resources which has been circulated to schools across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.

Stephen has advised key leaders on issues of children’s safe use of the Internet. Including appearing before and giving evidence to the UK Government DCMS Select Committee, making presentations to MPs, industry leaders, opinion formers, funders and the media. Stephen was a member of the Home Secretary’s Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet (2003-2008) and advisor to the Family Online Safety Institute in Washington DC. Stephen has also developed partnerships with a range of organisations and companies including; O2, Microsoft, Cable & Wireless, Trend Micro, and Vodafone.

An engaging speaker, Stephen has been invited to speak on issues related to children's use of the Internet throughout the UK and wider a field. Most recently he has travelled to Malaysia, Egypt, Poland and Brazil to champion children’s rights online, and help stakeholders to think about how they engage with the Internet and Internet technologies. A pragmatist, he promotes a balanced approach to online risks, highlighting the importance of education and a recognition of the positive opportunities that engagement in the online world can bring young people. A point summed up by his recent question posed to Egyptian young people, “What Ghandi would have done if he had had a Myspace account?"

Stephen has an honours degree from the University of London in Education and Communications, has 3 children and lives in South London.