The International Schools of Sri Lanka (TISSL) held its 11th annual conference at Blue Waters, Wadduwa, recently, bringing together educational leaders under the theme “Managing Change in Schools”.

The conference opened with addresses by Chairman Dayan Fernando and Founder Chairman Dr Harsha Alles, who framed the gathering as both a reflection on past achievements and a forward-looking call to embrace innovation in education.

A key highlight of the event was the keynote address by Dr Akash Raut, whose speech challenged school leaders to adopt reflective practice and moral courage as essential tools for navigating uncertainty and leading meaningful change.

The second day of the conference focused on practical and philosophical approaches to managing transformation in education. Sessions included “Building a Change Ready School Culture” by Dominic Tomalin and “Aligning Systems with Vision” by Dr Asoka De Silva. Discussions also explored personal resilience and ethical leadership through presentations by Lisa Ripperger and Dr N Nagarajan, who spoke on integrating innovation without compromising learning outcomes.

Further insights were shared by David Harkin, who reflected on learning beyond traditional frameworks, and Sarah Chambers, who emphasised the importance of “winning hearts before policies”, underscoring the human dimension of educational reform.

The conference concluded with an evening networking session that brought participants together to strengthen collaboration and share perspectives on the future of education.