Speaking & Events

Thoughtful, practical ideas for your conference, school, or organisation.

For conference organisers, professional associations, and school leadership teams looking for a speaker or facilitator grounded in real school leadership.

Keynote & Workshop Topics

Sessions for conferences, retreats, and professional learning days.

Leading Inclusive Schools

What it takes to move inclusion from intention into everyday leadership and classroom practice.

Building Cultures of Belonging

How belonging is created, sustained, and sometimes quietly undone in school communities.

Inquiry & Concept-Based Learning

Designing learning experiences that build genuine, transferable understanding.

Curriculum Leadership

Leading curriculum work that connects documents to classrooms — and actually gets used.

Assessment That Supports Learning

Rethinking assessment so it informs learning, not just measures it.

Leading Through Complexity

Practical thinking for leaders navigating change, growth, and uncertainty.

Professional Learning That Changes Practice

Why so much PD doesn't stick — and what to do differently.

International School Leadership

Leading across cultures, systems, and communities in international education.

Formats

Available across a range of settings.

Keynotes

Conference and event keynote addresses on leadership, inclusion, and learning.

Workshops & Conference Sessions

Interactive, practical sessions for leaders, teachers, and teams.

Webinars & Panels

Online sessions and panel discussions for professional organisations and networks.

Leadership Retreats

Facilitated days for leadership teams working through strategic or cultural priorities.

Upcoming Events

Where to find me next.

14Sep
Online Webinar · School & Middle Leaders

Leading Inclusive Schools: From Intention to Practice

A practical session on turning inclusion commitments into everyday classroom and leadership practice.

Register Interest
02Oct
In Person · Curriculum & Learning Leaders

Concept-Based Curriculum: Designing for Understanding

A workshop for curriculum leaders exploring inquiry and concept-based approaches that build genuine understanding.

Register Interest
19Nov
Online · Leadership Teams

Assessment That Supports Learning

Rethinking assessment practice so it is meaningful, fair, and genuinely aligned to how students learn.

Register Interest

Past Events

A selection of recent speaking engagements.

International Schools Leadership Conference

Keynote on leading inclusive schools through complexity and change.

Regional IB Educators' Network

Workshop on inquiry and concept-based curriculum design.

School Leaders' Professional Learning Series

Webinar on designing professional learning that changes classroom practice.

Professional headshot of Elani McDonald

Speaker Bio & Headshot

For programmes, introductions, and promotional materials.

Elani McDonald is a Secondary School Principal and international school leader whose consulting and speaking work is grounded in real school leadership. She works with schools and organisations on leadership development, inclusive practice, curriculum and inquiry, and school improvement, and speaks regularly at conferences on leading thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable change in schools.

Invite me to your event.

Get in touch with your event details and the topic you'd like covered — I'll follow up within a few days.