Composing Success - From Music Teacher to Apple Consultant

This month we'll be at AND Digital, with a talk from David Kirtlan

Composing Success - How a Music Teacher became the top preferred independent consultant for Apple

In this session, we’ll discover David’s journey from starting out as a music teacher in Doncaster and how thinking differently about education caught the imagination of Apple. He’ll tell the story of the key decisions and fundamental changes he implemented that resulted in touring Europe for the lunch of iTunes U, regularly speaking on the worlds biggest education stages, and developing one of the first 1:1 device strategies that helped to kickstart a global movement. David is now moving into the world of app development, creating an app that can be used in schools throughout the world.

David brings over 25 years experience as a senior leader in education, as an Academy Director at Doncaster College and then as Education Director for Backstage Academy (now Academy of Live Technology at Production Park). At both institutions he drove innovation supporting Apple to develop the world’s first Apple Authorised Training Centre for Logic (music production software), including creating the Education framework for this to role out across EMEIA. He also developed the first UK 1:1 device programme in education, which became the featured model for Apple during the European tour of iTunes U.

Following these successes, David took on the role of an education consultant, working with schools and multi-academy trusts throughout the UK to support the technology developments through leadership support and curriculum development. He has presented both independently and on behalf of Apple at the world’s largest education conferences including BETT in London, and delivered keynote speeches at GESS in Dubai and Mexico, BES Asia in Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as supporting the UAE and Turkish governments in technology-led curriculum design.

David has also developed the digital strategies for both Guide Dogs UK and Family Fund, as well as support numerous SEND organisations to better support their users.

Agenda

• 17:30 Event opens 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️
• 17:30 Food arrives 🍕
• 17:30 Eating and Networking 🍽️ 💬
• 18:00 Event starts 🎬
• 18:10 Talk from David 🗣️
• 19:00 Event closes, optional drinks at a nearby pub 🍻