4:20 - 4:50 PM | Beyond the Classroom — How Sport, Performance and Voice Build Extraordinary Young People
Panel DISCUSSION
The Conversation
It's tempting to treat sport, music, drama and enrichment as extras, the things that happen once the "real" academic work is done. But ask any student what shaped who they became, and the answer is rarely a test score. It's the team they made, the stage they stood on, the moment they discovered they could do something they didn't think they could.
This session explores how sport, music, drama and humour build confident, capable young people, considering competition and teamwork on the pitch as a place where students discover who they are. It examines the courage it takes to perform, compete and be seen, celebrates enrichment as core to school identity rather than an add-on to education, and closes with a reminder that every extraordinary athlete, performer or speaker was once just a student who found out what they were made of.
Key discussion points include:
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How sport, music, drama and humour build confident, capable young people
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Competition and teamwork as a place where students discover who they are
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The courage it takes to perform, compete and be seen
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Enrichment as core to school identity, not an add-on to education
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A reminder that every extraordinary athlete, performer or speaker was once just a student who found out what they were made of
Speakers
Arya Chitra General Manager, Nikon Youth Program Arya is the General Manager of the Nikon Youth Program across MENA and India, leading photography education initiatives that empower young people through creativity and visual storytelling. She works with schools, universities, and organisation to design impactful, hands-on learning experiences that build technical skills, confidence, and future-ready creative thinking.
Muberra Semin IB Music Educator, ACS Doha International School Muberra is a Music Educator with over 15 years of international teaching experience. A published author, choir performer, and certified Kodály educator, she is passionate about using music, performance, and student voice to build confidence, creativity, and meaningful connections beyond the classroom.
Danny O'Brien Education Facilitator, Drumhill Event Management Danny is a stand-up comedian and education facilitator with 16+ years’ performance experience and a background in youth work and social care. He adapts stand-up, improvisation, and storytelling into evidence-informed interventions that boost student confidence, public speaking, and collaboration while reducing participation anxiety. His workshops make complex topics accessible, strengthen classroom relationships, and foster critical thinking. Danny has delivered programmes for universities, schools, youth services, and the Irish Prison Service, equipping participants with humour-based icebreakers, storytelling tools, positive-feedback techniques, and energy-management strategies. His approach creates psychologically safe learning environments that encourage risk-taking, authentic expression, and lasting engagement in educational settings.
Georgie Ross Drama & Oracy Educator, Oracy Group / ESU With over 20 years of experience in education, Georgie Ross is an international educator, drama and oracy specialist, and public speaking coach dedicated to helping young people and educators become confident communicators. She has worked with schools across the world, coaching students, teachers and leaders in public speaking, presentation skills and purposeful classroom dialogue, while supporting schools to embed oracy across teaching and learning. This year, Georgie was part of the inaugural 'Implementing Oracy' programme the University of Cambridge, strengthening her expertise in evidence informed oracy practice She serves as an Oracy Coach and Competition Lead for the English Speaking Union and is supporting the development of the ESU's presence in India with the Oracy Group, helping to establish opportunities for young people to develop oracy, debate and public speaking skills, Passionate about the transformative power of communication, Georgie believes every young person deserves the confidence to express their ideas, collaborate effectively and find their voice. Her mission is to empower the next generation, and the educators who guide them, with the communication, collaboration and confidence skills essential for success in education, leadership and the future world of work.