WISE 12 unveils global speaker lineup for ‘Humanity.io’ summit in Doha

Doha, Qatar: The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation, announced its lineup of speakers for the WISE 12 Summit, taking place on 24–25 November 2025 at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme ‘Humanity.io: Human Values at the Heart of Education.’

This year’s edition will convene over 200 local and international speakers representing academia, technology, policy, and social impact, united by a shared commitment to reimagine education through empathy, equity, and human purpose.

Building on the momentum of the previous summit, WISE 12 will explore how human values can remain at the core of learning systems in an era rapidly transformed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological acceleration.

The summit’s diverse roster of speakers includes award-winning author and novelist, Laila Lalami, celebrated for her powerful explorations of identity and belonging; bestselling author and former Chief Business Officer of Google X, Mo Gawdat, recognized for his influential work on AI, happiness and innovation; and Nobel Laureate and MIT Professor, Dr. Abhijit Banerjee, whose research has transformed global understanding of education and poverty reduction.

Others expected at the WISE 12 Summit are space explorer and CEO of XPRIZE Foundation, Anousheh Ansari, who advocates for inclusive innovation and STEM access; Executive Director of Singapore Institute of technology; Dr. Michael Fung, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development; Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Director for Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force and advocate for education access in conflict zones, Omar Al Shogre, and founder of iamtheCODE and a global champion for digital literacy for girls across Africa, Lady Mariéme Jamme, among others.

CEO of WISE, Stavros N. Yiannouka, said “WISE 12 is a space where the global conversation on education, technology, and humanity truly converges.”

“We are at a defining moment for education systems worldwide. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies accelerate, it becomes vital to ensure that innovation amplifies human potential rather than replaces it. This summit will gather voices who are not only transforming education but re-centering it on the very values that make us human.”

With over 60 core sessions – including plenaries, research dialogues, and interactive masterclasses - WISE 12 will provide a platform to address how education can evolve without losing its humanity. The summit will explore key questions around ethics in AI, equitable access to quality learning, redefining success and well-being in education, and the role of collaboration across sectors.

These questions will be examined across five interconnected thematic tracks: ‘Putting Human Needs at the Heart of Education,’ ‘Realizing the Promise of Progressive Education,’ ‘Navigating the Skills Revolution in Higher Education and Lifelong Learning,’ ‘Catalyzing Multi-Sectoral Systems Change to Transform Education,’ and ‘Centering Education towards Economic Opportunities and Community Resilience.’

WISE 12 Key Highlights

• 200+ speakers from across the globe, including education leaders, policymakers, innovators, researchers, and youth advocates

• 60+ core sessions including plenaries, panels, workshops, masterclasses, research presentations, in addition to a variety of engaging experiential activities

• Firsthand learning through participative sessions for teachers and learners at the WISE Majlis

• 3,000+ participants representing more than 100 countries

• Four thematic tracks exploring critical issues from K-12 classrooms to higher education, lifelong learning, and systems transformation

• WISE Prize Winners Announcement the culmination of a year-long journey as six finalists showcase their innovations in a bid for the WISE Prize

Since its founding in 2009 by Qatar Foundation, WISE has evolved into a global platform for innovation and collaboration in education. Through its biennial summit, research programs, and partnerships, WISE continues to champion education as a force for human progress, one that connects technology with compassion, and transformation with purpose.