NEW YORK, NY, JULY 16, 2026 – The Learning Guild announced the keynote speakers for DevLearn Conference & Expo 2026, its annual conference for learning professionals, taking place November 4 – 6, 2026, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The keynote lineup brings together leading voices in business, learning, technology, and organizational psychology to explore the trends reshaping workplace learning. Through sessions focused on artificial intelligence, leadership, career adaptability, and resilience, attendees will gain practical strategies for leading through change and preparing for the future of work.
The 2026 keynote speakers are:
Dan Pontefract
Award-winning author, adjunct professor, and former CLO and customer education leader Dan Pontefract will present The Courage to Think Differently: Purpose & Possibilities. Drawing on lessons from his career journey, Pontefract will discuss how professionals can embrace uncertainty, rethink traditional career paths, and stay open to new possibilities in a rapidly evolving world of work.
Dr. Luke Hobson
Dr. Luke Hobson, Assistant Director of Instructional Design at MIT xPRO and lecturer at the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development, will present Learning Design in the Age of AI: Working and Leading Through Disruption. Dr. Hobson will talk to a panel of practicing Instructional designers, and those that serve as their mentors and leaders, as an edition of his popular podcast, live from the DevLearn stage. Together they will examine how AI is transforming learning design and what that means for managers and learning leaders responsible for developing talent.
Dr. Tasha Eurich
Organizational psychologist, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Tasha Eurich will present Becoming Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos. Drawing on five years of research, Eurich will introduce a new approach to resilience that challenges the traditional idea of simply “bouncing back,” exploring how uncertainty, setbacks, and change can become opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“This year’s keynote speakers reflect the breadth of the learning field, and the future of our work. As DevLearn expands with our first-ever Higher Education and Customer Education tracks, alongside the deep workplace learning and talent development content our community expects, we’re creating opportunities for attendees to learn not only within their own discipline, but from adjacent learning practitioners as well. Together, these keynotes embody what DevLearn is all about: helping our community broaden their perspective, learn from one another, and leave better prepared for what’s next” noted Lenore Higgins, Senior Event Director, Learning Guild.
DevLearn 2026 will feature keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, learning sessions, and networking opportunities designed to help learning professionals build practical skills and connections.
For more information about DevLearn Conference & Expo 2026, including the new co-location with Learning Leadership (Nov. 2 & 3), keynote details, conference sessions, and registration information, visit https://devlearn.com/
Media Contact:
Meghan Dowden
Marketing Coordinator
The Learning Guild, a CloserStill Media business
About The Learning Guild
The Learning Guild is a community of practice for learning professionals, offering conferences, online events, resources, and research to support ongoing growth and innovation in learning and development.
About CloserStill Media
CloserStill Media specializes in high-value, content-driven events and the nurturing of B2B and professional communities. The company operates events across the technology, healthcare, learning and HR, and future transport and infrastructure sectors, with more than 850 employees across the globe and offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.closerstillmedia.com.
