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Keynote presentation: From Makers to Changemakers: Designing for Impact in every classroom

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Friday, June 20, 2025
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Boulevard rooms B1-B3 (plenary)
Sponsored By:
Blue Dog Training

Speaker

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Margaret O'Brien
Founder and CEO
Young Change Agents

Keynote presentation: From Makers to Changemakers: Designing for Impact in every classroom

Presentation description

Turn classroom creators into changemakers. This keynote explores how to guide students in solving real-world problems using sustainable design principles and entrepreneurial thinking—integrating design for community benefit with innovation, empathy and agency.

Session Breakdown:
1. Why impact matters: The case for socially conscious design
2. What works: Case studies and community-aligned projects
3. Linking to curriculum: Sustainability, systems thinking, and assessment
4. Classroom tools and mindset shifts for changemaking

Takeaways: All attendees will have access to The Playbook for Entrepreneurial Education and a Youth Design Challenge.

Biography

Margaret O’Brien is the Founder and CEO of Young Change Agents, a national movement equipping young people to tackle real-world challenges through entrepreneurial thinking. With a background spanning education, business, and social innovation, Margaret is a visionary connector who brings sectors together to build ecosystems of support around youth. She champions collaboration as the key to addressing complex problems and envisions a future where young people are empowered to lead change. A passionate advocate for Design and Technology education, Margaret sees it as a catalyst for student agency, creativity, and impact. By embedding entrepreneurial and design mindsets into classrooms, she helps unlock the potential of young innovators while equipping educators with the tools to build future-ready capabilities. She is also the Co-author of The Playbook for Entrepreneurial Education in Schools, a practical guide supporting educators to create authentic, purpose-driven learning experiences.
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