2024 Opening Keynote: Sae Schatz, PhD

Building on real-world innovations from government, business, and academia, our keynote explores not only the tantalizing vision of the future but also the cutting-edge technologies that will bring it to life. Imagine a world of data interoperability, verifiable credentials, and competency-based hiring.

But it’s not all about technology. We delve deep into the individuals and processes essential to making this vision a reality. Think employer incentives, human-centered design, and learning engineering principles.

So, what’s in it for you?

• Learn a vision for the future based in evidence.
• Uncover trends, research, and solutions from real-world examples.
• Explore the specific technologies and human-centered design concepts.
• Craft a framework for lifelong engagement of learner-workers.

The landscape of learning, workforce, and assessment is evolving right before our eyes. The choice is clear: adapt and thrive or risk falling behind. Our keynote promises not just energy but also insight, all aimed at empowering you to embrace the change!

About Sae Schatz

Sae (pronounced like “say”) works at the intersection of human cognition, technology, and data. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific principles and applied human-centered design, and her unique approach to “strategic storytelling” (translating complex topics into memorable and grokable messages) has garnered numerous professional awards and seen her work translated into multiple languages.

In 2023, Sae launched the Knowledge Forge LLC, a boutique consultancy offering applied research and design, professional development, and strategic services in areas such as learning and development, digital and data literacy, and information overload. Her clients include NATO and partner-nation governments, academic institutions, and businesses. Recently, she’s delivered keynotes at the NATO Conference of Commandants and Danish Defence College, hosted a cross-sector Learning Science Seminar in collaboration with Sea Salt Learning, and published works in TD Magazine, Defense Dossier, and the Journal of Military Learning.

From 2015 to 2022, Sae served as the director of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program for research, development, and policy stewardship. She also co-chaired the NATO Training Group (NTG) Individual Training and Educational Developments (IT&ED) task group. Under her leadership, the U.S. ADL Initiative sparked the community’s pursuit of the “future learning ecosystem,” in part with her popular book Modernizing Learning: Building the Future Learning Ecosystem. Her efforts were also formally recognized as “a pathfinder for enterprise data services” by then–DoD Chief Data Officer David L. Spirk.

Before joining the civil service, Sae worked as an applied human-systems scientist in both business and academia. From 2011 to 2014, she was the chief scientist at MESH Solutions (a defense contractor), where she led the U.S. Marine Corps’ Making Good Instructors Great project and the U.S. Joint Staff’s award-winning Blended Learning–Training effort. Prior to that, she held an assistant professorship with the University of Central Florida (UCF) Institute for Simulation and Training, and she was an instructor in the UCF Digital Media Department. Sae is a prolific writer and professional presenter as well as a graphic designer who often uses those skills to enhance books, presentations, and infographics.

She holds a doctorate in Modeling and Simulation (M&S), with an emphasis on human systems.