Executive Field Study Session: AI as a Human Thinking Companion
Tuesday 17 March - 12:30
AI literacy is no longer a technical matter, it is a governance responsibility.
-Many executives are aware of AI.
-Few feel confident leading with it.
This Executive Field Study, hosted by Derventio Education in partnership with IT Solutionist (Jennifer Surujpaul), equips CEOs, Trust Leaders and Board Members to move from passive awareness to strategic application.
During this session, leaders will:
Prompt live using ChatGPT, Gemini and NotebookLM
Compare how different models analyse, synthesise and challenge information
Apply AI to real executive scenarios including strategy development, risk analysis, policy refinement and board reporting
Develop a structured prompting framework for repeatable, board-level use
This is not a technical workshop. It is a leadership capability session.
Participants will leave with:
Practical confidence engaging directly with AI models
Clarity on where AI creates strategic leverage, and where caution is required
Stronger oversight capability in governance and risk conversations
A defined next step for responsible and measured organisational adoption
The leaders who will shape the next phase of education will not be those who delegate AI to IT but those who understand its cognitive and strategic implications.
Jennifer Surujpaul is the founder of IT Solutionist, a consultancy specialising in digital strategy and IT transformation in Trusts and Schools. With over 25 years of experience supporting staff locally and internationally across primary, secondary, and SEND settings, she helps organisations embed impactful technologies, streamline operations, and build confident digital cultures. Jennifer is passionate about making tools like AI accessible and meaningful for all educators.
An innovative IT Solutionist and entrepreneur, Jennifer is dedicated to helping schools and Trusts maximise the value of their IT investments. Her work spans digital audits, subscription reviews, cyber and information security planning, and targeted training that empowers staff at every level. She works closely with leadership teams to align digital initiatives with broader organisational goals, ensuring that transformation is not only strategic, but sustainable.
As the founder of her own business, Jennifer has supported digital change across a wide range of educational settings, combining her technical expertise with a deep understanding of the school environment. She designs and delivers bespoke training programmes that strengthen stakeholder engagement and support meaningful cultural change. Her approach integrates policy development, data analysis, and change management to create systems that are agile, efficient, and fit for the future.
At Derventio Education, we're incredibly passionate about the power of collaboration and shared knowledge in education. Many of us here have deep roots in schools - we're teachers, former leaders, and even school governors ourselves! This firsthand experience fuels our commitment to fostering a vibrant learning community.
This session will encourage educators to thoughtfully evaluate and reassess current approaches to assessment in an era where artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of academic practices. Instead of solely focusing on methods to regulate AI usage, we will explore strategies that promote academic integrity, enhance learning outcomes, and foster student achievement within a dynamic and evolving educational environment.
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