The AI & Educational Leadership Research Interest Group (RIG) explores how artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes educational leadership theory, policy, and practice. It recognises the growing influence of AI technologies on research, teaching and learning, decision-making, communication, and organisational effectiveness and improvement across educational settings. The RIG provides a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue connecting education, technology, and the social sciences, and the RIG aims to build a critical and inclusive understanding of AI’s implications for leadership.
Aligned with the values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), the RIG seeks to promote ethical, evidence-informed, and context-sensitive leadership practices.
The AI & Educational Leadership RIG promotes interdisciplinary research and professional dialogue on how artificial intelligence (AI) transforms educational leadership theory, policy, and practice. It encourages collaboration across education, social sciences, technology, and related fields to advance a deeper understanding of leadership in AI-enabled environments. The RIG’s key areas of inquiry include:
Participation in the AI & Educational Leadership RIG provides members with rich opportunities for academic growth, professional development, and international collaboration. As part of an active and interdisciplinary community, members explore the ethical, theoretical, and practical implications of AI for educational leadership and governance.
Through seminars, workshops, and collaborative research projects, participants deepen their understanding of AI’s role in shaping leadership, learning cultures, and organisational change. The RIG supports members in developing critical and methodological expertise, sharing innovations in practice, and contributing to evidence-informed, context-sensitive, and socially responsible leadership.
Members also benefit from expanded professional networks, opportunities to publish collectively, and cross-disciplinary exchanges that connect leadership, ethics, and technological innovation. Open to academics, practitioners, and policymakers, the RIG promotes inclusive and globally relevant engagement with AI in education.
Dr Ayman Hefnawi
Mathematics instructor at ADVETI, Abu Dhabi
Email: aymhef@yahoo.com
· EdD from the University of Bath and master’s in educational leadership from Warwick
· Research education policy, leadership, and educational reforms
· Active member in educational associations, journal reviewer, and BELMAS blog editor
Mr Edward Peter Willett
TD, MEd, Deputy Head Shrewsbury India
Email: epwillett65@gmail.com
· Educator since 2002, with prior roles in advertising photography, the British Army, and as a company director
· Held leadership roles, including deputy headteacher
· Interest in AI and leadership in education, shaped by AI exposure and experiences with poor leadership
· Keen on exploring ethical AI use in education
Ms Logayna Kerwat
PhD candidate University of Birmingham, UK
Email: lxk268@student.bham.ac.uk
· Engineering researcher with an M.Ed. in Leadership and BSc in Electronics and Computer Engineering
· 10+ years in international education leading STEM, AR, curriculum development, and leadership projects
· A PhD candidate in AI in assessment and strategic leadership
· Focused on AI and managerial methods to enhance education
Dr Yoonjeong Lee
FHEA, Teaching Fellow University of Leicester
Email: Yoonjeong.lee@outlook.com
· Teaching Fellow at the University of Leicester and Invited Professor at Dankook University
· FHEA and PhD in Education (Warwick), and MA in Ed Leadership and Management (UCL IOE)
·Research in leadership preparation, distributed and servant leadership, and teacher leadership across cultures
· Active member of the BELMAS and Korean Educational Administration Society (KEAS), journal reviewer
Inaugural Online Symposium: ‘Creating a More Equitable World with AI’
This opening event will introduce the RIG’s vision, aims, and community, bringing together researchers and practitioners to explore how AI is reshaping leadership theory, policy, and practice. It will serve as a platform to spark dialogue, identify shared interests, and shape the RIG’s emerging research agenda.
Blog Post Series: ‘AI and Educational Leadership Voices’
The RIG will launch a short blog series inviting members to share reflections, insights, and provocations about AI’s implications for educational leadership. These posts will showcase diverse viewpoints, highlight ongoing research, and strengthen the RIG’s visibility within the broader educational leadership community.
To view the full content of this group you must join the RIG by clicking the button below or ticking the relevant RIG groups on your My Details page.
