Dr Nicole Ponsford is an award-winning educator, DEI leader, and EdTech innovator transforming inclusion in education. As Founder and CEO of the Global Equality Collective (GEC), she created the GEC Circle, the world’s largest collective of inclusion experts in education (online and offline), and the GEC Platform, an award-winning tool supporting over a quarter of a million students worldwide.
She was a lead on the DfE’s EdTech Demonstrator Programme, helping 11,000 schools move online during Covid, and also led the national Assistive Technology Pilot and Programme. Nic sits on the AI in Education – EdTech Advisory Panel and is Co-Head of Education at Microlink, championing accessible learning through assistive technologies.

Nic is completing her Doctorate in Education at Bournemouth University, where her research introduces Kaleidoscopic Data, a new framework to humanise education data and surface hidden voices. Recognised among Europe’s Top 50 Women in Tech (#InspiringFiftyEurope) and named BESA Person of the Year 2025, she continues to champion inclusion, AI, and equity at policy and system level