This is an excellent time of year to review the previous 12 months (not the easiest time for any business) and to offer predictions for the next 12 (maybe more of the same) – and then forget all of that in order to be swept away on the rising tide of optimism that accompanies the Learning Technologies conference and exhibition at Olympia (27th – 28th January this year). It’s also a good time to hand out some accolades – think of the New Year’s Honours List and even (in February) the Academy Awards (Oscars). So here – based on nothing more than experience and prejudice – are my ‘Top Ten’ most influential people in the corporate e-learning sector.

 

World List

  1. Elliott Masie. He’s had this position sewn up for many years and seems impervious to challenges.
  2. Fabrizio Cardinali. CEO of Giunti Labs, chair of ELIG and a member of the board of directors for the IMS Global Learning Consortium. Operating probably the largest learning technologies R&D laboratory in Europe, Giunti Labs is at the forefront of systems software and standards development.
  3. Nigel Paine. Formerly head of training and development at the BBC and now much in demand around the world as a speaker.
  4. Charles Jennings. Although now retired as CLO at Thomson Reuters, his views and insights are still much sought after around the world.
  5. Sanjaya Sharma. Head of Tata Interactive Systems, a content producer which has done very well in world markets (especially the USA and Continental Europe) but not so well in the UK in recent years.
  6. Ron Edwards. CEO of Ambient Performance and one of the world’s leading authorities on virtual worlds and serious games.
  7. Massood Zarrabian. CEO of Boston, MA, based LCMS providers OutStart.
  8. Pascal Debordes.  E-learning director at Cegos, now Europe’s leading player in professional training, generating annual revenues of over €165m and providing training to more than 150,000 people worldwide.
  9. Pascal Wattiaux. His job title is ‘consultant at PW Sport Ltd’ and among his jobs is advising the Olympic Committee on the e-learning programmes needed to train workers at the 2012 Games in London.
  10. Brandon Hall. Head of the Brandon Hall Research Centre, which provides information about employee learning & development and talent management.

 

Europe List

  1. Richard Straub. The former director of learning solutions for IBM Europe, he is now Secretary of ELIG, where he oversees ELIG’s role as advisor to the EU on all things to do with e-learning.
  2. Fabrizio Cardinali. CEO of Giunti Labs, chair of ELIG and a member of the board of directors for the IMS Global Learning Consortium. Operating probably the largest learning technologies R&D laboratory in Europe, Giunti Labs is at the forefront of systems software and standards development.
  3. Thea Payome. Editor of the Germany-based CheckPoint eLearning ezine and website.
  4. Charles Jennings. Although now retired as CLO at Thomson Reuters, his views and insights are still much sought after around the world.
  5. Ron Edwards. CEO of Ambient Performance and one of the world’s leading authorities on virtual worlds and serious games.
  6. Pascal Debordes.  E-learning director at Cegos, now Europe’s leading player in professional training, generating annual revenues of over €165m and providing training to more than 150,000 people worldwide.
  7. Dr Ladislava (‘Vlad’ka’) Knihova. A key champion for, and leading user of, e-learning applications within both the corporate and academic sectors in the Czech Republic.
  8. Pascal Wattiaux. His job title is ‘consultant at PW Sport Ltd’ and among his jobs is advising the Olympic Committee on the e-learning programmes needed to train workers at the 2012 Games in London.
  9. Bryan Hopkins. A top learning design specialist who was once based in the UK and is now working for the UN in Budapest.
  10. Carl Kleman. Swedish businessman and consultant with a special interest in M&A activity within the e-learning sector around Europe.

 

UK List

  1. Donald H Taylor. Not just the power behind the success of the Learning Technologies conference (identifying the ‘right’ topics and booking the ‘right’ speakers) but also rumoured to be the real editor of Learning Technologies magazine. Unlike many commentators and bloggers in this sector, people tend to read what he writes.
  2. Clive Snell. The publisher of E-Learning Age magazine (now the UK’s leading – some would say only – e-learning title) and the man behind the E-Learning Awards which, in only a few years, seems to have captured the imagination of everyone in the UK’s e-learning sector.
  3. Nigel Paine. Formerly head of training and development at the BBC and now much in demand around the world as a speaker.
  4. Charles Jennings. Although now retired as CLO at Thomson Reuters, his views and insights are still much sought after around the world.
  5. Ron Edwards. CEO of Ambient Performance and one of the world’s leading authorities on virtual worlds and serious games.
  6. Donald Clark. Still opinionated and vocal, although more of a spectator and commentator than a player these days.
  7. Clive Shepherd. Mastermind behind the rise and rise of the eLN CIC – providing valuable information and networking opportunities for everyone in the corporate e-learning sector. He’s also as shrewd a commentator on the e-learning scene as he ever was.
  8. Piers Lea. CEO of LINE Communications, a company which is one of the leading players in the UK e-learning market.
  9. Steve Rayson. A figurehead in the success story that is Kineo, champions of open source among other things.
  10. Phil Green. A former chair of the eLN and co-founder of Olignment, he is exceptionally well informed and knowledgeable about all aspects of instructional design and e-learning delivery.