Last week, I enjoyed attending the GEM Conference 2026: Learning is Digital? at Bletchley Park. There were lots of highlights including:

the conversation between Saira MacNicol from Historic Royal Palaces and Greg Jenner historian, author, and podcaster (being a Horrible Histories fan);
hearing from Ashley Almeida from the British Museum about What do young people want? Supporting young people with Career Confidence;
listening to Esther Appleyard-Fox from Accentuate presenting on their Curating Visibility Fellowship digital interventions;
being engaged by Dr Eve Poole on Robot Souls: Programming in Humanity? (watch her Ted-X talk on this subject if you haven’t already!)
listening to Alice Loxton, Young historian, writer and presenter, in conversation with Adam Koszary, Social media and digital engagement expert;
hearing from Ben Cowell from Historic Houses talking about Going Digital and their report Keeping History Alive: Understanding the Barriers for Gen Z engagement with Heritage;
and using a VR headset for the first time in a workshop with Ellie Brooks from MBD Limited, a company that create immersive experiences with museums.

Overall, it was positive to hear how AI and other digital tools might support us rather than take over what we do, and still needing our expertise in the sector.

“Our junk code is the only reason we’re still here… it’s about de-risking free will and understanding how we contain AI…

This is why what you do in your sector is so vital and you will prevail.”

(Dr Eve Poole)

In addition, I was able to take a break and head into Bletchley Park for a visit on several occasions with highlights covering the story of how Bletchley Park began in the Mansion, Hut 11 featuring the stories of the Wrens operating the Bombe machines, the Alan Turing display with the apology letter from Gordon Brown, seeing examples of enigma machines, the war time posters in the huts, and the pigeon parachutes! I will need to make a return visit to absorb it all. What a great place!