Leadership Exchange:
Los Angeles
Navigating the AI Frontier
Friday, October 23, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Marlborough School, 250 S Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
EVENT OVERVIEW
AI is already embedded in classrooms, offices, and everyday school workflows. The question now is how to adopt it coherently, safely, and with the right people at the table.
Navigating the AI Frontier brings together Veracross, Knowing Technologies, and 9ine, a leading school cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI governance firm, for a day built on one idea: AI decisions touch every part of a school, so no single department can own them alone. Through expert-led sessions, an interactive AI Crisis Council simulation, and a candid panel of technology directors and CFOs, you'll leave with a practical framework for shared, sustainable AI governance at your school.
WHY ATTEND?
We're bringing together the right people, to have the right conversation about AI in Independent Schools.
A Governance Framework You Can Actually Use
Leave with 9ine's Diamond Formation, a practical model for sharing AI decisions across technology, teaching and learning, safety, and finance. You'll learn it from the 9ine specialists who help schools put it into practice.
Real Scenarios, Expert Guidance
The AI Crisis Council puts you in the middle of a realistic AI scenario as it unfolds, led by 9ine's privacy and AI governance experts. You'll work through the same tradeoffs your school will eventually face, with seasoned guides in the room.
Straight talk from peers
Technology directors and CFOs from independent schools share what's working, from tool proliferation and cost control to where AI decisions actually get made.
Free to attend
Breakfast, lunch, and a coffee break with the 9ine showcase are included, so you can spend the day focused on the conversations that matter.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This event is designed for school leaders at private and independent K-12 schools.
Directors of Technology
Business Office Leaders
Heads of School & Senior Leaders
WITH INSIGHTS FROM
Julia Pidduck
Principal Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Julia Pidduck is a Principal Consultant in Data Privacy and AI Governance at 9ine, helping school leaders internationally navigate AI, privacy, and safeguarding risks. Previously, she spent five years at PRIVO managing its FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor program, guiding edtech developers on children's and student data privacy compliance.
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Katie Snelling is a Senior Consultant in Data Privacy and AI Governance at 9ine, helping schools across North America and internationally build AI governance programs. She develops AI Readiness Roadmaps, guides leadership teams from governance structures to policy and vendor oversight, and has led whole-school privacy audits.
Tom Wildman
CEO
Knowing Technologies
Tom Wildman is CEO of Knowing Technologies, a California-based managed IT services provider dedicated to independent schools. He leads a team of former school technology professionals who help schools plan, secure, and support their technology, from network infrastructure and cybersecurity to strategic consulting and professional learning.
Ian Drummond
Director of Knowledge & Instructional Design
Veracross
Ian has spent 20 years in edtech, nonprofit leadership, and higher education. At Veracross, he leads knowledge and learning at scale for customers and employees, and helps guide AI adoption across the company.
Matt Norko
Director of Technology
Marlborough School
Matt Norko is Director of Technology at Marlborough School in Los Angeles, bringing more than 20 years of independent school technology experience. He leads ed tech initiatives and strategic planning, holds degrees from Fairfield University, is a doctoral student at Indiana Wesleyan University, and volunteers with ATLIS and ISTE.
Nick Hernandez
Associate Head for Finance & Administration
Marlborough School
Nick Hernandez has served as Associate Head for Finance & Administration at Marlborough School since 2007, overseeing budget, operations, HR, facilities, technology, and risk management. He has led more than $100 million in campus master planning and capital projects, and is a past Cal-ISBOA Board President.
Erika Sears
Director of Technology and Innovation
Mayfield Junior School
AGENDA
Check out our evolving agenda below. Please note, this agenda is subject to change.
CHECK-IN
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Arrival, Check-in & Breakfast
WELCOME
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome and Next Phase of AI in Schools
Tom Wildman
CEO
Knowing Technologies
Ian Drummond
Director of Knowledge & instructional Design
Veracross
SESSION
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
AI Sprawl: When Innovation Starts Creating Chaos
How schools can enable AI innovation without creating fragmentation, duplication and technology sprawl. Explore existing productivity platforms vs AI-enabled EdTech, considering educational value, operational efficiency and total cost.
Julia Pidduck
Principal Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
BREAK
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break with 9ine
Visit 9ine at their dedicated showcase area where attendees can drop in to explore 9ine’s services, products and resources, ask questions, and discuss their school’s specific AI governance, privacy, cybersecurity and technology needs.
SESSION
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
What Does Responsible Vendor AI Development Look Like?
9ine introduces the principles of responsible AI development and discusses with the teams at Veracross and Knowing Technologies the responsible development of new AI tools and how this is communicated to schools through transparency, documentation, policies, agreements, assurances and ongoing communication.
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Tom Wildman
CEO
Knowing Technologies
Ian Drummond
Director of Knowledge & instructional Design
Veracross
SESSION
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
AI Crisis Council
A realistic AI scenario develops in stages. Participants work through the issues and make decisions as new information emerges, using the different perspectives of the Diamond Formation.
Julia Pidduck
Principal Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
LUNCH
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Networking
SESSION
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
When the School Becomes the Vendor
Explore AI-assisted development and vibe coding in schools. What happens when schools create their own apps, workflows or automations?
Julia Pidduck
Principal Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
SESSION
1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
How Are Business Office and Technology Leaders Creating Coherence Around AI?
Technology and business office leaders join a candid panel discussion on the practical AI decisions schools are making right now.
Katie Snelling
Senior Consultant, Data Privacy & AI Governance
9ine
Erika Sears
Director of Technology and Innovation
Mayfield Junior School
Matt Norko
Director of Technology
Marlborough School
Nick Hernandez
Associate Head for Finance & Administration
Marlborough School
SESSION
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Bringing it All Together
Share one insight or one idea you are excited to explore further.
Tom Wildman
CEO
Knowing Technologies
Ian Drummond
Director of Knowledge & instructional Design
Veracross
Ready to join us on October 23?
Free to attend. Breakfast and lunch included. An invitation only event with limited space – secure your spot today.