Julian Hall, founder of Ultra Education and Entrepreneur in Residence at The Open University.

Honoured to speak at the 20th Anniversary of "Disrupting for Good" on Necker Island, hosted by Sir Richard Branson & Virgin Unite in 2024, Julian ‘The Ultrapreneur’ Hall is a prominent figure in entrepreneurship education.Featured in Forbes, he is the founder of the multi-award-winning Ultra Education CIC, a social enterprise dedicated to using entrepreneurship as a vehicle to enhance the life chances of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Julian began his entrepreneurial journey at just 18 years old, drawing on his background in technology and investment banking. He is also a best-selling author, having written three business books. As an Honorary Associate and Entrepreneur in Residence at The Open University, Julian has co-written three academic degrees in entrepreneurship. He is also the creator of the UK’s first mobile game for children’s entrepreneurship, Start-up Dash, and YoBuDi, the world’s first youth business marketplace. His contributions extend to being an entrepreneur in residence at some of the UK's top schools, where he pioneers the integration of entrepreneurship into the curriculum. A recipient of the inaugural Virgin Unite Founders Award, Julian has been endorsed by Sir Richard Branson. He has also been granted Freedom of the City, is a freeman of the Company of Entrepreneurs, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Additionally, he is a member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Shakespeare Globe Council, and he co-founded UkBlackTech. Julian has been recognised by the British Citizen Award, receiving a medal for his services to education.

Dr Aqueel Wahga, Director at the Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise at The Open University

Dr. Aqueel Wahga is Senior Lecturer in Management and Director Center for Social and Sustainable Enterprise (Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise | The Open University Business School). He also acts as Innovation and Enterprise Pathway qualifications lead for the Open University Business School. As Chair of Module Production Team, Dr Wahga is currently leading a team of enterprise educators for producing a new module ‘Entrepreneurship and Innovation’. Having passion to promote enterprise education and contribute to the socio-economic development of local economies, Dr Wahga is also leading a team of academics to set up the first virtual incubation centre at the Open University Business School. Moreover, he is a member of the delivery group for Open Business Creators (OBC), a new initiative of the Open University to promote entrepreneurship through developing entrepreneurial learning and mindset of students, staff, alumni and local communities. As an entrepreneurship and SME development focused researcher, Dr Wahga investigates the growth dynamics and environmentally responsible behaviour of firms. He also researches the enterprise development initiatives focused on institutionalising entrepreneurship. In these areas, he engages with a range of themes including sustainability, enterprise development, enterprise policy, innovation, dynamic capabilities of firms,?SMEs and entrepreneurial universities. Moreover, with a postgraduate degree in Economics, he also likes to investigate socio-economic and political issues. Dr. Wahga supervises PhD and Master level students in all these areas, while also providing capacity building trainings to diverse stakeholders.