it is truly a privilege once again to lead what is the ninth Slovak Educational leadership conference held in the beautiful world Heritage site of Bardejov, Eastern Slovakia. Koinonia Educational co founded this some 12 years ago through a collaboration of our Director and Martin Smilnak, erstwhile Headteacher of St John Bosco college here in Bardejov and now member of the Slovak parliament. The premise remains the same: the best research informed pedagogy, scholarship and policy discussions based on a values-driven program and offering unparalleled opportunity for networking. The reach is considerable, drawing in academics and policy makers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Ukraine i’m from universities including UCL, Institute of education, St Mary’s University Twickenham, the University of Notre Dame, (USA), London, Lublin University, Poland, Ukraine Catholic University and Goldsmiths College, University of London. This year we were joined by our Honorary President, Ambassador Lubomir Rehak, and my Slovak Member of the European Parliament, Mrs Miriam Lexmann