Nelson’s digital education shift spotlighted at London forums
Nelson Chief Executive Officer Steve Brown is engaging in discussions on the future of education during two key events in London, addressing shifts in digital learning and the ongoing transformation of educational content delivery.
Brown spoke at the EdTechX Summit, participating as a panellist in a session titled "The New Era of Education Publishing". The discussion focused on the way education publishers are adapting to shifts towards digital and personalised learning, and how these changes are influencing the delivery and engagement of educational content.
The EdTechX Summit, held at County Hall, is the central event for London EdTech Week, bringing together over 2,000 global attendees across a series of events focused on education, training, and work. The main event is exclusive to 400 senior industry leaders, including founders, chief executives, policymakers, senior executives, and investors.
Later in the week, Brown will join a panel at the India Global Forum's 7th Annual IGF London – Forging Winning Partnerships. The roundtable session, "The Future of Education and Digital Learning – Balancing Artificial and Natural Intelligence," will consider the integration of technology with a human-centred approach to learning and strategies to empower students.
IGF London 2025 convenes influential leaders, policymakers, and industry innovators to discuss opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the context of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.
"As the world continues to evolve, so too must our approach to education. In this digital age, it is important now more than ever to empower all learners and support educators in their journeys. I look forward to meeting with peers and education thought leaders from around the world at these two exciting events, to engage and discuss how we can continue to change and improve education for the better," said Brown.
Transformation and digital focus
Brown has been recognised for his commitment to transforming education both in Canada and internationally. With a background in sectors ranging from multi-media entertainment to automotive and technology, he has aimed to guide education organisations through digital transformation.
Since assuming his role at Nelson in 2016, Brown has led the company's shift from a traditional print-based textbook provider to an education technology company. By implementing an internal infrastructure that emphasises student and educator experience, he directed teams to focus on student engagement in addition to academic resources.
A key step in this transformation was establishing a technology department staffed by specialists to support the company's move into digital delivery. Technical staff collaborated with educators, writers, and publishers to develop a new learning ecosystem tailored to address the needs of both students and teachers.
This collaborative effort resulted in the launch of Edwin, a digital learning platform. Edwin provides a library of online resources supporting a variety of academic subjects and contemporary topics, enabling teachers to build relevant and differentiated learning plans. The platform integrates multiple content formats, including text, audio, and video, to support equitable and flexible learning in the classroom.
Features of digital learning
Edwin also includes interactive learning tools to encourage exploration and collaboration among students. Unlike traditional textbooks, the platform provides access to content across multiple grade levels, enabling educators to support the diverse needs of students. Teachers benefit from centralised content, interactive tools, and note-taking features designed to streamline lesson planning and reduce time pressures.
These developments have positioned Nelson as a digital content provider working to align with changing educational needs in both Canada and the UK. The focus remains on developing resources that meet curriculum standards and support learning in evolving pedagogical environments.
Brown's participation at the London events reflects ongoing discussions about balancing technology with human-centred learning strategies in an international context. The sessions are viewed as part of broader industry and policy efforts to enhance education systems and outcomes by integrating digital and traditional approaches.
