Major global tech event included Cantona, Ronaldo - and a former Banbury youth worker

By The Newsroom
Published 26th Nov 2019, 10:33 BST
Updated 26th Nov 2019, 10:51 BST
Ryan Johnson at the Web Summit.Ryan Johnson at the Web Summit.
Ryan Johnson at the Web Summit.
A former Banbury youth worker got to meet football legends Eric Cantona and Ronaldo when he was invited to a major global event.

Ryan Johnson was chosen to go to Lisbon for the Web Summit, the world's largest tech and entrepreneur summit.

The former National Citizen Service co-ordinator attended the four-day event in Portugal to report on how the event and the tech industry will be impacting on the next generation.

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Ryan, who has 20 years of youth work across Oxfordshire, got to meet with legends such as Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, Jessica Ennis and Eric Cantona, who is currently on a mission to have professional footballers donate one per cent of their total earnings to the most impactful charities around the world.

The main arena - 70,000 participants from 170 countriesThe main arena - 70,000 participants from 170 countries
The main arena - 70,000 participants from 170 countries

Ryan said: “The technological advances which are being made by the big companies are mind blowing, even with the likes of DHL and Pizza Hut pushing hard on such innovation as drones to make deliveries.

"The next generation and all communities will be impacted by these advances, but more positively by the technology that will assist in the areas of education, health and wellbeing.”

The former youth worker is now working on his own digital platform to help support youth and community professionals around the UK.

Related topics:Eric CantonaBanburyOxfordshirePortugal