Iona Kelliher

Managing Director, Edurio

Iona runs the insights team at Edurio, responsible for the creation of new surveys and analysis of the national datasets on staff, pupil and parent experience. Since joining Edurio in 2021, Iona has worked on national reports focused on topics such as equality, diversity and inclusion and staff retention. Iona brings over 10 years of research experience, previously working in fields from technology, to food waste, to finance.

Hall 11a

1 Series four

Listening to parents: Strengthening school communities through collaboration

This session explores how schools are engaging with parents to forge effective partnership in children's education. Speakers from Eko Trust and Big Education Trust will share their approaches to building inclusive, community-rooted relationships with families. Nicola Noble will reflect on Surrey Square Primary School’s Old Kent Road Family Zone project and its impact on local engagement, and Rebekah Iiyambo will highlight in-depth work with parents and carers to foster a deep sense of belonging through an inclusive and active listening approach. You’ll leave with grounded insights and practical ideas to consider and adapt in your own school communities.

Workforce

1 Breakout sessions: Series one

AI adoption in practice: What staff are telling us

Drawing on new Edurio research findings, this interactive session explores how school and trust staff are experiencing the rapid growth of AI and digital technology in education. Iona Kelliher will share insights into staff confidence, concerns, and development needs around AI adoption, alongside perspectives from trust leaders embedding AI and digital tools across their organisations. Through practical examples and audience discussion, we will explore the conditions needed for successful digital transformation and where human judgement remains essential. Ideal for trust leaders responsible for digital strategy, workforce development, innovation, and school improvement.

1 Workshops series one

Building a culture of trust: Strengthening staff voice and wellbeing in schools

This session explores how trust-wide culture can be intentionally built to support staff voice, wellbeing, and belonging. Drawing on the journey of the Pinnacle Learning Trust, participants will examine how leadership visibility, transparent communication, and small, meaningful gestures contribute to a climate of trust. The workshop will highlight Pinnacle’s practical strategies to ensure staff feel heard, supported, and valued. We'll consider how language, values, and distributed leadership shape inclusive staff experiences and retention. Through reflection and discussion in the room, attendees will identify actionable steps to strengthen psychological safety, enable honest feedback loops, and create structures where staff thrive. This session is ideal for leaders looking to move beyond reactive wellbeing offers, towards a whole-trust culture of mutual respect and empowerment.

1 Workshops series two

Evolving complaints to conversations

Parents have never been more involved in their children’s education. This creates both opportunities and challenges for trusts, particularly when expectations diverge or complaints escalate. With the Schools White Paper signalling a shift from ‘withdrawn to engaged’, governance will be expected to steward stronger, more intentional relationships with families. This session explores how trusts can rebuild relational trust, reduce friction, and move from complaints to constructive conversations. Join this session to hear from work at Orion Education, who are treating relationships with the same intentionality as curriculum and pedagogy.