Learn more about our speakers below. Our speakers include leading practitioners in education, expert policy thinkers, and inspirational voices from across the sector. We will be adding more speakers as we approach the conference in November, so keep checking back for more details.
Chief Leadership Psychologist, and Founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology
Chief Leadership Psychologist, and Founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology
Edel Holliday-Quinn is an HCPC Registered Occupational Psychologist and founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology. She specialises in leadership, organisational effectiveness and culture change, helping organisations create the conditions where people, teams and organisations can thrive by translating occupational psychology into practical, evidence-based solutions.
Over the past decade, Edel has worked with senior leaders across global organisations, designing leadership strategies, developing capability and leading large-scale organisational culture change. Formerly SVP, Global Head of Leadership and Culture at Citi Bank and Global Strategy & Leadership Manager at PwC, she combines deep commercial experience with academic rigour to bridge the gap between psychological science and organisational practice.
Edel holds dual Master's degrees in Occupational Psychology and a Bachelor's degree in Business. She is completing her Professional Doctorate at Birkbeck, University of London, where her research explores transformational leadership and organisational resilience during times of crisis. She is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Coventry and also a regular contributor to publications including Forbes, where she writes about leadership, organisational psychology and the future of work.
Lead Economist, National Foundation for Educational Research
Lead Economist, National Foundation for Educational Research
An expert researcher and commentator on the school workforce, Jack’s research aims to understand changes in the recruitment, retention, development and diversity of teachers in the UK. A specialist with analysing large datasets including the School Workforce Census and Labour Force Survey, Jack uses statistical analysis to gain insights for policy and practice. Jack’s research is regularly cited in parliament and by media outlets.
Co-Lead, The Relationships Project
Co-Lead, The Relationships Project
Neil Denton serves as a co-lead of the Relationships Project, bringing expertise as a community mediator and academic. Co-author of the Bridge-builders Handbook and The Sense of Connection, Neil believes there is an energy within disagreement and conflict that can be a powerful force for positive change. He helps communities in conflict to find ways to solve real life problems and strengthen human relationships. Along with his work on relationships, he is a leader in community mediation and conflict transformation, an Independent Community Mediator, and a Professor in Practice with the After Disasters Network at Durham University.
Chief Finance and Operations Officer, STEP Academy Trust
Chief Finance and Operations Officer, STEP Academy Trust
Ben has worked at senior positions with the public sector for many years and was part of a pilot programme for aspiring business managers run by the National College, achieving an Advanced Diploma in 2013. Ben joined STEP in 2014, and since that time has embedded a business strategy which has facilitated STEP’s growth from four schools in Croydon to 20 across London and the south east, as well as ensuring consistently strong outcomes for pupils. Currently, Ben’s remit includes oversight of the STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub, as well as all functions that support the education offer of the trust.
As part of Ben’s commitment to the education sector, he has been involved in shaping various pilots organised by the department, including the SRMA and mentoring CFO programmes. This is in addition to supporting the department on bespoke projects and undertaking trust reviews on behalf of regional directors as well as at the request of trust boards. Keen to support the sector in other ways, Ben also speaks at national conferences and has been commissioned by Ambition Institute and Fig Tree International to present on their executive programmes.
Ben is a qualified accountant and recently completed his NPQH. Ben is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders and past Trustee of the Institute.
Industrial Relations Specialist, Confederation of School Trusts
Industrial Relations Specialist, Confederation of School Trusts
Carl Parker is a professional with extensive experience in industrial relations, specializing in conditions of employment, pay, and training. In addition to his current role as Head of Industrial Relations at ASCL, he has held various roles at different organisations, ranging from project management to business development. Carl's expertise in the field is further supported by his educational background, having completed a degree in economics and administration with a focus on labour and industrial relations from the University of Warwick.
Director of People, Active Learning Trust
Director of People, Active Learning Trust
Elaine is the Director of People at Active Learning Trust, a values-led school trust, with a family of 21 schools based across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. Previously, Elaine has worked in HR roles across a variety of organisations, including Cambridgeshire County Council and Local Government.
Partner & Head of HR Services, Browne Jacobson LLP
Partner & Head of HR Services, Browne Jacobson LLP
Executive Director of Primary, STEP Academy Trust
Executive Director of Primary, STEP Academy Trust
John is originally from Liverpool and spent his secondary years on the Isle of Man, giving him experience of both urban and rural education. His teaching career began in 2001 in a middle school in Settle, North Yorkshire, before moving to London in 2003, where he has remained.
During his time in London, John has held senior roles including SENCo, inclusion leader and deputy headteacher, and has been headteacher in three schools across Newham, Barking and Dagenham, and Croydon and Sutton. He is now Executive Director of Primary at STEP Academy Trust.
John’s work has consistently focused on serving communities facing high levels of deprivation, with a clear moral purpose to raise aspirations and improve outcomes for children. Since joining STEP, he has been recognised as a National Leader of Education and now leads trust wide leadership development and the strategic oversight of SEND, including training, coaching and talent mapping.
Chief Executive, CST
Chief Executive, CST
Leora Cruddas is the founding Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts – the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. She has advised successive governments and sits on several Department for Education advisory bodies. She was recently the vice chair of the Head Teacher Standards Review Group, a member of the external advisory group for the Schools White Paper, SEND National Implementation Board and the Regulatory and Commissioning Review.
Prior to founding CST, she was Director of Policy and Public Relations for the Association of School and College Leaders. Leora has six years of experience as a director of education in two London local authorities. She is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education. Leora was made a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Founder, Talent Architects
Founder, Talent Architects
Executive Director, People, Infrastructure & Innovations, Ted Wragg Trust
Executive Director, People, Infrastructure & Innovations, Ted Wragg Trust
Tamsin has combined the skills and experience from a career in primary leadership and then in business and operations in secondary schools to now lead on operations and innovations at the Ted Wragg Trust. She loves working with leaders in education to create organisational cultures where staff feel valued, included and empowered to transform lives and strengthen communities to make the world a better place. Growing up in Torbay and having lived most of her life across the region of Devon and Cornwall she is passionate about making the South West the best place in the country to go to school and to go on to have a life of opportunity.
