Heather Mitchell

Employment Education Partner, Browne Jacobson

Heather has dedicated her 15 year career to advising schools and academies. She leads the education team's employment practice. Her pragmatic style and experience as an academy Governor herself means she works in partnership with boards and leadership teams to manage strategically and sensitively the most high stakes of cases. Her areas of expertise include high profile employment matters, large scale restructures, managing industrial action, claims of sexual harassment against senior staff, complex race discrimination tribunal claims and advising on complex TUPE outsourcings (including the pensions implications).

1 Workshops series one

Flourishing through change: Values-led workforce decisions in financially challenging times

With almost 9 in 10 school leaders reviewing staffing structures and with financial confidence at a low, school trusts are under intense pressure to make tough choices. But in the face of restructures, cost-cutting and uncertainty, how can we protect staff wellbeing, live out our values, and avoid unintended harm to equity and inclusion? This practical session explores how strong organisational development practice can help trusts respond to financial challenges without compromising their people or principles. We will equip delegates with frameworks to support thoughtful, human-centred and strategic workforce decisions that align with the mission to help both adults and children flourish - even through change.