Browse our main hall and workshop speakers below. Our speakers include leading practitioners in education, expert policy thinkers, and inspirational voices from around the world.
We will be adding more speakers as we approach this year's conference in November, so keep checking back for more details.
CEO, Diocese of Ely MAT
CEO, Diocese of Ely MAT
Curriculum Development Director, Unity Schools Partnership
Curriculum Development Director, Unity Schools Partnership
Head, Let's Go Zero for Ashden
Head, Let's Go Zero for Ashden
Associate Director, RSM
Associate Director, RSM
Head of Leadership Development, Academies Enterprise Trust
Head of Leadership Development, Academies Enterprise Trust
Director, Cabot Learning Federation
Director, Cabot Learning Federation
CEO, Youth Sport Trust
CEO, Youth Sport Trust
Head of Partnerships, FFT
Head of Partnerships, FFT
Executive Director of Education, The Church of England Education Office
Executive Director of Education, The Church of England Education Office
CEO, Pioneer Educational Trust
CEO, Pioneer Educational Trust
Head of Procurement, YPO
Head of Procurement, YPO
Deputy CEO, Chartered College of Teaching
Deputy CEO, Chartered College of Teaching
Cat Scutt is Deputy CEO, Education and Research at the Chartered College of Teaching, the professional body for teachers. A former English teacher, Cat’s roles have since focused on supporting teacher development both online and through face-to-face activities, with a particular focus on development using digital technology, through collaboration and by engagement with research and evidence. She has worked in education in both the state and independent sector, as well as in corporate learning and development. Cat leads on the Chartered College Of Teaching’s work around teacher development and certification, including the Chartered Teacher programme, and their research activities and publications, including their award-winning peer-reviewed journal, Impact. She is currently completing her PhD at the UCL Institute of Education. She received an MBE for services to education in 2021 and has been a member of several government advisory groups.
Trust Improvement Partner, Advance Learning Partnership
Trust Improvement Partner, Advance Learning Partnership
CEO, REAch2 Academy Trust
CEO, REAch2 Academy Trust
Deputy Director, Developing Teachers and Leaders, Department for Education
Deputy Director, Developing Teachers and Leaders, Department for Education
Director, Ginger Energy
Director, Ginger Energy
Director, CJK Associates
Director, CJK Associates
Former army officer and charity fundraiser
Former army officer and charity fundraiser
Chris Moon has lived through experiences few have survived, and even fewer would undergo with such impressive fortitude and positivity. He has been imprisoned and blown up, and now takes on some of the toughest marathons in the world.
After serving in the army Chris joined HALO, the Hazardous Areas Life-Support Organisation. While supervising former Cambodian soldiers doing mine clearance, Chris and two others were kidnapped by Khmer Rouge guerrillas. Chris kept his nerve and negotiated his release, despite being told no one had ever left their captivity alive.
After Cambodia Chris assumed control of large-scale mine clearance in Mozambique. Walking through a cleared field, he encountered a mine his team hadn’t been able to find. The explosion should have killed him, and doctors back at base said he wouldn’t survive long enough to be rescued. A combination of treating himself and mental and physical strength saw him pull through. He focused on what he had to live for and why it mattered that he make it.
Less than a year later he completed the London Marathon. He went on to become the first amputee to take part in the Great Sahara Run and has since taken on some of the toughest, longest marathons and ultramarathons in the world including running 700km down the length of Cambodia. Chris has since taken part in dozens of challenges, raising thousands of pounds for charity.
CEO, The Co-operative Academies Trust
CEO, The Co-operative Academies Trust
Deputy CEO/COO, E-ACT
Deputy CEO/COO, E-ACT
Educational Technology Lead, Chiltern Learning Trust
Educational Technology Lead, Chiltern Learning Trust
CEO, The CAM Academy Trust
CEO, The CAM Academy Trust
Scientist and broadcaster
Scientist and broadcaster
Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a scientist and broadcaster.
She is the presenter of the The Sky at Night, has fronted a number of space documentaries, and regularly appears on science and non-science programmes.
From a modest background and diagnosed with dyslexia, Maggie overcame the naysayers to study at Imperial College where she obtained her degree in Physics and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. After her studies, she toured the UK speaking to inner-city schools about what scientists do, why they do it, and how to be one with the aim of inspiring the next generation of physicists.
Since then, she has spent her career making novel, bespoke instrumentation in both the industrial and academic environments, ranging from hand-held land mine detectors to an optical subsystem for the James Webb Space Telescope. She has worked for the MoD on missile warning systems, and for aerospace giant EADS on projects to monitor the earth’s atmosphere.
Maggie is a research fellow and an Honorary Research Associate at University College London, and continues to work to engage the public with science. She was made an MBE for services to science and science education.
Children’s Commissioner for England
Children’s Commissioner for England
Dame Rachel is a nationally recognised educator and advocate for improving the life chances of disadvantaged children. Before her appointment as Children’s Commissioner, she led two schools from failing to outstanding, before founding and leading the Inspiration Trust, a family of fourteen schools in East Anglia. The trust was twice ranked as the nation’s top group of comprehensive schools based on pupil progress at GCSE. She was made a dame in 2014 for services to education.
Dame Rachel was appointed Children’s Commissioner in 2021. In this role she has unique legislative powers, is an advocate for children across the country, and represents children’s needs across Government. In role, Dame Rachel has completed the two largest-ever surveys of children ‘The Big Ask’ with over half-a-million responses and most recently, The Big Ambition. Dame Rachel is now building on the over a million voices she has captured directly, to present young people’s ideas to politicians and policy makers about how to make their lives better.
Director and Consultant, Dawn CJ
Director and Consultant, Dawn CJ
CEO, Windsor Academy Trust
CEO, Windsor Academy Trust
CEO and Founder, BlueSky Education
CEO and Founder, BlueSky Education
Executive Director of Research, National Institute of Teaching
Executive Director of Research, National Institute of Teaching
Senior Assessment Researcher, Pearson
Senior Assessment Researcher, Pearson
Director of Policy and Programmes, Trust Governance Professionals
Director of Policy and Programmes, Trust Governance Professionals
Research Statistician, Evidence Based Education
Research Statistician, Evidence Based Education
Group Principal and CEO, London and South East Education Group
Group Principal and CEO, London and South East Education Group
CEO, Mulberry Schools Trust
CEO, Mulberry Schools Trust
CEO, Reach Foundation
CEO, Reach Foundation
CEO, Invictus Education
CEO, Invictus Education
Trustee, Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust
Trustee, Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust
Education Advisor, Renaissance
Education Advisor, Renaissance
Partner & Head of HR Services, Browne Jacobson LLP
Partner & Head of HR Services, Browne Jacobson LLP
Founder and CEO, Edurio
Founder and CEO, Edurio
Leadership Consultant / Author
Leadership Consultant / Author
Chair of the Independent Commission on Oracy in Education
Chair of the Independent Commission on Oracy in Education
CEO, Ambition Institute
CEO, Ambition Institute
Director of Education, Southport Learning Trust
Director of Education, Southport Learning Trust
Head of Insights, Edurio
Head of Insights, Edurio
Lead Economist, National Foundation for Educational Research
Lead Economist, National Foundation for Educational Research
Trust Assistant Principal, Dixons Academies Trust
Trust Assistant Principal, Dixons Academies Trust
National Director of Estates & Technology, Ormiston Academies Trust
National Director of Estates & Technology, Ormiston Academies Trust
Managing Director, The Education Company
Managing Director, The Education Company
CEO, University of Chichester (Multi) Academy Trust
CEO, University of Chichester (Multi) Academy Trust
Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
Education Leadership Mentor and Advisor, and Former CEO, Oasis Community Learning
Education Leadership Mentor and Advisor, and Former CEO, Oasis Community Learning
Deputy Headteacher, Beaumont School
Deputy Headteacher, Beaumont School
Director, Dixons Centre for Growth, Dixons Academies Trust
Director, Dixons Centre for Growth, Dixons Academies Trust
CEO, Pontefract Academies Trust
CEO, Pontefract Academies Trust
Head of System Leadership Faculty, National Institute of Teaching
Head of System Leadership Faculty, National Institute of Teaching
CEO, Forward As One Church of England MAT
CEO, Forward As One Church of England MAT
Director of Inclusion, River Learning Trust
Director of Inclusion, River Learning Trust
Director of Learning Design, Ambition Institute
Director of Learning Design, Ambition Institute
Chief Transformation Officer, United Learning Trust
Chief Transformation Officer, United Learning Trust
Chief Executive, CST
Chief Executive, CST
Product Director, Pearson
Product Director, Pearson
Chief Research Officer, Centre for Education Systems
Chief Research Officer, Centre for Education Systems
Leadership consultant and Chair, NHS Confederation
Leadership consultant and Chair, NHS Confederation
Victor Adebowale is Chair of the NHS Confederation, and was Chief Executive of the social charity Turning Point for over a decade. As well as more than 25 years experience in the health, social care and housing areas he is a leadership consultant for both private and public sector organisations. Raised in Yorkshire, Victor left school, worked as a street sweeper, moved to London and returned to education. After working for various housing charities he joined Centrepoint as Alcohol Recovery Project Director and became Chief Executive. After five years leading the homelessness charity he moved to become Chief Executive of Turning Point, the integrated community care organisation working across a wide spectrum of social and health care issues. Victor helped turn the organisation around and Turning Point now helps over 100,000 people and has a nationwide workforce of over 2,500 working in areas from drug and alcohol abuse to mental health, learning disabilities and unemployment. Victor has advised both Labour and Conservative administrations on housing, employment, social care and public service reform. As a leadership and organisational consultant he has worked with companies including Shell, KPMG and with local government. He is also a non executive director of the Co-Op, health IT consultancy St Vincents, and TomahawkPro, a collaborative software company. He is Chair of Social Enterprise UK and was a member of the Audit Commission.
Group Chief Strategy Officer and Deputy CEO LASER, London and South East Education Group
Group Chief Strategy Officer and Deputy CEO LASER, London and South East Education Group
CEO, Ark
CEO, Ark
School Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
School Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
Founder, Talent Architects
Founder, Talent Architects
Executive Director, Strategy and Impact, Ambition Institute
Executive Director, Strategy and Impact, Ambition Institute
CEO, City of London Academies Trust
CEO, City of London Academies Trust
Apple Vice President Europe and WW Enterprise
Apple Vice President Europe and WW Enterprise
Digital Transformation Lead, Truro and Penwith Academy Trust
Digital Transformation Lead, Truro and Penwith Academy Trust
Associates Partner, Barker Associates
Associates Partner, Barker Associates
Director of Finance, Prince Albert Community Trust
Director of Finance, Prince Albert Community Trust
Risk and Governance Consulting Partner, RSM
Risk and Governance Consulting Partner, RSM
Chief executive, NHS Confederation
Chief executive, NHS Confederation
Education Technologist, RM PLC
Education Technologist, RM PLC
CEO, National Institute of Teaching
CEO, National Institute of Teaching
Managed Services Lead, RM PLC
Managed Services Lead, RM PLC
CEO, The Ted Wragg MAT
CEO, The Ted Wragg MAT
Director of Mathematics and Professional Development Lead, Advantage Schools
Director of Mathematics and Professional Development Lead, Advantage Schools
CEO, Education Policy Institute
CEO, Education Policy Institute
Trust Leader (CEO), Woodland Academy Trust
Trust Leader (CEO), Woodland Academy Trust
Head of Curriculum Development, Creative Education Trust
Head of Curriculum Development, Creative Education Trust
Director, Catholic Education Service (England and Wales)
Director, Catholic Education Service (England and Wales)
Managing Director, FFT Education
Managing Director, FFT Education
Director, Supporting Education Group
Director, Supporting Education Group
Director of Trust Performance, E-ACT
Director of Trust Performance, E-ACT
Chief Finance Officer, The Active Learning Trust
Chief Finance Officer, The Active Learning Trust
Director of Education, Lloyds Bank PLC
Director of Education, Lloyds Bank PLC
Chief Revenue Officer, Arbor
Chief Revenue Officer, Arbor
Partner, Browne Jacobson LLP
Partner, Browne Jacobson LLP
Director, The Centre for High Performance
Director, The Centre for High Performance
Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, Department for Education
Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, Department for Education
Director of Research and Development, Evidence Based Education
Director of Research and Development, Evidence Based Education
Head of Evidence Synthesis, National Institute of Teaching
Head of Evidence Synthesis, National Institute of Teaching
Chair of Trustees, London South East Academies Trust
Chair of Trustees, London South East Academies Trust
Digital Transformation Lead, Arthur Terry Learning Partnership
Digital Transformation Lead, Arthur Terry Learning Partnership
Executive Advisor for Technology, New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Executive Advisor for Technology, New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Partner, Stone King LLP
Partner, Stone King LLP
Partner, RSM
Partner, RSM
Partner, Barker Associates
Partner, Barker Associates
School Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
School Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust
Partner, Stone King LLP
Partner, Stone King LLP
CEO, Astrea Academy Trust
CEO, Astrea Academy Trust
Consultant, CSMB
Consultant, CSMB
Interim Deputy CEO, Cabot Learning Federation
Interim Deputy CEO, Cabot Learning Federation
Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
Director of Trust Governance, CST
Director of Trust Governance, CST
CEO, Lyfta
CEO, Lyfta
Director of Data, National Institute of Teaching
Director of Data, National Institute of Teaching
Managing Director, IRIS Education
Managing Director, IRIS Education
Managing Director, YPO
Managing Director, YPO
Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School
Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School
CEO, Harris Federation
CEO, Harris Federation
Former National Schools Commissioner
Former National Schools Commissioner
Chief Executive, Star Academies
Chief Executive, Star Academies
Sir Hamid is Chief Executive of Star Academies. He has led the trust since its inception. Sir Hamid is passionate about the highest of ambition for children and young people from the most disadvantaged communities across the country, and this vision has guided the philosophy of the trust and his work in particular.
Sir Hamid is a member of several national and international strategic educational and policy forums. In this role, he has contributed to the development of strategies and programmes as diverse as teacher training, leadership development, community cohesion, curriculum reform and social mobility. He is committed to the development of a strong and world-class academy sector, and actively works to improve its reputation.
In recognition of his service to education, Sir Hamid was made a CBE in 2015 and awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021.
Sir Hamid is Chair of the Confederation of School Trusts.
Chief Regulator, Ofqual
Chief Regulator, Ofqual
Chief Executive, United Learning
Chief Executive, United Learning
Non-Executive Board Member, Department for Education
Non-Executive Board Member, Department for Education
HM Chief Inspector, Ofsted
HM Chief Inspector, Ofsted
Sir Martyn Oliver started as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector at the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills in January 2024. He has worked in education since 1995 starting as a teacher and joined Outwood Grange Academies Trust in 2009 where he became Principal of Outwood Grange Academy and then a National Leader of Education. In 2016, Sir Martyn was appointed Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for Outwood, a role he held until he started as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector. Sir Martyn has also previously held Trustee positions for the Office for Students, Education Endowment Foundation, Confederation of Schools Trusts and for the David Ross Education Trust, was a board member of the Department for Education’s Opportunity North East and has advised both the government and the DfE on a number of groups.
Athlete and campaigner
Athlete and campaigner
Sir Mo Farah CBE is a multiple Olympic, World and European Champion athlete. For many he is Britain’s greatest ever athlete having accumulated 10 global titles which includes the ‘double double’ of gold medals over 5,000m and 10,000m at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. He holds numerous European and British Records and has the World Best for the One Hour Run (21,330m).
His achievements are a far cry from his humble beginnings in Somaliland, arriving in London at the age of eight and speaking very little English. Mo grew up in West London and began running at school when spotted by his PE teacher, who saw potential in his young student.
Sir Mo is passionate about philanthropic work and is a Save the Children Ambassador and the first ever global Goodwill Ambassador of the International Organisation for Migration.
At the start of 2024 he became the National School Sport Champion for the Youth Sport Trust, embarking on ‘Mo’s Mission’ to encourage young people to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.
COO, Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust
COO, Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust
CEO, ISBL
CEO, ISBL
Associate Director, Ambition Institute
Associate Director, Ambition Institute
Deputy Chief Executive, CST
Deputy Chief Executive, CST
CEO, The Eden Academy
CEO, The Eden Academy
Trust finance specialist and consultant, CST
Trust finance specialist and consultant, CST
Executive Director, Operations & Innovations, Ted Wragg Trust
Executive Director, Operations & Innovations, Ted Wragg Trust
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Education
Head of Education, PLMR
Head of Education, PLMR
CEO, E-ACT
CEO, E-ACT
CEO, Ormiston Academies Trust
CEO, Ormiston Academies Trust
Co-founder, IMP Software
Co-founder, IMP Software
Executive Director, Ambition Institute
Executive Director, Ambition Institute