Browse our programme for CST’s Data and Digital Transformation Conference 2026.
All workshops have been designed in alignment with the Data and digital transformation community principles for 2025 to 2026: laying strong foundations, building digital capability and capacity, and being curious but cautious (AI and emerging technologies).
Programme details are subject to change.
Opening remarks from Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive, CST.
Deputy Chief Executive, CST
Steve Rollett is Deputy Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. Before joining CST, he was Curriculum and Inspection Specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders. Steve has sat on a range of advisory bodies, including Ofsted’s curriculum advisory group. Most recently he has supported Oak National Academy and the Department for Education’s remote learning advisory group. Originally trained as a history teacher, Steve was a vice principal of one of England’s most improved secondary schools before moving into a career in education policy.
Welcome remarks from Lauren Thorpe, Chief Transformation Officer, United Learning Trust and Chair of CST Data and insights professional community.
Chief Transformation Officer, United Learning Trust
Lauren is the Chief Transformation Officer at United Learning, the largest trust in England. She leads the trust’s work on digital strategy, data and insights, curriculum and assessment, as well as the programme of transformation projects across the organisation. Prior to this, Lauren was the Director of Standards & Performance and Director of Strategy at Ark Schools. Earlier in her career Lauren led a secondary free school to its first good from Ofsted as principal, has taught computer science and IT in a range of schools, and was a research director for a thinktank in Westminster. Lauren holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, a master’s degree in ICT in Education, she has sat on the DfE Ed Tech Advisory Board and Workload Review Panel, and is a serving Ofsted inspector. During the academic year 2025-26, Lauren is Chair of the CST Data and insights professional community.
As AI and data rapidly reshape education, the challenge for leaders is not just what to adopt, but how to think and decide in uncertain conditions. In this keynote, Madiha helps leaders make sense of the current moment, drawing on her work across the edtech sector in the UK and internationally. Shaping bold, ambitious ideas into grounded sense-making and practical action, she explores how the market is evolving, where evidence remains limited, and how to make proportionate, well-judged decisions. Focusing on leadership judgement over tools, she offers practical ways to evaluate choices, set boundaries, and communicate decisions clearly.
Director of Research and Consultancy, Educate Ventures Research
Madiha is an AI researcher and Director of Consulting Services at Educate Ventures Research. She works closely with policy makers, higher education bodies, school groups and EdTech firms in developing ethical and purposeful approaches towards AI. Her particular area of interest is in the use of data and AI to extract meaningful insights about teaching and learning. She has a PhD in self-regulated learning, specifically exploring a learning analytics approach towards monitoring tutor co-regulation of learners in an online classroom.
In addition to academia, Madiha has over 10 years of experience working in the EdTech sector, advising EdTech firms, accreditation bodies and education and training suppliers on their digital strategies. Madiha’s combined academic and commercial experience enable her to take an evidence based, yet commercially astute approach, towards supporting her clients.
This year's Schools White Paper sets out the ambition for our schools to use highly effective edtech tools in a widespread and safe way. This will be supported by standards for AI tools, a digitally enabled curriculum, and a data spine to ensure that trusts have access to and control of their data. Four months on, Kath shares the next steps in the Department for Education's thinking and sets out what we can do as trust leaders to support these aims.
Deputy Director for the Digital Strategy for Education, Department for Education
Kath Moulds is Deputy Director for the Digital Strategy for Education and leads on DfE’s work to help schools and colleges use technology and AI safely and effectively to improve outcomes. Kath started her career as a French and Spanish teacher and then head of languages, working in big mainstream secondary schools in North London and teaching abroad in France and Malawi. After having her first child, Kath left teaching and moved into the Department for Education. She has been working at DfE for 16 years, in cross-cutting policy and stakeholder engagement roles, including leading the DfE’s policy to tackle excessive teacher workload.
This closing keynote examines the organisational conditions required to build enduring capability, align culture with technology, and make disciplined strategic choices in uncertain conditions. Drawing on practical experience supporting schools through AI adoption, the session will identify the recurring challenges and strategic choices facing education organisations, offering perspective for those shaping and influencing digital strategy in an AI-shaped environment.
Executive Director, Good Future Foundation
Daniel taught and held senior leadership roles in the UK independent sector for 14 years. He served a six year term as Treasurer and Board Director at the Institute of Global Learning, and in 2023 moved into AI research at Goodnotes. He is Executive Director of the Good Future Foundation and a Governor at Sutton House Academy in Essex.
This panel discussion explores two different approaches to digital transformation in trusts operating under significant real-world constraints. One perspective focuses on phased implementation within lean structures and limited budgets; the other on preparing to bring together two very different digital ecosystems through merger. We will examine practical approaches to sequencing decisions, building buy-in, governance, infrastructure readiness and avoiding technology-led implementation. The session will offer grounded insight into balancing ambition with operational reality in different trust contexts.
CIO and Founding Director, TransforMATive
An experienced multi academy trust executive, Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO) who has successfully delivered a trust-wide digital transformation in a large, complex and rapidly growing trust.
Jonny has completed an Executive MBA programme achieving Chartered Manager status via the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). His innovative applied research project explored the potential for digital transformation through business model innovation within multi academy trusts.
As an active CIO Net member, Jonny networks with ambitious digital leaders and businesses from across the globe. A recognised thought leader on digital transformation, Jonny also speaks at conferences and shares insights via roundtables and panel discussions both within and beyond the education sector. As a former teacher and head of learning, Jonny has a passion for technology enhanced learning approaches. He has contributed to a range of further and higher education digital projects including an online massive online open course (MOOC), ‘Blended Learning Essentials’, in collaboration with UCL and the University of Leeds. Other projects included contributing to programmes such as the Technology Exemplar Network (BECTA), MoleNet (LSN), Regional Sustainability Event and Resource Utilisation Network (LSIS).
COO, Inspiring Futures Through Learning Multi Academy Trust
Derek Hills is the Chief Operating Officer at Inspiring Futures Through Learning, a trust of 21 schools operating across Milton Keynes and North Northamptonshire. Derek brings nearly 17 years experience across a number of operational roles at school trusts like Harris Federation, where he created and led the data and systems across the trust, and Ark Schools, where he was Director of IT, Data and Systems.
COO, Empower Multi Academy Trust
Tricia brings over 13 years of experience in education and is a key member of the senior leadership team at Empower Multi Academy Trust. As COO and CFO, Tricia combines strategic oversight with hands on leadership. She has completed the CIPFA Level 7 Diploma in School/Financial and Operational Leadership, the Certificate in Financial Reporting for Academies (Cert FRA), and the ILM Level 5 Diploma in School Business Management. She is also a member of ISBL and a DfE accredited Schools Resource Management Advisor (SRMA). Tricia is also Lead level accredited in OpEx for Education. Within the trust, Tricia leads on Estates, IT, Sustainability, and operational efficiencies with an oversight for Finance, ensuring that systems, processes, and people work together seamlessly across all areas.
To make confident decisions across a trust, leaders need more than dashboards. They need strong data foundations, the ability to interpret insight well, and the organisational capacity to turn information into action. This session explores how trusts are building data capability in practice – from improving data quality and supporting leaders to use insight confidently, to evolving the role of data teams and developing the skills needed for increasingly connected, dashboard-driven environments.
Head of Data, The Co-operative Academies Trust
As Head of Data at Co-op Academies Trust, Dewan leads the strategic evolution of data ecosystems across 38 academies. He bridges his frontline experience in school leadership with advanced data engineering on the Google Cloud Platform, leveraging BigQuery and Looker Studio to build sustainable organisational capacity. By transforming raw data into high-impact, actionable intelligence, he empowers leaders to make evidence-based decisions in an increasingly scrutinised environment.
A specialist in Digital Transformation, Dewan recently orchestrated the trust-wide implementation and change management of Arbor (MIS) and SAMpeople (HRIS). His approach prioritises building resilient digital foundations and operational consistency, ensuring that technical capability translates into tangible school improvement. Grounded in principles of data integrity and ethical governance, Dewan is committed to developing robust, scalable systems that support leaders at every level - from EYFS to post-16 and special education - in navigating the complexities of modern educational data.
Director of Operations, Advance Learning Partnership
Laura has over 14 years’ experience in education, with the past eight years at the Advance Learning Partnership (ALP), initially as Head of Data before becoming Director of Operations in 2021. As Director of Operations, she plays a significant role in delivering the trust’s vision of enhancing both educational outcomes and organisational performance through the implementation of scalable systems and processes whilst empowering staff to use intelligence, drive improvements and deliver sustained impact. Her work in Operational Excellence has been recognised by the Institute of Business Leaders (ISBL) as an accredited OpEx Leader.
Managing Director, Smartgrade
Joshua Perry is the co-founder of Smartgrade, an assessment standardisation platform that specialises in supporting school trusts with assessment across their trust. Joshua is also co-founder of Carousel, a retrieval practice platform and school CPD provider, and was previously part of the leadership team of Ark Schools.
As trusts move from isolated experimentation towards more structured AI adoption, leaders face growing questions around governance, evaluation and scaling. Guided by the principle of being “curious but cautious”, this session explores how two trusts are approaching AI pilots in practice - from choosing use cases and challenging vendor claims, to building evidence, maintaining accountability and deciding what deserves wider adoption. Through honest reflections on what has worked, what has disappointed, and what they would do differently, delegates will gain practical insight into leading AI implementation responsibly at trust scale.
Founder and CEO, Sapio Ltd
Laura Knight, Founder and CEO of Sapio Ltd, is a TechWomen100 Award Winner 2025 and an internationally recognised strategist in digital innovation and AI for education. She brings over two decades of teaching and leadership experience across bothmaintained and independent sectors. Laura helps schools, universities, and education organisations to design ambitious, responsible, and human-centred approaches to technology. She serves on advisory boards for The EdTech Evidence Board, Teachmate, the Good Future Foundation, and the Independent Schools Council. Her book, The Little Guide for Teachers on Generative AI (Sage), supports educators to explore purposeful, creative uses of AI in teaching and learning.
Digital Strategy Lead, Ark
Chris is the Digital Strategy Lead for Ark and leads on the effective use of digital technology for teaching and learning with the schools in the Ark network. He has 20 years experience of working in education in a variety of roles including a senior leader, teacher, director of IT, strategy consultant and advisor. He is focused on enhancing education by using technology to support student outcomes.
Head of Digital Education and AI, Bourne Education Trust
Chris Goodall is Head of Digital Education at the Bourne Education Trust, leading AI transformation across 27 schools and over 14,000 pupils. An award-winning AI in education leader, he co-chairs the national AI in Education initiative representing 1,500+ schools and was recognised with the Edufuturists 2025 AI Pioneer Award and also featured in the Digital Leaders AI 100 UK Leaders list for his sector-shaping work. Chris has supported the development of a nationally adopted framework for AI implementation, advised on government policy, and built cross-sector partnerships with leading EdTech providers.
Broken data flows quietly cost trusts time, clarity and confidence. This practical workshop explores how to map interoperability across MIS, finance, HR and safeguarding systems, and identify where data breaks down. The session will share how to spot friction points, prioritise realistic fixes and strengthen foundations without overcomplicating architecture. Trust leaders from different-sized trusts will share what worked, what didn’t, and how they moved from fragmented systems to more connected practice.
Director & Education Consultant, SMID Report
Anthony McBride is a seasoned education consultant at SMID Report, specialising in data-driven strategies for academic institutions and educational policy development. With over a decade of experience in the education sector, Anthony has guided schools and trusts in leveraging analytics to improve student outcomes and operational efficiency. His work bridges the gap between complex data systems and practical, actionable insights for educators and decision-makers. At the intersection of education and data science, he is committed to fostering innovation and informed policy through clear, impactful analysis.
Director & Education Consultant, SMID Report
Steve Howse is a visionary leader in data analytics and artificial intelligence, serving as CEO and Founder of SMID Report and CEO of Verbilly. He and his team launched SMID Report in 2015, delivering reporting tools that empower educators with actionable insights. Early in his career, he applied advanced analytics to large datasets, quickly earning a reputation for developing innovative, data-driven solutions. Alongside SMID Report, he co-founded ventures including Myphizz, Edcover and Baselinetests, each addressing diverse educational challenges and improving outcomes.
Driven by a passion for reducing teacher workload, Steve co-founded Verbilly, an AI-powered verbal feedback platform that uses voice recognition to streamline student feedback. Under his leadership, both companies formed strategic partnerships with educational trusts and earned acclaim for their positive impact on school performance and staff well-being. Howse remains dedicated to harnessing AI and analytics to transform data into meaningful results for learners and educators alike today.
Head of Data and Systems, Beckfoot Trust
Chris Burland is Head of Data and Systems for Beckfoot Trust, a 10 school multi academy trust based in Bradford. Chris works in the central team supporting schools and operational teams with data analysis and management of information systems. Chris has worked for Beckfoot Trust since 2006 in a variety of teaching and operational support roles giving him a breadth of experience and a real understanding of what it takes to make a difference to young people and support our mission of creating remarkable schools where no child is left behind.
Data Engineer, Star Academies
Nicola Brooks is a Data Engineer at Star Academies, where she designs and delivers the critical infrastructure for the trust’s data warehouse. Her work is pivotal in expanding data mobilisation across departments, including integrating MIS, HR, and workforce development data into consolidated models. Nicola has over a decade of experience in the education sector. Her previous roles include serving as Head of Data at Ormiston Academies Trust and The Active Learning Trust, alongside tenure as a Senior Business Officer at Ofsted. Nicola’s career began in a practical, hands-on environment as a Data Manager at Ely College. Her interest in the sector’s inner workings began while completing her MSc dissertation, which explored market forces within the education sector.
Open Education AI is a sector led non-profit on a mission to empower the education system to collaborate with data tools and insights. It provides the infrastructure, data tools and community to empower trusts to do more with their data. In this workshop, two trust leaders share different stories about their partnership with OEAI and what it has enabled them to achieve.
Director, Open Education AI
Amy McJennett is an educational leader with deep experience at the intersection of research, innovation, and practice, shaping solutions that address persistent challenges in UK education. She is the Director of Open Education AI, a not-for-profit organisation that supports schools with an off-the-shelf route to usable data and AI driven insight capability. Before joining Open Education AI, Amy was a Director at Ark Schools, leading innovation across learning programmes and products, and co-founder of Ark Curriculum Plus. Her work supported the design of evidence informed curriculum and professional development programmes that have helped transform teaching and learning nationwide. Prior to that Amy was Director of Digital Product & Services at Pearson, overseeing the digital learning product portfolio used by learners and educators globally. Amy started her career as a secondary classroom teacher. This anchors her work today, ensuring solutions genuinely solve sector problems and integrate seamlessly into daily school life.
CEO, Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust
Sir Mark Grundy has been the CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust since 2007, after previously serving as the principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy, the trust’s founding school. He has also held the position of executive principal at both Shireland Collegiate Academy and George Salter Collegiate Academy. Sir Mark has had a distinguished career in education and has been recognised with several prestigious awards and achievements. His career has included serving as an advisor to the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner from 2012 to 2022, and being knighted in 2006 for his contributions to education and technology. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2022. Sir Mark gained his Masters qualification from Loughborough University.
Director of Data and Performance, Inspiration Trust
Mark is a dedicated education data professional with over 15 years’ experience in the sector, committed to delivering meaningful insights that drive school improvement. He has worked at Inspiration Trust since it began in 2013.
He plays a key role in managing and analysing data across all levels, from pupils, assessment, and staff metrics. He is focused on providing clear, actionable analysis to support school and trust leaders in making informed decisions, ultimately saving time, and reducing workload. By ensuring that data is accessible and timely he strives to have a positive impact on outcomes for students across the trust through his work.
Mark is also the Data Protection Officer for the trust.
From data protection to the DfE’s generative AI product safety standards, expectations on trusts when procuring digital tools are increasingly complex and consequential. Yet many still lack clear frameworks to assess vendors and scrutinise claims. This session brings together an edtech provider, a trust with a robust procurement approach, and the ICO to explore how to procure with confidence, protect communities, and turn due diligence into strategic advantage.
Legal Director, Browne Jacobson
Claire specialises in data protection, AI, information governance, and freedom of information for education clients at Browne Jacobson LLP. Her extensive experience leading a data protection officer service as well as experience working as a school business manager and as a local academy board governor equips her with a profound understanding of school challenges. Claire received the European Picasso 'Champion' Award for her ability to support and promote a positive information governance culture within schools, and the important work done by school staff to protect children's personal data. Claire is also a co-author of the IRMS Records Management Toolkit for Schools and Academies and is known for her effective public speaking and advocacy for data protection importance in education. Additionally, Claire's expertise extends to AI governance and edtech. This experience and knowledge makes her an invaluable resource for educational institutions.
Senior Product Director, IRIS Education
Head of Regulatory Policy, Regulatory Policy Projects, Information Commissioner's Office
Michael Murray is Head of Regulatory Policy at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the United Kingdom’s data protection regulator. Michael leads on policy development related to children’s privacy. This includes work on codes of practice including the children’s code and the education data code. Michael’s team also supports children’s privacy engagement with online and digital services, other regulators and civil society organisations in the UK and internationally. His team leads on the development of age assurance policy at the ICO. Michael is a member of UNICEF's Expert Advisory Group on the Best Interest of the Child.
Michael has extensive experience in the non-profit and government sectors working in senior roles in the legal advice, charity and grants sectors prior to joining the ICO.
Head of Operations, Central Region Schools Trust
Ed Cooper joined Central Region Schools Trust in 2022 as Head of IT and was promoted to Head of Operations in 2025. He leads the trust’s operational functions across IT, Estates, Governance and Data, and has led the trust’s digital and data strategy, overseeing IT service delivery, central data operations, cyber security and data governance.
Central Region Schools Trust is a 14 school, mixed phase trust serving communities across the West Midlands. Ed’s work focuses on removing non academic barriers to learning, enabling school leaders to focus on pupil outcomes. He uses technology and data to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, with a strong emphasis on system and process integration and strategic data use. A core focus of his role is strengthening data governance, cyber security and vendor due diligence in an increasingly digital and AI enabled landscape, ensuring technology is secure, well managed and ethically used.
As trusts grow, operational processes often become fragmented and harder to manage consistently. Many are beginning to automate workflows, but moving from isolated efficiencies to trust-wide coherence brings new challenges around ownership, governance and system design. This session explores how trusts are approaching workflow automation in practice - where they begin, which processes they prioritise, and how they maintain clarity as adoption scales. Leaders will share practical examples of what has worked, where challenges emerge, and how they are creating clearer, more connected operational workflows across their organisations.
CEO, Learners' Trust
As founding CEO, Matt has designed the operational model and led the Learners’ Trust since its inception in 2016. Matt is pupil premium kid who grew up in Sheffield and has worked in education leadership for 20 years across Derbyshire and Rotherham. He has completed various qualifications for leadership, including a recent first-class MBA in Executive Education at Buckinghamshire University. Matt’s skills and areas of interest are in school improvement strategy, leadership development and operational effectiveness. He is a qualified executive coach and has worked with colleagues across the country, supporting their development as leaders. Matt is a self-confessed IT nerd and poor-quality; guitar player, singer and golfer.
Director of Ecosystem Partnerships, Arbor Education
Izzi Dorrian is Director of Ecosystem Partnerships at Arbor Education and a qualified education solicitor with a career dedicated to systemic school innovation. She was the Founder of Habitude, a workflow automation platform acquired by Arbor in 2025, and previously founded two of London’s leading creative 16-19 academies: East London Arts & Music (ELAM) and the London Screen Academy (LSA).
Deputy Director of Transformation
Anna Cannizzaro is Deputy Director of Transformation at United Learning, the UK’s largest multi-academy trust. She leads a portfolio of digital and process improvement initiatives, supporting schools and central teams to work more efficiently and make better use of technology, with a focus on simplification, improved connectivity between systems, and ensuring operating models can scale effectively.
Prior to joining United Learning, Anna worked in the finance sector and served for four years as a voluntary Chair of Governors at Oakdale Primary School, an experience that prompted her transition into the education sector.
Situated within the wider operational excellence context, this session explores how trusts are evaluating and strengthening organisational digital capability in practice. Drawing on the AI, Digital and Data Standards alongside wider improvement approaches, trust leaders will reflect on how they have benchmarked capability, identified gaps and vulnerabilities, prioritised improvement activity, and developed clearer roadmaps for improvement. The discussion will explore the practical realities of building digital capability - including leadership, sequencing, organisational readiness and culture - alongside the lessons and challenges emerging through the process.
Group CEO, Centre for Education Operational Excellence (CEOE)
Executive Director Business Transformation,
Lana brings over a decade of experience in education, specialising in business operations, estates, and commercial transformation. As Executive Director of Business Transformation at Nexus Multi Academy Trust, she leads on strategic development across projects, procurement & contracts, assets, health & safety and traded services, driving innovation and sustainable growth across the trust.
AI agents are moving quickly from experimentation to practical use. This session explores the early decisions leaders face when beginning to work with AI agents: governance, oversight, training, testing and safe piloting. Trust leaders will share what has worked, what hasn’t and the lessons learned. Discussion will include how their organisations are defining boundaries for AI, deciding what data agents should access, and building confidence before wider deployment, offering practical insights to help trusts explore AI agents thoughtfully. Speakers to be confirmed.
CEO, Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust
Sir Mark Grundy has been the CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust since 2007, after previously serving as the principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy, the trust’s founding school. He has also held the position of executive principal at both Shireland Collegiate Academy and George Salter Collegiate Academy. Sir Mark has had a distinguished career in education and has been recognised with several prestigious awards and achievements. His career has included serving as an advisor to the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner from 2012 to 2022, and being knighted in 2006 for his contributions to education and technology. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University in 2022. Sir Mark gained his Masters qualification from Loughborough University.
Director of Information Systems, The Mercian Trust
James Fendek is Director of Information Systems at The Mercian Trust, a school trust in the West Midlands, where he has played a key role in trust‑wide digital transformation, information systems and cyber resilience. His experience includes MIS migration, device refresh programmes, data protection compliance and online safeguarding. James has supported the trust’s exploration and adoption of AI, contributing to the development of an internal AI agent used to respond to finance, governance and HR queries. He has also been closely involved in the rollout of Microsoft Copilot to more than 140 senior leaders, helping embed AI into everyday leadership practice and decision‑making. Alongside his professional role, James is completing an Executive MBA and brings a practical, evidence‑led perspective on digital strategy, risk and organisational change in education.
