Governance Conference 2026: Designing for stewardship: From theory to practice

Themed on Designing for stewardship: From theory to practice, the conference explored how trusts can move Next-gen governance from concept to action, strengthening proactive board leadership, intelligent accountability and relational trust across school and trust communities.

152

delegates

19

speakers

11

sessions

Great event, very well managed. A highlight in the governance year.

Superb content and brilliant insights! The speakers were exceptionally knowledgeable, and the event provided a fantastic opportunity to network with hundreds of other governance professionals. I left the conference buzzing with ideas, a clear list of impactful actions to implement on the ground, and a wealth of useful contacts. I highly recommend this conference to anyone in the sector!

Inspiring keynotes

Main-stage sessions explored:

Why governance matters more than ever in a changing and complex landscape
How boards can reduce fluffload and make governance more sustainable
The principles of effective governance at scale as the sector continues to evolve
How trusts can listen meaningfully to young people and reflect their voices in governance

Focused workshops

Breakout sessions included:

Turning AI governance from policy into practical action
Managing purposeful trust growth and values-led mergers
Using technology to strengthen oversight, stakeholder voice and decision making
Understanding the governance implications of SEND reform and relational trust with families

Making connections

Attendees had the opportunity to:

Engage in interactive workshops, roundtables and reflective discussions
Share practical approaches to strengthening Next-gen governance
Learn from governance professionals, sector experts and trust leaders
Network with colleagues and leading suppliers to the sector

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Join us for 2026

We would love to see you at our next Governance Conference, taking place on Thursday 4 June 2026 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre.