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 January, so keep checking back for more details.
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, University of Northampton
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, University of Northampton
Dr Hayley Henderson is a researcher and educator with a career spanning nearly two decades in higher education. She has held multiple key academic roles and has played a pivotal role in delivering UK HE programmes in partnership with institutions in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the UAE.
An active researcher and published author, Dr Hayley Henderson’s scholarly work spans digital literacy, digital wellbeing and online safety in education. Her publications reflect her interest in the intersections between technology, wellbeing and community engagement. Her multidisciplinary background—grounded in computing, business, and education—equips her to lead with insight, empathy, and innovation.
Dr Hayley Henderson is passionate about helping people find balance in our hyper-connected world, guiding them to use technology intentionally rather than letting it take over.
Safeguarding & Leadership Consultant
Safeguarding & Leadership Consultant
Jon is the National Safeguarding Partnership Facilitator for Education, working with the Department of Education to support colleagues at all levels within local safeguarding partnerships to effectively engage education in safeguarding, as stated within Working Together to Safeguard Children. He was, until July 2023, a primary headteacher and a designated safeguarding lead for 17 years and extremely passionate about safeguarding children. Jon is privileged to be in this new role and looks forward to hearing your views and ideas on how we can ensure education is further engaged in safeguarding partnerships and safeguarding decision making.
Executive Director, The Children’s Commissioner’s Office
Executive Director, The Children’s Commissioner’s Office
Juliette Cammaerts joined the Children’s Commissioner’s office in 2021, on Dame Rachel de Souza’s appointment to the role. She serves as Executive Director, overseeing the office’s landmark work completing the two largest-ever surveys of children ‘The Big Ask’ and ‘The Big Ambition’. Most recently, Juliette led on The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census, which used the Commissioner’s statutory powers on schools for the first time to collect new, comprehensive data on how schools are supporting children to attend, engage, attain and excel.
Prior to this, Juliette worked at the Department for Education, where she managed ministerial teams over a seven-year period. She led on all matters relating to children and families, championing children’s rights through the introducing of new policy measures - and advised the DfE throughout the unprecedented coronavirus crisis.
Before joining the civil service, Juliette studied French and Arabic at UCL and SOAS.
Professor of IT, Ethics and Digital Rights, Bournemouth University
Professor of IT, Ethics and Digital Rights, Bournemouth University
Andy Phippen currently serves as Professor of Digital Rights at Bournemouth University and holds a Visiting Professorship at the University of Suffolk. With a career spanning nearly two decades, his work explores how information and communication technologies affect society, focusing on critical issues such as internet safety, data protection, sexting, peer abuse, and the impact of digital environments on well‑being.
Andy has an extensive publication record, having authored 17 books along with numerous journal articles and book chapters. He actively contributes to policy making—providing written and oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries—and is a frequent media commentator on youth and internet safety. He also serves on the International Panel on Child Protection and Social Media and supports prominent UK online safety efforts through partnerships with the UK Safer Internet Centre, Internet Matters, and roles within the British Computer Society and SWGfL.
Vice President, British Esports Federation
Vice President, British Esports Federation
Tom is the Vice President (and DSL) of the British Esports Federation and is recognised as a global leader in education and standards in esports, having led the development of both competitive and academic esports programmes in the UK and around the world.
Learning from traditional sport, he is currently leading the drive to create global standards for safeguarding in esports, along with a recognised framework for esports coaching and wider professional development. He has recently been invited to join the International Olympic Committee’s Clean Esports Group, in particular, the safeguarding sub-group, ahead of the Olympic Esports Games in 2027. He is also Vice Chair of the Education, Culture, Youth Commission of the Global Esports Federation.
Tom has a background in secondary education having taught across state, independent and alternative provision schools for nearly 20 years. This experience includes senior leadership roles covering both academic and pastoral responsibilities.
Assistant SENCo & Head of Research, Thames Valley School
Assistant SENCo & Head of Research, Thames Valley School
Christina Johnston is Head of Liberty Research School and a doctoral candidate at the University of East London. With a background in psychology and special education, she has also worked as therapy team lead within Thames Valley School with a focus on improving outcomes for autistic young people. Her research and practice centre on co-producing evidence-based approaches with pupils, families and professionals, ensuring that interventions enhance education, wellbeing and safeguarding.
Partner and Safeguarding Expert, Browne Jacobson
Partner and Safeguarding Expert, Browne Jacobson
Dai is a recognised safeguarding expert and regularly supports trusts with complex safeguarding issues including handling disclosures of abuse, managing allegations against staff and involvement in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. He also supports trusts with safeguarding governance reviews.
Dai is an experienced trainer and national coach and mentor for trust designated safeguarding leads (DSLs). He provides "invaluable” guidance and a "reassuring, safe place” where individuals can improve their knowledge and learn from best practice. As well as speaking at national safeguarding conferences and delivering his tailored courses to trust DSLs, Dai also delivers CST's masterclass on safeguarding and the safeguarding module of the CST Essential Trustee Programme.
National Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, Oasis Community Learning
National Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, Oasis Community Learning
Jon originally trained as a nurse specializing in adolescents with life limiting illness before moving to become an advisor to a large strategic health authority and a commissioner in a primary care trust. He worked briefly as a specialist advisor on two World Health Organization projects before becoming the lead for early help and multi-agency working in a large local authority.
He became an education safeguarding advisor 16 years ago managing the support offer to 530 schools and for the past six years has worked as the National Director of Safeguarding & Mental Health for the Oasis Trust.
He qualified as a PhD in Education Safeguarding at Liverpool Hope University and has recently published a book on managing sexting in education. He acts as a mentor to five young men starting out in industry ensuring that they develop to their full potential. In his spare time, he is a voluntary youth worker. When (if) he ever relaxes he is a keen fan of Korean dramas (though must use subtitles).
Trust Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead, GLF Academy Trust
Trust Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead, GLF Academy Trust
Fiona Jarman is the Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead for GLF Schools - a trust which serves over 19,000 children and young people aged two to 19 in a diverse array of settings. She has worked in education for over 30 years in multiple roles within schools in London and Surrey, joining the school support team for GLF in 2013, originally as an SLE for behaviour.
She now leads professional development and supervision for DSLs, SMHLs and thrive practitioners in GLF and has had the great privilege of seeing the direct impact these colleagues have had, making a difference to so many children and young people particularly those who have lived through adverse childhood experiences. As a former young carer herself, Fiona is keen to ensure that the voices of disadvantaged, quiet or neurodivergent children and young people are heard so they are empowered to make real change.
Education Advisor to the DfE, Bright Green Learning Ltd
Education Advisor to the DfE, Bright Green Learning Ltd
Jayne Lowe is an Attendance and Behaviour Adviser to the DfE. She has previously been a pupil referral headteacher and managed attendance and inclusion services within a local authority. She has successfully developed and implemented strategy and leading practice with schools and local authorities across the country. Jayne is External Expert to the Youth Custody Service and has been instrumental in the set up of the only secure school in the country. As the founder and managing director of Bright Green Learning she has provided school improvement support to over 100 schools, with a particular focus on leadership development, attendance, safeguarding and behaviour.
Safeguarding Content Lead, The Key
Safeguarding Content Lead, The Key
Katherine Fowler is the Safeguarding Content Lead at The Key, where she is responsible for the content that sits on The Key Safeguarding. She joined the organisation in 2020 as a content editor and has since progressed to her current leadership role, drawing on her extensive experience to create essential resources for schools. Prior to her time at The Key, Katherine worked as a research manager at NFER, where she developed a strong foundation in data analysis and educational research. Her background provides her with a unique perspective, allowing her to deliver practical and evidence-based resources to help schools meet their safeguarding duties effectively.
Trust Safeguarding and Inclusion Lead, Kings Group Academies
Trust Safeguarding and Inclusion Lead, Kings Group Academies
Laura Phillips began her teaching career in Surrey in 2006 and has since held a range of senior leadership roles, including SENCO, DSL and deputy headteacher. She is now Trust Lead for Safeguarding, Attendance and Inclusion at King’s Group Academies, overseeing the development and delivery of safeguarding and SEND strategy across the trust.
Laura is passionate about equity in education and improving opportunities for all children. She leads the trust’s work on tackling violence against women and girls and plays a key role in developing inclusive practices that have real impact on young people’s lives. Alongside this, she supports leadership development by facilitating SENCO and NPQSL courses, helping staff grow in confidence and expertise. She also works collaboratively with colleagues in other trusts, sharing best practice and strengthening safeguarding and inclusion at a wider level.
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.
Chief Executive Officer, White Ribbon
Chief Executive Officer, White Ribbon
Lynne has spent over 17 years as a charity CEO, leading organisations across the third sector with a focus on social justice, health, and advocacy. Her work has supported young people, survivors of sexual violence, older adults, and people with learning disabilities, reflecting a deep commitment to equity and inclusion.
Director of Safeguarding, Liberty Academy Trust
Director of Safeguarding, Liberty Academy Trust
Nicola Law is an experienced safeguarding leader with a strong background in education. She began her career as a family support worker and designated safeguarding lead, later becoming a specialist leader in education supporting schools across multiple partnerships and trusts. Nicola has held senior safeguarding roles in large academy trusts, including regional safeguarding lead and deputy director of safeguarding, overseeing safeguarding strategy across a diverse range of schools. She now serves as Director of Safeguarding at Liberty Academy Trust, an autism specialist trust, leading safeguarding, behaviour, attendance and therapeutic strategy across the trust.
Head of Product and Innovation, Thrive Approach
Head of Product and Innovation, Thrive Approach
Viv’s passion for Thrive started as headteacher and executive headteacher of primary schools across Barnsley, first becoming a licensed practitioner, then a Thrive trainer. She introduced the approach into schools and saw first-hand the impact it has on behaviour, attendance, and attainment as well as mental health and wellbeing.
Viv has taught across all age ranges and often in schools in challenging circumstances. Having specialised in early years and SEN, Viv was thrilled to take on leadership roles as SENCO, assistant head, deputy head and eventually into headship. Viv was asked to become a school improvement partner and to lead a school special measures, this included embedding Thrive as a core approach and tool to improve every area of practice. She was part of the team that established a co-operative trust and a multi academy trust.
In 2015, Viv was thrilled to join the team, originally as regional development manager for the north before moving to become head of innovation and Thrive’s principal trainer, and now head of product and innovation.
Currently, Viv is a director of a multi academy trust and a foster carer leading a Mockingbird constellation. Viv is endlessly passionate about supporting other professionals to embed Thrive practice.
