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 event, so keep checking back for more details.
CEO, Learning First
CEO, Learning First
Ben has advised governments in Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia on education strategy and reform. Before founding Learning First in 2014, he was director of the Grattan Institute’s School Education Program. He also worked with numerous education systems across the world during five years at the OECD, where he conducted research on education policy and school and teacher effectiveness.
Director of Education
Director of Education
Daisy Christodoulou is Director of Education at No More Marking, a provider of online comparative judgement assessments. She works closely with schools in the UK, Australia and USA on developing new approaches to assessment, and on applications of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
Before that, she was Head of Assessment at Ark Schools, a network of academy schools. She has taught English in two London comprehensives and has been part of UK government commissions on the future of teacher training and assessment.
Daisy is the author of three books about education: Seven Myths about Education (2013), Making Good Progress? The future of Assessment for Learning (2017), and Teachers vs Tech (2020).
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.
Executive Director, Steplab Ltd.
Executive Director, Steplab Ltd.
Claire is an Executive Director at Steplab, having previously led schools and trust-wide school improvement. Claire is the co-author of Symbiosis: the Curriculum and the Classroom and is Standards Officer for the charity LitdriveUK, a subject association that provides PD and resources for English teachers.
Senior School Improvement Lead, The Roseland Multi-Academy Trust
Senior School Improvement Lead, The Roseland Multi-Academy Trust
Craig is the Senior School Improvement Lead at The Roseland Multi-Academy Trust, and has held previous roles in education as Head of School and Vice-Principal.
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Worcester
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Worcester
Dr Neil Gilbride CPsychol is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Worcester as well as holding a variety of roles across the education sector. As a Chartered Psychologist, he applies the principles of psychology to leadership, people development, inclusion and organisational behaviour. His research has explored the demands that complex organisations place on adults level of psychological development, and how we can better understand decision making within complex and wicked problems that individuals face when taking on strategic levels of responsibility.
Executive School Improvement Lead, Windsor Academy Trust
Executive School Improvement Lead, Windsor Academy Trust
Kat Howard is Executive School Improvement Lead at Windsor Academy Trust, working with schools across the West Midlands region and leading curriculum and assessment across the Trust.
Previously a Director for a large Multi-Academy Trust Teaching School Hub serving over 200 schools across the North and North East Lincolnshire region, she is a writer, speaker and in previous roles, a Senior Leader and Subject Lead in secondary schools, as well as an English specialist. Prior to her career in education, Kat gained extensive experience in the financial sector, overseeing recruitment, training and operations for a leading high street bank flagship project across the North West.
In addition to her in-school role, Kat was an Expert Advisor for Teacher Development Trust, writing curriculum content for the Reformed NPQ Leadership Suite. Kat is also a Council member at the Chartered College of Teaching and a Trustee for Education Support.
