SNE Event

Diana Osagie

Author, Courageous Leadership

With 20 years' experience leading secondary education, including six years as a successful head teacher in a London secondary school; Diana works at the cutting edge of leadership development. She is known as a resilient school leader,skilled in urban leadership under challenging circumstances. Diana has substantial success in developing school wide models that strategically enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum and can couple sound strategic vision whilst giving clear operational direction. Diana is also a school inspector with developed expertise scrutinising school wide systems. Diana is the author of the book Courageous Leadership- An hour to quash the tummy flies in your butter! A humorous account of the highs and lows of leading in challenging circumstances, giving strategic insight to leaders who are serving at the chalk face and need someone to honestly share the mistakes, mishaps and triumphs of leadership. With a proven track record of developing leaders via bespoke training programs, Diana founded The Academy of Women's Leadership; specialising in supporting women to grow the leadership cultures of their organisations and to flourish as leaders established in confidence, Diana has established capability in mentoring and supporting leaders facing challenging circumstances and change. Successful leaders have someone in their corner who understands and has overcome similar challenges. We all need an advocate and that is what Diana becomes when you work together, She is an advocate for your leadership.

Julie Liddell

Managing Director, Still Human

Julie has over 25 years experience of teaching Psychology, along with an enthusiasm for sharing simple, effective ways to improve wellbeing.
Having worked in the post 16 sector both as a teacher and a Senior Manager, Julie has a genuine understanding of the current challenges facing education.

Julie founded Still Human as she believes that when staff health and wellbeing is nurtured, it positively impacts both the individual and the whole school community. Still Human is part of the educational support services organisation, The Edwin Group and delivers workshops on a wide range of topics including Stress Management, Mindfulness, the Menopause and Rest, as well as delivering Wellbeing Champion training.

Pauline Aitchison

Deputy Director, Schools North East & NNoSS Network Lead

Pauline joined Schools North East in July 2017 as Business Manager and was appointed Deputy Director in 2020. She also leads the National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals (NNoSS), a network representing 400 schools in the specialist sector across England.

Prior to joining Schools North East in 2017, Pauline was a School Business Manager and has more than 25 years experience of working in education.  She has a wealth of knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by schools and is committed to making a difference to the learning chances of all pupils.

Pauline is also experienced in school governance having served on various governing bodies and is currently a trustee of a special school trust and a committee chair.  She has an MBA in strategic leadership and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management.