SNE Event

Hannah Wilson

Director, The Belonging Effect

Hannah Wilson is a Leadership Development consultant, coach and trainer. She is the Co-Founder of #WomenEd and #DiverseEd. She is the Co-Editor of Diverse Educators:  A Manifesto.

She previously taught English, Drama and Media Studies over a 20 year career in schools. She has held multiple leadership roles including Head of Department, Head of Year, Assistant/ Deputy/ Executive  Headteacher and trust-wide/ Teaching School wide roles as well.   

She has been a governor and a trustee in multiple settings, she is a newly appointed trustee and Vice Chair of the trust board at SGSAT in the SW. 

Find out more about the services, resources and training that she and the REAL (Resilient Empowered Authentic Leaders) team provide here: www.hannah-wilson.co.uk 

Find out more about the services, resources and training that the Belonging Effect (formerly known as Diverse Educators) can provide here: www.thebelongingeffect.co.uk

Dame Christine Lenehan, DBE 

Director, Council for Disabled Children

Christine began her career as a social worker in 1980. 

In 2000 Christine joined the Council for Disabled Children, part of the National Children’s Bureau. Christine has carried out Reviews for both the DoH and DfE, both Reviews received a very positive response from Government, and implementation of their recommendations is likely to make a significant impact on practice in this area and the experiences of the children and young people affected. Most recently, Christine was a lead member for the review of safeguarding children and young people with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings in partnership with The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. The recommendations urge government departments to work together to transform the education, health and care offer so that disabled children and young people and those with complex health needs thrive and are supported to achieve. 

In 2009 Christine was awarded an OBE for services for disabled children and young people and in 2013 was made an Honorary Fellow of the RCPCH. In 2016 she was awarded a Damehood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of her outstanding work for disabled children and young and those with special educational needs spanning over 35 years.  In October 2024 she was appointed by the Government to the role of Strategic Advisor on SEND to support the Government on developing reforms to the system.      

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.