SNE Event

Amy Conroy

Amy Conroy, Four-time Paralympian & Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Player

Amy is best known for co-captaining the U25 squad to World Championship gold in 2015, where she was also named Most Valuable Player. Her journey from childhood cancer survivor to world-class athlete gives her a rare authority on high performance, inclusion and mental strength.

Amy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at a young age, a form of bone cancer that ultimately led to the amputation of her left leg after chemotherapy proved unsuccessful. During her recovery, she attended a local wheelchair basketball taster session and immediately connected with the speed, aggression and tactical challenge of the sport. Talent and determination combined quickly. As a teenager, she made her senior international debut at the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup and later that year competed at the World Championships in Birmingham, helping the team achieve their best-ever finish at the time. Alongside her sporting development, Amy studied Social Psychology at Loughborough University, an academic grounding that continues to inform her thoughtful approach to mindset, motivation and team culture.

Shenara Pennycooke

Head of the School Business Capability Policy Unit, Department for Education

Shenara Pennycooke is Head of the School Business Capability Policy Unit (which includes School Business Professional Policy), in Regions Group at the Department for Education. She has worked in the Department for Education for nearly 20 years in a range of roles including Head of the University Technical Colleges Team and Head of the North East Region in the Schools Financial Support and Oversight Directorate. Shenara previously worked in a number of private offices both in the Department and for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for Ofsted.

Catherine Bulman

Schools Business Manager, Kingsmeadow Community School

Catherine is an experienced School Business Manager currently serving  Kingsmeadow Community Secondary School and Dunston Hill Community Primary School. With a career in education spanning nearly two decades, and over a decade in senior business leadership, Catherine brings depth, credibility and vision to the evolving role of the School Business Manager.

Since entering education in 2007 and progressing into school business leadership in 2012, Catherine has championed the belief that strong operational leadership is fundamental to educational excellence. Her work spans financial strategy, operational leadership, compliance, estates management and governance — always with a clear focus on improving outcomes for pupils and strengthening organisational resilience.

Highly qualified in the field, Catherine holds CSBM and DSBM status, a First-Class Honours degree in School Business Management, and a Level 7 CIPFA qualification in Finance and Operational Leadership. She is currently completing the IOSH Level 6 qualification, further strengthening her expertise in health, safety and risk management.

Passionate about elevating the profile of school business leadership, Catherine advocates for School Business Managers as strategic partners at the heart of school improvement. Her approach combines disciplined systems with calm, values-driven leadership, ensuring that schools are not only inspection-ready, but future-ready.

Jo Jackowiak 

HR Consultant, Clennell Education Solutions

Jo has over 15 years experience working in senior HR roles in the education sector.  She is the lead consultant for safer recruitment with Clennell Education Solutions, developing and delivering training and providing advice and guidance to schools and colleges in relation to statutory compliance and best practice. Jo is also an accredited trainer through the Safer Recruitment Consortium.  

Sam McBride

Trust Systems Manager, Matrix Academy Trust

Sam McBride is Trust Systems Manager with extensive experience across health and safety, compliance, security, and site management. His background spans both education and theatre environments, bringing a strong understanding of operational safety, risk management, and the delivery of safe, compliant spaces.

Alex Gunn

Senior Training and Learning Officer

Alex Gunn has over 20 years of experience working across the NHS and social care sectors. She is a qualified Occupational Therapist and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), alongside a Medication Management Train the Trainer qualification.

Alex leads the medication training portfolio within North Yorkshire Council and has been delivering training as part of the Health and Safety portfolio for the past two and a half years. She is committed to supporting staff to develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver safe and effective care.

Alan Goodwin

Data Protection Officer, Digital Safety CIC

Alan has over 40years experience in law enforcement engaged in covert Serious Organised Crime operations across the globe managing complex dual-jurisdiction cases, large datasets, and extradition matters. He co-authored the Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Disruption Manual widely used across UK law enforcement.  For over 10 years he has been the UK’s Interpol Data Protection Officer leading on compliance, audit, and training for the UK’s use of the Interpol portal, overseeing access for 43 police forces and other UK entities. He has widespread experience of engagement with the Information Commissioner’s office managing the deletion of large sets of Interpol data following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU as well as Data Breach management and complex data Subject Access Requests. Alan is highly regarded on the global stage delivering best practice workshops to International Data Protection Officers at Interpol’s HQ in Lyon and Fusion centre in Singapore where he subsequently founded and chaired a Five Eyes data management group with the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, focused on collaborative best practices.

Martin Wilson

Digital Safety CIC

Dr. Martin Wilson is a Detective Inspector with Durham Constabulary and has over 20 years of policing experience across a wide range of roles. He currently works with one of the UK’s nine Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs) - crime prevention partnerships that support SMOs in strengthening their cybersecurity. Before joining the North East Cyber Resilience Centre (NECRC), Martin served with the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), where he specialised in the Cyber Protect, Prevent, and Prepare workstreams. He holds an MSc in Cyber Security (with distinction) and recently completed a PhD at Abertay University. His doctoral research combined user research, behavioural psychology, and cybersecurity to explore how consultants can more effectively engage SMOs in improving their cyber resilience.

Dave Orford

Associate, Digital Safety CIC

Dave is a security consultant, leveraging his expertise in future policing and security to provide bespoke and tailored solutions for various organizations. With over 32 years of experience in law enforcement, security operations, and emergency management, spanning national, regional, and local levels, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his work. Holding a BSc in Physics and an MSc in Leadership, he is well-equipped to address complex security challenges.  Previously, he held the position of policing and security capabilities designer at NEOM, Saudi Arabia, where he was tasked with designing the police force of the future for the city of the future. He was responsible for producing the NEOM future policing strategy, operational plan, and strategic threat and risk assessment. Additionally, he provided guidance on all aspects of delivering technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable security and policing solutions. Prior to this role, he served as the Deputy Chief Constable for Durham Constabulary in the United Kingdom, leading the force through years of outstanding performance and innovation.  Passionate about creating and implementing effective security solutions that address the multi-dimensional threat picture facing the 21st century, while also achieving commercial viability and defined business outcomes, he continues to make significant contributions to the field of security consultancy.

David Parsons

Regional Director, CER

David is a Director with CER Education Recruitment, he’s been with the business 14 years, initially starting as a Secondary Consultant and working his way up to operationally managing the Northeast and North Yorkshire.  He’s a massive advocate of Managed Service Provision within the temporary education staffing sector and was proud to win, implement and run the countries first GCA (previously CCS) LOT 2 framework agreements (2020).

CER as part of Affinity Workforce Solutions is the regional and national leader of MSP’s heading into the GCA’s third iteration of the now DFE mandated framework.

Outside of his drive for transparency and value for money within education recruitment, he’s equally devoted to his two staffy’s.

Catherine Lenahan

North East Hub Manager, Department for Education's Climate Ambassadors Programme

Catherine Lenahan is the North East Hub Manager for the Department for Education’s Climate Ambassadors Programme. She is based at Newcastle University and leading work to embed climate action across the region's schools. An experienced teacher and education consultant, Catherine has over 20 years’ experience in early years, primary education and school improvement, with strong interests in place-based approaches, reading development and integrating climate education across the curriculum. Catherine is a published children’s author and editor of decodable reading books and is the author of two eco-themed comic series for SEND and early years pupils.

Meryl Batchelder

Ambassador, Department for Education's Climate Ambassadors Programme

Meryl Batchelder is a communicator for climate, nature and sustainability education. She holds a doctorate in environmental geochemistry, a postdoctoral fellowship at the Natural History Museum and was a science lead in schools for over a decade. She is Education Lead for TerraLigo, Regional Coordinator for the Ministry of Eco Education and NE Lead for the Young Green Briton Challenge. Meryl is also an enthusiastic Climate Ambassador with STEM Learning. She works with schools and students to embed sustainability across the curriculum and inspire climate action through constructive optimism.

Dan Baker

Category Lead in Schools Commercial Team, Department for Education

Dan is a category lead in the Schools Commercial Team at the Department for Education, developing procurement/commercial strategies to help schools achieve value for money.
Before joining the DfE, Dan worked in the private sector across a range of industries where he led Global and European procurement teams as well as operating as a category manager for large multi-national companies with responsibility for a range of spend areas.

Adam Ward

Renewals Manager, Education Mutual

Adam Ward is the Renewals Manager at Education Mutual, where he leads the renewals function and supports a dedicated team of Renewals Advocates in working closely with schools and trusts as they review and renew their memberships. He oversees member engagement strategies and helps drive a smooth experience, understanding each members evolving needs, and ensuring they feel confident in their ongoing staff absence protection.

Adam has been with Education Mutual for five years, originally starting in the New Memberships team as a Membership Advocate. His experience across both new and renewing member journeys gives him a well-rounded understanding of the organisation and the sector.

Lewis Newbury

Membership Advocate, Education Mutual

Lewis Newbury is a Membership Advocate at Education Mutual, working as part of the New Memberships team to support prospective schools and trusts with their staff absence protection needs. Lewis works closely with regions including Lancashire and South Yorkshire, where he acts as a trusted representative for staff absence protection. Through building strong relationships with schools and trusts, he provides consistent, dedicated guidance tailored to each setting’s requirements.

In addition, Lewis is the Education Mutual representative for the Schools North East partnership, strengthening collaboration across the region and supporting more organisations to access the protection they need.

Fiona Greenwold & Jane Pollinger

Regional Officers (North East), National Education Nature Park

Fiona and Jane are Regional Officers (North East) for the National Education Nature Park. This is a free education programme in England, empowering the next generation to understand, care for, and improve the natural world through making their school, nursery or college site a better place for both people and wildlife. Children and young people lead the way in transforming their learning sites, creating new habitats and turning the ‘grey’ parts of their sites into green, nature-rich spaces to benefit both people and wildlife. As they explore, map out and improve their learning sites, young people join a nationwide effort, collecting valuable data that supports real-world science and helps nature recover across the country, displayed on an online map.

Brendan Murtagh

Head of Get Help Buying Services, Department for Education

Brendan joined DfE in 2023 and since April 2026 has become Service Owner for the Get Help Buying for Schools and Energy for Schools services.

Prior to that Brendan was the Department’s Head of Core Procurement, leading a procurement team for requirements under £10m and category teams for a range of services for the Department. Brendan also brings a wealth of procurement experience from his roles across government including at HMRC, the Ministry of Justice, the NHS and, most recently, working on national employment programmes for DWP.

Gavin Monument

Head of Financial Insights, Department for Education

Gavin is a qualified accountant with almost 30-years experience supporting school finances, including roles in DfE, local government and the private sector.  He has ran education finance services in local government and managed academy conversion projects in the private sector. He has worked on a number of key projects in DfE, including the early stages of the national fair funding formula for schools, digitising the academy accounts return, designing and launching the academy chart of accounts and project managing the inception and delivery of VMFI, before taking over benchmarking policy and creating FBIT.

Chris Kenyon

CEO, The Key Group

Chris joined The Key in 2019 to build on its mission of transforming ways of working in schools for the better. Since then, Chris has welcomed Arbor, GovernorHub, Robin, TimeTabler and SAMpeople into the group.  The Key Group now provides services to 19,000 schools including the 50% of English schools that now use Arbor. 

With a 20 year background in technology, Chris is deeply involved in developing innovative solutions to streamline and improve administrative tasks in schools.

Lindsay Harris

Department for Education

Lindsay Harris has worked in the Education Estates Directorate (formerly Capital Directorate) of the Department for Education for over 9 years, having previously worked at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.  Lindsay has been responsible for the Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) guide, the Condition Data Collection programmes among other things, and more recently led development of the Education Estates Strategy, published in February 2026.  He is currently leading on the Estate Management pillar of the Strategy and development of the future data collection

Mick Little

Chief Operating Officer, Ascent Academies Trust

Mick is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 27 years’ experience working in public sector finance, including local authority, education and corporate services. With 11 years’ experience in a MAT as Chief Operating Officer, Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Mick has vast experience leading all central functions and operations.

Emma Chawner

Director of Finance, Resources and Operations, Tees Valley Education

Emma contributes towards children’s opportunities and life chances through working with an outstanding team of individuals at Tees Valley Education and their external strategic partners.  As the Director of Finance, Resources and Operations, Emma does this by leading on a number of priorities such as the Trust’s financial resources, to ensure they are utilised in the best interests of our children so they can realise their true aspirations.

Emma is a Masters graduate in Leadership and Management, a Chartered Manager with the Chartered Management Institute and has worked in the Education sector for the past 5 years.  Prior to this, Emma has over 15 years experience in local government children’s services.

Chris Zarraga

Director, Schools North East

Chris is the Director of School North East.  He has been part of the Schools North East team since its operational inception in 2008 and in 2019 he was appointed Director.  Chris works with senior leaders across the North East and nationally in the education and charity sectors, to represent the voice of North East schools.  A central part of his work is to lobby politicians,  policy makers, and the media to put a strong ‘regional accent’ on the education debate, so that North East schools are not left behind when it comes to education policy.

Under Chris, Schools North East launched the ‘Manifesto for North East Education’.  The manifesto sets out the perennial challenges that impact educational opportunities in the North East and the principles needed to inform any educational policy wanting to address them.

Chris works with hundreds of schools across the North East and various organisations including Ofsted, the DfE, the North East’s universities, Local Authorities and various regional/ national businesses. Prior to joining Schools North East, he led a £1.4 million culture change project in education across the North East for the Treasury and DfE and was responsible for setting up a multi-million pound Enterprise Education Network. 

Chris sits on various advisory boards including the NHS Integrated Care Boards, various Combined Authority advisory boards, and was a member of the DfE’s Opportunity North East strategic board. He has also sat on various boards for North East Universities. As well as being a Director of two North East multi academy trusts, Chris has been Chair of a 3 school Trust, Vice Chair of a large maintained secondary school and Vice Chair of a primary foundation school. 

In a variety of roles from Regional Manager to Chief Executive to Board member, Chris has led large scale change management projects in education and has over 20 years’ experience of strategic management, consultancy, and client development experience at a ‘Big Four’ firm and various financial institutions.

Chris holds an MBA with distinction from Durham University Business School.