Speakers
Pete Hubbard
Outdoor Education Consultant
Pete is a former engineer and maths teacher with a lifelong passion for adventures in the great outdoors. He now runs a small outdoor education business called Exploring, Etc that works with primary schools, teachers across the north east. He is currently carrying out research into nature connection and wellbeing as part of a Masters in Outdoor Education.
Shaheen Myers
Founder & CEO, Balanced:ed
Shaheen Myers has over 22 years’ experience in inner-city schools and established a background in leading and supporting schools in challenging circumstances. She held headship and executive leadership roles in a large, culturally diverse Multi Academy Trust. Has trained as an Ofsted Inspector and is an experienced board member for 3 multi academy trusts. She was an experienced facilitator on the NPQ programmes and worked as a director for professional development for a large MAT. Shaheen has also mentored and coached new head teachers. Shaheen has a wealth of experience across the sector and most recently in her role as Deputy Director for Education in a large local authority. This strategic role included all educational establishments, working with MATs and CEOs across a city on shared vision for education and outcomes. She worked closely with Department for Education, Ofsted, Elected Members, and other local authorities.
Shaheen is currently the founder of Balance:ed a company formed to support the wellbeing of senior leaders, school staff and governance across the education sector to try and stem the recruitment and retention crisis currently facing the profession.
Hannah Hall
Trainer and Coach, When the Adults Change
Hannah is an experienced School Improvement Consultant, Coach & Trainer. She specialises in Behaviour, SEMH & SEND, and works nationally and internationally supporting Schools (early years to FE, & Special/AP settings), Local Authorities & Trusts in reviewing, implementing, and developing cultural change, policy, systems and provision.
Hannah is known for her inspirational & charismatic training, combining her warmth as a person, passion for school improvement, served with a large portion of ‘realness’ and lived experience. As an Adviser and Coach Hannah is a valued and sought-after critical friend and para-professional. Her empathetic approach, delivered with honesty, underpinned with expertise & knowledge means she has supported many educational settings in whole school change as well as individual progression.
Having been in Education for 20 years, Hannah has worked at Local Authority Consultancy level for the National Strategies, as an Adviser for Achievement For All, as Senior Leader in several secondary schools, and most recently as Acting Principal at an Alternative Provision in the centre of Birmingham. She has ‘walked the walk’ on all she delivers, and has certainly used the many mistakes she has made as learning points in her career!
Hannah is a highly regarded Coach, and works with senior and middle leaders as well as teaching and support staff. As a qualified SENCo Hannah is able to guide and support whole school implementation & change alongside reviews and advice on nuanced and targeted therapeutic provision, monitoring and strategy.
Alongside this Hannah is an Evidence Lead in Education for the EEF & Staffordshire Research School. Her effectiveness in school improvement is driven by research-informed systems and strategy. She advises on, and delivers, the Making the Difference for Disadvantaged Learners and Effective Learning Behaviours programmes
Hannah is an associate of Optimus Education as an Adviser & Verifier for the SEND & Inclusion Award & Leading Parent Partnership Award. She also delivers training & consultancy for AC Education on Attachment, Trauma & therapeutic provision.
Hannah’s school improvement expertise and bespoke support are further enhanced by being an Emotion Coach licensee, Thrive Practitioner, MITA/MPTA licensee, Mental Health First Aider & qualified Life Coach.
Helen Spiers
Head of Counselling, Mable Therapy
Helen Spiers is the Head of Counselling at Mable Therapy, an online speech and language and counselling service for school and private referrals. She delivers training in counselling children and young people online and has overseen the development of Mable’s creative, online, mental health resources. She’s also Mable’s mental health media spokesperson, advocating for better mental health support for children and young people.
Helen has been working with young people for over twenty years. She was a primary school teacher for over a decade, before becoming a children and young person’s counsellor. She has worked as a counsellor in primary, secondary and FE settings, before becoming Head of Mable's pioneering online service.
Jude Gordon
Supporting Parents Lead, Relate
Jude Gordon is an experienced practitioner and trainer in the field of children, young people and families. She began her career in the North East working within education, supporting Looked After Children and working within family support services. Jude is a qualified Probation Officer, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Mentalization Therapist. She has been helping deliver the DWP Pilot Reducing Parental Conflict Programme for the last 4 years and is passionate about sharing the learning and helping practitioners have the confidence to start these difficult conversations with families.
Julie Gibson
Head of Content and Product Development, Autism Education Trust
With over 23 years of experience in the education sector, Julie is now Head of Content and Product Development at the Autism Education Trust.
Julie is a former teacher, having worked in the Secondary phase, here in the North East, for 22 years. Her roles in teaching include being an English subject lead in key stages 3, 4 and 5 and also a whole school literacy and oracy lead. She is also a qualified SENCo and Senior leader.
In addition to her work in teaching, she was also part of the Voice 21 pilot project and has delivered Oracy training on their behalf in schools across North Tyneside. She was also part of the EdNorth Program with Schools North East.
With lived experience of neurodivergence, Julie is driven by the belief that education can promote inclusion and equity, transforming the lives of all children and young people.
Fiona Riddle
Senior Program Manager, Autism Education Trust
Before joining the AET, Fiona taught in a mainstream primary school setting in the North East of England and has 13 years experience working in all phases, with the majority of her time spent in Early Years and KS1.
The focus of her teaching career for the last 4 years was designing a bespoke curriculum and classroom provision for pupils with special educational needs. This experience developed her knowledge of designing enabling environments, creating positive relationships, and a passion for ensuring that pupils are supported in both their learning and their wellbeing.
Since joining the AET Fiona has been co-ordinating the development of the AET’s new Work-Based CPD Programme for Schools and Trusts. The programme offers autism awareness and good autism practice CPD sessions which are delivered in bitesize, video-based learning units. The programme aims to embed the principles of good autism practice across schools and trusts, to increase the confidence and skill of the education workforce and to ensure autistic children and young people experience a positive education that supports their wellbeing.
Loti Nambombe
Charity Lead, School Speaker & Mental Health Advocate, Make Life Kind
As a diversity speaker and mental health champion for Nike, Loti uses his personal experiences to celebrate diversity, whilst at the same time, acknowledging how we work together to bring change where needed.
Loti aims to empower young people through his phenomenal diversity and inclusion sessions. He is incredibly passionate about teaching the next generation to be inclusive, and hopes to support schools in combating issues surrounding diversity using proven and up-to-date methods which fully engage children and young people of all ages.
Robert Bell
Head Teacher, Consilium Evolve
Robert Bell is a dynamic and accomplished educational leader who has made an indelible mark on Consilium Evolve in two transformative years as Headteacher. His unwavering commitment to both students and to educational reform is evident in the school's most recent Ofsted Report :
"Consilium Evolve is a life-changing school for many of the pupils who attend."
Ofsted, September 2023
Renowned for exceptional interpersonal skills, Robert not only galvanised the school leadership team, but also mobilised the entire school community, rallying them behind his ambitious plans and fostering a culture of success. This ability to inspire and unite has proven an invaluable asset in a challenging educational landscape.
What sets Robert apart is his unique career journey, which reflects his deep-rooted commitment to levelling the educational playing field. His determination to ensure equitable access to quality education and lifelong skills for disadvantaged students is unfailing. Furthermore, his dedication to reshaping perceptions of education, especially for students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, have yielded remarkable and deeply rewarding results.
With a boundless drive and clarity of purpose, Robert is not merely an educator; he is a catalyst for change, driven to make a profound impact on the world of education.
Rhian Davies
Senior Lead for the Primary Mental Health Team, Be You Northumberland
Rhian leads on the development and implementation of 1:1 evidence-based interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs within our mental health support team.
Emma Holleywell
Senior Mental Health Lead, Be You Northumberland
Emma supports Senior Mental Health Leads across Northumberland with their whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing provision.
Rebecca Lowes
Assistant Educational Psychologist, Be You Northumberland
Rebecca supports the Be You Mental Health Support Team alongside our Educational Psychologists on a whole-school level to develop approaches that enhance staff knowledge and skills.
Dr Helen Tamworth
Senior Educational Psychologist, Be You Northumberland
Helen supports the development of mental health and wellbeing provision at a whole-school level. She develops bespoke training packages for schools that support staff CPD. She also leads on the delivery and implementation of the FRIENDS Resilience programme.