Speakers
Jonathan Peach
Motivational Speaker, The Art of Brilliance
Jonathan did that usual thing of spending decades working in leadership and consultancy roles where everything was just fine. Until one day it dawned on him that ‘fine’ probably wasn’t anywhere near good enough? So he set about raising his personal bar to ‘brilliant’ and the rest, as they say, is history
He changed direction. Jonathan’s calling was always to support people in achieving their true potential. He has a passion to help people achieve their dreams and believes that the only person stopping them from doing this is themselves.
He now spends most of his time partnering individuals, teams, teenagers, teachers, sportsmen and women, using a mix of coaching, training, NLP and facilitation. In short, he rids people of limiting beliefs and helps people get out of their own way! Jonathan co-wrote ‘Leadership the Multiplier Effect’ with Andy Cope and Mike Martin.
Jonathan is a learning junkie with an office full of books. His collection continues to grow because he keeps getting introduced to new ones that he must read. He was about to extend his office to accommodate the new books when the kids bought him a Kindle. Genius!
Jonathan has two kids. One of his daughters thinks his voice changes when he coaches her and is often heard saying, “Dad, you’re using that coaching voice again. Stop it immediately!”
Dan Newton
Business Development Manager, Charles Garth
Dan has had the privilege of contributing to the construction sector for over 15 years, starting his journey in 2005. Currently, Dan serves as the Regional Manager for Langley, a position that has allowed him to cultivate his expertise in asset management and sustainable roofing practices.
Beyond his role at Langley, Dan is honoured to be entrusted with the position of Chairman at Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber, where he promotes and instils best practices in the construction industry. In addition to Dan’s professional endeavours, he is a dedicated STEM ambassador. Dan’s commitment extends to supporting and mentoring young individuals in schools, helping them prepare for the transition into the world beyond education. Empowering the next generation with knowledge and skills is a cause close to his heart.
Stephen Morales
Chief Executive, Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL)
Stephen has a 20-year career history in operations and finance, working at a senior level in the public and private sectors. He has managed significant change management and quality assurance programmes for local government and international commercial banking organisations. Stephen has held the position of Finance Director in the UK education system and enjoyed a spell performing a similar role internationally. Stephen returned to the UK in 2007 and has since worked closely with the Department for Education in areas of policy reform. Between 2014 and 2015, Stephen presided over the development and implementation of nationally recognised school business management professional standards and in 2017 led the change of status from the National Association of School Business Management to the Institute of School Business Leadership.
Graham Vials
Partner and Head of Education at Ward Hadaway Law Firm
Graham specialises in providing commercial advice to predominantly employer clients, advising on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters to a variety of private and public sector clients, ranging from owner-managed businesses to large national companies, schools and academies and government departments and local authorities. Graham provides pragmatic and strategic advice in respect of all day to day HR and employment related matters and has expertise in all aspects of employment law.
Claire Mitchell
Leadership & Governance Partner, Berry Education
Claire is a Governance and Academy Improvement Professional who is passionate about supporting Trustees, Directors & Governors in their volunteer roles.
She is a Chair of Governors at her local Church of England Primary School and has a wealth of experience working in academy and mainstream settings with a specialism in MAT governance.
Claire has over a decade of experience within education and skills teaching in the 14-19 sector supporting children to regain their education pathway and develop a lifelong love for learning. Claire has held a number of senior leadership roles within education, including managing ESFA funded learning provision in excess of £10 million for 150+ education and skills providers. Claire also has experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
As an NGA Consultant Claire also delivers training, carries out external reviews of governance, and facilitates the NGA Leading Governance development programmes.
Julie Liddell
Managing Director at 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 are 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 CPD accredited workshops on a wide range of topics including Stress Management, Mindfulness, the Menopause and Rest, and Menopause Ambassador training. Still Human also delivers Wellbeing Champion training that is assured for DfE grant-funded senior mental health lead training, with a focus on embedding staff wellbeing into the culture of schools and colleges.
Julie has worked with staff in many settings from Primary through to FE and has found that whilst staff in education are undoubtedly superhumans, they are still human, nonetheless. In her workshops she shares evidence-based knowledge and engaging practical strategies, all designed to make being a human a little easier.
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.
Debbie Pettiford
Data Protection Officer, The DP Advice Service
Debbie is a qualified solicitor and worked for 10 years in private practice before moving into lecturing in Higher Education and setting up her own business offering a Data Protection Officer service to schools and MATs. Debbie offers legal advice regarding data protection tailored to schools and training written specifically for schools’ staff.
Debbie is passionate about ensuring that schools and MATs understand their obligations when it comes to data protection but without this being costly or onerous. To this end, her business has launched DPOCOMS to assist schools with managing the day to day data protection compliance.
Ben Hardy
Stakeholder and Engagement Lead, Schools Commercial Team, DfE
Ben Hardy is a Stakeholder and Engagement Lead in the Schools Commercial Team at the Department for Education. The team's role is to support the delivery of the Schools' Buying Strategy to help schools and trusts achieve best value from their non-staff spend, predominantly through the Get help buying for schools service, and the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA).
Before joining the DfE, Ben was Relationship Manager at Schools North East, engaging with a wide range of partners including CEOs, CFOs, Head Teachers, School Business Professionals, Local Authorities. Prior to this, Ben worked with leaders and governors at schools, MATs and LAs across the country for The Key.
Ben is Chair of Governors at a primary school in Newcastle.
Bryan McCourt
Energy Solutions and Net Zero Consultant, Zenergi
Bryan is an Energy Solutions and Net Zero Consultant for Zenergi and works specifically with the Education sector helping Multi Academy Trusts, Independent Schools, College’s, Maintained Junior & Primary Academy’s & Secondary schools achieve better budgets through smarter energy purchasing. Bryan has also helped schools and trusts secure hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of grant funding for Net Zero projects in the education estate. Bryan is also a trustee for a Multi Academy Trust based in the North East.
Louise Levy
COO, The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust & Education Mutual Director
Louise is Chief Operating Officer at a large and growing Multi Academy Trust in the North East. She has been at Cardinal Hume for the last 11 years and overseen the growth from a single school to a Multi Academy Trust of 17. Louise is also a director of Education Mutual. Louise is also on the Schools North East SBM Council.
Polly O'Malley
Partner, Browne Jacobson
Polly has recently joined Browne Jacobson as Head of Education Employment. She offers specialist expertise advising the education sector on a wide variety of strategic, contentious and regulatory matters and has a wealth of experience in staff issues including national terms and conditions, industrial action, trade union liaison, TUPE, restructure and equality issues. Polly is particularly skilled in assisting clients with crisis management situations, including safeguarding allegations against staff, and provides hands-on advice to help her clients navigate the most high-profile cases.