Speakers | HMC Autumn Conference 2025

Richard Alton has over 25 years experience in education and is a former Deputy Head of two HMC schools, most recently Deputy Head of Epsom College for over 10 years.  Richard is passionate about the use of technology in schools to enhance learning and improve efficiency and he currently chairs the Practitioners’ Panel for AI-in-Education and leads on a number of projects on utilising AI in schools and business intelligence.

Christina is a prominent thought-leader on partnerships, especially cross-sector, and is author of Partnerships WorkBook, a DIY course in Building a Cross-Sector Partnerships Strategy. She is Founder-Chair of the Schools Together Group (now the School Partnerships Alliance), established whilst she was Head of Partnerships at King’s Canterbury. She offers bespoke consultancy and mentoring for schools, directs training programmes and speaks and writes on school partnerships. In January 2022 she launched #PartnerChat, a series of free monthly breakfast briefings.

She is also a school science consultant (having taught physics for over 20 years) and advises corporate clients on their educational outreach. www.astinconsulting.com/partnerships @ChristinaAstin

Clare Barnett is the Managing Director and Founder of Synergia Coaching, a leadership development consultancy working across the UK and internationally.

Clare’s early career in Human Resources spanned 15 years and a range of sectors including Retail, Aerospace, Automotive, and Consultancy. This commercial grounding now underpins her work developing effective, resilient leaders in complex environments.

Since 2004, Clare has worked extensively in the education sector, supporting the strategic development of schools, building high-performing senior leadership teams, developing middle leaders, and coaching at all levels of school leadership. She is known for her ability to bring clarity and cohesion to teams, often working in contexts of challenge or change. Clare also facilitates mediation and conflict resolution, helping to restore trust and functionality in struggling teams.

Clare is particularly passionate about embedding coaching cultures within schools and has trained many senior and aspiring leaders to become qualified coaches themselves. She is also supporting safeguarding teams through specialist supervision, helping manage the emotional load of these critical roles.

A Master Practitioner Executive Coach, Clare holds a Master’s in Coaching and Mentoring, and is a qualified coach supervisor and mediator. She is currently pursuing a doctorate exploring how coaching can help young people build resilience — including pioneering work in developing children as peer coaches.

Lou is CEO of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), which supports schools to develop successful fundraising and engagement programmes, through providing training, guidance, support, benchmarking and partnership work across the schools’ sector.

Lou has over 20 years’ experience of working across fundraising disciplines, and has previously held senior fundraising roles at The Stroke Association and Shelter Cymru. Lou has also volunteered for a number of organisations, from being Chair of Trustees for Cardiff Women’s Aid to being a Board member for the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and more recently, supporting the PTA at her children’s primary school.

Lou is passionate about fundraising, and as such has found herself hiking across Iceland, running a marathon and cycling from Cardiff to Dublin, to raise money for good causes.

Matthew Bennett is the co-founder of Willow Ethos, a consultancy that helps organisations unlock their full potential by putting culture and people first. With over two decades of experience in education—including 11 years in senior leadership and headship—Matthew has led professional teams and worked closely with executive stakeholders to deliver meaningful, lasting change. His leadership journey taught him that when culture is shaped with intent, extraordinary transformation is possible.

Matthew holds an MSc in Learning and Teaching from the University of Oxford, providing deep insight into how individuals grow, adapt, and shift their thinking. His commitment to continuous development led him to complete an MBA in 2020, equipping him to bring these insights into the corporate world. He is also a qualified executive coach, accredited by the Association for Coaching.

At Willow Ethos, Matthew and his brother Paul work directly with clients to help them design cultures that drive both performance and wellbeing. Unlike traditional consultancies, Willow Ethos stays involved—no hand-off reports or disappearing acts. Clients work with the same people from day one and throughout the journey, with personal, consistent support that builds trust and delivers impact.

Matthew brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, coaching expertise, and lived leadership experience to every engagement. His work is grounded in a belief that culture isn’t a side project—it’s the operating system of every thriving organisation.

Philip Britton is the Head of Foundation at Bolton School, a school for some 2,400 pupils from nursery to Sixth Form, with a Boys’ Division, Girls’ Division and Primary Division structure. He took on this newly developed overarching role in 2021 having been Head of the Boys’ Division at Bolton since 2008. He was brought up on Tyneside and was educated at Blaydon Comprehensive School, took a first in physics at Oxford and did teacher training at Cambridge, winning the Charles Fox prize. He worked as physics teacher, Head of Physics and Deputy Head (Academic) at Leeds Grammar School. Between 2005 and 2008 he worked between Leeds Girls’ High School and Leeds Grammar School as the two merged into the Grammar School at Leeds.

Philip has been very much involved in the Institute of Physics over the years, chairing their Yorkshire Branch, the Education Committee and being a trustee and the national Vice President for Education for four years from 2012-16. In 2010 he was awarded an MBE for services to physics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics where he remains much involved in physics education, encouraging teachers to inspire the next generation of physicists.

Philip was a member of the HMC Communications Committee from 2012 to 2024 and has been the Chair for many years, as well as serving a term as Secretary and Chair of the North West Division. He is very much committed to the purpose of HMC as a mutually supportive group of colleagues with common aims as well as a means for providing a public voice to issues that our sector cares about. The capacity and expertise for communication within HMC and communications from HMC to the wider world has been transformed in the last decade. Philip is very much committed to articulating the moral purpose of our schools and their place in the educational landscape, so often based on our very real sense of place in our localities more than the national debates. We know the positive difference we make to our pupils and the impact we have on the areas around our schools. He is passionate about schools being inclusive, promoting social mobility, fundraising and bursary support: to that end he has been a trustee of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education since 2018 and Chair of Trustees from 2021 to 2024. Aside from this he volunteers time as a Governor: from 2012-2019 he was a Governor at Stockport Grammar school, chairing the education Committee and from 2022 has been a Governor at the Grammar School at Leeds, where he is Chair of the Foundation Committee and a member of the Education Committee. He also volunteers time to the Scout movement, of which he has been a member from childhood and is currently the Assistant Group Scout Leader for the school group.

Siân is an integral Partner in the corporate education transactions team dealing, almost exclusively, with education sector work and often instructed on VWV’s most complex and strategically important transactions. With her extensive corporate experience in the commercial world she is particularly skilled at leading on deals that bring both the charitable and commercial parts of the sector together.

She is involved in independent school transactions from the early strategic planning stages (including often advising Governors on merger strategy) through to successful completion. Siân has extensive experience supporting many leading independent schools and commercial education groups in acquiring schools, offering strategic legal guidance on structuring transactions and post-merger integration.

Feedback from clients is universally positive with comments on her highly commercial and knowledgeable, but approachable, style which facilitates successful future-focused transactions. She adds to her significant sector knowledge by being part of the Governing Board at Ardingly College, a independent school in Sussex.

As the author of Independent School Management’s regular feature ‘Merger Watch’, Siân provides expert insights into sector trends, including the impact of policy changes like VAT reform, on school mergers and other transactions. She also regularly speaks at events across the sector including for ISBA, IDPE and ISM.

Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, a top UK fire officer and behavioural neuroscience expert, transforms high-pressure decision-making. Her bestselling books and ground breaking research offer vital insights for leadership and resilience. With first hand experience from the firefront to academia, she equips organizations to excel in crisis management and overcome adversity.

Rhiannon leads on sales, strategy, and data interpretation at Baines Cutler. She co-founded Baines Cutler with Tim Baines in 2013, as a result of demand from the sector for benchmarking data/information and associated consultancy services. Rhiannon advises schools on finances, teacher reward and remuneration, whole school strategy and fee strategy.

In 2016 she led the launch of the sector’s first Parental Fee Affordability and time survey, which was used to inform a report which contested the addition of VAT on school fees in the Labour manifesto. It served to rebut the claims made by Labour on the savings that would be made by taking the action forward. In 2018 she launched the sector’s first detailed teacher workload analysis to support her advice on teacher remuneration. Rhiannon took over as Managing Director in June 2020.

Rhiannon advises schools on teacher pay systems, appraisals and thresholds, affordability and strategy. She has a passion for getting underneath the culture of each school she works with, ensuring that any advice she gives supports the unique values and strategic objectives of each client, as well as ensuring that the way forward is also financially viable. Most recently she created the 360 vision service line, which, through customised surveys focuses on relevant stakeholder subgroup opinion, informing strategic decision making at board and SLT level.

Martin was the Master of Haileybury from 2017 to 2024 and Headmaster of St John’s School Leatherhead from 2011 to 2017. Before that, Martin held several posts at Oundle School including Second Master and Director of Studies. He taught in the state system for the first ten years of his career. Between 2017 and 2023 Martin chaired HMC’s Academic Policy sub-committee; around the same time period he was the Chair of the Joint Education Committee of Haileybury’s partner schools in Kazakhstan.

Since retiring from headship in August 2024, Martin has been working as an educational consultant. In addition to mentoring and appraising Heads, delivering training and undertaking Teaching & Learning audits, Martin is the Education Director for Repton Cairo. He is also a Senior Advisor for RSAcademics. Martin has been a governor of state and independent schools, overseas and in the UK; he continues to serve as a governor of three HMC schools.

At Royal Russell School, Victoria leads the strategic direction of marketing, admissions, development, and engagement. With deep expertise in marketing strategy, customer relationship management and process optimisation, she has played a pivotal role in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, while significantly enhancing the school’s local and international presence.

Prior to joining Royal Russell, Victoria spent ten years at London Business School, where she developed a strong foundation in strategic engagement and customer experience on a global platform.

As a board member of AMCIS, Victoria is a passionate advocate for the marketing, communications, and admissions profession within the independent schools sector. She actively contributes to initiatives that elevate the visibility and strategic impact of these roles across the industry, supporting peers to realise their goals whatever their setting.

With a people-centred approach and strong commitment to excellence, Victoria has helped cultivate a culture at Royal Russell that is proudly “different by design”. Beyond this role, she also serves as a Governing Body member of a local maintained primary school and as a Trustee of the Russell School Development Foundation.

David Eastwood, WorkNest’s Head of Team & Solicitor has spent his entire professional career (of over 30 years) specialising in employment law. David has held a number of senior in-house positions in both legal and employee relations roles for national retailers and facilities management providers and has now been at WorkNest for almost 11 years. David’s current client base is diverse, ranging across various sectors.

Dwayne is the UK Chief Scout, succeeding Bear Grylls in the role in 2024 and was was the first black Briton to walk over 400 miles to reach the Magnetic North Pole.

For his recent series, Dwayne and Ben Fogle have undertaken an extraordinary journey stepping back in time to wear the clothes, eat the food and use the same kit as their Edwardian heroes Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen in the Channel 5 series Endurance: Race to the Pole which is currently on My5.  Their new series Endurance: Race to the Nile will tell the untold story of Dr Livingstone, the Victorian explorer who risked it all to find the source of the River Nile.

Dwayne is also one of the explorers guiding two-time Academy Award® nominee Will Smith on Welcome to Earth,  a Disney+ original series from National Geographic, an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders and reveal its most hidden secrets.

His own series for Disney+ and National Geographic is called Seven Toughest Days in which he pushes himself to the absolute edge by getting dropped into some of the most extreme places on earth during the harshest time of the year, is streaming now in the US and  the UK .

Born in Jamaica, Dwayne grew up in the UK from the age of 6. He has been the victim of both knife and gun crime and as a result of his experiences of the effects of gangs and crime, he decided to change his life.

He became an adventurer/explorer, completed a combined honours degree in Psychology, International Development and Business Management and spent three years as an electrical mechanical engineer for London Underground before following his passion and raising funds to reach the magnetic North Pole.

In 2010, Dwayne walked to the Magnetic North Pole, becoming the first black Briton to achieve this feat. On his return he was invited to Buckingham Palace to a reception to mark the centenary of Scott’s expedition to the South Pole in the presence of the HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2013 Dwayne was awarded the Freedom of the City of London and is a dedicated Ambassador for the Scout Association, the National Trust,  the Woodland Trust  and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

At the end of 2019 Dwayne and his expedition partner Phoebe Smith, on a mission to engage young people to realise there are epic adventures on their own doorstep, highlight environmental issues close to home and turn the spotlight on wildlife conservation efforts undertook an expedition from the northernmost to the southernmost points of mainland Britain, in their Seabirds to South adventure.  Their inaugural trip taking  a group of under-privileged young people to Antarctica was completed in 2022 on a specially chartered expedition ship through their #WeTwo Foundation and they competed their second project to the Galapagos Islands in late  2024.

Dwayne is a force to be reckoned with and is currently planning his next adventure and working on several broadcast projects.

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Debra Forsyth, a trailblazer in international education for over three decades, began her journey teaching Chemistry in London before embarking on a transformative journey around the globe. Her pivotal move to the emergent city of Abu Dhabi in 1987 sparked a passion for international education that led to leadership and advisory roles in Muscat, Damascus, Vienna, Sharjah and Dubai.  Debra’s expertise spans diverse educational systems, curricula and establishments, culminating in her tenure as Principal of the prestigious Latifa School for Girls in Dubai. Recognized for her outstanding contributions to Emirati education, Debra was honored with a UAE Golden Visa in 2021.

Debra’s influence extends beyond individual institutions; she has committed herself to the wider development of education across the region through her work with BSME. She was instrumental in establishing BSME’s Accreditation System, serving as a BSO Accreditor and conducting numerous regional inspections. After four years on the BSME Executive Committee and two as a Director, Debra assumed her current role as CEO and Director of BSME in 2022, cementing her status as a visionary leader shaping the future of education in the Middle East.

Steve Grainger joined the RFU in June 2011 from his CEO position with the Youth Sport Trust (YST).

A leading expert in sport development, he had huge success in building the YST into a vital part of the sport infrastructure over his six years as Chief Executive.

Overall, he had 16 years’ experience working with a range of national governing bodies at the YST and prior to that spent three years at the National Coaching Foundation, having started his career in sports development and management in Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.

In 2007, he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to school sports.

Steve’s role has responsibility for all grassroots rugby development, ensuring that the nation’s clubs, colleges, universities and schools have the capacity and capabilities to help grow rugby.

He oversees the club and Constituent Body services team as well as the RFU’s school and university programmes.

He also leads the RFU’s volunteer programme and the hugely successful Facilities and Funding programme.

Emma has been Head of Schools Practice at Saxton Bampfylde since 2022.  She has worked with substantial numbers of independent and maintained sector schools placing candidates in a variety of leadership positions.  Prior to her role in executive search, Emma spent over three decades teaching in a variety of educational settings. She has experience of day and boarding schools, co-educational and single sex, prep and senior. Emma was Head of an HMC day and boarding school, for nine years. She brings extensive understanding of educational leadership, as well as significant GCSE, A Level, and IB teaching experience. Emma has examined for OCR and the ABRSM and is a School Governor at both junior and senior level. She has chaired the HMC Inspection sub-committee, served as an inspector for ISI and is a former member of the ISI Educational Advisory Forum. She read music at Durham University and then studied for two years at the Royal Academy of Music as a postgraduate.

Dr. Jim Heal is a leading advocate for bridging the worlds of research and practice in education. His work seeks to develop expertise in evidence-informed instruction and leadership in K-12 schools, school districts, and higher education in the United States and Europe. Dr. Heal was a high school English teacher and principal for ten years in the UK before moving to the US, where he became Director of Practice at Harvard’s Research Schools International program. In his work at Deans for Impact, a US-based non-profit, he strives to increase teacher effectiveness by infusing the science of learning into educator preparation. He currently serves as Professor of Evidence-Informed Education Leadership at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, and teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he earned his doctorate in educational leadership. He is author of How Teaching Happens: Seminal Works in Teaching and Teacher Effectiveness and What They Mean in Practice, and Mental Models: How Understanding the Mind Can Transform the Way You Work and Learn.

Ali Henderson has been the Chief Executive of Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation (RNCSF) – the UK’s largest bursary charity – since March 2020, having previously led their approach to impact and learning since late 2018. A graduate in Economics from the University of Cambridge, she has twenty years of experience of leading programmes and policies to address social inequality across roles in national charities, central and local government.

Gavin joined Millfield in 2018 from Worksop College.  His earlier career included working in schools in Sri Lanka and Argentina before he returned to the UK as the Deputy Rector of The Glasgow Academy.  Gavin has worked in senior management in the maintained, independent, and international sectors of education.

Millfield was founded in 1935 to address the iniquities of a world which regarded dyslexia as a hinderance, and which was prejudiced against dyslexic learners.  Millfield seeks to find brilliance in every learner and is a global leader in educating dyslexic learners and has been involved in a number of showcase events involving Made by Dyslexia and Microsoft.

In his time at Millfield, Gavin’s passion for encouraging students to be disruptors for good has resulted in students taking on active roles in multiple school, national, and world-wide issues.

In his own words, Gavin took on the role at Millfield as the school is, ‘distinctively different and not shackled by tradition.  It has the resource, the attitude and the capacity to lead the way and define education in the UK, now and in the future’.

Gavin was educated at a boarding school as the recipient of an assisted place and bursary. He believes this education transformed his life chances, for the better. He sees first-hand the positive transformative impact of boarding on lives at Millfield and across the sector.

In addition, Gavin is a member of the Board of Governors, and Chair of the Education Committee at another leading independent school. He is on the Group Board of the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) and was Chair of the BSA in 2023.

Dr Simon Hyde became HMC’s General Secretary (CEO) in September 2020 following nine years as Head of the King’s School in Macclesfield. Much of Dr Hyde’s career has involved transformational change, not least his leadership of the King’s School’s 2020 vision to relocate the split-site diamond school in one of the country’s largest school improvement projects.

At HMC, Dr Hyde’s tenure has seen root and branch reform of the association’s governance as well as significant structural changes such as the introduction of an education team, the creation of HMC networks for senior leaders, new committees (including Pastoral and Safeguarding and for Public Benefit), a corporate partnership programme and substantial investment in member support. The international division has almost doubled in size and new membership categories have been introduced reflecting the changing nature of HMC’s schools.

The association’s 2030 strategy will build further on these achievements whilst continuing to modernise HMC and improve its offer to Heads and schools. The General Secretary’s vision is for a global community of heads embedded in an association for schools committed to children and young people from all backgrounds.

Dr Hyde read history at Christ Church, Oxford before completing a doctorate on mid-nineteenth-century Prussia. He serves on a number of educational boards including the Independent Schools Council.

John Gwyn Jones MBE is a proud Welshman from Brynamman in the Amman Valley, whose journey from the hills of Carmarthenshire to the heart of international education in Asia has been anything but ordinary.

John began his working life in the Midland Bank, where he quickly realised that counting other people’s money wasn’t quite his calling. Trading spreadsheets for school books, he trained to be a teacher at The University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen—a decision that would take him around the world.

His first overseas adventure came in 1986, when he was seconded to the British Forces Schools in Hong Kong. One plane ticket later, John found his passion in international education—setting up schools, leading learning communities, and mentoring teachers across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Laos. He’s opened campuses, chaired boards, and occasionally even found time to do some educational coaching.

John was a founding member, and the inaugural Chair of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), where he now serves as CEO. From his base in Bangkok, he supports over 100 premier British schools across the region—though he remains firmly grounded in his values of community, humour, and good old-fashioned Welsh resilience.

In 2020, John was appointed MBE for services to British education overseas, an honour he received at Buckingham Palace from Princess Anne. He has also been recognised with a Leadership Award presented by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

When he’s not busy with FOBISIA duties or giving talks at international education conferences, John enjoys spending time with his family, catching a bit of rugby, losing money at golf and reminding people that yes—he was once a scrum-half. These days, he’s more of a thinker than a tackler.

Whether addressing an audience of educational leaders at a global summit or teaching a bit of Welsh to international students, John brings the same blend of warmth, wisdom, and good humour that have defined his life’s work.

Peter joined E-ACT from Greenwood Academies Trust where he has served as Education Director since early 2020. Peter has a strong pedigree in school improvement and systems leadership leading standards at GAT turning around failing schools.  Peter’s previous role was Principal at the outstanding Brooke Weston School in Corby where exam results were regularly in the top 100 schools nationally.  At Brooke Weston Peter was a Director of the Teaching School and also supported rapid improvement in sponsored academies during their growth phase.

Yasmina is Deputy Lead of Hemisphere Education, an innovative brain-training platform disrupting bias and improving racial literacy in schools. She’s driving the adoption of Hemisphere across the UK, building partnerships with leading schools, education partnerships and MATs to change outcomes for diverse pupils. Prior to Hemisphere, Yasmina led multi-award-winning teams at market-leading companies including one of London’s top 10 start-ups, Beam, and Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance. She combines strategic acumen with a commitment to social justice, and her work has seen her feature in the BBC, The Lawyer, and Black Tech Fest. Yasmina is passionate about the role that the education sector plays in creating a more inclusive society.

Irfan Latif is Head of Royal Hospital School in Suffolk. He is an experienced and passionate educationalist determined to make a difference in the sector. His vocation since becoming a teacher and a Head is “to create unique learning opportunities for everyone – students and staff; leadership is about growing developing and empowering people.”
Irfan sits on the Executive Committee of the BSA as the Inclusion & Diversity Lead for the entire sector and co-founded the Inclusion and Diversity Group at the ISC. He is also a director of AGBIS. He became Headmaster at the Royal Hospital School (HMC) in August 2024, prior to which he was Principal at DLD College London.

Anand Mahadevan is the Executive Director of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS).

Prior to joining CAIS, Anand led teams of educators in school settings in both Ontario and Alberta. He is an award winning educator and administrator with experience teaching junior and senior school students in both AP and IB schools. In 2015, Anand received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence for his work as a science educator and was appointed a Canada-US Fulbright Fellow in 2009-10.

Anand is passionate about the power of education to improve society and his doctoral work emphasizes the value of data-informed approaches to school improvement that leverage collaboration and in-school knowledge sharing.

In addition to his work at CAIS, Anand also serves on the Board of the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA).

As an educationist Tim Middleton has been dealing with young people’s failures and enjoying their successes for over forty years in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Scotland while as a sportsman he has been playing, coaching, officiating, administering and watching competitive sport for almost fifty years around the world.

An alumnus of Charterhouse, Tim is currently the Executive Director of ATS (Association of Trust Schools) in Zimbabwe, having previously served as the Headmaster of Gateway High School in Harare as well as serving as the founder Head of Petra High School in Bulawayo and the Principal of Baobab College in Lusaka (Zambia). Before that, having initially taught in a state school in Scotland, he had served as Housemaster, Chaplain, teacher and sports coach at Falcon College in Zimbabwe and served as the Director of Scripture Union Independent Schools in both South Africa and Scotland. He represented Scotland as a national hockey player 35 times before moving to Zimbabwe, and was inducted into the St Andrews University Sports Hall of Fame.

He is the author of a number of books, including “Failing to Win”; he is a weekly contributor of articles for magazines and newspapers while he is also a popular motivational speaker at educational, sporting and Christian conferences, workshops and functions. He is a ‘stirrer’ and ‘starter’ and loves puddings.

With eighteen years of dedicated experience in education across diverse school environments, Arabella has a deep understanding of pedagogy and the evolving landscape of learning and the digital world.

Barney leads the education sector practice at law firm VWV which advises and supports school operators in the UK and internationally.  VWV is top-ranked by Chambers & Partners, lauded as a “one-stop shop” with a “stellar reputation in the market.”

Barney has a broad and deep understanding of strategic opportunities in an evolving political and economic landscape. His advisory work is focused on good governance and practical strategies to help schools and education charities thrive and adapt to change.

In addition to his professional role, Barney brings insights from a trustee’s and governor’s perspective, having previously served on boards of academies and independent schools.  He recently acted as a Commissioner for the Civitas report on the Future of Independent Education (published in January 2025) and is currently on the board of AGBIS.

He is an experienced speaker at national education conferences and is recommended for his expertise and commercial approach.

Contact Barney at [email protected]

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Mark is a highly respected thought leader in the field of technology, AI compliance, cyber, privacy and safeguarding in K-12 education. He has a proven track record of helping organisations of all sizes to navigate the rapidly changing digital and regulatory landscape and capitalise on new opportunities. Mark is also a regular speaker at industry events and an expert contributor to many professional organisations that support Independent School standards and improvement.

Carl brings over 30 years experience of working with trade unions across a range of industries in both the public and private sectors. His current role is Head of Industrial Relations for ASCL where he represents the interests of ASCL members in negotiation and consultation with education employers across England. Carl is also the main provider of advice to ASCL members requiring support and advice on industrial relations issues.

Tom Redmond is Joint Principal and Director of Music of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. As a horn player he has performed throughout the world and was a member of the Hallé orchestra for 13 years. Tom devises and presents interactive family-friendly concerts for orchestras and festivals and  was a regular voice on BBC Radio 3 presenting live concerts, studio programmes and the BBC proms.

Miriam Rich is a specialist in crisis PR and reputation management, with a career that began in the press office at New Scotland Yard and later progressed to leading media relations at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre within the National Crime Agency. Since 2011, she has worked independently, advising schools across the UK on high-stakes and sensitive issues. Many of her clients have remained with her for over a decade, reflecting the depth of trust and strong relationships she has built.

Miriam’s experience spans a wide range of complex scenarios, including cases of child sexual exploitation, food poisoning, outbreaks of listeria and whooping cough, hazardous substances in school laboratories and the tragic deaths of pupils.

Beyond education, Miriam managed communications for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry throughout its duration (2017–2024) and played a key role in delivering communications around funerals and mortality management during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting the Corporation of London’s Resilience Forum. In addition to crisis communications support, Miriam provides media interview training and runs crisis scenario exercises for Heads and senior leadership teams.

John Roberts – AO Founder & CEO and long -standing campaigner for young people

John is an entrepreneur, businessman, investor and passionate philanthropist.

He founded online electrical retailer AO.com in 2000 following a £1 bet with a friend that he couldn’t transform the white goods market for the benefit of customers. Over twenty five years later, with the industry changed, it has proven to be a valuable bet. AO is now the UK’s most trusted electricals retailer, employing around 3,000 people across the UK. AO also owns one of Europe’s most advanced electricals recycling plants, a nationwide best-in-class logistics company, music Mapgie the circular economy business and is the largest online mobile phone retailer in the UK.

John is also a long-standing campaigner of and champion for the development of opportunities for young people through the establishment of a Youth Infrastructure Fund, an innovative proposal to restore the £1bn p.a. of lost government funding back to youth services alongside philanthropic match-funding.

John believes deeply that talent is evenly distributed and opportunity is not. He spends a lot of time trying to level that playing field.

He and his wife Sally pioneered the Flourish programme at The Bolton School, which provides 14 bursaries per year to Bolton School which are available to members of OnSide Youth Zones to support their whole school experience.

John has been a Trustee and Chair of the Executive Board of OnSide Youth Zones, a charity that is transforming youth provision in the UK by giving young people safe, affordable and inspiring places to go in their leisure time.

Melvyn Roffe is the inaugural Chief Executive of the Clifton College Education Group, based at Clifton College in Bristol. He has twenty-five years’ experience in school leadership roles in England, Wales and Scotland, including Headships of both state and independent schools, leadership of an Academy Trust and a range of governance roles in schools, academies and the FE sector.

Melvyn began his teaching career in the English Department at Oundle School (1986-93) before moving to Monmouth School, first as Head of English (1993-97) and subsequently as Director of Studies (1997- 2001). He was appointed Headmaster of Old Swinford Hospital in 2001 serving for six years before moving to Norfolk as Principal of Wymondham College in 2007. Melvyn was Principal of George Watson’s College in Edinburgh for ten years between 2014 and 2024. Melvyn is one of few school leaders to have been elected to chair both the Boarding Schools’ Association (2008-09) and HMC – The Heads’ Conference (2022-23). He now chairs the HMC Public Benefit and Partnerships Committee.

In September 2025, Melvyn will move back to Wales as Executive Head of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School.

Neil was Director of Sport in four independent schools, over a 21-year career, and an Independent Schools Inspector. He is leader of the RFU Schools’ Project, contributor to the Government Task Force on the Future of PE and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood. He was Chairman of the Professional Association of Directors of Sport in Independent Schools for 15 years, and is Course Director of the University of Buckingham MA programme in Leading School Sport.

Alex has led BET since its inception in 2012 having previously been headteacher of two secondary schools. The Trust consists of 27 schools across primary, secondary and specialist phases in the South-East. In September 2023 he co-founded the charity, AI in Education, which provides specialist guidance to schools and colleges on how to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape purposefully and safely. He was awarded an OBE for services to education 2021.

Sir Ernest became Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, in July 2020. His previous role was in the United Kingdom Judiciary, as Senior President of Tribunals and a Lord Justice of Appeal.  He is the legal adviser to the House of Commons Privileges Committee and Committee on Standards. He has published and lectured internationally on issues of family law, the role of a modern judiciary, the leadership and governance of justice, and cultural conflicts in justice. He is a Senior Associate at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Chair of the Conference of Colleges Legal Panel and deputy chair of its Governance Forum.  Sir Ernest is a Deputy Lieutenant and a trustee and deputy chair of the Nuffield Foundation and of the Charities Aid Foundation. He is an Honorary Professor of the Universities of Lancaster and Bolton and the Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Bolton.

Nicola Smith is Joint Principal of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester leading on academic, pastoral and boarding care for students. Her current specialism is safeguarding but has enjoyed much of her working career in inner city schools as a Drama teacher in vibrant Performing Arts Departments before moving to Chetham’s seven years ago.

Oliver joined AMCIS in June 2025 as CEO. New to the Independent School sector Oliver’s appointment follows 10 years’ experience in the membership sector as Deputy CEO of the Employee Ownership Association (‘eoa’). His experience there includes leading significant recruitment and revenue growth, with year-on-year growth in member engagement, with focus on building a powerful and engaging community.

Dr Joe Spence FRSA is the CEO of the School Partnerships Alliance, starting his role in January 2025.
Joe was Master of Dulwich College from 2009 to 2024 and is CEO of the School Partnerships Alliance. In June 2024 he was awarded Tes Headteacher of the Year (Independent). He was Headmaster of Oakham School from 2002, having previously taught history and politics at Eton College, where he was also Master in College (housemaster to the King’s Scholars).
Under Joe’s leadership, Dulwich developed a number of mutually-beneficial independent-state school partnerships, promoted national SCITT programmes and supported Saturday Schools for primary school children in Science, the Arts and Mathematics. He is Co-Director of the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership, an alliance of 18 state and independent schools.
Joe has been a governor of more than a dozen state and independent schools. A trustee of the Mark Evison Foundation, Art History Link Up and the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, he is also a playwright and librettist.

Andy Spens is the Head of Professional Learning and is Programme Lead for NPQEL and NPQH. Prior to joining the team, Andy has been a Primary Headteacher and Executive Headteacher in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol. He is passionate about working with and developing leaders and excited to be facilitating the national Activate element of NPQH.

Mark S. Steed has spent the past 23 years leading top UK independent school; and international schools in Dubai and Hong Kong.

He now runs Steed Education (steededucation.com), an international educational consultancy committed to supporting school leaders. Steed Education provides project management services for key strategic initiatives, such as school mergers, opening new campuses and developing digital strategy; as well as undertaking IT and cyber-risk audits and implementation programmes. As part of this work, he is currently working as the Interim Principal and CEO of Stamford School in Lincolnshire

Mark worked in the UK as a Teacher, Head of Department, and Boarding Housemaster prior to his two senior leaderships roles as Headmaster of Kelly College in Devon; and then as Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. He moved aboard in September 2015 to be Director of JESS, Dubai, before moving to Hong Kong in September 2019 to be the Principal and CEO of Kellett School.

Mark has degrees from Cambridge and Nottingham Universities and from Ashridge-Hult Business School where he researched ‘Alternative Business models for Secondary Schooling’. He has a particular interest in how new technologies can be used in education and chaired the UK Independent Schools Council Digital Strategy Group from 2007 to 2015. He recently completed the Harvard course on Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age.

Mark writes about international education and a range of other educational and IT issues. He is active on his LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/in/independenthead.

PROF. GEOFF THOMPSON MBE, FRSA, DL, QP JM Geoff Thompson has a 40-year track record in the social and human development of young people and communities. As a former five times world karate champion, sports administrator and politician, he has realised a unique range of skill sets that have seen him advise, develop and deliver social and human project and programme initiatives globally. Geoff has also undertaken a number of public and private sector appointments developing and contributing to equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of society. He is the Founder and Chair of the Youth Charter, a UK-based international charity and United Nations NGO that uses the ethics of sport, arts, cultural and digital activities to tackle the problems of educational non-attainment, health inequality, anti-social behaviour and crime in some of the most troubled areas around the world. Geoff is also a Board Member of the London Legacy Development Corporation, an Advisory Board Member of the Muhammad Ali International Committee and was Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of East London for two years. Geoff is Chair of the Operational Board of the Professional Footballers’ Association, Chair of the London Youth Games and was Deputy Chair of the highly successful Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Carl is the Founder and Chair of the Foundation for Education Development and is Chief Executive of the City Learning Trust – a group of education establishments in the UK. He has regional, national and international experience in education strategy, leadership development and education improvement.
In a career spanning 28 years in education, Carl has worked in a range of organisations across several settings. He is one of the longest serving CEOs of a Multi Academy Trust in England, is a National Leader of Education, and has led and developed local, regional and national strategic boards and initiatives.
Carl was President of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in 2017-2018 and between 2009 and 2010, was part of the UK Prime Minister’s Talent & Enterprise Taskforce. He has also advised the Number 10 policy unit on several aspects of education.
He served as Chair of the Careers and Enterprise Company’s Education Advisory Board from inception and has helped guide national careers strategy in the UK. He has been Chair of the Schools Cooperative Society and supported in the set-up of the Chartered College of Teaching acting as Chair of its trustee selection committee. He has been a council member of the International Confederation of Principals and is a member of the Global Education Leaders Partnership. In addition, Carl has been a member of the Education Funding Agency advisory board; DfE School and Academy Funding Group; Confederation of School Trust Board and the European School Headteachers Association.
In 2020, Carl was recognised for his impact in education and named as a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching; he was also awarded Fellowship of the Leadership Council at the Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, Washington DC and in 2024, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Bolton University for his services to education.

Leigh Webb is CEO of ISC Research, the world’s leading provider of data, intelligence and research expertise on the international schools market.
Educated at Charterhouse and Durham University, Leigh was an equity analyst in the City of London for four years. Since then, his business career has encompassed retail, sport and distribution. Leigh joined ISC Research as CEO in 2016 to lead the company during a period of substantial investment and development within the international schools market.
ISC Research has tracked the world’s English-medium international schools market since 1994 providing market data and intelligence, identifying development opportunities and facilitating school/investor partnerships. It is a trusted research partner for schools, investors, education suppliers and sector specialists.

Sue has been Principal of The Grammar School at Leeds since April 2016, having been Principal of the British School of Brussels for five years prior to that. Sue always wanted to teach and, after graduating from Liverpool in English, she studied for her PGCE at Durham, with the NPQH from the IoE and MEd from Buckingham following later. She began her career in the North East, the place of her birth, at Westfield School in Newcastle. She was then approached to join the founding staff at Emmanuel College in Gateshead, one of eight City Technology Colleges established by the government in the late 1980s, where she set up the library and was second in the English department before becoming Head of Year. From there, Sue moved to Sutton Grammar School for Boys where she became Head of Key Stage Three, moving to The Holy Trinity CE School as Deputy Head Pastoral in 1998. The family move to Brussels saw Sue appointed to The British School of Brussels, first as a Deputy Head Academic, before moving to Vice Principal and Head of Senior School and then, in 2011, to Principal. Sue is an experienced school governor, involved in several Leeds partnership projects and has served in various roles in the churches she has attended. She was also involved in national politics in her youth and still maintains an (unhealthy?) interest. More edifying – she is an avid reader and loves the theatre, from the toughest dramas to grand opera. She is married to Martin, has two adult children and is also a doting grandma.