Conference Agenda
Day 1 Agenda
Morning Schedule
| 08:30 - 09:15 |
| Registration /Networking/Exhibition |
| 09:15 - 09:30 |
| Welcome Address: Matt Burrell - Chair, Institute of School Business Leadership |
| 09:30 - 10:15 |
| Motivational Speaker: Dr Alison Edgar MBE - Improving performance inside organisations |
| 10:15 - 10:25 |
| Secretary of State - Invited |
| 10:25 - 11:00 |
| Opening Keynote: Stephen Morales MA - FISBL, F.InstESE, Chief Executive, ISBL |
| 11:00 - 11:30 |
| Refreshment break / Networking & Exhibition |
| 11:30 - 12:20 |
| Unlocking Potential: How OpEx Empowers School Business, Finance & Operations Vicki Broad - Executive School Business Manager, Fountains High School, Esteem South Academy Mark Bliney - Managing Director, Mark Bilney Ltd Laura Melis - Director of Operations, Advance Learning Partnership |
Afternoon Schedule
| 12:20 - 13:05 - Seminar Sessions (Round 1) |
| AI, DIGITAL & DATA: ISBL - Introduction to AI, Digital & Data Professional Standards Austin Earl - Programme Manager - Education and EDTech, techUK View session summary and learning outcomes |
| ESTATES: Estate Strategy Demystified: What Every School Leader Must Know Tracey Field FCIOB - Director, Tracey Field Consulting Ltd View session summary and learning outcomes |
| FINANCE: Driving Smarter Financial Planning and Optimising Payment Efficiency Phil Herriott - Director of Education, Lloyds Banking Jack Moore - Associate Director, Cash Management & Payments, Lloyds Banking Alexander Hill - Relationship Manager, Commercial Cards, Lloyds Banking Chris Podd - Director, Cash Management & Payments, Lloyds Banking View session summary and learning outcomes |
| HUMAN RESOURCES: The Stone King - Understanding the SSSNB: What it Means for Strategic Direction and Local Priorities Craig Vincent - Head of HR Consultancy Service & Head of Team for Employment, HR Consultancy, and Immigration James Barron - Senior Associate , Education Sector View session summary and learning outcomes |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Journey from SBM to MBA to MBE - Representation, Respect and Recognition View session summary and learning outcomes |
| MARKETING & COMMS: Sustainable income generation - reducing risks while creating opportunities Louise Bennett - CEO, IDPE View session summary and learning outcomes |
| 13:05 - 14:05 |
| Lunch / Networking & Exhibition |
| 14:05 - 14:50 - Seminar Sessions (Round 2) |
| WELLBEING: Howden (formerly Endsleigh): Leading with care: Equipping schools for wellbeing success Greig Trout - Wellbeing Educator, Director of Kindness at the charity 52 Lives, and Director of life skills company Life 101 Dr Dominique Thompson - multi-award-winning former GP, young people's mental health expert, TEDx speaker, author and educator, with over two decades of NHS clinical experience Simon London - CEO at Empower Learning Academy Trust Moderator: Jo Taylor - Executive Director, Education Division (Howden) View session summary and learning outcomes |
| HUMAN RESOURCES: Employment Rights Bill - what are the biggest changes, risks, and opportunities for education Ruth Rule-Mullen - Partner and Head of Public Sector Employment, Forbes Solicitors View session summary and learning outcomes |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Beyond Compliance: Navigating the New Data Protection Landscape in Education Paul Watkins - Legal Director Education Team, HCR Law View session summary and learning outcomes |
| AI, DIGITAL & DATA: When Parents Use AI: Legal and Strategic Responses for Schools and Trusts Miriam Carrion Benitez - VWV View session summary and learning outcomes |
| MARKETING & COMMS: From Talk to Transformation: How Communication Powers High-Performing Schools Emma Gray - Consultant School Business Leader, 1st Pillar Limited View session summary and learning outcomes |
| SUSTAINABILITY: Greener Futures: Embedding Sustainability with DfE-Funded Initiatives Martin Harrison - West Midlands Senior Programme Officer, National Education Nature Park View session summary and learning outcomes |
| 14:55 - 15:25 |
| Fireside Chat: Strategic Voices on Leadership: What we are doing to push Business/Operations/Finance leadership Sam Henson - NGA - ISBL |
| 15:25 - 15:55 |
| Refreshment Break / Networking & Exhibition |
| 15:55 - 16:25 |
| Panel Discussion: Rethinking high needs funding: Towards a sustainable and inclusive system Benedicte Yue,Chief Financial Officer River Learning Trust, Mark O'Brien, Chief Operating Officer, Liz Smith,School Business Manager,Mossbrook School |
| 16:25 - 17:00 |
| Talking Heads: DfE & SBPs – What’s New for 2025 and Beyond? Shenara Pennycooke Head of School Business Capability Schools Financial Support and Oversight I Central Division Regions Group, DfE |
| 17:00- 17:10 |
| Closing Remarks - Day 1 |
Evening Programme
| 19:00 - 19:30 |
| Drinks Reception |
| 19:30 - 00:00 |
| Gala Dinner |
Day 2 Agenda
Morning Schedule
| 08:45 - 09:15 |
| Registration/Networking & Exhibition |
| 09:15 - 09:20 |
| Welcome Address: Matt Burrell - Chair, Institute of School Business Leadership |
| 09:20 - 10:15 |
| Inspirational Speaker: Sabrina Cohen-Hatton - Research Fellow at Cardiff University and the National Fire Chiefs International Lead |
| 10:15 - 10:45 |
| AI Session |
| 10:45 - 11:15 |
| Refreshment break / Networking & Exhibition |
| 11:20 - 11:40 |
| Keynote: Climate Action Plan Materclass: Developing an iterative and deliverable approach Nick Drake - Director of Net Zero Harry Eaves - Senior Energy Consultant, Zenergi |
| 11:50 - 12:30 - Seminar Sessions (Round 1) |
| PROCUREMENT: The Real Costs of a School Meal Myles Bremner - CEO of Bremner & Co View session summary and learning outcomes |
| ESTATES: Condition Resilience and Decarbonisation – A New Approach to Net Zero Nigel Aylwin-Foster - Business Development Director, ReEnergise Jonathan Jones MCIOB - Director, MAC Construction Consultants View session summary and learning outcomes |
| HUMAN RESOURCES TBC |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Embedding EDI in School Business Leadership: Driving Positive Change and Inclusive Excellence Tamsin Bowers-Brown - Institute for Educational & Social Equity View session summary and learning outcomes |
| AI, DIGITAL & DATA: Operational Excellence in the age of AI View session summary and learning outcomes |
| 12:30 - 13:30 |
| Lunch / Networking & Exhibition |
Afternoon Schedule
| 13:30 - 14:10 - Seminar Sessions (Round 2) |
| AI, DIGITAL & DATA: Cyber Security |
| ESTATES: Capital Programme Delivery - navigating the "snakes and ladders board" of construction projects Matt Isherwood - Associate Partner, Barker Associates View session summary and learning outcomes |
| FINANCE: Using ICFP metrics to improve whole school/trust productivity |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Mini MBA - Taster Session |
| PROCUREMENT: TBC |
| MARKETING & COMMS: How to make external communications work strategically to mitigate against failing rolls Jess Shepherd - Sparrowhawk Communications View session summary and learning outcomes |
| 14:20 - 15:15 |
| Panel Discussion: From Crisis to Strategy: Navigating Staffing Challenges with Purpose |
| 15:15 - 15:20 |
| Closing Remarks - Day 2 |