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 - 10:00 |
| Opening Keynote: Stephen Morales MA - FISBL, F.InstESE, Chief Executive, ISBL |
| 10:00 - 10:15 |
| Secretary of State - Invited |
| 10:15 - 11:00 |
| Motivational Speaker: Dr Alison Edgar MBE - Improving performance inside organisations |
| 11:00 - 11:30 |
| Refreshment break/Networking & Exhibition |
| 11:30 - 12:00 |
| Talking Heads: DfE & SBPs - What's New for 2025 and Beyond? |
| 12:00 - 12:30 |
| Fireside Chat - Strategic Voices on Leadership: Business, Operations and Finance Focus - ASCL Rachel Younger - NAHT Sam Henson - NGA & ISBL |
| 12:30 - 13:30 |
| Lunch/Networking & Exhibition |
Afternoon Schedule
| 13:30 - 14:20 |
| Keynote: Operational Excellence in Action - Bridging Research and Practice Vicki Broad - Executive School Business Manager, Fountains High School, Esteem South Academy Mark Bilney - Managing Director, Mark Bilney Ltd Laura Mellis - Director of Operations, Advance Learning Partnership |
| 14:20 - 15:05 - Seminar Sessions (Round 1) |
| AI: ISBL - AI, Digital & Data Professional Standards Austin Earl - Programme Manager - Education and EDTech, techUK |
| ESTATES: Strategic Estates: What Business Leaders Need to Know Tracy Field FCIOB - Director, Tracey Field Consulting Ltd |
| FINANCE: Systems for Financial Planning & 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 |
| HUMAN RESOURCES: Social Media & GDPR |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: SBM to MBA to MBE |
| 15:05 - 15:35 |
| Refreshment Break/Networking & Exhibition |
| 15:35 - 16:20 - Seminar Sessions (Round 2) |
| FINANCE: TBC |
| 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 |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Data Protection Reforms Paul Watkins - Legal Director Education Team, HCR Law |
| PROCUREMENT: The Real Costs of a School Meal Myles Bremner - CEO of Bremner & Co |
| MARKETING & COMMS: Internal Comms & Team Management Emma Gray - Consultant School Business Leader, 1st Pillar Limited |
| SUSTAINABILITY: Greener Futures: Embedding Sustainability with DfE-Funded Initiatives Martin Harrison - West Midlands Senior Programme Officer, National Education Nature Park |
| 16:25 - 16:55 |
| Panel Discussion: Staffing Challenge: Restructuring, Redundancy & Reform |
| 16:55- 17:00 |
| 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 - 09:30 |
| Welcome Address: Matt Burrell - Chair, Institute of School Business Leadership |
| 09:30 - 10:30 |
| Inspirational Speaker: Sabrina Cohen-Hatton - Research Fellow at Cardiff University and the National Fire Chiefs International Lead |
| 10:30 - 11:00 |
| Refreshment break/Networking & Exhibition |
| 11:00 - 11:25 |
| Keynote: Climate Action Plan Materclass: Developing an iterative and deliverable approach Nick Drake - Director of Net Zero Harry Eaves - Senior Energy Consultant, Zenergi |
| 11:35 - 12:20 - Seminar Sessions (Round 1) |
| AI: Innovation: Using technology to support innovation, learning and efficiency - case study |
| ESTATES: MAC Construction Consultants and ReEnergise |
| HUMAN RESOURCES TBC |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: The role of the SBP |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: DEI |
| 12:30 - 13:30 |
| Lunch/Networking & Exhibition |
Afternoon Schedule
| 13:20 - 14:05 - Seminar Sessions (Round 2) |
| AI: Procurement Pitfalls / Derisking Duplication |
| ESTATES: Capital Programme Delivery - navigating the "snakes and ladders board" of construction projects Matt Isherwood - Associate Partner, Barker Associates |
| FINANCE: Using ICFP metrics to improve whole school/trust productivity |
| OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Mini MBA - Tater Session |
| PROCUREMENT: TBC |
| MARKETING & COMMS: How to make external communications work strategically to mitigate against failing rolls Jess Shepherd - Sparrowhawk Communications |
| 14:10 - 15:05 |
| Panel Discussion: Practical SEND Financial Monitoring, including identifying and using notational SEN |
| 15:05 - 15:15 |
| Closing Remarks - Day 2 |