24th April 2026 – The Royal Armouries, Leeds
The Next Decade Conference is a grassroots event designed to immerse education professionals in a sea of ideas and innovative practice.
An education system that champions imagination, freedom of expression, equity and inclusion should be the pathway to success on offer to every young person.
Research
Informed
United in
Inclusion
Positive Disruptors
A Level
Playing Field
The Positive
Regard
Conference
Guest Speakers
Professor Sugata Mitra
Professor of Education. Innovator. TED Prize Winner. Inspiration behind ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL
Poet. Playwright. Best Selling Author. Broadcaster.
Dr Katriona O’Sullivan
Author: ‘Poor’. Psychologist. Social Inclusion Advocate
Mark Finnis
Director L30 Relational Systems. Author: ‘Restorative Practice’
David Clarke OBE PLY
CEO Paralympics GB. Former COO of RNIB. England Record Goalscorer.
Kiran Gill
CEO The Difference. Policy Writer. Fierce Inclusion Advocate.
Frank Norris MBE FCCT
Education Advisor to Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Former CEO Coop Academies Trust. 26th Most Influential Colleague in Education.
LJ Rawlings MBE DL
Founder & CEO Youth Employment UK. National Youth Employment Expert.
Jonny Uttley
Chief Executive Officer The Education Alliance. Visiting Fellow The Centre for Young Lives. Trustee SHINE. Member IPPR Inclusion Taskforce. Author: ‘Putting Staff First’.
Professor Paul Ramchandani
LEGO Professor of Play at the Uni of Cambridge. NHS Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. Director PEDAL Centre. DfE Scientific Advisory Council.
Professor Mark Mon-Williams
Leader Centre of Applied Education Research. Member Born in Bradford’s and Child Health Outcome Research At Leeds Exec Boards.
Nia Richards FRSA
Director Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE). Contributor to UNESCO's Future of Education.
Hywel Roberts
The Travelling Teacher. Pedagogy Philosopher. Author: ‘Botheredness’ & more
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk
Psychologist. Research Scientist. Author: ‘Nurturing […] Development in Early Childhood.’
Lando Du Plooy
Founder of Education4Change. Headteacher. Chair of Governors. HMI.
Dave Whitaker
National Relational Practice Expert. Chief Education Officer. Author: ‘The Kindness Principle’
Dr Elizabeth Mason-Hale
Social Scientist. Researcher University of Manchester. Research Interests: Human Action, Behaviour, Habits in relation to Poverty, Inequality, Neurodiversity, Education.
Dr Kathryn Weston
Founder Tooled Up Education. National Expert Parenting and Family Life. Author: ‘Engaging Parents’.
The Real David Cameron
International Education Expert. Coach. Trainer. Advisor. TEDx Speaker.
Lucie Lakin
Principal Carr Manor Community School. Inclusive Education Specialist.
Luke Mitchell
Head of Positive Regard. National Behaviour Expert. Practitioner in schools
Kate Davies
CEO White Woods Primary Academy Trust. National Leader of Education.
Saj Zafar
Founder & CEO LeadHERship Academy. Leadership Psychologist. Former Prison Governor. Author.
Bailey Greetham – Clark
CEO & Founder Great Fitness. Home Educated to Head Boy.
30 Guest Speakers
“This vision is not idealistic.
It is necessary.”