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
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.
Nia Richards FRSA
Director Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE). Contributor to UNESCO's Future of Education.
Mark Finnis
Director L30 Relational Systems. Author: ‘Restorative Practice’
Professor Paul Ramchandani
LEGO Professor of Play at the University of Cambridge. NHS Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Director PEDAL Centre. DfE Scientific Advisory Council.
LJ Rawlings MBE DL
Founder & CEO Youth Employment UK. National Youth Employment Expert.
Saj Zafar
Founder & CEO LeadHERship Academy. Leadership Psychologist. Former Prison Governor. Author.
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk
Psychologist. Research Scientist. Author: ‘Nurturing […] Development in Early Childhood.’
Hywel Roberts
The Travelling Teacher. Pedagogy Philosopher. Author: ‘Botheredness’ & more
The Real David Cameron
International Education Expert. Coach. Trainer. Advisor. TEDx Speaker.
Lando Du Plooy
Founder of Education4Change. Headteacher. Chair of Governors. HMI.
Bailey Greetham – Clark
CEO & Founder Great Fitness. Home Educated to Head Boy.
Luke Mitchell
Head of Positive Regard. National Behaviour Expert. Practitioner in schools
Lucie Lakin
Principal Carr Manor Community School. Inclusive Education Specialist.
Dave Whitaker
National Relational Practice Expert. Chief Education Officer. Author: ‘The Kindness Principle’
30 Guest Speakers
“This vision is not idealistic.
It is necessary.”