East London & Essex Education Conference & Exhibition 2019

Carole Willis

Carole Willis is Chief Executive of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). NFER is an independent, not for profit organisation dedicated to providing research and analysis to help improve outcomes for children and young people. Well known and widely respected across the education sector, Carole has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. She was formerly Chief Analyst and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Education. Carole's background is in economics, and she has worked in a range of government departments, as well as in the private sector.

Caroline Gielnik

Caroline Gielnik is an authority on organisational development, personal development and wellbeing with over two decades experience; delivering positive change to the lives of hundreds of organisations and individuals. A strong advocate around the importance of a positive workplace culture, Caroline currently works closely with senior leadership teams in hundreds of schools to ensure they create an environment that is conducive for staff (and ultimately pupils) to thrive. As a former coach, consultant and author, Caroline brings a wealth of experience to her current role as Business Development Manager at Education Support Partnership – the UK’s only mental health and wellbeing charity for everyone working in education. Since joining, Caroline has helped the organisation grow to work face-to-face in over 900 schools and colleges. Education Support Partnership run the UK’s largest emotional support helpline for educators, operated by trained and accredited councillors, along with providing a financial grants programme for anyone who works in Education.

David Laws

David joined the Education Policy Institute as Executive Chairman in September 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, David served in the Coalition Government as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Schools Minister, and Cabinet Office Minister. Whilst Schools Minister he was responsible for policy areas including all capital and revenue funding, the Pupil Premium, accountability and policy on teachers and leadership. David was Member of Parliament for Yeovil from 2001 until 2015. He graduated from King’s College, Cambridge, with a double first class honours degree in economics and previously worked at J.P. Morgan and Barclays de Zoete Wedd.

Leora Cruddas

Leora Cruddas is the CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST). She was previously Director of Policy and Public Relations for the Association of School and College Leaders, where she was the author of ASCL’s Blueprint for a self-improving system. Leora has a wide range of experiences that reflect her passion for making a difference in the lives of children and young people. She is a committed educationalist who has extensive experience at senior executive level including six years’ experience as a Chief Education Officer in two London Local Authorities. She is a skilled policy analyst who has significant experience of influencing at the most senior levels of government and its agencies. Leora has a first class Masters’ degree in English Literature and is currently undertaking a PhD with the UCL Institute of Education on leadership in education. She has published widely.

Sam Ellis

Sam Ellis started teaching in 1972. From 1998 to 2008 he was the Secondary Heads Association and then ASCL branch secretary for the area. He represented local secondary headteachers on the Schools’ Forum. In that role he became involved in funding issues and co-produced the LA activity led funding model subsequently adopted by the f40 group of authorities. Sam was appointed as an ASCL Regional Officer in September 2008 and transferred to the post of ASCL Funding Specialist in September 2010. He retired from full time ASCL work in 2014 and now works as an external consultant and trainer in a private capacity. Sam has developed funding, timetabling and curriculum analysis tools for ASCL, DfE and individual schools. In the context of timetabling and ICFP Sam has worked with schools in England, Ireland, Wales, The Isle of Man, Spain and with the DfE and ESFA.