London Borough of Ealing School Business Managers 2019 Conference & Exhibition

David Cameron

David Cameron is a highly experienced educator and a fantastic speaker, known to all as the ‘Real David Cameron’. He combines an overview of education, from policy making at national level to knowing what makes children tick in a real classroom and everything in between, with the ability to call a spade a spade. He uses this unique perspective to help educators across the UK understand the power they have to cut through the policies and practices that get in the way of simply doing the best possible job they can in a way that makes sense for everyone. A highly entertaining, engaging and thought-provoking speaker comfortable working at all stages, and in any sector, David has worked across the UK and internationally with teachers, school leaders and governors. He has the knack of showing up the guff thrown at schools on a seemingly daily basis for what it is, combined with the ability to suggest eminently common sense and practical solutions that inspire all audience members to re-evaluate their day-to-day work. With his help, teachers and leaders can then get on with the serious job of educating young people properly. He was Director of Children’s Services for Stirling Council. Before that he was Head of Education in East Lothian. He has been an Area Manager providing support and challenge to a large group of schools in Fife, Performance Review Manager with overall responsibility for Quality Assurance and, before that an Adviser responsible for curriculum development and assessment. He has worked in schools up to the early ‘90s and has extensive experience in school management at all levels and experience of leading a major national development of curriculum and assessment in Scotland introducing new Standard Grade courses. He was President of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland and has been involved with a range of national groups, notably on Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education and Looked After Children. As a consultant, He has supported Midlothian Council in their reorganisation of services to Children and Families and engaged with Skills Development Scotland in a major review of policy procedures and practice. I have since led reviews on class size regulations and arrangements for devolved school management.

Julia Harnden

Association of School College and Leaders (ASCL) funding Specialist. Julia worked for HSBC’s corporate banking division before moving to the education sector. Developing a working knowledge of education funding since 2001, Julia has supported school leaders in both the primary and secondary phase, has chaired the finance committee and been vice chair of governors at Harpole Primary School. As a member of the school leadership team she has been responsible for strategic financial planning and monitoring, PFI contract management, academy conversion and leading capital projects.

Kaley Foran

Kaley Foran is the lead content editor for The Key for School Leaders. She specialises in content related to school funding and finance, safeguarding and school improvement and inspection. She is the vice-chair of governors at Chestnuts Primary School in Haringey.

Ross McWilliam

Ross is a freelance speaker and author with over 30 years’ experience within education. He has worked in over 1,000 schools and engaged with over one million young children, adolescents and professional staff. His areas of focus are Wellbeing, Emotional Confidence & Resilience, Behaviour Management, Pupil Engagement, Mindsets, Staff Motivation and Change Management. Ross speaks nationally around the subject of mindsets and has spoken at NAHT Conference 2017, Northwest Heads Conference 2017, ISBL National Conference 2018, Wirral SBM 2019, LASBM 2019 and Ealing Borough Council Conference 2019. Ross writes for various educational journals including TES, Headteacher Update and Primary Times and has written four books on children’s mental health and performance. His latest book is out in August 2019. At today’s Conference, Ross will address delegates on the issue of staff wellbeing. Ross will identify stress flashpoints, offer a measurement tool to quantify current stress levels and provide short- and long-term strategies to improve wellbeing. However, Ross believes that a belief in self whilst being connected, are core to sustainable wellbeing. Ross will also talk about how being too resilient, may in fact, be a precursor for stress. Ross not only speaks from a position of authority, but has had his own wellbeing challenges which involved scarring, physical disability, and a series of panic attacks over recent years. This unique viewpoint helps him connect with his audiences and their wellbeing challenges.