Oxfordshire Academies Business Managers’ Group Annual Conference 2025

Alison Edgar MBE

Alison is not your average speaker; she's a dynamic yet relatable catalyst for business success. With her captivating presence, Scottish wit and personality, combined with her 25-year experience walking the corridors of corporate organisations, Alison empowers audiences to embrace change, enhance communication, and boost results. Her talks provide real-life implementable takeaways that make an immediate impact, proving her an invaluable addition to any event. Alison was one of the few women to be awarded an MBE on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2020 for her services to entrepreneurship and business. With over a decade of experience as a business champion, she has mentored top industry figures. Alison has also played a pivotal role in advising the government on business legislation, contributing to the growth of the UK economy. As a dyslexic author of two international best-selling books, Alison has mastered the balance of how to enhance readers’ personal and professional development. Her debut book was a WHSmith Top Ten Business Book and named one of the top business books written by a woman in 2019 by The Independent newspaper. Alison is a sought-after media contributor, and recently became a boardroom advisor for a new business TV show, ‘Ready Set StartUP’ on Amazon Prime UK & US.

Julia Harnden

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. Julia joined ASCL from Caroline Chisholm School where she was Director of Finance.