Thames Valley School Business Managers, Heads & Senior Leaders 2021 Conference and Exhibition

Dai Durbridge - Browne Jacobson LLP

Dai is based in Browne Jacobson’s Manchester office and heads up the firm’s education team in the North West. He advises schools, academies and colleges on frontline education matters, including school admissions and exclusions, parental complaints, disqualification from childcare settings and GDPR. He is also a leading expert on safeguarding in education, chairing and speaking at numerous national conferences and writing articles and providing comment for the sector and national press. From supporting schools with allegations made against staff, peer on peer abuse and student mental health issues, to serious case reviews and Ofsted inspections Dai has been on hand to help schools with the full range of safeguarding challenges.

Helen Lumb

Stakeholder and Engagement Manager, Schools Commercial Team, Department for Education Helen is part of the schools facing Engagement and Outreach Team within the Schools Commercial Team. Our remit is to support all schools with help in buying compliantly and delivering value for money. Before joining the DfE Commercial Division Helen was Head of Commercial at MOD, Service Children’s Education. Helen has over 30 years’ experience in a number of procurement and administrative roles working in both the public and private sector. She is also a student member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply as well as being a Governor of a Nursery School.

Michael Quigley - Kataholos

Michael Quigley, BA (Hons) 1st class, MA, PGCE, is a former primary school teacher with extensive experience of teaching, coaching, leading and team membership, coupled with a life-long enduring passion for and interest in fitness, wellbeing and growing people. He is a published author and regular blogger as well as the creator of multiple online professional and personal development courses with his company Kataholos. He has over 10 years of teaching experience and has delivered training sessions over the last five years to thousands of people for organizations including the North and Western Chamber of Commerce, the Global Chamber, the FSB, DJH Mitten Clarke, Cooney Carey, the Chartered Insurance Institute all over the UK as well as internationally for Russell Bedford International. Michael has an extensive experience in public speaking, delivering for both the public and private sector regionally, nationally and internationally, both in person and online. He has delivered training sessions both in person and online for CII members all over the UK for 3 years so far. His Kataholos Online Learning Platform empowers over 8000 professionals in 100 countries currently, with e learning courses on stress, wholistic health, communication skills and motivation. Michael has a motivational podcast for business professionals, Food for the Journey on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and has two published books, "Guidelines for a Wholistic happy life" and "Loving Leadership.

Ross McWilliam - Mindset Pro

Over the past 30 years, Ross McWilliam has worked in over 1,000 schools and businesses. Through his work in the field of mindsets, he has changed the lives of one million children, young adults, and senior professionals. Ross has demonstrated an unrivalled record of engagement, education and empowerment. During this time, Ross has developed into a much sought-after international keynote speaker and is a published author on mindsets. Not wanting to rest on his laurels, Ross is currently studying for his PhD. Ross now specialises in growing the talents of professionals and helps them reach their full potential, either individually, or collectively as a high achieving team. Whether it’s working with the ‘onboarding skills’ of new recruits, or ‘polishing up’ senior executives, Ross achieves results. He has been described by leading international psychology professor Barry Hymer as ‘a classic growth mindset.’ Ross describes himself as a ‘Pracademic’ ie actively engaging with the audience using a mixture of contemporary research blended with a fierce desire to apply this and make learning relevant. His specific areas of expertise are performance mindsets, team dynamics, leadership development, positive mental health & wellbeing, emotional intelligences, and emotional competencies of resilience, willpower, motivation, & soft communication skills.