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Eastern Conference 2025

Education - the power for positive change!

Click here for booking terms, conditions and code of conduct.

Time: 8:30am - 3.00pm
Venue: Holiday Inn Impington, Cambridge CB24 9PH
Room: Kings Suite

Members:  £30.00
Non-members:  £50.00

This is a fantastic opportunity to spend a day focusing on your well-being whilst learning.

Bring along your leadership team and extend the learning beyond yourself.


Welcome to our Speakers

Paul Whiteman, NAHT General SecretaryPaul Whiteman, NAHT General Secretary

Paul Whiteman took up the role of general secretary of NAHT in September 2017, bringing with him a wealth of trade union knowledge, as well as hands-on experience of the vast range of challenges faced by school leaders. Paul joined NAHT in 2012 as director of representation and advice, with overall responsibility for the directorate that provides advice to members on management, legal and employment issues.

Having started out in retail banking, Paul soon got involved in the Banking, Insurance and Finance Union. His enthusiasm for trade unionism grew, and between 2002 and 2012, he held the position of national officer for the FDA civil service trade union. 

Born in Croydon, Paul was educated at John Ruskin High School in Croydon. He completed an MA in industrial relations and employment law at Keele University in 2000.


Beverley HaywoodBeverley Haywood, Regional Head for Eastern Region

Beverley Haywood is NAHT Head of Eastern region. Having originally qualified as a solicitor she has since worked in HR in various sectors for over 20 years; including the education sector, the emergency services and private industry. Beverley is also a member of a MAT Board.


Hear Beverley's presentation on 'Managing Parental Complaints/Issues.'

This presentation will provide you with the tools and tips to manage parental complaints as effectively as you can and will cover a number of areas including, the scope of your complaint’s procedure, roles, and responsibilities of those involved in managing the complaint, campaigns, and persistent complainants.  Additionally, the presentation will explore how to manage complainants and social media, preventative strategies and guidance on building effective home-school relationships.


Leon BraithwaiteLeon Braithwaite, Mental Skills Coach & Ambassador

Leon Braithwaite is a Mental Skills Coach and Ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card. He is a former professional football player having played for Exeter City and making a total of 66 Football League appearances.

 

 


Matt Setchell, ConceroMatt Setchell, Chief Technology Officer, Concero Technology

Matt is currently Chief Technology Officer at Concero UK, a specialist managed service provider focusing on education.

Having an extensive wealth of experience running school networks of all shapes and sizes, Matt takes a hands-on approach, knowing the technical infrastructure, the software and at the same time understanding the management and teaching and learning aspects that we need to support.

Matt is a confident trainer and love helping people to expand their use of technology with solutions that make their lives easier. Matt has a passion for IT that works. Matt loves helping students, staff and entire educational establishments realise the potential of IT in their organisation.


Matt's topic of discussion will be:  Deploying AI Today: Tools, Tactics and Trade-offs

Explore how schools can harness AI right now — with practical tools, smart deployment strategies, and an honest look at the trade-offs involved. This session cuts through the hype to focus on real-world impact and implementation


Kelly Hannaghan, Founder of Mind Work MattersKelly Hannaghan, Founder of Mind Work Matters

Kelly Hannaghan is the founder of Mind Work Matters and an esteemed Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant. She is a vibrant advocate for mental health and wellbeing in education. As a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant, she’s dedicated to fostering open conversations about well-being among staff, students, and families. With a focus on enhancing opportunities in education, Kelly has led schools through the Wellbeing Award process and spearheaded initiatives like the DFE Wellbeing for Education Return Programme and ABSA.

 


Kelly will present Beyond Survival: Leading Well and Living Well in Schools Today 

A powerful, honest keynote that shines a light on the real emotional toll of school leadership, the hidden load we rarely acknowledge. This session isn’t about more to-do lists or unrealistic self-care hacks. It’s about reclaiming your energy, setting healthy boundaries, and finding a sustainable way to lead with integrity and heart.

Through reflection and shared practical tools, you’ll:

  • • Recognise the invisible weight of leadership, including secondary trauma and chronic stress
  • • Understand the warning signs of burnout and how to prevent them
  • • Learn how to protect your time, energy, and wellbeing, without losing your impact
  • • Reconnect with your values and leadership identity to sustain you for the long haul

You can create change without sacrificing yourself.  This is your invitation to lead well and live well, starting now.



Angi GibsonAngi Gibson, NAHT President

Angi is the head teacher at Hadrian Park Primary School and became a member of NAHT in 2009, becoming a deputy head sector representative on NAHT's national executive in 2011 and moving into the north east regional representative seat on national executive in 2014, a role which she has continued to hold for the past 10 years. Over her time in NAHT, Angi has served on the primary sector council, finance and people committee and international committee, as well as chairing both the practice committee and the legal representation committee.

 

 


Programme

0830 - 0900 Registration, refreshments and networking
0900 - 0910 Welcome from Eastern Regional Secretary, Jeff Conquest
0915 - 1000 Paul Whiteman, NAHT General Secretary
1005 - 1055 Beverley Haywood, Regional Head for Eastern Region - Managing Parental Complaints/Issues
1100 - 1125 Break and networking
1130 - 1200 Leon Braithwaite, Mental Skills Coach & an Ambassador from Show Racism The Red Card
1205 - 1225 Ahilan Shandrakapol, Wesleyan Financial Services, NAHT Partner
1230 - 1315 Lunch and networking
1320 - 1400 Matthew Setchell, Concero Education Technology, NAHT Partner - Deploying AI Today: Tools, Tactics and Trade-offs
1405 - 1445 Kelly Hannaghan, Founder of Mind Work Matters - Beyond Survival: Leading Well and Living Well in Schools Today 
1450 - 1520 Angi Gibson, NAHT President
1525 - 1530 Conference summary and close

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Programe subject to change

Click here for booking terms, conditions and code of conduct.