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Inspiring Leadership Conference 2026

Inspiring Leadership Conference

When: Thursday 4 June – Friday 5 June 2026

Where: ICC, Birmingham

Join hundreds of your colleagues in person for the eleventh annual Inspiring Leadership Conference at the ICC, Birmingham. The sell-out two day conference is a valuable opportunity for headteachers and education leaders to get away from school and 100% focus and reflect on leadership, and network and learn from like-minded professionals.

The Inspiring Leadership conference is renowned for its ability to inspire leaders. Your two-day ticket will give you access to a programme packed full of inspiration with renowned keynote speakers, expert practitioners and of course, you, our senior leaders – for opportunities to reconnect with existing networks and make new ones. Bringing together a powerful line-up of keynote speakers from the world's of business, sport, the arts, humanities and, of course, education, is complemented by a diverse selection of innovative and inspiring experts drawn from across the education sector. 

 

What did last year's delegates say about this event?

The best CPD I have had. A wonderfully inspiring two days.

– 2025 delegate

A great space for leadership inspiration, reflection and time away from school to regain a sense of purpose and focus

– 2025 delegate

Inspirational. Time to stop and reflect on the role that we do and the impact that we have. I feel recharged for the rest of this academic year and 2025/26.

– 2025 delegate

Book your early bird ticket

 

Please find below last year's 2025 programme, check back soon to see what's in store for next year's conference in 2026!

 

 

2025 Conference Keynote Speakers

  • Ad Davies Head of Talent Development at Gymshark 

  • Ben Hunt-Davis Olympic Gold medallist and performance coach.

  • Professor Becky Allen Chief Analyst and co-founder of Teacher Tapp

  • Chris Packham CBE Broadcaster, Author and Campaigner

  • Darren Coxon Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kompass Education

  • Naomi Sesay Head of Creative Equity at Channel 4, International Public Speaker, Broadcast TV Producer/Director, Entrepreneur

  • Nicky Perfect International hostage and crisis negotiator turned world renowned trainer, speaker and author

  • Steve Chalke MBE Author, speaker, former UN Special Advisor on Human Trafficking, and Baptist minister

 

2025 Meet the Leader Theatre

Our second stage, held within the exhibition hall, offers a more intimate setting in which attendees can listen to debates around topical industry issues and one-to-one interviews with leaders from across the education sector.

2025 Workshops & Masterclasses

The workshops and masterclasses at the Inspiring Leadership Conference 2025 are designed to equip school leaders with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to tackle the challenges of leadership in education. These dynamic sessions provide an invaluable opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners, collaborate with peers, and bring back ideas to implement in your school.

Whether you're looking to develop your leadership voice or strengthen your leadership team, these workshops will offer practical tools and guidance to support your journey.

2025 workshop & masterclass themes

Leadership Development

These sessions focus on strategies and tools you can implement immediately to enhance senior leadership performance.

These include the latest developments in leadership best practice, different leadership styles and the development of core skills.

Matters of the Moment

These sessions provide an in-depth look at the key challenges and issues currently impacting the education sector. 

These include AI in education, Children in Care and what the Government could do to fix workload.

 

2025 workshop and masterclass programme

The complete workshop programme, featuring topics on effective leadership skills, professional development, and practice-led learning, will be announced soon. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates.

 

Tim Brighouse. What can we learn from him about leadership and how would Tim be leading in today’s context?

Steve Munby, Education Consultant and Visiting Professor, UCL London

Re-thinking leadership: what do we really need our school leaders to be like?

Liz Robinson, Co-Director and CEO, Big Education - Big Education

Making every teacher adaptive and inclusive with effective CPD

Amjad Ali, Teacher, trainer, TEDx speaker and Trust Training and Inclusion Lead. - Try This Teaching

Mastering Difficult Conversations in Challenging times.

Martin Morgan, Director of Empower Education, Educational trainer and Leadership consultant

The Silent Adversary: Unveiling the Impact of Stress on School Staff

Rowena Hicks, Former school leader, author, trainer & coach

Explore and reframe your people-pleasing tendencies

Astrid Korin, Executive and Team Coach. Co-founder 'Inside Out: The Pathway to Resilient Leadership' - Inside Out: The Pathway to Resilient Leadership

Making learning matter through play and promising practice

Hywel Roberts

Re-enchanting Equity: A Redemptive Approach to DEI Leadership

Angie Browne, Being Luminary Founder & Director - Being Luminary

Can we fix the workload crisis in schools?

James Bowen, NAHT Assistant General Secretary (Policy, Research, Press and Communications) - NAHT

Developing Parental Engagement in School

Gemma Davis, Programme Director Learning with Parents - Learning with Parents

Because of You, This Is Me: An exclusive screening, Q&A and book signing with Jaz Ampaw-Farr

Jaz Ampaw-Farr, International Keynote Speaker, Co-Founder Be Human First, Author & Resilience Ninja - Be Human First, Author & Resilience Ninja

Why compassionate leadership - why now?

Maggie Farrar, Director, Empowering Leadership and Steve Elliott, Director, Inspiring Leadership Events - Inspiring Leadership Events

Powering up your questioning

Bruce Robertson, Director of Next Level Educational and Author

Managing conflict and navigating challenging conversations positively.

Jill Berry, Former head, now leadership development consultant

Include Me – I Need To Belong A Cultural Entitlement For All Learners

Andrew Wright OBE, Chair of the Attachment Research Community

 

 

 
 

 

 

Register now