The Rise Leaders Rise Summit Provisional Agenda
Saturday 21st March 2026
8.45am - 9.30am
Waterloo
Registration, Coffee & Networking
9.30am - 9.45am
Nash
Opening Remarks
Bushra Nasir CBE
Retired CEO
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London
Welcome to the Rise Leaders Rise Summit - a gathering of visionaries, educators, and change-makers committed to shaping a future where leadership is bold, inclusive, and values-driven. Today is about connecting ideas with action, sharing insights, and challenging ourselves to lead with courage, clarity, and compassion. We are here not just to talk about change, but to equip ourselves to be that change in our schools, organisations, and communities. Let us listen deeply, engage openly, and leave inspired to lead with purpose. Together, we rise, so that those we serve may rise higher still.
9.45am - 10.15am
Nash
Opening Keynote Address: "The Executive Within: Redefining Leadership on Our Terms"
Clive Lawrence OBE
MAT CEO
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Advocate for equity & system change
The Executive Within challenges the traditional, often externally imposed, definitions of leadership and invites us to lead from a place of authenticity, vision, and self-awareness. This keynote explores how true executive power is not about titles or hierarchy, but about clarity of purpose, resilience in adversity, and courage to act in alignment with our values. By reclaiming leadership “on our terms,” we dismantle limiting narratives, embrace our unique strengths, and model a new standard for influence and impact. It is a call to rise beyond expectation, shape our own path, and lead in a way that transforms lives and systems.
10.30am - 11.30am
Morning Workshop Sessions (Choose 1 of 3)
Elizabeth Hayden MCIPD
Specialist in Educational HR @Satis Education
Breaking Barriers: Pathways to Executive Leadership
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Navigating the system while staying true to your values
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Understanding recruitment processes and readiness
St James 1
Bushra Nasir CBE
Retired CEO
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London
Strategic Influence: Leading Beyond the School Gates
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Developing your public leadership voice
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Working with boards, communities, and national bodies
St James 2
Shaheen Myers
Founder of Balance:ed
MAT Trustee
Coach
The Inner Work: Confidence, Imposterism and Executive Presence
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Unpacking racialised leadership experiences
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Building unshakeable belief and presence
Nash
11.30am - 12.00pm
Break & Sponsor Networking
Waterloo
12.00pm - 12.45pm
Nash
Panel Discussion
David Watson OBE - Panel Chair
MAT CEO
Coach and Mentor
What I wish I knew before becoming an Executive Leader
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This candid panel brings together seasoned executive leaders who share the truths rarely found in leadership handbooks. From navigating political landscapes to managing self-doubt, from balancing strategic vision with day-to-day demands to safeguarding personal wellbeing, our panellists reveal the lessons they wish they’d known before stepping into the top role. Expect honest stories, practical insights, and hard-won wisdom on building influence, resilience, and impact. Whether you’re aspiring to executive leadership or newly appointed, this discussion will equip you with foresight, confidence, and clarity, helping you step into senior leadership with eyes wide open and a toolkit ready for the journey. Expect to recognise that Executive Leadership comes in the form of trustee and governance positions also.
Gulcin Sesli
Co CEO @ The Spring Partnership Trust
Dean Gordon
Executive Headteacher @ Phoenix Federation
Aretha Banton
Assistant Director SEND and Inclusion @ Ealing Council
Shaheen Myers
Founder of Balance:ed
MAT Trustee
Coach
12.45pm - 1.15pm
Nash
Table Discussions - Legacy
Sufian Sadiq
Director of Teaching School @ Chiltern Learning Trust
President Elect @ Chartered College of Teaching
1.15pm - 2.00pm
Lunch & Sponsor Networking
Waterloo
2.00pm - 2.45pm
Nash
Afternoon Keynote Address: "Commanding Space: Reclaiming Leadership Narratives"
TBA
TBA
Commanding Space is about taking ownership of the stories that define us as leaders. Too often, leadership narratives are shaped by others, limiting, distorting, or erasing our authentic voice. This keynote invites us to challenge those narratives, replace them with ones rooted in truth, and lead unapologetically from our own centre. Through reflection, real-world examples, and strategies for influence, we will explore how to command the room, the conversation, and the agenda without compromise. It is a call to stand tall, speak with authority, and reclaim the leadership space that is rightfully ours, for ourselves and those we serve.
2.00pm - 2.45pm
Afternoon Workshop Sessions (Choose 1 of 3)
Dean Kelly
Chairman/Advisor/Investor/
Mentor/Entrepreneur
CEO @ Kellstar
Sponsorship & Networks: Finding Your People and Advocates
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Moving from mentorship to sponsorship
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Cultivating networks of power and support
St James 1
Sally Pritchett
CEO @ Something Big
Communication Leader & Author and DEIB Advocate
Visibility & Voice: Telling Your Story, Shaping the Narrative
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Personal branding for leadership
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Media, keynotes, social platforms and executive presence
St James 2
Sufian Sadiq
Director of Teaching School @ Chiltern Learning Trust
President Elect @ Chartered College of Teaching
Leading Through a Justice Lens
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Embedding anti-racism and equity into strategy
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Shaping policy and culture at executive level
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Nash
3.45pm - 4.15pm
Nash
Plenary: Reflection, Commitments & Call to Action
Ann Palmer FCCT
CEO @ Fig Tree International
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Conference Organiser
Making a Difference - Rise Leaders Rise
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What will you do differently from tomorrow?
4.15pm - 4.30pm
Nash
Final Words and Departure
David Watson OBE
MAT CEO
Coach and Mentor