AGBIS/HMC/ISBA Heads, Governors and Bursars’ Conference - Wednesday 12 November 2025 (BMA House, London)

09.00 -10.00

Registration and refreshments

10.00 – 10.05

Welcome and opening remarks

Speakers: Julie Robinson - CEO, ISC

10.05 – 10.35

Plenary 1: Keynote (Title TBC)

Speakers: Amit Mehta – Founder and CEO, Inspired Learning Group

10.35 – 11.20

Plenary 2: Is your school and governance structure fit for purpose now and for the future (Title TBC)

Speakers:

Barney Northover – Partner, VWV

Jane Lunnon – Head, Alleyn’s School

Neil Cufley – COO, Russell School Trust

Chair: Mark Taylor – Bursar, King's School, Canterbury, and Interim Chair, ISC

11.20 – 11.50

Refreshment break among the exhibitors

11.50 – 12.40

Workshop Sessions (Block A)

1. 1.     Restructures and Redundancy Programmes

Speaker: Krissy Scott – Partner, HCR Law

1. 2.     TPS and Pension Changes

Speakers: Oliver Daniels – Partner, HCR Law and Rachel Parkin- Partner, HCR Law

1. 3.     Building Strong Boards: Recruitment, Agility and the Clerk’s Leadership

Speakers: Richard Harman – CEO, AGBIS, Ginny Parkes – Director of Learning and Professional Development, AGBIS, Diana Robinson – Trustee and Treasurer, AGBIS and Clerk to Governors, Westminster School 

1. 4.     Development and fundraising and building a culture of philanthropy
   Speaker: Lou Bennett - CEO, IDPE
2. 5.     International Opportunities
   Speaker: Leigh Webb - CEO, ISC Research

12.40 – 13.30

Lunch

13.35 – 14.25

Workshop Sessions (Block B)

1. 1.     Forming Groups/Mergers and Acquisitions
   Speaker: Andrew Frame - M&A Partner, Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLP

1. 2.     Risk management and mitigation / communicating effectively with parents/stakeholders

Speaker: Tim Toulmin – Managing Director, Alder

1. 3.     Independent education lite - no frills/alt. models. Hybrid/online school model
   Speaker: Mark Steed – Consultant and Director, Steed Education and Kai Vacher, Principal, British School, Muscat

1. 4.     Art of the Bursar Research Findings
   Speaker: David Woodgate – Chief Executive, ISBA, Sue Roxby - Director of Advice and Guidance, ISBA and Heather Styche-Patel – CEO, RSAcademics

1. 5.     Wellbeing: How do Leaders Sustain Themselves and Others
   Speaker: George Hartley – Head, The Kings School Chester

14.25 – 14.30

Movement time between sessions

14.30 – 15.20

Plenary 3: Strategy and Horizon Scanning

Speakers: Mike Lambert – Global Education Director, Inspired Education Group, Amber Waite – Principal, St Albans Education Group and HMC Board Member, Adrian Bowcher – CFO, The Dean Close Foundation

Chair: Duncan Murphy – CSO, MTM Consulting

15.25 – 15.50

Refreshment break among the exhibitors

15.55 – 16.25

Plenary 4: Turning Team Differences into Assets: How Self-Awareness, Coaching, and Communication Transformed a School’s Future.

Speaker: David Cresswell – Headmaster, Barnard Castle School, Suzanne Metcalf - Bursar and Clerk to the Governors, Barnard Castle School, Catherine Sunley – Chair of Governors, Barnard Castle School

Chair: Jo Beckett – Founder and Director, Jo Beckett Coaching and Development

16.25 – 16.40

Closing remarks and depart

Speakers: Richard Harman, CEO AGBIS; Simon Hyde, CEO, HMC; and David Woodgate, CEO, ISBA