Women in Leadership Conference - Tuesday 17 March 2026 (ISH Venues, London)

This course will: explore themes and issues relating specifically to women who are current and aspiring middle and senior leaders in schools

Description

What will you gain by attending?: It will provide an opportunity to share challenges and ideas, to develop support personally and for the women they work alongside.

Conference Programme

Time	Session	Room
09:30	Arrival, registration, and coffee
10.00 – 10.10	Welcome and introduction Speaker: Ronnie Reading, Conference Director and Deputy Head Educational Development at Abingdon School A word from our sponsor: High Performance Learning
10.10 – 11.10	Keynote 1 Speaker: Dr Anne Cotton, Head of Kings College School, Wimbledon and HMC Chair-Elect 2025-2026
11.10 – 11.20	Refreshment break
11.20 – 11.50	Keynote 2: Authentic Leadership Speaker: Professor Deborah Eyre, Founder of High Performance Learning
12.00 – 12.30	Mentoring Network Speakers: Adriane Martini, Head of Researcher, Teacher of Psychology, University College School & Hannah Butland, Chair of Stanmore College Board, Co-Leader of the Women in Senior Leadership Network
12.30 -13.15	Lunch
13.15 – 14.15	Case studies: Caring responsibilities We would welcome submissions from delegates to share their experience of caring responsibilities and navigating these challenges, whilst flourishing at work. Please email pd@hmc.org.uk
14.15 – 14.30	Refreshment break
14.30 – 15.15	Keynote 4: Leadersmithing for Women Speaker: Eve Poole OBE This session will draw on insights from the leadership research featured in Eve Poole's award-winning book Leadersmithing. The research asked board-level leaders one vital question: what do you know now about yourself as a leader that you wish you had known 10 years ago? Their answers identified the 17 Critical Incidents that all leaders must be able to navigate if they are to succeed. Since writing the book, Eve has held senior roles as a woman in the education sector and is writing a follow-up book on what it is really like in top leadership, particularly for women. She will introduce the 17 Critical Incidents, glossing them for senior women, then each participant will be given a pack of Leadersmithing cards to help them develop their own expertise for the 17.
15.15 – 16.00	Plenary Debrief and Networking Discussion Facilitated by: Eve Poole OBE
16.00	Closing remarks and depart

This conference is kindly sponsored by High Performance Learning