AGBIS/HMC/ISBA Heads, Governors and Bursars’ Conference - Monday 9 November 2026 (BMA House, London)

Leading the Digital School: Strategy, Safety and Sustainability in the Age of AI

Description

This one‑day conference brings together Heads/CEOs, Bursars/CFOs and Governors from independent schools to explore one of the most significant leadership challenges of our time: how to lead schools confidently and coherently in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Bookings should be made via the AGBIS Website:

AGBIS | HMC | ISBA Joint Conference 2026

Conference Programme
09.00 – 10.00	Registration and refreshments
10.00 – 10.05	Welcome and opening remarks Simon Hyde, CEO, HMC
10.05 – 10.35	Plenary 1: Confidence, Community & Childhood in the Digital World Speaker: Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE Chair: Simon Hyde, CEO, HMC
10.35 – 11.20	Plenary 2 – Panel session: Who Owns Digital Strategy? Governance, Leadership and Operations Speakers: Gary Henderson, Director of IT, Winchester College Rahim Hirji, Founder, The SuperSkills Intelligence Company and Governor, Channing School Claire Bentley, Head, Culford School Chair: Mark Taylor, Chair, ISC
11.20 – 11.50	Refreshment break among the exhibitors

11.50 – 12.40

Workshop Sessions (Block A)

A1: Governing AI: Oversight Without Panic

From values and ethics to educational integrity, AI governance can feel complex, confusing and frightening. Get one thing right, understanding what AI is and how it produces its output, and the rest follows surprisingly naturally. This session gives leaders that foundation, so they can weigh the implications from a position of real knowledge.

Speaker: Ross Garrod, Founder & CEO, Involve Education

A2: Digital Risk & Cyber Governance
Understanding cyber and digital risk at board level, including governance responsibilities, assurance and crisis preparedness. Preparing schools for cyber incidents through resilience, recovery planning for business continuity and effective governance reporting.

Speaker: Simon Holden, Founder & CEO, Safehire.ai and Founder, CyBur

A3: AI in Teaching & Learning
A strategic look at how AI is reshaping curriculum, assessment and professional judgement — and how schools can respond sustainably.

Speaker: Laura Knight, Founder, Sapio

A4: Funding Digital Transformation
Planning affordable, sustainable digital investment: infrastructure, devices and long‑term financial risk.

Speaker: Gary Henderson, Director of IT, Winchester College

12.40 – 13.40

Lunch

13.45 – 14.35	Workshop Sessions (Block B) B1: Governing AI: Oversight Without Panic From values and ethics to educational integrity, AI governance can feel complex, confusing and frightening. Get one thing right, understanding what AI is and how it produces its output, and the rest follows surprisingly naturally. This session gives leaders that foundation, so they can weigh the implications from a position of real knowledge. Speaker: Ross Garrod, Founder & CEO, Involve Education B2: Digital Risk & Cyber Governance Understanding cyber and digital risk at board level, including governance responsibilities, assurance and crisis preparedness. Preparing schools for cyber incidents through resilience, recovery planning for business continuity and effective governance reporting. Speaker: Simon Holden, Founder & CEO, Safehire.ai and Founder, CyBur B3: AI in Teaching & Learning A strategic look at how AI is reshaping curriculum, assessment and professional judgement — and how schools can respond sustainably. Speaker: Laura Knight, Founder, Sapio B4: Funding Digital Transformation Planning affordable, sustainable digital investment: infrastructure, devices and long‑term financial risk. Speaker: Gary Henderson, Director of IT, Winchester College
14.35 – 15.00	Refreshments and exhibition
15.05 – 15.50	Plenary 3: The Digital School as a System: Leadership, Risk and Responsibility in the Age of AI Speakers: Al Kingsley MBE, CEO, NetSupport Chair: Catherine Spencer, CEO, ISBA
15.50 – 16.00	Closing remarks and depart Catherine Spencer, CEO, ISBA