Paul has been an educationalist for 40 years and now supports Local Authorities and schools across the country. Paul led education across North Yorkshire and Leeds, Ofsted judged both these LAs as ‘Outstanding’. His other experiences include; Director of Children’s Services, school Inspector, senior examiner, adult education tutor, school governor, Academy Trustee and Company Member, teacher and senior leader in inner-city secondary schools. He is passionate about all aspects of education and community but especially; inclusion, the arts, diversity, equity, leadership, climate change and creativity and has a reputation for effective leadership in challenging circumstances.

He originally trained to be a designer and has a master’s degree in management. Paul has worked across the public, private and third sectors. He has worked in schools, Local Authorities and charities. In his spare-time he continues his practice as a visual artist focusing on painting and photography with some teaching, he enjoys the theatre and cinema as an audience member and he is an active tennis player, skier, runner and cyclist. He is currently studying Italian at Sheffield University.

Simon has been a secondary Headteacher for the past 21 years, working in three inner city schools across Wakefield and Leeds. He became Headteacher of Carr Manor High School in 2005, a school working with some of the most complex and diverse communities in Leeds. In 2012 the school became Carr Manor Community School, a ‘through school’ for pupils aged 4-19. He was appointed Executive Principal for Carr Manor Community School and Wetherby High School in 2014.

Simon was seconded to Leeds Local Authority between 2010 and 2014 to support the leadership of Children’s Services. More recently he has led the formation of the Leeds Learning Alliance which has emerged from a desire to provide a partnership of significant Leeds organisations committed to working inclusively and collaboratively to close outcome gaps especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Asad Razzaq MBE is an experienced Police Officer with a background in Response, Neighbourhood and Counter Terrorism Prevent Policing. He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CATCH (Community Action To Create Hope), a volunteer-led charity based in Harehills, Leeds focused on creating positive futures for children and young people. Asad has formed a number of strategic and collaborative partnerships over the years cutting across all sectors to support young people in Leeds.

CATCH is a significant youth and community work provider known for its scale, creativity, youth volunteering model and positive impact on key council and police priorities. CATCH is embedded in a number of pivotal strategic partnerships with schools, local authority departments and emergency services.

The CATCH provision is well established, has won several awards including the Child Friendly ‘Best place for children and young People in the city’, the Howard League Award ‘Policing and children category’ and more recently the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

Dr Steven Burton is the Head of the Digital Transformative Education department within the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University, and is also Visiting Professor of Education at the University of Bolton. He teaches and researches the innovative use of digital tools and approaches in education, and is published in this field, and in the field of safeguarding and child protection.

He developed the MSc Digital Pedagogy and MA Transformative Education – which are designed explicitly for the CPD of practicing teachers – and works on digital learning projects with international colleagues in Scandinavia and North America. He is a guest publications reviewer for the NSPCC, is Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Gemma’s 20+ year experience across secondary, further and higher education secured her an executive leadership role at Luminate, where she drives teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare outcomes for students and apprentices across the group. Gemma is also vice principal for curriculum at Leeds City College. A key aspect of her role is to ensure that the group as a whole is meeting the needs of learners and employers through the curriculum we serve.

“I love turning data into information to improve the student experience. I’m endlessly curious about what and how we deliver learning, and the impact that this has on our students and communities.”

To counterbalance Gemma’s love of cake, she loves to run, row and practise Pilates, as well as travelling and spending time with family.

Nikki Davis is the Principal & CEO of Leeds College of Building – the first female to be appointed to the role in the College’s history. Nikki started her career in hospitality after gaining a Hospitality & Business Management degree before completing a PGCE at Leeds Trinity University. She joined Calderdale College in 2002 as Course Leader for Business & Economics before moving to Park Lane College as Curriculum Manager for Business and Enterprise.

Nikki then joined Kirklees College as Head of Department, managing various departments from Hospitality to Business Development, before a move to Assistant Principal at York College leading the apprenticeship programme. Promotion to Vice Principal for Technical and Professional programmes followed, which included leading the successful bid for the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology.

Under Nikki’s leadership, Leeds College of Building is focused on improving diversity in construction. Ensuring everyone has access to the amazing opportunities offered by construction is crucial to building a truly inclusive sector.

Professor Charles Egbu is Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University. He has over 30 years of experience in the Higher Education sector – previously he was Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of East London, England, and the Dean of the School of the Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University, where he held the Chair in Project Management and Strategic Management in Construction. He has lectured, nationally and internationally, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in areas such as sustainable development, resilient communities, construction economics, contract procurement, project management, construction management, and innovation & knowledge management in complex environments. He is an author of 12 books and has contributed to over 350 publications in various international journals. He has hosted, chaired and spoken at many conferences in over 30 countries in his areas of expertise. He has mentored and supported academics in more than 30 countries; and supported large, medium, and small organisations through skills development, and continuing professional development.

Cindy has been Chair of Governors at Wetherby High School for the past 10 years. She has had a varied career, having worked for an American company in the City of London as a PA/Interpreter/Translator for 10 years, followed by a spell as a freelancer whilst bringing up her 2 daughters. She then taught French and German in the post-16 sector and was Modern Languages Coordinator for Park Lane College, including setting up and running a business language operation for the College. In 2000, she left full time teaching to start a successful retail business with 2 shops and an online business. She was a local councillor for 16 years, serving as Wetherby’s Town Mayor from 2010-2012.

Rebekah came to Leeds to train as a nurse in 1997 before spending 10 years volunteering as a nurse at an orphanage in Mozambique. Since returning to Leeds she has been heavily involved in the local community of Harehills – she has been a governor at Bankside since her children started at the school in 2010, and was part of the early conversation around forming the Leeds Learning Alliance. She has also been a trustee at Catch for over 10 years. She is a qualified health visitor and spent 7 years working in Beeston, and is currently the lead nurse for the homeless health inclusion team in the Leeds Community Healthcare trust. Outside of work she enjoys growing vegetables on her allotment, wild swimming and going for walks in the countryside. She is mum to 3 teenage children which has opened her eyes to the world of women’s football and rugby, minecraft and teenage rock bands!

Andrew is Director of Professional Development at Discovery Education. He is responsible for leading the creation and implementation of all the Professional Development provided by Discovery Education outside of the US. This includes national Government contracts, such as in Egypt where DE have trained over 200,000 teachers to implement the new National Curriculum over the last 6 years. It also encompasses supporting global Channel Partners and schools who use DE’s suite of digital products, through conference speaking, thought leadership, webinars and face-to-face PD sessions.

Previously, Andrew was a freelance consultant and trainer for 12 years, supporting teachers and schools around the UK and overseas, across a range of specialisms including: interactive technology, digital media, coding, STEM and primary maths. He began his career as a teacher and senior leader in three primary and middle schools in Leeds. He is chair of Governors at Carr Manor Community School.

James joined Leeds City Council in 1985 as a trainee and worked in a number of areas before progressing a career in Human Resources.  James qualified as a member of the Institute of Personnel Development and progressed to the level of HR Manager before moving into corporate management in 1993. James was appointed Assistant Chief Executive in July 2007 and joined the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team, and in April 2017 James progressed to the role of Director.

James leads a large council directorate that aims to provide an inclusive, safe, welcoming and climate friendly city, where all our citizens and visitors can live and work in safe, clean and empowered communities, with access to high quality affordable housing, local green spaces and attractions and easy to access help, particularly those who are vulnerable.

James is a big Leeds United fan and also chairs the Board of Trustees of the Leeds United Foundation, the charitable arm of the club.

Following 29 years as a police officer in Leeds, Bob has been the CEO of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation since 2016.

He has a passion for restorative practice and conflict resolution, firmly believes in fairness and works hard to assist in reducing the inequalities that exist within our society.

In his spare time he loves to run, hike and generally be outdoors, introducing young people to nature and our wonderful countryside.

He has served as a Governor at various schools in Leeds, and is currently Governor at Carr Manor Community School.