Afua Hirsch (Keynote)
Afua Hirsch is the founder of Born In Me, which makes premium scripted and unscripted TV and film, including Africa Rising, an ongoing BBC series exploring the art and culture of African countries. She hosts Legacy, an ongoing Apple top 3 global podcast hit for Wondery and Amazon Music currently in its twentieth season.
She is also a bestselling author of four books including the award-winning Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging (2018) and Decolonising My Body, A Radical Exploration of Rituals and Beauty (2023).
A journalist for more than twenty years, she is a former Guardian correspondent, associate editor of British and is a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California.
Lord Simon Woolley (Keynote)
Lord Simon Woolley became Principal of Homerton College in October 2021. He founded Operation Black Vote (OBV) in 1996 and led it until 2021, working to increase civic participation and promote equality for ethnic minorities in the UK. He served as an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner (2009–2012) and was appointed by PM Theresa May in 2018 to establish the UK Government’s Race Disparity Unit, which analyses ethnicity data across crime, education, and health.
Fostered and later adopted, Lord Woolley grew up on a Leicester council estate, leaving school without A-levels and later earning a BA in Spanish and English Literature (Middlesex University) and an MA in Hispanic Studies (Queen Mary University). He is a passionate advocate for educational access and leadership development, notably through initiatives like Pathway to Success for BME leaders.
Knighted in 2019 and created a life peer the same year, he sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords and contributes widely on equality, diversity, and social justice.
Aisha Sanusi
Aisha Sanusi is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of ACEN.
Aisha is also Co-Chair of Trustees for The Paradigm Project, an organisation focused on championing equity in education by using evidence-based, preventive, and upstream approaches to drive systemic and policy changes. She serves on the Education Advisory Board of the Black Equity Organisation (BEO), a national civil rights group working to end anti-Black racism in the UK, and is a Church of England Racial Justice Challenge Partner, collaborating to dismantle racial disparities across its education institutions.
In addition, Aisha is a Trustee of the Dunraven Educational Multi Academy Trust, former Lead EDI Governor for St Paul’s School and a Magistrate.
Andrew Isama
Andrew is an Economics teacher and Inclusion Education Officer at Eton College, where he began his teaching career after earning an Economics degree from the University of Edinburgh. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Leading Educational and Business Change from Harvard Online Graduate School of Education and is passionate about the role that diversity and inclusion play across education, public policy, and the private sector.
A strong advocate for social mobility, Andrew benefited from a sixth-form scholarship to Eton and now sits on the advisory board of the Royal National Springboard Children’s Foundation, supporting deserving students to adapt to new environments while helping schools tailor their scholarship and outreach programs. He also contributes his expertise to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group for Brentford FC.
Andrew will be leading on student workshops and speaking on identity.
Ann Marie Christian
Ann Marie is a highly experienced safeguarding practitioner and qualified social worker, specialising in child protection since 1992. She began her career in local authorities, working on the frontline, in management, and as a Safeguarding Advisor and LADO, before focusing on education and childcare settings as a school-based social worker in 1999. She went on to lead child protection teams, supporting more than 75 schools with advice, training, and consultancy. Since 2010, Ann Marie has worked independently with a wide range of organisations, including the NSPCC, ISI Consultancy, Boarding Schools Association, Premier League, Council of International Schools, and Multi Academy Trusts. A published writer and course author, she regularly contributes to sector publications and delivers training, workshops, and keynotes worldwide. Passionate about raising awareness of child abuse, racism, and violence against women and children, Ann Marie currently serves as a safeguarding governor in the UAE and as an advisor to the Diana Award.
Ann Marie will be speaking about “Safeguarding and Cultural Competency: In the Home, Away from Home, and in the Community.”
Enya Doyle
Dr Enya Doyle, The Harassment Doctor™, is a powerful and provocative voice on workplace culture, safety, and leadership accountability. With over a decade of experience in corporate training, organisational change, and education, she equips people to have the hard conversations, take meaningful action, and lead with integrity — without jargon, fluff, or fear.
Raised in Ireland and now based in London, Enya’s commitment to social change has been recognised across the British Isles for nearly fifteen years. She has delivered training, lectures, and workshops on inclusion and anti-harassment worldwide. Her doctorate explored four key barriers to gender equity in music making, with intersectionality at the heart of her work.
Enya was previously Director of Inclusion and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Highgate School, bringing deep expertise in both corporate and educational contexts to her current practice.
Joe Spence
Dr Joe Spence FRSA is the CEO of the School Partnerships Alliance, starting his role in January 2025
From 2009 to 2024, Joe served as Master of Dulwich College, and in June 2024 he was named Tes Headteacher of the Year (Independent). Prior to this, he was Headmaster of Oakham School from 2002, having previously taught History and Politics at Eton College, where he also held the position of Master in College (housemaster to the King’s Scholars).
During his tenure at Dulwich, Joe led the development of a number of mutually beneficial partnerships between independent and state schools, championed national SCITT programmes, and supported Saturday Schools in Science, the Arts, and Mathematics for local primary students. He is Co-Director of the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership, an alliance of 18 state and independent schools.
Joe has served as a governor at more than a dozen state and independent schools and is currently a trustee of the Mark Evison Foundation and the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association.
Joe will be speaking on Racial Equity in Schools.
Justice Aina
Justice Aina is an ESRC-funded PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. Her doctoral research is the first systematic study of attainment by ethnicity in UK private schools, examining how race, identity, and structural factors shape student experiences and outcomes.
She teaches and researches at the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (LSE) and is a guest lecturer at the University of Birmingham. Beyond academia, she has worked with universities, think tanks, and schools on race, education, and inclusion, and co-founded a network amplifying the voices of Black students in independent schools.
Justice will be speaking on will be speaking on Racial Equity in Schools: Shared Vision, Language, and Practice.
Kemi Omijeh
Kemi Omijeh is a MBACP registered Psychotherapist with a specialism in children’s mental health and education. She began her career as a primary school teacher and has held senior leadership positions in schools. She now has her own thriving private practice as a trainer and supervisor helping educators and professionals embed trauma-informed, identity affirming and culturally responsive practices. Her work is grounded in psychological expertise and a deep commitment to racial equity, inclusion and sustainable change.
“Safeguarding and Cultural Competency: In the Home, Away from Home, and in the Community”
Monia Zahid
Monia Zahid is Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and an A level Economics teacher at Haberdashers Elstree Schools. She leads the schools’ EDI strategies, working across curriculum, pastoral care, Admissions, HR and Marketing to ensure every member of the community feels valued and able to thrive. In 2023, she organised and led Habs Elstree’s first-ever EDI conference, bringing staff, students and sector leaders together to share best practice and drive meaningful change.
As a writer and speaker, Monia has contributed to HMC, ISC and Diverse Educators on issues including anti-racism, faith inclusion and raising consciousness around equity in schools. She has delivered keynote talks and workshops on intersectionality, representation and the importance of belonging in education, both in the UK and internationally.
Alongside her professional work, Monia is a trustee of a charitable organisation that supports students and families in achieving positive educational outcomes. She was recognised with the University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award (2022) for her commitment to academic excellence and student impact.
Monia is also a mother of two young children, and her passion for inclusion is deeply rooted in her belief that every child deserves to feel seen, supported and empowered to succeed.
Monia will be speaking on Racial Equity in Schools: Shared Vision, Language, and Practice.
Shola Apena Rogers
Dr Shola Apena Rogers is the Co-Founder of ACEN, a Chartered Forensic Psychologist, and an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham. She is an experienced practitioner, researcher, and educator whose work centres on anti-racism pedagogy and practice. Shola has designed and delivered anti-racism training and educational sessions across schools and higher education, supporting staff and students to critically engage with issues of race, racism, and equity.
Shola will be speaking on Racial Equity in Schools: Shared Vision, Language, and Practice.
