Geoff Southworth is Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director of Research and Policy at the National College for School Leadership (NCSL). He began his career as a teacher in primary schools in Lancashire becoming head teacher of a school in Leyland. During his time as a headteacher he became involved in school management training, being a part-time tutor at a regional centre which prompted him to move into higher education.
He worked at the University of Cambridge where he directed management courses for school leaders and conducted school-based research into primary school cultures, leadership and school improvement. In 1997 he was appointed Professor of Education at the University of Reading. He has written many articles and a number of books.
In 2002 he moved to the NCSL to become the Director of Research. He was and continues to be responsible for the strategic direction of the College's research, evaluation and policy activities. In 2005 he was promoted to Deputy CEO working closely with the CEO and the strategic and operational directors.
He has been a school governor, an adviser to the DfES (now DCSF) and a consultant to local authorities. He has also worked as a consultant in a number of countries outside the UK. Outside of work he enjoys painting and watching sport, particularly football and is a life-long fan of all things Ferrari. He was awarded an OBE for services to education in the 2008 New Year's honours.
Read Geoff Southworth's speech to the conference
(48kb, 5 pages) and watch the video of Geoff's speech.
Hilary Emery is an executive director at the Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA). She leads the directorate responsible for helping schools and local authorities to manage change effectively in order to provide better services for children and young people. Two key areas of this work are sustaining the success of workforce modernisation (remodelling) and helping schools to offer extended services.
Prior to joining the TDA, Hilary was director of the London Centre for Leadership in Learning at the Institute of Education. Alongside her work on leadership development, she fostered cross-Institute teaching and research on the Every child matters initiative. Before that, she led the DfES children's services' advisers, working across agencies and with local authorities to enable collaboration between education, health and social care.
She has worked as a teacher, deputy head, researcher, local authority adviser and teacher educator, becoming dean of education and psychology at the now University of Worcester. Her research interests include self- and peer-assessment, as well as initial and continuing teacher education, including international comparisons.
Hilary has worked in policy and advisory roles with government, most recently as a DfES education adviser in the former Standards and Effectiveness Unit.
Her personal interests include theatre, live music and the good company of family and friends.
Watch the video of Dr Hilary Emery's speech.
Eugenie Harvey left Australia to come to London with the intention of making her fortune as a stand up comic. She soon realised that it might not be an easy career path, so she turned her hand to financial PR instead.
When David Robinson – the founder of the East End charity Community Links – came to her PR company to talk about his vision: small actions x lots of people = BIG change , Eugenie was so inspired that she immediately left her job and joined him as a volunteer.
Galvanising a creative team of photographers, illustrators and copywriters to work collaboratively and for free, she created We Are What We Do, a brand and movement that she launched in September 2004 with the book Change the World for a Fiver.
We Are What We Do aims to inspire people to use their simple everyday actions to change the world and while 'changing the world' might not be perceived as a simple thing, one of the strengths of the brand is that it captures people's imagination, making them believe that every little action can make a difference.
Eugenie has been featured in the book Everyday Legends and she is constantly being invited to share her experiences about the challenges of setting up a business with a social purpose. She gives talks around the world to schools, businesses, charities and even groups of Brownies. Her enthusiasm and can-do attitude continues to inspire those around her.
Michael Barber joined McKinsey in September 2005 as the expert partner in its Global Public Sector Practice. He has been working on major challenges of performance, organisation and reform in government and the public services in the USA, UK and other countries.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Michael was chief adviser on delivery to the prime minister, responsible for overseeing the implementation of priority programmes in health, education, transport, policing, the criminal justice system and asylum/immigration.
Between 1997 and 2001, Michael was chief adviser to the secretary of state for education on school standards. He was responsible for the implementation of the government's school reform programme, including successful programmes to improve literacy and numeracy at primary level, tackle school failure at all levels and contract out failing local authorities.
View the slides to accompany Sir Michael Barber's presentation: The
challenge of achieving world class performance (190kb, 22 pages) and watch
the video of Michael's speech.
Jerry Brendel, president of the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International, has dedicated more than 35 years to serving youth. Beginning his career in education as a science teacher, Jerry moved through the ranks of school administration and into district administration, where he has served as director of business support services, assistant superintendent for business, and superintendent. He currently is superintendent of Woodridge School District 68 in Illinois. His commitment to school business management is evident in the wide range of positions he has held with the Illinois Association of School Business Officials and ASBO International, and in the numerous presentations and publications to which he has contributed. He holds a master's degree and a certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Northern Illinois University.
Watch the video of Jerome E Brendel´s speech.
An experienced educator, John Musso brings over 30 years of experience to his current position of executive director for ASBO International. During his career, he has been an elementary school teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and chief financial officer. Musso also has served in leadership positions for various nonprofit organizations including Colorado ASBO and the Colorado Association of School Executives. Musso, who holds the designation of registered school business administrator through ASBO International, received a bachelor's degree in science and maths from the University of Southern Colorado, a master's in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado, and school administrator credential and licensing from Western State College, Colorado.
Watch the video of John D Musso´s speech.
A teacher and teacher college lecturer, Ronald Swartz was active in education and community politics and served as the chairperson of the Progressive Teachers Union (PTU) in the then Transvaal. He was integrally involved in the formation of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) in 1991 and served as one of its national vice-presidents from 1991 to 1993. Apart from formal studies at various universities (UWC - BA, STD; UNISA - BA Hons; Wits - M.Ed), Ronald took some public service management courses with the Wits P&DM, American studies courses at the University of Columbia in the USA, and Education Policy Studies at the University of London. His main interests include education policy development and analysis, and public sector management.
Ronald joined public service management in 1994, as part of the strategic management team of Mary Metcalfe, first MEC for education in Gauteng. He then moved through the ranks, starting as district director in 1995, and ending up as deputy director-general in 1999 in the Gauteng department of education. In 2002 he applied for and was appointed as superintendent-general of education in the Western Cape, where he is still serving.
Probably the most important responsibility allocated to him was the development of the province's human capital development strategy, which was launched in March 2006. Ronald has also been appointed as joint task team coordinator for the province's scarce skills development team. Apart from executing these tasks, Ronald will be focusing on the restructuring of the Western Cape education department in 2006-7.
Read
Ronald B Swartz´s speech Education, transformation and the role of school-based management in the Western
Cape (56kb, 7 pages) and watch the video of Ronald´s speech.
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