MATPN MIDLANDS 2026 AGENDA

25 – 26 June 2026, EMCC, Nottingham

MATPN is a unique, two-day learning and networking event which brings together the most inspirational leaders and transformational suppliers in the MAT sector to share cutting-edge insight, knowledge and experience. Our agenda is carefully curated to address the most relevant and emerging challenges in the sector.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Day 1
Day 2

25 June 2026

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration
9:00 am - 9:15 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Vince Green is the Chief Executive Officer at Summit Learning Trust. Working with other MAT, school and college leaders, he leads The Education Exchange West Midlands, freely supporting other providers in the region. Prior to joining Summit, Vince was Regional Education Director and Executive Principal at a large, national multi-academy trust. Before this he was the Principal of Bristnall Hall Academy for five years, the highest performing secondary provider within its local authority and trust. Vince started his teaching career in Sendai, Japan and has held a variety of leadership roles in the West Midlands in rapidly improving schools.

Vince Green

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

Welcome to the MATPN Midlands 2026!
9:15 am - 9:45 am

Main Room

Keynote presentation – Diversity & inclusion in MAT leadership

Evelyn Forde MBE

Author
Herstory: a leadership manifesto

Explore why diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives, but strategic necessities for effective MAT leadership. Drawing on insights from Herstory – A Leadership Manifesto, this presentation will challenge leaders to rethink...

Explore why diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives, but strategic necessities for effective MAT leadership. Drawing on insights from Herstory – A Leadership Manifesto, this presentation will challenge leaders to rethink power, representation and culture at the top, and offer practical inspiration for building more inclusive, high-performing trusts.
9:45 am - 10:05 am

Main Room

Headline sponsor presentation

Interested in sponsoring?
10:10 am - 10:55 am

Main Room

Dragons' Den - Speed presentations

Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a short pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing c...

Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a short pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing challenges.
11:00 am - 12:15 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:20 pm - 12:40 pm

Main Room

Platinum sponsor presentation

Interested in sponsoring?
12:45 pm - 1:05 pm

Main Room

Gold sponsor presentations

Interested in sponsoring?
1:10 pm - 1:55 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm

Main Room

Strategic operations in challenging times: doing more with purpose, not just less

Andrew Strachan

Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Emmanuel Schools Foundation

Benedicte is Chief Financial Officer at the River Learning Trust, a 31 school Multi Academy Trust. She has over 30 years’ experience in audit and finance. She spent the first part of her career in audit practice with KPMG in Paris and London before working as Director of International Affairs for the French Asset Management Association. In 2010, she became actively involved in setting up a multi-lingual free school near Oxford and joined the River Learning Trust in 2019. Benedicte was awarded CFO of the year at the 2023 MAT excellence awards for her contribution to system leadership and innovation and received the School Resource Management of the year award for the River Learning Trust at the 2024 National Schools Awards. She has a particular interest in the reform of the high needs funding system and is leading a group of experts exploring effective practices in the UK and abroad.

Benedicte Yue Vincent

Chief Financial Officer
River Learning Trust

Hetal Parmar

Chief Operating Officer
TMET

As funding pressures tighten and operational demands rise, the strongest trusts are redefining what efficiency and effectiveness look like. This panel explores how CEOs, CFOs and COOs are aligning resources, systems, and strategy to deli...

As funding pressures tighten and operational demands rise, the strongest trusts are redefining what efficiency and effectiveness look like. This panel explores how CEOs, CFOs and COOs are aligning resources, systems, and strategy to deliver sustainable impact. Panellists will share how they balance financial discipline with long-term investment in people, technology, and learning environments.
2:40 pm - 3:10 pm

Main Room

Panel discussion – From intervention to inspiration: rethinking school improvement at scale

Matthew Swain

Director of Education
The Kite Academy Trust

Ashley Winters

Director of Primary
Washwood Heath MAT

Guy Shears

Chief Executive Officer
Central Region Schools Trust

Phillipa is Deputy CEO of Invictus Education Trust, leading strategy to deliver high-quality, inclusive education across West Midlands schools. With over 20 years’ experience, she has driven school improvement and leadership development, previously securing a first-ever Ofsted ‘Good’ as Principal and achieving top progress measures as Vice Principal. Phillipa is a Visiting Fellow and NPQ facilitator with Ambition Institute, sits on the Haybridge Teaching School Hub Executive Board, and contributes to the West Midlands Education Exchange. A passionate advocate for collaboration, she champions system-wide learning to ensure every child benefits.

Phillipa Harris

Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Invictus Education Trust

Peter Hughes

Chief Executive Officer
The Mosbourne Federation

The most effective trusts have moved beyond reactive intervention models, they build cultures of continual improvement rooted in evidence, collaboration, and trust-wide learning. This panel brings together experienced CEOs and education ...

The most effective trusts have moved beyond reactive intervention models, they build cultures of continual improvement rooted in evidence, collaboration, and trust-wide learning. This panel brings together experienced CEOs and education directors to explore how strong MATs are reshaping the school improvement conversation, balancing autonomy with accountability and support.
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Main Room

Gold sponsor presentations

Interested in sponsoring?
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
5:10 pm - 5:30 pm

Main Room

Platinum sponsor presentation

Interested in sponsoring?
5:30 pm - 5:50 pm

Main Room

Pillar 5 in practice: building effective, accountable governance across trusts

Emma Balchin

Chief Executive
National Governance Association

Explore how Pillar 5 can be put into action to build strong, transparent, and accountable governance across Multi-Academy Trusts. This session offers practical insights and real-world approaches to developing boards and structures that d...

Explore how Pillar 5 can be put into action to build strong, transparent, and accountable governance across Multi-Academy Trusts. This session offers practical insights and real-world approaches to developing boards and structures that drive better decision-making, stronger oversight, and improved outcomes for every school.
5:55 pm - 6:00 pm

Main Room

Chair's closing remarks
6:10 pm - 7:30 pm

Main Room

Hotel check-in / free time
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Main Room

Drinks reception & networking dinner

26 June 2026

8:55 am - 9:00 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Vince Green is the Chief Executive Officer at Summit Learning Trust. Working with other MAT, school and college leaders, he leads The Education Exchange West Midlands, freely supporting other providers in the region. Prior to joining Summit, Vince was Regional Education Director and Executive Principal at a large, national multi-academy trust. Before this he was the Principal of Bristnall Hall Academy for five years, the highest performing secondary provider within its local authority and trust. Vince started his teaching career in Sendai, Japan and has held a variety of leadership roles in the West Midlands in rapidly improving schools.

Vince Green

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

Welcome to day 2 of the Multi-Academy Trust Partnership Network!
9:00 am - 9:30 am

Main Room

Fireside chat – Partnership, performance and the path ahead: a conversation with the DfE

John Murphy

Education Leadership Mentor
Advisor and Public Speaker

Dr Tim Coulson started his role as Director General, Regions Group at the Department for Education on 8 September 2025.
Before his appointment he was Chief Executive of Unity Schools Partnership – a trust of 40 primary, secondary and special schools.
Earlier in his career Tim served as:
• Director of Education at Essex County Council
• Regional Schools Commissioner for East of England and North East London
• Headteacher at William Tyndale Primary School
• Leader of an Education Action Zone in Lambeth
• National Director of the National Numeracy Strategy

The director general is a member of the Department for Education (DfE) leadership team, and chair of the department’s People Committee.
The director general is responsible for the leadership and day-to-day management of Regions Group. The group is part of the Future DfE transformation and plays a central role in helping to develop policy across the department that reflects local needs and drives DfE’s ambition to become a more place-shaping and focused organisation.

Tim Coulson

Director General
Regions Group at the Department for Education

Explore the evolving relationship between the DfE and Multi-Academy Trusts in this conversation that will examine national priorities, regional delivery and what MAT leaders can expect in the next phase of reform, offering practical insi...

Explore the evolving relationship between the DfE and Multi-Academy Trusts in this conversation that will examine national priorities, regional delivery and what MAT leaders can expect in the next phase of reform, offering practical insight into how partnership and performance will shape the path ahead. Expect the opportunity to pose your burning questions directly to the Director General.
9:30 am - 10:10 am

Main Room

Panel discussion – Every learner, every lesson: delivering high-quality and inclusive education across your trust

As Primary National Lead for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment in Oasis Community Learning, I work within the National Education Team, leading a team of forty National Lead Practitioners released each week from their academies. Our team develop curriculum and CPD resources and provide specific academy support. The role focusses on shaping the direction of curriculum design and implementation, professional development and assessment across our 35 primary academies. I also lead on our one-to-one device strategy in Primary, one of the largest roll out of devices in England to Oasis’ 12,000 students, My background is in teaching and learning, including a Masters in this area, in various senior leadership roles, including headship, working most extensively in curriculum development, teacher education, digital strategy and assessment.

Emily Hobson

National Primary Lead for Strategy and Innovation
Oasis Community Learning

Dr Simon Witham

Chief Executive Officer
Venn Academy Trust

Russell Hobby CBE has been CEO of The Kemnal Academies Trust since 1st September 2025.
Before taking up his position with TKAT, Russell joined Teach First as CEO in September 2017, building on more than 15 years developing and promoting leadership in schools.

Prior to joining Teach First, Russell was General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and before that worked as a management consultant, helping found Hay Group’s education practice.

Russell serves as a trustee of Fair Education Alliance and Teach for All UK Charity Board, along with being a member of the Education Committee at the Royal Society. In 2023 he joined the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as a Non-Executive Director.

Russell was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List 2022 and was presented with the honorary title of Doctor of Education from Bath Spa University in 2023.

Russell Hobby

Chief Executive Officer
The Kemnal Academies Trust

James Roach

Chief Executive Officer
Inclusive MAT

Heather McLachlan

Chief Executive Officer
Potteries Educational Trust

Strong trusts understand that a truly excellent curriculum serves every child. This session explores how MATs can achieve both consistency and creativity in curriculum design, enrichment and delivery, ensuring that inclusion and excellen...

Strong trusts understand that a truly excellent curriculum serves every child. This session explores how MATs can achieve both consistency and creativity in curriculum design, enrichment and delivery, ensuring that inclusion and excellence sit side by side. Panellists will share practical approaches to aligning curriculum intent, pedagogy, and assessment while keeping teacher autonomy and local context alive.
10:10 am - 10:30 am

Main Room

Platinum sponsor presentation

Interested in sponsoring?
10:35 am - 10:55 am

Main Room

Gold sponsor presentations

Interested in sponsoring?
11:00 am - 11:40 am

Main Room

Panel discussion – The workforce revolution: rethinking talent, culture and capacity in MATs

Sarah has a 20+ year background in HR and L&D across the defence, charity and education sectors. She is a fully committed life-long learner, having completed an MBA, Coaching Professional Level 5 and Senior People Professional Level 7 qualifications within the last 10 years. She is passionate about ensuring that all employees within the education sector can access high quality, impactful CPD, and has had a particular focus on increasing opportunities available to operations and support staff in schools, predominately through driving a more strategic approach to apprenticeship levy utilisation.

Sarah Tallack

Head of Apprenticeships Development and Delivery
Ark

Gail Brown has extensive experience in primary education and leadership. Prior to her current Trust leadership role, Gail was a successful Headteacher in a number of schools in a range of contexts, an Early Years regional adviser, Local Authority education consultant and a primary teacher across all 3 phases. Gail is a great advocate for Early Years and is also proud to represent Ebor Academy Trust at local, regional and National level on various education and health, trust, leadership and CEO exec boards.

Gail Brown

Chief Executive Officer
Ebor Academy Trust

Shaheen Myers

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Balance-ed

With workforce pressures intensifying, trust leaders must think differently about how they attract, grow and keep great people. This panel unpacks how MATs are redefining talent strategies, from reimagining career pathways to investing i...

With workforce pressures intensifying, trust leaders must think differently about how they attract, grow and keep great people. This panel unpacks how MATs are redefining talent strategies, from reimagining career pathways to investing in leadership at every level. From training and development to wellbeing, discuss the key strategies to support your people.
11:45 am - 12:45 am

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:50 pm - 1:20 pm

Main Room

Closing peer-to-peer interactive focus groups

Pick a pillar as a table and discuss how you are approaching this and any insights you’ve gained from the conference which will change the way you approach this pillar in your MAT going forward.
CEOs are invited to distil their i...

Pick a pillar as a table and discuss how you are approaching this and any insights you’ve gained from the conference which will change the way you approach this pillar in your MAT going forward.
CEOs are invited to distil their insights into an “action manifesto” for the next school year.
1:25 pm - 2:30 pm

Main Room

Chair's closing remarks and networking lunch

Vince Green is the Chief Executive Officer at Summit Learning Trust. Working with other MAT, school and college leaders, he leads The Education Exchange West Midlands, freely supporting other providers in the region. Prior to joining Summit, Vince was Regional Education Director and Executive Principal at a large, national multi-academy trust. Before this he was the Principal of Bristnall Hall Academy for five years, the highest performing secondary provider within its local authority and trust. Vince started his teaching career in Sendai, Japan and has held a variety of leadership roles in the West Midlands in rapidly improving schools.

Vince Green

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Lunch is serve...

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.

Day 1
Day 2

MATPN MIDLANDS 2026 AGENDA

25 – 26 June 2026, EMCC, Nottingham

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

MATPN MIDLANDS 2026 AGENDA

25 June 2026

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Vince Green

Chief Executive Officer Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

9:15 am - 9:45 am

Main Room

Keynote presentation – Diversity & inclusion in MAT leadership

Evelyn Forde MBE

Author Herstory: a leadership manifesto

9:45 am - 10:05 am

Main Room

Headline sponsor presentation

10:10 am - 10:55 am

Main Room

Dragons' Den - Speed presentations

11:00 am - 12:15 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

12:20 pm - 12:40 pm

Main Room

Platinum sponsor presentation

12:45 pm - 1:05 pm

Main Room

Gold sponsor presentations

1:10 pm - 1:55 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

2:00 pm - 2:40 pm

Main Room

Strategic operations in challenging times: doing more with purpose, not just less

Andrew Strachan

Deputy Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Schools Foundation

Benedicte Yue Vincent

Chief Financial Officer River Learning Trust

Hetal Parmar

Chief Operating Officer TMET

2:40 pm - 3:10 pm

Main Room

Panel discussion – From intervention to inspiration: rethinking school improvement at scale

Matthew Swain

Director of Education The Kite Academy Trust

Ashley Winters

Director of Primary Washwood Heath MAT

Guy Shears

Chief Executive Officer Central Region Schools Trust

Phillipa Harris

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Invictus Education Trust

Peter Hughes

Chief Executive Officer The Mosbourne Federation

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Main Room

Gold sponsor presentations

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

5:10 pm - 5:30 pm

Main Room

Platinum sponsor presentation

5:30 pm - 5:50 pm

Main Room

Pillar 5 in practice: building effective, accountable governance across trusts

Emma Balchin

Chief Executive National Governance Association

5:55 pm - 6:00 pm

Main Room

Chair's closing remarks

6:10 pm - 7:30 pm

Main Room

Hotel check-in / free time

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Main Room

Drinks reception & networking dinner

26 June 2026

8:55 am - 9:00 am

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

Author
Herstory: a leadership manifesto

Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Emmanuel Schools Foundation

Chief Financial Officer
River Learning Trust

Chief Operating Officer
TMET

Director of Education
The Kite Academy Trust

Director of Primary
Washwood Heath MAT

Chief Executive Officer
Central Region Schools Trust

Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Invictus Education Trust

Chief Executive Officer
The Mosbourne Federation

Chief Executive
National Governance Association

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands

Education Leadership Mentor
Advisor and Public Speaker

Director General
Regions Group at the Department for Education

National Primary Lead for Strategy and Innovation
Oasis Community Learning

Chief Executive Officer
Venn Academy Trust

Chief Executive Officer
The Kemnal Academies Trust

Chief Executive Officer
Inclusive MAT

Chief Executive Officer
Potteries Educational Trust

Head of Apprenticeships Development and Delivery
Ark

Chief Executive Officer
Ebor Academy Trust

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Balance-ed

Chief Executive Officer
Summit Learning Trust and The Education Exchange, West Midlands