Courageous Leadership Summit
The Alliance of Power
7th March 2026
Leonardo Hotel
Tower Bridge London
What Makes a Courageous Leader?
Becoming a courageous leader takes time, you can be in leadership for many years and only have just started your courageous chapter. Some leaders never take the time to develop this aspect of leading in their organisation; but once your role involves leading others it is important that you are able to lead with integrity and courage.
The Courageous Leadership Conference is designed to explicitly target the support and inspiration of leaders and ensure that they are well- equipped to lead, without anxiety in this ever-changing professional landscape.
What Does It Take to Turn Strength into Courage?
Under the theme of Powerful Alliances, the conference will provide an environment that will encourage delegates to move from a position of inner leadership strength to one of outward leadership courage. Attendees will be active participants the collective reflection of the courage and tenacity needed for effective leadership.
What You Can Look Forward To
- A full day conference, themed – Powerful Alliances held in London for colleagues in leadership roles or aspiring to leadership in the workplace.
- Keynote presentations from respected leaders including John Murphy former CEO of Oasis Multi Academy Trust and Diana Osagie- your conference host to challenge, motivate and inspire delegates on the issue of courage and tenacity in leadership.
- Carousel of 10 x 50 minute facilitated seminars to support leadership development
- Exhibition, marketplace of resources, services and gifts to support all aspects of life & leadership.
Your veterans of leadership
Diana Osagie
Keynote Speaker & conference host
Leadership Coach and Trainer – Consultant Head Teacher – Author
With 26 years’ experience leading secondary education, including headship in a London secondary school and subsequently as an executive head; Diana works at the cutting edge of leadership development. She is known as a resilient, skilled in urban leadership under challenging circumstances. Diana couples sound strategic vision whilst giving clear operational direction. Diana led school inspections for 9 years with OFSTED and developed expertise scrutinizing operational systems and leadership competency.
She founded The Academy of Women’s Leadership, specializing in supporting women to grow the leadership cultures of their organisations and to flourish as supremely confident leaders.
Diana has written 4 books on leadership- focusing on the truth of leading others with humour, love and strength.
John Murphy
Keynote speaker
Former CEO of the fourth largest Multi-Academy Trust in England, led on improvement of 47 schools moving from special measures/failing status to Good and Outstanding, whilst successfully establishing and opening several Government funded schools through the Free school route. With 52 Primary and secondary Academies serving some of the most disadvantaged communities, and a workforce of 5000 staff. A unique 36-year career in the sector, both as a serving headteacher across seven schools in the Primary, Secondary, All Through, and Special sector including residential SEMH.
Save your seat !
Secure your spot today and choose your sessions when you’re ready.
Unfortunately discount codes will not work if paying by instalments.
Pay via instalments here
Your seminar hosts
Choose 2 seminars to attend during the day
Managing Difficult Conversations Effectively
Many leaders in schools encounter challenging situations every day.
Managing Difficult Conversations Effectively
Many leaders in schools encounter challenging situations every day. Such encounters can escalate resulting in the avoidance of difficult conversations and a complete breakdown in communication
Key sections of the workshop:
1/Understand how Emotional Intelligence enables us to manage conflict
2/Turning Difficult Conversations into ‘Open to Learning Conversations’ (OLC’s)
3/Listening and communicating non-judgementally
4/Practice, practice, practice!
Takeaways:
• Take responsibility and respect the ‘person and the problem’
• Tools and templates to manage difficult conversations effectively
• Provide feedback with real impact
Matt Messias
Founder Impact Leadership Ltd & Former Headteacher/Professional Premier League & FIFA Referee
Matt is a dynamic leadership coach who empowers leaders in both the private and public sectors. With a background in professional sports and international educational leadership, he combines his unique skill set with a focus on resilience and transformational change.
Matt first experienced the power of professional coaching as a Premier League and International Referee. The experience convinced him that coaching is essential for any leader who wants to achieve extraordinary results.
During his leadership journey, Matt qualified as a leadership and resilience coach and a Mental Health Instructor and now uses these experiences to empower business leaders and senior leaders in education, business, and sport to ensure their actions reflect their values.
“Power & Presence”
Leaders must enhance their influence with teams while maintaining their energy and wellbeing.
“Power & Presence”
Leaders must enhance their influence with teams while maintaining their energy and wellbeing. This workshop provides insights into understanding yourself as a leader and offers practical tools to lead with clarity, connect authentically, and sustain leadership momentum without burnout.
Key sections of the workshop:
1-Influence with Integrity: lead with presence, build trust, and inspire action
2-Energy Management for Leaders: protect your internal leadership battery and stay energized, focused, and resilient.
3-Team Dynamics Mastery: Understand motivations and how to adapt leadership style
Takeaways:
•Self-awareness of your leadership traits
•An introduction to understanding walls of preservation and what you need to know and do to build trust, gain influence.
•Tools to improve trust and communication in diverse teams and understand situational leadership.
Carla Whelan
CEO Empower Multi Academy Trust
With three decades of taming school budgets and navigating the wild terrain of educational leadership, Carla has just about seen it all! From headteacher to senior trust lead, she’s been steering the ship through calm seas and educational storms with flair.
Carla’s superpower is thriving under pressure—whether it’s Ofsted inspections or staff meetings that could double as endurance events. With over 20 inspections under her belt, she is someone who’s truly mastered the art of spotting what makes schools tick.
Not content with just fixing systems, Carla has partnered with many agencies to support growing leaders and is actively involved in ITT training to develop the next generation of educators – a big advocate for helping schools build leadership cultures that are strategic, authentic, and courageous.
Carla has an insightful blog that talks all things education #LEARNFAILGROW – BLOGPOWER – Carla Whelan
The Sales Secret Every Leader Needs: How to Make Any Strategy Irresistible to Any Audience
Tired of presenting brilliant strategies to rooms full of blank stares and silent resistance?
The Sales Secret Every Leader Needs: How to Make Any Strategy Irresistible to Any Audience
Tired of presenting brilliant strategies to rooms full of blank stares and silent resistance? Using the Four Suit Method, you will learn to identify four distinct personality types within your organisation without lengthy assessments or name badges. You will discover how to present your strategy and ideas so that they resonate with the excited innovators, supportive collaborators, results-driven leaders and detail focused analysts all at once!
A good strategy communicated poorly will perform poorly and not yield the desired results so lets ensure our strategies are written in a way that speaks to all not some of our workforce.
Key sections of the workshop:
1. Simple identification of the four personality types
2. Quick mapping to your current SLT
3. Clarity on what each personality type must see in your strategy
4. Template structure for your ♦ Diamonds, ♥ Hearts, ♠ Spades and ♣ Clubs
Takeaways:
• Master the Speed + Temperature Formula – Instantly identify personality types by observing if someone is warm/cold and fast/slow moving
• The Four-Suit Strategy Structure – Present using Opening (♦) → Context (♣) → Implementation (♠) → Support (♥) to connect with every personality type
• Handle Resistance Before It Starts – Spot early warning signs from each personality type and adjust your approach immediately
• Implement the 30-Day Challenge – Leave with a practical action plan to practice and master these skills in your daily leadership interactions
Obi Okwuadigbo
Founder Leadership Hacks Leadership Coach and Mentor – Podcaster
Obi is the founder of Leadership Hacks and a seasoned entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in Higher Education and 15 years as a managing director. Having navigated the complexities of leading diverse teams across educational institutions and multiple business ventures, Obi discovered that the biggest challenge wasn’t crafting brilliant strategies—it was communicating them effectively to different personality types.
Through Leadership Hacks, Obi specialises in developing future leaders, particularly focusing on authentic communication and inclusive leadership strategies.
His workshops have helped leaders across the UK transform their approach to strategy communication, turning rooms full of blank stares into engaged, motivated teams ready for action.
Obi believes great leaders don’t just have great strategies—they know how to make them stick.
AI – Friend or Foe, you choose your approach
AI is no longer a future concept, it’s a present leadership imperative.
AI – Friend or Foe, you choose your approach
AI is no longer a future concept, it’s a present leadership imperative.
To lead effectively in this evolving landscape, leaders must move beyond curiosity and take purposeful, strategic steps to embed AI in ways that enhance teaching, reduce workload, uphold ethical values, and improve outcomes. Leadership, not technology, is the critical success factor. Don’t be afraid, charge forward!
Key Sections of the Workshop:
1. Understanding the AI Opportunity
2. AI in Action Across Schools
3. Strategic Leadership and AI Readiness
4. The 12-Month Roadmap for AI
5. Ethics, Equity and Safeguarding in AI
6. Transforming and confronting your AI thinking
Takeaways:
• A clear 12-month roadmap about what actions you can take
• Practical, ethical use of AI can reduce staff burnout, improve access for learners, and free up leaders to focus on strategy
• Now is the time to build confidence, test ideas, and set a direction aligned with your school or trust’s values
• Understanding that collaboration is key – no leader needs to do this alone; sector-wide sharing will accelerate safe and effective adoption
Ann Palmer
CEO Figtree International
Ann Palmer is a respected leader, consultant, and executive coach with over 35 years of experience across education, corporate, and non-profit sectors in the UK and internationally. She is best known as the founder of the RACE Charter Mark, a national framework advancing race equality across schools, businesses, and public bodies. She supports ITT providers with developing their provision. As Executive Director of Race Excellence, she advises global corporations on embedding equity into leadership and culture.
A published author and podcast host, her latest book Leading with AI (2025) explores ethical, inclusive leadership in the digital age. She serves on the UK Generative AI Training Advisory Board, shaping policy at the intersection of AI, ethics, and leadership.
Beyond Transaction to Transformation: The Sacred Art of Leadership Connection
True leadership transcends transactional exchanges to create transformational spaces.
Beyond Transaction to Transformation: The Sacred Art of Leadership Connection
True leadership transcends transactional exchanges to create transformational spaces where others feel permission to rise into their full voice and presence.
Key sections of the workshop:
1-The Connection Paradox: Moving from Transaction to Transformation
2-The SCARF Leadership Audit: Examining how our communication impacts
Sacred Spaces of
3-Leadership Framework: Creating genuine connection vs transactions
4-The Transformational Reset: Bringing it all Together
Takeaways:
• Leadership strategies for creating spaces of genuine connection
• Framework for moving from transaction to transformation
• Tools for facilitating genuine dialogue
Ronke Kokoruwe
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‘Ronke Kokoruwe is an outstanding speaker who is intentional about creating spaces of joy and bringing bold energy to her audiences. Her expertise as a consultant and executive coach further enables her to support professionals at the intersection of their leadership and communication skills. All of this is underpinned by a solid legal background.
She qualified as both a barrister and solicitor after undertaking a Master’s in International Environmental Law from the London School of Economics and stepped away from the law after she found what has been described as her true calling.
As the visionary force behind iVerbalize, a leadership and communication training business, ‘Ronke’s purpose is clear – to encourage, equip, and empower leaders to give themselves permission to show up and speak with intention. Her expertise extends globally, with a clientele including Google, Barclays and University of Oxford.
She is a TEDx host and speaker, with a compelling message, ‘The Kindness Manifesto’ focused on the power and transforming impact of kindness. She is also a huge advocate of amplifying female voices and has created a platform to encourage these voices and stories to come to the fore.
“The 10 Character Commandments: Leading with Virtue in a Values-Deficient World”
Skills get you in the room, character keeps you leading when it counts.
“The 10 Character Commandments: Leading with Virtue in a Values-Deficient World”
Skills get you in the room, character keeps you leading when it counts.
The 10 Character Commandments remixes classic virtues like humility, courage, integrity and authenticity through a culturally relevant, no-nonsense framework. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s character in motion when the pressure hits.
Key sections of the workshop:
1. Character Under Pressure: Why Leadership Needs Virtue Now
2. Deep Dive: One Virtue in Action
3. Mini Character Audit
4. Final Bars: From Reflection to Practice
Takeaways:
• Clarity on which virtues strengthen—or sabotage—their leadership
• A culturally relevant framework (10 Character Commandments) to navigate complexity and contradiction
• Language and tools to align personal values with team, community and organisational impact
• A fresh perspective on character: not as compliance or perfection, but as moral courage in motion
Adrian Mclean
Extreme Execution Coaching Consultant, Leadership Consultant – Coach – Speaker – Author
Adrian is an educator, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur with a mission to build values-led leadership in a values-deficient world. Drawing on decades of experience in school improvement, national policy, and systems leadership, he works at the intersection of character, culture and equity, bringing clarity and challenge to the moments that matter most.
Known for his unapologetic blend of moral purpose and cultural fluency, Adrian’s work is rooted in the practice of leadership isn’t just about performance, it’s about principle. His current project, The 10 Character Commandments, fuses timeless virtues with the real-world complexity of modern leadership, drawing inspiration from hip hop, philosophy and frontline practice.
Whether in boardrooms, classrooms or communities, Adrian equips leaders to show up with integrity, courage and authenticity—especially when the stakes are high.
Unlocking the Confidence Code
The role of confidence in successful leadership is both significant and undisputed.
Unlocking the Confidence Code
The role of confidence in successful leadership is both significant and undisputed and yet organisations are full of leaders and teams who don’t have as much as they want and, even worse, are not doing anything about it.
Key sections of the workshop:
1. Exploring the inner power of confidence
2. Understanding your unique confidence story
3. Mastering the 4Ps of the confidence code
4. Bullet-proofing your confidence for the future
Takeaways:
• A greater understanding of your confidence triggers
• How to scientifically and systematically build confidence in yourself and others
• How to get into the zone of optional self-efficacy
• How to build foundational confidence that unlocks everything else
Dr Chris Baker
Founder Leadership Launchpad, Leadership Coach and Trainer – Teaching & Learning Expert – Author
After a childhood plagued with low confidence, Chris went on to have an award-winning career in secondary education and the privilege of leading within schools and across a Multi-academy Trust (MAT). He currently supports professional development and teaching & learning across 35 schools and co-leads the national network for Trust CPD Leaders.
He has a doctorate in leadership development and is fascinated by the role of that confidence, coaching and systems thinking can play in its effectiveness. He is the author of the leadership launchpads book series, the host of the pick & mix podcast and an international keynote speaker.
Calm Leadership: Developing Leaders That Last
Leadership does not have to be a burnout job.
Calm Leadership: Developing Leaders That Last
Leadership does not have to be a burnout job.
By approaching it with the right mindset and courageous attitude one can adapt to how leadership feels. By embracing the challenge and difficultly of leadership you can learn to thrive.
Key sections of the workshop:
1.Confronting the fear of leadership: Deal with imposter syndrome and learning to care less about what other people think
2.Adapting to how leadership feels: Developing a sense of perspective and embracing the difficulty of leadership
3.Leading People with Empathy and Humanity: Learning to lead with honesty, integrity and humility, whilst maintaining your optimism
4.Maturity in Leadership: Being the best leadership version of yourself. No one can do you like you can!
Takeaways:
• An understanding that the best way to lead is your way.
• An appreciation of the fact the leadership is a privilege: It is what we ‘get’ to do rather than what we have ‘got’ to do.
• Leadership is essentially about people.
Patrick Cozier
An experienced Secondary School Headteacher of 19 years.
He leads Highgate Wood School in Haringey. In addition to his day job, he is a member of Headteacher’s Roundtable who consult and advise senior officials on national education policy.
He serves as a trustee of the national charity Show Racism the Red Card (on which he is Co-Vice Chair). More locally, he takes a leading role in the work of the Haringey Racial Equity Group (part of the Haringey Education Partnership) on its focus to reduce racial inequality and improve the outcomes and experiences for children of colour
He is currently working on what he refers to as the ‘Calm Leadership’ approach.’
Leading Across Difference: The Courageous Skill Every Leader Needs Now
You don’t need to know everything about everyone to lead well.
Leading Across Difference: The Courageous Skill Every Leader Needs Now
You don’t need to know everything about everyone to lead well. But you do need to develop the mindset and muscle of cultural intelligence (CQ)—especially when tensions rise and the stakes are high.
Key sections of the workshop:
1. What Happens to Your Leadership Under Pressure?
2. CQ Snapshot: The 4 Drivers
3. Activity: “CQ Corners”
4. Wrap-Up: CQ as a Compass for Courageous Leadership
Takeaways:
• Self-awareness of how you lead under pressure
• A 4-part lens (CQ) to decode difficult dynamics
• Tools to improve trust and communication in diverse teams
Audrey Pantelis
Director – Elevation Coaching and Consulting LTD
Audrey Pantelis is a passionate advocate for inclusion, belonging, and equity in leadership and workplace culture.
With over 30 years’ experience in education and senior leadership, she now partners with organisations through her company, Elevation Coaching and Consulting Ltd, to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the heart of their culture – not just as an initiative, but as a way of working.
She is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and facilitator, delivering impactful keynotes and practical workshops on inclusive leadership, cultural competence, and equitable systems – supporting clients both in the UK and internationally.
Audrey’s work empowers organisations to move from good intentions to meaningful, measurable action.
Self Leadership – who are you, when you lead?
Leadership can be tough and that can take a toll, not only on us but also on how we can remember to behave.
Self Leadership – who are you, when you lead?
Leadership can be tough and that can take a toll, not only on us but also on how we can remember to behave. In this entertaining and informative workshop, you will explore your leadership identity and how you can enjoy becoming an even more present leader.
Key sections of the workshop:
1.Guided group coaching exercise using Dilts’ “logical levels” framework
2.Exploration of self leadership, using the framework
3.Exploration of your leadership styles and how to tailor and blend them to fit you AND your team
4.Feedback – how to use it to your advantage
5.Wrap-Up: Top tips for being more self aware and present when you lead
Takeaways:
• Improved self-awareness for what you value, when you lead
• Your preferred leadership style
• Tools and tips to use, to harness feedback for continuous improvement as a leader.
Astrid Davies
Founder & Lead Consultant, Astrid Davies Consulting & The Acumen™ Supper Club, Leadership Consultant : Executive Coach : Board & Event facilitator
A leadership specialist, keynote speaker, and Fellow of the Institute of Leadership, recognised for her dynamic, values-driven approach. With over 30 years’ experience leading high-performing teams across public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, she helps leaders strengthen competence, confidence, and capability while embedding ethical practices and psychological safety.
An experienced trainer, event moderator and facilitator, Astrid designs purposeful, energised environments where leaders can address the challenges that matter most and build skills for long-term success.
In addition to her leadership consultancy, Astrid runs a Mastermind group for sole directors, the Acumen™ Supper Club, and mentors future leaders at the Universities of Southampton and Birmingham. She also mentors fellow leaders via the Institute of Leadership. Most recently, she was a voluntary participant for the UK at the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women.
What’s on the agenda?
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:45 | Registration, goody bag pickup, early bird offers in market hall |
| 9:45-10:00 | Founders Fire with Diana Osagie |
| 10:00-10:45 | Keynote – John Murphy Former CEO Oasis Community Learning |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Shout – outs with Action Jackson |
| 11:15 – 11:45 | Break and marketplace |
| 11:45 – 12:45 | Workshop rotation one |
| 12:45 – 1:45 | Lunch and marketplace |
| 1:45 – 2:00 | Prize draw with Action Jackson |
| 2:00 – 3:00 | Workshop rotation two |
| 3:00 – 3:15 | Comfort break |
| 3:15 – 4:00 | Founders Fire Keynote – Diana Osagie |
| 4:00 | Depart |
Payment option
Price: £159 per ticket plus vat
Pay £159+vat in full (will accept discount codes)Once you have paid- your confirmation notice will contain a link for your to choose your 2 workshops for the day.
If you are observing Ramadan during this time, please tick the box at checkout, we have accommodations to support you.
Join the Alliance of Power !
One day. World-class speakers. Practical workshops.
Unfortunately discount codes will not work if paying by instalments.
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Be part of a community that’s learning, sharing, and moving forward together.
Unfortunately discount codes will not work if paying by instalments.