The Inspiring Leadership team is delighted to announce that representatives of long-term conference partner, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), will officially open this year’s Inspiring Leadership Conference (4 & 5 June 2026, ICC, Birmingham) and the Inspiring Leadership Gala Dinner (4 June, Birmingham Library).

James Bowen, the NAHT’s Assistant General Secretary, will officially open the leadership conference while Angi Gibson, NAHT President, is to open the Inspiring Leadership Gala Dinner.

Georgie Butler, Director of Inspiring Leadership, comments: “The NAHT has been a partner and supporter of the Inspiring Leadership Conference since our very first conference 13 years ago.  Its support over the years has been invaluable and we would like to thank two such senior representatives of the union for taking the time to officially open this year’s conference and  gala dinner.”

In addition to being the NAHT President, Angi Gibson is the head teacher of Hadrian Park Primary School in North Tyneside. Throughout her career she has been driven by a simple, powerful belief: every child matters, every day. Inclusion is the foundation of her work whether that’s in her school, the wider community and now on the national stage.  Originally from a working-class background, Angi’s values of hard work, honesty and determination were shaped by her family and community, and she believes passionately that education must help children see beyond their circumstances. 

As NAHT President, Angi’s priorities are to reform inspection and accountability, improve pay and funding, address recruitment and retention challenges, secure investment in safe school buildings, strengthen SEND support and tackle workload so that staff and children can thrive.

James heads up the NAHT’s policy, research, press and communications teams. He is the former head teacher of a junior school in Hampshire and has held a number of other leadership positions in schools, including Deputy Head Teacher, SENCo and subject leader.

He has expertise in a number of key policy areas including funding, assessment, accountability and the curriculum, is an education blogger and appears regularly on television and radio as an NAHT spokesperson.

Now in its twelfth year and attended annually by hundreds of education leaders, the Inspiring Leadership Conference is the UK’s longest running leadership-in-education event. 

For more information and to take advantage group booking discounts, visit https://bit.ly/44NJRoA