The Skinners’ Company invites you to
Trustees’ & Governors’ Conference
Friday 27 February 2026
9.30 AM – 4.00 PM
Skinners’ Hall, 8½ Dowgate Hill, London EC4R RST
The Trustees’ & Governors’ Conference is aimed at helping you understand the common areas and issues that you may have while performing your role as trustees and governors. This event will be an excellent opportunity to receive training from experts within the education sector, such as Gary Aubin (SEND Matters UK), John Kennedy (HMI, Ofsted) and Karla O’Gormley (Vice Principal, TMA). We will also have exclusive insights shared by Jon Coles (CEO, United Learning Trust) and Richard Sheriff (CEO, Red Kite Learning Trust).
Our Speakers
Sir Jon Coles
Group Chief Executive
ULT Trustee
Since January 2012, Jon Coles has been Group Chief Executive of United Learning. Prior to this, he spent much of his career in the Department for Education, including four years on the Board as Director General for Schools and then Director General for Education Standards. Previously, as Director of 14-19 Reform, he led work to raise participation post-16 and attainment at 19 and reduce NEET numbers. As Director of London Challenge, Jon was responsible developing and implementing the strategy to improve secondary education in London, which also led to similar approaches in other parts of the country. In his career, Jon has been responsible for various Green and White Papers and for taking the 2002 Education Act through Parliament. A qualified secondary teacher, his previous jobs included implementing the infant class size pledge and, on secondment to the Cabinet Office, developing a strategy for e-government.
Karla O'Gormley
Vice Principal
The Marsh Academy
Karla joined The Marsh Academy in July 2020. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Principal and subsequently Vice Principal at Skinners’ Kent Academy under the leadership of Sian Carr and is now in her eleventh year working within the Family of Schools.
A Mathematics specialist by background, Karla holds strategic responsibility for the academic life of the school. This includes oversight of curriculum design and implementation, assessment and data, and student progress and outcomes. Her work focuses on securing strong academic standards and continuous improvement across the school.
John Kennedy
Assistant Regional Director
HMI Ofsted
John is the Assistant Regional Director for London. He was appointed His Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) in 2006. Following a successful teaching career, John held senior management positions in local authorities. He has particular expertise in the management of behaviour, attendance, safeguarding, elective home education and the education of children in care. John has led inspections of secondary and primary schools, academies and pupil referral units. He has also inspected aspects of local authority children’s services.
Gary Aubin
SEND Consultant
SEND Matters UK
Gary leads a SEND School Improvement programme with Whole Education, supporting schools and Trusts to drive a whole-school approach to supporting pupils with SEND. Gary sits on the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel. Gary is the Education Endowment Foundation’s SEND Associate. In this role, he has worked extensively on sharing the evidence base behind high-quality teaching for SEND, as well as advised on the development of the SENCO NPQ. As a Consultant, Gary has spoken internationally, advised the BBC, written content for the National Institute of Teaching and given talks to hundreds of Trust, Local Authority and school audiences. Gary Aubin is the author of The Lone SENDCO, a handbook of 300 questions and answers for busy SENDCOs. His second book, The Parent’s Guide to SEND, is being released in early 2025. Gary led on SEND provision for a Multi Academy Trust of 10 primary and secondary schools for several years. He is a secondary teacher, former primary and secondary SENDCO and former secondary Head of Year. Gary also authors the SEND Matters UK blog.
Richard Sheriff OBE
CEO
Red Kite Learning Trust
Richard started his career teaching Geography in Leicester before moving to Leeds as a Head of Department. Having worked as a Deputy Headteacher in a Bradford school he took up his first Headship in Leeds in 2001 before joining Harrogate Grammar School as Headteacher in 2007. In 2018 Richard became the CEO of Red Kite Learning Trust. Richard is a National Leader of Education and has worked as an Ofsted Inspector but much prefers to focus on his work as Director of Red Kite Alliance and CEO of Red Kite Learning Trust. Richard served as the President of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in 2018/19 and took on the role again for 2020/21 becoming the first person to hold the position twice. Richard serves as a Trustee of the Professional Teaching Institute, Chair of the ASCL Trust Leaders Advisory Board and member of the National STEM Advisory Board. He occasionally rides his bike slowly around the Yorkshire Dales.
Register your place
