Welcoming our Keynote Speakers
Professor Deborah Eyre, Founder of High Performance Learning
Professor Deborah Eyre, is a renowned figure in educational innovation and was named one of the 40 Outstanding Global Women in Education of 2024. Founder of High Performance Learning, she works in the UK and globally to help schools combine academic success and student wellbeing. Her expertise in High Performance Learning provides a mechanism for effectively implementing science-based practices that not only raise academic standards but also foster personal growth and resilience among students.
Deborah provides advice to governments, schools, universities, and educational foundations in the UK, UAE, Hong Kong, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Singapore. She is a Liveryman of the City of London and a Trustee of the River Learning Multi-Academy Trust. She holds Fellowship status with the Girls' School Association, the Chartered College of Teachers, and the Royal Society of Arts.
Melanie Saunders, Chief Education Advisor at High Performance Learning
Melanie has been part of HPL since its inception by Professor Deborah Eyre in 2016. In her role, she supports schools across the UK and internationally in implementing HPL’s research-based philosophy and framework.
Before joining HPL, Melanie spent nearly twelve years as Head of Strategic School Improvement for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, bringing with her extensive experience in school leadership. Her background includes serving as the headteacher of an 11–18 school, as well as working as an adviser, school governor, IEB Chair, coach, and independent consultant.
Melanie has provided evidence for parliamentary reviews, written political speeches and reports, and contributed to shaping national guidance. As a former Head of English, she also served on the 2019 ASCL Commission, The Forgotten Third. Alongside her work with HPL, Melanie writes regularly for various educational publications.
Amy Lilley-Stewart, Director of Professional Learning at High Performance Learning
Amy has worked in the education sector both nationally and internationally for over 20 years. Amy is a member of the HPL Executive Board and leads the Fellowship and Global Community, working with mature HPL schools to maximise the impact of the HPL philosophy and framework. Before joining HPL, Amy was the Secondary Partnership Lead for the University of Gloucestershire leading the ITT provision across the Southwest region. Amy has extensive knowledge of training teachers at all levels having led ITT in the North East of England for Northumbria University. Amy’s values centre on providing excellence for all and has worked in Australia for the Design and Technology Association for the state of Victoria, developing and delivering professional learning. Amy was Head of Art at a large secondary school in the UK and has had the privilege of teaching across a range of educational settings. Amy is currently a PhD candidate.
Guy Claxton, world-renowned Cognitive Scientist and Professor of the Learning Sciences at the University of Winchester
Guy Claxton has influenced educational theory and practice across the world. As one of the UK’s foremost thinkers on creativity, innovation, learning, and the brain, in both business and education, Guy specialises in ways to expand young people’s appetite and capacity for learning. He is the author of more than twenty books with titles such as 'Building Learning Power' and 'What's the Point of School?', inspiring thousands of teachers and parents to change the way they think about educating their kids.
Guy is also an expert on the new understanding of intelligence - for example, how much our smarts rely on intuition and bodily feelings. A hymn of praise to Guy's best-seller 'Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less', John Cleese described his work as "THE essential guide to creativity" in his blockbuster from Video Arts, The Hidden Mind.
Before taking up the same position at Winchester in 2008, Guy serves as Professor of the Learning Sciences at the University of Bristol Graduate School of Education.
With a 'double first' from Cambridge and a DPhil from Oxford, and roles as Visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Royal Society of Arts, and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.
In 2013, Guy was listed in 'Most Influential Thinkers' in HR Top 20.
Dr Madiha Khan is an AI researcher and Director of Consulting Services at Educate Ventures Research
Dr Madiha works closely with policy makers, HE bodies, school groups, and EdTech firms in developing ethical and purposeful approaches towards AI. Her particular area of interest is in the use of data and AI to extract meaningful insights about teaching and learning. She holds a PhD in self-regulated learning, specifically exploring a learning analytics approach towards monitoring tutor co-regulation of learners in an online classroom.
Alongside her academic expertise, Dr Khan brings over a decade of experience in the EdTech sector, advising EdTech firms, accreditation bodies, and education and training suppliers on their digital strategies. Her unique blend of academic rigour and commercial acumen allows her to take an evidence-based, yet commercially astute approach, towards supporting her clients. She is passionate about the EdTech sector and the development of high-quality, scalable products that improve access to education and opportunity.
Jamie Hayes, Professor (hon), MBA, FRPharmS, FFRPS and Director at NHS Wales and JMH Collaborations
Jamie is an executive and performance coach, as well as an honorary professor, with over 33 years of experience in healthcare, medical education, and behavioural change.
A trained pharmacist and Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He serves as a Director within NHS Wales and is the Founder of JMH Collaborations Ltd, a consultancy specialising in executive and team coaching, leadership development, and conflict mediation.
From 2017 to 2025, Jamie was one of the ‘resident’ executive coaches at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. He is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine, the Society of Mediators, and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Renowned for his engaging and thought-provoking approach, Jamie delivers coaching, workshops, and programmes that motivate, inspire change, and challenge current assumptions. His clients include senior professionals across various industries — finance, law, retail, media, business, sport, veterinary medicine, education, and healthcare.
Christine Cunniffe, Executive Principal at LVS Ascot
Christine is the Executive Principal of LVS Ascot, a leading co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–19 under the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC). She is Chair (2025–26) of the Society of Heads and an Institute of Directors (IoD) Ambassador for Berkshire and Surrey.
A passionate advocate for innovation and academic excellence, Christine has led LVS Ascot’s transformation through High Performance Learning (HPL), Round Square ideals, and faculty-driven USPs in Business & Global Perspectives, Performing & Creative Arts, and STEM–Aviation. Her work positions LVS Ascot at the forefront of reimagining education for the future — integrating AI, enterprise, and creative thinking to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world.
Christine is the author of Transforming School Culture through Lesson Observation: A Collective and Collaborative Approach (Routledge, 2021) and a regular media contributor on education, leadership, and inclusion.
Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General at Misk Schools
Dr Steffen is a passionate linguist and High Performance Learning (HPL) expert with over 30 years of senior leadership experience in Europe and the Middle East. With a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Birmingham and a degree in Language and Linguistics from the University of Leipzig, he speaks six languages and has led international schools in The Hague, Paris, Switzerland, and the UK, including Rugby School.
As an Honorary Vice President of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), a co-founder of the international division of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), and a High Performance Learning (HPL) Fellow, Dr Steffen continues to influence global education.
Dr Steffen was named one of The PIE’s 50 Voices 2025 – International Schools edition.
Steve Green, Head of Senior School at Queen's College, Taunton
Steve Green serves as Head of Senior School and HPL Lead at Queen’s College, a co-educational, non-selective independent day and boarding school (ages 0–18) in Taunton, Somerset.
Prior to this role in the independent sector, Steve held leadership roles as Head, Deputy, and Assistant Head across several multi-academy trusts in the South West. A passionate advocate of the #EveryoneCan philosophy, he led Queen’s College to achieve HPL World Class School accreditation in 2025. He continues to head up the development of HPL practice across the entire school, from Pre-Prep to Sixth Form.
With 4 similar independent schools within a few square miles, Queen's is set within a highly competitive local market. Steve and the team at Queen's have harnessed the power of HPL to differentiate their teaching and learning offer and, working with a skilled marketing department, have ensured that HPL aligns perfectly with Queen's long-standing mission to prepare young people 'not for school, but for life'.