Programme – Tuesday 18 November

Registration and exhibition open
Refreshments available, registration sponsored by NCFE
Visit the college suppliers to discuss your individual needs

Welcome by the conference chair
Sameena Ali-Khan, ITV News Presenter

Opening address
David Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges

Ministerial Address
The Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills, Department for Education

Colleges at the heart of the Industrial Strategy
Panel session sponsored by Pearson
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director, Pearson Qualifications (Chair)
David Gaughan, Interim Director of Employment and Skills, West Midlands Combined Authority
Mark Andrews, Deputy Executive Principal - Curriculum & Strategy, North Kent College
Donna Ford-Clarke, Vice President of Vocational Qualifications and Portfolio (UK), Pearson
Simon Ryan, Business Development Manager, Wilmott Dixon

Beyond burnout: Understanding and supporting adolescent mental health in the age of anxiety
Professor Tanya Byron, Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Journalist, Author and Broadcaster

Exhibition and refreshments
Visit the college suppliers to discuss your individual needs

Department for Education officials are available to discuss T Levels, proposed V levels and changes to level 2 pathways and the proposed new level 2 English and Maths qualifications - Hall 3 gallery

Breakout session - Strand one
To view the full breakout session listings, please click here

Lunch and exhibition
Visit the college suppliers to discuss your individual needs

Networking lunch for Equity Exchange colleagues - Hall 1 foyer level 5
A chance for colleagues involved in the Equity Exchange programme 2025 to chat and network. By invitation only

The College Collective Associate Experts’ networking lunch - Hall 3 triangle (outside Hall 3)
By invitation only

Breakout session - Strand two
To view the full breakout session listings, please click here

Exhibition and refreshments
Visit the college suppliers to discuss your individual needs

Department for Education officials are available to discuss T Levels, proposed V levels and changes to level 2 pathways and the proposed new level 2 English and Maths qualifications - Hall 3 gallery

Chair’s welcome back
Sameena Ali-Khan, ITV News Presenter

Update from Skills England
Sarah Maclean CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Skills England

Announcement of the 2025/26 Beacon award finalists
Dr Shaid Mahmood MBE, Chair, Association of Colleges and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Durham University

Announcement of the National Innovation Challenge
Konnie Huq, television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author

Post-truth or post-trust? How to survive in a world of AI information
Professor Victoria Baines, Professor Emerita of Information Technology and current Visiting Professor of Technology and Society at Gresham College

AoC Annual General Meeting
Open to AoC members only

Drinks reception
Open to all conference attendees and exhibitors