AoC Governance Professionals Conference 2026
Venue: Online via Zoom
Date: 20 January 2026
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fee: Starting from £185 + VAT per member
Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st January. 09:30 - 12:30
The Governance Professionals Conference is the national event for Clerks, Governance Professionals, and Directors of Governance across the FE sector. This year’s programme will explore the evolving role of governance in a changing policy and regulatory landscape — shaped by the post-16 education and skills white paper, the new Ofsted framework, and the curriculum and assessment review.
Through a mix of keynotes, breakout sessions, and peer discussions, delegates will gain insight into emerging themes such as cyber security and risk management, AI and digital transformation, embedding inclusion, and the role of colleges in fostering community cohesion and belonging. This event offers fresh ideas, sector context, and practical tools to support effective, compliant, and forward-thinking governance.
Confirmed speakers and sessions so far include…
- Erika Eliasson-Norris CEO, Beyond Governance, Author and Governance Assessor to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Erika will explore the governance professional’s shift from compliance enforcer to strategic leader, with practical insight on culture, integrity and accountability.
- David Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges who will focus on recent policy updates in the FE sector and what these mean for college boards and governance professionals
- Cybersecurity and managing digital risk. Jisc will discuss the current threat landscape, what meaningful assurance looks like, and how governors can confidently challenge and support their organisation’s cyber strategy.
- Governance of Higher Education in FE. Gary Husband, Professor of Professional Education, University of Sunderland will share practical guidance for navigating the HE landscape within colleges.
- Lessons in leadership, culture and governance from Education and Training Collective. Learn from their journey to achieving Ofsted Outstanding and how strong leadership and effective governance drove sustained improvement.
What did past delegates say?
The sessions were insightful, providing practical 'tips and tricks' and fresh perspectives on navigating complex governance challenges. The speakers were sector leaders who shared real-world examples and actionable takeaways, making every session highly engaging and relevant. Beyond the content, the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals was invaluable. Connecting with like-minded peers and exchanging ideas was a highlight.
Darran George, Weston College
The agenda items on this Conference were superb, a really good mix of information from External speakers, tips for the 'job' and helpful supportive sessions where we could compare notes and offer advice, also with handy tools on how to look after our mental health and make time for ourselves.
Allison Booth, Bradford College
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Delegate fees:
AoC Member fee - per delegate £185 + VAT
Affiliate Member - per delegate £220 + VAT
Non-member institutions – per delegate £295 + VAT
Non-member commercial – per delegate £610 + VAT
10% off on 3 or more tickets purchased
Erika Eliasson-Norris is a leading expert in corporate governance, dedicated to strengthening organisational integrity, resilience, and long-term value. She is the author of The Secret Diary of a Company Secretary, a candid and thought-provoking look inside boardroom life.
As Chief Executive of Beyond Governance, she advises boards in the UK, the US, and internationally, helping leaders use governance as a strategic enabler that brings clarity, structure, and confidence to complex decision-making.
David Hughes became Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges in September 2016. Before that he was Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute and spent over 10 years at the Learning and Skills Council and Skills Funding Agency where he had national responsibility for funding and improvement with colleges and providers. David holds several Board positions including with the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics and the Bell Foundation. He was Vice-Chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly in the 1990s, founding Chair of the Education and Training Foundation in 2013 and has helped set-up several third sector organisations.
Since 1995, Claire has devoted her career to working in further and higher education. She is passionate about improving life chances through the transformational power of education, skills and training. After joining Boston College as Principal and CEO in 2020, Claire prioritised building strong, purposeful partnerships with communities and businesses to secure exciting collaborative opportunities, extending the college’s reach and forging powerful bonds to facilitate social cohesion. Inspiring a positive, innovative and supportive college culture was her key driver, constantly seeking improvement expecting brilliant today and better tomorrow. Claire continues to serve as chair and member of several Town Boards.
Gary Husband is Head of Research for the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences, Creative Industries and Law at the University of Sunderland and Chair of the Board of Governors at Newbattle Abbey College. His expertise spans further and higher education, with research focused on governance and the development of adult and vocational education sectors.
Matthew Kelly is a Partner in our market leading education practice and specialises in advising further education colleges on all employment law and governance aspects. Matthew has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in the FE sector and deals with day to day queries facing colleges as well as complex employment tribunal litigation, dealing with sensitive discrimination and whistleblowing claims. In addition, Matthew regularly speaks at conferences and seminars focusing on key issues facing the sector.
Ben Wood is a Partner in our Employment Labour and Pensions group who specialises in advising educational establishments on governance and employment matters. Ben’s practice is focused on further education, sixth form and academy clients. As a senior member of the education team Ben is regularly involved in providing training for governors and senior managers of educational institutions covering a wide range of topics including governance, equality and diversity, whistleblowing, performance management, industrial relations and restructuring
Tyron Bancroft is an experienced Fellow and Chartered Safety and Risk practitioner, serving as Group Head of Risk & Resilience at Activate Learning. He leads on AI governance, insurance, and data protection, delivering strategic risk management across multi-site organisations. Tyron is a Senior Information Risk Officer and certified Data Protection Officer, with proven expertise in developing and implementing data governance structures and comprehensive risk strategies for AI and organisational resilience.
