AoC Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference 2026

Leanne Spencer is an award-winning speaker and a leading voice on integrating wellbeing into high performance cultures. With over 13 years in the wellbeing sector, 13 qualifications in exercise and nutrition, and more than 1,000 presentations delivered, she brings deep expertise to every stage. Leanne has delivered a TEDx talk with over 133,000+ views, authored three bestselling books, including Cadence, a finalist in the Business Book Awards, and was Highly Commended in the Speaker Awards in 2023. Through her signature keynotes — Cadence, BOND and Sustain — Leanne shows audiences how to achieve sustainable performance by managing energy, strengthening connection and building personal resilience.

Peter Mayhew-Smith has worked in lifelong learning sector since 1988. He has worked at Lewisham College 1998-2010, first as Head of School, then Director of Faculty and finally as Vice-Principal Quality and Curriculum. He became became Principal of Kingston College in April 2010 and developed Federation with Carshalton College, implemented in 2012. In 2017  he became Group CEO of merged South Thames Colleges Group, which was graded ‘good’ by Ofsted in February 2020. He leads the South London Mental Health Trailblazer across six London Boroughs since 2019 and the South London sub-regional response to London LSIP.

Sarah Price is an A-Level Psychology teacher at the City of Oxford College and the voluntary Chair of the MindGreen Committee. MindGreen is Activate Learning’s wellbeing and inclusion fund, supporting student and staff mental health and widening participation. Sarah is a Chartered Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society and holds a Master of Science in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Prior to joining the education sector, Sarah worked as a Health Advisor for South Central Ambulance Service. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to studying mental health and applying psychological knowledge in service of her community. Sarah was a founding committee member of MindGreen in July 2023 and has served as Chair since November 2024. In her role as Chair, Sarah ensures the committee is regularly briefed on the psychology of giving back and volunteering. She also created the MindGreen Youth and Staff Ambassador pathways, rooted in the psychological benefits of volunteering as a mental health strategy, supporting wellbeing through purposeful community contribution.

Pete Reynolds is a member of the Executive Team at Activate Learning, where he plays a key leadership role across apprenticeship delivery, employer engagement and learner development. With a background in teaching, coaching and leadership, Pete brings a strong focus on people, culture and performance. He holds a BA (Hons) in Post-Compulsory Education from Oxford Brookes University and has worked extensively across Further Education, supporting both learners and staff to achieve their potential. Pete is a founding member of MindGreen, a social enterprise focused on improving mental health awareness and support within education and the workplace. He is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider and an Activate Learning Wellbeing Ally, actively contributing to initiatives that promote positive mental health, early intervention and supportive environments for learners and colleagues. He is particularly passionate about the role Further Education can play in supporting wellbeing, helping individuals build resilience, and preparing people not just for work, but for life.

The Resilience team at Derby College offer person-centred 1:1 sessions for students and apprentices of all ages who struggle with anxiety, low mood, depression, panic, worry and sleep problems. Students are supported to develop practical strategies and techniques based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, so they are able to help themselves. The team also provide Resilience workshops on different themes to groups of students which are booked by their lecturer. We are a relatively new and expanding team and find that demand for our services is increasing year on year.

The Resilience team at Derby College offer person-centred 1:1 sessions for students and apprentices of all ages who struggle with anxiety, low mood, depression, panic, worry and sleep problems. Students are supported to develop practical strategies and techniques based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, so they are able to help themselves. The team also provide Resilience workshops on different themes to groups of students which are booked by their lecturer. We are a relatively new and expanding team and find that demand for our services is increasing year on year.

The Resilience team at Derby College offer person-centred 1:1 sessions for students and apprentices of all ages who struggle with anxiety, low mood, depression, panic, worry and sleep problems. Students are supported to develop practical strategies and techniques based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, so they are able to help themselves. The team also provide Resilience workshops on different themes to groups of students which are booked by their lecturer. We are a relatively new and expanding team and find that demand for our services is increasing year on year.

Ian has been a trainer with Charlie Waller since 2016, working on a range of projects and initiatives across children's mental health. Ian's background was initially in the field of sport sciences, and subsequently navigated to postgraduate study and roles in the field of public health. He has a particular interest in the social determinants of health. Ian has worked in a variety of roles including young person's substance use services, local public health, Healthy Schools and Headstart programmes, and writing national guidance documents and resources around alcohol and drug education for Mentor-ADEPIS. He also works for the Open University in the school of Education, Childhood, Youth & Sport, teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in sport and fitness, and mental health in the curriculum. He has a particular interest in how best practice and research is made accessible to practitioners within universal services who work with children, young people and families. In addition to delivering training to schools and other professionals, Ian also sits on a number of research programmes and networks for both CWT and the Open University. 

Connor Mason is Co-Founder of Fluid Focus, where he works with colleges and employers to help them respond to the growing impact of smartphones, screen time and digital habits on wellbeing, focus and engagement. Before co-founding Fluid Focus, Connor worked at global technology and consulting firm Accenture, where firsthand experience of the pressures and realities of always-on digital life helped shape his ambition for helping people build healthier, more intentional relationships with technology.

Lauren has been a Listening Volunteer for six years. Samaritans plays a huge part in her life and she considers being there for their callers is a complete privilege. Professionally, her background is in primary teaching where she spent a decade. She then had the opportunity to work for Samaritans as well as volunteer, joining Samaritans Training School (STS) in 2021 as a Trainer. Samaritans are wholeheartedly committed to delivering high-quality training to volunteers and providing invaluable support to their branches and hubs across the country. At a time when our world is such an uncertain place, for Samaritans, knowing that they are contributing to something that can genuinely make a difference is a special and humbling feeling.

Ben has over a decade of experience in student engagement, communications, and support services within Further Education, underpinned by a MA in Management. As Deputy Principal for Students, Inclusion and Brand he leads the College’s work on the learner journey, as well as core aspects such as Marketing and Communications, SEND, student support to name a few. He plays a key role in shaping an inclusive and aspirational environment where learners can achieve their goals with confidence, whilst his strategic oversight of communications ensures that the College’s values and successes are shared widely across communities and stakeholders. Ben has driven nationally recognised innovations in student support, particularly in wellbeing and careers education. He has chaired regional and national boards focused on mental health and personal development and has led collaborative projects with partner colleges and employers to enhance student experience. Ben is committed to empowering students through effective support, clear communication, and opportunities that prepare them for life beyond education.

Chloe has worked in education for over a decade across primary, secondary and further education settings in the South West and London. Her role as Director of Social Justice and Student Support at Weston College sees her leading as the college’s Senior Mental Health Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Designated Teacher for care experienced learners, with responsibility for learner welfare, counselling, behaviour and inclusion.  Chloe is particularly passionate about trauma informed practice, with a focus on the impact of trauma on the brain - an area she explored while studying for a Masters in Educational Psychology. She has contributed to regional work supporting the development of trauma informed approaches and recently led Weston College to achieve the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in FE Award at Gold Status. Chloe is committed to improving outcomes for young people, recognising that learning happens alongside life. Chloe advocates for equity, compassion and ensuring the right support is in place at the right time, enabling all learners to feel safe, supported and able to thrive.