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Keynote speakers

We are excited to welcome our keynote speakers to HELOA National Conference 2026. They will be providing a wealth of knowledge to delegates in attendance. Explore the webpage below for more information on our keynotes as well as information and timings of the session they will be delivering.

Wednesday 14 January – 1:15pm

Dr Jo Saxton CBE | Chief Executive of UCAS | UCAS

Dr Jo Saxton CBE became the Chief Executive of UCAS on 15 January 2024, and was previously Chief Regulator of Ofqual from September 2021 until 2024.

Jo brings a decade of experience in school
leadership to the role. She has been an education advisor to government and was formerly an academic.

Jo was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2024. Jo served as a Trustee of The Brilliant Club, the New Schools Network, and was an Ofqual Board Member from 2018 to 2020. 

Jo began her career in academia, and holds qualifications from universities in England and the USA.

Thursday 15 January – 11:45am

Professor Ken Sloan | Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer | Harpur Adams University

Professor Ken Sloan joined Harper Adams as Vice-Chancellor on 1 November 2021.  Ken has extensive national and international experience in strategy, leadership, governance, professional, business development and commercial activities.

Previously, Ken was at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, serving as the inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Governance). As a member of the University Executive, he was responsible for providing University-wide leadership and strategic support for the creation and acceleration of major partnerships, government relations, precinct development, new revenue creation, commercialisation, innovation, entrepreneurship, strategic intelligence, group governance and institutional risk.

 

Friday 16 January – 12pm

Alim Kamara | Storyteller | Storie Storie Ltd.

Be the story worth telling