10 & 11 October 2024 at Saunton Sands Hotel, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LQ
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Mark Finnis
One of the UK’s leading proponents of restorative practice.
Mark Finnis is the founder and director of L30 Relational Systems and an Associate at Independent Thinking Ltd. He has more than twenty-five years’ experience of helping organisations large and small, both nationally and internationally to develop highly connected relational cultures with people at the heart of everything they do. Mark has also been involved in the national development of restorative practices since the late 1990s.
Mark has also delivered keynotes alongside audiences across the UK, Spain, Finland, Canada, US to name a few. Mark is the author of the number 1 bestselling book, Independent Thinking On Restorative Practice: Building relationships, improving behaviours and creating stronger communities. In 2019 he received the Chris Donovan Trust’s Restorative Practice Champion award in recognition of his work nationally. Mark has advised on national policy and practice development since 2005 and was part of a small group who rewrote the national best practice guidance for restorative practitioners in 2012.
Mark is a trained Family Group Conference Convenor and a licensed NLP Master Practitioner trained and certified under Dr Richard Bandler and has been working with leaders offering coaching for over a decade.
Tara Elie
EMCC coach, qualified psychologist, Behaviour specialist and senior lecturer in education.
Tara is an experienced and qualified EMCC coach and qualified psychologist. She is a senior lecturer in education and a behaviour specialist. Tara has worked in education for over 25 years in a range of roles and range of settings from referral units to independent and international schools, which means she has a unique understanding of a variety of settings that she trains and consults in.
Tara is passionate about teacher wellbeing and uses the theories of Positive Psychology to inform her work with clients with a proven record of success. She is also a school governor of equalities and well-being, experienced in developing school policies and improvement plans. Tara stands for social justice and social change. She appreciates and celebrates the individual, their differing backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perceptions, and values.
Moreover, it is Tara’s genuine excitement about education and well-being that stimulates the experience in her sessions.
Tara has researched and designed training for a number of areas of school improvement and culture change. These programmes include; inclusive leadership, managing low-level disruption, anti-black racist practice, improving boys’ achievement, leading behaviour teams, primary to secondary transition and active learning.
Tara is an exceptional educational consultant and trainer. She is renowned for her engaging training delivery, both face-to-face and virtually. Her performance background, alongside her passion for supporting individuals and organisations to flourish and thrive, characterise her delivery style.
Dave Whitaker
Leader in relational practice – alternative provision
As a former Executive Principal of a number of special schools, alternative provisions and PRUs, Dave is now Director of Learning for the Wellspring Academy Trust with its 29 schools across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
As well as supporting these schools in his executive role, Dave also leads ‘Positive Regard’, the trust’s behaviour outreach and training arm. What’s more, with previous roles that include having been a National Leader of Education for over ten years providing support for SEMH special schools, PRUs and Alternative Provision regionally and nationally, it is easy to see why Dave is such an important Associate for Independent Thinking when it comes to his insights around behaviour and supporting children from some of the UK’s most challenging backgrounds.
Working with incredibly vulnerable children and young people from KS1 to KS5 who are presenting with a whole range of social and emotional difficulties, Dave’s innovative work shows the power of care, love, support and, in his own words, ‘battering them with kindness’.
Nigel Owens MBE
LGBT Advocate and one of the most highly respected referees in the world
Nigel Owens is widely acknowledged as the best referee in rugby union. His decision-making, approach to dealing with players, knowledge and interpretation of the rules is acclaimed by players, coaches and commentators. He is also the sport’s only openly-gay official.
First officiating on the international stage in a game between Ireland and Japan, Nigel oversaw his first World Cup match two years later in France. At club level he took charge of two consecutive Heineken Cup finals (one of only two referees to do so) and has overseen more European matches than anyone else.
Nigel quickly gained a reputation for being able to implement the rules in such a way as to be fair, and also to allow the flow of the game. He won the respect of all involved in the game and mixed judicious rulings with humour and authority on the pitch. Privately, Nigel struggled with conflicts between his sexuality and some of the attitudes in the world of rugby. Despite considering extreme courses of action, he eventually made his personal life public, and with the exception of some ignorant comments from the stands and on social media, was widely supported by figures within and outside of rugby.
Away from the pitch Nigel has gone on to host chat shows and quiz programmes for the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, and is arguably rugby’s most famous referee. When he was given charge of the 2015 World Cup final, approval of his appointment was almost universal and after the Australia/New Zealand game his role was praised by all.
Nigel speaks about his personal story, as well as the traits needed to command on the pitch, how to take tough decisions and deal with tough characters.