15 Conference Producers Behind UK Education Events
- Jonno White
- Aug 9
- 6 min read
Education conferences can look effortless from the audience. Behind that calm surface are people shaping the programme, supporting speakers, bringing partners together and making sure the day works for real people with full calendars.
This article brings together 15 people connected to UK education events, from major sector festivals and education technology shows to university programmes and professional learning conferences. Last updated: August 2026. It is a practical directory, not a league table.
Why this topic matters
A strong conference gives people a useful reason to attend, a clear path through the day and something valuable to carry back to their work. Producers make those choices in the programme, the partnerships and the hundreds of small details that attendees may never see.
They also connect different kinds of expertise. Content, marketing, venue operations, accessibility, speaker care, registration and follow-up all affect whether an education event feels worth the time and travel.
1. Michaela Fearon
Event Director, Bett UK
Her work shows how a large education technology event needs a clear audience promise and a programme that makes practical connection possible. She describes creating the environment where education leaders, teachers and technology partners can meet, and previously built the Women in Tech World Series into seven flagship conferences across Europe and North America.
2. Philippa Barton
Event Director, EducationScape
That combination makes her a strong example of the operational work behind a high-profile education festival. The Festival of Education team profile says she leads Festival logistics and exhibitor and partner onboarding.
3. Shane Mann
Festival Co-Director and Chief Executive, EducationScape
His role shows that education events need an editorial and partnership direction as well as smooth delivery. The official Festival brochure identifies him as the person driving the Festival vision and working with Wellington College and partners.
4. Clare Gallagher
Managing Director and primary conference producer, HCUK Group / Education Conferences UK
Her work connects research, programme design and the practical needs of school leaders and teachers. HCUK describes her as the primary conference producer and says she writes conference programmes for the education sector.
5. Joanna Milne
Head of New Markets, HCUK Group / Education Conferences UK
She illustrates how education conference portfolios grow when a producer understands both the audience and the wider learning offer. HCUK says she joined in 2022 to develop Education Conferences UK and its conference, online learning and masterclass offer.
6. Emma Darwin
Founder and Director, Assemble Events
Her background links education content, membership communities and live event delivery. She founded Assemble Events in 2019 after working as Times Higher Education’s Content Director for the World Summit Series and CASE Europe’s Head of Educational Programmes.
7. Liz Appleyard-Hutchings
Head of Event Marketing and Engagement, Assemble Events
Her role shows how a conference is built through audience journeys and consistent engagement before, during and after the room opens. The Assemble team page highlights her work on Alumni UK Live, the International Cancer Imaging Annual Conference and CASE Europe regional conferences.
8. Sarah Thackray
Co-Founder and Impact and Strategy Director, BeaconHouse Events
She represents the strategic side of conference production, where the event has to serve a clear purpose for several groups at once. BeaconHouse says she brings more than 20 years of experience and leads event strategy, budgets, programme curation and stakeholder work.
9. Cat Duhaut
Co-Founder and Culture and Operations Director, BeaconHouse Events
Her work makes the often unseen link between team culture, event systems and dependable delivery visible. The company says she has worked in event management since 2007 and manages an agency delivering more than 100 events each year.
10. Antony Adams
Founder and Director, Careers Adviser, Pathway Events
His focus shows the education event can be a bridge between students, institutions, employers and the choices ahead of them. Pathway Events describes him as leading creative campaigns and events that help students explore future opportunities.
11. Liz Whittingham
Director of Operations and Customer Experience, GovNet
Her role highlights the operational and attendee experience work that turns an event programme into a useful day for delegates. GovNet names her in its event management and marketing internship story, which connects students with the work of producing public sector events.
12. Alan Revel
Head of Events, London School of Economics and Political Science
His work shows how a university events office balances public learning, internal needs and a steady calendar of live experiences. LSE says he oversees the organisation and delivery of its public events programme and School events.
13. Meg Carter
Deputy Head of Events, London School of Economics and Political Science
She is a useful example of the leadership depth needed when an institution runs both recurring and flagship events. LSE says she assists with its public lecture and internal event delivery and leads on the LSE Festival.
14. Fiona Jones
Events and Training Manager, Independent Higher Education
Her role shows how professional learning events can support a sector between formal conferences and ongoing member development. Independent Higher Education says she leads its programme of events and training, including the Annual Conference and AGM, after joining in June 2025.
15. Shona Black
Head of Events, University of Edinburgh Business School
Her role shows how an in-house university events leader turns a specialist learning theme into a well-supported conference experience. She is listed as Head of Events and on the organising committee for the Business School’s Coaching for Good conference.
What these leaders show
The best education events join three jobs together. They find a question people genuinely need help with, build a programme that respects their time and run the details with enough care that people can stay present. The people here sit at different points in that chain, but their work meets in the delegate experience.
They also show that event leadership is a team sport. Content, partnerships, marketing, venue management, production and customer experience all shape whether a conference feels useful. The visible speaker line-up is only one part of the work.
How to use this list
If you are planning an education event, use the names as prompts. Look at the kind of audience each organisation serves, notice how the programme is framed and ask which part of the delegate journey needs the most attention. If you are attending, use the list to appreciate the people making the day possible and to find teams whose work fits your next event.
What does an education conference producer do?
They help shape an event from idea to delivery. That can include audience research, programme design, speaker care, venue planning, partnerships, marketing, registration, production and the follow-up experience.
Are all of these people independent event producers?
No. The list includes agency leaders, specialist conference organisers, university event professionals and people leading event functions inside wider organisations.
How were the people chosen?
The list focuses on people with a current official role connected to UK education events, conferences, festivals, learning programmes or the systems that support them. It is a practical directory, not a league table.
What should I look for in an education event team?
Start with the audience, purpose and the experience you want people to have. Then look for evidence that the team can connect programme quality with reliable delivery and thoughtful delegate care.
Can an event producer help with a leadership event?
Yes. Many of the skills are the same: clear purpose, useful content, careful logistics, good communication and an experience that helps people do something better afterwards.
Conclusion
Education conferences work when the people behind them make it easy for good ideas, useful questions and practical relationships to travel. The 15 people here show how much craft sits behind a day that feels simple to attend.
Related Reading
If you want a keynote or workshop that turns conference ideas into something leaders can use on Monday morning, email jonno@consultclarity.org.
About the author
Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity, a keynote speaker, leadership consultant and author. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, with practical ideas that can be used on Monday morning.