Speakers

Geo Aghinea is a London-based experimental vocalist who merges their Romanian roots with microtonal modular synthesis and siren-like vocals, emerging from Eastern Europe’s underground queer scene. Notable recognitions include an Oram Award for innovation in sound & music, Sound of the Year Awards shortlist and opening for Imogen Heap at Roundhouse.

Geo also brings a unique perspective to sound itself. As a musician with severe hearing loss, their reliance on hearing aids isn’t a limitation but a tool: reshaping their understanding of frequencies and texture.

A Drake Music Collective Emergent Artist in 2023-24, Geo has since gone on to be a key contributor to Drake Music’s Youth Forum. They also project manage the DMLab London programme, an accessible music-making programme that brings Disabled musicians and technologists together.

Mark Aitchison currently works as a Lecturer for Music Education at University of Reading alongside being a classroom teacher in a High School in the West Midlands. He has taught music for over 23 years across the Primary, Secondary and Music Hub sectors.

Alongside teaching, Mark directs choirs, orchestras and musical theatre groups. He is currently studying for a PhD examining how the implementation of a music curriculum encourages a musician identity in students.

Shelly has worked in music education for over 30 years as a musician, teacher and choir leader. As Sing Up’s Head of Learning she has extensive experience in developing music curricular and singing within schools, designing and delivering training for teachers and leads on the development of Sing Up’s content which includes songs and teaching resources for Primary and Secondary schools.

Sophie Amstell is Chief Executive of The Amber Trust, a charity that supports blind and partially sighted children through music. With more than 25 years’ experience in arts education and the cultural sector, Sophie has developed programmes and partnerships that champion the role of the arts in young people’s lives. She has worked with organisations including Wiltshire Music Connect, Salisbury Festival, Hampshire Dance, Youth Dance England and Brighton Dome & Festival, and is committed to inclusive access to high-quality creative opportunities for all children and young people.

Zoë Armfield is Head of Learning at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, where she leads a wide-ranging programme of music education, talent development and community engagement. Now in her 17th year with the organisation, Zoë works with schools, teachers, young musicians, professional artists and community partners to create inclusive, ambitious opportunities for people to learn, participate and progress through music. She is particularly passionate about developing young people’s musical skills, confidence and life chances, and about building meaningful partnerships that strengthen music education.

Hazel Askew is a folk singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer from London, playing melodeon, concertina and harp.

She is a respected performer on the folk scene, most notably with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominated trio Lady Maisery and traditional duo The Askew Sisters. Hazel is also a member of the seasonal collaborations Awake Arise and Wakefire, and won Best Album at the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards as part of 10 piece supergroup Songs of Separation. She regularly performs with the cross-cultural collaboration Bhangra Ceilidh, drawing on these vibrant traditions to get people dancing.

Hazel has worked as a composer and musical director on productions such as on Darren Ellis Dance’s shows ‘The Long Walk Home’ and ‘Running World’, Ben Crystal’s Shakespeare Ensembles productions of Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Henry V, Shakespeare in Styria’s King Lear as well as More Film’s short films ‘International Men’s Day’ and the trilogy ‘Tales’. She worked as a performer in Sky/HBO/Punchdrunk’s Bafta nominated 12 hour live broadcast ‘The Third Day’ and was associate musical director on Fisherman’s Friends The Musical.

Hazel is a committed folk educator and often leads projects for the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s learning programmes as well as workshops and courses for organisations including BBC Proms, Barbican Creative Learning, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Folkworks, Streetwise Opera, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Saffron Hall, Dartington Summer School and various festivals around the country.

Kuljit is a pioneer of Bhangra music and a prolific composer renowned for his cross-cultural collaborations.

With over 3,000 recorded and produced songs, his extensive career spans film, television, gaming, and theatre. His prominent film credits include composing for Bhaji on the Beach, A Winter of Love, and Bend It Like Beckham, alongside appearances and musical contributions to Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Doctor Who, and the video game Genshin Impact (Sumeru).

In theatre, Kuljit performed as an on-stage percussionist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams and wrote the Indian music for the West End’s The Far Pavilions. He later co-orchestrated and played tabla for the stage adaptation of Bend It Like Beckham.

His composing portfolio for theatre features acclaimed productions such as A Passage to India, Tom Stoppard’s Indian Ink, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

His significant contributions to music have earned him numerous accolades, including a platinum disc presented by BBC Radio DJ John Peel.

Beyond performance and composition, Kuljit is deeply committed to promoting Indian instruments globally. To demystify Indian music and democratise drumming, he created a universal Tabla Notation system currently utilised by students and composers worldwide.

Expanding on this mission through his company Keda Music, he recently developed Tabla Touch, the world’s first electronic tabla, bridging traditional musicianship with modern technological innovation.

After completing a master’s degree in Popular Music Performance, Deborah Borg Brincat trained as a Primary Music Specialist facilitating inclusive whole class and small group music sessions across schools in South East London. Deborah’s commitment to Inclusion led her to become EDI lead at a London Music Hub before joining Drake Music in 2022, bringing experience as music practitioner, Music Hub senior leader, and musical artist. As Programme Manager, Deborah manages Drake Music’s Artist Development programme Drake Music Collective. In her own artistic life, Deborah writes and performs music with Berne, an Earth-pop duo driven by climate and social justice.

Having studied at the University of Birmingham and Trinity Laban, Claire Boulter performed internationally as a classical singer whilst working extensively within creative arts education. As Head of Education for Electric Umbrella, Claire has overseen the expansion and development of their programme for Mainstream and SEND schools. Passionate about the holistic power of music to unite people, foster belonging, and bring about societal change, Claire believes that every person should have the opportunity to experience the joy of Electric Umbrella.

Tyrelle Boyce is an actor, writer, musician and youth leader with The Spit Game/Rap Club Productions CIC. Having joined the collective aged 11, he has grown from participant to practitioner, helping shape its films, performances and youth programmes while supporting younger creatives.

His screen and stage credits include The Thread (Berlinale 2026), Help! I Think My Teacher Is Racist and When Boys Don’t Talk About Sex. Tyrelle also contributes to Movember-supported work exploring masculinity, wellbeing and digital culture, bringing a perspective grounded in both lived experience and years of creative practice. His work explores how performance and trusted creative spaces can help young people navigate visibility, identity, pressure and risk.

Vicki Brown brings more than 35 years of experience in music education, with a career spanning classroom teaching, curriculum development and professional training. Formerly Music Curriculum Consultant for Derbyshire Music Hub, Vicki now works freelance with Music Hubs, multi-academy trusts and schools, where she supports teachers, mentors music leads and develops practical curriculum resources. Since 2020, she has been part of the MEHEM UpRising project and, more recently, in UpRising 360, creating materials for specialist settings. Vicki is passionate about helping children and teachers make music creatively, and has a particular interest in using storybooks as a starting point for musical exploration.

Bristol-based DJ, curator, and writer Lilian Buckthought runs CLIMAXED, which blurs the line between artistic practice and cultural infrastructure. CLIMAXED is a cultural production project working across electronic music, building events, releases, artist development, and curatorial projects rooted in queer and experimental sound.

An early immersion into the Bristol sound and grassroots scene, Lilian first entered the industry through Youth Music’s incubator programmes, promoting events and developing grassroots music. This work led to a Youth Music Rising Star (industry) nomination and roles within record labels, artist management and event support internationally.

Lilian’s work across music campaigns, live music and creative producing has been supported by the likes of The Arts Council, Rough Trade, The PRS Foundation, & Drake Music, allowing further exploration of her own artistic output and role as an industry practitioner.

The DOLLSTEP club series acts as an experimental space for Lilian to DJ, test early productions, and curate queer nightlife experiences. Promoting genre fluidity and inclusive practice, Lilian’s perspective is channelled through her editorial writing and experimental DJ sets.

Lucy supports the delivery of Music Mark’s marketing strategy, promoting the events and training programme, and raising awareness of the charity’s vital advocacy work. Music and performing, along with involvement in the charity sector, have been ‘big players’ throughout Lucy’s life, so she is very excited to combine these passions with her marketing experience to support Music Mark’s mission.

Augustus Della-Porta is a partner in the charity and social enterprise team at Bates Wells, where he advises charities and not-for-profits on a wide range of legal issues. He has worked with Music Mark and its members for many years, helping to spin out many services into charities and advising members on the recommissioning of music services and their consortia arrangements.

Helen is a freelance woodwind tutor, musician and SEND practitioner. She oversees the Connect programme in Liverpool with Resonate music service, where 30 young people from SEND settings receive free weekly instrumental and vocal lessons and other musical opportunities.
Helen has previously worked as a primary SEND teacher and for the learning disability charity Mencap. Having received free instrumental tuition throughout school and a University Hardship Grant to enable her to complete her music degree, she is passionate about equal access for all to music and the arts.

Rachel Elliott is Education Director for Folk England (English Folk Dance and Song Society), responsible for its national folk music and dance education programme. This includes the National Youth Folk Ensemble (one of 15 National Youth Music Organisations funded by Arts Council England), which was awarded an ABO Impact Award 2026 for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for significantly increasing Global Majority representation amongst the artists and repertoire in its work. Folk England’s learning programmes also include its Inclusive Folk programme for learning disabled young people, London Youth Folk Ensemble, its creative learning projects with music services, Music Hubs, cultural partners, and schools, the Folk Education Network, award-winning free online learning resources, dance development programme, the Bhangra Ceilidh project, and more. Prior to joining Folk England in 2008, Rachel worked for 25-years as a dance artist and dance educator for numerous dance and cultural organisations in education, community, and health settings, and with D/deaf and disabled people. Rachel is chair of Camden Music’s steering group and trustee with Protein Dance.

Folk England champions folk music, song, and dance at the heart of England’s rich and diverse cultural landscape.

Nick Evans is based in Liverpool, where he runs Studio Picnic; a community DJ studio space, and Queensway Collective CIC; an organisation that platforms FLINTA+ DJs across Merseyside with free workshops and performance opportunities. In his day job at Drake Music, Nick looks after the communications and supports in project management, helping the charity achieve it’s aim of increasing access for Disabled people across the music industry. He believes that everyone should have equal opportunities in life. Nick is also a DJ, and has played festival sets and at parties around the world.

Ella Foster is an experienced arts and music education leader with a strong track record in strategic development, partnership building, programme growth, and community engagement. As Senior Leader for Partnership, Progression and Development at Berkshire Music Trust, she leads work that connects children, young people, and communities with high-quality musical opportunities, while developing innovative partnerships that broaden access and participation.

With over a decade of experience in music education, Ella has worked across a number of Music Hub organisations, including Berkshire Music Trust, Bristol Beacon, and Durham Music Service. Throughout her career, she has been committed to creating sustainable and inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with music, whether through schools, community programmes, ensembles, early years provision, or targeted inclusion initiatives.

Alongside her strategic leadership, Ella is an experienced music educator and singer who remains committed to the transformative power of teaching and lifelong learning. She believes that outstanding teaching requires continual professional development and reflective practice, and she champions the growth and development of both learners and colleagues.

Sophie Fox is an early years artist and director of Magic Acorns, a not-for-profit creating extraordinary, multi-sensory arts experiences with and for young children. She is passionate about engaging very young children and families through playful co-creation, blending exploratory creative play with music, performance and visual arts to build immersive experiences where babies and children are celebrated as the experts.

Sophie holds a research master’s in early childhood music and arts education, combining academic curiosity with hands-on practice. At Magic Acorns, she leads on creative producing, project management and relationship development, bringing together artists, educators and communities to deliver innovative, inquiry-based early years arts projects rooted in joy, curiosity and connection.

Rebekah Goulston is an amateur one-handed musician. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Rebekah spent over 30 years attempting a variety of musical related activities but struggling to succeed at any of them. Then she met the OHMI trust and discovered she could loan a one-handed flute…

Michaela Harmson is a recently appointed trustee for the Music Education Council and also a Classroom Instrumental Learning Manager at Leicestershire Music, overseeing whole class instrumental provision across Leicester and Leicestershire. She has also previously been a head of music in city based secondary schools, bringing experience in classroom teaching, music hub delivery and school engagement. She is extremely passionate about inclusion, diversity, equity and access in music education as an educator and musician with lived in experience of disability. She champions inclusivity and accessibility in all areas of her work and works to ensure all young people have access to a music education and have a voice in their musical journey.

Natasha Hendry has thirty years’ experience in the mainstream music industry as a professional vocalist. As an academic and researcher of music and psychology, her areas of interest are diversity, anti-racism, and wellbeing and mental health in the arts. Natasha’s doctoral research at the University of West London has informed the development of the Music Education Racial Literacy (MERL) framework — believed to be the first racially literate framework for music education in the UK. She is the founder of Sound Board Consultancy, working with organisations and institutions to embed equitable, decolonised and wellbeing-centred practice across music education and the wider music industry. She is also a Senior Researcher on the landmark Black Music Means Business report (UK Music, 2026).

Sharon Jagdev Powell has been a Trustee for the Music Education Council since February 2022. Her vision for the Music Education Council is to influence and implement change to enable access and improve outcomes in music education for all.

She is a leadership coach and has embedded a Theory of Joy into her practice. Sharon also works for Black Lives in Music as the Education and Programme Manager where her role is to amplify the voices of underrepresented people and celebrate creativity by embracing the power of music.

Sharon’s career in music education spans 30 years and she began as a secondary music teacher. She also project-managed Musical Futures Nottingham and helped to create an inclusive music curriculum for secondary aged pupils. Sharon has also worked as Hub Lead for Leicestershire Music Hub.

Michelle has worked in music education for the past 30 years. Originally trained as a singer and violinist, Michelle has a background in senior leadership roles in marketing, communications and fundraising within music education organisations including Trinity, ABRSM and Youth Music and since 2011 has been CEO of Sing Up. She is also Chair of South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell.

Adam Joolia took up post in September 2026 as CEO of Youth Music, the UK’s leading national charity supporting music-making for children and young people who face barriers to opportunity.

He joins Youth Music after almost two decades leading AudioActive, a Sussex-based charity that uses music to reach young people who mainstream education and the music industry too often leave behind. Adam began his career in Nottingham during the emergence of the UK grime scene, working in alternative education and youth projects, in a climate that demanded creative, often unconventional ways of reaching young people, an ethos he carried into AudioActive, growing it into a nationally recognised organisation nurturing artists including Rizzle Kicks, Celeste and ArrDee.

As a child, the formal music education Adam experienced didn’t inspire or nurture him, and that’s shaped a career spent building spaces where young people facing barriers to access can not only participate in music but thrive. He brings a close understanding of the formal sector too, having spent over eight years on the boards of music education hubs in Sussex, where he conceived innovative projects such as Green Light and Electric Youth Ensemble, built on his conviction that inclusion and musical excellence aren’t a trade-off.

At Youth Music, Adam is focused on making the case for non-formal music-making as an equal and essential part of every young person’s musical education, and on strengthening partnership and collaboration between the non-formal and formal sectors to make that happen.

Michelle Kambasha is a communications strategist, writer and cultural commentator working across music, the arts and social impact. She is the founder of PACT Strategies, supporting artists and organisations with PR, storytelling and values-led communications. Her work centres equity, belonging and meaningful cultural change.

Josh is an experienced music educator with a passion for high-quality music teaching and learning. He spent eight years working in primary schools across Hackney and Tower Hamlets, where he developed whole-school music curricula and led singing programmes and performances. He now works for Camden Music as Senior Lead for Music Curriculum, leading the borough’s whole-class programme (EPIC!), overseeing singing initiatives across Camden, and supporting schools to develop and strengthen their music curricula.

Wizdom Layne began as an artist in the pioneering UK Hip Hop group GreenJade, co-creator of the Gunz Down/Fighting Chance anti-gang violence schools tour. Former Arts Director of London youth charity XLP, helping to discover talent like chart topping Lola Young. Wizdom was part of the team that opened ELAM School, helped to create the Big Music Project and Music Potential with the Lottery. He ran Tileyard Impact, the community engagement and work experience programme from Tileyard, now known as We are Impact, that has delivered the MOBO UnSung artist development programme for the last 4 years. He is the former Co-Director of Sound Connections where Wizdom worked to bridge the gap between music education and music careers, supporting grassroots organisation, developing programmes like WIRED UP and providing progression routes.

Cadyn “KDYN” Lewis is a British-Guyanese artist, producer, multi-instrumentalist and music entrepreneur working across recording, publishing, artist development and music infrastructure. Previously signed to EMI/Island Records under UMG and currently published by Armada Music Publishing, Cadyn has built an independent ecosystem that includes Origins Inconclusive, DiscoverNu, RosterRoyalties, Musicians Rights UK and Studio Inconclusive. His work focuses on helping artists access fairer creative, educational and business support, while building practical infrastructure for independent music communities.

Christina Luchies is Head of Participation and Schools Music at Hertfordshire Music Service, where she leads work to strengthen access, inclusion and progression in music education across schools and communities. A former orchestral musician, music teacher and senior school leader, Christina has worked across performance, classroom education, community music and strategic arts leadership.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Leading in Education, a Bachelor of Music and a Higher Education Teaching Diploma, with specialist qualifications in Music Technology. Her MA research explored the impact of music on adolescent wellbeing and behaviour in mainstream education. Her work is deeply rooted in inclusion, participation and the belief that music can support whole-child development.

Since joining Hertfordshire Music Service in 2015, Christina has led inclusive community music projects, supported school partnerships and championed music as a driver for confidence, belonging and learning. Christina is passionate about inclusive music education and strong school partnerships. Her work focuses on connecting music education with wider school priorities, including language development, literacy, self-regulation and readiness to learn.

Music Mark’s Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer McKie, has over 25 years’ experience across teaching, service leadership and cultural governance. Trained as a singer at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music, she began her career as a secondary music teacher in West London following her PGCE at Goldsmiths, later achieving Primary Advanced Skills Teacher status.

Jennifer went on to shape and lead Hammersmith & Fulham Music Service during the introduction of the Music Standards Fund, before relocating to Lincolnshire where she now serves as Head of Lincolnshire Music Service, the lead organisation for the Lincolnshire Music Hub. An accredited professional coach and Clore Fellow, she is recognised for her thoughtful, inclusive leadership and commitment to supporting others to thrive.

Alongside her professional roles, Jennifer has held a number of governance positions, including as a Trustee of Music Mark, and currently sits on the Arts Council England Midlands Area Council. While music remains at the heart of everything she does, she also has a love of sport and can often be found enjoying a game of tennis, a round of golf, or a parkrun.

Ian is Head of Music Education at Sheffield Music Hub. Previously his portfolio career included working extensively as a cello teacher, Head of Sheffield Music School, freelance cellist and orchestral director. Ian is a multi-award winning director of youth orchestras.

Faye Oakland is the Music-Maker Manager at the OHMI Trust, a pioneering charity that champions musical inclusion for individuals with physical disabilities. Through her leadership, she works to ensure disabled children and adults have access to adapted instruments and enabling equipment, giving them the exact tools they need to participate fully in musical education.

She trained at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music. Before joining OHMI, she built extensive practical experience as a class music teacher and a brass instrumental teacher. She later served as a senior leader at a music hub where she first experienced the profound, transformative impact of OHMI’s programs.

In her role as Music-Maker Manager, Faye spearheads efforts to collaborate directly with music hubs and educational facilities across the UK. She is passionate about proactive inclusion. Her primary focus is assessing a disabled child’s musical requirements well before the new school term begins, ensuring that teachers are completely prepared and tailored solutions are already in place. By bridging the gap between music services, charities, and the students themselves, Faye ensures that making music is a seamless, natural process for disabled musicians rather than an afterthought.

In addition to her core responsibilities, Faye represents the charity in wider academic and community networks. She has presented at conferences discussing adaptive music methodologies and advocating for better accessibility in the classroom. Faye is a central figure in championing a future where physical impairments no longer dictate a student’s ability to engage with music.

Adam Ockelford is Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton and one of the UK’s leading authorities on music education, musical development and inclusive musical practice. His research spans music psychology, music theory and special educational needs, with a particular focus on how children with complex disabilities, including visual impairment, autism and profound and multiple learning disabilities, engage with and develop through music. Adam is the creator of Sounds of Intent, an internationally recognised framework for understanding and assessing musical development in children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Developed through long-term research in partnership with practitioners, Sounds of Intent is now used extensively across the UK and internationally to support teaching, assessment and curriculum planning.

A composer, researcher and educator, Adam has written more than twenty books and numerous journal articles on music, education and psychology. His publications include Music, Language and Autism, In the Key of Genius, and Comparing Notes, and his work has helped shape professional practice across education, music therapy and community music settings.

Alongside his academic work, Adam is actively involved in the charitable sector as founder of the Sounds of Intent Charity and a trustee of several organisations supporting music education and children with disabilities, including The Amber Trust, Live Music Now and Sempre. Through research, teaching and collaboration with practitioners, he continues to champion the belief that every child, regardless of ability or need, has the potential to develop musically and to enjoy a rich and meaningful musical life.

Dominic is the leader of the RBO Schools Sing programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera, a flagship national programme that empowers young people to explore dramatic singing and storytelling through opera. A passionate advocate for equity in music education, Dominic champions singing and musical participation as a powerful catalyst for self-expression, creativity, and wellbeing in students. Previously, he spent a decade leading Music departments in secondary schools, as well as freelance engagements as a baritone. His focus is on making high-quality music education a reality for all young people, using singing as a way to build confidence, creativity, and connection.

Kyle Osborne is a Pianist, Composer and educator based in London. After training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance he has become a educator and advocate within Tomorrow’s Warriors, a staple in the music education landscape and a cornerstone of the London jazz scene. With them, Kyle has been playing gigs and delivering masterclasses all over the country, from Gurnsey to Plymouth to Barrow-in-Furness. Kyle has completed research projects for the Ivor’s Academy into music education and has done extensive work in aesthetic philosophy. He has recently delivered speeches for the Arts and Minds education conference and has also taught multiple short-courses at Trinity Laban, with invitations to deliver keynote addresses to education conferences across the country.

Kyle is also an accomplished musician, regularly playing stages such as Ronnie Scott’s, the Vortex, festivals like We Out Here and Love Supreme, and has been commissioned to have his orchestral and choral compositions played at the Royal Albert Hall. He has also been invited multiple times to play at the Houses of Parliament and has played for the Prime Minister.

Mark Patton is a passionate music educator and inclusion specialist who leads on alternative provision and targeted music engagement across Coventry. In his role with Coventry Music, Mark oversees the development and delivery of high-quality music programmes for young people in pupil referral units, alternative provision settings, and mainstream schools where students may be at risk of exclusion.

A strong advocate for equity in music education, Mark has worked closely with Children’s Services and Coventry Virtual School since 2017 to increase access to meaningful musical opportunities for children in care. Through a combination of instrumental and vocal tuition, holiday workshops, performance opportunities, and enrichment events, he has helped create a broad and inclusive programme that removes barriers to participation and supports young people to develop confidence, aspiration, and a sense of belonging through music.

Recognising the need for a clear progression pathway beyond individual lessons, Mark established a dedicated band project for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 children in care in 2024. As the project lead, he oversees and delivers the weekly sessions, bringing together young musicians from across the city to rehearse, perform, develop their skills, and experience the benefits of collaborative music-making. The band has become a powerful vehicle for creativity, connection, and personal growth, providing opportunities that many of the young people may not otherwise experience.

Briana Pegado FRSA is a governance and anti-oppression consultant based in Edinburgh, and the founder of Good Trouble Co., supporting values-led organisations through disruptive leadership and strategic change. She is an award-winning social entrepreneur, activist and author with over a decade of experience as a senior manager across Scotland’s creative industries and third sector. She was the first President of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) in 2014 and helped establish the University of Edinburgh’s first Black History Month in 2010.

She has held leadership roles including Chief Executive of Creative Edinburgh, Co-Director of Creative Informatics (AHRC funded), and interim CEO of YWCA Scotland. She was a Co-Director of We Are Here Scotland and served as Creative Director of Fringe of Colour Films, both supporting Black and POC led artists. In 2018, She cofounded a ‘conductancy’ (Povo), to enable clients to engage with play and divergent thinking processes. In 2022 she was appointed Chair of the Scottish Government’s Independent Culture Fair Work Task Force. She is currently Cofounder of the Black Community Filmmakers Network (BFCN) in partnership with Glasgow Film Festival and a critical friend of NEUK Collective’s neurodivergent leadership programme Spectra. She was recently appointed the BFI and FilmHub Scotland EDI Champion for the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN).

Briana has served on the boards of the University of York and the University of Edinburgh, is a Data-Driven Innovation Ambassador for the Edinburgh Futures Institute, and is a long-time contributor to BBC Radio Scotland’s Sunday Morning Show. Her first book, Make Good Trouble: A Guide to the Energetics of Disruption, was published by Watkins in 2024.

Neil Phillips is the Connect Programme Director at Young Sounds UK. A former professional rock musician, he retrained as a youth worker and has worked in a range of settings delivering programmes designed to support young people facing barriers, including those in the criminal justice system and young carers.

Neil oversees the Connect programme at Young Sounds UK and leads on the delivery of the Department for Education funded Music Opportunities Pilot, coordinating the work in 22 Music Hub regions and additional partners ABRSM, BBC Orchestras, Music Mark, Music Masters, the National Youth Orchestra, Open Up Music and Liverpool Philharmonic.

Dr Jessica Pitt is an early childhood music education researcher. She is co-director and co-founder of Magic Acorns – an early years arts development organisation for children (0-4y), families and artists. She was the lead researcher for SALTmusic, a project that brought together speech and language therapists with early childhood musicians to work with families and children under three with communication needs. Current work includes developing a Creative Research Centre in the Magic Acorns space in Great Yarmouth where research with young children, caregivers and artists is embedded. In addition, she is an academic programmes professor at the Royal College of Music, supervising a number of doctoral students with an interest in early childhood music.

Jessica is privileged to be a commissioner for ISME’s Early Childhood Music Education Commission, helping to organise a biennial international pre-conference seminar for early childhood music education. She serves on the editorial board for the Music Education Research journal, Music and Science journal and write books, and articles on music, education and young children. Recent work includes guest editing a Special Issue for Music Education Research journal in 2024 entitled: Posthuman Perspectives for Music Education.

Jamie Read is a charity and arts education leader who has spent 18 years working in inclusion and removing systemic barriers to access for young people from under-represented backgrounds. Honoured with a Fellowship of St George’s House, Windsor Castle, in recognition of his leadership within the arts education sector, Jamie became Community & Inclusion Manager for Berkshire Music Trust in 2024. In this role, he has helped to shape the Trust’s inclusion strategy and has led more than 20 projects designed to widen participation in music-making.

Jamie’s professional experience includes 13 years as Artistic Director & Head of Voice at READ College | Access to the Arts, as well as serving on the Singing Faculty at Italia Conti, the world’s oldest drama school. He was a Vanguard Assessor and Advisor to the Vocal Health First Aid programme and currently serves as Chair of Trustees for the Charlie Kristensen Foundation.

Having performed at the National Theatre, in London’s West End and internationally in musical theatre and as an actor, Jamie’s passion for giving people a voice, both literally and metaphorically, led him to undertake a PGCert and later a PGDip in Voice Pedagogy through Voice Study Centre. He subsequently presented his research in London, Barcelona and Berlin. Alongside his work at Berkshire Music Trust, Jamie continues to run a busy professional voice studio and is an accomplished choir conductor, leading the choir on several tour dates with Gareth Malone in 2025 and conducting for Downton at Christmas at Highclere Castle.

Carol Reid is Programme Director at Youth Music, the UK’s leading charity helping marginalised young people to make and monetise music. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the third sector, and is passionate about social change, youth voice and the power of music to transform lives.

Rebecca Richardson has been Head of Slough Music Service for the past five years and is the founder of Slough Youth Soul Choir. Her career in Slough spans 26 years, bringing together extensive experience across youth work, community development, and music education. Rebecca is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for all and championing inclusivity, accessibility, and relevance within music. She is committed to ensuring that music reflects the communities it serves, creating opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate, connect and thrive.

Rebecca is Co-Chair of the Slough Arts Forum and a member of the local theatre oversight group, contributing to the development of local cultural and arts strategies and strengthening engagement with the community.

Alongside her leadership and community work, Rebecca is also a performing artist and member of gospel, soul and R&B trio Soulful Sistas. At the heart of Rebecca’s work is a belief that music should be inclusive, relevant, and representative, creating space for everyone to find their voice and see themselves within the musical landscape.

Ella Roberts supports the delivery of Music Mark’s marketing strategy by promoting events and training opportunities across the organisation’s social media channels. She is also a member of the podcast team, contributing to the recording and production of the Music Mark podcast.

Ella studied Composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she developed a compositional practice with a focus upon integrating environmental sound into her music. During her studies, she also trained in Primary School music leadership, and has since gone on to train as an Early Years music facilitator with the Cardiff-based charity Little Live Projects. In this role, she has led classes and supported children’s concerts featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Ella is passionate about combining her commitment to music education with her interest in marketing and is excited to support Music Mark’s advocacy work.

Michelle Robinson is a doctoral researcher in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, UK. Her research examines the teacher-student relationship in one-to-one music education, drawing on sport psychology, specifically coach-athlete relationship research. Michelle’s work is informed by her background as a trained classical musician, alongside extensive experience in conservatoire, community and school-based music education. She was the inaugural winner of Loughborough University’s WE Innovate business programme, through which she has developed a business, Aretè, focused on delivering practical outcomes from her research. Michelle intends to use her research, and wider learning from sport psychology, to promote and develop psychological skills training and relationally informed practice in music education.

As Training & Events Officer at Music Mark, Yusef Sacoor supports the development and delivery of the training and events programme including the Annual Conference. With a background in delivering non-profit community art events and projects, and experience in artist development and festivals, Yusef has also been fortunate to work with and within participant-led music mentoring and education environments.

Ben Sellers is the programme lead of MEHEM UpRising and a UKRI-funded doctoral researcher at the UCL Institute of Education. His research explores approaches to music teacher development in specialist settings. He works closely with music and arts organisations nationally and internationally to support the development of their inclusive offers.

Mark Steele has been the Lead for Coventry Music since September 2017, having previously worked in Sheffield and Wakefield Music Services and at the charity Orchestra’s for All. Mark has developed the redesigned offer in Coventry to work with a broader and more diverse group of young people including work in all alternative provision sites in the city, including transformative music programmes enabling young people to return to mainstream settings through the power of music and use music as a tool to support personal and social development. As the consortium lead for Heart of England Music the newly established Music Hub for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire he is committed to developing new and exciting ways to ensure music education is available for all young people across genres, styles and communities.

Sam Stimpson (M.Ed/B.Ed) is the Founder and CEO of SLS 360 Ltd, a consultancy supporting organisations to build cultures where equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are embedded into everyday practice. Working predominantly across the cultural, education and music sectors, she combines deep sector knowledge with strategic expertise to help organisations create lasting cultural change rather than short-term interventions.

Sam is a musician and former music educator, who works with Music Hubs, National Portfolio Organisations, charities, public and private sector organisations across the UK. Her work focusses on supporting organisations to strengthen leadership, governance, workforce culture and organisational strategy. In 2025, she received the Music Mark Talk into Action Inclusion Award in recognition of her contribution to the sector.

Alongside her consultancy, in 2025 Sam founded the I.D.E.A.L. Network, a growing leadership community for people leading inclusion and organisational change. Through this work, and in partnership with Sound Connections, she has supported more than 50 inclusion leaders. Sam also serves as Chair of Trustees at Sound Connections.

Known for her practical, thought-provoking and compassionate approach, Sam challenges organisations to move beyond compliance and into meaningful cultural transformation, creating environments where people can thrive, contribute and truly belong.

James has worked in the music education and arts sector; both state and community, since…well let’s just say for a while now. An experienced music educator, community musician and trainer, areas of interest include Youth Voice, Diversity and Inclusion, and CPD. Hackney empowers young people through its Youth Music Forum to decide their own musical destinies and our Classical Meets Jazz ensemble ensures CYP from low socio-economic and ethnically diverse backgrounds see themselves as music leaders.

Benjamin Turner is the founder and Managing Director of Rap Club Productions C.I.C. and The Spit Game, a youth-led creative collective working across music, film and youth development. A former Director/Head of Music, he now leads major programmes with young people, including work supported by Youth Music and Movember, and directs award-winning films exploring race, masculinity, education and digital culture. His films have screened at BAFTA-qualifying festivals, while his youth-led practice has received national recognition.

Benjamin is also the creator of Meaning Dynamics, an emerging practice-led framework examining how pressure, identity and social environments shape the choices available to young people. His work brings together music education, youth work, filmmaking and research to explore what young people need in order to take risks, recover from failure and be seen safely.

Deirdre joined the Brass Bands England team having gained a wealth of experience from many years of leading highly successful primary school music departments, developing whole-class brass ensemble programmes and leading youth bands in London. With a passion for finding innovative ways to encourage and support those learning and teaching brass, Deirdre collaborates with hubs, schools and community bands to help provide access and inspiration to a new generation of young musicians.

Across the wider music and education sector, Deirdre serves as the conductor of London Metropolitan Community Band, Amersham training bands, Camden youth bands and is the director of the Camden Music Service Junior Saturday Centre. She is also a director of a live-stream events company, Big Door Broadcast Ltd.