BRILLIANT 2025 SPEAKERS
Our Speakers
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Afeefah Alvi
Founder, Volkanic
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Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith
Founder of PedTech and Director of One Life Learning
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Benjamin Barker
Principal & Director of AI, King's Leadership Academy Wavertree, Great Schools Trust
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Trudi Barrow
Design Education Advisor, CLEAPSS
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Jasmeen Basi
CEO & Founder, The Phun Phonics Method
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Paul Boross MBE
Business Psychologist/The Pitch Doctor
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Dene Botha
Co-founder and Head Coach at Earniversity
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Elaine Bowker
Principal & Group Chief Executive, The City of Liverpool College Group
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Ricky Brown
Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Sync
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Ian Browne
Early Careers and Skills Lead, Lloyds Banking Group
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Zaitoon Bukhari
Director of Digital Education, AtC Multi Academy Trust
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Chris Calver
UK Education Manager, VEX Robotics
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Martyn Collins
Festival Director, BRILLIANT
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Alex Cousins
Managing Director, Alex Cousins Consulting
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Nachelle Crowther FRSA
Founder, Evolve Generation
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David Curran
Assistive Technology Lead and Head of Careers, Moon Hall School, Reigate
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Emma Darcy
Director of Technology for Learning, Denbigh High School
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Dr Sara de Freitas
Founder & CEO, Weypoint
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Sean Dick
Senior Education Manager, Chester Zoo
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Gill Ditchburn
Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Education Business Partnership
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Austin Earl
Programme Manager - Education and EdTech, Central Government, techUK
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Ben Edmonds
Co-founder, Inventor Club
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Francesca Ellsmoor
Executive Headteacher, Auckland College Independent School
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Melissa Farnham
CEO, ASDAN
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Bianca Farthing
Founder of AI Edify
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Dan Fitzpatrick
The AI Educator
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Gifty Francis
Senior Education Consultant, Magma Maths & Certified Google Trainer & Innovator
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James Fraser-Murison
Director, Fraser Esports
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Joanna Gibbs
CEO, Director and Founder, SENsational Tutors
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Laura Giddings
Founder, The STEM Project
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Ty Goddard
Director, Edtech UK & Edtech Hubs Programme
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Patrick Gormley
Senior Vice President, Data Science and AI Consulting Lead, Kyndryl
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Sir Paul Grant
Education Advisor to Liverpool City Region Mayor
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Gemma Gwilliam
Head of Digital Learning, Education and Innovation, "Portsmouth: The Digital City" Project
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Evo Hannan
Founder of Innovation X
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Zak Hannan
Creator of ChangeMakerz
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Stephen Higgins
Head of Data and AI, Arbor Education
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Phil Holton
Senior Qualifications Manager for the Creative Curriculum, Pearson
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Dan Howard
Engineering Teacher and Autodesk Instructor, The studio school & CADCAM Educators Hub
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Natalie Ibbs
Senior Human Resources Partner, Amazon
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Gina Jackson OBE
Founder of Skillfull & Co-founder Pitchify
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Alex Jonas
Management Consulting Senior Manager, Accenture
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Max Kelly
Executive Headteacher, Dhoon School, Laxey School, Willaston School
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Al Kingsley MBE
CEO, NetSupport and Chair of a Multi-Academy Trust
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Chris Kissack
Business Development Manager, Acclaim Insights
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Tami Kuboye
Programme Manager, Barclays
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Dr Shantanu Kundu
Founder and CEO, Be Free Campaign
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Uná Meehan
Deputy Director of Partnerships, University of Chester
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Andy Miah
Chair of Science Communication & Future Media, University of Salford
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Shoubna Naika-Taylor
Media and Esports Specialist, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
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Yash Narain
Executive STEAM Youth Director at The STEM Project
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Mike Nicholson
Founder, Progressive Masculinities
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Olivia
Biology with Olivia
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Suzanne Owens
School Leader and Education Consultant
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Abid Patel
IT Director, Newham Community Learning
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Becky Patel
Head of Education & Learning, Tech She Can
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Tom Reynolds
Founder, EdenFiftyOne
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Emily Robson
Assistant Chief Executive, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool
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Steve Rotheram
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
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Shahneila Saeed
Head of Education, Ukie & Director, Digital Schoolhouse
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Sir Anthony Seldon
Founding Director of Wellington College Education, Educator, Author, Historian
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Jordan Smithson
Trust IT Services Manager, The Keys Academies Trust
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Fiona Spellman
CEO, SHINE
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Dr Maria Stukoff
Maker Space Director, The University of Salford
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Melanie Tagg
Principal Analyst, Head of Education, Futuresource Consulting
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Natalie Tapera
Lead Analyst, Futuresource Consulting
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Conrad Taylor
Head of Business, Learning & Technology at City of Wolverhampton College & Certified Google Trainer
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Alan Thompson
Founder, BRILLIANT Festival , hi-impact & STEMLive!
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Lawrence Tijjani
Founder and CEO, Happy2Host Education
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Lauren Walker
Digital Learning Manager, Chester Zoo
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Clare Webster
Director of Apprenticeships and Skills, St Helens College
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Matthew Wemyss
Assistant School Director, Cambridge School of Bucharest
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Daren White
Academic Technologies Lead, Lift Schools
We are thrilled to unveil the finalists for this year's BRILLIANT Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in STEAM education and industry engagement! A huge congratulations to those who have made the shortlist.
The judging panel was deeply impressed by the quality, innovation, and impact of all the submissions. The winners in each of the six categories will be announced at the BRILLIANT Awards Ceremony on the 11th November.
BRILLIANT Finalists!
Innovators in Science Award
Finalists:
Gartcosh Primary School
STEM with Mr N
The Belvedere Academy
Sponsored by:
Creative Visionaries in Art & Design Award
Finalists:
Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Liverpool John Moores University
Donhead Prep School
Sponsored by:
Tech Excellence Award
Finalists:
Uncommon
Donhead Prep School
Gartcosh Primary School
Sponsored by:
Outstanding Industry Engagement Award
Finalists:
University of Liverpool Mathematics School
King’s College London
University of Glasgow
Sponsored by:
Maths Mastery Award
Finalists:
Donhead Prep School
University of Liverpool Mathematics School
UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park
Sponsored by:
Engineering Changemakers Award
Finalists:
Baysgarth School
Haberdasher’s Boys’ School
Hugh Baird college
Sponsored by:
Celebrating BRILLIANT Education
The BRILLIANT Awards shine a light on schools, colleges, and universities that are leading the way in STEAM education and Industry engagement. If you're equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world — we want to celebrate your work.
BRILLIANT invites you to join its mission to empower educators, transform education, and equip students with the skills and mindset needed for a brilliant future. Together, we can revolutionise teaching and learning, nurturing a generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers.
Who Can Enter?
You’re eligible to enter if:
You are a school, college, or university based in the UK.
Your project, initiative, or work aligns with BRILLIANT’s mission: to inspire, innovate, and connect education with industry, technology, creativity, and future-ready skills.
Entries are welcome from individual educators, leadership teams, departments, or cross-institution collaborations. There are no restrictions on size or location — if you’re doing something BRILLIANT, we want to hear about it.
Entry Criteria
Entries must relate to work carried out between January 2024 and July 2025.
You can submit the same project to multiple categories if relevant — it’s easy to duplicate submissions.
Judging is fair, transparent, and led by an expert panel from education, tech, and industry. Entries will be reviewed independently with optional supporting material considered.
Key Dates
Final Entry Deadline: 30 September 2025
Shortlist Announced: 14 October 2025
Awards Ceremony: 11 November 2025, BRILLIANT Festival Keynote Theatre, Exhibition Centre Liverpool
🕓 Entries closed on 30 September 2025
If you're unsure whether your work qualifies, contact us at martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com — we're happy to advise.
1. Innovators in Science Award - sponsored by
Recognising projects that drive scientific exploration, foster curiosity and encourage real-world impact in science education.
Examples of evidence:
Innovative science projects or research conducted by students.
Participation in national or international science competitions.
Evidence of hands-on experiments, fieldwork, or industry collaborations.
Testimonials from students, teachers, or external partners on the impact of science initiatives.
Judging criteria:
Creativity and originality in science projects and teaching methods.
Impact on student engagement, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Collaboration with external organisations, universities, or industry.
Demonstration of real-world applications of scientific learning.
2. Tech Excellence Award - sponsored by
Celebrating initiatives that embrace cutting-edge technology, equipping students with the digital skills needed for the future.
Examples of evidence:
Integration of coding, AI, robotics, or emerging technologies into the curriculum.
Case studies of student-led digital innovation or app development.
Engagement with tech industry partners or participation in national tech challenges.
Use of VR, AR or other advanced technologies to enhance learning.
Judging criteria:
Innovative use of technology in teaching and learning.
Demonstrated impact on students’ digital literacy and problem-solving abilities.
Evidence of industry links, mentorship, or real-world applications.
Scalability and sustainability of tech initiatives in the school.
3. Engineering Changemakers Award - sponsored by
Honouring programmes that inspire design thinking, problem-solving and hands-on engineering innovation.
Examples of evidence:
Student-led engineering projects or prototypes solving real-world challenges.
Collaboration with engineers or STEM organisations to enhance learning.
Participation in engineering competitions such as F1 in Schools or VEX Robotics.
Showcasing sustainable or community-focused engineering initiatives.
Judging criteria:
Innovation and creativity in engineering-based projects.
Practical application of engineering principles and design thinking.
Industry partnerships and real-world engagement.
Student impact and opportunities for skills development.
4. Creative Visionaries in Art & Design Award - sponsored by
Recognising activities that champion creativity, artistic expression and design thinking.
Examples of evidence:
Student artwork or design projects exhibited at galleries or competitions.
Integration of digital design, animation, or fashion into the curriculum.
Cross-disciplinary projects combining art with technology or science.
Collaboration with artists, designers, or creative industry professionals.
Judging criteria:
Originality and creativity in artistic or design projects.
Engagement with the wider creative community or industry.
Impact on student confidence and creative thinking.
Use of innovative techniques or cross-disciplinary approaches.
5. Maths Mastery Award - sponsored by
Celebrating projects that excel in mathematics education, inspiring students through innovative and applied learning.
Examples of evidence:
Innovative teaching approaches that improve student engagement and performance in maths.
Participation in national maths challenges, Olympiads, or problem-solving competitions.
Case studies of students applying maths in real-world scenarios (e.g., finance, coding, engineering).
Partnerships with universities or industry to enhance maths learning.
Judging criteria:
Innovation in teaching methods and student engagement.
Demonstrated improvement in mathematical understanding and application.
Evidence of real-world connections and interdisciplinary approaches.
Participation and achievement in external maths challenges.
6. Outstanding Industry Engagement Award - sponsored by
Honouring partnerships that build strong links with businesses and industry, preparing students for the world of work.
Examples of evidence:
Successful collaborations with businesses, apprenticeships, or work experience programmes.
Industry-led workshops, mentoring schemes, or employer engagement initiatives.
Student projects co-developed with industry partners.
Feedback from students and industry professionals on the impact of engagement.
Judging criteria:
Depth and quality of industry partnerships.
Impact on student career awareness, skills and opportunities.
Innovation in work-related learning experiences.
Sustainability and long-term benefits of industry links.
The 6 Award Categories
Sponsorship Opportunities
Want to align your brand with innovation and excellence in education?
We’re actively seeking partners who share our values.
To learn more about sponsorship email martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com
Become a Judge
Our panel of judges is made up of experts from education, technology, and industry.
If you'd like to be considered for a future BRILLIANT Awards panel, please get in touch with martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com
Let’s celebrate the young pioneers, problem-solvers, innovators and changemakers who will change our world for the better.
We are seeking passionate and innovative educators, thought leaders, and industry experts to share their groundbreaking ideas. Join a dynamic community of like-minded individuals, learn from each other, promote collaboration between industry and education and elevate your voice to leave a lasting impact on the field of learning.
**Applications officially closed on Thursday 17th April 2025. However, if you believe you bring a valuable perspective that would significantly enhance the 2025 programme — and you’re eager not to miss out — please email the Festival Director at martyncollins@brilliantfestival.com with details of your proposed talk. We will review your submission and get back to you.**
Shape the future of education and inspire the next generation!
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Event Management students from Liverpool John Moores University for their fantastic support in helping to deliver BRILLIANT 2025. The students will be on hand throughout the day assisting with registration, welcoming guests, distributing goody bags, scanning attendees into sessions, and supporting the event management team to ensure everything runs smoothly. Their enthusiasm and professionalism play an important role in creating a seamless experience for everyone attending — thank you for being part of the team!