BRILLIANT 2025 SPEAKERS

Our Speakers

  • Afeefah Alvi

    Founder, Volkanic

  • Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith

    Founder of PedTech and Director of One Life Learning

  • Benjamin Barker

    Principal & Director of AI, King's Leadership Academy Wavertree, Great Schools Trust


  • Trudi Barrow

    Design Education Advisor, CLEAPSS

  • Jasmeen Basi

    CEO & Founder, The Phun Phonics Method

  • Paul Boross MBE

    Business Psychologist/The Pitch Doctor

  • Dene Botha

    Co-founder and Head Coach at Earniversity

  • Elaine Bowker

    Principal & Group Chief Executive, The City of Liverpool College Group

  • Ricky Brown

    Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Sync

  • Ian Browne

    Early Careers and Skills Lead, Lloyds Banking Group

  • Zaitoon Bukhari

    Director of Digital Education, AtC Multi Academy Trust

  • Chris Calver

    UK Education Manager, VEX Robotics

  • Martyn Collins

    Festival Director, BRILLIANT

  • Alex Cousins

    Managing Director, Alex Cousins Consulting

  • Nachelle Crowther FRSA

    Founder, Evolve Generation

  • David Curran

    Assistive Technology Lead and Head of Careers, Moon Hall School, Reigate

  • Emma Darcy

    Director of Technology for Learning, Denbigh High School

  • Dr Sara de Freitas

    Founder & CEO, Weypoint

  • Sean Dick

    Senior Education Manager, Chester Zoo

  • Gill Ditchburn

    Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Education Business Partnership

  • Austin Earl

    Programme Manager - Education and EdTech, Central Government, techUK

  • Ben Edmonds

    Co-founder, Inventor Club

  • Francesca Ellsmoor

    Executive Headteacher, Auckland College Independent School

  • Melissa Farnham

    CEO, ASDAN

  • Bianca Farthing

    Founder of AI Edify

  • Dan Fitzpatrick

    The AI Educator

  • Gifty Francis

    Senior Education Consultant, Magma Maths & Certified Google Trainer & Innovator

  • James Fraser-Murison

    Director, Fraser Esports

  • Joanna Gibbs

    CEO, Director and Founder, SENsational Tutors

  • Laura Giddings

    Founder, The STEM Project

  • Ty Goddard

    Director, Edtech UK & Edtech Hubs Programme

  • Patrick Gormley

    Senior Vice President, Data Science and AI Consulting Lead, Kyndryl

  • Sir Paul Grant

    Education Advisor to Liverpool City Region Mayor

  • Gemma Gwilliam

    Head of Digital Learning, Education and Innovation, "Portsmouth: The Digital City" Project

  • Evo Hannan

    Founder of Innovation X

  • Zak Hannan

    Creator of ChangeMakerz

  • Stephen Higgins

    Head of Data and AI, Arbor Education

  • Phil Holton

    Senior Qualifications Manager for the Creative Curriculum, Pearson

  • Dan Howard

    Engineering Teacher and Autodesk Instructor, The studio school & CADCAM Educators Hub

  • Natalie Ibbs

    Senior Human Resources Partner, Amazon

  • Gina Jackson OBE

    Founder of Skillfull & Co-founder Pitchify

  • Alex Jonas

    Management Consulting Senior Manager, Accenture

  • Max Kelly

    Executive Headteacher, Dhoon School, Laxey School, Willaston School

  • Al Kingsley MBE

    CEO, NetSupport and Chair of a Multi-Academy Trust

  • Chris Kissack

    Business Development Manager, Acclaim Insights

  • Tami Kuboye

    Programme Manager, Barclays

  • Dr Shantanu Kundu

    Founder and CEO, Be Free Campaign

  • Uná Meehan

    Deputy Director of Partnerships, University of Chester

  • Andy Miah

    Chair of Science Communication & Future Media, University of Salford

  • Shoubna Naika-Taylor

    Media and Esports Specialist, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

  • Yash Narain

    Executive STEAM Youth Director at The STEM Project

  • Mike Nicholson

    Founder, Progressive Masculinities

  • Olivia

    Biology with Olivia

  • Suzanne Owens

    School Leader and Education Consultant

  • Abid Patel

    IT Director, Newham Community Learning

  • Becky Patel

    Head of Education & Learning, Tech She Can

  • Tom Reynolds

    Founder, EdenFiftyOne

  • Emily Robson

    Assistant Chief Executive, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool

  • Steve Rotheram

    Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

  • Shahneila Saeed

    Head of Education, Ukie & Director, Digital Schoolhouse

  • Sir Anthony Seldon

    Founding Director of Wellington College Education, Educator, Author, Historian

  • Jordan Smithson

    Trust IT Services Manager, The Keys Academies Trust

  • Fiona Spellman

    CEO, SHINE

  • Dr Maria Stukoff

    Maker Space Director, The University of Salford

  • Melanie Tagg

    Principal Analyst, Head of Education, Futuresource Consulting

  • Natalie Tapera

    Lead Analyst, Futuresource Consulting

  • Conrad Taylor

    Head of Business, Learning & Technology at City of Wolverhampton College & Certified Google Trainer

  • Alan Thompson

    Founder, BRILLIANT Festival , hi-impact & STEMLive!

  • Lawrence Tijjani

    Founder and CEO, Happy2Host Education

  • Lauren Walker

    Digital Learning Manager, Chester Zoo

  • Clare Webster

    Director of Apprenticeships and Skills, St Helens College

  • Matthew Wemyss

    Assistant School Director, Cambridge School of Bucharest

  • 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:

REGISTER TO ATTEND

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.

Submit your Application

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

Submit your Application

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!