OABMG Conference March 2025

The Oxfordshire Academies Business Managers Group is holding its sixth annual conference on 11th March 2025 at the Kassam Stadium. Grenoble Road, Oxford. Invites are not limited to the Oxfordshire area and everyone is welcome. 

The focus of this conference is on providing practical solutions to real problems that are facing school business managers and education from AI and estate management to recruitment and procurement. The wide range of subject matter reflects the incredible diversity and range of the business professional's role. In addition to the ISBL's very own Stephen Morales and Lee Herridge presenting, we are delighted to inform you that Rachel Younger, President of the NAHT will be giving the afternoon keynote address. Rachel is the first School Business Leader to be elected to this position in the NAHT's 125 year history. 

Our morning keynote speaker is Alison Edgar MBE, a seasoned business professional, mentor and top selling author.  Alison empowers audiences to embrace change, enhance communication, and boost results. Her talks provide real-life implementable takeaways that make an immediate impact.

You can sign up to the conference here where you will also find information on the agenda, breakout sessions and speakers.  While this conference is primarily for our group members who are academies, we have previously welcomed a large number of maintained schools and we hope the sessions will continue to appeal to all. 

We have some great speakers including:

• Stephen Morales, Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leaders looking at Operational Excellent and what it means in different settings 
• Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist speaking on budget assumptions
• James Browning, Chief Operating Office of LIFT Schools on  the coming AI wave and the impact on schools and trusts
• Shirley Si Ahmed, Finance Director of Athena Learning Trust on imposter syndrome and unleashing your inner potential 
• Jonathan Jones of MAC Construction looking at the latest challenges in estate management and how you can deal with them
• Mandy Coalter of Talent Architects on impactful recruitment in challenging times and making your school a great place to work. 
• Matthew Wolton, Commercial Law Partner, VWV focuses the changes in procurement law and how it will impact on you 

The conference is always popular, with over 100 delegates attending mainly, but not exclusively, School Business Managers, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers and Finance Directors. In addition Head Teachers and Governors have also attended in the past. 

Tickets are just £75 (the same as last year).

We really hope that there is something of interest for you and please feel free to share this information.