Session 3, 11:00: A Case Study from Portsmouth, UK
Ben Dowling, Sarah Christoper, David Hart, Steve Labedz, Ella Reilly, Announcer Ian Bingeman
Ian Bingeman
Ian is the executive director of Youth Ottawa. He comes to Ottawa by way of Victoria, Kingston, and Kitchener. His hardest (and most rewarding!) job was the years he spent as the D.A.D. (Domestic Administration Dude) while his children were young.
Ian was drawn to working for Youth Ottawa not only because it fosters great opportunities for youth, but also, and more importantly, because it channels the passion, conscience, and brilliance which is natural to youth and necessary to the world.
Ian holds Bachelor degrees in English and Education, earned a Master’s degree in English, and is a proud graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada. In recognition of his work growing Youth Ottawa, Ian received a Forty Under Forty Award from the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
Ben Dowling
Director, Unloc and City Councillor, Portsmouth, UK
Ben is a Co-founder and Director for Unloc. He was elected a City Councillor in Portsmouth, UK at the age of 20 and went on to become a Cabinet Member with responsibility for the city’s International Port, regeneration teams, economic development and adult learning. Ben will continue as a councillor until May 2022. He is also the Chair of Trustees for a housing association and a Director for a community coffee shop.
Ella Reilly
Student and ONE Youth Ambassador
Ella’s passions lie within sustainable development, from extreme poverty to environmental conservation. A ONE Youth Ambassador, she is working with the ONE Campaign to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030. Ella was Head Girl at her school and is a supporter of youth co-production, previously working on projects concerning young people’s mental health services, student voice in schools, disability inclusion and equality in education settings.
David Hart
Education Consultant
David is a successful developer of multi-agency approaches to wellbeing and a nationally respected facilitator and curriculum developer of personal development learning. This includes the student voice, pupil participation skills, active citizenship and social enterprise. David is an innovative, strategic and experienced senior teacher and local authority adviser with more than 25 years of experience within both rural and urban local government, schools and youth settings.
Steve Labedz
CEO, The Salterns Academy Trust
Steve has spent 40 years teaching in and leading schools in Sheffield, Liverpool, Chester and, for the last 25 years, Portsmouth, where he is currently Executive Head of two secondary schools. These schools contain nearly 2000 young people, all of whom have great ideas on how their schools could be made even better. He has built his career around creating student-centred schools which strive to unlock every young person’s potential. He is also Chair of the Portsmouth Education Partnership, supporting his other passion: collaboration between schools.
Sarah Christopher
Portsmouth Education Partnership and School Inclusion Manager, Portsmouth City Council
Sarah has over 25 years’ experience working in education, primarily in East London and more recently in Portsmouth, UK. Her experience includes senior leadership, curriculum and pastoral management roles. Sarah currently manages the Portsmouth Education Partnership, which brings together all Portsmouth schools and partners to improve attainment and opportunities for all children and young people across the city. Sarah is committed to inclusive education;promoting equalities and emotional wellbeing. Sarah works in co-production with children and young people, parents/ carers, schools and colleges; proactively ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and responded to.