As the founder of an ever-growing online repository detailing daily experiences of gender inequality, Laura Bates knows that work needs to be done to make opportunities truly equal. She joins our debate on barriers to achievement, which asks ‘At what point is determination not enough?’

Described by the New Statesman as ‘perhaps the best popular economics writer in the world’, Tim Harford frequently speaks on the social and psychological elements of how we work and consume. He’ll be talking about how teachers can lead change and make a difference.

As Principal of a secondary school located adjacent to Grenfell Tower, David Benson understands the challenges of leadership in the face of community tragedy. This will be the topic of his talk, which will also draw on his many years of experience at a leading academy chain.

As the founder of Teach First, Brett is no stranger to the theme he will introduce – Challenge the Impossible. But he insists that, “the work has only just begun… we need a united effort to ensure every young person receives the education they deserve.”

Currently General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Russell Hobby takes over as Teach First’s CEO in September. He’ll be chairing a session in which all will be encouraged to help build a movement for educational equality and to make a personal difference.

Muzoon fled Syria as a teenager, spending three years living in refugee camps. These immense personal challenges didn’t stop her from tirelessly campaigning for the rights of children to have an education though, and at 18 she became the youngest ever Goodwill Ambassador. Hear her powerful story.

Since moving to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago in 2003, Abrilli has worked tirelessly in the education sector, and in September will become Executive Headteacher at The Wellington College Academy Trust.

She’ll be joining our debate panel in asking whether there’s a difference between social mobility and educational equality.

The Chartered College of Teaching aims to provide a professional body ‘for teachers, by teachers’. With experience of teaching at all levels, Dame Alison Peacock, its CE, is well placed to speak in our debate on ‘opening up access to all post-18 options’.

Raphael knows that society is unequal, and that’s why he founded Rare, an innovative and award-winning recruitment agency that aims to ‘level the playing field’. He’ll be offering his unique perspectives in our timely debate which asks, ‘At what point is determination not enough?’

Shakira is the current President of the National Union of Students (NUS), and is only the second NUS President not to have gone to university.

She’ll be taking part in our lively debate on ‘When determination is not enough’, which considers how the odds are stacked against some young people.

With 20 years of experience in working in challenging inner city schools, and the establishment of a successful teaching school under her belt, Vanessa understands the difficulties that face teachers and pupils.

Today, she is CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust, and is involved with Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn campaign.

Photo credit: The Telegraph

“Rule number one’ of Rap Club is honesty.”

Hailing from Oasis Academy Shirley Park, Rap Club is a unique pupil-led group: “Turner and the crew,
Spitting bout our lives - this is nothing but the truth.”

In just a short time, Rap Club have won a London-wide talent show, and performed on the BBC Live Lounge alongside Arcade Fire. Don’t miss your chance to see them perform, as they close Impact Conference 2017 in style.

Mary left school at 16 to become a secretary at International Biochemicals, and left the company as International Sales and Marketing Director. She has since headed up many organisations, and was CEO of UCAS from 2010 to 2017. She’ll be taking part in our debate on the options available to school-leavers.

Jon is the main anchor of Channel 4 news. He has reported on many world changing events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the release of Nelson Mandela. He will bring knowledge and insight to our big social mobility debate.

James was a journalist for 20 years, and spent the last ten of those as political editor and columnist at the Daily Telegraph. In March 2017 James became Director of the Social Market Foundation, an independent think-tank. He'll be taking part in 'The Big Social Mobility Debate.'

At the start of the conference, make sure you don’t miss this three-minute excerpt of an award-winning play by 16-year-old Ruth Kelner, a student from Wakefield. The play follows two young people facing their future after GCSE results day, and was written as part of the UK-wide 'New Views' programme, in which teachers are supported to set up a writing group in school, including playwright-run workshops for their students.

The NCE Academy, which Andrew has been the Executive Director of since 2012, currently educates over 2500 children on six campuses in Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Lynemouth. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and the Royal Society of Arts, and serves on the National Headteachers’ Reference Group for Teach First.

Mark joined Teach First's Leadership Development programme as a career changer, and became an ambassador this summer after two years in a Bradford primary school. His experience over this time developed an interest in teacher well-being and mental health, which now underpins his priorities as elected Vice-President of our participant and ambassador community.

Rachel Sylvester writes a weekly political column for The Times, and won Political Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2015 and 2016. At the 2016 British Journalism Awards meanwhile, she won the Political Journalist of the year award for her interview with Andrea Leadsom.

Justine Greening was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities on 14 July 2016. She attended her local comprehensive school in Rotherham before going on to become finance manager at Centrica plc. Elected to Parliament in 2005, she became a Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, with responsibility for youth. She has held a range of Ministerial and Cabinet positions covering the Treasury, Transport and International Development. 
*Subject to parliamentary business 

Angela left school at 16 with no qualifications and a baby on the way. After attending a local college she became a care worker and later a union rep for UNISON. She is the first woman MP for the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency. Angela will discuss what she thinks it will take to make education fair and will respond to your questions from the floor.
*Subject to parliamentary business