Future Forward 2026

Welcome

This is where you'll find all the information you need about the next Northern Star Academies Trust conference, Future Forward 2026 on Monday 2 November at the Life Centre Events Venue, Bradford.

We'll be welcoming all our staff, Trustees and Members of Community Hub Partnerships, as well as key partners who work with our Trust and have kindly provided sponsorship for the event. Our thanks go to our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible.

Future Forward 2026 is an opportunity for our whole Trust community to reflect on progress and look ahead to new opportunities. Through inspiring guest speakers, we'll explore what the schools of the future could look like and consider how we'll shape inclusive education that enables every child to thrive.

The conference starts at 09.30, with coffee available from 08.45.

Headline Speakers

Francesca Martinez

Francesca delivers motivational speeches to charities, colleges, universities, hospitals, and major conferences around the world. A commited campaigner, Francesca has received an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University for making Britain ‘a fairer and more compassionate society’, and a second honorary doctorate from Bradford University ‘for her contributions to equality, inclusive thought and social commentary’.

Find out more about Francesca

Tom Cheesewright

Tom is an Applied Futurist, helping leaders to see the future more clearly. He is a trusted advisor and futurist speaker to more than 30 of the global 500, as well as major government bodies such as NASA. He's also a regular broadcaster, recognised from thousands of media appearances, explaining tomorrow’s world across TV, radio, print and online. Currently he's a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent.

Find out more about Tom

Jenn Plews OBE

Jenn is the Chief Executive of Northern Star Academies Trust (NSAT), a post she has held since 2017. She has worked in leadership roles at multiple levels in the education sector, across local authorities, as a headteacher and as a system leader.

She is passionate about the arts and the environment - steering NSAT to be named as Environmental Trust of the Year in 2026.

Find out more about Jenn