The Chair will welcome delegates to the first day of the conference, which will focus on two interrelated themes: Leadership and Workforce and Wellbeing and Inclusion. 

• The science and key tenets underpinning positive psychology, and how school leaders can embed them within their leadership style.  
• How can positive psychology provide a catalyst for organisationl change. 
• Leading by example: how positive educational leadership and a focus upon inspiration can build connections and loyalty.  
• Developing resilience within your faculty and ensuring that your senior leadership team can support your staff and colleagues’ mental health.  
• Meaningful ways to make staff feel valued that is structured and counterbalanced with academic excellence.  

• What is the future of the international education sector in Europe? 
• How can international school leaders and senior leadership teams adapt to respond to and meet the needs of a rapidly evolving market? 
• Instituting change and inspiring innovation within your school. 

Delegates are invited to attend one of the below interactive roundtable discussions in the Leadership and Workforce stream. Please note that these roundtable sessions will take place concurrently and at the same time as the roundtable sessions in the Wellbeing and Inclusion stream.  

• What is the current research surrounding effective staff appraisals, and how can school leadership teams implement evidence-based performance management strategies?  
• The importance of using middle leaders when setting whole school key performance indicators and for appraising educators’ progress. 
• Developing a more collaborative and self-reflexive process whereby staff take on greater ownership of their development so that they can meet their career goals.

• Current recruitment trends in European international schools: what are the motivations underpinning educators’ career choices?  
• How can European international schools attract the best talent in an increasingly competitive market? 
• How will the ongoing impact of Brexit impact European schools’ hiring practices in 2023 and beyond? 
• The importance of ongoing CPD opportunities to retain leading talent. 
• What should schools do to ensure that they employ equitable hiring practices that provide equal opportunities for all? 

• What barriers to leadership in international schools most commonly impact individuals who identify as women? 
• What additional, intersectional challenges preclude some women from advancing to senior leadership positions in European international schools? What can be done to disrupt and dismantle the systems and structures that support this? 
• How can those already in leadership positions empower and successfully advocate for women seeking leadership positions? 
• The importance of establishing both formal and informal networks to ensure an equitable future for individuals who identify as women in the European international schools sector. 

• How can schools develop a culture of coaching and mentoring to create a more effective teaching workforce? 
• The importance of coaching and mentoring for the development of both pedagogical and soft skills. 
• The interrelation between coaching, mentoring and succession planning. 
• Shifting from a managerial hierarchy to a collaborative culture. 

• How can schools develop a holistic, whole-school approach to wellbeing that encompasses the needs of both students, educators and school leaders? 
• What provisions ought to be put in place to safeguard the mental health of senior leadership teams? 
• Establishing an organisational culture of trust and delegation to safeguard the wellbeing of senior leadership teams. 
• Strategies to help reduce stress and staff burnout. 

This session will consist of two 15-minute presentations followed by a 30-minute summary panel discussion, and moderated live delegate Q&A. 

Hear insights from two international school leaders with direct experience of working in the context of complex, irresolute conflicts about the role that international schools can play in responding to geopolitical crises in and beyond Europe.