Speakers | Ubiq X LIVE Conference Programme - 4th & 5th March 26

commercial Speakers

Meet the world-class commercial leaders who build brands, scale communities, and listen obsessively to their audiences. In our commercial sessions, you'll learn the skills schools need now to think, move, and compete differently.

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Grace AndrewsEx. Brand Director

Grace Andrews is a brand and marketing leader known for building some of the world’s most successful podcasts and digital platforms. With a track record that includes scaling Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO into a global media phenomenon, she now advises the next generation of creator-led brands and businesses.

Sam ConniffBest Selling Author

Sam’s best-selling book, Be More Pirate, has become a global movement advocating ‘professional rule breaking and Good Trouble’ as a new approach to positive disruption. With Netflix and University College London, Sam created Uncertainty Experts, the world’s first interactive documentary, which was scientifically proven to transform our ability to handle change.
 

Dani RaynerEx. Director of Marketing

Formerly Director of Marketing Planning and Operations for EMEA and APAC at Netflix, Dani has shaped brand strategy and marketing output for some of the world’s most influential organisations, including the BBC and BAFTA. Dani is a Trustee for the London Wildlife Trust and has been recognised as a Climate Changemaker by the Edinburgh International TV Festival for her contributions to climate awareness.
 

Leeya HendricksDirector of Hark Consultants and ex. Global CMO

Dr Leeya Hendricks is a global CMO and platform-ecosystem strategist, advising boards and high-growth organisations on marketing leadership, digital transformation, and ecosystem-led growth. She is Managing Director of Hark Consultants and author of The Platform Playbook (Palgrave Macmillan, 2026).
 

John ThorntonCreative Lead

John's spent a decade writing silly things on the internet for brands like Surreal Cereal, innocent smoothies, Secret Cinema, Oxfam, and the United Nations. Some of his work has won awards! Most of it hasn't.
 

Becci DiveEx. Head of Marketing (UK&I)

Becci has a marketing career spanning 15+ years delivering work for luxury fashion, grocery, beauty, subscription, QSR and automotive brands. A a true right + left brain smorgasbord of data, creative ideas and customer insight, Becci has been listed as one of Marketing Week’s Top 100 Marketers; one of Campaign’s ‘30 Under 30’; one of four shortlisted for Media Week’s Rising Star award.

Bianca BrownSenior Account Manager (Digital)

Bianca has been at Edelman for nearly 5 years and is a confident and skilled Digital specialist. She’s gained a variety of experience in B2B and B2C client projects, campaigns and social media programmes from end-to-end, including Meta, Microsoft, HARIBO, DP World, Unilever and the United Nations Climate Change Conference. She is an Ambassador in the UK for the Gen Z Lab, a global collective focused on demystifying the young audience for agency and clients alike.

Sean CornellFounder & (Mis) Chief Creator

With a career spanning over 30 years leading creative teams in some of the world’s leading branding agencies, Sean Cornell is the founder and (mis) Chief Creator of Wonderment (The joyful branding agency). Nicknamed the “Willy Wonka of branding,” he blends bold strategy with playful creativity, believing that joy, done on purpose, is one of the most powerful forces in business, making companies more effective by making their brands more affective. A rare mix of monk and maverick, Sean doesn’t chase trends.
He prefers shaping what comes next. His motto says it all: “Whoever has the most fun, wins.”

Kristof FahyChief Marketing Officer

Kristof has been the Chief Marketing Officer of Moonpig Group for over 6 years. Kristof has extensive marketing leadership experience with successful creation and implementation of commercial, digital, marketing and brand strategies across digital, mobile and retail channels. He previously held roles as Chief Customer Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of leading UK businesses including Checaktrade.com, Hostelworld Group, Ladbrokes Coral Group, and William Hill, where he led their digital transition to a multi-channel international business. Prior to that Kristof was VP International Marketing at Yahoo!, European Brand Director at Blackberry and Head of Brand, Advertising and Planning at Orange.

Karen LaneFounder and Group Managing Director

Karen Lane is the Founder and Group Managing Director of Plus 1 Communications, leading its strategic growth across the UK, UAE and partner Mumbai offices. A Mathematics graduate, she built her career on analytical thinking and data-driven marketing, with senior roles spanning Abu Dhabi Media and Eros International in Mumbai. Since founding P1C in 2014, Karen has grown the agency into an international team supporting leading education groups and premium school brands across the UK and Middle East. She works closely with established institutions and expanding British schools to strengthen positioning, drive enrolment growth and support international expansion.

David BrewertonMarketing Director

David's 16 year marketing career has taken him from small
business marketing exec to breaking all growth records as Marketing Director at Monzo via Guide Dogs,Tesco and Metro Bank. A Marketing Academy Scholar and recognised marketing thought leader.

Amie CaswellHead of Brand

Amie is a brand and content leader with experience across New Look, TONI&GUY and Lick. She specialises in turning creative storytelling and social strategy into measurable growth. Her work blends audience insight, creator partnerships and data-led thinking. She focuses on building brands people genuinely want to engage with.

EducationSpeakers

Our education speakers are in the weeds of modern school marketing. With backgrounds in commercial and public sectors, they bring proven strategies for attracting families, building relevance, and standing out in a crowded market.

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Jamie PerfectSchool Director

With over 20 years of experience in School Leadership, Jamie has led school improvement, strategic change, and innovation across diverse educational contexts. At ISB, he has overseen a shift from a British-centric model to a genuinely international approach, strengthening student outcomes, staff development, and digital learning. Jamie also serves on the advisory boards of Making Stuff Better (MSB) and NHL Stenden’s International Teacher Education programme.

Hanisha KotechaDirector of Marketing & External Relations

Hanisha Kotecha has spent her career rewriting the rules of commercial creativity. After over a decade at the sharp end of the creative agency world, leading national and international campaigns and high performing teams for brands from Dunelm, Vodafone and Jose Cuervo to Child Poverty Action Group, WaterAid, she was Chief Client Officer at Creature and Managing Director at purpose agency GOOD, known for work that blends commercial results with real social impact.

Sean WestHead of Digital Marketing

Sean is Head of Digital Marketing at North London Collegiate School, where he leads the school’s digital strategy, driven by creativity, authenticity, and purpose. He’s passionate about authentic brand storytelling and believes that daring to challenge convention is key to building strong, distinctive brands that truly connect with audiences.

Jacqueline KellerDirector of Marketing and Communications

With degrees in communications, counseling, and information design & strategy, Jacqueline has found joy working in the nonprofit sector. Currently, she is the director of marketing & communications at Avon Old Farms School—an all-boys secondary education institution—where she leads a team of three.

Maddie LingardHead of Marketing

A self-proclaimed intrapreneur, Maddie has quickly established herself as a bold voice in independent education marketing. With over four years’ experience spanning both B2B and client-side roles, she brings a rare blend of school-based insight and commercial expertise.

Emilee AlexsonEvents Manager

Emilee Alexson is an event and experience strategist with 18 years’ experience creating global conferences, brand launches, TV-show-style virtual broadcasts, and high-profile live events for brands including IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Mulberry, Google, and Universal Music. She previously ran the events departments for some of London’s most exclusive West End venues and now leads Ubiq’s global events strategy, driving Ubiq X, a connected program of live and virtual experiences that build community, spark conversation, and deliver real impact.

Ed HolmesDirector of Marketing and Communications

Ed Holmes is a proud marketing generalist with nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, PR and education marketing. He leads communications at Westminster’s two schools, supporting strategic goals and protecting their reputation. Ed brings expertise across brand strategy, crisis management and creative delivery, shaped by senior roles in education and wider cultural and public sectors.

Wonnie SayamaHead of Admissions

Wonnie Sayama is an admissions and communications leader with over 25 years’ experience in education, brand marketing, and international recruitment. She now leads admissions at a UK independent girls’ school, bringing a global perspective to strategy and a focus on parent and pupil experience. Wonnie is passionate about creating a purpose-driven, personalised admissions journey that builds trust, belonging, and long-term engagement.

Katie DaRinDirector of Fractional Marketing

Katie has spent more than 15 years working in marketing and communications for independent schools across the U.S. As a website marketing consultant, she’s worked directly with schools on award-winning website redesigns that bring their stories to life. At Ubiq, where she serves as Director of Fractional Marketing, she helps schools sharpen their message, elevate their brand, drive enrollment, and align teams around a shared vision.

Sabrina MoutardeUK Marketing Director

Sabrina Moutarde is a seasoned Brand Strategist with over 17 years of international experience across the UK and the Middle East. Combining a background in education with deep expertise in agency and client-side marketing, she specialises in delivering impactful, values-driven customer experiences. Most recently, Sabrina led marketing and admissions strategy at St James Schools, where her collaborative approach drove measurable growth and strengthened community engagement.

Kris JearyCreative Director

Kris is the Creative Director at Ubiq. After years of agency life he has brought fresh thinking and ideas to the independent school sector. He champions a bold and distinctive vision and brings together beautiful design with compelling storytelling.

Susan KohnDirector, Office of the Head of School and External Relations

Susan Kohn is Chief of Staff to the Head of School and Director of External Relations at Avon Old Farms School, where she serves on the senior leadership team and provides strategic oversight of the school’s external messaging and presence. With more than two decades of experience in public relations and communications, she works across departments and with campus leadership to ensure a cohesive and forward-thinking external image. Her focus at Avon is on clarity and consistency, strengthening the school’s presence in a competitive independent school market.

Katharina RoelofszHead of Communications

Katharina Roelofsz has over 18 years' experience creating, directing and evaluating high-profile communications and marketing campaigns. She was appointed Head of Communications at Radley College in April 2025 and, following the formation of Radley Schools Group in September, also became Head of Communications for the group. Prior to Radley, Katharina was Director of Marketing and Admissions at Headington Rye Oxford, an all-through day and boarding school, where she oversaw the introduction of boys to the prep school in September 2024. Before moving into the independent school sector, Katharina held senior communications roles in Whitehall, including at the Department of Health, Foreign Office and Department for Education.

Bora DogmenDigital Marketing Manager

Bora Dogmen is a multilingual digital marketing professional specialising in Google Ads, Meta Ads and performance-driven campaign optimisation. He has built a strong track record delivering international marketing projects across the education, technology and B2B sectors for clients worldwide. With a background in partner marketing and data-led strategy, he focuses on delivering measurable results through analytics, creative testing and structured optimisation. He currently works as a Digital Marketing Manager at Amplify, the marketing agency arm of Ubiq, where he helps shape the agency’s paid media function, enhances client performance across search and social channels and supports Amplify’s mission to deliver scalable, insight-led marketing solutions.

Chris HibbsDirector, External Relations & Foundation

Chris Hibbs is Director of External Relations at Charterhouse, a leading co-educational independent school founded in 1611, where he leads marketing, fundraising, parent and alumni engagement, and AI and innovation strategy. He champions audience-centred communication that places the experiences of families and supporters at the heart of engagement. With over 20 years’ experience working with major and ultra-high-net-worth donors, he brings a strong track record in relationship building and participation growth. His work blends commercial discipline with empathetic leadership to help education organisations evolve through authentic storytelling and innovation.

Anita GleaveCEO

Anita Gleave has been a disruptive and pioneering force in independent and international education for nearly forty years. Her new role as CEO of QED Schools Group which launched in January 2026 with its founding school, Wycliffe College sees her re-entering the sector at the helm of one of the most agile, forward-thinking and fastest growing school groups in the UK and beyond.

Following twenty years of classroom and headship experience, in 2008, Anita moved into the corporate side of education, taking on senior roles that shaped her strategic and commercial expertise. She served as a Director at Alpha Plus Group and WCL, working alongside some of the sector’s most respected leaders, before becoming a Founding Director of the International Schools Partnership.

In 2018, Anita launched her first schools' group, Chatsworth Schools, followed shortly afterwards by her second group, Blenheim Schools, Chatsworth's international sister group. Working with a highly committed team, she grew Chatsworth Schools to 16 schools and nurseries across the UK, while establishing Blenheim Schools' ground-breaking inclusive international schools in Dubai and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Darrell BarnesBusiness Development Director

Darrell Barnes joined the Malvern College International team in 2022 as Brand Development Director with a remit for new partner relations and expanding the portfolio Malvern College overseas campuses.

His background is in General Management and Strategic Marketing having worked in senior leadership positions in the Technology, Environment and Sports sectors including 12 years overseas working in Beijing and Paris. During his career commercial success has been achieved in partnership with iconic brands such as Coca Cola, Vodafone, Cathay Pacific, HSBC and Barclays.

Currently Darrell is focused on meeting like-minded partners who value the Malvern approach to education with the aim of creating the next generation of Role Models.

Joanna ShortChief Operating Officer

Joanna Short is a product and operations powerhouse shaping digital tech from idea to impact. As Operations Director at Ubiq, she turns big strategy into real-world software — owning the journey from concept and build to launch and growth. With over a decade in SaaS and high-growth startups, Joanna thrives where creativity meets precision, blending technical insight with sharp commercial instinct. A film graduate turned tech leader, she brings equal parts vision, grit, and momentum to everything she builds.