Education and Peace: Inclusivity, Justice and Flourishing

Speakers

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  Professor Simon Uttley

  SELC Co-Founder and Executive Co-Chair, Founder of Koinonia Educational

  Professor Simon Uttley is, together with Martin Šmilňák, the co-founder and co-Chair of SELC, the Slovak Educational Leadership Conference, now in its tenth year. Founder and Director of Koinonia Educational, a values-driven educational research community, Simon is a full Professor and Course Leader for Catholic Education and the Common Good at the University of Notre Dame (USA), London. In addition, Professor Uttley is Visiting Professor in Catholic Education, Institute of Education, St Mary’s University, London, and Visiting Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education, London. Simon is a member of the Board of Advisors for the peer-reviewed academic journal International Studies in Catholic Education. In the daytime, Professor Uttley is the Headteacher of Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic High School in Reading, 65 km from London. Simon is a licensed Catholic Schools’ Inspector for the schools of the Dioceses of England and Wales. Simon is also Chair of the Reading Education Partnership.

  Full profile
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  Martin Šmilňák

  SELC Co-Founder and Executive Co-Chair

  Martin Šmilňák is, together with Professor Simon Uttley, the Executive Co-Chair and co-founder of SELC. An experienced school leader and educational expert, Martin is passionate about educational improvement in Slovakia.

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  Michal Polgár

  Director, Libellus School; conference host

  Michal Polgár, our host for this year’s conference, is the Director of Škola Libellus, a private primary school and preschool in Bratislava, Slovakia. He studied International Economic Relations at the University of Economics in Bratislava, where he defended his doctoral dissertation on cultural diplomacy. He brings to education extensive experience from the world of international business, combining organisational leadership with a strong commitment to personal formation and character development. Michal also holds a degree in Catholic Theology, where his final thesis explored the benefits of tutoring and personal mentoring in education. Alongside his leadership role, he teaches religious education to adolescents and is actively involved in the formation and mentoring of boys and young men. Michal and his wife, Katarína, have two children. In his free time, he enjoys photography, running and swimming.

  Full profile
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  Miriam Lexmann

  Member of the European Parliament and its Bureau

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  Professor David Oswell

  Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Goldsmiths, University of London

  Professor David Oswell is a sociologist, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is responsible for research, innovation and knowledge exchange, as well as leading various cross-university and sector-wide projects.

  Full profile
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  Judy Hutchinson

  Senior Associate Director for Study Abroad, Notre Dame Global, University of Notre Dame (USA) · SELC Secretary

  SELC Secretary Judy Hutchinson, a KoinEd Associate Scholar, is the Senior Associate Director for Study Abroad with Notre Dame Global, University of Notre Dame, USA. With over 28 years of experience in formational education in the Catholic university sector, she has been a pivotal member of the university’s international division since 2007. During her tenure in London, she established and led the role of Director of Student Affairs at Notre Dame’s largest global location, where she provided pastoral care for 200 undergraduate and 50 graduate law students each semester. In this role, she also spearheaded the development of numerous experiential learning initiatives, including a robust internship and immersion programme. Judy is currently pursuing her doctorate in education at St. Mary’s University in London.

  Full profile
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  Shingi Hopkins

  Director of Social Sciences, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading · KoinEd Associate Scholar

  A KoinEd Associate Scholar, Shingi is Director of Social Sciences at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic secondary school. She holds a Law LLB and a Master’s in History from the University of Reading, and is currently completing a doctorate exploring women’s experiences of land, memory, and belonging in Zimbabwe. Alongside her teaching role, Shingi leads on student participation, curriculum development, and skills-based learning. She also serves as Lead for Girls’ Achievement and Engagement, and is part of the school’s Character Education team, with a focus on teaching with intention and nurturing the whole person. She is passionate about building inclusive, reflective classrooms that promote confidence, curiosity, and emotional growth.

  Full profile
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  Sue Matthews

  Assistant Headteacher, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Berkshire

  Sue Matthews is Assistant Headteacher, with responsibility for Teaching and Learning and Safeguarding at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School. She teaches both Business Studies and French with previous Head of Department responsibility in both subjects. She holds a BA Honours in French Studies, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), a Management Diploma and the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH). She came into teaching following a successful career in sales and marketing in the French Chemicals and Polymers Industry both in France and the United Kingdom.

  Full profile
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  Katarína Blaščáková

  Leader of the First and Second Educational Cycles, Libellus

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  Zdenka Verešová

  Leader of the Third Educational Cycle, Libellus

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  Professor Jacek Brant

  Professor, Institute of Education, University College London

  Jacek Brant is Full Professor at the world-renowned Institute of Education, UCL (IOE). He worked in manufacturing industry for two years before becoming a schoolteacher of economics and business for 11 years and he is now in his 30th year at the IOE. He has run pre-service and continuing professional development programmes for teachers; master’s programmes and modules, he supervises research students and is involved in various international projects. Jacek writes on educational issues concerning curriculum and pedagogy. His latest article is available as open access: Brant, J., & Kilar, W. (2025). From entrepreneurship to business & management education. A fundamental curriculum shift or tinkering at the edges? Journal of Curriculum Studies, 1–14.

  Full profile
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  Gabriela Burianková

  Head of Libellus Preschool, Specialist in Personalised Education

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  Maria Budzynska

  Deputy Headteacher, Catholic secondary school, inner London · SELC Treasurer

  SELC Treasurer, Maria Budzynska has worked in Catholic secondary education in inner London for over 10 years including in her current role as a senior leader (Deputy Headteacher). With a background in 11–18 English teaching, she has come to specialise in inclusion, special needs support and whole-school pastoral management. A lead practitioner and an authoritative voice in the area of improving standards, Maria offers fresh thinking.

  Full profile
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  Brian Grady

  Director of Education, Reading

  Brian Grady has over 20 years of civic, public service experience, holding Local Government senior leadership positions in England with responsibility for improving educational outcomes across the English education system. Brian has experience in a variety of contexts of Local Government in England, working in London, densely populated urban settings and more rural districts, delivering early years, primary and secondary provision and overseeing programmes to improve attainment for disadvantaged groups.

  Full profile
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  Jozef Šimuth

  Psychologist, Libellus

Our Partners

SELC is proud to work alongside organisations that share our commitment to educational excellence and leadership development.

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  Koin-Ed

  Koin-Ed is an international educational organisation connecting educators across borders. A founding partner of SELC since 2019, it supports international collaboration, professional development and educational leadership.

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  Securus Software

  Securus Software provides safeguarding and monitoring technology that helps schools create safer digital environments for children and young people.

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  Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

  Hugh Faringdon Catholic School is a secondary school in Reading, England, committed to educational excellence, character development and strong school communities.

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  Škola Libellus Bratislava

  Libellus is a private kindergarten and primary school in Bratislava. Through personalised education rooted in Catholic values and close cooperation with families, it supports the holistic intellectual and character development of every child.

Registration

Both days for just €20 more. Prices are per person. Accommodation and parking are not included.