Guest Speaker Biographies
Alicia Drummond
Alicia Drummond is a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited counsellor, parent coach, speaker, author and mother. For the past ten years she has been working with schools to deliver talks and workshops that help parents, staff and teenagers deepen their understanding of adolescence and promote emotional health and wellbeing.
Working with over a hundred different schools, companies, conferences and the NHS, she regularly appears on BBC radio and has written a book, “Why Every Teenager Needs a Parrot”. For more details, please visit: www.teentips.co.uk
Chloe Combi
Chloe is widely recognised as one of the foremost generational experts in the world. Using a data-led approach and a unique method of human research, she works alongside global companies, institutions, governments, and schools to provide valuable insights into the future, helping organisations prepare for what lies ahead and become truly future-ready.
A prominent voice in youth culture, Chloe is The Independent’s resident Gen A and Gen Z columnist and a frequent commentator across global media. She wrote the seminal first book on Generation Z, hosts an Apple #1 hit podcast, and co-directed Weird Times, an award-winning VR series for Meta. Chloe travels the world sharing her cutting-edge research, and we are incredibly excited for her to share her insights into youth subcultures and the digital landscape with our school community.
Dr Dominique Thompson
With over two decades of clinical NHS experience—including serving as the Director of the Students’ Health Service at the University of Bristol—Dr Dominique is one of the UK’s leading authorities on young people’s psychological well-being.
She is the President of the Student Health Association, an independent member of the UK Government’s Higher Education Mental Health Taskforce, and a two-time TEDx speaker whose insights have been featured by the BBC and The Guardian.
In this engaging, research-backed presentation, Dr Dominique will help parents and carers decode modern teenage overwhelm and navigate the complex pressures of growing up in the 21st century.
Dave Parvin
In today’s society, drugs of all kinds are easily accessible across the UK and parents have a vital role to play in supporting their child to resist the temptation of becoming involved with them. A routine visitor as part of our education programme here, Dave will focus on parental drug awareness and provide vital information for how to recognise and resolve the early signs of substance misuse.
He can also widely talk about the use of vaping and its risks. This seminar provides the platform to build effective partnerships with the school and other supportive communities, as well as giving you the confidence to confide in teachers on any issues you feel warrant further investigation.
A former Drug Squad Officer, Dave Parvin has seen the damage and destruction that drugs can bring to those who become involved with substances. As such, he is passionate about raising the awareness of the potential risks and dangers associated with making such choices. Since leaving the police force 12 years ago, Dave has delivered hundreds of sessions to schools and colleges, including leading training for all LWC teaching staff and different year groups throughout the school.
Matt Pinkett
Matt Pinkett is a UK-based teacher, author, and leading educational consultant specialising in masculinity, misogyny, and boys’ education. Combining rigorous research with frontline classroom experience, he is a prominent voice on male radicalisation and gender equity in schools. Matt has authored three Routledge books—Boys Don’t Try?, Boys Do Cry, and Unmasking the Manosphere—and frequently shares his expertise on the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and in The Guardian, as well as advising Parliament and international schools.
In this parent session, Matt will provide a clear and accessible guide to some of the challenges young people encounter online, including the manosphere, social-media algorithms and online radicalisation, misogyny, and the language and warning signs parents should be aware of. Importantly, he will also share practical strategies for starting conversations at home in ways that encourage young people to talk rather than shutting the conversation down.
This talk directly complements our PSHEE education programme, where pupils explore healthy and respectful relationships, online influences, harmful attitudes and behaviours, critical thinking, equality and how to seek support. Matt’s visit gives us an opportunity to extend this learning beyond the classroom and strengthen the partnership between school, pupils and families.
Natasha Devon
Since 2008, Natasha has worked with over 500 independent and state schools globally, conducting extensive research into managing exam stress, social media impact, and anxiety.
Her highly acclaimed student workshops have won government-affiliated awards for their practical, empathetic approach to academic pressure. A celebrated author, Natasha has penned several fiction and non-fiction titles for young people, including the bestselling Yes You Can: Ace School without Losing Your Mind.
For her outstanding services to young people and mental health advocacy, she was awarded an MBE and made a Fellow of the University of Wales. This vital session will equip students with the essential psychological tools and study strategies needed to navigate exam season confidently and calmly.
Patrick Foster
Former professional cricketer, schoolteacher, and bestselling author Patrick Foster will be hosting a a vital presentation on the hidden dangers of youth gambling and online gaming.
Patrick’s life was completely shattered by a pathological gambling addiction that brought him to the verge of suicide in 2018.
Now in recovery, he uses his lived experience to educate schools globally, helping adults understand why young people are so uniquely vulnerable in the digital age.
This hard-hitting talk explores the alarming convergence between video gaming and gambling—where features like loot boxes act as a gateway to financial risk-taking. Patrick will provide crucial facts on this fast-growing safeguarding issue, offer practical advice on how to spot the early warning signs of addiction, and outline healthy coping strategies to protect young people’s mental health.
Richard Wheadon
Richard Wheadon is an experienced educational leader and international speaker.
With nearly twenty years of experience as a classroom teacher and senior leader, Richard is an expert in developing academic resilience. He currently serves as a school improvement partner for a cluster of twelve secondary schools, whilst simultaneously collaborating with educational institutions globally to design and implement initiatives that foster independent, self-motivated learners. In this insightful session, Richard explores not just which revision strategies work, but also provides concrete examples of how to use them at home.
