Safeguarding Strategies: Online Safety - Digital - Speakers

Ann Marie Christian, International Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer

Ann Marie Christian has worked in child protection for 30 years, including as a qualified social worker for 26 years. She was a school based social worker in 1999 and managed social workers in schools for a local authority as well as being the safeguarding advisor to schools.  Ann Marie delivered multi agency training for the LSCB. She has worked as a LADO, safeguarding advisor, social work manager, along with leading school improvement work. An independent safeguarding consultant since 2010, Ann Marie does associate work with the NSPCC, Premier League, Boarding School Association, local authorities, international and boarding schools, education, faith, arts, early years and charity settings. She is an author and writes regular articles on safeguarding.

Beth Davies, Safeguarding Content Developer and Trainer

Beth is passionate about Online Safety and equipping professionals, parents and carers to confidently safeguard young people. With a passion for demystifying safeguarding, she believes in empowering each individual, uniquely placed in their role to recognise the valuable part they play in safeguarding children. Having worked within education for several years, Beth finds this, combined with previous experience within the charity sector, has resulted in a holistic approach to safeguarding. Combining counselling skills with a wealth of on-the-ground experience, Beth is a down-to-earth and empathic trainer. She currently spends her time supporting a wide range of education providers from special needs schools to multi-academy trusts in the UK and internationally.

Dave Guard, Senior Youth Worker at Bromsgrove Youth and Community Hub and Safeguarding Trainer

Dave is a JNC qualified youth worker with over 20 years' experience working face to face with young people in numerous settings including health, community, educational, faith based and secure. A qualified CYP IAPT Evidence Based Practice Practitioner, he is passionate about equipping young people to better deal with their emotional health issues. Dave loves delivering training sessions on mental health, with anxiety being a subject he is particularly passionate about. As an experienced safeguarding lead and supervisor, he is passionate about linking safeguarding theory to real young people and their families, and believes that ongoing reflective practice is key in this area.

Adrienne Katz, Director, Youthworks

Adrienne Katz, FRSA, is Director of Youthworks, exploring young people’s lives to improve practice. Adrienne writes books, articles, resources and reports to share messages from research. She developed the Cybersurvey in 2008 to regularly collect young people’s experiences of digital life and is a member of AACOSS the Association of adult and child online safety specialists. Her partnership with Dr Aiman ElAsam of Kingston University has led to research and reports for policy and practice on the digital lives of teens, identifying new trends and those most at risk. Adrienne is a member of the UKCIS Vulnerable Children Working Group and PARTICIPATE, a multi-country research programme on bullying. She has helped develop government anti-bullying guidance in England and Wales and served as a Regional Advisor for the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Adrienne is a CPD accredited trainer, currently managing ‘Fostering in a Digital Age’, the enable-pathway programme funded by Nominet. In 2018, she was awarded ‘Inspirational Individual of the Year’, by the Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation.

John Paul McInerney, Director, Success Education and Trainer

John Paul has worked in education for 15 years and has had the privilege of supporting many students and teachers during this time. He has worked across a range of schools in senior leadership roles including Assistant Principal. He has been a strategic lead for safeguarding and secured key pastoral accolades for his work developing Character. He works three days per week job with the Department for Education as a national School Partnership Lead for the Behaviour Hubs.  He is passionate about supporting other schools in a leadership capacity and is the managing director of Success Education which suppots schools with a variety of services to help improve student outcomes, both pastorally and academically.

Alan Mackenzie, Online Safety Consultant

Alan is an independent consultant who has specialised in the area of online safety since 2007. Speaking in hundreds of schools and conferences every year, Alan is passionate about the positive and appropriate use of technology and the huge benefits that can be realised through global connectivity and collaboration; he believes that good digital skills are vital in order to help children and young people embrace the wonderful opportunities whilst mitigating the risks.