Conference Programme
8.30am | Registration and breakfast
9.30am | Welcome
9.35am | Plenary 1: Taking a population approach to improving mental health and reducing inequalities in young people
Professor John Gallacher, University of Oxford
Professor Praveetha Patalay, University College London
Chair: Julian Turner, Director Education, BrainWaves
10.20am | Plenary 2: Sport, wellbeing, and young people: Beyond simple assumptions
Professor Camilla Knight, Director of Impact, Innovation and Engagement, Greenhouse Sports
Chair: Gavin English, Deputy Head, Alleyn’s School
11am | Break
11.30am | Breakout session 3a: Neurodiversity: Addressing behaviours not labels (Illuminate room)
Dr Bettina Hohnen, Clinical Psychologist
Chair: Dr Nic Crossley, CEO, Liberty Academy Trust
11.30am | Breakout session 3b: From attendance to belonging: Tackling the causes of persistent absence (Smile room)
Alex Yates, Excellence Adviser, Camden Learning
Jules Gillard, University of Sussex
Chair: Thomas Godfrey-Faussett, Department of Education, University of Oxford
12.20pm | Panel discussion 4: Adolescent anxiety: Trends and interventions
Dr Lesley French, Director of Schools and Clinical Practice, Anna Freud Centre
Dr Matthias Pierce, University of Manchester
Chair: Professor Neil Humphrey, University of Manchester
1.10pm | Lunch
2.10pm | Breakout session 5a: Wellbeing and reducing self-harm risk in young people (Illuminate room)
Professor Sarah Bauermeister, University of Oxford
Professor Ellen Townsend, University of Nottingham
Chair: Sarah Tilley, Wellbeing Coordinator, Nottingham Girls’ High School
2.10pm | Breakout session 5b: Ethnicity and youth mental health: Rethinking inclusive practice in schools (Smile room)
Dr Sunil Bhopal, Bradford Institute of Health Research
Chair: Kristan O’Flynn, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, The Cooper School
2.50pm | Break
3.15pm | Plenary 6: How social media impacts young people’s wellbeing
Professor Mireille Toledano, Imperial College London
Professor John Gallacher, University of Oxford
Dr James Lian and Dr Morgane Kuenzi, University of Oxford
Chair: Julian Turner, Director of Education, BrainWaves
4.15pm | Keynote interview 7: Mental wellbeing in schools – Research and evidence to support policy
Professor Michael Thomas, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department for Education
Interviewed by Sarah Montague, BBC Radio 4 Presenter
5pm | Living Well 2026 Poster Prize presentation and Closing Remarks
5.15-6.15pm | Drinks reception for BrainWaves Research Partners and invited guests