BrainWaves Living Well 2026 Keynote Speaker on “Mental wellbeing in schools: The policy challenges”

In this exclusive keynote interview with the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Education, Professor Michael Thomas will address questions regarding the current, major challenges around young people’s mental health and how this affects both policy and practice in schools. Delegates will have the opportunity to submit their questions to Michael both in advance and on the day.

About Professor Thomas

Michael Thomas is the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Education and a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Birkbeck, University of London.

His work focuses on translating neuroscience and psychology into education policy and practice, and he has led major research on learning, adolescent development, and neurodevelopmental conditions.

He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and is a Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of several leading scientific bodies.