The AoEA ninth annual Connecting Educators Summit 2026 opened with a welcome from Ruth Mayes and Craig Johnstone of ILT Education, setting the tone for a day focused on connection, collaboration and shared professional learning.

The opening address highlighted the importance of bringing educators, advisers and system leaders together to explore the challenges and opportunities facing education. It also recognised the role of partnership in supporting innovation, professional development and sustainable improvement across schools and wider education systems.

Les Walton CBE, Chair of the Association of Education Advisers, then welcomed delegates and reflected on the AoEA’s continuing mission. His presentation focused on connecting diverse systems and schools, sharing and validating impactful practice, developing the skills and knowledge of system leadership, and strengthening quality improvement across education.

Together, these opening contributions introduced key themes running throughout the Summit: leadership from the middle, professional dialogue, quality assurance, collective intelligence and the importance of sharing practice that is relevant, transferable and able to demonstrate impact.