Caroline Harris - Founder of Optimise

With 45 years of experience, Caroline Harris is a seasoned coach dedicated to optimising the inherent learning potential in every individual, empowering them to "be and become." Coaching is her lifelong passion, one she has pursued since the modern inception of performance coaching. She has had the privilege of training and working alongside pioneers in the field, including Tim Gallwey, Sir John Whitmore, Graham Alexander, Myles Downey, and David Hemery, whose profound wisdom continues to inspire her work.

Linda Dorsett - Suffolk County Council 

"I am a Project Officer for Active Suffolk and The Daily Mile champion for the county, encouraging schools to launch the initiative to support the physical and mental wellbeing of the pupils and keep them active. I have previously spent 15 years working in education as a safeguard and pastoral officer, working with vulnerable families. In my spare time, I am an ambassador for parkrun UK, supporting 7 existing teams within the county and shall be launching 3 more later this year. I can be found every Sunday at Kesgrave junior parkrun as the Event Director, watching children and families having fun whilst taking part in physical activity."

Charlie Simmans, CF Education.

Charlie Simmans is the Education Team Development Manager of CF Education with over 15 years of experience in education spanning primary, further education, higher education, and teacher training. As Education Team Development Manager at CF Education, she has led the professional development of educators, supporting them to create inclusive, impactful learning environments that meet the diverse needs of today’s learners. Her work focuses on ensuring that education is a space where all young people can thrive - academically, emotionally, and socially. Throughout her career, she has seen firsthand how critical it is to give children and young people the space to express themselves. Platforms that encourage self-expression are vital in helping young people process their experiences, build confidence, and support their mental well-being. She feels honoured to serve as a judge and presenter in the Mental Health category representing CF Education, championing the voices and stories that need to be heard.

 CF Education is a professional alternative education provider for children and young people. Their mission is to make a measurable positive difference for those who cannot access full-time mainstream education and are at risk of significant disadvantage.

Ray Wang, Ormiston Trust. 

Dr Ray Wang is the Lead for Partnerships, Fundraising and Programme Development at Ormiston Trust, one of the largest sponsors of academy schools in England and a partner for ASSET, alongside the Ipswich Social Mobility Alliance (ISMA). As a former #iWill Ambassador and student leader from East Suffolk, Ray is passionate about promoting youth leadership and social action and is delighted to be able to support the work of ASSET in our local communities.

The Ormiston Trust believes in a future where all young people can lead fulfilling lives. It was established in 1968 to honour the memory of Fiona Ormiston Murray. Over 40 years, the Ormiston Trust has provided added-value support, resources, and funding for projects and institutions to achieve these goals.

Beth Derks, an Honorary Lecturer at the University of East Anglia, where she set up and ran a Future Leaders Programme for 6 years. She is also a freelance trainer through her company, NoDoubleDutch. With extensive experience in public speaking training, storytelling, and community engagement, Beth has guided countless young people and organisations in using communication as a tool for driving positive change. Her unique skill lies in integrating creative thinking with academic knowledge and practical applications, especially in guiding and developing young talent. She is committed to giving young people 'A voice and seat at the table' by giving them the insight, tools and techniques to ‘Speak up- and Act’ to make the world a better place.