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• Opening session & keynote address

  10:30 - 12:00

  Description

  In this opening session you will be welcomed to the conference and have the chance to hear from a brilliant range of individuals. They include Natasha Porter OBE (CEO and Founder of Unlocked Graduates), Jenny Louis (Governing Governor – HMP Belmarsh), Sonia Brooks OBE (Deputy Director – Youth Custody Service Operations at HMPPS), and Amy Frost (Governing Governor – HMP Wormwood Scrubs).

  Room: The Great Hall

  Speakers

  

  Natasha Porter OBE

  CEO & Founder - Unlocked Graduates

  Natasha is founder and CEO at Unlocked Graduates. She developed the concept while working with Dame Sally Coates on her review into prison education, and has led the organisation from its inception in 2016. Since then, Unlocked Graduates has recruited over 500 graduates to be prison officers, working with over 10,000 prisoners across the country.

  Natasha has a background in public sector start up and was previously a teacher and senior leader in inner city schools. This included co-founding King Solomon Academy and leading their frontier cohort to groundbreaking GCSE results in 2014. Natasha has also worked as a government adviser and in the Westminster think tank Policy Exchange.

  In her spare time, Natasha is an advisor to the Children’s Commissioner and a charity trustee at Impetus PEF and Get Further, with a particular interest in improving outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. She also sits on the Grants and Evaluation committee at the Youth Endowment Fund and the Building Future’s Advisory Board at Prison Reform Trust.

  

  Jenny Louis

  Governor - HMP Belmarsh

  A career public servant – Jenny joined Her Majesty’s Prison Service in 1987 progressing through the ranks and currently employed as the Governor of HMP Belmarsh, a High Security Prison.

  Jenny has worked in headquarters and a number of establishments over her career starting at HMP Holloway, moving to HMP Brixton, HMP Wandsworth, HMP Pentonville and HMP Belmarsh to date.

  Jenny was one of the founder members of Respect, the Black and Minority Support Network for Prison Service staff launched in 2000.

  Jenny is the first BAME female Governor in the London and Long Term & High Security Estate.

  Married with a daughter.

  

  Sonia Brooks OBE

  Deputy Director - Youth Custody Service Operations at HMPPS

  Sonia began her career in the public sector in 1999 when she joined HMPPS as a prison officer at HMYOI Feltham. She progressed through management grades and has been the Governing Governor at HMYOI Werrington and HMP Brixton. She was awarded an OBE in 2018 for championing the rights of children in custody and was awarded a NBCPA Sylivia Denman award in 2020/21 for her dedication to improving the life outcomes of children in the criminal justice system. Sonia led the YCS Safeguarding review and report that was published in 2019 on the Government website. Her roles have also included being the Head of Diversity and Inclusion for HMPPS. Sonia graduated from the Future Leaders Scheme in 2018. Currently she is a Deputy Director in Youth Custody Service Operations.

  

  Amy Frost

  Governing Governor - HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  Amy Frost has been the Governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs since March 2022. Previously Amy was the Governor of HMP Send. Most of her operational experience has been in local London prisons including Wandsworth, Holloway and Feltham.

  Amy came into prisons, like so many people, by accident. She worked in a HR policy team in the Northern Ireland Prison Service in 2007 which took her into prisons for the first time and this experience ignited a fascination with the life, challenge and potential of prisons.

• Conference streams 1

  12:00 - 13:00

  Description

  The afternoon sessions are split into streams. Only one session can be attended in each slot and you will be invited to choose which ones you would like to attend. More details to be added soon.

  Session 1: Prison Reform Trust – Pia Sinha

  During this session, Pia will share her reflections on the role of prison officers as agents for change during her journey at HMP Liverpool. She will then share how these reflections have influenced and shaped her vision for her current work as the Director of the Prison Reform Trust. Pia will be joined by Paula Harriot, Head of Prisoner Engagement at the Prison Reform Trust and Peter Buckle CM at HMP Frankland, who will also be talking through the exceptional work that they are doing co-designing improvements with a group of men at HMP Frankland.

  Session 2: Tackling drug misuse and supporting recovery in prisons – Natalie Adams, Mike Trace, Ian Thomas, Jenny Warren

  This panel discussion will give you the opportunity to hear from speakers with rich expertise and experience in tackling substance misuse in prisons. They will discuss the key challenges associated with getting prisoners into treatment and recovery, and what the evidence tells us about how to help prisoners turn away from substance misuse. They will also discuss the impact of their work in this area, and share insights about how operational prison staff can support prisoners to move away from substance misuse.

  Session 3: Transforming staff cultures in prison – Kam Stevens

  Speakers

  

  Pia Sinha

  Director - Prison Reform Trust

  Pia joined the Prison Service in 1999 as a Higher Psychologist at HMP & YOI Holloway. After joining HMP Wandsworth as a Senior Psychologist, she took up the post of Head of Safer Prisons, followed by Head of Reducing Re-offending at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. She then took up her first Deputy Governor role at HMP Send, and subsequently Downview and Liverpool. In 2013 Pia was appointed to her first Governing role at HMP & YOI Thorn Cross, going on to govern at both Risley and Liverpool. In 2020 she became Acting Deputy Director Probation Reform Programme, then the Workforce Programme, before becoming Director of Women in November 2021. Pia’s vision for the Women’s Directorate was to enable safe, compassionate and individualised care for women. In April 2023 Pia became the CEO of the Prison Reform Trust.

  

  Natalie Adams

  Natalie previously worked at HMP Pentonville as Head of Reducing Reoffending/Drug Strategy Lead and was involved in setting up the Incentivised Substance Free Living Wing. She was responsible for ensuring there were interventions available on the wing and the rest of the prison for prisoners with addiction issues. Addiction is complex, destructive and has a negative impact on the prisoner and their families. By helping to tackle drug addiction we can help prisoners on their journey of drug recovery which will hopefully have a positive impact on them and the people around them. Natalie now works at HMP The Mount as an Officer on the Spark scheme, drug strategy has always been a big passion of hers and continues to be.

  

  Mike Trace

  CEO - The Forward Trust

  Mike Trace has been Chief Executive Officer of The Forward Trust since 2004. He has worked for almost 40 years with some of the most marginalised people in the United Kingdom and abroad. After 12 years of front-line work, Mike became prominent in developing national and international drug policy including serving for four years as the UK government’s Deputy UK Anti-Drug Co-ordinator (Drug Czar) under Tony Blair. His duties included the creation of the UK’s first National Drug Strategy and the oversight of its early years of implementation. A key element of the strategy was the creation the National Treatment Agency that was tasked with overseeing an unprecedented expansion and delivery of public health and recovery support services for people with drug or alcohol problems.

  From 2000 to 2003, Mike was President of the European Union drugs agency, the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA); while briefly holding the role of the initial Director of Performance at the National Treatment Agency, before moving on to become Chief of the Demand Reduction section at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

  In 2006 he founded and developed the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) – an international network of civil society experts and community organisations who work together to engage constructively with the UN agencies and institutions to promote effective and humane drug policies.

  Given his unique experience of writing, overseeing, and critiquing drug policies and strategies around the world, Mike continues to be called on to offer advice to governments and opposition parties, as well as commissions and committees, in the UK and internationally.  Mike says that he is “motivated by the knowledge that people who are often demonised and feared, including people who are homeless, those struggling with addiction, and prisoners – are often themselves victims of abuse and neglect as children, or trauma and violence as adults. They deserve a chance to turn their lives around.”

  Ian Thomas

  Ian, a Social Worker holding a Master’s degree in Criminology, brings a wealth of both lived and professional experience of trauma, addiction, criminal justice, and looked after children sector. Ian’s focus has been on supporting independent agencies, local authorities, NGOs, and governments, Ian has worked both in the UK and internationally towards childcare reform, particularly advocating for deinstitutionalization and enhanced standards for children in alternative care settings.

  Ian’s contributions extend beyond practical work to encompass research and publications on critical topics such as self-inflicted deaths among care-experienced individuals in custody, as well as the dynamics of loss and fostering adolescents.

  As a dedicated activist and public speaker, Ian passionately shares insights into the multifaceted challenges faced by children, young people, and adults impacted by alternative care, addiction, marginalization, and trauma. His advocacy efforts include engagements with platforms like TEDx, International Foster care Organisation, and participation in international movements aimed at safeguarding children’s rights and overall well-being.

  

  Kam Stevens

  Senior Digital Consultant - Penal Reform Solutions

  Kam Stevens is a filmmaker, prison reform advocate and programme facilitator who has dedicated his life to creating positive change in the Criminal Justice System. With a passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those who have been incarcerated. Kam has used his skills as a filmmaker to shed light on the experiences of those in prison and to advocate for more just and equitable policies. In his role as a Senior Digital consultant for Penal Reform Solutions, Kam has worked alongside HMPPS, The Inspectorate of Prisons and the Gambling Commission. He is currently developing a programme to aid those within a prison setting, improving digital literacy and providing prisoners with the tools they need to reintegrate into society. Through his unwavering commitment and tireless advocacy, Kam is becoming a powerful voice in prison reform and a shining example of what is possible when those with lived experience step forward to be apart of the solution.

• Lunch & Marketplace

  13:00 - 14:30

  Description

  During the lunch period, we will be hosting a Marketplace of various organisations who work in and around the criminal justice sector. This will be a brilliant opportunity to network, build connections and bring new initiatives into prisons.

  We encourage you to visit the Partners page to read more about the organisations in attendance.

• Conference streams 2

  14:30 - 15:30

  Description

  The afternoon sessions are split into streams. Only one session can be attended in each slot and you will be invited to choose which ones you would like to attend. More details to be added soon.

  Session 1: Little Scandinavia Project – Jordan Hyatt

  The Scandinavian Prison Project (SPP) is a research and reform effort focused on an ongoing, international collaboration between the correctional services in Pennsylvania and Scandinavia (primarily Sweden and Norway), which aims to empirically examine the transferability and adaptability of Scandinavian correctional principles and practices to an American prison. A team from the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Chester traveled to all three countries to facilitate the officer-led development of a housing unit that, to the extent possible, reflected their experiences with Scandinavian values and practices. The unit differs in three primary ways: the structural layout, the level of staff training, and the unit policies – especially for staff engagement. After a pilot period, the unit known as “Little Scandinavia” became operational in May of 2022. This presentation draws on data collected both on the unit and in the rest of SCI Chester, to highlight impact, opportunities, and challenges.

  Session 2: Prison officer well-being and trauma resilience – what can we learn? – Jo Clarke

  How can anyone thrive, working in an environment that regularly exposes people to trauma, is physically harsh and often totally unpredictable?  The answer is easily, if you know the formula.  This session will introduce you to the concept of a Critical Occupation and provide details of some evidenced based strategies which will help you and colleagues develop the psychological fitness required for thriving.

  Speakers

  

  Jordan Hyatt

  Jordan M. Hyatt, JD PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, and serves as director of the Center for Public Policy, at Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA). Much of his recent work has focused on action research within the carceral environment. This has included projects on programming, staff well-being, and prison climate. With Synøve N. Andersen, he is the co-PI of the Scandinavian Prison Project, a broad-based effort to restructure the social, operational and administrative systems that govern how officers and incarcerated people experience their time living and working on a Scandinavian-inspired housing unit.

  

  Jo Clarke

  This workshop will be provided by internationally acclaimed academic and expert on resilience, Professor Jo Clarke from the Petros organisation. Jo learned her craft working as a psychologist in the prison for over 20 years. She is a regular speaker and trainer, nationally and internationally, on the subject of individual and organizational resilience and has authored a number of chapters and papers on the subject. Committed to life-long learning, she remains abreast of current research and developments in the area, and with her dedicated team, strives to continually develop evidence-based interventions to promote thriving at work and at life.

• Conference streams 3

  15:45 - 16:45

  Description

  The afternoon sessions are split into streams. Only one session can be attended in each slot and you will be invited to choose which ones you would like to attend. More details to be added soon.

  Session 1: Change initiatives – Paul Flisher, Georgia Clarke, Joshua Wainwright

  This session will give you the opportunity to hear from four frontline prison officers about an impactful initiative they have introduced in their establishment to influence change. Each speaker will take you through their journey of making their initiative a success, explain how they developed their idea, and outline the challenges they faced along the way and their results so far. The speakers will also explain how they used an evidence-based approach and provide some recommendations to delegates seeking to introduce initiatives in their own establishments.

  Session 2: Constructive resettlement – Professor Neal Hazel

  Criminological research breakthroughs mean that we are now much clearer about what stops people offending when they leave prison – and how practice can support this.  These key messages from research, which stresses the importance of developing ‘pro-social identity’, have been translated into the “Constructive Resettlement” (CR) framework for policy and practice.  CR has been built into youth justice in National Standards and as the Youth Custody Service theory of change, and policymakers have called on prisons for young adults to focus services to reflect this model.  This session will introduce CR, explore recent innovations for embedding it in both youth justice and young adult prisons, and discuss how it can be adopted more widely.

  Session 3: Storytelling for change – James Westhead (Big Society Capital)

  Changing a system is incredibly difficult but one of the most powerful tools we all have is the power of story telling – whether telling our own stories or others. But why are stories so effective? How do they lead to change? Which stories work best? Where do we find them? How do you choose them? And how to best structure and tell stories ourselves in order to inspire and encourage system change.

  Speakers

  

  Professor Neal Hazel

  Neal has delivered more than 40 funded research projects, specialising in turning complex problems into policy and practice solutions for governmental and third sector organisations.  Much of this research has focused on youth crime and justice, including the national evaluation of the main custodial order for children (for the Youth Justice Board [YJB]), the first study of children’s experiences throughout the criminal justice system (ESRC), and two cross-national comparisons of youth justice systems (Scottish Government, YJB]. His recent research on supporting young people leaving prison (BeyondYouthCustody.net, with Nacro) developed a model for practice that has since been adopted into government policy and national standards (as ‘Constructive Resettlement’).  He also directed HMPPS’s “CoRE programme” to evaluate the experience of youth custody during the pandemic.

  Neal’s research on family support includes the first national study of the impact of poverty and disadvantage on parenting in Britain (Department of Health).  He also conducted Britain’s first national study of parental discipline (ESRC), which led to a NSPCC campaign against the physical punishment of children.

  He has previously held posts as Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Director of the Centre for Social Research at the university.  In January 2018, Neal was appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice to the Youth Justice Board (YJB), which is responsible for overseeing the youth justice system across England and Wales.  He is also former HM Deputy Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales.

  

  James Westhead

  Head of Engagement - Big Society Capital

  James is Head of Engagement at Big Society Capital, responsible for building awareness and understanding of social impact investment and helping grow the social impact market. He leads the Engagement Group which includes investor engagement, social sector engagement and communications.

  Prior to joining Big Society Capital, for ten years James was part of the leadership team of the education charity Teach First and helped build it into the largest recruiter of graduates developing teachers and leaders for schools most in need.

  He previously worked as a BBC News Correspondent, specialising in education, health and social issues and also spent two years in the United States as a Washington correspondent.

  In addition to his role on Big Society Executive Committee, James serves on the boards of a number of education charities.

• Wellbeing workout

  16:45 - 17:00

  Description

  Leading change in prisons is challenging and the reality of the prison environment can include exposure to trauma. It is therefore vital to know what works and practice building your mental resilience and wellbeing. Join Natasha and Liam for a session on exactly this, introducing you to the evidence-base and some practical resilience techniques.

  Room: The Great Hall

• Plenary

  17:00 - 17:15

  Description

  This session will convene and inspire all conference delegates to reflect on key learnings from the day, and engage in meaningful discussions to explore how they will continue to develop their practice, and take steps towards leading innovative change in their professional roles.

  Room: The Great Hall