Inclusive Practice in Action 2023: Global, Inclusive Leadership

Inspired, devised and curated by Brenda Rattray, Sound Connections’ Inclusive Practice in Action (IPIA) gathering for 2023 will focus on Global, Inclusive Leadership, taking place once again at Amnesty International in London on Thursday 23 March 2023.

Sound Connections’ annual IPIA gatherings exist to amplify diverse voices, and this year we will come together to explore and define inclusive practice, global leadership and advocate for a more equitable world. We will take an opportunity to pause, reflect, have important conversations, and take away tools and strategies for inspiring and implementing leadership change.

Come join us, be inspired by different approaches to leadership, and explore how we can ignite, increase, enhance and nurture the leader in all of us.

Download the digital delegate pack here

What to expect

1. Hear from diverse leaders across the music, creative and youth sectors: Leaders who have got it wrong, faced the consequences and grown; leaders who are working on the front line of youth crime; leaders who do not see themselves as leaders and yet that is exactly what they are.
2. Come and discover your strengths and build on your weaknesses: Share your values and your thoughts. Learn how to cultivate the skills and qualities you already possess for today’s fast changing world.
3. Fill your mind and pockets with wisdom, holistic practices, stories, leadership thinking, and line your stomachs with great food from our caterers.
4. Delve deep into your professional and personal identities: This event will support you to explore your true self and be part of a compassionate community who believe in a better, fairer world.

Discover the full programme here.

Speakers

• Nichole McGill-Higgins (she/her) – International Bestselling Author, Belonging Leadership Coach, Multi Award Winner, Global Keynote Speaker, Positive Disrupter
  Nichole will focus on the key elements of how to cultivate and foster belonging in the workplace. She will be exploring the key steps that will help organisations to understand the importance of belonging.
  
• Khareem Jamal (he/him) – Multi award winning Historian, Musician, Playwright
  Khareem will focus on the idea of global inclusive leadership, and what this looks like.
• Rachel Staunton (she/her) – Artistic Director of London Youth Choirs, Conductor, Choral entrepreneur, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music
  Join Rachel for an honest reflection about her experiences one decade into setting up a youth arts charity in London.
• Margaret Pierre (she/her) – Co-CEO of ML Community Enterprise, Non-Executive Director for the Regenda Homes Group, Trustee for the National Communities Resource Centre
  Drawing on her own experiences of leading organisations, Margaret will discuss areas where we cannot compromise as leaders.
• Steph Dickinson (she/her) – Managing Director of Pie Factory Music, Musician, Songwriter
  Inspired by Pie Factory’s work with unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees, Steph will be talking about leading with open arms.
• Kiz Manley (she/her) – Hip Hop HEALS Founder, Therapeutic Hip Hop Guru, Poet, Writing for Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator, Story Director, Event Organiser, English & Drama Teacher
• Colin Brent, Amal Barkhad and Ami Kourouma – Bollo Brook Youth Centre
• Sarah Medley (she/her) – Singer, Advocate for young people 
• Brenda Rattray (she/her) – Curator: Sound Connections Workforce Development Programme, Educator, Artist, Empathetic leadership advocate, Performer, Composer

Find out more about each of our inspirational speakers here.

Global, Inclusive Leadership Series

Alongside the IPIA gathering on 23 March 2023, delegates will also be invited to explore the theme of global, inclusive leadership through:

• videos and articles shared via our fortnightly newsletter
• a Zoom session on 23 February 2023 with Maria Guajardo and Roger Wilson, hosted by Brenda Rattray, to start exploring Global Leadership
• a follow-up Zoom a few weeks after IPIA to reflect, de-brief and look ahead (date tbc)

Who is this for?

We believe that there is the potential to be a leader in all of us, therefore, this event is open to everyone, whatever stage you are at in your leadership journey; whether you are part of a team, lead young people as a teacher or creative practitioner, are a parent or carer leading a household, or a student or young person leading change for the future. Even if you already lead an organisation, our IPIA gatherings provide an open and honest space to explore challenging topics within a nurturing environment.

Examples of people who might like to attend are:

• New and potential leaders
• Early career, mid-career and senior professionals
• Classroom, peripatetic and private teachers of creative subjects, across primary, secondary and higher education
• Early years practitioners
• PCGE students
• Community musicians, workshop leaders and creative practitioners
• Music Education Hub leaders and managers
• Grassroots music and creative organisation leaders, managers, administrators and producers
• Youth sector staff and anyone who works with young people
• Students, trainees and young people
• Academics, funders and policy makers
• National music education organisation leaders and staff
• Parents and carers

We particularly welcome individuals who considers themselves a minority, or who have been made to feel ‘other’, whatever stage of your career you are at. We will endeavour to support you throughout the event with awareness of your psychological safety. We also welcome organisations and individuals from across the sector who wish to explore inclusive practice and take action to change for the better.

To find out more about accessibility and inclusion for this event, click here.