ACT Teaching Citizenship Conference 2025

Liz leads the Charity, working with our Board, Teacher Council and staff and overseeing key programmes including the Five Nations Network in the UK and Ireland. She has a MSc Politics and Public Policy from  Birkbeck London and a BA Hons Geography with Archaeology from Manchester University. Liz has worked in education for over twenty years and led the development of Citizenship as a new curriculum subject in previous roles for central government at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Liz is on a number of advisory boards including the Industry Advisory Board to the University of Westminster. She is also the Department for Education’s UK representative to the Council of Europe Education Policy Network on Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights and a member of the Advisory Board on Democratic Resilience with the Wergeland Centre and the Council of Europe.

Outside of work, Liz is an avid Watford FC fan, and enjoys ballet, tea and cake.

Helen is an experienced teacher and is currently Director of Personal Development and Citizenship at Priory School, a large secondary school in Southsea, Hampshire. In addition she has responsibility for Pupil Voice and Pupil Leadership. Helen initially trained as a secondary teacher in Business Education but has been involved in Citizenship education for over 20 years. She has been a committed member of ACT Council since 2012 and has helped to plan the ACT national conference, written articles for the journal and worked on curriculum briefings to support teachers and Citizenship professionals with the new National Curriculum. Helen is also a member of the Expert Subject Group for Citizenship and has contributed to the Five Nations Network as a country expert for England. Helen became Chair of ACT Council in 2015.

Helen Hayes has been the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since May 2015. In September 2024, she was elected Chair of the Education Select Committee, overseeing educational policy and administration.

Previously, she served as Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, focusing on childcare, early education, special educational needs, and children’s social care.

Her parliamentary contributions have addressed issues such as child arrangements, education, health and care plans, and higher education.
Locally, she has advocated for housing, support for autistic individuals, immigration matters, and environmental concerns.

Before her parliamentary career, Hayes was a councillor for Southwark Council, elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, before resigning in March 2016 to focus on her duties as an MP.

Marie Goldman has been the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford since July 2024, becoming the first non-Conservative to represent the constituency in 74 years.

She serves as the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and is a member of the Parliament Modernisation Committee. Goldman has participated in 69 parliamentary divisions, consistently aligning with her party.

Her parliamentary contributions include addressing maternity services and special educational needs funding.

Prior to her parliamentary career, she was Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council and a member of Essex County Council.

Residing in Chelmsford for over two decades, she co-owns a local construction business with her husband, Simon.

Professor James Sloam is a distinguished academic specialising in youth political engagement. As a Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, he has extensively researched young people’s participation in politics across Europe and the United States. His notable works include the 2019 book “Youthquake 2017: The Rise of Young Cosmopolitans in Britain,” co-authored with Matt Henn, which explores the surge in youth political activism. Beyond academia, Professor Sloam has collaborated with various NGOs and public authorities, contributing to the 2016 UN World Youth Report. His recent projects focus on youth perspectives related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasising sustainability and civic engagement.

Billie has 13 years’ experience in education, youth and community engagement, both in the UK and internationally.  She currently leads on education and engagement at the Electoral Commission and is working to increase young people’s understanding of UK democracy.  Billie previously worked for the National Literacy Trust, delivering employability and literacy programmes in schools and ran training for teachers on the importance of embedding oracy in the classroom.