Leading With Courage: Ann Palmer on Diversity, Inclusion, and AI, Mind the Gap, Ep.110 (S6,E8)

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Ann Palmer - educator, leadership coach, and founder of Figtree International - for a rich conversation spanning diversity, leadership, and the future of AI in education. Drawing on over 35 years of experience as a headteacher, Ofsted inspector, and international trainer, Ann shares how her work now centres on helping leaders grow into their roles, embedding sustainable approaches to diversity and inclusion through initiatives like the RACE Charter Mark, and exploring how technology can empower rather than replace teachers. Together they discuss why diversity work must move beyond tokenism, what great coaching looks like for school leaders, and how AI can enhance strategic thinking without eroding it. It’s a conversation about courage, consciousness, and change - rooted in Ann’s belief that education leadership should always be personal, purposeful, and impactful.

Ann Palmer FCCT has over 35 years of experience working in education, and has partnered with schools across the UK and internationally. She is the founder of the RACE Charter Mark which is an award recognising effective race equality strategies. She’s a qualified Executive Coach and Team Coach, and is often described as “a leader who leads with flair and vision” and is described as “inspirational”. Ann is a MAT Trustee, School Governor, Charity Trustee and Business Advisor, and she is the founder and CEO of Fig Tree International. She is also a published author, a podcaster and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2010 and given royal recognition in 2022.

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/