Consulting
Al Kingsley MBE
Somebody has to hold the room together.
Event hosting, speaking and facilitation. Alongside consulting for the businesses building technology for education.
Two ways I work.
On stage, holding an event together and making the conversation worth the delegates’ day. And behind the scenes, helping the businesses selling into education work out how to grow in it.
For event organisers
Hosting, speaking and chairing
A good host is barely noticed while everything runs smoothly, and worth their weight the moment it doesn’t. The job is to open the day well, keep it to time, and hold the thread so the audience always knows where they are.
For EdTech businesses and sector leaders
Consulting, advisory and critical friend
Education is a market that punishes guesswork. I’ve run an EdTech company for three decades and sat on the buying side as a trust chair, so I can tell you how your proposition actually lands with the people signing the order, and where it won’t. Increasingly, leaders inside the sector use me the same way: an experienced second opinion with no stake in the internal politics.
What I talk about
AI in education
Adoption, policy and what’s actually working, in classrooms and in boardrooms.
Digital strategy
From vision to procurement to what happens after the invoice is paid.
Governance and oversight
Boards that ask better questions, and the culture that lets them.
Growth
Schools, trusts and EdTech businesses, and how to scale without losing the plot.
EdTech
The market, the classroom, and the gap in between.
School improvement
Leadership, workload and making change stick past the first term.
Recognition
I don’t lead with the trophies, but if you’re deciding whether to put me in front of your audience or your board, it’s fair enough to want to know what other people have made of the work.
Edufuturists of the Year
Outstanding Achievement, Educational Resources Awards
Inspiring Leader, BESA
Top Education CEO, EdTech Chronicle
Top 100 Influencers in Education, District Administration
Top 25 Education Technology Influencer, Feedspot
Top Education Voice, Thinkers360
Leadership Award, EdTech Digest
Outstanding Achievement, Education Today Awards
Edruptor, ISC Research (2024 and 2025)
Business Person of the Year, Peterborough Business Awards
Making IT Happen, ISTE
Global Leader, EdTech Digest
Ranked by Thinkers360 among the Top 10 global thought leaders in education, EdTech and AI governance, with further rankings for digital transformation and AI.Some of the stages
Plus trust and local authority conferences, vendor events, awards evenings and school leadership forums across the UK, the United States and the Middle East.
On the bill
A few of the events, panels, podcasts and columns from the last couple of years.
Every leadership team needs a critical friend.
Someone who has seen it before, cares how it goes for you, and is independent enough to say the awkward thing before the market says it for you, less politely and in public.
For EdTech vendors
Challenge before you commit
I’ve run an EdTech business for three decades, and I’ve chaired the boards that buy from businesses like yours. Put that in the room before a launch, a price change or a new market, and you hear how it lands before it costs you anything.
For trusts and school leaders
A sounding board with no stake
Trust CEOs, heads and chairs carry decisions that are hard to test inside their own organisation. I’ve chaired boards for more than twenty years and written the governance handbooks, so I can be the person you think out loud with.
How it works
As lightly or as formally as suits. Some clients keep me retained: a monthly call, a quarterly board session, a seat on the advisory board. Others book a single day to pressure-test a plan, a product or a pitch before it goes anywhere public. Both work.
If a day is enough, I’ll tell you it’s a day.
Brands and organisations I’ve worked with
Plus dozens of multi-academy trusts and other education establishments.
Not reading questions from a card.
I’ve spent three decades on both sides of the table: CEO of an EdTech company, chair of a multi academy trust, author, and a school governor for more than twenty years. When I chair a conversation about schools, technology or AI, I know the subject, I know the audience, and I know what it takes for an event to feel effortless.
That same view is what makes the consulting work: I’ve sold into education and I’ve been sold to, and I’m straight with clients about which of the two they’re getting wrong.
The short version
Nine books and counting.
Most of what I host, chair and advise on, I’ve also written about: governance handbooks, a guide to growing schools and trusts, an EdTech diary, AI governance, and the Questions books for boards and workplaces, one of which now has its own US edition. My most recent research book, The Awkward Questions in Education (Routledge, 2025), asks the questions that usually get avoided.
“Al’s keynote was thought-provoking, engaging and gave delegates practical take-aways. An expertly delivered speech that helped set the scene for the conference.
‘A perfect blend of inspiration, practical advice and light-hearted humour. He made complex AI discussions engaging and accessible.’
‘Hugely entertaining and thought-provoking. Certainly one of the highlights of the conference.’
‘He took time to understand our needs and delivered a session that was useful and relevant for our nursery schools through to our secondary schools. A difficult task.’
‘Your keynote created a real buzz. Your forward-thinking, fresh perspective is exactly where we need to be. I could have listened to you all night!’
Hear it for yourself: sessions, articles and photos on the media page →
About Al
I’ve worked in education and technology since the early nineties, most of it at NetSupport, and I’ve chaired school boards for over twenty years. The books, the podcast appearances, the advisory roles and the award list all have a page of their own here.
If you want the whole picture before you get in touch, start with the About page.
Enquiries
Planning an event, or planning to grow?
For events, tell me the date, the audience and what you want the day to achieve. For consulting, tell me where you’re trying to get to. Either way I’ll be straight with you about whether I’m the right fit, and if I’m not, I probably know who is.
Katie Ugland
Consulting and support enquiries
Al Kingsley MBE
Something specific? Come to me direct
Debbie
Accounts and admin
Katie Cavill
To book Al to speak or host an event
Sam Frankish
To book Al to speak or host an event
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