Ali Durban.
Inclusion, leadership and impact development leader
How I got started on this path
My journey into educational leadership began with my experience as a mother of a child with SEND. This deeply personal perspective showed me not just the challenges families face but also the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when we dare to imagine education differently.
With over two decades of marketing experience, I understand how to communicate vision and build meaningful connections. This commercial insight, combined with my journey in education, provides a unique perspective on leadership transformation.
As a co-founder of an all-through special school with two consecutive Ofsted Outstanding awards and founder of the Gesher Assessment Centre, I’ve led innovative approaches to SEND education and assessment. My experience as a school governor and member of a multi-academy trust has deepened my understanding of governance and educational leadership at every level.
At a national level, I contribute to shaping educational policy and practice through multiple roles:
Co-chair of the SEND Council for the Foundation for Educational Development.
Multi-academy trust member.
Steering panel member of the Autism Centre of Excellence, led by Sir Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
I have navigated the SEND landscape through multiple roles, engaging with schools in the UK and beyond, consistently challenging and expanding my understanding. Having analysed SEND practices in over 100 schools, I regularly share insights through national panels, events, and podcasts.
These diverse experiences, recognised with an MBE for Services to Children and Young People with Special Needs, inform my approach to helping other leaders create meaningful change in education.