THE FORTIS EDUCATION CONFERENCE RETURNS - BOOK YOUR SEAT FOR 2026
With proceeds going towards our outreach programme FORTIS WORLD - bridging the educational gap

FORTIS EDUCATION
CONFERENCE

TUESDAY 30TH JUNE 2026 | STOWE SCHOOL | £250

Secure Your Space at the Highly Anticipated Event!

Hi, I'm Lisa Powell, and I'm so excited to host the Fortis Education for another year, this time at Stowe School on 30th June 2026!

Education has always been my passion. It's been a privilege to dedicate my 30+ year career to helping children unlock their potential. Following decades of teaching in independent schools, I now mainly work with prominent families to secure places at top schools and universities and, having been a foster carer while teaching, I remain deeply committed to supporting young people in care. We want to narrow the attainment gap and improve educational outcomes.

Following the success and impact of Fortis 2025, this annual event felt like the perfect next step to continue driving meaningful change and collaborations in education. Tickets sold out last year, and I warmly invite you to join us.

What's in Store at Stowe?

We look forward to a powerful day of CPD, inspiration and insight across education - vital in our changing and nuanced sector. Connections, latest updates and impact in spades. You will enjoy:

Keynote sessions with field leaders in education
Networking - dedicated time to connect, share and grow
Guided tour of the spectacular Stowe School
Delicious lunch in the State Dining Room
Refreshments, teas and coffees in the Marble Hall overlooking South Lawn

The Room: Education’s Leaders, Visionaries and Changemakers

Wondering who you’ll be surrounded by? The Fortis Education Conference 2025 brought together a diverse group of professionals and parents - all connected by a shared commitment to education. Every delegate valued insights of the day and each other. We received incredible feedback about the value of the delegates - and indeed have requested more networking time. Ask and ye shall receive!

To give you a sense of the room at Fortis 2025:

Whether you're shaping policy, guiding families, leading a school, or delivering learning directly, this is the room where meaningful conversations happen - and where connections grow, lasting far beyond the day itself.

SECURE YOUR TICKET

MEET OUR GUEST SPEAKERS

Highlights from 2025 –
And Why You’ll Want to Be There Next Year

Want to feel what it was really like?
Watch our 2-minute highlights reel to relive the energy, passion, and standout moments that made the 2025 Fortis Education Conference one to remember.

Take a look through our photo gallery for a snapshot of what made the day so special – from powerful sessions to meaningful conversations and everything in between.

A huge thank you to our incredible speakers, generous sponsors, and every delegate who attended. Your presence made this event what it was - magnificent!

Don’t just take our word for it…
Here’s what attendees shared about their experience — the atmosphere, the insights, and the sense of community created on the day.

"The Fortis Education Conference gave us big brains, brilliant data and serious connections."

— Rachel Ballantyne

"We spent an inspiring and fascinating day at the Fortis Education Ltd Conference at Harrow School. With excellent and knowledgeable speakers across the educational spectrum, it was great to discuss hot topics in our sector in such an impressive setting. Lisa did an extraordinary job!"

— JP School Consultants

"You really did host an exceptional event Lisa Powell. Every last detail was carefully considered and executed to create the best experience for the speakers and attendees – right down to the very elegant and thoughtful gift bags. I can see this becoming an annual thing…"

— Jessica Wiggins

"From the moment I arrived, it was clear Lisa Powell had curated something special. Every detail had been thought through – from the inspiring lineup of speakers to the flawless hosting at one of the most iconic schools in the UK. And yes, I’m still thinking about those notebooks!"

— Sarah Capewell, Aster Tuition

"A fabulous conference, filled with passion, knowledge and inspiration!"

Michelle Catterson

"An incredible day with so much food for thought. Thank you for holding such a powerful space."

Meera Vasudeva

"Each discussion was thought-provoking, the speakers brought clarity and ambition, and the entire day felt like a step forward for education."

Kyra Saunders

"On behalf of Anne and myself at Advanced Thinking Tuition, a very warm thank you for the conference on Monday. We both thoroughly enjoyed the day, the engaging speakers and the opportunity to visit beautiful Harrow School. We were delighted to have the opportunity to be part of such a well organised, insightful and enjoyable day."

— Lucy Collins, Advanced Thinking Tuition

"The day was filled with rich insights on school leadership, UK vs US university admissions, entrance exams, and SEN – plenty to reflect on and take back into my own practice. Lisa Montgomery’s session on US admissions gave me a fresh perspective, and the tour of Harrow brought it all to life."

— Mandeep Singh Narwal

DR ANTHONY WALLERSTEINER

Dr Anthony Wallersteiner is an esteemed and charismatic educational leader with a distinguished career in independent schools. A scholar at the University of Oxford, he read History before embarking on a career dedicated to academic excellence and holistic education.

As Headmaster of Stowe School since 2003, Dr Wallersteiner has overseen its transformation into one of the UK’s leading independent schools, renowned for its commitment to intellectual curiosity, character development, and innovation in education. He is focused on encouraging Changemakers. Under his leadership, Stowe has flourished - buildings and facilities have expanded, collaborations across industries and he has now developed The Stowe Group of schools. Anthony has driven record academic results, a thriving co-curricular programme, and beyond the fame of Richard Branson, he has a global reputation for preparing students for success beyond the classroom. His insights and vision are not to be missed!

SUSAN FANG

Susan needs no introduction, a powerhouse across leadership in international education. She is the CEO & co-founder of OxBridge Holdings, an award-winning education consultancy based in East Asia. With over 20 years of experience, Susan is a sought-after industry speaker who passionately advocates for international student success and ethical agency practices. We are fortunate to hear her valuable insights into UK and G5 admissions for international students.

LUCY WATTS

It is no surprise that Lucy Watts rose to headship at just 28years of age, leading one of the most prestigious preparatory schools in London - Eaton House, Belgravia. She is a beacon of excellence in education with long-standing connections across the educational landscape. She knows the competitive London bubble and we can't wait to hear about the London day school system and exams, preparing students for top independent senior schools, interview advice and tips for parents and educators.

MICHELLE CATTERSON

Under Michelle's headship, Moon Hall independent school has received countless national awards for pupil personal development and best specialist provision. If that isn't enough to spearhead, Michelle is Chair of the British Dyslexia Association & a strong advocate for children with special educational needs. She works alongside MPs & the House of Lords to shape policies that support education & SEN. "Special educational Needs does not define an individual's limits; but instead, it must be the starting point for discovering their unique strengths and aspirations." If you're in the field of SEND, you won't want to miss this, and we all teach neurodiverse children so there are takeaways for everyone here.

PROFESSOR STEIN

It is an honour that Professor Stein has made time to join us for the conference. For those that have not been able to get on his waiting list at Harley Street, this is an opportunity to hear and meet him. He has transformed lives. He is an internationally recognised consultant in Child, Adolescent, & Family Psychiatry with a history of revolutionalising mental health services as Clinical Director. Professor Stein is an author, he works within committees that advise the Department of Health, has won numerous research grants and lectures globally. We will all benefit from his session.

DR GITANJALI BHATTACHARYA

Head of Access and Partnerships at Harrow School and Director of Lumina, driving inclusion and opportunity in education. Gitanjali drives change. Lumina is a programme for care-experienced young people to improve their educational outcomes and she scours the country for disadvantaged students who will benefit from an incredible education at Harrow School. She is deeply committed to levelling the playing field and this will be an inspirational session - understanding the world of scholarships and bursaries, how to access them and a mission to make a difference. This might be a catalyst to join a programme like Fortis World or create your own!

LISA MONTGOMERY

With 30+ years of US college counseling experience, Lisa has directed programmes at the most prestigious US independent schools and here at the American School in London. Lisa is frequently called upon to share her expertise in the college admissions process at conferences in the U.S. and across Europe, including those sponsored by the College Board, the National Association of College Admissions Counsellors, Oxford University, and the Independent Schools Careers Organization. Lisa has also spoken on 'Writing the College Essay' on U.S national radio. Her career and humour are incredible, and it is no wonder that she is in such high demand. What a coup to have her with us.