2025
Teacher wellbeing and the psy-complex: A governmentality perspective. Paper presented to Education Policy and Practice Group, Manchester Metropolitan University; 11 December 2025 [INVITED TALK]
Publishing strategies: Crafting papers for journals. Paper presented to Chinese National Higher Education Research Institute (CNHERI); 4 December 2025 [INVITED TALK]
Whose Education Policy Reform? Power, Voice, and the Politics of School Funding. Speaker: Matthew Sinclair, Curtin University. Hosted by Centre for Identity and Social Justice (CISJ), Goldsmiths University, 12 November 2025 [CHAIR]
Teacher well-being and the authoritarian neoliberal state: Resilience, self-care and choosing wellness (with Antonio Olmedo). Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, University of Sussex, UK; 9-11 Sept 2025 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Governing the teaching crisis: The diminished role of equity in teacher wellbeing. Keynote presented at British Academy event, Policy, Agency and Equity in Education: Early Career Perspectives, University of Birmingham, UK; 1 July 2025 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Polygenic scores as bio-policy instruments: Education genomics and experimental interventions. Speaker: Ben Williamson, University of Edinburgh. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 4 February 2025 [CHAIR]
Meet the editors: Journal of Education Policy. Speakers: Antonio (Ono) Olmedo, University of Exeter, and Andrew W. Wilkins, Goldsmiths, University of London. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 23 January 2025 [CHAIR]
Constructing educational leadership as a technique of government for policy reform. Speaker: Richard Niesche, University of New South Wales. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 21 January 2025 [CHAIR]
2024
Thinking about policy ‘relationally’: the importance of space/place to policy critique and transformation. Keynote presented at CRESI Critical Education Policy Scholarship Symposium: ‘Generating knowledge that makes a difference’, University of South Australia (UniSA), Australia, 21-22 November 2024 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Teacher wellbeing in England: Crisis management through self-care. Keynote presented at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Hong Kong, 2-3 September 2024 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Ideological Disempowerment of Neoliberal Education. Speaker: Kwok Kuen Tsang, Education University of Hong Kong. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 20 August 2024 [CHAIR]
In search of contingency: Foucauldian analytics in education research. Paper presented at BELMAS conference symposium ‘Quo-vadis ELMA? Is Foucault still relevant to our research field today?’ (with Richard Niesche, Denise Mifsud, Adam Bongers, Stephen Day, Deniz Orucu and Khalid Arar); University of Glasgow, UK; July 2024 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Beyond Acceptance: Active Allyship for LGBTQ+ Equality Panel Discussion. Speakers: Panagiotis Pentaris, Carmen Yau and Natacha Kennedy, Goldsmiths, University of London, 20 June 2024 [CHAIR]
Publishing in Journal of Education Policy. Contribution to ‘Sit with the Editor’ series organised by University College London, Institute of Education, 28 May 2024 [INVITED TALK]
Book launch: Keywords in education policy research: A conceptual toolbox (Policy Press, 2024). Speakers: Andrew W. Wilkins (Goldsmiths, University of London), Steven J. Courtney (University of Manchester), and Nelli Piattoeva (Tampere University). Education Policy Futures (EPF) webinar series; May 2024 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
What is governance? Projects, objects and analytics in education. Paper presented at Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI), University of South Australia (UniSA), 16 April 2024 [INVITED TALK]
Participation as a technology of governance. Speaker: Glenn C. Savage, University of Melbourne. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 25 March 2024 [CHAIR]
2023
What is governance? Problematics, puzzles and possibilities. Keynote presented at Innovation-Driven Education Development: School Governance and Teacher Capacity Building, Beijing, China, jointly organized by Beijing Normal University, Monash University and The Education University of Hong Kong, 1-3 December 2023 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
How is Foucault relevant for education policy and leadership research today? Paper presented at Foucault Collective Meeting Roundtable, 11 October 2023 [INVITED TALK]
Markets, morals and education reform: A policy history of parents as consumers, governors and producers (with Antonio Olmedo). Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; Aston University, UK; Sept 2023 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Knowledge brokers and policy interlocutors working against performativity: Using activity theory to examine the role of local authorities in supporting pedagogical change in the first year of compulsory school education in England (with Phil Nicholson). Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy (SIG) stream; Aston University, UK; Sept 2023 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
The rise of technocracy and the challenge to deliberative democracy: Using political theory to rethink spaces and practices of school governance (with Janet Hetherington). Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; Aston University, UK; Sept 2023 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
An approach to the puzzle of Argentinean educational federalism (2006-2019). Speaker: Vanesa Romualdo. Hosted by Centre for Identities and Social Justice, Goldsmiths, University of London, 5 July 2023 [CHAIR]
New landscapes and logics of competition in education: Geography, demography and equity in English education policy. Speaker: Antonio Olmedo. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 19 June 2023 [CHAIR]
Automated governance and at-risk groups: Researching digital school responses to mental health problems among children and young people. Paper presented at PSST Algorithms and Society event. Goldsmiths, University, 22 May 2023 [INVITED TALK]
Governance as theory: Framings and perspectives. Paper presented at symposium ‘Governance as hegemony: Global perspectives on resistance, conflict and transformation in education’, organized by Anna Traianou with speakers Jordi Collet-Sabé and Emilaino Grimaldi. Goldsmiths, University, 18 Jan 2023 [INVITED TALK]
A conversation with David Backer. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 26 Jan 2023 [CHAIR]
2022
Thinking about education differently: Education as self-formation, as commoning activity and without schools. Speaker: Jordi Collet-Sabé. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 1 Dec 2022 [CHAIR]
Risk generation and risk regulation: How school autonomy reforms construct and consolidate the governance expert. Paper presented at Governing and Governance RIG meeting, BELMAS, 15 September 2022 [INVITED TALK]
Risk, subjectivities and education governance. Paper presented at Educational Studies PGR-led conference, Goldsmiths, University of London, July 2022 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Resisting and/or accommodating: The variegated life of leadership and governance. Paper presented at English Schools Foundation, Hong Kong, 10 March 2022 [INVITED TALK]
Sense making and coping with complexity: Using theory to reimagine governance. Keynote presented at ‘Educational Governance in 21st Century: Theories, Methods, and Practices’, College of Educational Administration, Beijing Normal University, 1 Nov 2021 [INVITED TALK]
Deconstructing governance: Making the familiar strange. Paper presented at Governing and Governance RIG meeting, BELMAS, 22 April 2021 [INVITED TALK]
Resilience and Digital Educational Privatization: Lego and the Quantification of Play. Speaker: Kenneth Saltman. Hosted by Education Policy Futures, 9 March 2022 [CHAIR]
2021
Rationalities of education governance: private monopoly, risk regulation and technocratic exceptionalism. Paper presented at Goldsmiths Education Staff Conference, Goldsmiths, University of London, June 2021 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
2020
Situated education policy making: supranational data and the persistence of the national. Speakers: Sotiria Grek, Howard Stevenson, Anna Traianou. Hosted by the Centre for Identities and Social Justice, Goldsmiths, 24 Feb 2021 [DISCUSSANT]
Risk and education: A governmentality perspective. Paper presented at Centre for Identities and Social Justice. Goldsmiths, University of London, 29 January 2020 [INVITED TALK]
2019
Education governance in England: Policy trajectories, institutional orders and social arrangements. Paper presented at 4th China-UK Symposium on Modernisation of Social Governance, organised by Oxford Prospects & Global Development Institute, Regent’s Park College. University of Oxford; 23-24 Sept 2019 [INVITED TALK]
Researching education governance: Technologies, techniques and trajectories. Social Theory and Education SIG Symposium stream; British Education Research Association (BERA); University of Manchester, UK; Sept 2019 [CHAIR]
Governance assemblages: Mapping productive alignments and strange entanglements. Paper presented at Global education policy in evolving network societies, organised by Sam Sellar & Emilee Rauschenberger. Manchester Metropolitan University; 9 Sept 2019 [INVITED TALK]
The compassionate citizen: Affective labour and education governance; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Symposium: ‘Researching education governance: Technologies, techniques and trajectories’ with co-presenters Pavlina Nikita (Nottingham Trent University), Christine McLean (University of Manchester) and Andy Hodgkinson (University of Manchester); University of Manchester, UK; Sept 2019 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Dismantling monopolies? Academies as new modes of ‘governing at a distance’; Paper co-presented with Pavlina Nikita at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; University of Manchester, UK; Sept 2019 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Democracy and education. Co-moderator of panel and stream with Nirmala Rao (Asian University for Women). Human Education in the Third Millennium. Initial Roundtable Conference. Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharmshala, India; 7-8 July 2019 [INVITED TALK]
Whose knowledge counts? System maintenance and reproduction in the field of school governance; Paper presented at International Critical Management Studies (ICMS) Conference, Public services and the end of knowledge? stream; The Open University, UK; June 2019 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Governance beyond the state: Quality control through technologies, techniques and cultures; Paper presented at Cass Seminar Series; University of East London; Jan 2019 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
2018
Conceptualising education governance: Research method, discourse and technology of government; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Symposium: ‘The Governance Turn: Framings Perspectives and Theories’ with co-presenters Ben Williamson (University of Stirling) and Sam Sellar (Manchester Metropolitan University); Northumbria University, UK; Sept 2018 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Risk and publics: researching education governance. Social Theory and Education SIG Symposium stream; British Education Research Association (BERA); Northumbria University, UK; Sept 2018 [CHAIR]
The Governance Turn: Framings, perspectives and theories. Social Theory and Education SIG Symposium stream; British Education Research Association (BERA); Northumbria University, UK; Sept 2018 [CHAIR]
Manufactured risks and education governance: Conditions, implications and complexities; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; Northumbria University, UK; Sept 2018 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Epistocracy, monopoly and the challenge to participatory democracy: Issues and debates in school governance; Paper presented at Sociology of Education seminar series; UCL IOE, UK; June 2018 [INVITED TALK]
BERA Social Theory and Education SIG One-day Symposium; ‘Debating theories of neoliberalism: New perspectives and framings in education research’. Keynote speakers: Richard Hall (De Montfort University) and Steve Courtney (University of Manchester); University of East London, UK; 27 June 2018 [ORGANISED SYMPOSIUM]
Democratic innovations and participatory governance in education. Paper presented at the UEL Research & Knowledge Exchange Conference; University of East London; June 2018 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Debating theories of neoliberalism: New perspectives and framings in education research. BERA Social Theory and Education SIG One-day Symposium. University of East London, UK. June 2018 [CHAIR]
Bounded school governance: Reflections on the limits and contradictions of governing. Keynote presented at British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Association (BELMAS) Governing and Governance Research Interest Group (RIG) meeting; Wesley Hotel, London, UK; May 2018 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Democratic school governance: What is it and do we need it?; Paper presented to the school governors at Archer Academy, London, UK; April 2018 [INVITED TALK]
Manufactured risk: Strategies in education privatisation, depoliticisation and de-democratisation. Paper presented at British Academy Rising Star event ‘Privatisation in education across Europe: New forms in a changing context’; University of Manchester, UK; Jan 2018 [INVITED TALK]
Schools’ obsession with data: the impact on teachers, students and pedagogy. Paper presented by Alice Bradbury. University of East London (UEL) Cass Seminar Series. Jan 2018 [CHAIR]
2017
The new political economy of education: multi-academy trusts, private monopoly and neoliberalisation; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; University of Sussex, UK; Sept 2017 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Spatiality, temporality and risk in education research; Social Theory and Education SIG stream; British Education Research Association (BERA) Conference; University of Sussex, UK; Sept 2017 [CHAIR]
The politics of education policy and practice; Social Theory and Education SIG stream; British Education Research Association (BERA) Conference; University of Sussex, UK; Sept 2017 [CHAIR]
Assembling ‘public accountability’: Blurred boundaries, crosscutting impulses and intersecting positions; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Symposium: ‘Education in the house of mirrors: Media, publics and representations’ with co-presenters John Schostak, Linda Hammersley-Fletcher (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Matthew Clarke (York St John University); University of Sussex, UK; Sept 2017 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
The labour of school governance: Accountability, calculability and commensurability; Paper presented at the 12th Annual International Ethnography Symposium, ‘Infrastructures of Education’ stream; University of Manchester, UK; Sept 2017 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
BERA One-day Symposium: ‘Practical theory: The utility of social theory as tools and resources for the development of research methodology’. Co-organised with Tim Jay, Deanne Clouder and Mark Murphy. Keynote speakers: Christina Hughes (Sheffield Hallam University) and Ben Williamson (University of Stirling); Sheffield Hallam University, UK; 20 April 2017 [ORGANISED SYMPOSIUM]
Rethinking neoliberalism: Producer capture, multi-academy trusts and chain effects in British education; Paper presented at Cass Seminar Series; University of East London; March 2017 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
2016
Rethinking neoliberalism: Multi-academy trusts and state-sanctioned monopoly in British education; Presented at European Network on Neoliberal Education Policy (ENNEP) workshop; University of Roehampton, UK; Dec 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
School autonomy and devolved management: the role of democracy in the governing of schools; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Social Theory and Education (SIG) stream; University of Leeds, UK; Sept 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
One-day Conference; ‘Debating the Future of School Governance’ (DFSG). Speakers: Nigel Gann (Director of Hamdon Education), Paul Harrison (Director of iED (UK) Ltd), Naureen Khalid (Director of Academy Governing Board), Emma Knights (Chief Executive of National Governors’ Association), Fergal Roche (CEO of The Key for School Governors), Janet Scott (Interim Chief Executive of SGOSS), and Ian Usher (Service Manager at Modern Governor); University of East London; 8 Sept 2016 [ORGANISED CONFERENCE]
Debating the Future of School Governance (DFSG). One-day conference. University of East London, UK; Sept 2016 [CHAIR]
Transitions and conflicts in education: applying social theory. Social Theory and Education SIG stream; British Education Research Association (BERA) Conference; University of Sussex, UK; Sept 2016 [CHAIR]
Political and community power and quiescence in academisation: a case study of an English rural village school (with Nigel Gann as lead author); Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference, Leadership and Management in Education stream; University of Leeds, Sept 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Spaces of ‘modernisation’: the role of neoliberalism and neoconservatism in the reform of school governance in England; Paper presented at 6th International Conference on Critical Education (ICCE); University of Middlesex, UK; August 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Performance culture and the role of civic engagement in school governance; Paper presented at University of East London (UEL) Research Conference: Our Research Matters; University of East London, UK; June 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
The business of governing schools: performance culture and compliant subjects; Paper presented at International Centre for Public Pedagogy (ICPUP) Seminar Series; University of East London, UK; June 2016 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
2015
From deregulation to re-regulation: school governing and governance at a time of neo-liberal governmentality; Paper presented at ResearchEd Series; Plymouth University, UK; July 2015 [INVITED TALK]
Using the Interactive Governance Framework to Explore the Governing and Governance of Schools (with Professor Chris James as lead author); Paper presented at British Educational, Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) Conference; Reading, UK; July 2015 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
School governance at a time of rapid de-/re-regulation: the changing role and responsibilities of school governors; Keynote presented at ‘Accountability & Delivering Excellence’ University of Manchester Governor Initiative (UMSGI) Conference; The Chancellors Conference Centre, Manchester, UK; April 2015 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Foucault, Governmentality and Education Research. Keynote presented at BERA symposium ‘Theory as method: applying social theory in educational research’; University of Glasgow, UK; April 2015 [INVITED TALK]
A new role for local authorities: strategic oversight at a time of rapid decentralisation; Paper presented at Westminster Briefing ‘Supporting and Empowering School Governors’; London, UK; March 2015 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Governing schools; Paper presented to MA Learning and Teaching programme; University College Suffolk, UK; Feb 2015 [INVITED TALK]
ESRC school governance project: findings and recommendations; Paper presented at School Governors One-Stop Shop (SGOSS); London, UK; Jan 2015 [INVITED TALK]
ESRC school governance project: findings and recommendations; Paper presented at The Key for School Governors; London, UK; Jan 2015 [INVITED TALK]
2014
School governance and neoliberal political rationality: what has democracy got to do with it?; Paper presented at International Symposium ‘Towards a Democratic-common school governance: beyond neoliberal (UK) and neoconservative (Spain) models’; Universitat de Vic, Universitat Central de Catalunya, Spain; Oct 2014 [INVITED TALK]
One-day Conference; ‘Governing schools: Professional power and the changing role of school governors’. Panellists: Professor Stephen Ball, Professor Gill Crozier, Professor Becky Francis, Professor Helen Gunter, Chris Caroe (DfE), Brian Lightman (ASCL) and Emma Knights (NGA); University of Roehampton, UK; Oct 2014 [ORGANISED CONFERENCE]
Bid writing workshop; Paper presented to Centre for Education Research in Equality, Policy and Pedagogy (CEREPP); University of Roehampton; July 2014 [INVITED TALK]
Blogging and Social Media for Researchers; Paper presented at the University of Roehampton, UK; May 2014 [INVITED TALK]
Managerialist Realism and Education Reform: The Case of School Governance; Paper presented at British Sociological Association (BSA) Conference; University of Leeds, UK; April 2014 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
Enterprising Governance: The Role of Accountability in 21st Century British Education; Paper presented at Roundtable Session ‘Policies, Governance and the Influence of Accountability on Schools’, American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting; Philadelphia, USA; April 2014 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
The Shadow of Inspection: School Governance, Accountability and Governing Practices; Paper presented at Governing by Inspection: Insights from International Studies; Event co-organized by CREET (The Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology) and CCIG (Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance); The Open University, UK; March 2014 [INVITED TALK]
2013
Business Ontology and Managerialist Realism: School Governance, Governors and Governing Practices in England; Paper presented at Professional Development, Leadership and Organization (PULO) Research Group, Department of Education and Special Education; University of Gothenburg, Sweden; December 2013 [INVITED TALK]
Governing through accountability: linking school governance to performativity and neoliberalization; Paper presented at Education and Social Research Institute Seminar (ESRI) Seminar Series; Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; October 2013 [INVITED TALK]
Heterarchical governance: school governors and governing practices; Paper presented at one-day conference ‘Education and Learning: Sociological Perspectives’; University of Surrey, UK; September 2013 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
The managerial structures of education: governance, hierarchy and neoliberalism; Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Main conference symposium with Helen Gunter (discussant), Ruth Boyask (speaker) and Rob Higham (speaker); University of Sussex, UK; September 2013 [CONFERENCE PROCEEDING]
School accountability and stakeholder governance; Paper presented at Centre for Education Research in Equality, Policy and Pedagogy (CEREPP) seminar series; University of Roehampton, UK; June 2013 [INVITED TALK]
Governing through accountability; Paper presented at BELMAS Governing and Governance RIG meeting; Institute of Education, UK; May 2013 [INVITED TALK]
2012
Soft sell: Translating the affective and the personal through libertarian paternalism; Paper presented to Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance (CCIG) Forum co-organised by the Psychosocial and Publics Research Programme; The Open University, UK; May 2012 [INVITED TALK]
Consuming diversity: The commodification of British education; Keynote speaker at one-day conference ‘Slfakulta Sociálnych a Ekonomických Vied’; Univerzity Komenského, Slovakia; January 2012 [INVITED KEYNOTE]
Schooling in the era of neoliberalism: New perspectives, new directions; Paper presented at colloquium; University of Trnava, Slovakia; January 2012 [INVITED TALK]
2011
On neuroeconomics, behavioural psychology and ‘soft’ paternalism; Paper presented at Language, Power and Ideology (LIP) Research Group; Lancaster University; March 2011 [INVITED TALK]
Negotiating responsibility and care: Problematics of school choice; Paper presented at Le LAIOS-IIAC, Institut Interdisciplinaire d’ Anthropologie du Contemporain, Grandes école, France; January 2010 [INVITED TALK]
2010
Working with Contemporary Images. Seminar 1 of ESRC-funded Seminar Series ‘Visual Dialogues: New Agendas in Inequalities Research’; The Open University, UK; January 2010 [CHAIR]
2007
One-day conference ‘Doing postgraduate research on the intersection of citizenship, identities and governance’; Roundtable 2: Methodological debates and issues generated while researching citizenship, identities and governance (Chair: Dr Helen Lomax); The Open University, UK; Oct 2007 [PANELLIST]
Andrew W. Wilkins 