National #TrustLeaders CEO Conference 2026 

Mark was appointed as Chief Executive of The Children’s Society in 2019 and leads a team of 750 staff and 6,000 volunteers. He is passionately committed to social justice and fighting for children and young people to feel hopeful and happy. Mark grew up in Northern Ireland and read Law at Queen’s University Belfast. He has 10 years’ experience as a youth worker, supporting young people in England and Northern Ireland. In 1999, Mark was awarded the ‘British Gas Tomorrow’s People Award’ for his cross-community work, bringing Catholic and Protestant young people together across Northern Ireland in the run up to the Good Friday Agreement. Before joining The Children’s Society Mark served as Chief Executive of Church Army for almost 13 years. Mark has been a Trustee of The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England and has served as Chair of The Marylebone Project, the largest women only homeless project in the UK. He is Vice Chair of Governors of a large high school in Hampshire, an Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral, has been appointed to first Civil Society Council, designed to bring voices from civil society into the heart of Government and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. He tweets @markrusselluk. Mark lives outside London with his partner David and in his spare time he loves to travel, keep fit and a good red wine. If he were ever on Mastermind, his specialist subject would be the West Wing! 

Keith O’Loughlin is an entrepreneur, strategist and storyteller whose career spans global sport, technology, hospitality and investment. Through his holding company Everlough, he builds and backs ventures at the intersection of innovation and instinct, with a firm belief that the best businesses start with the right people rather than the right plan.

He was a long-time friend and business partner of the late Eddie Jordan, co-founding JKO Capital with him and standing alongside him through everything from Formula One boardrooms to a £3bn bid for Playtech. More than a collaborator, Keith was one of the people Eddie trusted to tell his story honestly.

His book, Full Throttle: Lessons from a Life of Motorsport, Money and Mischief, is that story: a tribute to a man who broke the rules, backed the underdog, and proved that purpose, courage and joy can carry you further than any plan on paper.

Ann Palmer is an award-winning CEO, Executive Director, Non-Executive Director and globally recognised leadership strategist whose career spans more than 35 years across education, corporate, government and non-profit sectors in the UK and internationally. As CEO of Fig Tree International, Executive Director of Race to Excellence and Elevate Ed Global, and Founder of the accredited RACE Charter Mark, she has built a reputation for combining visionary thinking with operational rigour. Her work has been described as “of the highest order and always first rate,” and as “a leader who leads with flair and vision.” Recognised during HRH The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 as one of a select group of globally acknowledged CEOs, Ann bridges purpose and performance with uncommon precision, aligning inclusive values with measurable results.

Holding a number of significant roles, including as a strategic coach and advisor for the International Baccalaureate Global Education Systems Solutions division, a Vice Chair of a Charity, Fellow with the Chartered College of Teachers Uk and a representative on their Ethics Committee, a member of the DfE AI Guidance and Training Advisory Board Member – UK Education, MAT Trustee and a School Governor, Ann’s leadership continues to have global impact.