Positive Parenting, Confident Teens

DM FRCPsych, Professor (Chair) of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Oxford
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Her research focuses on improving mental health services for young people, particularly through schools, which she views as key locations for early intervention. She works on developing more accessible and effective mental health care systems for vulnerable populations, such as refugee children and adolescents. Fazel’s work highlights the importance of integrating mental health support within education and other networks of care.

Fazel is also the lead researcher of the OxWell Student Survey ( https://oxwell.org/ ), a large-scale project gathering data on the mental health of school-aged children to inform better services. Her work often focuses on vulnerable populations, including refugees and adolescents facing adversity.

OBE MD FRCPsych FMedSci
Professor Emeritus , Cambridge University
Co-Founder, CambridgeBPI Ltd

A multi-award-winning Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the University of Cambridge, Ian is also a Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. As a renowned pioneer of adolescent mental health treatment, he was among the first practitioners to describe and investigate clinical depression in young people.

Getting to the root cause of adolescent mental illness and finding new forms of treatment has been at the heart of Ian’s work, and in 1998 he was the recipient of the Nathan Cummings Prize (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) for original research into depression.

Other accolades received by Ian include a Community Medical Award (Association of British Industries) and the Mental Health Research Network Annual Science Prize.

Ian has published more than 300 research papers and clinical reports, as well as writing five books with the most recent being about BPI and co-authored with Dr Raphael Kelvin. Awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999, he received an OBE for Psychiatry Research in 2018.

Ian enjoys keeping fit, walking his golden retriever dog, especially on the North Norfolk Coast, and continues to write about and research adolescent mental health.

There is nothing that terrifies a parent more than the thought of losing a child. For Elaine Uskoski that fear almost became her reality when she discovered that her son Jake was addicted to video gaming. An addiction that almost cost him his life.

With a bustling career as a successful Iridologist and nutritional expert, with her sons away at university, Elaine and her husband were enjoying their time as empty nesters.That freedom was short lived and in 2014 her world came crashing down.

Jake had started university, living away from home for the first time. Elaine thought he was successfully managing his studies and new life, only to discover that he had been hiding a dangerous truth from her. He was carefully covering up his increasing compulsion to play video games.

With her characteristic focus and energy, Elaine threw herself into learning everything she could about video gaming addiction. Understanding the signs and symptoms so she could deduce how Jake’s gaming had turned from a fun hobby into a serious crisis.

She relied on her vast experience in social service work and 18 years’ experience in wellness to create a holistic plan to help her son recover both his physical and emotional well-being.

In the several years it took for Jake to learn how to manage his disorder and reclaim his life, Elaine learned much about how to parent her son through his addiction. She channeled this growth into her book, “ Seeing Through the Cracks” which details her experience.

In retrospect, Elaine saw many signs that Jake, was not well and now sees that her ignorance, naivety and denial had created an environment of full on enabling.

Elaine speaks publicly, sharing her story and educating parents on the risk factors associated with this addiction. She has been featured on numerous media outlets including CBC’s The National, CBC Radio, The Wall Street Journal, CHCH Television and Rogers TV.

Elaine is also a coach for parents, offering information, strategies and support in managing technology. Elaine is candid, honest and compassionate in the hope that she can inform people about the very real dangers of this 21st century problem.

Dr Romayne Gadelrab is a Consultant Psychiatrist at South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) researching new treatments for depression and Bipolar disorder. With a special interest in the effects of technology on our mental health, Dr Romayne co-chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Digital Special Interest Group and also works as an Honorary Doctor at the National Centre for Internet Gaming Disorders. Dr Gadelrab is a graduate of the Royal Free & University College London Medical School and also obtained an Intercalated BSc Management from Imperial College University Business School. She has spent over three years as a clinical research fellow at the IoPPN researching novel treatments for affective disorders.

Georgia is a PhD student in the Digital Mental Health Group at the University of Cambridge. In her research, she applies methods from neuroscience and psychology to understand why people feel they lose control of their social media use.

Alice Steinart is the headteacher at Oratory Primary School. With a passion for education and years of experience in teaching and school management, Alice has a deep commitment to fostering a nurturing and inspiring environment for her whole school community. Her vision centres on creating a well-rounded, inclusive learning experience, with a strong belief in the transformative power of education to shape young lives.

Hugo Rifkind is a columnist, critic and leader writer for The Times. He also presents a Saturday morning show on Times Radio from 10am-1pm. Formerly a columnist for The Herald, The Spectator and GQ, he joined The Times in 2005 as a diarist and features writer. He now writes a weekly opinion column, the weekend TV review and My Week, a diary parody. He has won two Press Awards, three Comment Awards and one Stonewall Award .

Paul Dix is an acclaimed behaviour specialist and educational consultant renowned for revolutionizing classroom management and discipline strategies. With over two decades of experience in education, Paul is the author of the bestselling book "When the Adults Change, Everything Changes," which has empowered countless educators to create positive and productive learning environments. His innovative approaches focus on consistent, empathetic practices that build strong teacher-student relationships and foster a culture of respect and responsibility. Paul has worked with schools worldwide, delivering impactful training sessions that inspire lasting change. Join us at this educational event to learn from one of the leading voices in behaviour management and transform the way you handle classroom dynamics.

Andrew O'Neill, Headmaster of All Saints Catholic College, is renowned for his leadership in fostering academic excellence and personal and spiritual growth. With over two decades in education, he has significantly improved student outcomes by promoting values of faith, respect, and responsibility. His latest award-winning initiative, aimed at reducing smartphone dependency, includes a digital detox curriculum, engaging extracurricular activities, and tech-free zones. This program has been recognized for encouraging healthier technology habits and enhancing student engagement.

Rachel Sylvester is a political columnist at The Times. She started writing about politics in 1996 and was a lobby correspondent on The Daily Telegraph before becoming political editor of The Independent on Sunday. She joined The Times in 2008.

Tom Whipple is science editor at The Times. He has been covering science for the paper since 2012. He writes news, features, reviews and commentary across the paper, as well as appearing regularly on Times Radio. Tom joined The Times shortly after graduating with a degree in mathematics. During the course of his job he has visited the tunnels below Cern and the top of Mont Blanc above it. He has been inside the world's hottest sauna and the world's most irradiated nature reserve. He has interviewed Stephen Hawking and Jedward.

Dr John Coleman is a renowned British clinical psychologist specialising in adolescent development and brain research. Throughout his distinguished career, he has significantly impacted the understanding of teenage behaviour and mental health. Dr Coleman founded a research centre focusing on adolescents and their families and has held various influential roles, including Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and government policy advisor. He is well-known for his work on the teenage brain, emphasising the importance of understanding the changes adolescents undergo to foster better relationships and communication. Dr Coleman has authored several books, such as "Why Won't My Teenager Talk to Me?" and "The Teacher and the Teenage Brain," which provide insights into the challenges of the teenage years and offer practical advice for parents and educators.

Mary Sharpe is the CEO of The Reward Foundation, a pioneering non-profit focused on the impact of internet addiction, particularly pornography, on mental health and relationships. With a background in law, psychology, and neuroscience, Mary is an internationally recognized speaker and advocate for public awareness on the effects of digital addiction. She leads initiatives to educate professionals, parents, and young people on building resilience in a digital age, combining scientific insights with practical strategies to foster healthier habits and relationships.

Tara Elie is a Senior Lecturer, Behaviour Specialist, and coach, known for her energetic training style focused on well-being and performance, and she is a member of Paul Dix’s team, author of When the Parents Change, Everything Changes