AoC Conference 2025 Keynote: Leadership, Social Justice and Community Transformation

The AoC Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025, organised by the Association of Colleges, took place on 19th November 2025 at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham and brought together around 1,500 delegates from across the further education sector. As the largest event in the FE calendar, the conference convened principals, chief executives, governors and senior leaders for two days of policy discussion, sector insight and reflection on the pressures and possibilities facing colleges as anchor institutions in their communities.

Dr Leroy Logan MBE delivered the closing keynote on the main stage, addressing delegates in a powerful, story-led session focused on Leadership, Social Justice, Community Transformation and Civic Engagement. Leroy drew on his personal journey—from Hackney College student to senior police officer, community leader and education advocate—to illustrate the long-term impact of courageous, values-driven leadership within FE. His keynote explored integrity, confronting systemic bias, and the importance of moving beyond performative approaches to inclusion towards leadership that is visible, accountable and rooted in justice.

Throughout the keynote, Leroy challenged college leaders to recognise their institutions as civic anchors with a responsibility to create safe spaces for difficult conversations and meaningful community engagement. Using practical examples from education and youth leadership programmes, he highlighted how culture is shaped not only by data and outcomes, but by how people feel, belong and are inspired. Closing on an uplifting call to action, the keynote left delegates with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence in the sector’s power to transform lives, communities and futures through ethical, hopeful and courageous leadership