We are delighted to announce that Darrell Woodman, co-founder of Art of Brilliance and one of the UK’s most engaging and respected speakers on wellbeing, resilience and positive psychology, will be joining us as a keynote speaker at the RESTA Conference 2026.
Taking place on 10 July 2026 at the University of Suffolk, this year’s conference will explore the theme:
Supporting Engagement, Belonging and Emotional Regulation in Education
As schools and colleges continue to navigate increasing complexity, there has never been a more important time to consider how we create environments in which both young people and the adults who support them can thrive. Darrell’s keynote offers a timely opportunity to reflect on these challenges through the lens of positive psychology and practical wellbeing.
The Art of Being Brilliant: Your Wellbeing Launchpad
Darrell’s keynote, The Art of Being Brilliant: Your Wellbeing Launchpad, explores the science behind wellbeing, resilience and human flourishing in a way that is both evidence-informed and highly accessible.
Drawing on positive psychology research and years of experience working with organisations across the UK and internationally, Darrell challenges us to think differently about what helps people perform at their best, maintain perspective during difficult times and build sustainable habits that support long-term wellbeing.
Importantly, this is not a session about unrealistic positivity or quick fixes. Instead, it offers practical insights into how individuals and organisations can cultivate the conditions that allow people to thrive, even in challenging circumstances.
Why This Matters for Education
Across the education sector, conversations about wellbeing have become increasingly common. However, there is growing recognition that wellbeing cannot be reduced to isolated initiatives or one-off interventions.
At RESTA, we believe that resilience develops through relationships, belonging, psychological safety and consistent experiences of support. It is not something that can simply be taught in a lesson or added onto an already demanding workload.
Darrell’s work aligns strongly with these principles. His focus on practical, evidence-informed approaches to wellbeing complements the wider conference theme and provides an opportunity for delegates to consider how positive psychology can support both personal and organisational resilience.
For school and college leaders, practitioners and support staff alike, the session promises to provide valuable insights into how we create cultures that help people connect, cope and thrive.
A Conference Focused on Practice
Alongside keynote presentations, the RESTA Conference 2026 will include a range of workshops exploring:
- Emotional regulation and behaviour
- Psychological safety and self-compassion
- Connection and belonging
- Future orientation and aspiration
- RESTA in practice
- Embedding RESTA within a RESO
- Leadership perspectives on implementation within schools and colleges
The conference is designed not only as a professional development opportunity, but as a space for reflection, collaboration and shared learning. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from practitioners implementing psychologically informed approaches in a range of educational settings and to explore what sustainable, whole-system resilience looks like in practice.
Join Us
We are incredibly excited to welcome Darrell to the RESTA community and look forward to the insight, energy and practical wisdom he will bring to this year’s event.
Whether you are already involved in RESTA, are interested in psychologically informed practice, or simply want to explore new ways of supporting engagement, belonging and wellbeing within your setting, we would love to welcome you.
RESTA Conference 2026
📍 University of Suffolk
📅 10 July 2026
Places are free, but booking is essential.
To reserve your place, Register Here.