23/09/2026
We are delighted to announce our first headline speaker for the Fortis Education Conference 2027: Dr Gavin Reid.
What a way to begin! He has been on my bookshelves since I specialised in SEND in the early 90s.
Dr Gavin Reid is an internationally recognised psychologist, author and consultant whose work has helped shape thinking around dyslexia, learning differences, motivation and inclusive education across the world.
He is now based in Vancouver, Canada, and he's travelling to take the Fortis stage. Gavin is Co-Director of The Reading Lab, where he carries out psychological assessments and consultancy work. Before this, he spent ten years as a classroom teacher and sixteen years as a university lecturer. Originally from Scotland, at Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, Gavin wrote the first Master’s course in Dyslexia in the UK in 1993.
Since then, his contribution to the field has been extraordinary. I am so excited, it's taken me two years to get the YES!
He has written and edited 40 books on dyslexia, learning skills and motivation, with his work translated into seven languages. His latest book, Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook, is now in its sixth edition.
Most importantly for me, Gavin is a passionate advocate for equal opportunity for learners with dyslexia and other learning differences, but also for something too often overlooked: recognising their strengths, capabilities and potential. That distinction matters.
That is a conversation we want in the room at Fortis 2027.
Our conference has always been about bringing together people who challenge assumptions, share expertise generously and leave us thinking differently about the young people we work alongside.
We could not be more excited that Dr Gavin Reid will be part of that conversation.
Fortis Education Conference 2027...more announcements to come.
Book early: www.fortiseducation.co.uk/conference
