With over 10 years’ experience in the school exclusion sector, Dr Patricia O’Lynn has a demonstrated history of leading change in the field of education where she champions collective impact approaches to reducing the use school exclusion. Patricia completed doctoral research at Queen’s University Belfast, which focused on understanding the lived experiences of school exclusion from marginalised youth. She has served as a Local Government Councillor, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Northern Ireland and Special Political Advisor to the Justice Minister. In 2023 Patricia founded the Institute for Disruption, a community interest company which works to challenge the status quo, end the use of school exclusion and to reframe disruptive behaviour as a force for social good.