Jim Knight’s principal policy areas include raising school standards including public examinations and national tests, the national curriculum, 14-19 education and Diplomas, school funding and capital including Building Schools for the Future, and school workforce issues.

Jim Knight was first appointed as Minister of State to the then Department for Education and Skills in May 2006. Previously Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity since the 2005 General Election, Jim Knight was elected MP for Dorset South in June 2001.

He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rosie Winterton at the Department of Health between 2003 and 2004, before going on to serve as PPS to the Department of Health’s ministerial team.

Jim Knight, 41, was educated at Cambridge. Before entering parliament, he managed a publishing company, based in the West Country, for 10 years. Prior to that, he managed arts venues and worked for a small scale travelling theatre company. He is married with two children.

Jim Knight's keynote presentation will take place on Thursday morning. Find out how to take part in the Q&A session that will follow.