Hybrid Working and The 4 Day Work Week – Smart Strategy or Fantasy Fix?
The way we work has transformed. What began as a temporary measure during the pandemic has evolved into a lasting and strategic way of operating. For many organisations, hybrid working has become a key part of their long-term workforce model. The debate over remote work has resurfaced, with some arguing that working from home isn’t ‘proper work’ and has set the UK’s productivity back by 20 years.
CHAIR
Clare Durnin, Chief People and Excellence Officer, Platform Housing Group Limited
SPEAKERS
Alan Keers, CEO, Red Kite Housing | Brendan Burchell, Professor in the Social Sciences, University of Cambridge and four-day week qualitative research lead, University of Cambridge
Fortifying the Boardroom: Navigating Shareholder and Director Disputes
In an environment characterised as more litigious than ever, boards face increasing scrutiny. Even strong leadership teams can see internal disagreements arise. Diverging shareholder views or questioned director actions can destabilise your company, drain resources, and risk its future. Is your leadership prepared?
Defining the CHRO’s Strategic Value Proposition with Danielle Harmer, CPO, Aviva
As organisations navigate disruption, hybrid working, and the rise of AI, the CHRO’s influence has never been more critical, yet many HR leaders still find themselves on the periphery of key strategic decisions. This session explores how HR can move beyond “pay and rations” to become true drivers of business performance and cultural transformation.
CHAIR
Catherine Lynch, Chief People Officer, Mobico Group
As AI moves from concept to reality, many organisations are struggling less with the technology itself and more with its impact on people and culture. This session focuses on the practical and human challenges of AI adoption: anxiety about job security, confusion over future skills, and a growing divide between “AI insiders” and the wider workforce. We will consider how poorly managed implementation can erode trust, disengage employees, and undermine organisational values and what we can do to avoid that eventuality.
SPEAKERS
Jamie Nevshehir, VP, HR Operations and People Analytics, NBCUniversal | James Gilding, Chief Strategy Officer, Knights Technologies
Modern Succession Planning involves collaborating with other departments in identifying and developing potential leadership successors, ensuring a seamless transition of power and resilience in adapting to a faster-changing workforce.
SPEAKERS
Alexandra Buxton, Culture & Talent Director, Fortnum & Mason | Peter Jackson, Former CEO, Hill Dickinson LLP
“The Skills Gap”: Bridging the Divide Between Education and Industry
The UK faces a growing misalignment between the skills graduates leave university with and the capabilities businesses urgently need. With automation, AI, and demographic shifts reshaping entry-level roles, organisations are struggling to source talent equipped with both technical expertise and the human skills of resilience, empathy, and curiosity.
CHAIR
Alastair Procter, SVP, Strategic Human Resource Operations, The Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG)
SPEAKERS
Phil Beach CBE, Chairman, Energy & Utility Skills | Ruchika Karakoti, Founder and Principal Consultant, Karakoti Consulting Limited | Steve Saville, VP, People, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
