Programme

09.15 – 09.50

Beyond content: Solving complex L&D challenges with systems thinking

• Why learning alone rarely shifts performance and what to do instead
• How systems thinking, design thinking and performance consulting work together
• Tools to untangle complexity, align stakeholders and deliver business impact

Nebel Crowhurst, Chief People Officer

10.00 – 11.00

Shaping tomorrow’s workforce: Demography, longevity, and learning

Robin Hoyle, World of Learning Conference Chair & Author

Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and Founder & Director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, Author of How population change will transform the world and advisor to European and Asian governments. 

 

11.10 – 11.50

Human + Machine + System: Orchestrating AI‑driven innovation across the learning ecosystem

• Mapping the system, not just the tech – identifying high‑leverage AI use cases across people and workflows
• Building a culture of small bets – hypothesis‑driven experiments and micro‑pilots in the flow of work
• Treating ambiguity as a feature – letting curiosity lead

Hande Gungor, Strategy & Insights Manager – Talent, Development and Coaching CoE, PwC

 

 

11.30 – 12.10

Coaching mindset: Supporting upskilling and employability

• Explore the variation in professional standards and implications for coaches
• Cultural nuance – understanding the landscape
• Changing mindset, unlearning skills to coach

Sue Wallace, Head of Learning and Development, Baily Garner LLP
Darren Leech, Director & Head of Coaching Faculty, NHS Elect

 

 

 

 

12.05 – 12.45

L&D for today and tomorrow – supporting modern learners and workplaces

• L&D reframed: From content creators to performance partners, building a business improvement mindset
• Agility over answers: Shifting focus from “what to learn” to “how to learn”, encouraging curiosity
• Skills-centric: Driving capability through skills (not roles) within workforce planning, succession, and growth/performance conversations

Malcolm Taylor, Head of People Development and Engagement, UK Health Security Agency
Kim Edwards, Director, Culture and Development, Getty Images

13.40 – 14.20

AI uses for work in the flow of learning

• Being more deliberate: Agentic AI for live skills development
• Scale smart: Run multiple simulations and save your human coaches for supervision
• Decide faster: Move beyond legacy data by asking AI what’s changed in your markets and workforce

Paul Kent, Director, Functional Development, Global Learning & Development, PepsiCo

 

 

 

13.45 – 14.25

You can’t patch people: Why cybersecurity needs L&D, not just IT

• Discover practical ways L&D can drive awareness, resilience, and a strong culture around security
• Learn proven approaches to embedding secure behaviours into leadership, transformation, and daily work
• How learning initiatives can turn human risk into organisational strength

Natasa Holloway, VP – Transformation & Change, Barclays
Penny Jackson, Director of Strategy and Human Risk, Aristos Partnership

14.10 – 14.45

From design to impact: Creating learning solutions that work

• Why great design is more than content – it’s about relevance, experience, and solving the right problems
• Blending digital and face-to-face learning to drive meaningful outcomes and performance
• Measuring what matters: Practical ways to track and prove impact

Sukh Pabial, Senior Learning Strategist, previously M&S
Tom Bailey, Global Leadership & Talent Lead, Specsavers

 

14:45 – 15:25

Building the L&D team of the future: Skills, structures and strategy

• The value of understanding your business and productivity
• The pain points in the value chain and what really matters
• How the right shape/skilled team can add value quickly

Anna Poluektov, Finance Learning & Development Manager, Reckitt
Simon Gibson, Talent Director, Center Parcs UK & I

 

14.55 – 15.35

Learning transfer: Transforming learning into sustained performance

• Why establishing lasting behaviour change is necessary for sustained performance
• Discover how to combine reflective practice and data analytics to create powerful learning transfer
• Practical ways to drive accountability through follow-up and learning reinforcement

Emma Weber, Founder, Lever-Transfer of Learning/Coach M

15.10 – 15.45

Accessibility first: Designing inclusive learning experiences

• Understand what accessibility means in both digital and in-person training
• Explore practical strategies to make learning more inclusive
• Leave with actionable steps to improve accessibility in your L&D programs

Sharyn Clarkson-Kent, Head of Learning & Development, Abri Group
Alan Jerram, Learning & Development Manager, Abri Group

16.10 – 16.50

L&D Exchange: How do we encourage people to see learning opportunities throughout their working day?

Take part in roundtable discussions with L&D thought leaders and fellow Delegates in this interactive and collaborative session

Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer and Consultant, Reimagine People Development
Aglaia Economou, HR Learning Development and Change Manager, Hertfordshire County Council
Olya Yakzhina, People Thought Leader & Podcaster, Head of People & Culture at Work.Life
Noo Jones, Business Psychologist
Jo Wainwright, Head of People Development inc Sustainability Strategic Lead, Card Factory
Rick Bradley, Head of Learning Delivery and Curriculum Development, Change Grow Live
Terry Pearce, Learning & Development Manager, AllPoints Fibre
Tom McDowall, Chief Learning Geek, Evolve L&D
Rebecca McDowall, Chair, The Learning Network
Martin Couzins, CEO, Insights Media
Paul Matthews, CEO, People Alchemy
Emma Weber, Founder, Lever-Transfer of Learning/Coach M
Nahdia Khan, Director, Tasir Consulting
Phil Reddall, Head of Learning (Desk) & Capability Systems

 

9.15 – 9.50

From remote to connected: How L&D supports the multisite workforce

• Strategy drivers or demand supporters: intentional development to boost retention, attract next gen and build resilience
• Outcome-based trust, async-first communication – real solutions for real challenges
• Prove impact and win buy-in across a remote team

Chrisna Vergottini-Mason, Chief People Officer, Simfoni

10.00 – 11.00

Culture by design: How vision becomes behaviour

Bruce Daisley, Sunday Times bestselling author & culture coach
Podcast presenter of Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat

11.10 – 11.50

Practical strategies for building efficient and adaptable learning programmes

• How to design learning programs that integrate AI for efficiency, scale and adaptability
• Why the human element becomes more vital in an AI-driven ecosystem
• The culture and pivot to embrace AI, with safety, open-mindedness and structured policies

Steve Rush, Executive Director and Global Head of Learning and Skills at MSCI
Dr. Ashwin Mehta MBA FLPI, Founder & CEO, Mehtadology

11.30 – 12.10

Preparing for the future: Workforce and capability planning

• Identifying the ideal capability requirements for your organisation
• Assessing your existing workforce capability
• Closing the gap through build, buy, borrow or automate

Adam Chapman, Talent Manager, Crimson

 

 

12.05 – 12.45

When leaders prioritise learning: L&D’s impact on business performance

• What happens when business leaders understand and champion L&D
• Being evidence-led and driving impact that matters
• How leaders set the tone and create the conditions for learning to thrive

Tovah Wilde, Head of Learning & Development, Curaleaf International
Mike Shaw, Senior L&D Specialist, Smith & Nephew

 

13.35 – 14.10

Skills we’re prioritising in our organisations – how and why

Carl Akintola-Davies, Head of Learning & Development, ICAEW
Donna Verdi, Head of Learning and Talent Development, Kroll
Sharon Blyfield OBE, Head of Early Careers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Darren Guy, L&D Director, Formerly JP Morgan & Maersk

14.15 – 14.55

Ignite engagement by putting people at the heart of learning and work

• Drive cross-functional empathy and collaboration
• Spot inefficiencies and spark business process improvements
• Support career mobility and internal talent development
• Boost engagement and psychological safety and embed learning into the flow of work

Zahra Ali, Employee Experience & Development Manager
Dani Sa’adu, Global Head of Talent Management, Wireless Logic

14.35 – 15.15

Creating agile learning paths to meet workforce needs

• Agile practices to develop learning paths with tangible business outcomes
• A framework for a self-sustaining, connected learning ecosystem that evolves alongside workforce needs
• Continuous integration of tailored learning opportunities

Irene Escobar Castells, Senior L&D Manager and AI Academy Lead, IAG Transform

14.20 – 14.55

Culture by design, not by default

• Why culture is the hidden driver of engagement, performance and change
• How to connect organisational values into leadership, learning and everyday behaviours
• Using L&D as a lever for cultural change and long-term impact

Scott Carrick, Director of People, Learning & Development, Project 6
Barry Large, Head Of Learning & Development & Sustainability, Amtico International

15.15 – 15.40

Changing the organisation – why change initiatives fail and what to do about it

Robin Hoyle, World of Learning Conference Chair & Author