Delivered by your Conference Host - Michelle O'Neill, WME

A short, powerful start to the day, introducing the BANI world we’re all working in, and how creativity, systems thinking and moments of joy can help us lead through uncertainty. You’ll be invited to step into the day not just as a helper in the chaos, but as someone shaping what comes next.

    Creative Confidence for Coaching & Mentoring

Keynote: Dr Mark Batey

In a time when organisations are grappling with uncertainty, overload, and deep systemic change, how can coaches, mentors and leaders keep their minds – and the minds of others – open, curious, and creative?

In this energising keynote, Dr Mark Batey draws on his deep expertise in creativity, innovation, and neuroscience to offer a fresh perspective on how to think differently in brittle, anxious, and non-linear environments.

This keynote blends inspiration with practicality. Mark will explore what it really means to be creative – and how creativity differs from innovation – while offering approaches for coaches, mentors and leaders to strengthen resilience, unlock diverse thinking, and enable change at individual, team, and organisational levels. Expect playfulness, applicable tools, and a powerful call to action.

Mark is a world-leading authority in Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership, seamlessly blending cutting-edge academic insight and expertise with international practitioner experience as a speaker, consultant, coach, and facilitator. Mark has contributed to the formation of the X-Factor team to pioneering the concept of Gogglebox and advising governments. Diversity of thinking and inclusion form the bedrock of his professional approach. Mark has authored over 75 academic contributions, garnering 6000+ citations. He holds a PhD in Creativity from University College London and serves as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Creativity and Problem Solving.

Workshop facilitated by Angela O'Brien, OBE & Ian Macdonald

As the world presents itself as an increasingly complex place, we are required to deal with greater uncertainty and unpredictability in our daily work.

Many of us find ourselves supporting others through uncertainty, while also trying to make sense of it ourselves. This practical, down-to-earth session introduces Systems Leadership Theory (Macdonald, Burke & Stewart) as a way to reduce confusion, find clarity, and improve how people work together — even under pressure.

Whether you're coaching a leader, mentoring a team member, or navigating your own organisation, you'll gain tools to help cut through complexity and focus on what really matters. With examples from public, private and non-profit settings, the session shows how simple shifts in language, purpose and expectations can ripple across teams and systems.

You’ll leave with:

• A clear introduction to Systems Leadership Theory

• Practical tools you can use in your conversations

• Space to reflect on your current practice

• Real-world insights into how small changes lead to system-wide impact

Angela is Managing Director of Macdonald Associates Consultancy and Systems Leadership CIC, Angela works globally with organisations to create the conditions for people to thrive through Systems Leadership. With extensive experience in education and health, she has led transformation in schools serving disadvantaged communities. Angela now develops accredited practitioners in Systems Leadership worldwide and continues to support leadership development as an Associate Senior Leader at UCL. She was named Mentor/Coach of the Year at the 2024 Women in Change Awards.

Ian is a Chartered Psychologist, Honorary Fellow of Brunel University, and co-author of Systems Leadership: Creating Positive Organisations (Routledge, 2018). For over four decades Ian has developed and applied Systems Leadership principles across a wide range of sectors worldwide, from health and finance to engineering, food production and community organisations. A founder of the Systems Leadership Development Association and Systems Leadership CIC, he continues to teach, train and accredit practitioners internationally, and has contributed to leading publications on leadership. Fireside Chat: Power at the Edges

Coaching and Mentoring the System - One Conversation at a Time

Facilitated by Matthew Hotten, WME             

Change rarely comes top-down — it's shaped through everyday conversations across every level of an organisation.

In this honest and energising panel, coaches, mentors and change practitioners share how coaching and mentoring conversations — with senior leaders, middle managers and frontline teams — can create ripple effects that shift culture, build confidence, and unlock system-wide change.

Whether you're working at the top, middle or grassroots, this session will inspire you to see your role as part of something bigger.

Matt is fascinated with senior leadership development; exploring new ways to prepare leadersfor the complex challenges of tomorrow’s public service landscape. By combining time-tested wisdom with cutting-edge insights, he aims to cultivate agile, empathetic, and forward-thinking leaders.

  Workshop facilitated by Dr Mark Batey

Take the creative energy from the morning keynote into action in this high-energy, hands-on Swarm session where you’ll experiment with playful, creative techniques to tackle real-world organisational challenges.

In this large-scale, interactive workshop led by Dr Mark Batey, you’ll work in groups to co-design bold, joyful coaching or mentoring interventions that break down silos, boost collaboration, and spark system-wide ripple effects.

Whether you’re a coach or a mentor, you’ll:

• Discover and try out new creative thinking tools

• Learn how playfulness can unlock insight and resilience

• Leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas to energise teams and support change

It’s part brainstorm, part challenge, part experiment – and fully designed to build creative confidence.

   Keynote: Ruth Kudzi

We often focus on helping others make sense of challenge and change — but what about us?

In this rejuvenating final session, coaching psychologist Ruth Kudzi brings a refreshing, real-world take on how we stay grounded, motivated, and clear-headed when things get messy around us (and inside us). Whether you’re coaching, mentoring, or juggling both alongside a busy day job, this session is about making space for you — without losing sight of the people you're here to support.

Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and her whole-person coaching approach, Ruth will share simple techniques to:

• Stay steady and focused under pressure

• Spot early signs of burnout or overload — in yourself and others • Build healthy habits that support your energy and impact

• Reconnect with the spark that made you want to coach or mentor in the first place

This isn’t about fluffy wellbeing — it’s about smart, sustainable strategies that help you keep going and keep showing up, even when the system feels chaotic.

You’ll leave with real tools, fresh perspective — and a bit more spark to take back into your day-to-day.

Ruth is a coaching psychologist, bestselling author and founder of Optimus Coach Academy, known for making coaching deeply human, practical and evidence-based. With a career spanning public education, leadership and entrepreneurship, Ruth understands the pressures of delivering impact in resource-stretched environments—and is passionate about helping people reconnect with purpose, resilience and joy in their work. Her trademarked whole-person coaching model, rooted in psychology, neuroscience and somatics, has been used by thousands across the UK to create space for more honest, empowering conversations that strengthen connection, confidence and wellbeing - especially in times of change.