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NHS Leaders Forum, September 2026
Network

NHS Leaders Forum

30 September 2026

10:30 - 16:00

In-person

London

  • Leadership

  • Cross-sector partnerships

  • Delivery and performance

  • Health inequalities

  • Improvement

Book now

Overview

Connect with leaders from across the sector

Bringing together chairs, chief executives and equivalent leaders from across different parts of the sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this forum is your opportunity to explore national developments and their impact on your organisation, share learning and network with peers.

Why this matters

This forum is provides a valuable safe space to explore shared challenges and gain the latest insights on national developments. 

Operating under Chatham House Rule, this member-only forum will provide you an opportunity to:

  • Hear from government and national body leaders on key issues affecting your role and its requirements.
  • Participate in professional development sessions with experts, with the opportunity to influence future national policy.
  • Share ideas, exchange learning and hear case studies of innovative work being done across the sector. 
  • Engage in interactive sessions to ask questions and share your thoughts.
  • Have open and honest discussions with peers in breakout sessions.

Always a helpful event. I leave with knowing I'm not alone in the issues I'm struggling with, helpful ideas for things to try and a renewed sense of optimism.

Previous attendee

Agenda

Wednesday 30 Sep

  1. 10:00Registration

    • Registration, refreshments and networking

      Registration desk will be available from 10am.

  2. 10:30Welcome

    • Chair introductions

      • Sir Terence Stephenson

  3. 10:40Session 1

    • Strategic policy update

      Hear an overview of the current political landscape including Andy Burnham's devolution agenda, it's implications and potential cabinet changes. 

      This session will also reflect on the latest health policy developments, with analysis on what these may mean for different parts of the sector and key considerations for leaders. There will also be opportunity for Q&A and discussion throughout. 

      • Sir Ciarán Devane

  4. 11:20Session 2

    • Neighbourhood health: what it takes to shift to a preventative model of care

      This session will explore what it takes to move from an acute and reactive‑focused system towards neighbourhood‑based, preventative care that improves outcomes while alleviating long‑term operational pressure. Bringing together system, commissioning, provider, and primary care perspectives to reflect on what's working, what remains difficult, and where leadership efforts need to be focused next. 

  5. 12:10Comfort break

  6. 12:35Session 3

    • EDI: from policy to practice

      More details will be available soon. 

  7. 13:15Lunch and networking

  8. 14:15Session 4

    • Leading under pressure: Resetting the relationship between the centre, systems and local leaders

      This panel session will explore what effective, sustainable NHS leadership looks like amid ongoing pressure and evolving relationships between the Centre, ICBs and provider leaders. Sharing personal reflections and facilitated discussion, panellists will examine how structural, relational and cultural conditions can enable (or inhibit) effective leadership.

  9. 15:05Session 5

    • Breakout sessions

      More details to be available soon. 

  10. 15:50Closing comments

  11. 16:00Networking opportunity

    • Peer engagement

      The main room will remain open until 4:30pm for colleagues to stay back and engage in further networking opportunities. Please do take advantage of this extended time to connect with peers, share insights, and build valuable connections. Refreshments will be available.  

  12. 16:30Drinks reception

    • Refreshments and informal networking

      Following the main agenda, you are invited to join for an informal space for further networking with peers and relationship building.

      Sponsored by Newton, drinks and nibbles will be available.

Please note: the agenda is still in development for this event so session timings may be subject to change. We will share more details over the coming weeks and who we'll be hearing from.

Forum chair and speakers

Sir Terence Stephenson

Sir Terence Stephenson

Vice-Chair

The NHS Alliance

Sir Terence Stephenson

Sir Terence Stephenson

Vice-Chair

The NHS Alliance

Professor Sir Terence Stephenson is Nuffield Professor of Child Health at UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute. He chaired the UK GMC (2015 to 2018), the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (2012 to 2014), and was president of the Royal College of Paediatrics (2009 to 2012), and chair of the Health Research Authority until January 2025 and became chair of NHS Providers in February 2025. He was knighted in 2018 and has been a senior NIHR investigator since 2022. He has authored over 330 publications and seven textbooks, with £15m in research funding. He’s held academic and leadership roles in Nottingham and London, and has been an elected honorary fellow of 11 international colleges or academies.

Lord Victor Adebowale

Lord Victor Adebowale

Chair

The NHS Alliance

How to book

Attendance is free, however you will need to book in advance to receive event details ahead of the Forum.

If you have any questions, or would like to be added to the mailing list to hear about future events, please contact the Forums team.

Who should attend

This network is designed leaders from across NHS trusts, ICBs, community CICs and primary care collaboratives across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This includes: 

  • Chairs, chief executives and other equivalent leaders.