Annual HR Directors' Retreat: Managing Change

With a change of government comes a change of focus and priorities. There is now a steady flow of proposed changes to employment law, public service delivery priorities, as well as changes in tone and emphasis in relation to all things work, workplace and workforce. In this context, managing change well moves even more centre stage if we are to change the world of work for the better and improve the state of the nation.

Challenges with managing change well abound; from how to engage staff effectively and meaningfully, how to ensure the engagement and wellbeing of people are maintained in times of both high expectations and challenge, and how to lead effectively through change.

Join us to actively debate these issues in a supportive and collaborative environment with contributions by leading thinkers, practitioners and opinion-formers from HR, the trade union movement, academia, and the private and public sectors.

We will be joined by:

Dave Penman - General Secretary of the FDA. Dave was elected as General Secretary of the FDA in May 2012, and took up office in July that year. He was re-elected in 2016 and 2021. Dave will talk about implications of change for public service.

Mike Clancy - General Secretary, Prospect. Mike is General Secretary of Prospect trade union, representing more than 155,000 professional, technical and creative people in both public and private sectors. Mike will reflect on why we need to reboot the partnership agenda between government, unions and employers.

Nita Clarke OBE - Nita has been Director of the IPA since January 2008, and has a long career in the trade union and labour movement. Nita will talk about managing employee engagement through change.

Kathryn Perera - Kathryn is Senior Consultant, Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund. Kathryn joined The King’s Fund following nearly a decade as the Director of NHS Horizons, leading the co-design and implementation of large-scale change initiatives across health and care systems both within England and internationally. Kathryn will discuss leading change with others. 

Jo Yarker - Jo is a Registered and Chartered Psychologist, a Professor in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London and co-Managing Partner of Affinity Health at Work, a research and consultancy. Jo will focus on the relationship between organisational change and health and wellbeing. 

Marc Weedon - Marc is Senior HR Director (International) at Zurora. Marc will provide a private sector, international, and technology angle on change. He brings a senior practitioner perspective on change, and will talk about what he has learnt from delivering change through a change of government.

Reserving your place:
HR Network members are each entitled to a complimentary pass. Associate/IPA members can enjoy the full retreat including bed at breakfast at the Mercure for £295, or a day pass for the event on Friday (including lunch) for £95.

To book your place, please contact emma.stewartrigby@employment-studies.co.uk. Accommodation is subject to availability with limited parking at £25 per night available on a first come, first served basis, with additional NCP parking available close-by.