2026 programme
The 2026 programme is here, bringing a forward-looking agenda and fresh thinking.
Get ready for sector-wide conversations on the most pressing topics, from sustainable business models and innovations in
dementia care to financial challenges and emerging opportunities. The programme is subject to change.
Thursday 11th June 2026
Event Agenda
Dementia Care Stage
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
Welcome Remarks
- Jon Chapman, Head of Care, Pinders
The Adaptive Mindset – The Five Pillars to Overcome Adversity
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and evolve has never become more important. Darren’s lived experience makes him uniquely placed to impart his lessons and reflections on how we can all learn to adapt and evolve. In this session Darren will discuss overcoming adversity, adapting to Change and Building a robust mindset.
- Darren Edwards, Record-breaking Disabled Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker, and Author
What Exceptional Standards of Care, Community, and Wellbeing Looks Like
This session will discuss how exceptional standards of care, community and wellbeing are vital to the success of the sector. With a long-standing public profile and a passion for promoting positive living, Anthea will highlight how to enrich the lives of residents and raise awareness around the importance of compassionate, person-centred care within care settings that can transform lives.
- Moderated by Avnish Goyal CBE, Chairman, Hallmark Care Homes
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
- David Wilson-Wynne, Director, Innovare
An Update from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia
The importance of raising awareness of dementia in Parliament and promoting policy solutions that help to reduce the devastation caused by dementia.
- Joe Robertson MP, Vice-Chair, APPG on Dementia
Dementia Care Innovation to Bring Meaningful Change to the Sector
This interactive session is your chance to provide insight and expertise into the latest solutions that will shape the future of dementia care. New ideas and actions points will be offered for you to discuss at your tables and to take back to your practice.
- What are the latest technology empowered innovations helping individuals living with dementia?
- What role does research play in ensuring innovation empowers those people who give and receive dementia care?
- How can the voice of those with dementia be embedded in implementing dementia care innovation?
- Dr Ella Moonan-Howard, Programme Manager, KQ Labs, Francis Crick Institute
- Dr Isabelle Latham, Researcher-in-Residence, Hallmark Care Homes
- Claire Peart, National Lead Dementia Nurse Specialist, Barchester
- Frances Lawrence, CEO, Dementia Carers Count
- David Wilson-Wynne, Director, Innovare
- Moderated by Suzanne Mumford QN, Director of Clinical and Dementia, KYN
Networking lunch
Building Research Capacity and Capability in Social Care Settings
- Challenge some common myths and misconceptions about research
- Consider how everyone can play their role in research
- Demonstrate how research in practice can enable positive change in dementia care
- Zena Aldridge, Associate Director for Social Care, National Institute for Health & Care Research
Improving the Dementia Care Pathway in Care Settings
This case study explores how can memory assessment teams for care (MAT-CH) support social care providers and people living with dementia through
- Improving access to specialist mental health and cognitive assessment
- Working in partnership with social care staff to develop their skills and confidence in creating tailored positive behaviour support plans and reducing antipsychotic medication use
- Supporting family carers understanding of dementia prognosis and advance care planning
- Dr Sue Jones, Clinical Nurse Specialist Independent Prescriber, Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Empowering Settings to Become Dementia Care Champions of Change
- What are new ways of thinking that can ensure compassionate care through skills and knowledge development?
- What strategies and tools are available that can be used to enhance self-esteem, a feeling of belonging and dignity to those receiving care?
- How can multi-disciplinary teams be mobilised to work together to ensure the best outcomes?
- How can dementia carers be empowered with tools, guidance, and community resources to improve patient and family outcomes?
- Penny Johns, Dementia Practitioner, Jewish Care UK
Afternoon Tea Break and Exhibition
Innovative Strategies for Young Onset Dementia to Ensure Better Support and Awareness
- What is needed now to increase awareness of the essential and different needs of younger people with dementia that shape the future of care?
- What does good practice in these areas look like based on the latest research?
- How can equitable good practice be achieved that will lead to improved diagnosis and post-diagnostic support for younger people living with dementia.
- Fran Mada, Consultant Admiral Nurse – Young Onset Dementia, Dementia UK
- Wendy Burton, Unpaid Carer
A New Model of Social Care Housing for Older People
- The economic, housing and health case for finding effective, innovative and fair solutions for older people?
- What practical steps can be taken to promote the independence of older people in receipt of care needs to be at the core of a successful health system?
- What can be done to enable more older people to access the benefits of specialist housing?
- What role does planning policy have on ensuring more homes are built for older people that create age friendlier communities?
- Gareth Lyon, Head of Health & Social Care, Policy Exchange
Future of Care Stage
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
Welcome Remarks
- Jon Chapman, Head of Care, Pinders
The Adaptive Mindset – The Five Pillars to Overcome Adversity
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and evolve has never become more important. Darren’s lived experience makes him uniquely placed to impart his lessons and reflections on how we can all learn to adapt and evolve. In this session Darren will discuss overcoming adversity, adapting to Change and Building a robust mindset.
- Darren Edwards, Record-breaking Disabled Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker, and Author
What Exceptional Standards of Care, Community, and Wellbeing Looks Like
This session will discuss how exceptional standards of care, community and wellbeing are vital to the success of the sector. With a long-standing public profile and a passion for promoting positive living, Anthea will highlight how to enrich the lives of residents and raise awareness around the importance of compassionate, person-centred care within care settings that can transform lives.
- Moderated by Avnish Goyal CBE, Chairman, Hallmark Care Homes
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
- Nadra Ahmed CBE, Executive Co-Chairman, National Care Association
Financial Resilience in Changing Times
- How can care operators access diverse funding sources when lenders are more risk-averse?
- What financial structures protect against market and interest rate volatility?
- How should care operators balance investment in quality care with the pressure on operating margins?
- What practical steps can smaller to mid-sized care groups take to remain attractive to investors and lenders?
- Ruth Brown, Managing Director, UK, Home Instead
- Raina Summerson, Chief Executive, Agincare
- Samantha Crawley, CEO, EQ Care
- Sam Monaghan, CEO, Methodist Homes MHA
- Chaired by Angela Boxall, Chief Executive, Majesticare and Chair, Care England
Innovation in Residential Care - It’s Not Just About Tech!
- How truly integrated care delivers better outcomes for residents and can be affordable to deliver?
- Why engaging with academic led research and embedding this within the day to day leads to increased well being for residents and staff
- Digital transformation – are the tech firms ready to deliver what we need to enhance the critical human relationships that drive outstanding care?
- Why focussing on best practice and innovation and involving the whole team improves staff retention and reduces costs.
- Jenny Pattinson, CEO, Nightingale Hammerson
Networking Lunch
Panel - Research, Data & Innovation as Drivers of Meaningful Improvement Across Adult Social Care
- How can care operators make decisions that are guided by evidence and real experience?
- What role do think tanks play supporting improvement in adult social care?
- How can partnerships between academic, clinical and regulatory bodies strengthen care that makes a real difference to residents, staff and families?
- Which innovations can realistically reduce agency spend, improve staff productivity and lower operational risk?
- Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive, Care England
- Camille Oung, Fellow, Nuffield Trust
- Zoe Fry OBE, Chief Executive, The Outstanding Society CIC
- Lewis Stewart, Programme Manager – Health & Social Care, techUK
- Rachael Crook, CEO, Lifted
- Moderated by Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO and Founder, Walfinch
Making Carers Visible - an Update from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Carers
The importance of raising awareness of carers in Parliament and promoting policy solutions to increase the visibility of carers
- Anna Dixon MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Carers
Afternoon Tea Break and Exhibition
Interoperability, Innovation and Digital Care Systems
- How is national policy shaping expectations and how can better information sharing supports and integrated working improve care outcomes for older people?
- How interoperable are care sector data systems in enabling safe innovation?
- What practical steps can care operators take to improve interoperability without increasing staff burden?
- Katie Thorn, Director of Innovation, Digital Care Hub
A New Model of Social Care Housing for Older People
- The economic, housing and health case for finding effective, innovative and fair solutions for older people?
- What practical steps can be taken to promote the independence of older people in receipt of care needs to be at the core of a successful health system?
- What can be done to enable more older people to access the benefits of specialist housing?
- What role does planning policy have on ensuring more homes are built for older people that create age friendlier communities?
- Gareth Lyon, Head of Health & Social Care, Policy Exchange
Healthcare Design & Build Stage
Registration, Networking and Exhibition
Welcome Remarks
- Jon Chapman, Head of Care, Pinders
The Adaptive Mindset – The Five Pillars to Overcome Adversity
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and evolve has never become more important. Darren’s lived experience makes him uniquely placed to impart his lessons and reflections on how we can all learn to adapt and evolve. In this session Darren will discuss overcoming adversity, adapting to Change and Building a robust mindset.
Darren Edwards, Record-breaking Disabled Adventurer, Inspirational Speaker, and Author
What Exceptional Standards of Care, Community, and Wellbeing Looks Like
This session will discuss how exceptional standards of care, community and wellbeing are vital to the success of the sector. With a long-standing public profile and a passion for promoting positive living, Anthea will highlight how to enrich the lives of residents and raise awareness around the importance of compassionate, person-centred care within care settings that can transform lives.
- Moderated by Avnish Goyal CBE, Chairman, Hallmark Care Homes
Morning Coffee Break and Exhibition
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
- Jon Chapman, Head of Care, Pinders
Case Study Iverley View: Designing Care for Dignity, Sustainability and Quality
- How can care design go beyond compliance to truly enhance residents’ dignity, independence, and quality of life?
- What practical approaches support dementia-friendly environments while meeting regulatory and safety standards?
- How can facilities integrate sustainability and future-proofing (e.g., energy efficiency, adaptable rooms, smart technology) without compromising comfort or accessibility?
- What strategies can ensure staff and operational needs are incorporated into design, supporting efficiency and wellbeing alongside resident care?
- Amanda Morgan Bennett, General Manager of Iverley View, Barchester
- Clare Cameron, Director, Harris Irwin
Biophilic Design That Works in Care Settings
- What low-cost biophilic changes can be implemented immediately in existing care settings?
- How can natural light, materials and greenery be introduced safely and compliantly in UK settings?
- Which design interventions deliver the biggest wellbeing impact for older residents?
- How can biophilic design reduce agitation, support calm spaces and benefit staff day-to-day?
- Vanessa Champion, Director, Journal of Biophilic Design
Networking lunch
Refurbish or Rebuild? Making the Right Choice for Care Operators
- What factors impact whether a building is suitable for refurbishment or requires a new build?
- What modern features and technologies can be incorporated through refurbishment to improve safety, accessibility, and resident wellbeing?
- How should short-term costs against long-term value be balanced when deciding between refurbishment and new construction?
- What strategies can minimise disruption and protect resident welfare during renovation or new build projects?
- Tom Falconer, COO – Supported Living and Care Real Estate, Civitas
- Richard Martin, Relationship Director, Cynergy Bank
- Neil Dyer, Senior Director, Virgin Money
- Kieren Cole, Partner, Knight Frank
- Rupert Lecomber, Director of Strategic Asset Management, Housing21
- Moderated by Mel Knight, Non-Executive Director, Birchgrove
Exceptional Later Living Concepts Drive Tangible Improvements
- How can concepts such as help to sell make the later living transition seamless, providing support and peace of mind every step of the way?
- What ongoing investments in design help the lives of older adults by delivering exceptional living environments?
- What funding routes and partnerships are available to sustainably invest the development of residences?
- How does investment in the luxury sector ensure high-quality living for an ageing population?
- Jeremy Walford, Executive Chair, Middleton Hall
- James Cobb, Chief Executive, Enterprising Retirement Living
Afternoon Coffee Break and Exhibition
Designing Homes, Not Institutions: Lessons from Real Care Home Projects
- Well-being and independence – how can good design support this?
- Project specific examples of how dementia friendly design reduces distress and confusion.
- Quick and relatively budget friendly ways to help transform tired buildings in to warm care environments
- Tracey Elphick, Director, Three Nine Designs
- Jacqui Smith, Director, HomeSmiths
A New Model of Social Care Housing for Older People
- The economic, housing and health case for finding effective, innovative and fair solutions for older people?
- What practical steps can be taken to promote the independence of older people in receipt of care needs to be at the core of a successful health system?
- What can be done to enable more older people to access the benefits of specialist housing?
- What role does planning policy have on ensuring more homes are built for older people that create age friendlier communities?
- Gareth Lyon, Head of Health & Social Care, Policy Exchange