Culture in Conversation: Rethinking Leadership & Organisational Practice

Book your ticket for our upcoming event 'Culture in Conversation: Rethinking Leadership & Organisational Practice'.

About the Event

Culture in Conversation brings together leaders, practitioners, and innovators for a dynamic exploration of what it really takes to build fair, high-performing and learning-driven organisations. This event puts leadership, restorative approaches, and organisational culture under the spotlight - inviting bold debate, fresh thinking, and practical insight. It's a space for people who want to challenge old assumptions, share real-world experience, and shape cultures where people can thrive. Expect energy, honesty, and conversations that spark lasting change.

Why Now?

Organisational culture has never been under greater scrutiny. In 2026, senior people leaders are navigating a uniquely pressured landscape: economic uncertainty, shifting political climates, growing regulatory expectations around workplace culture, and rapid technological change driven by AI. At the same time, employee expectations continue to evolve with wellbeing, fairness, and purpose no longer optional extras, but baseline expectations. The way organisations respond to these pressures will define not just their culture, but their long-term performance, reputation, and ability to attract and retain talent. Culture in Conversation is the space to meet that challenge head-on.

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed for senior leaders operating at the intersection of people, culture, and strategy, including:

• Chief People Officers and HR Directors
• Heads of People & Culture
• Organisational Development Leaders
• Senior HR Business Partners
• People Experience and Talent Leaders
• Senior Management Teams

The event programme has been designed for senior practitioners across all sectors and business sizes. Whether you are building a culture from the ground up, navigating a period of transformation, or looking to challenge and sharpen your existing approach, this event will offer fresh perspectives and practical tools you can take back to your organisation.

Key Themes

The event will explore the following interconnected themes:

1. Culture as Strategic Infrastructure - Moving beyond values statements to make culture a measurable, managed, and board-level priority. Understanding how systems, processes, and informal norms either reinforce or undermine the culture you're trying to build.
2. Leadership That Walks the Talk - Exploring the role of senior leaders as culture carriers and what it takes to close the gap between espoused values and everyday behaviour.
3. Restorative Approaches in Practice - How restorative practices - rooted in dialogue, accountability, and repair - can transform the way organisations handle conflict, misconduct, and systemic harm. Moving away from purely punitive models towards approaches that rebuild trust.
4. Psychological Safety - How a ‘psychologically safe’ workplace fosters an environment where employees feel comfortable and empowered to raise concerns, admit mistakes and ask for help without fear of negative consequences. Evidence is clear that creating this kind of environment is crucial for innovation, higher performance and improved wellbeing of employees.
5. Wellbeing as a Cultural Commitment - Why wellbeing must be embedded into organisational culture rather than delivered as a bolt-on. How leading organisations are listening to, co-designing with, and genuinely supporting all their people, especially those most at risk.

Agenda:

13:00 - 13:30	Arrival, coffee and cake, networking
13:30 - 13:45	Welcome and Introductions
13:45 - 14:45	Keynote speeches: Matt Beeton from Port of Tyne  Joanne Davidson from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Charlotte Cumiskey from Northumbria University
14:45 - 15:00	Break
15:00 - 15:30	Parallel Breakout Sessions Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust -  Restorative and Just Learning Culture in Practice Vandewiele UK Ltd -  Growth in a high-performance engineering SME Northumbria University -  The Principles of Effective Communication
15:30 - 16:00	Panel discussion and round up
16:15	Close

Featured Speakers

Matt Beeton, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tyne Keynote Speech 

Joanne Davidson, Deputy Director Workforce; Organisational Effectiveness and Learning, Mersey Care NHS Trust Keynote Speech and Breakout Session - Topic: Restorative and Just Learning Culture in Practice

Charlotte Cumiskey, Organisational Development Manager, Northumbria University Keynote Speech - Topic: Building a Culture of Psychological Safety: From Concept to Practice

Debra Almond, Daniel Skinner and Matthew Theobald, Senior Management Team, Vandewiele UK Ltd Breakout Session - Topic: Growth in a high-performance engineering SME

Gavin Oxburgh, Professor of Police Science, Northumbria University Breakout Session - Topic: The Principles of Effective Communication

What to Expect

This is not a passive conference. Culture in Conversation is designed to provoke, challenge, and inspire. Attendees can expect:

• Keynote sessions from leading practitioners, researchers, and innovators in people and culture
• Panel discussion that showcases honest, real-world perspectives on what works and what doesn't
• Interactive breakout sessions and facilitated group conversations
• Peer exchange with senior people leaders from across sectors
• Practical frameworks and takeaways to apply immediately

The Conversation Starts Here

Culture determines what strategy cannot: how decisions are made, how people are treated, and how organisations behave when no one is watching. In 2026, the leaders who shape thriving, fair, and high-performing organisations will be those willing to ask hard questions and act on what they hear.

Join us for Culture in Conversation.

29 April 2026 | 1:00pm – 4:15pm | Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University

Book your free place now.

This event is aimed at senior HR and People & Culture leaders. Places are limited to ensure meaningful dialogue and peer connection.