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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Book your place using the link below. * This event is aimed at senior HR and People & Culture leaders. Places are limited to ensure meaningful dialogue and peer connection.*
| Date | 1:00pm on 29 Apr 2026 to 4:15pm on 29 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | CCE1 Newcastle Business School, City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | Find More Information Here |