Agenda

CIPD Change Management Conference 2026

09:20 - 09:30

Chair’s opening remarks

09:30 - 10:00

Opening keynote: Equipping your workplaces to navigate continuous change

Organisations face unprecedented pressure to deliver change at speed and scale in...

Organisations face unprecedented pressure to deliver change at speed and scale in order to remain competitive and resilient. Yet for many, the gap between the change they aspire to and their capacity to deliver is widening. Success ultimately depends not only on systems and processes but on people, with leaders who role model adaptability and employees who feel engaged, supported, and empowered to act as agents of change. 

Based on neuroscience, this session explores how to build sustainable change readiness by strengthening both organisational and human capabilities to adapt to current disruptions and anticipate future ones.

10:00 - 10:30

Coming soon

10:30 - 11:00

Networking break

11:00 - 11:40

A1 Masterclass: From people professional to change leader - how to position yourself to deliver effective transformation

Successful transformation depends on more than structures and systems, it requires a...

Successful transformation depends on more than structures and systems, it requires a people-first approach. In this session, discover how people professionals can step beyond traditional processes to become a strategic partner in organisational change.

  • How to design, deliver, and sustain change initiatives.
  • Linking people strategies to business outcomes to ensure transformation goals.
  • Recognising the importance of people professionals to smooth transitions and overcoming resistance.

11:00 - 11:40

A2 Workshop: How to do change with people rather than to them

This interactive workshop will focus on how to do change with people...

This interactive workshop will focus on how to do change with people rather than to them. 

You will explore why employees respond to change the way they do, how to build trust in uncertain moments, and how listening, narrative and behavioural science can shape better outcomes. 

This session blends real-world examples with simple, repeatable frameworks, giving delegates the confidence to lead change that feels collaborative, supportive and genuinely human.

11:45 - 12:25

B1 Panel: How to communicate change to ensure employee engagement

Gain insight into how you can sustain engagement and overcome change fatigue.Linking...

  • Gain insight into how you can sustain engagement and overcome change fatigue.
  • Linking transformation outcomes with employee priorities, securing commitment across all levels.
  • Designing effective communication that helps employees navigate change and keep engagement strong.

11:45 - 12:25

B2 Roundtable: How to turn data insights into business impact

This highly interactive session is a collaborative, problem-solving space where people professionals...

This highly interactive session is a collaborative, problem-solving space where people professionals share challenges, test ideas, and work through solutions.

  • How to leverage data to determine transformation priorities.
  • How to use data science at scale across business processes for measurable impact.

12:25 - 13:25

Lunch

13:25 - 14:05

C1 Workshop: Helping your line managers to be drivers of change

Lasting change requires leadership at every level to role-model and sustain it....

Lasting change requires leadership at every level to role-model and sustain it. This session explores what behaviours and tools line managers need to champion transformation.

  • Align leadership behaviours so line managers act as authentic sponsors of change.
  • Build leadership capabilities that shift from “hero leadership” to shared responsibility.
  • Equip line managers with the practical tools to drive a culture of empowerment and curiosity across the organisation.

13:25 - 14:05

C2 Workshop: Proving the business case for change with data, KPIs and dashboards

Change work is often viewed as “nice to have” rather than a...

Change work is often viewed as “nice to have” rather than a core driver of transformation. The real issue isn’t the work itself - it’s that the value of change is rarely measured in ways leaders trust. This workshop gives participants practical tools to show how adoption, behaviour shifts and capability building directly contribute to financial, operational and organisational outcomes.

In this session, participants will learn how to:

  • build KPIs that reveal adoption quality and early warning signs
  • create dashboards that show where value is being unlocked or lost
  • demonstrate cost-avoidance, efficiency gains and risk-reduction
  • help leaders see change management as a strategic enabler
  • set milestones that maintain momentum and manage expectations.


14:10 - 14:50

Panel: Overcoming the challenges of continuous change through a culture of agility and resilience

Shifts from episodic change to continuous change means workforces need a culture...

Shifts from episodic change to continuous change means workforces need a culture of adaptability, agility, and autonomy. In this session you will:

  • Gain insight into how organisations develop a culture of adaptability, agility, and autonomy in employees.
  • Learn how to empower employees to take ownership of change.
  • Strengthen collective and psychological resilience in employees to sustain performance through change. 

14:50 - 15:10

Networking break

15:10 - 15:50

Presentations: Leading AI and digital transformation

In a world of accelerating change and AI disruption, leaders need new...

In a world of accelerating change and AI disruption, leaders need new ways to stay human, relevant, and effective.

This session explores six practical mindset shifts that help leaders thrive in complexity and uncertainty, from staying curious in the face of change to confidently using AI tools to enhance insight, speed, and impact without losing the human touch.

You’ll discover how to:

  • motivate curiosity and creativity
  • build a culture of purposeful agility and experimentation
  • catalyse learning and personal growth
  • leverage cognitive diversity to accelerate innovation

15:50 - 16:25

Case study: PMA Winners 2025 - How to implement people-led transformation to fuel growth and organisational simplicity

In just 18 months, OneAdvanced shifted from a fragmented, compliance-driven people strategy...

In just 18 months, OneAdvanced shifted from a fragmented, compliance-driven people strategy to a boldly human-centred transformation that accelerated growth, simplified operations and revitalised culture. This session will unpack how a lean people team partnered with the business to fix root causes, replace over half of the extended leadership team, and establish HR as a strategic, data-powered function.

You’ll hear how they:

  • Reframed people strategy around culture, capability and connection
  • Introduced real-time data, automated metrics and measurable goals for 95% of employees
  • Built engagement through L&D, inclusion networks, culture champions and transparent rewards
  • Delivered rapid functional maturity gains from 1.22 to 2.47 out of 5 and achieved 76% employee engagement

16:25 - 16:30

Chair’s closing remark