Groundbreaking New Innovations, Tools, Tech, Culture, Operations & Processes To Inspire Change & Transformation, Leverage Practical AI & Data-Driven Efficiencies For Sustained Continuous Improvement & Customer Experiences:

Drive Operational Excellence & Resilient Growth Strategies By Marrying AI & New Tech With People, Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement

08.15 Registration, Informal Networking & GIC Opening Remarks

09.00 Morning Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks

Azeeza Sunmonu, EMEA Head of Commercial Operations & Excellence – Partnerships & Solutions, GE HealthCare

Stuart Anwyl, Head Of Performance & Business Improvement, Balfour Betty PLC

Workforce Engagement Keynote

Keynote

09.10 Brand New Insights & Practical Strategies To Cultivate A Highly-Engaged Workforce Which Drives Productivity, Quality & Innovation & Delivers Operational Excellence Success

  • To what extent can workforce experience provide a competitive advantage to increase business value at all stages within your organisational structure?
  • What strategies can senior leadership deploy to inspire colleagues whilst effectively demonstrating the core values that underpin an internal culture of operational excellence?
  • Uncover fresh and ground-breaking strategies designed to empower your workforce to effectively navigate periods of change, disruption, and uncertainty

Practical AI, Automation & New Technologies – Panel

09.30 Achieve Ops Excellence By Leveraging New & Fresh AI & Tech Which Can Propel Productivity & Drive Efficiencies 

  • Automation is limiting human error and AI is taking centre stage, but how can the integration and adoption of AI effectively reduce business costs and prove practical value?
  • Critical questions, answered! How has AI and automation already changed the industry landscape, and how can they continue to support OPEX workflows?
  • It is all about progression in 2024! Dive deep into the new tech and automation you should adopt to secure flourishing long-term ROI

Yash Date, Business Operations Lead, Amazon

Dr Victoria Noelle, VP, Head of Process – Systems – Data & Digital Transformation, Philips

Rebecca Taylor, Operations Efficiency Director, Skanska

Anthony Savell, Head of Business Optimisation, Banking Division , Close Brothers

Cedric Plettinx, Supply Transformation Program Lead, AB InBev

Result-Driven Leadership

10.00 Showcase Inspired, Accountable & Visible Leaders Who Embrace Results-Driven Leadership Practices & Lead Teams Toward Achieving Measurable Results & Sustained Success

  • Foster a culture of responsibility, accountability, and performance excellence by setting clear expectations, goals and metrics for measuring future success
  • Reinforce the pivotal role leaders have in supporting business-wide engagement strategies which inspire teams from the top down and nurture an ecosystem where employees can truly flourish
  • Deliver a high-performing team culture by setting a compelling vision and providing the resources, support, and guidance to inspire teams to achieve excellence

Andrea Burke, Head of Service Operations, Sky

10.20 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner

10.50 Morning Refreshment Break & Informal Networking

Engaging Employees & People Development – Panel 1

11.20 Showcase The Latest Thinking & Engagement Techniques, Get The Right Balance Between People & Processes & Harness Storytelling To Maintain High Levels Of Employee Engagement

  • Equip all employees throughout your organisation with the tools, skills and support to drive forward operational excellence and improvements
  • Explore new strategies where employees are given ownership and power to drive improvements and increase their own business value?
  • Identify any gaps and explore brand new schemes that truly empower and engage your workforce by resonating with their key motivators

Kevin Green, Chief People Officer, First Bus

Jamie Awdry, Global Head of Franchise Excellence & Expansion, Costa Coffee

Alco Jensema, Continuous Improvement Lead, McDonald’s

Gary McCready, Commercial & Strategy Director, Currys PLC

Konstantina Kapetanidi, Head of Business & Artificial Intelligence (BI & AI), Schroders

Peter van der Heide, Senior Director Innovation Excellence, Philips

Data-Driven Efficiencies: Metrics & ROI

11.50 Unlock The Power Of Data To Optimise Processes, Reduce Costs & Enhance Performance By Converting Data Into Actionable Insights Which Showcase Bottomline Impact & Greater ROI

  • How can we effectively utilise data-driven approaches to accurately measure ROI and showcase results which demonstrate the long-term value and impact of your initiatives?
  • Leverage data to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and other areas for improvement in order to update future strategies with informed decision making
  • With GDPR and compliance regulations expanding by the day, how can we access enough data to accurately measure the ROI of social media strategies?
  • Explore bespoke metrics that best suit your organisational goals, reinvigorate operational excellence, and drive continuous improvement initiatives fuelled by data-driven feedback

Konstantina Kapetanidi, Head of Business & Artificial Intelligence, Schroders

Driving Excellence During Digital Transformation

Double Perspective

12.10 Elevate Your Digital Adoption Initiatives For A Competitive Edge By Raising The Capabilities Of Your Workforce, Hitting Transformative New Targets & Meeting The Rapid Pace & Scale Of Change

  • The question everyone would love the answer to… what strategies can be implemented to engage HCP’s across social media channels?
  • Master the critical balancing act of satisfying strict regulatory rules whilst producing informative, engaging, and innovative social media content that captures the attention of HCP’s
  • Promote collaboration and communication between marketing and medical colleagues to balance promotional and informative social content and impact where there is the greatest community and comms exchange
  • Go beyond just selling! Deep dive into the minds of HCP’s, what do they really want from socials today, and how can you meet and exceed these needs?

 12.10 Perspective 1

Meriel Neighbour, Head of Digital Product, Delivery & Transformation, Clarks

12.30 Perspective 2

Remus Damian, Business Excellence & Execution Head, Novartis

12.50 Lunch & Informal Networking For Speakers, Delegates & Partners

13.20 Peer-To-Peer Discussions

       a) Middle Managers

Facilitated By Matthew Down, Int’l Director, Ops Excellence & Training, Papa John’s International 

       b) Agile & Scrum

       c) Low-Cost Strategies

       d) D&I

13.50 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks

Debbie Rawson, Senior Improvement – Senior Leader, Morrisons

Will Burrows, Group Excellence & CI Manager, Halfords

Change Management & Resistance

14.00 Enhance & Execute Successful Change Management Which Can Adapt, Drive & Sustain Innovation Whilst Minimising Silos & Resistance

  • Discuss and evaluate critical lessons learned! Demonstrate the tangible value of your change management initiatives and how they positively transform functions within your organisation
  • How can you employ new strategies which ensure the tangible impact and effectiveness of your change efforts?
  • Yes, change can be disruptive, but with the right approach, attitude, and aptitude it can lead to limitless growth and resilience! Uncover key takeaways that focus on mitigating resistance and nurturing resilience during times of organisational change

Ryan Warcup, Lean & Business Improvement Lead, Balfour Betty PLC

Frameworks, Methodologies & Strategies

14.20 Harness The Methodologies & Frameworks That Are Strategically Right For Your Organisation & Reengineer Processes To Optimise Value & Drive Efficiencies

  • What will the next wave of operational excellence look like?
  • What has worked for you, what hasn’t, and how can you drive future success with lasting impact?
  • How can new methodologies be harnessed in localised contexts to push towards strategic targets and hitting KPIs?

Elif Tek, Deputy Director – Projects, Operations & Excellence, Bayer

Culture, Change, Wellbeing & Transformation

14.40 Marry Together Your OPEX Strategies With Core Business Vision, Values & Culture For Successful, Long-Term Culture Change Which Embeds Operational Excellence At The Core

  • Encourage collaboration and transparency within your company culture to engage all colleagues and drive long-term business success from the bottom up
  • How can OPEX effectively be integrated into your organisational culture and become a standard practice embraced by employees at all levels?
  • Which frameworks can be utilised to drive excellence and expand your OPEX capabilities whilst encouraging a culture with an appetite for improvement?

Matthew Down, Int’l Director, Ops Excellence & Training, Papa John’s International

Mark Young, Head of Continuous Improvement, BRITVIC Plc

Mireille Lovejoy, Director Clinical Risk Management & Process Excellence, GE HealthCare

Elizabeth Dunn, Head of Business Change, River Island

Meriel Neighbour, Head of Digital Product, Delivery & Transformation, Clarks

Mark Burns, Head of Climate & ESG Change Programme, NatWest Markets

Aaron Gracey, Head of Emergency Management & Crime, Network Rail

15.10 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner

15.40 Afternoon Refreshment Break & Informal Networking

Engaging Employees & People Development – Panel 2

16.10 Showcase The Latest Thinking & Engagement Techniques, Get The Right Balance Between People & Processes & Harness Storytelling To Maintain High Levels Of Employee Engagement

  • Equip all employees throughout your organisation with the tools, skills and support to drive forward operational excellence and improvements
  • Explore new strategies where employees are given ownership and power to drive improvements and increase their own business value?
  • Identify any gaps and explore brand new schemes that truly empower and engage your workforce by resonating with their key motivators

Jessica Clerke, Business Lead, Retail Media Commercial Strategy, John Lewis

Rebecca Taylor, Operations Efficiency Director, Skanska

Mark Young, Head of Continuous Improvement, BRITVIC Plc

Anthony Savell, Head of Business Optimisation, Banking Division, Close Brothers

Harriet Herman, Head of Business Change, AXA – Global Healthcare

Liz Oldridge, EMEA Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, Amazon

Sustaining Excellence

16.40 Uncover Brand New & Robust Strategies & Process Systems To Improve & Sustain Excellence In An Era Of Constant Unpredictability & Economic Turbulence

  • 2023 was about setting the baseline but 2024 is about galvanising on those foundations! Embed newfound mindsets and skills to foster lasting organisational growth and develop attitudes towards hitting business targets and more
  • How can we effectively balance short-term wins and successes with long-term vision and goals through strategic planning and decision-making for sustainable growth?
  • Discuss inspiring strategies to navigate disruption and turbulence by exploring the importance of adaptability and strategic planning when proactively managing the next phase of your company’s OPEX journey

16.40 Perspective 1

David Seacombe, Vice President, Process Excellence, IHG Hotels & Resorts

17.00 Perspective 2

Lesley Wood, Head of Partnerships, UK Ministry of Defence

Overcoming Resistance & Pitfalls

17.20 Identify, Navigate & Overcome Barriers To Change By Exploring Real-World Lessons Learned & New Strategies To Overcome Resistance For Lasting Operational Excellence

  • Build resilience and nurture confidence from your teams to maintain productivity during periods of turbulence or uncertainty to prevent project stagnation and employee disengagement
  • Prepare for the unexpected by learning from previous experiences and using insights to inform future decision making to mitigate and anticipate issues before they arise
  • Best-practice strategies and techniques to ensure your employees are advocates of change and drive long-lasting success from the bottom up

Craig Bridger, Senior Operations & Performance Manager, John Lewis

17.40 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Closing Remarks & Close Of Conference

Debbie Rawson, Senior Improvement – Senior Leader, Morrisons

Will Burrows, Group Excellence & CI Manager, Halfords