Elevating OD practice in the NHS

Main stage session 1 - Navigating complex change

Julia Tybura, executive coach, non-executive director and HPMA London Founder Board Member

Julia Tybura has recently completed her first transatlantic sail on a 42 foot sailing boat with her husband and friends as crew. She shared her journey from novice sailor to the ‘big trip’ via some very big waves! Julia reflected on the challenges faced through that journey focusing on reflexivity, problem solving, decision making, team working, leadership and proactive management. She invited delegates to reflect on how her stories may resonate with OD practitioners during these complex times.

Read more from Julia in her pre-conference blog.

Main stage session 2 - Transforming NHS people services

Tom Simons, Chief HR and OD Officer, Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E), NHS England
Adam Stanbury, Director of Employer Solutions at CIPD

This session outlined the NHS England vision to transform people services and the role of OD within this. The key aims are improving employee and manager experiences, reducing administrative burdens, automating processes, and shifting HR and OD functions from transactional to strategic priorities. Other aims include cost efficiencies, increased productivity, and better recruitment and workforce planning to address skills shortages and changing employee expectations. The role of digital transformation was also stressed, particularly around the importance of human-centric technology​. A detailed timeline was given for finalising the project roadmap, due at the end of October 2025. 

Download the presentation.

Read more on The future of NHS HR and OD report.

Main stage session 3 - Active bystander programme

Bina Kotetcha, Deputy Chief Officer - Culture, OD and Inclusion, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB
Dr Fiona Kilpatrick, Active Bystander Programme Lead & OD Specialist, LLR ICB

This session outlined pioneering work in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB through its Active Bystander programme. It considered how change impacts on civility and behaviours, and how psychological safety underpins our everyday interactions. The session explored how OD practitioners can elevate everyday practice in challenging times and shared practical models for delegates to take away and use in their own organisations and teams.

Download the presentation.

Breakout sessions

Our conference offered a programme of morning and afternoon breakout sessions, covering a wide range of topics and themes for delegates to explore in smaller groups through interactive discussion and activities. 

Click on the session titles below to download the presentation slides and find out more.

Morning breakout sessions

• Organisational design: Building the seat at the table 
  Karen Clark, OD&D Team Leader, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  Sean Rooney, Senior OD&D Practitioner at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

  This session focused on how combining organisational design with organisational development can lead to meaningful change, offering practical guidance on building influence, aligning structures with strategy and creating the right conditions for success.

• SOOTHE: Organisational culture and wellbeing
  Nardia O'Connor, Senior Health, Wellbeing & Organisational Development Practitioner, Midlands Partnership University NHS FT
  Dr Michael Sleath, Lead for Staff Wellbeing and Engagement, MPFT

  A thought provoking overview of MPFT’s SOOTHE framework, a psychologically informed and innovative approach designed to embed wellbeing and compassion into organisational culture across a diverse workforce.

• Harnessing appreciative inquiry
  Kayleigh Barnett, Head of Continuous Improvement and Appreciative Inquiry Advanced Practitioner Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS

  Detailing how appreciative inquiry can lead to real transformational change in health and care, this session offered personal insights and case study examples demonstrating the impact of generative mindsets on leadership, collaboration and OD.

Afternoon breakout sessions

• Learning inquiries: From 'I can't' to 'I can'
  Rachel Andrew, Head of Learning and OD, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
  Dionne Williams, Talent & Future Workforce Manager, Dudley Council

  A good practice example showcasing how creative practice and cross-sector partnerships in Dudley are reshaping local OD work - turning former barriers into opportunities through collective imagination, learning inquiries and place-based collaboration.

• Artificial Intelligence: Turning interests into tangibles
  Dr Goran Lukic, Clinical Psychologist working in cardiac rehab

  This session explored how organisations can move from curiosity and uncertainty about AI to clear, strategic outcomes of how it can be harnessed, focusing on culture, collaboration and sustainable learning in the digital transition.

• Play with purpose: Nurturing our creative spark
  Dee Nambiar, People Consultant, NHS Midlands and Lancashire

  This interactive workshop introduced play as a purposeful and strategic element in OD, showing how it can spark creativity, build trust and support meaningful change through playful facilitation and imaginative practice.

• Cultivating compassion: Building a thriving workplace
  Beth Hill, Head of ICS Leadership Talent and OD, NHS England
  Melanie Gregory, Senior Programme Manager - EDI & OD, NHS England

  A session which highlighted the importance of compassion in the workplace, showing how empathetic leadership and reflective practice can improve wellbeing and engagement among staff, as well as wider organisational resilience.