LEADERSHIP FORUM

Join us at the Royal Armouries in Leeds

May 27-29 2026, for our National Leadership Forum

Delivering Estates & Facilities: FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Moving healthcare from the hospital into the community heralds the greatest change for how the NHS delivers patient care for many years. HEFMA’s 2026 Leadership Forum will provide unrivalled insight into what this means for Estates & Facilities services.

Thursday, May 28

Conference Programme Day One

Welcome to the 2026 Forum

David Moss, Chair of HEFMA’s Northern & Yorkshire Branch

Rachel McTavish, Forum Host

The Northern & Yorkshire Branch extends a warm welcome to everyone attending the 2025 Forum. Branch and Forum Chair, David Moss will introduce the theme for the two days, before handing over to Forum Host, professional journalist and broadcaster Rachel McTavish.

Martyn’s Law

Figen Murray OBE: Forum Keynote Address

Driven by the loss of her son, Martyn Hett, in the Manchester Arena bombing, Figen initiated the campaign to introduce the counter-terrorism legislation, known as Martyn’s Law. In just over 12 months’ time, NHS Trusts will start to face assessments and enforcements to ensure their facilities are compliant.

National Chair’s Update

David Moss

At last year’s Forum, David introduced the results of the first national membership survey, and this year he will update members on the actions taken in response to that feedback as well as other significant achievements and work programmes.

Digitising Soft FM

Eileen Philips, Director of Soft FM, Barts Health NHS Trust 

Barts has completed a project to fully integrate all soft FM services into digital platforms, which has seen the Trust develop its own apps, create digital flows and data visualisations and link platforms together to create notional rosters.

Future Digital Environment across the NHS

Sergio Cavalaro, Professor of Infrastructure Systems

Mark Lenton, Innovation Consultant, SROi

Digitalisation is one of the big challenges, and opportunities, faced by estates and facilities professionals. This session will deliver some valuable insight for delegates to apply to projects and work programmes within their own hospitals.

Sustainability in Healthcare

Martin France, Estates Net Zero Delivery Manager, the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Newcastle Hospitals became the first healthcare organisation in the world to publicly declare a climate emergency and commit to fast-tracking decarbonisation of their services. Hear from the man who is leading the Trust’s transition from carbon-intensive power and heating systems to low carbon technologies. 

National Update

Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession, NHS Estates and Facilities, Commercial Directorate of NHS England

HEFMA is delighted to welcome Simon back to the Forum to provide an overview of priorities and expectations for the national team for the coming 12 months.

NHS Plan

Steve Russell, Chief Executive, County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

With vast experience in national leadership roles, Steve's focus at CDD is on fostering a positive and inclusive culture, strengthening engagement with local communities and continuing to enhance patient outcomes. This session will delve into the NHS 10 Year Plan and will feature a Q&A with Host, Rachel McTavish.

Friday, May 29

Conference Programme Day Two

Neighbourhood Health

Rob McCubbin, Managing Director, Barnsley Facilities Services (BFS)

Katy Calvin-Thomas, Executive Director, Place Health and Adult Social Care, Barnsley Council and NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board

A frontline and operational view of the shift to a neighbourhood health service and what that means for the estate and its facilities services.

It's great up North:

Working together in an Alliance, on estates, facilities and construction

Paul Hanson, Director of Estates, Facilities and Strategic Partnerships, the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Paul picks up on the shift of care from hospitals to community with oversight of regional planning informed by his role on behalf of the Great North Healthcare Alliance to shape its construction programme.

Workforce

Craige Richardson, Executive Director of Estates and Facilities and Board member, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Chris Todd, Director of Estates and Facilities at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Vice Chair of HEFMA

Craige and Chris will share successful workforce programmes and initiatives that they have been involved with at their own Trusts with Forum delegates.

Believe in You

Richard McCann, iCan Academy: Motivational Keynote

Shaped by a personal journey of overcoming significant adversity and years of working with leaders in complex organisations, his keynote explores resilience, psychological safety and the responsibility leaders carry in shaping culture and trust.

Closing Remarks

David Moss, HEFMA National Chair

David will draw the programme to a close and pick out his own highlights from the two days.

Networking events

Wednesday, May 27: Ice-breaker dinner and networking opportunity for delegates with food and entertainment.

Thursday, May 28: Gala dinner, at which the winners of HEFMA’s 2026 awards will be announced.

Scroll down to book your place.

If you want to look back on the 2025 Forum, please see the report in the July/August 2025 issue of HEFMA’s Pulse magazine, or view the gallery of photos here.