Conference

Watch - Women in Health and Care: Thriving not Surviving

Name: Watch - Women in Health and Care: Thriving not Surviving
Start: 2025-12-03
Location: Horizon

The Health and Care Women Leaders Network held its ninth annual conference on Wednesday 3 December, in Leeds.

General information

Time: 3 December 2025 09:30 GMT
Add to calendar: Google iCal
Audience: Open to all
Event location: Kendall Street, Leeds, LS10 1JR

Speakers

Samantha Allen
Chief Executive, North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Sir Jim Mackey
Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
Samantha Jones OBE
Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care
Sharon Toora
Lead Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist, Essex Cardiothoracic Centre
Joan Saddler OBE
Director of Partnerships and Equality, NHS Confederation
Helen Buckingham
Chair, National Voices
Chloe Knight
Head of EDI Communications, NHS Confederation
Nicky Lambert
Associate Professor, Middlesex University
Salma Yasmeen
Chief Executive, Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Andy Knox MBE
Medical Director, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and GP Partner, Ash Trees Surgery, Carnforth
Fiona Tearle
Head of Health Intergration, Herfordshire County Council
Amy Hobson
CEO and Co-founder, The Wellbeing Collective
Molly Tate
NHS Graduate Management Trainee, Strategy and Partnerships
Esther Dodd
NHS Graduate Management Trainee, General Management
Laura Ennis
NHS Graduate Management Trainee, General Management
Emily Evans
Deputy Chief Executive, Everyturn
Kerry McQuade
Director of Strategy and Transformation, North East Ambulance Service
Lucy Hancock
CEO, Leeds Mind
Sally Robinson
Head of Strategy and Best Practice, United Lincolnshire Hospitals.
Esme Burrough
Strategic Business Partner, Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals Group

Delegates at the Health and Care Women Leaders Network Annual Conference 2019.

Delivered by the NHS Confederation’s Health and Care Women Leaders Network.

The network held its ninth annual conference on Wednesday 3 December in Leeds.

It supported delegates' personal and professional development, providing opportunities for learning and networking.

On the day, inspirational speakers shared their stories and engaged in lively debates on pressing issues in the health and care sector, empowering attendees to flourish in their career and life.

This year's theme, thriving not surviving, promotes a culture of hope and optimism, focusing on work-life balance, effective coping strategies, envisioning life beyond work and fostering ownership and responsibility among younger women in leadership roles.

Together, we explored how you can thrive in your career and beyond.

Highlights

A highlights clip from the event will be available soon.

Programme

An opportunity to network with delegates and speakers.
Sam, kicked off the event by highlighting the day's focus and key themes. There was also an opportunity to participate in an icebreaker activity and connect with fellow delegates.
Samantha Allen, Chief Executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Chair, Health and Care Women Leaders Network
Leaders from the health and social care sector discussed the future of health and social care and its implications for women in the field. They shared personal stories and leadership journeys, highlighting the challenges they’ve faced and how they overcame them.
Samantha Allen, Chief Executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board; and Chair, Health and Care Women Leaders Network
Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
Samantha Jones OBE, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care
This inspiring session featured women leaders from the health and social care system sharing their personal stories and leadership journeys, including the challenges they've faced and how they overcame them.
Chair
Helen Buckingham, Chair, National Voices
Panellists
Sharon Toora, Lead Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist, Essex Cardiothoracic Centre
Fiona Tearle, Head of Health Intergration, Herfordshire County Council
Kerry McQuade, Director of Strategy, Planning and Transformation, North East Ambulance Service
Joan Saddler OBE, Director of Partnerships and Equality, NHS Confederation
An opportunity to network with delegates and speakers.
Breakout session 1 - Authentic leadership and tackling imposter syndrome
This session offered inspiration on leading with authenticity and overcoming self-doubt that often holds professionals back. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and a proven track record in driving organisational change, Emily shared practical insights on building confidence and fostering trust. Her passion and commitment to positive change empowered attendees to embrace their true leadership styles and use storytelling as a tool to silence their inner critics. This session presented an opportunity to gain strategies that can transform leadership approaches.
Emily Evans, Deputy Chief Executive, Everyturn Mental Health
Breakout session 2 - Embedding compassionate cultures in health and care
This interactive session explored how leaders can cultivate environments that support wellbeing, resilience and growth for themselves and their teams. Participants were guided through practical frameworks and real-world examples demonstrating how compassionate leadership and psychologically safe cultures can transform workplaces from survival mode into spaces where individuals truly thrive.
Amy Hobson, CEO and Co-founder, The Wellbeing Collective
Breakout session 3 - William Bridges Transition Model: Coping with change and transition
Change is inevitable, but how we navigate transitions defines our ability to thrive. In this interactive breakout session, participants explored navigating change in the health and care sector and its impact within our organisations, focusing on resilience and adaptation. Attendees learned about the William Bridges Transition Model, connected with fellow women leaders, exchanged advice, and built a supportive network.

Sally Robinson, Head of Strategy and Best Practice, United Lincolnshire Hospitals
Esme Burrough, Strategic Business Partner, Lincolnshire Community Hospitals Group
An opportunity to network with delegates and speakers.
Health and wellbeing experts Nicky and Lucy shared valuable insights and practical strategies for nurturing personal wellness while supporting others. Nicky focused on fostering a culture where individuals thrive, not just survive, discussing how to maintain a healthy work-life balance amid high-intensity roles. Lucy, drawing from her experience leading a mental health charity, explored how to create environments that prioritise resilience and growth. Attendees gained actionable strategies for managing demands at home and in the workplace, ensuring that both personal and collective well-being are prioritised.
Nicky Lambert, Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health and Social Work
Lucy Hancock, CEO, Leeds Mind
Breakout session 1 - Authentic leadership and tackling imposter syndrome
This session offered inspiration on leading with authenticity and overcoming self-doubt that often holds professionals back. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and a proven track record in driving organisational change, Emily shared practical insights on building confidence and fostering trust. Her passion and commitment to positive change empowered attendees to embrace their true leadership styles and use storytelling as a tool to silence their inner critics. This session presented an opportunity to gain strategies that can transform leadership approaches.
Emily Evans, Deputy Chief Executive, Everyturn Mental Health
Breakout session 2 - Embedding compassionate cultures in health and care
This interactive session explored how leaders can cultivate environments that support wellbeing, resilience and growth for themselves and their teams. Participants were guided through practical frameworks and real-world examples demonstrating how compassionate leadership and psychologically safe cultures can transform workplaces from survival mode into spaces where individuals truly thrive.
Amy Hobson, CEO and Co-founder, The Wellbeing Collective
Breakout session 3 - William Bridges Transition Model: Coping with change and transition
Change is inevitable, but how we navigate transitions defines our ability to thrive. In this interactive breakout session, participants explored navigating change in the health and care sector and its impact within our organisations, focusing on resilience and adaptation. Attendees learned about the William Bridges Transition Model, connected with fellow women leaders, exchanged advice, and built a supportive network.

Sally Robinson, Head of Strategy and Best Practice, United Lincolnshire Hospitals
Esme Burrough, Strategic Business Partner, Lincolnshire Community Hospitals Group
An opportunity to network with delegates and speakers.
Graduate management trainees shared their experiences and challenges in developing their careers within the NHS. They offered insights on effective talent management from their perspective, discussing what a strong and sustainable talent pipeline looks like. They explored innovative approaches to fostering the development of healthcare professionals, ensuring a robust future for the sector.
Facilitator
Chloe Knight, Head of EDI Communications, NHS Confederation
Panellists
Molly Tate, NHS Graduate Management Trainee, Strategy & Partnerships
Esther Dodd, NHS Graduate Management Trainee, General Management
Laura Ennis, NHS Graduate Management Trainee, General Management
Andy shared key reflections and insights on the day's theme, emphasising the vital role of compassionate leadership in high-pressure environments. This session provided actionable strategies for leading with empathy and aimed to inspire attendees to incorporate compassionate practices into their daily roles, fostering a positive impact on workplace culture and team dynamics.
Facilitator
Salma Yasmeen, Chief Executive, Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Keynote speaker
Andy Knox MBE, Medical Director, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
To close the day, Sam shared key takeaways, providing a powerful call to action for attendees to take back to their organisation.
Samantha Allen, Chief Executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Chair, Health and Care Women Leaders Network

Who attended

This invited anyone working in healthcare with an interest in creating an inclusive workforce and gender equity. Everyone is welcome. Benefits of attending

Throughout the day, delegates had the opportunity to:

experience a mix of keynote, breakout and panel sessions
gain inspiration and motivation from leaders, aspiring leaders and experts
gather tools and advice to help them thrive in their career and personal life
engage in discussions about current issues affecting the health and care sector and explore solutions for ongoing challenges
network and connect with like-minded professionals.

Benefits of attending

Throughout the day, delegates had the opportunity to:

experience a mix of keynote, breakout and panel sessions
gain inspiration and motivation from leaders, aspiring leaders and experts
gather tools and advice to help them thrive in their career and personal life
engage in discussions about current issues affecting the health and care sector and explore solutions for ongoing challenges
network and connect with like-minded professionals.

Speakers and exhibitors

If you are interested in speaking at our 2026 annual conference or future network events, or if you would like to secure an exhibition stand at the next conference, please contact us at women.leaders@nhsconfed.org.

Watch - Women in Health and Care: Thriving not Surviving

General information

Speakers

Highlights

Programme

Chair

Panellists

Breakout session 1 - Authentic leadership and tackling imposter syndrome

Breakout session 2 - Embedding compassionate cultures in health and care

Breakout session 3 - William Bridges Transition Model: Coping with change and transition

Breakout session 1 - Authentic leadership and tackling imposter syndrome

Breakout session 2 - Embedding compassionate cultures in health and care

Breakout session 3 - William Bridges Transition Model: Coping with change and transition

Facilitator

Panellists

Facilitator

Keynote speaker

Who attended

Benefits of attending

Speakers and exhibitors

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