RCN Management and Leadership Forum Conference: Leading with scrutiny
29 Apr 2026
Choose event information:
The RCN Management and Leadership Conference is back!
Hosted by the RCN Management and Leadership Forum, this one-day conference will bring together nurse leaders and managers to address the most pressing challenges in healthcare leadership today. Through an engaging and solutions-focused programme, you’ll gain practical insights and strategies to foster safe, effective, and compassionate patient care.
Why this matters
More than a decade after the Francis Report, systemic failures in patient safety persist. Despite countless reviews and recommendations, high-profile inquiries continue to reveal the same issues—silenced voices, missed opportunities for learning, and critical gaps in leadership.
What you’ll gain
This conference is your opportunity to confront these enduring challenges and drive meaningful change. Together, we’ll explore why these patterns remain and how nursing can rewrite the narrative—through courageous, visible, and accountable leadership.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the conference, participants will be able to:
Understand why organisations struggle to learn from mistakes
Recognise common patterns that emerge from public inquiries and understand why organisations often fail to make lasting changes, including cultural barriers and defensive reactions that get in the way.
Create a practical plan for visible leadership
Develop a tailored approach to leadership visibility that fits your organisation’s size and structure, while navigating the challenges of increased public scrutiny and accountability.
Implement real change following inquiries and reviews
Translate inquiry recommendations into meaningful action by overcoming resistance and adapting strategies to local contexts.
Build your professional support network
Connect with nursing leaders across generations, sectors, and roles to share insights and build lasting relationships that support resilient leadership.
Who should attend?
The conference is designed for aspiring nurse leaders, newly appointed managers, and senior nursing professionals working across all healthcare settings—including those in the independent, educational, social care, and voluntary sectors.
As a forum, we recognise the need for all to develop management and leadership qualities throughout their career and regardless of whether working in formal management or leaderships positions.
RCN Events team
RCNevents@rcn.org.uk
02076473577
20 Cavendish Square
Marylebone
London
W1G 0RN
20 Cavendish Square is located behind John Lewis, Oxford Street.
Tube
The nearest stations are Oxford Circus and Bond Street.
Bus
There are many buses routes that stop nearby, including the 10, 25, 55, 73, 98 and 390.
By air:
Heathrow Airport / City Airport – less than 30 minutes away
By car:
20 Cavendish Square is easily accessible from the M1 and M40 and is within London’s ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones.
The nearest car park is Q-Park Oxford Street and located under Cavendish Square.
Accessibility
We are big on equality & inclusion, and we strive to ensure everyone has the most enjoyable experience while attending an event at the venue. We believe in providing equal opportunities and access regardless of ability:
Step free access to all event spaces and meeting rooms
A ramp for stage access
Height adjustable lectern
Accessible toilets on each floor
Induction loop on request
Two wheelchair friendly passenger lifts
Strobe fire alarms and audible voice synthesisers in the lifts
Evacuation chairs
Assistance dogs are welcome
If you have any questions or an access requirement not included here, please just get in touch on +44 (0)207 6473577 or RCNevents@rcn.org.uk
Programme
Speakers
Birte Harlev-Lam OBE MA, PgCert, DPSM, RN, RM
Birte is a senior clinical leader with over 40 years’ experience in nursing, midwifery, and healthcare, with expertise across strategic, operational, and clinical domains. Her career spans a wide range of senior roles in diverse clinical settings, demonstrating sustained leadership in service delivery and quality improvement.
She has held key positions including Director of Midwifery for Women’s Services in both London and Cambridge, where she led large maternity services and ensured high standards of care. As Regional Maternity Lead for Midlands and East, she provided strategic oversight of 42 maternity services, driving improvements in quality and safety across the region.
At national level, Birte was the first Head of Maternity and Children’s Services at NHS England and later National Clinical Director for Maternity and Children at NHS Improvement. In these roles, she championed safe, high-quality midwifery and children’s services and supported providers to meet rigorous national standards.
In 2019, she was appointed Executive Director of Midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, where she led the professional agenda locally, nationally, and internationally across research, education, practice, and leadership development, retiring in February 2025.
Birte was awarded an OBE in 2020 for services to Maternity and Children’s Care. She remains committed to advancing leadership and quality improvement across the UK and serves as a trustee of the charity Petals, supporting women and families affected by pregnancy loss.
Deborah Sturdy RN MSc ( Econ), CBE
Deborah was appointed as the first Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care in 2021. She has held a number of previous roles including senior posts in practice, research and policy, in both social care services and the NHS. She was appointed the expert nurse on the Gosport Independent Panel the report of which was laid before Parliament in 2018.
She is a passionate care sector advocate and believes the workforce is its greatest asset. Developing careers, opening new pathways of opportunity and boosting recognition of care colleagues’ skills, value and expertise are, in her view, vital to the future success of the profession.
She holds two Visiting Chairs in Nursing at Manchester Metropolitan and Buckinghamshire New Universities. Deborah has written numerous papers for publications and presented at national and international meetings.
She was awarded a CBE in the 2023 Honours list and an OBE in the 2017. She is a Fellow of the QNI and RCN and received the British Geriatric President’s Medal for her contribution to older people nursing the first nurse to receive this.
An Executive Clinical Nursing/ Maternity Patient Safety leader with over 15 years Executive Director Board level Experience, including providers, commissioning, two Acute Trusts a London Teaching hospital and recent National role for Patient Safety , published a range of learning resources for maternity, just and learning culture and Emergency care. Previous National Director lead for Early notification in maternity and CNST maternity incentive scheme.
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Categories & Rates - Member, Student etc |
Day rate ex VAT |
Day rate inc VAT |
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Member
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£135 +VAT |
£162 |
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Non-Member
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£200 + VAT |
£240 |
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Member: pre-reg student, nursing support worker, retired member |
£75 + VAT |
£90 |
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RCN representatives (25% discount)
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£101.25 + VAT |
£121.50 |
Join the RCN to be immediately eligible for the member rate.
Discounts available (max one per booking) - redeemable via telephone/booking form only.
25% discount - Accredited RCN representatives, forum steering committee members or any member that has been elected to undertake an official RCN role.
10% discount - Group discount when three or more delegates book together.To make a booking
Conditions and exclusions
Discounted offers cannot be combined. Only one discount can be used for each booking whether it is an individual or group booking.
Discounts cannot be accumulated or redeemed when booking online. Please contact RCN Event Registration to book a discounted place
To make a booking
Online bookings are the easiest and fastest way to book 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bookings can be made by phone with payment by credit card/Maestro, by calling +44 (0)2920 546460. Lines are open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Bookings can also be made via email with a downloaded booking form with credit card details or payment/remittance advice emailed to eventsreg@rcn.org.uk.
All bookings will be confirmed in writing.
You will not be registered for this event unless payment accompanies your application. Places cannot be held provisionally.
The RCN reserves the right to refuse any booking at any time.
To pay by invoice
To pay by invoice you must send all of the below to eventsreg@rcn.org.uk
• A copy of the Purchase Order document from your organisation or company (we cannot process your order without it).
• Your Finance department/accounts payable contact email address to receive an electronic copy of the invoice from us.
• A completed RCN Events Booking Form for each delegate in the booking.
Once the invoice has been raised, you will then receive confirmation of your delegate booking on the event requested. Invoices are to be paid within 30 days of the invoice being issued.
Eventsreg@rcn.org.uk
+44 (0)2920 546460
For any other queries relating to this conference please contact the RCN Events Team:
RCNevents@rcn.org.uk
+44 (0)207 6473577
Page last updated - 02/02/2026
