Make conferences count: Your autumn strategy + the hotel hack that changes everything

Make conferences count: Your autumn strategy + the hotel hack that changes everything

✍🏾Introduction

September and October are always busy for healthcare leaders, with events that shape how we work, lead, and innovate.

This year, I’m honoured once again to be chairing the Transformation Theatre at Best Practice Birmingham. I’ll also be facilitating panels at EHR Con in Barcelona, exploring how data and digital tools can truly enable better care.

While many chase speaking slots, there are lots of opportunities to host and facilitate panels. I love teasing out the questions the audience really wants answered, challenging speakers to go deeper, and creating space for genuine dialogue. It’s the same approach I take with The Business of Healthcare podcast — less presentation, more conversation.

Here’s a curated list of upcoming events I think are worth your attention. 📅

1️⃣ Pathfinder Digital Transformation Summit📍 Birmingham | 9th September 2025

Why attend: Designed for NHS system leaders driving large-scale digital programmes. Smaller and more strategic than HETT, with practical case studies.

🌎 https://www.pathfinder-cic.com/event-details/digital-transformation-summit

2️⃣ Ideas Fest 📍 Tring, Hertfordshire | 10th – 11th September 2025

Why attend: Not a healthcare conference, but a festival of ideas from entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders across sectors. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from outside our own world.

I’m attending with my husband. Whilst he’s a mortgage advisor and runs his own business, we thought it would be fun to explore ideas together.

🌎 https://ideasfest.uk

3️⃣ HETT (Healthcare Excellence Through Technology) 📍 ExCeL London | 7th- 8th October 2025

Why attend: A deep dive into digital health, AI, and system integration. Perfect for leaders wanting to understand the tech that will underpin future NHS services.

🛜 https://www.hettshow.co.uk

4️⃣ Best Practice Birmingham 📍 NEC Birmingham | 8th–9th October 2025

Why attend: It’s the biggest gathering for primary care leaders (IMO)

I’ll be chairing the Transformation Theatre for the fourth year in a row. It’s a huge conference and very practically focused, which I love. The speakers are everyday leaders sharing what works and lessons learned.

🌎 https://www.bestpracticeshow.co.uk

5️⃣ EHR Con – The openEHR International Conference Barcelona | 16th -17th October 2025

Why attend: This two-day event brings together clinicians, developers, patients, and providers to explore the real-world application of AI, future-ready data strategies, and patient-centric healthcare.

I’ll be facilitating panels over the 2 days.

🌎https://openehr.org/event/ehrcon25/

6️⃣ Med Tech World 📍 Malta | 12th –14th November 2025

Why attend: A chance to connect with international medtech innovators — ideal if you want to see what’s coming next in global health technology.

🌎 https://med-tech.world/malta/

💡 Go with intention

Each of these events offers something different: some give a broad system view, others focus on practical tools, and one brings in perspectives from outside of healthcare entirely. However, showing up is only half the battle.

  • Your time is valuable, so go with intention and consider:
  • What topics are you particularly interested in?
  • What are you looking to learn more about?
  • Who are you aiming to connect with?
  • Which perspectives are you missing?

Go with an open mind — the best insights often come from unexpected conversations and sessions outside your usual focus.

P.S. One practical tip from years of conferences: pack a plug tower/multi-plug. Hotel rooms never have enough sockets where you need them, and you’ll want to charge your phone, laptop, and tablet whilst using the hairdryer and iron. Game changer!

🎯 Looking Ahead: PCN Plus 2026

Preparations for PCN Plus 2026 have already started. It will be our fourth national conference, which we will deliver in partnership with Dr Andy Forster, Ben Gowland and Dr Hussain Gandhi. Having been behind the scenes of many events, I know the enormous effort that goes into making these happen.

🎧 Decision-making big or small, is a challenge for us all

Peter Grinbergs , founder of EQL, a physiotherapy platform. Peter went from tech entrepreneur to healthcare innovator, navigating a fire sale and rebuilding with resilience. His triage system now reduces delays and costs while improving patient pathways and he certainly doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of being an entrepreneur!

He is funny, direct, and honest.

Captions are auto generatedPlay

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/350PeterGreenbergsThe Business of Healthcare Leadership Course

Patients, People, Money, and Governance

7 sessions covering what every healthcare leader needs to master:

  • Team dynamics and vision building
  • Finance and strategic planning
  • HR essentials and culture
  • Influencing change and integration
  • Governance and decision making
  • Developing integrated services
  • Productivity and AI tools

Develop the strategic leadership competencies to navigate complex healthcare environments, make confident resource decisions, and drive transformation through influence and coalition building.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/thebusinessofhealthcareleadership

Scroll to Top

Discover more from Behind the Scenes of Healthcare Leadership.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading