09/09/2025
400 brilliant people, inspiring speakers, and game-changing ideas – the Make Work Better Conference 2025 was truly unforgettable. A huge thank you to our incredible speakers for bringing energy, insight, and inspiration to the stage.
We kicked off the day with an opening keynote, with our very own CEO, Paul Devoy, sharing his first steps into management, the lessons learned, and his journey to CEO at Investors in People. Blaire Palmer challenged us to rethink the role of managers by busting four common myths. Kimberley Wilson followed with powerful insights on how managers can support their teams - and themselves - to stay well while doing it.
After the break, Anna Richardson sat down with Jamie Laing and Paul Devoy to discuss what makes a great leader today, exploring authenticity, creativity, resilience, and the role of HR in shaping supportive, high-performing teams.
Returning from lunch, Ann Francke OBE, CEO of CMI, addressed the current management crisis, where the majority of UK managers are “accidental managers”, leading to disengagement, high attrition, and weaker organisational performance, and what can be done about it.
We closed the day with an inspiring conversation between Sara Davies MBE, Paul Devoy, and Anna Richardson, reflecting on Sara’s journey from entrepreneur to leader, with lessons on emotional intelligence, culture, and balancing empathy with commercial success.
Highlights coming soon – follow us to stay up to date!
Can’t wait for next year? Pre-register your interest for the 2026 conference and get priority access – you’ll hear before tickets are released to everyone! https://bit.ly/4m8nDn8