We had some fantastic thought provoking speakers lined up to explore some really challenging topics.

Dr Fiona Chatten
Dr Fiona ChattenPrimary Care Development Lead, North East and North Cumbria ICB
Fiona is a workforce lead within the NHS who is passionate about supporting individuals and teams to feel empowered to fulfil their potential. She is a nurse by profession, a Non-Executive Director of the NHS Clinical Leaders Network and an Honorary Fellow of Anglia Ruskin University. She has a PhD examining professional identity in integrated care which she uses to work with individuals and teams across health and social care, supporting them to flourish in their roles.
Barbie Calvert
Barbie CalvertHR Business Partner, Place and Communities, Central Bedfordshire Council
After building a career in HR I took a break to raise my family. Discovering a passion for supporting children and families my return to the workplace began in Children’s Services where my knowledge of apprenticeships started to grow. After initiating Central Bedfordshire Council’s apprenticeship programme as Corporate Apprenticeship Manager, I returned to HR management in 2019 as a HR Business Partner supporting our Place and Communities Directorate. Working closely with the Director and Senior Management team I support workforce planning and provide strategic HR advice.
Michelle Harte
Michelle HarteFounder, HR EsQue
Michelle has over 20 years’ experience in HR and OD including operating as a consultant and at Head of HR level. She is keen to progress themes around employee engagement, culture change and compassionate leadership. She speaks regularly at events about the future of work including with MBA and MSc students and has been a speaker on panels for clubhouse, webinars and LinkedIn Live talking about the need for compassionate leadership in our workplaces. As stress and anxiety is on the rise and costing businesses dearly, she recognises the importance of creating a supportive culture. This is so important as the world increasingly moves more into a digital age which whilst exciting, can create its own challenge.
Lisa Newlands
Lisa NewlandsThe Place Academy Manager, Central Bedfordshire Council
Over 15 years experience in development management within Local Authority planning, across two different authorities. I have extensive experience in all areas of planning including strategic developments. I am passionate about planning and helping to shape the communities we live in. Since 2018, my role has been to bring people in to the profession and support their development into skilled planning professionals as part of our grow our own resource approach. I really enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge with others and in turn watching them grow and develop in to great planners.
Ritika Wadhwa
Ritika WadhwaChief Executive Officer, Prabhaav Global
Ritika was born and brought up in India. She went on to achieve an MBA in the UK and broke all barriers as an immigrant to Canada and the UK. Ritika has over 30 years of experience working at Board level across 3 continents, with senior stakeholders – within the public and private sector.

Ritika is on a mission to bring inclusion and innovation to the heart of organizations, and she believes that Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is a capability which can do that. Following her recent role as COO at the Cultural Intelligence Centre, Ritika is now the Founder and CEO of Prabhaav Global. Prabhaav means impact in Hindi and organization’s mission is to apply the transformational power of Cultural
Intelligence for impactful leadership.

Ritika is a CQ Certified Facilitator and a Fellow at the Society of Leadership Fellows, Windsor Castle. She sits on the Strategic Advisory Board member for British Transport Police and is a Trustee and Board Director at the 5% club. Ritika is also a sought-after Keynote speaker.