15 May 2026 
Emma Walton-Pond, Communications Officer
Our Annual Conference proved once again why it has become a cornerstone event in the higher education HR calendar, bringing together people professionals from across the UK for three days of learning, reflection, collaboration and connection.
From the opening plenary to the final session, the atmosphere throughout the conference was one of energy, openness and genuine community. Delegates engaged in thoughtful discussion, shared experiences generously and embraced the opportunity to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
“The plenaries have been excellent”
“Grateful for this conference and all the amazing talks”
“I've been along to the last two UHR conferences and found them really insightful and helped shape how I approach my work”
Across an exceptionally wide-ranging programme, delegates explored many of the most pressing topics shaping HE HR today. Sessions covered leadership, organisational change, workforce planning, AI and digital transformation, wellbeing, inclusion, engagement, employment relations and the future of work, providing valuable insights for institutions navigating a rapidly changing landscape.
Day One focused on the scale of change facing people professionals in HE, with sessions exploring culture, workforce capability, AI, productivity and organisational transformation. A strong theme throughout the day was the importance of leading with curiosity, embracing people-centred approaches and building digital capability to support meaningful change across institutions. Delegates praised the practical insights and honest discussions shared by speakers, partners and members throughout the programme.
Day Two continued with insightful discussions on leading through uncertainty, supporting middle managers, responsible AI implementation and creating inclusive workplace cultures. Sessions also explored wellbeing, engagement, industrial relations and people-centred leadership, offering practical guidance highly relevant to the realities we face today. Contributions from speakers, facilitators and sector partners helped drive thoughtful conversations and valuable shared learning across the community.
Day Three brought the conference to a strong and inspiring close, with sessions focused on inclusion, wellbeing, equitable recruitment and the future role of HR in shaping resilient institutions. Delegates explored the opportunities and challenges presented by digital transformation and AI, alongside discussions on leadership, neurodivergence and organisational change. The closing plenaries by Parveen Yaqoob OBE (Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Reading) and Nicolas Hamilton (British Racing Driver) provided a memorable conclusion, reinforcing the importance of resilience, purpose and collaboration across the sector.
What made the conference particularly powerful was not only the calibre of expertise shared, but the practical and people-centred nature of the discussions. Attendees left with actionable ideas, new perspectives and resources they could immediately take back into their own institutions, alongside new professional connections.
The conference also reinforced the importance of creating space for the sector to come together, reflect collectively and learn from one another. In a challenging and fast-moving environment, #UHR26 served as a powerful reminder of the resilience, innovation and commitment that exists across the HR community. This was celebrated through the UHR Awards, where we recognised individuals and teams whose outstanding work is driving positive change across Higher Education, showcasing the incredible talent, leadership and impact that exists throughout our community.
To ensure the learning continues beyond the event itself, conference recordings are now live and available to watch via the website for those with a team ticket and a UHR account.
A huge thank you goes to all of the speakers, facilitators and partners who contributed such honest, thought-provoking and generous perspectives throughout the three days. Their expertise and openness helped create a conference that was not only strategically important for the sector, but genuinely supportive and inspiring for everyone involved.
Most importantly, thank you to every delegate who joined us, contributed questions, shared ideas and helped shape the conversations that made this year’s conference such a success.
As the conversations continue and attendees take fresh thinking back into their institutions, one thing is certain: UHR’s Annual Conference remains an unmissable event for HR and people professionals across higher education and we can't wait to do it all again next year!
