This unconventional keynote discusses everything from sex and drugs to happy hormones and designing spaces for each unique individual. Now the Co-Founder of Smart Building Collective, Elizabeth is bringing a diverse group of experts to help move the evolution of smart buildings forward. Smart has the ability to help create creative solutions from data to make our buildings more functional, sustainable, cost effective and healthier, more collaborative spaces for the people inside.

The pandemic threw the typical office environment into stark relief. And the digital fluency / remote productivity of employees threatened its entire existence. Hybrid is the answer, but no one wants to work in a new way in the old space; they need something compelling to return to: they need a Destinations, that's what we created at airbnb, and this talk explores the elements of these spaces that can be recreated and reinterpreted to create the post-covid office all employees deserve.

Gensler surveyed thousands of UK office workers to understand what is and isn’t working in the office today, and how to create a more compelling destination for employees. The data reveal that workers still value the office as a place to focus, and that they desire a diverse range of spaces to support work. This talk will explore how organisations can fine-tune their workplace recipe, to enable their talent to do their best work and use their office as a tool for transformation.

Organisations globally are facing similar challenges of underutilised real estate portfolios. Some of these organisations are using a mandate for their colleagues to return to the office to address low occupancy, but at what cost? Drawing on internal insights from recently opened AECOM offices in Glasgow and Manchester as well as global client challenges, April will discuss the potential impacts and opportunities that portfolio optimisation can have on human capital.

In the age of the “anywhere office”, technology will play a more vital role than ever. It is now crucial for businesses to understand how people are using workspaces and implement technologies that will keep teams connected, organized, safe and ultimately enhance their experience and productivity. Our expert panel shares how some of the largest and most innovative global companies revolutionise how they use technology and how they attract and retain talent.  

Workplaces have undergone a significant re-think about how and where work gets done with many organisations investing in a range of technology, processes, and support models to improve employees experience. Often investment decisions are made in isolation leading to inefficient operating methods with associated costly run rates, further impacted by the wider macro-economic climate. This session will discuss how organisations can build cost efficiency into their digital workplace strategy to drive ROI and enable future technology investments that will deliver a First-Class Employee Experience.

Everyone knows that a receptionist can make a positive and lasting impression; conversely one who creates a negative impression stands a good chance of curtailing a relationship very quickly. The traditional front of house role is evolving, and business needs to keep up. Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny, a global leader in outsourced calls, live chat and more, speaks to Julia Hobsbawm, British entrepreneur, writer, and expert keynote speaker to discuss the changing perceptions of facilities roles, their value and how technology can leverage customer experience to the next level.

This session explores how best to create optimal environments for employees to do their work, examining how cross-functional and human-centred approaches can be leveraged to make the office and greater workplace ecosystem more purposeful. How do we measure what is great? How do we successfully work across corporate real estate (CRE), human resources (HR), and information technology (IT) to deliver it?

The recent hybrid working environment has created new challenges for leaders and employees. This session will cover the importance of wellbeing, inclusion and belonging to support productivity in hybrid environments, and will help breaking taboos & removing stigmas on conversations around mental health, no matter the working location of your employees to inspire long lasting change. This shorter session will lead into the below panel discussion.

In a hybrid world where employees are split across virtual and physical spaces, many organisations face the challenge of integrating a diverse and inclusive culture deeply into the business. How can you create a truly effective, inclusive workplace that ensures psychological safety? Our panel will delve deeper into what you can do to drive this change, with employee experience, wellbeing and productivity at the forefront.

Daniel provides a framework for how people should think about AI (especially Generative AI), with entertaining examples and anecdotes. He argues that whilst these technologies are incredible at creating growth and streamlining operations, for companies to stay innovative they need to use AI to unlock the creative capacity of their workforce. Daniel will also cover the macro impact these technologies may have over the coming decades and suggests that it's within the gift of enterprise to make a better future for everyone.