A major highlight of the conference was its two prominent keynote speakers. Professor Karise Hutchinson delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Why Leadership Matters, But Not Any Old Leadership Will Do,” setting a reflective and engaging tone for the event. She was followed by Professor John Adair, whose compelling session on “Developing Good Leaders and Leaders for Good” inspired a deeper exploration of leadership’s evolving role in tackling today’s global challenges.

The conference panels added further depth, each addressing a unique dimension of leadership. The first panel, “Developing Leadership for Enterprise,” featured esteemed contributors such as Peter Cook (Human Dynamics and The Academy of Rock), Beth Penfold (Moving Forward Consultancy Ltd.), Professor Carol Jarvis (University of the West of England), Gulnaz Brennan (SheInspires Network), Sonny Zulu (Standard Chartered Bank Zambia), and Michelle Howard (Michelle Howard Consulting Ltd.).

These speakers shared valuable insights on building resilient leadership frameworks, fostering accountability, and aligning leadership approaches with enterprise objectives.

The second panel, “Developing Leadership for Innovation and Creativity,” turned attention to nurturing environments where innovative thinking and creative problem-solving thrive. Expert speakers included Professor Jonathan Gosling (Exeter University), Professor Chimezie Anyakora (Bloom Public Health), Jackie Hyde (Stanmore Insurance Brokers Ltd.), and Jack Farren (Rural Inclusion). Together, they examined how leadership can inspire teams to embrace experimentation, challenge the status quo, and generate impactful solutions.

In addition to the main sessions, attendees had the opportunity to participate in engaging side events. A Formula One Race Simulation in the university’s Engineering Building provided a hands-on experience, while a series of professional development workshops offered actionable strategies for innovative leadership, organisational change, and leadership learning approaches.

This year’s conference also featured a gala dinner, attended by the Mayor of Bolton, Andrew P. Morgan JP and Mayoress Karen, which added a touch of formal celebration to the event.

A special moment of recognition came with the announcement of the “Best Paper” award, presented to Dr Marian Iszatt-White and Dr Emma Watton of Lancaster University Management School. Their groundbreaking research, titled “Bolt On, Built In or Embedded – How Far Do We Want to Go With Sustainability and Responsibility in Leadership Development?” highlighted disconnects in existing leadership curricula. Their work emphasised the need for transformative learning approaches and institutional change to achieve global sustainability goals.

In essence, the 14th DLCC not only inspired participants to rethink their approaches to leadership but also laid a strong foundation for future collaboration. The insights gained are expected to resonate far beyond the conference, driving meaningful change in leadership development practices.