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Leading Design London 2025 has now passed. Join us for our next event: London 2026

Schedule

12 November

Day one: Wednesday

Day one of our industry leading speakers discussing topics to help you tackle some of your most pressing challenges, enabling you to become the most effective design leader possible.

Registration

Use the Barbican's Silk Street entrance and then make your way to the 4th Floor terrace. Once you've registered, join us for a coffee before the conference kicks off.

Welcome & introductions

Rebecca Groves

Leadership 2065: Your leadership; your legacy

TB Bardlavens

Trust in an AI-powered world

Dalit Shalom

Morning break

Grab a drink and a snack and take the opportunity to connect with your peers.

Finding clarity when everything shifts

Venessa Bennett

How to lead with momentum when the path isn't clear

Ariba Jahan

How to be an authentic leader

Sabari Majumdar

Lunch

Pull up a chair and share a meal with your peers from across the design industry. Limited places are available at our topic themed lunch tables - sign up at the registration desk.

The value of design in an AI world

Mary Lukanuski

Friend, foe, or catalyst? AI’s impact on design leadership

Chris How, TB Bardlavens, Dalit Shalom, Ariba Jahan

Afternoon break

Take a turn around the conservatory with a new friend?

Off the record

An unscripted conversation where our speakers dig deeper into the themes from the day

Cocktail/mocktail time!

Join us for a drink with your fellow participants.

Barbican architecture tour

Join one of the venue's expert team for a tour of the iconic Barbican centre. Numbers are limited so be sure to sign up on the day - first come, first served.

13 November

Day two: Thursday

Day two of our industry leading speakers with more chances to re-connect with your peers and build relationships.

Registration

Don't forget to bring your event pass so you can walk right in and get a coffee in the Barbican's beautiful conservatory.

Welcome to day two

Rebecca Groves

Different by design: Leadership in complex times and places

Laura Yarrow

"But… that won’t work here!" – Pragmatic design leadership in business-first organisations

Yoel Sumitro

Morning break

Grab a drink and a snack and take the opportunity to connect with your peers

The myth of the well-functioning design team

Inayaili León

Leading a team you didn't hire

Fergo (James Ferguson)

Shipping awesome UX with stakeholder buy-in

Kevin Hawkins Jr

Lunch time

Time to break bread together and share your thoughts on the morning talks. Limited places are available at our topic themed lunch tables - sign up at the registration desk.

Unprompted value: design leadership through company evolution

Jonas Grinevicius

Design can still make the world better, if you lead the way

Daniel Burka, Mahima Chandak

Afternoon break

Time to re-fuel.

Off the record: an unscripted conversation where our speakers dig deeper into the themes from the day

One for the road

If you don't have to rush off join your fellow participants in the bar to raise a glass to two days of learning and connection. See you in the Barbican Members' Lounge on Level 1.

Barbican architecture tour

Join one of the venue's expert team for a tour of the iconic Barbican centre. Numbers are limited so be sure to sign up on the day - first come, first served.