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.
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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.
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Welcome & introductions

Rebecca Groves

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Leadership 2065: Your leadership; your legacy

TB Bardlavens

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Trust in an AI-powered world

Dalit Shalom

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Morning break

Grab a drink and a snack and take the opportunity to connect with your peers.
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Finding clarity when everything shifts

Venessa Bennett

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

Ariba Jahan

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How to be an authentic leader

Sabari Majumdar

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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.

Building trust when the system thinks for itself

Johanna Evans

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The value of design in an AI world

Mary Lukanuski

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

Chris How, TB Bardlavens, Dalit Shalom, Ariba Jahan

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Afternoon break

Take a turn around the conservatory with a new friend?

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Off the record

An unscripted conversation where our speakers dig deeper into the themes from the day
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Cocktail/mocktail time!

Join us for a drink with your fellow participants.
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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.
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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.

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Welcome to day two

Rebecca Groves

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Different by design: Leadership in complex times and places

Laura Yarrow

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

Yoel Sumitro

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Morning break

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

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The myth of the well-functioning design team

Inayaili León

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Leading a team you didn't hire

Fergo (James Ferguson)

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Shipping awesome UX with stakeholder buy-in

Kevin Hawkins Jr

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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.

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Unprompted value: design leadership through company evolution

Jonas Grinevicius

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

Daniel Burka, Mahima Chandak

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Afternoon break

Time to re-fuel.

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

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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.

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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.