In a world where social and racial tensions continue to shape our collective consciousness, young people entering the workforce are carrying more than just ambition - they’re carrying the weight of identity, expectation, and often, unspoken trauma.

Join us for a thought-provoking panel session hosted by Simon Katchay, where we’ll explore the mental and emotional toll of navigating professional spaces during times of racial unrest and cultural reform. From the symbolism of flags to the silence in boardrooms, we’ll unpack how these external forces impact the internal wellbeing of young professionals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Simon Katchay, Account Director at Amberjack
Dr Bob Athwal, Culture & Belonging Director, Skyscanner
Kema Davies, Global Early Careers Lead, Hiscox

Helping graduates turn potential into performance is one of the most important challenges facing early careers development today. Many graduates leave university with strong academic credentials and technical knowledge yet struggle to translate that potential into performance. The gap is rarely about intelligence or capability alone; more often, it is shaped by attitude, mindset, and an incomplete understanding of how performance is recognised and rewarded in organisations. With GRA working with over 3500 graduates and early careers this year alone, we will share our experiences that reinforce the common themes and takeaways from this session.

Joe Mackintosh, Experiential Learning & Development Partner at GRA
George Hayter, Learning and Development Facilitator at GRA 
Viktoria Wiggins, Material Controller - Tools and Equipment Team Leader at British Airways Engineering
Grace Rutherford, Emerging Talent Recruitment Strategy Manager at British Airways

Often, unlocking potential is viewed exclusively through the lens of acquisition. Whilst employers increasingly focus on building socio-economically diverse workforces, research shows that acquisition alone doesn't address the diversity challenge. Our session examines what happens after recruitment: how do organisations ensure state-educated and working-class employees don't just get in, but get on?

With Sophie Pender CEO and Joe Mackley Head of Strategic Partnerships - 93% Club,
Jenny Baskerville, Chief Executive - The Bridge Group 
Joanne Conway, Head of Inclusion & Culture, International - DLA Piper 

This session empowers delegates to move beyond vanity metrics and harness the true value of data in early talent development programmes. Through hands-on analysis, collaborative exercises, and expert guidance, participants learn how to measure impact, extract actionable insights, and drive continuous improvement in their organisations.

Laura Anderson, ISE Board Director & Employer Member
Anna Champion, Development specialist and ISE Solution Provider Steering Group member

Despite strong academic credentials and technical capability, many graduates struggle with the transition into the workplace. The challenge is rarely about ability; instead, it lies in navigating the unwritten rules of organisational life — the implicit expectations, norms and behaviours that are rarely explained but heavily judged.
This hidden curriculum can create anxiety, erode confidence, and slow the transition from potential to performance.

The session will explore the disconnect between education and the realities of the workplace, and why traditional “work readiness” approaches often fail to address it. We’ll share the key watch-outs for ECT, alongside cherry-picked strategies from DBL’s ‘Decode the Workplace’ learning experience, designed to help early career talent understand and navigate the unwritten expectations of work while remaining true to their values. This session will lift the lid on the research and thinking behind Decode the Workplace, the practical strategies delegates can put into place immediately to support their early career teams, and what employers are seeing as a result of this support for their ECT.

Rachel de Minckwitz, Regional Lead - UK at Development beyond learning

We stand between two futures. In one, artificial intelligence works alongside human imagination, judgement and creativity — introduced thoughtfully, at the right moments, and in ways that deepen learning. In the other, speed becomes the organising principle of work, and thinking is quietly outsourced before it takes shape. For early career talent, this is not simply a productivity question. It’s a developmental one. When AI becomes the default starting point, rather than considered support, we risk weakening the very capacities new hires most need to build: confidence in their own thinking, tolerance for uncertainty, and careful formation of judgement.

This interactive workshop moves beyond simplistic debates about automation versus augmentation, exploring how organisations can protect and strengthen independent thinking in their new hires by paying attention to two powerful, often overlooked levers: timing and culture.

Alice Hooper-Scott, Director of The School of Life At Work
Raul Aparici, Head of Faculty - The School of Life At Work

Many early talent programmes deliver strong initial outcomes, yet across industries a consistent challenge persists: once a graduate programme ends, development often drops away abruptly. This creates a “cliff‑edge” experience where confidence can dip, professional identity becomes uncertain, and engagement and retention decline.

This panel discussion, hosted by Neueda and featuring talent leaders from Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Fidelity Investments, explores how three global financial institutions are rethinking long-term development to ensure early talent not only starts strong—but continues to grow. The panel will also discuss how the accelerating pace of AI and emerging technologies reinforces the need for continued learning.

Keiran Seaward, Director of Sales at Neueda 

Take part in roundtable discussions with peers, led by expert Solution Providers on a range of topics in Student Development. The aim is to share ideas and experiences with members from varying backgrounds and learn from each other.

Christos Orthodouxou, Director of Innovation at The Talent People
Dani Sloan, Marketing Manager, Cappfinity
Emily Bryant, Group Head of Marketing at Amberjack
Kieran Seaward, Director of Sales at Neueda