Annual Conference 2026
11 March 2026 | Manchester & Online
Join national experts, legal specialists and frontline leaders for a day of practical insight, legislative clarity and real-world solutions at the 7th Culture Shift Annual Conference. Explore the agenda highlights below and secure your in-person or virtual ticket today.
Opening Plenary
You’ve received a report of bullying, harassment or discrimination… What happens next?
Paula Karalus, Director of HR at the Institute of Development Studies, Jenny Gradwell from Advice & Response, University of Manchester, Alison Dunn, CEO of Citizens Advice, and Sarah Dean from the National Theatre will share their expertise on managing reports in both workplace and higher education settings.
The panel will explore what constitutes a report and the terminology used across institutions, how to ensure a clear and transparent process from triage to case management, investigation, and resolution, and how to support reporters throughout, including risk assessment, safety planning, and interim measures. They will also discuss restorative approaches, challenges when incidents fall outside a legal framework, and practical strategies for effective case management.
Breakout Session 1
Whether attending in person or online, there’s a wide range of sessions and topics to explore.This session explores how organisations can effectively support employees experiencing domestic abuse. Topics include workplace prevention strategies, risk assessment and safety planning, and managing cases sensitively.
Book your ticketsThis session explores how HE institutions can navigate the Freedom of Speech Act and related legislation, balancing open debate with legal and ethical responsibilities. Topics include managing conflicts on campus, distinguishing disagreement from harassment, and practical strategies for leadership.
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Breakout Session 2
Whether attending in person or online, there’s a wide range of sessions and topics to explore.Explore how to recognise, respond to, and support employees experiencing serious forms of gender-based violence. Topics include understanding the harms, the scale of the problem, identifying the signs, overcoming barriers to speaking up, and providing effective support throughout the reporting process.
Book your ticketsThis session explores how to make workplace bullying interventions truly effective. Learn what “readiness for change” means, how to assess it in your organisation, and hear lessons from a large-scale rollout across the UK civil service, with practical tips for success.
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Keynote
What does Culture Shift’s national data tell us about harmful behaviours?
Prevalence reports are published regularly to help us understand the types of harm people are experiencing, but far less attention is paid to what is actually being reported in practice.
For the first time, Culture Shift CEO and Co-Founder, Gemma McCall will present national trend data from Culture Shift’s platform, exploring the harms being reported, how people choose to report them, and the support content they seek out.
Delegates will gain a clearer understanding of current patterns and be prompted to reflect on how their own organisations compare, sparking discussion and ideas for proactive prevention.
Breakout Session 3
Whether attending in person or online, there’s a wide range of sessions and topics to explore.Explore how to navigate situations where employees’ or students’ rights come into conflict. As we discuss practical examples, legislation, and caselaw, discover how to make fair, rights-based decisions.
Book your ticketsLearn how to recognise and respond to ableism, disablist harassment, and disability hate crimes in work and study settings. Explore barriers to reporting, proactive prevention strategies, and insights from research and case studies.
Book your ticketsDrawing on an abundance of research conducted internationally, Dr Estelle Zinsstag will talk on restorative justice as a resolution in cases of gendered violence, clarifying what restorative justice actually is, how it can be practiced effectively and addressing some of the fears around it.
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Closing Plenary
Changing landscapes: legislation, regulation and how to go above compliance to tackle harmful behaviour
Chelcie Jewitt from Surviving in Scrubs and Deeba Syed, Head of Policy, Research and Advocacy at the Fawcett Society, will lead on this panel session, with more speakers to be announced. They will explore the key legislation coming into force this year, including the Worker Protection Act, Employment Rights Act, whistleblowing protections, and the Bullying Bill, and what these changes mean for employers and employees.
The panel will examine how organisations can prioritise compliance while going above and beyond, what good practice looks like, and sector-specific regulatory updates across healthcare, finance, the NHS, and the legal sector.
