Chief Operating Officers and Directors of Operations Network
17 March 2026
10:00 - 16:00
In-person
PwC, 7 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2RT
Delivery and performance
Leadership
Overview
Connect with your peers from across the country
With recent developments and an ever-evolving landscape within the NHS, our latest network meeting is your opportunity to reflect with other operations directors from across the country on your key challenges and share insight and learning.
Why this matters
As the NHS is rapidly evolving, it's important to step back from the day-to-day to take the opportunity to reflect on the key challenges facing your role, team and trust.
Operating under Chatham House Rule, this member-only network will provide you an opportunity to:
- Share ideas and exchange learning.
- Hear presentations on the latest innovative work in the sector.
- Engage in interactive sessions to ask questions and share your thoughts.
- Have open and honest discussions with peers in breakout sessions.
A really assuring and transparent space to learn and share different viewpoints on collective challenges and planning.
Agenda
Tuesday 17 Mar
10:00Registration
10:30Welcome and introductions
Introduction and chair's welcome
Lucy Davies
10:45Session 1
Leading system transformation: Connecting policy, people and performance
Hear from Samantha Jones, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, as she shares how operational leaders can turn national priorities into local success. Drawing on her leadership journey, Samantha will also reflect on the pivotal role leaders play in shaping system-wide change, fostering cultures of equity and transformation and driving sustainable improvements.
Samantha Jones
11:15Session 2
TBA
11:30Break with refreshments
11:45Session 3
Leading with moral courage
This session will explore the critical role senior leaders play in shaping inclusive cultures and actively countering racism within their organisations. Sal will explore how every leader has agency, learning how to unlock and navigate their moral courage every day. Drawing on Sal’s extensive experience in driving cultural change and accountability within complex systems, the session will offer practical and candid reflections on leadership responsibility and courage in the face of systemic inequities and our current volatile environment.
Sal Naseem
12:45Lunch and networking
13:45Session 4
From chief operating officer to chief executive: Lessons in leadership and system collaboration
What does it take to make the leap from operational leadership to the top job? In this session, hear first-hand reflections from Stacey Hunter on her journey from chief operating officer to chief executive, including the leadership challenges faced along the way.
Explore how group models and collaborative approaches have shaped transformation at scale, and gain practical insights to help you navigate your own career progression.
Stacey Hunter
14:25Session 5
Strategic policy update
A presentation from NHS Providers on strategic policy issues and developments, sharing analysis on what these may mean for the provider sector. This will be followed by Q&A and discussion.
15:00Session 6
Neighbourhood models in practice: Lessons from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
This session offers a reflective exploration of neighbourhood based ways of working and what they can mean in practice for providers. Using lived leadership experience as a starting point, it creates space for shared thinking about collaboration, delivery and change. Designed to be relevant across a wide range of organisations, the discussion invites operational leaders to consider how localised approaches might inform their own priorities and challenges.
Speaker
Stephen Jackson
15:25Closing comments
15:30Networking
Please note, our agenda is still in development for this event so session timings may be subject to change. We will share more details over the coming weeks of further sessions and speakers.
Network chair and speakers
Lucy Davies
Chief Operating Officer
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officers Network co-chair.
Stacey Hunter
Group Chief Executive
South Tees Hospitals and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Sal Naseem
Founder
True North Leadership
Stephen Jackson
Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Community Services
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Samantha Jones
Permanent Secretary
Department of Health and Social Care
How to book
Attendance is free, however you will need to book in advance to receive event details ahead of the network.
If you have any questions, or would like to be added to the mailing list to hear about future events and NHS Providers resources, please contact the Networks team.
Who should attend
This network is designed for anyone with responsibility for corporate operations within their trust. This includes:
- Directors of operations, performance, strategic development, transformation or service delivery, deputy chief executives and chief operating officers.
- Interim, acting, assistant or deputy directors are also welcome to attend.