We’re delighted to announce that Andrew Haldane CBE will deliver the opening State of the Nation Keynote Address at the Make a Difference Leaders Annual General Meeting, taking place on Monday 19th October 2026 at the iconic Knowledge Centre at the British Library in London.
One of Britain’s most influential economists, Andrew is President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England. Known for his ability to connect economic trends with real-world social outcomes, he is uniquely placed to help employers understand the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of work.
Economic trends, workforce health and the future of work
His keynote comes at a pivotal moment. Employers are navigating economic inactivity, declining workforce health, rapid AI-driven transformation, geopolitical uncertainty and rising business costs. Against this backdrop, Andrew is perfectly placed to explore what these global and national trends mean for the future of the UK economy, organisational performance, and workforce health and wellbeing – and the role employers can realistically play in creating healthier, more resilient and sustainable workplaces.
The State of the Nation Address will set the strategic context for the day. It will provide the foundation for the panel discussions and breakout sessions that follow, focused on practical, evidence-based strategies employers can adopt to help make this a positive turning point for their people and their organisations.
For employers, the discussion is likely to reinforce a growing reality: that workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing are no longer peripheral concerns, but fundamental drivers of organisational resilience, performance and long-term success.
Sharing perspectives and shaping priorities
Hosted by Dame Carol Black, this year’s AGM is expected to be the largest gathering of the Make a Difference Leaders community to date, bringing together 150-200 senior employer representatives from across sectors for a full day of curated discussions, keynotes and peer-to-peer learning.
The AGM is the flagship event in the Make a Difference Leaders calendar. As a fast-growing employer community dedicated to advancing workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing, Make a Difference Leaders provides a platform for senior decision-makers to share best practice, shape future priorities and drive meaningful change.
This year’s Annual General Meeting takes place at a critical time for employers. The AGM will provide a unique opportunity for senior leaders to come together, share perspectives and help shape priorities for the year ahead.
Partnership opportunities available
We are also pleased to confirm that Wysa has joined the event as the first Silver Sponsor. A limited number of non-competing partnership opportunities remain available for selected organisations wishing to align themselves with this important conversation and engage directly with a highly influential audience of HR and wellbeing leaders and other senior decision-makers.
If you would like to join us and be among the first to receive registration details when they are released, register your interest today.
We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be one of the most important workplace leadership events of 2026.
You can register your interest in attending the Make a Difference Leaders AGM here.
You can apply to become a member of the Make a Difference Leaders Collective here.
