Act now, shape tomorrow: Strategic shifts in dental care

#DentalLeaders

Agenda 18 November 2025

09.30	Registration and refreshments
10.00	Opening keynote – The future direction of dentistry (view from DHSC) Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care Q&A facilitated by Joanne Rewcastle
10.30	Welcome and introduction – Celebrating DLN 10 Joanne Rewcastle, Associate Director, Communications and Engagement, GDC
10.45	Keynote – The policy cycle Rebecca Harris, Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Liverpool
11.15	Lightning talk Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE, Director, Centre for Research Equity, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford
11.20	Refreshment break and networking
11.45	Lightning talk Edmund Proffitt, CEO, BDIA
11.50	Panel discussion – The direction of travel across the four nations and what role the three strategic shifts may play Q&A facilitated by Colin MacKenzie, Head of Nations and Engagement, GDC Panellists: Andrew Dickenson, CDO Wales Tom Ferris, CDO Scotland Caroline Lappin, CDO Northern Ireland Jason Wong, CDO England
12.50	Buffet lunch and networking
13.55	Lightning talk Sue Fenton, Chair, Association of Dental Hospitals
14.00	Workshop - How would you like things to work for patients in five years’ time (and how does the DLN prepare now to achieve this)? Five-minute introduction from facilitators, followed by 45-minute table discussion and 25-minute feedback discussion. Facilitated by Catherine Rutland, Director of Policy and Clinical Affairs, Association of Dental Groups and Joanne Bowles, Chair, British Association of Dental Therapists Focused discussions on the three shifts – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention How do we measure the benefit and value of all the small incremental things we get from attending or being part of the DLN? What should the DLN focus on over the next ten events?
15.15	Summary and close Helen Phillips, Chair, GDC
15.30	Networking until 16:30 Refreshments provided

Meet the speakers

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