Message from out-going Conference Chair, Charlie Daniels
It has been an honour to chair this year’s conference. Thank you all for attending, it really is invaluable for members of LDCs from across the UK to get together and network and I hope you felt the same.
I am grateful for the support from the Agenda Committee, BDA, GDPC, my own LDC, our speakers and the event sponsors and exhibitors.
We discussed the current position surrounding dental contract reform and my thanks go to Shiv Pabary, Chair, GDPC for his update and to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care who joined virtually to address Conference.
I chose resilience as a theme aiming to address this incredibly important aspect of our working lives, and with their presentations invited speakers Jason Wong, James Foster, John Lewis and Graeme Foreman provided advice to help us recognise the symptoms of burnout and consider how to build resilience, develop the ability to bounce back from difficulties and adapt to change. I was delighted Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave OBE was able to speak to us during the evening where he shared insights of overcoming challenges in his sporting world. A real highlight!
In keeping with the Conference’s keynote theme on resilience we debated and passed motions tackling the risks facing the profession and the millions we treat.
Presentations and details of Motions carried are available on the website.
Huge congratulations to the colleagues below in their elections:
- Chair Elect for Conference 2027 – Zoe Connelly
- Two Honorary Auditors to the Conference - Mark Haigh and Shiv Pabary
- One representative to the GDPC – Stuart Allan
- One representative to the Conference Agenda Committee – Andrew Bell
- Two representatives to the British Dental Guild – Jeremy Boyles (four-year term) and Stephen Shimberg (two-year term)
I wish Sarah well as I now hand the baton over and plans for 2026 get underway.
A message from in-coming Conference Chair, Sarah Canavan
I’d like to start by saying a big thank you to Charlie Daniels for his outstanding leadership in delivering such a successful conference in Newcastle. Charlie’s commitment and enthusiasm created a memorable event that brought people together, encouraged meaningful conversations, and reaffirmed the strength of our dental community. It’s clear that events like these matter and I feel privileged to be a small part of this process.
Our gratitude is also due to the Agenda Committee and the BDA team, whose hard work behind the scenes ensured the conference ran smoothly. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when a dedicated team comes together with a shared purpose. I look forward to working closely with many of you over the coming year.
As I step into the role of LDC Conference Chair, I’m delighted to announce that next year’s conference will take place in Manchester — a city recognised for its energy, resilience, and long-standing tradition of innovation and community spirit. It feels like the perfect setting for what I hope will be a dynamic and engaging gathering.
It was great to see resilience as the focus of this year’s conference — a topic that feels particularly timely given the challenges we’ve all faced. It’s a quality our profession has shown in abundance, and one that will be instrumental as we move forward.
For 2026, we’ll be building on that foundation with a focus on collaboration. While resilience gets us through tough times, it’s collaboration that helps us shape what comes next. In recent years, our profession has faced significant challenges. What has become increasingly clear is that progress is made when we support each other, share knowledge, and work together. Next year’s event will be shaped by this principle, offering opportunities to connect, learn, and develop ideas that can strengthen both our profession and the services we provide to patients.
I hope to build on the relationships and momentum created in Newcastle, carrying that spirit forward to Manchester. It’s through collective effort and a united voice that we can navigate future challenges and advocate effectively for the dental profession.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at LDC Officials Day in London on Friday 28th November - I’ll be the one pretending to look organised!
Best wishes
Sarah Canavan
