Lead the Change for a Greener, Fairer Future.

You are invited to the Health and Social Care Climate Emergency Leadership Day, commissioned and funded by the Welsh Government’s Health and Social Care Climate Emergency team and hosted by the Dragons Heart Institute. This one-day event is a key part of the national response to the climate emergency across health and social care in Wales.

Building on the success and momentum of the inaugural Leadership Day in February 2025, the 2026 Climate Emergency Leadership Day will once again bring together senior leaders from across NHS Wales, social care, and partner organisations to accelerate climate action and sustainability at scale.

Agenda

Morning: Building shared understanding

09:00 – 09:30 | Arrival, registration & refreshments
Arrival, tea and coffee. Opportunity to network and explore project summaries.

09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome & strategic context
Opening remarks setting the urgency of the climate emergency, the strategic direction for Wales, and the role of leadership in enabling change.

09:40 – 10:10 | Adaptation: why it matters now
A briefing on climate risk, resilience, health impacts and the importance of adaptation, grounded in real examples from Wales.

10:10 – 10:30 | Impact from previous cohorts
Short, focused updates from projects involved in earlier Climate Emergency Spread & Scale cohorts, sharing progress, impact and what still needs to shift.

10:30 – 10:50 | Break

10:50 – 12:10 | Current cohort showcase: Shift & Share
An interactive showcase of projects from the current cohort, grouped by stage of development (prototype, pilot and spread).
Teams share:

• The problem they are tackling
• What they are testing or implementing
• Early learning and measures
• The challenges they are facing
• Their key “ask” of the system

12:10 – 12:15 | Cross-cutting themes
A short synthesis of the common challenges and opportunities emerging across projects, setting the focus for the afternoon.

12:15 – 13:00 | Lunch
Informal networking and conversations between leaders and project teams.

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Afternoon: From challenges to commitments

13:00 – 14:20 | Dilemma panels
Live problem-solving sessions focused on real, current challenges faced by project teams.
Each panel includes:

• A project presenting a clear dilemma
• Clarifying questions from leaders and peers
• Collective discussion to unblock barriers
• Agreement on practical next steps and support

14:20 – 14:45 | Shared mission & commitments
Senior leaders reflect on what they have heard and make commitments aligned to the refreshed Strategic Delivery Plan, including:

• Support for specific projects
• Action on system-wide barriers identified during the day

14:45 – 14:55 | Reflections
Key insights from the day, reinforcing shared responsibility and momentum.

14:55 – 15:00 | Close
Closing remarks and outline of follow-up and next steps.

Project Speakers

Biodegradable Medicine Pots
Sian John, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP)
Reducing plastic waste across NHS Wales by replacing single-use medicine pots with biodegradable alternatives that are safer for people and the planet.

Climate Smart Education
Stacey Harris, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Embedding climate literacy and sustainable practice into healthcare education, empowering staff and students to lead greener ways of working.

Digital Health and Care Wales – Ecosia Pilot
Chris Moreton, Digital Health and Care Wales
Switching the NHS default search engine to Ecosia, turning everyday digital activity into tree-planting and carbon reduction at scale.

Foundational Economy – Learning and Development
Chris Moreton, Digital Health and Care Wales
Strengthening NHS Wales Finance teams with an AI-powered database to showcase successfully implemented solutions at the touch of a button

Genetic Haemochromatosis
Elisabeth Davies, Welsh Blood Service
Redesigning the venesection pathway so that blood taken from people with genetic haemochromatosis can be safely used for transfusion, reducing waste while turning routine treatment into a life-saving resource for others.

Greener and Sustainable Gastroenterology and Endoscopy
Babette Llanos, Aneuring Bevan UHB
Transforming high-volume endoscopy services to reduce waste, carbon and cost while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.

HEIW Foundation Pharmacist Programme
Ffion Hawkins-Davies, Health Education and Improvement Wales
Developing a new generation of pharmacists with sustainability and value-based care embedded from the very start of their careers.

Lessons in Asthma
Dave Edwards, South Pembrokeshire Cluster / Hywel Dda University Health Board
Supporting children and families to better manage asthma, reducing emergency admissions and improving everyday quality of life.

Make NHS Arts Not Waste
Kathryn Lambert (HDdUHB) & Sarah Goodey (ABUHB)

Turning healthcare waste into creative opportunity, using art to spark conversation and culture change around sustainability.

Making Enteral Feeding More Sustainable
Bethan Phillips, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Reducing the environmental footprint of enteral feeding through smarter product choices and system redesign.

Maxillofacial – Reducing Surgical Drapes
Rachel Fishwick, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Cutting unnecessary single-use plastics in surgery by reducing use of unecessary drapes, saving carbon, cost and waste.

Mind & Body Wellness Project
Dr Manmeet Kaur, Aneurin Bevan UHB
Supporting holistic wellbeing for staff and communities through integrated physical and mental health approaches.

Reusable Medical Devices
Craig Holley, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Replacing single-use items with safe, effective reusable alternatives, reducing waste and delivering long-term value for the NHS.

Optimising Seasonal Air Conditioning Settings
Ramy Sherif, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Reducing energy use and carbon emissions by intelligently aligning air-conditioning with seasonal need.

PHW Sustainability Heroes Award
Jessica Stone, Public Health Wales
Celebrating and spreading the work of sustainability champions across the public health system.

Reducing Unnecessary Blood Tests – ABUHB
Jamie-Lee Cook, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Cutting low-value testing to improve patient experience, free up clinical time and reduce waste.

Reducing Low-Value Investigations (Needless Needles)
Rachel Drayton, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Helping clinicians focus on what truly adds value, reducing unnecessary investigations and improving care quality.

Frequently asked questions

Who should attend?
This event is aimed at senior leaders across NHS Wales, local authorities and partner organisations who have influence over climate and sustainability decision-making in health and social care.

Do I need to attend the whole day?
Yes. This is a full-day, in-person event and we encourage all participants to stay for the entire programme in order to hear from every team and take part in the discussion.

Is travel provided?
No. Attendees are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

Is there parking at the venue?
Parking at Sophia Gardens is extremely limited. We strongly encourage delegates to travel sustainably where possible, using public transport, walking or cycling. A bicycle shelter is available onsite and Cardiff Central station is a short 15-minute walk from the venue. Should you require parking due to accessibility, please notify us on your registration form.

Will refreshments be provided?
Yes. Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you register.

What accessibility arrangements are in place?
Sophia Gardens is a fully accessible venue. If you have any specific access requirements, you can let us know on the registration form or contact the Dragon’s Heart Institute team directly.