Wales’ health and care system was built for a very different era. Today, people are living longer, often with multiple long-term conditions, and expectations of care are changing fast. At the same time, new technologies, new evidence and new models of care are opening up possibilities that simply did not exist before.
The question is no longer whether change is needed, it is how boldly and how well we make it happen.
This flagship symposium on 12th March 2026 brings together global insights and expertise to stimulate future thinking and explore what is truly possible for health and care in Wales. We are delighted to welcome a world‑class line‑up of speakers, including:
- Professor David Blumenthal, Harvard Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Health Policy, offering an international perspective on global health system reform and what Wales can learn.
- Andrew Ord, Digital Leader at Microsoft Healthcare, who will explore the future of technology and AI in health systems.
- Professor Don Berwick KBE, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, discussing how Wales can translate thinking into practice.
- Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer, presenting a new values‑led, future‑focused Health Outcomes Framework for Wales.
- Professor Spiros Denaxas, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, University College London, looking at future trends and the implications for future design.
- Rethinking Health and Care Delivery: Social Innovation. Panellists to include (but not limited to):
-
- Adam Lent, Senior Consultant at The King’s Fund and former CEO of New Local
- James Maskell, Author of Community Care
- Denise Hampson, Desire Code
- Amy Lloyd, Research and Evidence Lead, RCT HDRC
The symposium will also feature insights from leaders in disruptive innovation, social innovation and community‑led change, and a framework for transforming today’s system into tomorrow’s model of care.
This Symposium brings together policymakers, professionals, innovators and partners from across Wales and beyond to explore what is already emerging and what could be achieved if we are prepared to think differently. It is about moving beyond incremental improvement towards system-wide transformation that is rooted in people, communities and real-world practice.
Through inspiring case studies, international evidence and practical examples from across Wales, we will explore ‘The Art of the Possible’, where social and human innovation sits alongside digital, clinical and system change to create a truly modern, sustainable health and care system.
Building on the momentum of the Bevan March Summit, this event will showcase Wales as a place that does not wait for the future, but actively shapes it, demonstrating how collaboration, creativity and courage can turn ideas into lasting change.
Wales should not wait for the future; we must actively shape it. Join us to see what is possible and to help make it real.
