HCA Conference 2026

 

Cultivating Conversations: Patients as True Partners for Progress

Meaningful progress in healthcare depends on meaningful conversations. The question is no longer whether patients should be part of these conversations, but how they can be involved from the outset and how we work together as true partners.

This year’s HCA conference will explore the topic of patient partnerships in detail and from multiple perspectives to better understand why it matters and how collaboration and open dialogue can lead to better clinical trial design, health policies and communications today. Also, how partnerships may evolve in the future to shape better outcomes for patients, healthcare professionals, industry and healthcare systems as a whole.

Across two interactive afternoon sessions, we will bring together patients, patient advocates, communication leaders, industry and healthcare professionals to examine what genuine partnership looks like in practice – and how we can move beyond tokenism to true co-creation. A stellar array of speakers and panellists are already confirmed, including:

Manchester:

Kerry Leeson-Beevers, Chief Executive, Alström Syndrome UK

Eric Ngwenya, Compliance Consultant, Compliance Hub

Kersten Sharrock, M.S., Global Head, Integrated Patient Engagement, Sanofi

Mercy Shibemba, Award winning advocate, Health journalist, Podcaster and Grant-Maker

Prof. Derek Stewart OBE, Honorary Professor at National University of Ireland, Galway, Co-chair of the UK Health Research Authority (HRA) #MakeItPublic Campaign Group on Research Transparency and Non-Exec Director for the ISRCTN Registry

London:

Dr. Sarah Clarke - Author of Clarke’s Code Companion and ABPI Code expert

Simon Denegri OBE, Chair of Sense About Science and Chair of the Executive Group of the UKCRC Clinical Trials Units (CTU) Network

Naomi Elster PhD, Director of Research, Prostate Cancer Research  

Dr. Gabor Purman - Patient Advocacy Director at Corporate Affairs Team, Kyowa Kirin

Dominic Shadbolt - Managing Director of PatientSignal; Founder of theMSguide.com and Honorary Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London

Conference dates and venues:

📍 Manchester – Thursday 18th June 12–5 pm
      Venue: No.1 Circle, Manchester, M1 7FS

📍 London – Wednesday 8th July 12–5 pm
      Venue: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ

Both events will be followed by a drink’s reception and networking opportunity from 5-7pm.

Those non HCA members that want to sign up to attend the Conference virtually, please register as a non-member here and go to the event page below to sign up. 

Join us to cultivate conversations that matter – and help shape a more collaborative future for healthcare.

The HCA activity in 2026 is sponsored by AXON, Envision Pharma Group and Obsidian Healthcare Group

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