BCO ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026 | PLENARIES
Please note that the conference programme is subject to change
Plenary 1 – Opportunities for cities in 2026
Date: Wednesday, 17 June
Time: 09:30 – 10:30
Economy is about community, and communities are the foundations of prosperity. Thriving communities attract people to places and to places of work. But what choice should people have about where and how they work, and how do their decisions impact on the health, prosperity and viability of our cities and citizens?
Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow differ from each other and from the 40 miles of towns and villages between them. Geography, history, culture, politics, density, complexity, connectivity, wealth and attractiveness determine the different types and scales of experience these two cities offer compared with each other and with cities across the UK.
The cost of participation in cities for workers, businesses, investors and developers is considerable. For some, the additional cost of building and being part of a workplace community is a worthwhile overhead, for others it drives alternative ways of working.
This session aims to show us how offices might return to their roots and create places of work that build communities that can enrich and sustain our cities.
- Chair: Professor Janice Kirkpatrick OBE FRSE, Director & co-founder, Graven
- Sir John Curtice, Professor of politics, University of Strathclyde; senior research fellow, National Centre for Social Research
- Gillian Docherty CBE FRSE, Chief commercial officer, University of Strathclyde; president, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
- Paul Lawrence, Chief executive, City of Edinburgh Council
- Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE FREng FRSE, Chair, Scottish Enterprise; principal and vice-chancellor, University of Strathclyde 2009-2025; president, Royal Academy of Engineers 2019-2024
Plenary 2 – Navigating office development in UK regional cities
Date: Wednesday, 17 June
Time: 11:15 – 12:15
Join us for a critical examination of the challenges facing office development across the key UK regional markets. This debate will tackle the perfect storm of factors undermining project viability: soaring construction costs, elevated borrowing rates and uncertain occupier demand.
Our expert panel will consider how hybrid working patterns have fundamentally altered space requirements and how ESG compliance adds significant cost pressures. We’ll also explore the widening gap between development costs and achievable rents and yields, highlighting case studies where projects have stalled and exploring what is needed to reactivate them.
This session will dig into emerging strategies for unlocking viable development, from innovative financing models to alternative use concepts. Whether you’re a developer, investor, occupier or adviser, this session offers essential insights for navigating today’s challenging market and positioning for tomorrow’s opportunities in regional office development.
- Chair: Cameron Stott, Head of Scotland, JLL
- Paul Curran, Chief executive, Qmile Group; trustee, Spifox
- Helen Hare, Director of project, GPE; president, British Council for Offices (BCO)
- Elaine McCann,Deputy head of asset management, UK Real Estate, Aberdeen Investments
- Dr Ken Shuttleworth FRSA, Founder, Make Architects
Plenary Workshop 1 – Operational excellence: customer experience best practice
Date: Thursday 18 June
Time: 13:45 – 15:00
What does great customer experience look like in hospitality, retail and visitor experience?
Outstanding customer experience starts with a people-first mindset, prioritising responsiveness to create engaging and productive environments. Best practice across the hospitality, visitor experience and retail sectors often means delivering an exceptional, often invisible, support model that customers and end users never see. Data and technology both play a vital role, from research and design to operations, but the human touch remains essential.
This session will explore how leading organisations from these sectors are redefining customer experience and will also showcase the BCO’s 2025 Customer Experience Award winners, sharing real-world case studies, insights and proven models of excellence.
- Chair: Gillian Stewart, Director, MLA
- Ashleigh Corbett, Head of Flex – Scotland, CBRE
- Gillian Duthie, Director of facilities management & workplace experience, BlackRock
- Chris Moriarty, Co-founder & director, Audiem
- Ian Stirling, Co-owner and founder, Port of Leith Distillery
Plenary Workshop 2 – The generational impact
Date: Thursday 18 June
Time: 15:45 – 16:45
Over the next decade, the emerging generations (Millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha) will put their own mark on the workplace, driving a profound transformation in workplace design and culture.
Expectations will intensify, with the new generations demanding a greater focus on flexibility, inclusivity and purpose, reshaping offices into adaptive, tech-enabled environments that support hybrid working, wellbeing and collaboration.
In parallel with generational change, we are seeing the emergence of new technologies such as AI, augmented reality, IoT and immersive collaboration
platforms. How will these redefine how work is experienced? And how will offices evolve into smart ecosystems, blending physical and virtual spaces, enabling seamless transitions between remote and in-person work?
- Chair: Samantha McClary, Chief executive, BCO
- Earle Arney, Founder & chief executive, Arney Fender Katsalidis
- Lauren Lemcke, Associate, cost management, AECOM
- Rebecca Robins, Founder, High-performance leadership, Author Five Generations at Work
- Sam Carey-Smith, Head of workplace design, Government Property Agency
- Tim Mote, National business development director – private sector, Kier Construction